UUCA Newsletter - Connections

Join Us for Worship this Sunday

Sunday Worship, January 21, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m.

Please join us when we welcome Rev. Beth Miller to our beloved community.

“The Only Person Who Likes Change is a Wet Baby”

This quip attributed to Mark Twain is especially true when unexpected change has been thrust upon us whether in our personal lives or our life together as a faith community. January’s theme of intention is particularly relevant to the changes UUCA is facing. Perhaps there are also changes in your own life that call for intentionality as this new year begins.

Service Livestream

Contacting Rev. Aaron

During the period while Rev. Aaron McEmrys is on administrative leave, he has been asked not to contact congregants. (This is standard practice in many denominations.) He cannot be reached through his church email. In addition, the Board asks you also NOT to put Aaron in a difficult position by attempting to visit him or text him.

However, congregants may wish to contact Aaron with messages of gratitude and support. Here are three ways for you to do so:

Send him an email, c/o Diane Ullius ([email protected]). Diane will print out these email messages and send them to Aaron via postal mail.
For greater confidentiality, put your written message to Aaron in a sealed envelope and send it c/o Diane Ullius, UUCA, 4444 Arlington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22204. Diane will bundle these notes and send them to Aaron.
As another option, you may put a note (sealed or unsealed) into the basket marked "Notes for Aaron" in Fellowship Hall for the next few Sundays. The basket will also be available during the January 27 Open Meeting. Diane will bundle the notes and send them to Aaron.

MoonFire Ritual – January 21

MoonFire, a UUCA community practicing the spiritual teachings of Earth-based traditions, invites you to join them for a Starhawk taped guided meditation on Sunday, January 21, 1:30 p.m. The 45-minute video, The Way to the Well, explores the different aspects of our own power. If you’d like, please bring a symbol of personal empowerment for the altar, a pillow, towel, or mat for comfort, and your journal. As always, a potluck and time for fellowship will follow the ritual, so bring a dish or drink to share, along with your own plates/utensils, if possible. For more information on MoonFire, please visit www.moonfireuuca.org, or contact [email protected].

Date: Sunday, January 21, 1:30 p.m.

Location: Chapel

Transmissions -January 23

All are welcome to join Jim and Ashley Cash of Woven Green for a special Transmissions service--a service of healing and meditation accompanied with soothing and contemplative music and soundscapes. Optional: Bring a yoga mat, pillow, or blanket. Freewill donation of $20 suggested.

Date: Tuesday, January 23, 7:30 p.m.

Location: Center

Governance

Intentions and Celebrations

By Andrea Ryon, Trustee of the Board

During this month of Intention, the Board of Trustees invites you to reflect on what UUCA means to you, your family, and all of us.

Each Trustee is reflecting upon our personal commitment to UUCA and to our beloved community for which we are so grateful, and are committing to making our pledge commitments early in the Annual Giving Campaign next month.

On Saturday, January 27, we invite you to a meeting at UUCA where Trustees, staff and several lay leaders will share how we are connecting, growing, and serving this year and looking forward, and provide time to ask questions. We are also excited to volunteer on Celebration Sunday, February 4, to celebrate with everyone UUCA’s tremendous 70-year legacy. We hope to see you at both of these events!

January Meeting – All Are Welcome

Please join the Board of Trustees, staff members, and lay leaders for any updates related to church leadership, highlights of initiatives and happenings at UUCA in the upcoming year, and to learn ways to connect, grow, serve. There will be time to ask questions.

DATE: Saturday, January 27, 2018

TIME: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

LOCATION: Activity Room

Child care will be provided. Please email Emily Goodin with questions: [email protected]

What are we celebrating February 4?

In early 1948 a group of Arlingtonians and the denomination agreed, that there would be a Unitarian Church of Arlington County, and groundbreaking for the first church building, later Reeb Hall, occurred later that year. On February 4, the Annual Giving Team has planned a Celebration Sunday to kick-off the annual campaign and to acknowledge the 70 ^th anniversary of this church. We’ve planned a full day of food, music, fellowship and fun--see the schedule of events here. We hope all congregants will come for at least some part of the celebration.

A way to honor our rich past is to ensure the future of UUCA. Before Celebration Sunday, each congregant will receive a pledge card in the mail. We’ve asked congregants to begin searching their intention regarding a pledge to the church for the fiscal year that begins in June. We encourage you to bring your pledge card with you to Celebration Sunday to honor our legacy and to make your commitment to UUCA’s future.

