What’s happening at UUCF

Here’s what’s going on at UUCF in the coming week and beyond. Click on the event titles for more information. Click any of these tabs to find other announcements or activities. To receive our Thursday email announcements, click here.

This week
Heads up
Children
Youth
Volunteers needed
Social actions

Save the date/signups
Adult classes
Ongoing meetings
Caring news
Kudos
From our friends

This week

Check out this week’s events on the scrolling calendar or get details in the list of this week’s events. To view the full calendar click here.

Men's Fellowship Group

Thu., Oct. 18, 7:30-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Meets the first and third Thursdays. Accepting new members. Contact David Heagy. We offer a safe space for group members to be themselves and to discuss, in confidence, issues we face as men. Each member may determine the issues he wishes to discuss and whether he wants feedback from the group. We also discuss other topics of interest. Members are expected to attend regularly.

Webinar on phone banking for electoral justice

Thu., Oct. 18, 8 p.m., on the Zoom web platform. Click here to sign up. Questions? Contact Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice's (UUSJ) Get Out the Vote at gotv@uusj.org. As the midterm elections draw near, we are keenly aware of the UU commitment to electoral justice. UUSJ's Get Out the Vote project is partnering with the Reeb Voting Rights Project (All Souls Church Unitarian) to offer a training and information webinar on phone banking, with a special focus on what people nationwide can do to support electoral justice efforts in Florida and North Carolina. The webinar will cover how to organize a phone bank with members of your congregation and friends, introduce you to partner organizations and feature stories from experienced UU phone bankers. Note: If you don't have Zoom, the program is quickly downloadable at any time up to when the webinar begins. Participants may join from any device with a webcam (desktop, laptop, phone, iPad), or dial in to participate by voice only.

Memoirs Writing Group

Fri., Oct. 19, 1:30-3 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Meets the first and third Fridays, unless otherwise noted. Questions? Contact Kristin Moyer.

Covenant Group facilitator training

Sat., Oct. 20, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., off-site in Fairfax. Contact Stacy Casey or David Michael to join the workshop or for more information. Learn to work with groups - create healthy norms, foster inclusivity, encourage authentic participation, empower others, find consensus, and model and share leadership. We have only six slots remaining for this workshop! Upon completion, you may be offered the opportunity to facilitate (or co-facilitate) one of the new year-long Covenant Groups now being formed. David Michael and Stacy Casey will lead the workshop, and brunch will be provided.

UUCF Fall Festival

Sat., Oct. 20, 2-5 p.m., UUCF campus. Sponsored by the Joy Committee. To volunteer, sign up here. Please bring a dessert to share. Mark your calendars now to attend the first-ever UUCF Fall Festival. Fun for all ages Halloween costume contest Old Town Tradition bluegrass band Fire truck tours Children's games and crafts Apple cider and kettle corn Cox Farms decorations Child care available for volunteers

Partner Church Circle

Sun., Oct. 21, 12:30-2 p.m., Library. Contact Dick Van Duizend.

SR&R - Oct. 21

Did Early Christianity Evict Women? Sun., Oct. 21, 12:30-2 p.m., Sanctuary. Open to the public. Questions? Contact Dan Yacoe. This talk will explore women’s pivotal roles in the early church and how male church leaders reacted to women’s authority. We will draw parallels about how groups with privilege today react to leadership from marginalized groups in progressive movements, including Unitarian Universalism. Pippin Whitaker, Ph.D., M.S.W., is UUCF's intern minister, a scholar of community change to prevent violence, and an evaluation consultant. More at www.elide.world.

Music from Oberlin at Oakton

Sun., Oct. 21, 4 p.m., Sanctuary. Come hear top students from the world-renowned Oberlin Conservatory of Music in performance! This program will feature Antonín Dvořák's "Piano Trio No. 3," "Classical Spanish Songs" for voice and piano by Fernando Obradors, and works for unaccompanied clarinet and for unaccompanied violin. All are welcome. Free. Sponsored jointly by UUCF and Oberlin. Conversations with the musicians and light refreshments will follow the program.

Training for AV volunteers

Wed., Oct. 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Sanctuary and Commons. AV volunteer sign-ups here. Contact Laura Weiss. Training for AV volunteers will be held, followed by a meet-and-greet with the paid AV staff. Those currently involved with AV at UUCF and interested newcomers are encouraged to attend.

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Heads up

Share the Plate

The October Share the Plate recipient is Mamatoto Village, a nonprofit organization devoted to creating career pathways for women of color; and empowering women with the necessary tools to make the most informed decisions and choices in their maternity care, their parenting and their lives. The mission is twofold: to provide accessible support services to women and their families during pregnancy through the first 6 months of the child's life, and to facilitate the increase of qualified women of color serving in the maternal health and human services profession. By promoting and centering reproductive justice Mamatoto Village aims to foster healthy individuals, healthy families and healthy communities.

Endowment Fund Committee accepting grant applications

The Endowment Fund Committee (EFC) is accepting applications for grants to fund projects that support UUCF and/or the broader community. Priority will be given to requests that best reflect UUCF's mission and strategic goals. For example, in recent years, grants have been made to purchase new pulpit furniture, support Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions community outreach, replace a smart TV for RE use, develop a 4th Grade RE curriculum to explore the history of racial justice in Virginia and support the October 2018 visit to UUCF of members of our partner church in Szentgerice, Transylvania, Romania. For more information about the grant request process, click here or contact Nancy Smith. For a grant request form, click here. The EFC will accept requests throughout the year, but we encourage applicants to file their request forms by Nov. 1. Earlier applications have a greater chance of approval because funds are more likely to still be available.

Partner Church scholarship program

Questions? Contact Leslie Beard. The Partner Church Council seeks donations to its 2018-19 scholarship program, which provides funds to students at our partner church in Szentgerice, Romania and for sponsored classes at the Puriang Unitarian School in Meghalaya, India. We need donations by Dec. 2. No donation is too small. Please look for our table in the Commons after services in October, or you may mail a check to Leslie Beard, scholarship coordinator, 1911 Hyannis Ct., Apt. 202, McLean, VA 22102-1979.

Plastic Free Fairfax

Learn how to reduce your use of plastics. Visit the Commons table after services for ideas or go to faithforclimate.org/plastic-free-fairfax.

Mother-Daughter Group

For mothers of teen daughters who are sensitive. Monthly beginning Sun., Oct. 28, 7-9 p.m., location TBD (please contact Jennifer). Who: Cisgender, trans or gender-expansive mothers/guardians and their sensitive, teen daughters (cis, trans or gender-expansive). Size: 3-8 mothers. Questions? Contact Jennifer. Join with a small group of women to explore how we can help each other nurture our sensitive daughters through childhood, adolescence and into adulthood. The group’s intention is to support each other as mothers, nurture our relationships with our daughters, help them thrive as girls and young women and welcome them into a community of women. Our goal is for each of us to shine in their own identity, not in any prescribed or limited one. We want our daughters to appreciate their many gifts, learn to use them wisely and to emerge from adolescence full of their own choices and desires. As our primary guide, we will use the book, “The Mother-Daughter Project: How Mothers and Daughters Can Band Together, Beat The Odds and Thrive Through Adolescence” by SuEllen Hamkins, M.D. and Renée Schultz, M.A. We will also draw on ideas and resources each of us brings to make this project uniquely our own. To start, we will meet as mothers alone for six meetings, then we will add gatherings for mothers and daughters together.

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Children

Two RE greeters needed at 11:15

RE still needs two greeters during the 11:15 a.m. service on the first and third Sundays of the month. Contact Melissa Campos-Poehnert. If the idea of teaching RE is just not for you, perhaps the job of RE greeter would be a better fit. RE greeters welcome new families, direct traffic in the Program Building, assist with morning setup and cleanup, and maintain safety protocols. Serving as a greeter fulfills the requirement to participate significantly in RE program operations once every 3 years.