Pledge Intentions

During our January reflections on Intention, the annual giving team asks each congregant to consider their financial pledge to UUCA for next fiscal year. February is our congregation’s traditional time to ask each of you to formalize a pledge commitment for the 2018-19 fiscal year, which will begin on July 1, 2018. Later this month pledge cards will be mailed out. Is this your year to significantly increase your pledge commitment, as nearly 200 of you did last year? Is this your year to perhaps double your pledge, as more than 55 of you did last year? Is this your year to make a pledge commitment for the first time, as nearly 100 of you have done this past year? More information will become available over the coming weeks about the annual pledge campaign, but for now, please take some time in the next couple of weeks to search your intentions. UUCA depends on you.

Nominations Committee Seeks Nominees to the Board of Trustees

The UUCA Nominating Committee is in search of members to serve on the Board of Trustees as well as the Nominating Committee itself, all for two-year terms, starting in July 2018. If you are interested in learning more, nominating someone or nominating yourself, please stop by the Nominating Committee table between services on Sunday or contact any Nominating Committee member: Ben D’Avanzo, Liz Fuchs, Tina Hinh, James Tsai, or Bill Turner.

More information and online application, here.

Lifespan Religious Education

CALLING ALL COOKS!

Time to stir the pot! Let's see who goes home a winner in this year's CHILI COOK-OFF! To enter the cook-off, please sign up here . All attendees get to judge the winners -- Mark your calendar for February 4.

All proceeds benefit the Youth Group and this year's mission trip.

RE Connect Newsletter

Discipline Workshop for Parents

Arlington Unitarian Preschool is offering a workshop (5-part series) on discipline. Reservations are not required. Workshop started January 10 and runs for five consecutive Wednesdays through February 14. Questions? Contact Susan Parker, [email protected].

Session 1-Introduction to Discipline

Session 2-Structure and Routines

Session 3-Expectations and Incentives

Session 4-The Right Response

Session 5-Consequences

Preschool Open House

Arlington Unitarian Cooperative Preschool ( AUCP) will hold its annual open house on Saturday, January 20 from 10 a.m. to Noon. Founded by UUCA members in 1969, the preschool has educated young children for over 45 years. The curriculum is child-centered, focusing on the process (exploration, experimentation, problem -solving) over the final product. As a true cooperative, parents work along with the teacher in their own child's classroom on a rotating basis, and participate in many of the administrative and maintenance functions of the school. UUCA members receive priority in the application process if they apply by Friday, February 2. For more information, visit the school’s website at www.aucpva.org, email [email protected], or call 703-892-3878.

Youth Ministry Training

UUCA is hosting a one-day Fundamentals of Healthy Youth Ministry Training in January. This is a shortened workshop of the week-long Fundamentals Training. It will cover the basics of safety and the web of youth ministry and address specific questions and challenges from the attending congregations. This training is for youth AND youth advisers. For more information and to register, click here.

Date: Saturday, January 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: Activity Room

Faith in Action

LGBTQ + Ally Social and Potluck

Equality UUCA invites you to the LGBTQ+Ally Social Hour and Potluck after second service on Sunday, January 21. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and head to the Board Room for snacking and socializing. Please RSVP so we can have some idea of the size of our gathering. If you know ahead of time what you will bring please let us know. If you find you can join us at the last minute--do! All LGBTQ people, families, allies, hangers-on are welcome! RSVP to [email protected].

Date: Sunday, January 21, 12:30 p.m.

Location: Board Room

Woman making tamales in Cuba the tamal is a traditional Mesoamerican dish made of masa which is steamed or boiled in a leaf wrapper.

Buckingham Cooks this Sunday

Cooks from the Buckingham community will be selling savory Latino fare after services on Sunday. No time to eat? They’ll provide carry out. Income from sales will go to a charity which benefits immigrants.

Date: Sunday, January 21, after both services

Location: Fellowship Hall

Peace Camp Registration Open!

This year's dates for Peace Camp are June 25-29 ($315) or July 2-6 ($265, no camp July 4). The 2018 theme is “Explore a Path to Peace,” and reflects the goal of creating a summer camp environment where campers and counselors alike can experience, learn, and practice peace. Rising K-6 graders are eligible to apply; rising 7-9 grades can be Counselors in Training (same fee, longer hours). Lunch is included! Before and after-care, as well as partial or full scholarships, are available (See [email protected]). UUCA Peace Camp volunteers will be at tables in Fellowship Hall from January 21 thru March 18 for more information or to register. To register on-line click HERE!

African American Book Sharing Group

We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates is our focus for the January African American Book Sharing Circle on Friday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the Welcome Room. This collection of essays previously published in The Atlantic is organized chronologically during the span of Barack Obama’s term as President of the United States. We have the advantage of reading these essays in the context of time and change: Coates writes these essays in the immediate present; what do we think of them in the context of what has happened since? If you have questions or need more information, please contact Pat Findikoglu, [email protected] or Linda Lutes-Corsoro, [email protected].