RE family potluck

Sun., Oct. 28, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Questions? Contact Laura Higgins or Matt Higgins, higfamily7@gmail.com, 571-314-0851. Meets the fourth Sunday of each month, unless otherwise noted. All UUCF RE families welcome.

Child Dedications

Sun., Nov. 4, 9:15 & 11:15 a.m. (during worship services), Sanctuary. Questions? Contact Diana Tycer. To have your child or children dedicated by the congregation, please complete the online form by 12 p.m., Wed., Oct. 31.

PlaygroUUp

Tue., Nov. 6, 10-11:30 a.m., Prog. Bldg. Meets the first and third Tuesday of each month, unless otherwise noted. Contact Leah Ruffner. For all families with an infant or child to age 5 and their siblings.

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Youth

Two RE greeters needed at 11:15

Child care orientation

Sun., Oct. 21, 1-2 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Email Tasha Jackson to sign up. Orientation is for teens who would like to volunteer or to work for pay assisting with child care in the Sanctuary Nursery and at other UUCF events.

Coming of Age mentor orientation

Sun., Oct. 21, 3-5 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Contact Courtney Firth. Alternate session will be Sun., Nov. 11, 3-5 p.m., Prog. Bldg.

High School Youth trip to Cox Farms "Field of Fear"

Fri., Oct. 26, 6-11 p.m. Sign up here. Carpools begin and end at UUCF. Questions? Contact Courtney Firth.

8th Grade OWL late night

Sat., Oct. 27, 5:30-11:30 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Contact Darryl Branting for more information. Students and teachers from the 8th Grade Our Whole Lives sexuality education classes get together for pizza, a movie, fun and fellowship.

RE family potluck

Middle School game night

Fri., Nov. 2, 7-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Sign up here. Adult chaperones needed too. Contact Courtney Firth. Join your UUCF friends for a game night. Bring games and a snack to share, plus $5 for pizza.

Child Dedications

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Volunteers needed

Worship volunteer shortage

Contact Mary Foster. It takes 13 volunteers each Sunday to welcome visitors, manage coffee, usher, etc. We currently have a serious volunteer shortage. Sign up here to volunteer at the 9:15 a.m. service and here for 11:15. Training is provided.

Two RE greeters needed at 11:15

Help make our Transylvanian guests feel welcome

Questions? Contact Martha Ades or Betsy Bicknell. Fourteen members of UUCF’s partner congregation in Szentgerice, Romania, will be visiting us Oct. 24-Nov. 4. We still need volunteers to help provide meals during their stay, accompanying them on tours, serve as drivers, host home dinners and help create a peace garden around the Memorial Cairn. Check out the SignUpGenius and lend a hand to make them welcome. It will be a fun way to explore the common and different threads of our faith and cultures, and to make new friends through shared experiences.

Training for AV volunteers

FACETS Hot Meals food donations, preparation & delivery

UUCF youth and adult volunteers donate and prepare (Saturday), and reheat and deliver (Sunday) 60-80 hot breakfasts to homeless clients on a bimonthly basis. To join the UUCF Hot Meals volunteer email list, please contact co-chair Scott Lundgren, 703-789-2412; for opportunities for the Oct. 27-28 Hot Meals, click here.

Fall blood drive

Sun., Nov. 4, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Bloodmobile. Registration will be held in the Music & Arts Room. Did you know that each donation can help save up to three lives and that donating is easy and safe? Did you know that our area has a chronic shortage of blood and that most healthy people are eligible to donate? Did you know that donating can actually be fun in a loving a caring community setting such as UUCF? Thank you in advance for helping us to save lives! Three ways to sign up: Go to the INOVA website where you can lock in your favorite time slot. You can see open slots and schedule your appointment. If the page asks for a “Sponsor code,” use 0686 (the leading zero is important). Note: You will have to “sign-in” – in many cases you already have a donor ID (and your password will be your birth date if you’ve never set it before). There are links on the sign-in page that will allow you to discover if you already exist in the INOVA web database (see “I forgot my Donor ID”). Email Ken Foley at BloodDriveUUCF@gmail.com or call him at 703-242-0258, and give three possible times slots, indicating your first, second and third choices. Ken will register you and send you an email confirmation. Sign up at the table in the Commons after services.

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Social actions

Webinar on phone banking for electoral justice

Ending gun violence vigil

Wed., Nov. 14, 10-11 a.m., National Rifle Association headquarters, 11250 Waples Mill Rd., Fairfax. Contact Bob Hatfield. Signs provided. Park on Fairfax Ridge Road. Vigils are held at the NRA the 14th of each month in memory of the victims of Sandy Hook, Dec. 14, 2012, as a public reminder that the American people want safe and sane gun laws.

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Save the date/sign-ups

Membership Committee retreat

Sat., Oct. 27, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Contact Shannon Williams with interest or questions. Join us for a morning of dreaming our way into a congregation of connection and welcome. All are invited to this Membership Committee retreat. We will have an interactive format allowing ample time for listening, playing and generating ideas. Come help grow what's best in our community!

"Singing by Heart" vocal workshop

Sat., Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., UU Rockville, 100 Welsh Park Dr., Rockville, MD. Free. Register here. Sponsored by MUUSICA, the partnership of DC-MD-VA-based UU music directors, this workshop with Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout connects us to the very earliest music of America - the enslaved Africans who built sounds of hope as they built up a nation. To sing by heart is to access whole worlds of sound and memory that could never be articulated on paper. Join Dr. Rideout to explore the techniques, approaches and strategies that reliably make successful, intuitive singing happen. In this guided community event, individuals of all abilities and ages are invited to explore memory and spirit.

Young Adults to visit Cox Farms

Sat., Oct. 27, 3-6 p.m. Sign up here ASAP. Questions? Contact Pippin Whitaker. UUCF will cover half the cost of admission. We are carpooling. Also, some in the group may stick around for "Fields of Fear," which opens at 7:30 if you can handle a scare!

Membership sign-up

Sun., Oct. 28, 10:15 a.m. & 12:15 p.m., Sanctuary Commons. No RSVP necessary. Questions? Contact Rev. Sarah Caine. UUCF will offer an informal membership sign-up intended for folks who have already attended a Newcomers Orientation or for longtime UUs who understand the workings of the congregation.

Meet UUCF's Transylvanian guests

Sun., Oct. 28, 10:15 a.m., far end of the Sanctuary Commons. Questions? Contact Martha Ades. Stop by to greet our visitors from Transylvania.

Young Adult planning meeting

Sun., Oct. 28, 12:30-2:30 p.m., Library. All are welcome. Feel free to bring your lunch. Child care available. Please RSVP to Pippin Whitaker. The UUCF Young Adult Fellowship group will discuss what it would like to accomplish this congregational year. Discussion points will include social outings, spiritual goals, social justice activities, YA leadership structure and all ideas/dreams you may have for the group.

Congregational covenant listening sessions

Sun., Oct. 28, 1-2:30 p.m., Chapel. Wed., Nov. 28, 7-8:30 p.m., Chapel. Drop-in child care will be available Oct. 28. To register for child care for Nov. 28, please email Tasha Jackson, childcare@uucf.org. Members and pledging friends are invited to join the Covenant of Right Relations Team for one or both of these listening sessions and offer suggestions and input as the congregation works to create a covenant of right relations. Covenants are agreements congregants can live by and that help us be who we want to be with each other. The session will be moderated and recorded by members of the team so that they can gather responses, input and feedback to include in a draft covenant that will be approved by the congregation at the Annual Meeting on Jun. 2, 2019.

Samhain under the full moon

Sun., Oct. 28, 7 p.m., Memorial Grove (Sanctuary in inclement weather). Questions? Contact Susan Ball. All genders welcome, age 13 and up. Bring a flashlight, a folding chair if you need it, an appetizer to share if you can and a remembrance of an ancestor who has passed for the altar.