Date: Friday, January 19, 7:30 p.m.

Location: Welcome Room

Music Ministry

Best of UUCA Music Recital

UUCA's Celebration Sunday on February 4 includes an afternoon music recital which includes several of our choirs and guest musicians! Details to follow.

Click here for Celebration Sunday Schedule of Events.

UUCA Host to Opera NOVA Concert

“Celebrating African American Opera Singers Past and Present”

UUCA is thrilled to be hosting this concert that honors Martin Luther King Jr. and shines light on the African American Opera World--past and present. The concert includes a recollection of the musical career of Coretta Scott King, soprano. The highlight will be performances by today’s rising and accomplished African American vocalists: Joyce Lundy, Elise Jenkins, Jackson Caesar, Dei Nikoi, and Marcel Sawyer. Tickets $10. Email [email protected]. Informational flyer here.

Date: Sunday, January 21, 3 p.m.

Location: Sanctuary

Photo: Cast includes young pirates, mollusks, and a few mermaids!

Ahoy, Pirate! Rehearsals Begin for Peter and the Starcatcher

Chalice Theatre launched rehearsals for its 2018 production, Peter and the Starcatcher, in early January. The Tony-award winning show is a theatrical adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s best-selling novels. It was written by Rick Elice, with music by Wayne Barker, and sheds a new—and farcical – light on the century-old story of The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan). Chalice will present ten performances over three weekends: February 23/24/25, and March 2/3/4 and 9/10/11.

The show features a number of Chalice “alumni,” including many of young actors, pictured here. According to Andrea Cass, who participated in the last two musicals ( South Pacific and Shrek), “Chalice is one of the best things a kid can do. I loved the other shows, and so far, this one is really fun, too. Everyone should see it!”

Chalice Theatre is a program within the Creative Arts Ministry of UUCA. Peter and the Starcatcher is the 22nd major production; other shows include such musical favorites as Oklahoma!, Children of Eden, and Seussical, the Musical.

Watch for information about ticket sales soon!

Congregational Life

Young Adult Podcast Chat: Is Facebook Spying on You?

The next podcast chat takes place on Saturday, January 20, 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel. Below is information on the podcast that will be discussed. Please take the time to listen to this podcast about online privacy and come and join the conversation on Saturday night.

Podcast: Reply All

Episode: Is Facebook spying on you?

Air date: 11/2/17

Length: 31:53

Topics: Online privacy, big data, web 2.0

You can download the episode using any podcast app or listen on your computer via this link.

Date: Saturday, January 20, 7:30 p.m.

Location: Chapel

Young Adult Divine Reading Group

The Divine Reading Group treats secular texts as sacred and gathers bi-weekly for a deep discussion into the meanings behind works of literature whether great or small. The next discussion will be on Thursday, January 25--the assigned reading is yet to be determined. Please check back at this link for the assigned reading. For more information, contact Julian Adams, Young Adult Coordinator, [email protected].

Date: Thursday, January 25, 7 p.m.

Location: Youth Room

Day Alliance

February 13: “Part II, A Brief History of Arlington”

If you missed last week's Day Alliance guest speaker, you have another chance to hear Karl VanNewkirk. Karl returns on February 13 to continue his fascinating talk on the history of Arlington and surrounding area. Karl has served two terms as president of the Arlington Historical Society in the 1990s, and two more from 2015-17. He edited the Society's annual magazine from 1992 until 2015. He was a member of the board of directors of the Arlington Black Heritage Museum from its inception until 2009, works (as a volunteer) for the archaeology department at Guns ton Hall, and is currently working on the genealogy of his family. Starting in the fall of 2003, he has taught a class in Arlington history for the Arlington Learning in Retirement Institute. He is a member of a variety of local historical, archaeological, and genealogical organizations. Watch this space for details on how to RSVP for the luncheon.

Date: Tuesday, February 13, 10:30 a.m.

Location: Center

"The Soul of Aging"

The Soul of Aging is a 10-session small-group reflection group for people who wish to explore, understand and be transformed by the aging process. The Soul of Aging is an offering of UUCA's small-group ministry. It comprises of 10-12 meeting in covenant doing reflective inner work around the challenges, joys, and possibilities of aging. Twenty-three UUCAers have completed the program thus far, and virtually all of them have found it to be richly rewarding. The sessions are on Wednesdays beginning February 7. For details on the program and dates, click here. Register with David McTaggart at 703-835-6944 or [email protected].

Date: 10 sessions begin Wednesday, February 7, 7 to 10 p.m.

Location: UUCA, Room TBA