Calling all artists and creatives

Email artspeaks@uucf.org to request more information and a submission form. We know it's early, but we wanted to give time for those out there who want to craft based on the theme. UUCF will be accepting work for its next open art exhibit in December. This artwork will illustrate Mystery and Solstice, tying in with the UUCF December worship theme, Mystery. All types of media qualify, including painting, photography, mixed-media and the written word. The deadline to submit a jpeg image and application is Nov. 1. Artwork will be hung on Nov. 30 and should be picked up by Jan. 6 or 7. All sales will be handled by UUCF with a 20% commission given to the organization.

"Visual Sanctuary" art exhibit

Through Nov. 1, Sanctuary and Music & Arts Room. Open to the public. ARTspeaks has partnered with Art Connection in the Capital Region to organize an art exhibition and placement project titled "Visual Sanctuary." Artists were invited to donate work that, at the close of the exhibit, will be donated to area nonprofits that focus on improving underserved communities through their missions.

New Covenant Group openings

Sign up here or contact Stacy Casey, David Michael or Rev. Sarah Caine for more information. Covenant Groups are facilitator-led small groups that offer caring relationships and in-depth conversation connected to our monthly worship themes. They create a space for individuals to explore issues and beliefs in a spiritual context, and meet monthly for one year from October-June. New Covenant Groups are forming now for the congregational year and will begin in November. On-site child care will be available for some groups.

November Vespers - "Memories"

Fri., Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m., Sanctuary. Please join some of our Szentgerice visitors as they, together with UUCF travelers to their village over many years, explore some of their richest and deeply meaningful memories from 27 years of partnership. Enjoy video footage of our choir’s first adventure there. Sing songs in Hungarian and English. Welcome our friends and listen to their hearts. Embrace our diverse UU spirit. A reception with light refreshments will follow the service.

Hungarian Village Life Festival

Sat., Nov. 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sanctuary Commons & Prog. Bldg. Intergenerational, family-friendly event. Questions? Contact Dick Van Duizend. Step out of your comfort zone and come enjoy the Hungarian Village Life Festival at UUCF, led by members of our partner congregation in Szentgerice, Transylvania, Romania. Learn how to cook delicious Hungarian foods Bake and savor “chimney bread” over a grill Try your hand at embroidering traditional patterns Find out what a “kopjafa” is and how to carve one, and Dance Transylvanian folk dances (perhaps with a wine bottle on your head)

Fall blood drive

Newcomers/visitors reception

Sun., Nov. 4, 10:15 a.m. & 12:15 p.m., far end of the Sanctuary Commons. If you're new to UUCF, join us for coffee and conversation.

Young Adult brunch

Sun., Nov. 4, 12:30-2 p.m., meet in the Sanctuary Building lobby after the service. Brunch location TBD. Open to all young adults (ages 18-35) from inside and outside UUCF. Brunches held the first Sunday, unless otherwise noted. Questions? Contact Pippin Whitaker. Join the YAF Facebook page for more updates and connection. Six young adults from our Partner Church congregation in Szentgerice, Transylvania, Romania, will join the Young Adult Fellowship group for brunch and conversation.

Embracing the Other: What Gets in the Way?

Sun., Nov. 4, 3-5 p.m., Sanctuary. To register, please contact Susan Kirby and Rod Paolini. Roundtable discussions of the origins and consequences of prejudice, bigotry and discrimination against those we perceive as being different from ourselves based on race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Sponsored jointly by the UUCF Muslim Liaison Group and the Rumi Forum.

GADG - Nov. 7

Global Affairs Discussion Group. “Bosnia - Two Decades After the War. Is a New Conflict Brewing?" Wed., Nov. 7, 7:15-9 p.m., Chapel. Questions? Contact Randy Adams. Speaker: Dr. Klara Bilgin, who recently returned from an election observation mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Twenty-five years after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Srebrenica genocide, the region is again being pulled by nationalist tendencies and the growing influence of Russia and Turkey. The Bosnia elections that took place on Oct. 7 did not offer a reason for optimism or hope for substantive change. Those elections were procedurally some of the most complicated in Europe, filling candidates for four different layers of government, for a total of 518 positions. The presentation will focus briefly on Bosnia’s tragic history, the Dayton agreement aftermath and the likely effect of the 2018 elections for the country's future. It will also address how Europeans and Americans perceive socialism and capitalism, and how their political understanding of these concepts differ.

Newcomers orientation

Sat., Nov. 10, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Social Hall. Register with Mary Foster. RSVP for child care by emailing Tasha Jackson by Nov. 7. Questions? Contact Rev. Sarah Caine. Orientation is the first step in becoming a UUCF member. Session intended for people who are new to our community and wish to explore whether this is the right place for them and for those interested in learning more about the work of our congregation and how to get involved.

"Reinventing Power" screening

Mon., Nov. 12, 7-9 p.m., Unity of Fairfax, 2854 Hunter Mill Rd., Oakton. Questions? Contact Paula Clements. Are you ready to hear some encouraging news and be inspired by the successful efforts of fellow climate activists? Join UUCF’s Climate Action Group, Unity of Fairfax, The Climate Reality Project: NOVA Chapter, the Sierra Club and other concerned groups for a free screening of the Sierra Club’s film, "Reinventing Power,” followed by a brief discussion led by Zero Carbon VA organizer Scott Emery. "Reinventing Power,” a film about America’s renewable energy boom, takes us across the country to hear directly from the people making our clean energy future achievable. It underscores the notion that we don’t have to sacrifice jobs for a clean environment. View trailer here.

God - Evolution & Jewish Theology

Tue., Nov. 13 & 20, 7:30 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Led by Beryl Trauth-Jurman. Sponsored by Unitarian Universalists for Jewish Awareness. Sign up here, email Melissa Campos-Poehnert, ap@uucf.org, or at the table in the Commons after services. Questions? Contact Albert Nekimken. Explore the historical evolution of the idea of God in the Jewish tradition over the millennia with insights into the ways it differs from Christianity and Islam. Learn how varieties of Jewish beliefs have flowered in the modern era. Beryl Trauth-Jurman is a member of Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, VA, and an experienced presenter of adult education programs. He contributed to UUJA's inaugural program in 2017-18 and was warmly received. He returns this year by popular demand.

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Adult classes

What We Can Do About Mass Incarceration

Dates/times TBD. Please contact Karen Wolf. Led by Betsy Bicknell. Register in the Commons after services or email Melissa Campos-Poehnert, ap@uucf.org. The United States has nearly 25% of the world's prison population, and the number of prisoners has increased 700% since 1970. People of color are disproportionately incarcerated. How did it get this way, and what can we do to change the U.S. policy of caging people? Over several weeks, this program will explore the history of mass incarceration, the prison system, ending money bail and issues specific to Virginia.

The Pledge to End Racism Workshop

Dates/times TBD. Presented by the UUCF Racial Justice Steering Committee. Register in the Commons after services or email Melissa Campos-Poehnert, ap@uucf.org. This workshop aims to help us develop confidence in our abilities to recognize and challenge systemic racism, confront racism and bias in our everyday lives, and take leadership in ending racism in our community, our culture and our lives. Participants will develop a community of support and an understanding of how to use support in deepening our work in building a just and equitable multicultural world. For those who’ve had other anti-racism/multiculturalism training, this class will take your understanding and competency to a deeper level. If you’ve never taken a class about racism, this one will challenge you to invest in and deepen your intercultural competence.

Needlework Group

Third Thursday, 2:30-4 p.m., and first Tuesday, 7:30-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Next Thursday session is Oct. 18. Next Tuesday session is Dec. 4. (No session Nov. 6.) Contact Mary Paxton. No registration required; just show up. This newly gathering (and hopefully ongoing) group welcomes all parties interested in schmoozing over their needlework or other portable projects on an “as possible” basis. There will be no formal instructor, but the members will assist each other (including beginners) in mastering new techniques and planning future projects, while they get to know each other better. To accommodate all who may be interested, those available will meet twice a month, once during the day and once in the evening.

How Jesus Became God

Thu., Oct. 18, 25 & Nov. 1, 7-8:30 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Class started Oct. 11. Led by Jack Dalby. $20 course fee. Register online here, in the Commons after services or email Melissa Campos-Poehnert, ap@uucf.org. New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman states, “At the heart of the Christian faith is a spectacular claim: Jesus of Nazareth was, and is, God. But this is not what the original disciples believed during Jesus’ lifetime, and it is not what Jesus claimed about himself.” How is it that within 100 years of his death, Jesus, an apocalyptic, itinerant Jewish preacher, went from being seen as God's unique messenger to being seen by some as God himself? In this course, we will discuss how a small group of ancient, monotheistic Jews came to allow for their one God to have a “son.” We will examine the belief in divine humans in the ancient Roman world, the ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus, Christian missionaries, worship practices of early Christians, the evolution of Christology, the doctrine of the Trinity, heretical and orthodox Christian practices, other Christianities, the conversion of Constantine and much more.

Gentle Yoga

Tue., Oct. 23, Nov. 6, 6:30-7:30 a.m., Prog. Bldg. Class started Sep. 11. Led by Ravi Kaur (Christine Mason), cmason@edimprovement.org. Drop-ins welcome. This course is designed for UUCF and includes stretching, Kundalini yoga sets, relaxation and meditation. Ravi has taught yoga at UUCF since 2001. Dress comfortably and bring a yoga mat and water bottle.

Righteous Minds Trying to Understand Other Political Tribes

Wed., Oct. 24, 31 & Nov. 7, 7-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Class started Oct. 17. Led by Bill Roos. Register online here, in the Commons after services or email Melissa Campos-Poehnert, ap@uucf.org. More information on Meetup here. In this class, inspired by Jonathan Haidt and other authors who examine how humans think and act in cultural and political environments, people from diverse political and cultural backgrounds try to better understand their own and others' values and beliefs - and possibly even find areas of agreement across the usual political and cultural boundaries.

Collapsing Humanism & Rising Techno-Religion

Wed., Oct. 24, 7:30-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Class started Sep. 26. Led by Jerry Poje. Register in the Commons after services or email Melissa Campos-Poehnert, ap@uucf.org. How are humans evolving during our age of hyper-technological development? How can current and next generations survive the Anthropocene? What do legacy religions have to offer during this transformation? Using provocative online content and grounded in Yuval Harari's "Homo Deus," course leaders will step beyond historical Ishtar, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed and others, and explore our place in an expanding universe. Includes personal preparation, lectures and challenging conversations. Deeper religious friendships expected beyond this short course.

Embracing the Other: What Gets in the Way?

Sun., Nov. 4, 3-5 p.m., Sanctuary. Questions? Contact Susan Kirby or Rod Paolini. Register online here, in the Commons after services or email Melissa Campos-Poehnert, ap@uucf.org. Roundtable discussions of the origins and consequences of prejudice, bigotry and discrimination against those we perceive as being different from ourselves based on race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Sponsored jointly by the UUCF Muslim Liaison Group and the Rumi Forum.

What Would Martin Luther King Say About Race in America Today?

Mon., Nov. 5 & 19, 7:30-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Led by Daniel Rothbart. Register online here, in the Commons after services or email Melissa Campos-Poehnert, ap@uucf.org. Serving as the nation’s moral conscience on matters of race, Dr. King offered insight into the insidious forms of systemic racism of his day. In this mini-course, we bring him back to life, as it were, by imagining what he would say about the current forms of racism in this country. We speculate on his answers to two questions: first, how exactly has systemic racism changed since the 1960s, and second, how should current forms of racial injustice be redressed through possible policies, programs and social movements?

Sharing the Small Things in Life

Tue., Nov. 6, 20 & Dec. 4, 1-2:30 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Led by Mary Frances Kordick and Ann King. Register online here, in the Commons after services or email Melissa Campos-Poehnert, ap@uucf.org. We will look at the practical sides of living - ways to simplify, be environmentally sound and enhance our well-being. We want to bring together a group that will share tips, including earth-friendly cleaning methods, natural remedies, the simple joys of plants, decluttering tactics, downsizing, etc. The list goes on, and is open-ended. Participants will share their knowledge and expand areas of interest as we learn from each other. Kahlil Gibran wrote, “… In the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.” We want to embrace “little things" as we gather, share and refresh.

Spiritual Hiking

Sun., Nov. 11, 12:30-2 p.m., meet in front of the Program Building. Led by Edna Trimm. No registration required; just show up. Meets the second Sunday of each month after the second service. Inspirational readings like this will begin each hike: "We have analyzed the [Jackson] Pollock patterns with computers and compared them with forests, and they are exactly the same. This dimension does more than lull us; it can engage us, awe us and make us reflect." - Richard Taylor, physicist

Living Consciously

Mon., Nov. 12 & Dec. 10, 7:30-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Class started Sep. 17. Led by Zim Putney. Register online here, in the Commons after services or email Melissa Campos-Poehnert, ap@uucf.org. Eckhart Tolle says we are only truly alive in this moment. In this class we strive to be more present and self-aware now, following the voice of our deepest inner resources: our intelligence, emotions, feelings and values. We apply the wisdom of Jack Kornfield's book “The Wise Heart,” as well as teachings of Tara Brach and others. We practice mindfulness in each meeting through reading (mind), movement (body) and meditation (spirit) and the shared wisdom of others in the class.

God - Evolution & Jewish Theology

Nuts and Bolts: How Things Work at UUCF

Wed., Nov. 14, 7-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Led by Craig and Susan Bennett and Rev. David A. Miller. Register online here, in the Commons after services or email Melissa Campos-Poehnert, ap@uucf.org. This course is intended to provide leaders and curious non-leaders an overview of UUCF mechanics. How is the congregation organized and governed? What are the responsibilities of the staff? How does one reserve a meeting space, coordinate a special event, advertise an activity, get reimbursed or even adjust the thermostats? Learn what resources and processes are available to help you get things done.

Science & Religion: The Conflict of Two Different Worlds

Tue., Wed., & Thu., Nov. 27, 28 & 29, 7:30-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Led by John Rybicki. Register online here, in the Commons after services or email Melissa Campos-Poehnert, ap@uucf.org. Is there truly a conflict between science and religion? We will examine two case studies - the Galileo and Scopes trials and what they tell us about the real conflict between religion and science. We will also consider "intelligent design" and the "anthropic principle" to show that from the beginning church scholars did not always view all parts of the Scripture as literal and, in fact, they considered allegorical and spiritual interpretations of Scripture as oftentimes far more powerful and insightful than the simply literal.

The Afterlife in Judaism, Christianity and Islam

Tue., Wed. & Thu., Dec. 11, 12 & 13, 7:30-9 p.m. Led by John Rybicki. Register online here, in the Commons after services or email Melissa Campos-Poehnert, ap@uucf.org. Concepts and characteristics of God, as well as an understanding of the development of divine justice, mercy, compassion and punishment, have been important in the development of thoughts on the afterlife in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. We will study how these religions understand the ways that God balances and prioritizes each of these elements, which are instrumental to understanding their views about the afterlife. The course will review three differing concepts of God to better understand how they conceptualize the afterlife. We will also consider whether the God of Judaism, Christianity and Islam is the same God.

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Ongoing meetings

Racial Justice Steering Committee

Sat., Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Library. (Note: Date change.) Meets the third Saturday of the month, unless otherwise noted. Contact RJSC co-chairs Kaye Cook or Sharon Johnson. Through education, service, advocacy and witness, the Racial Justice Steering Committee (RJSC) - a subgroup of the UUCF Social Justice Council - is dedicated to identifying and alleviating the root causes and effects of racial injustice and racial discrimination. Find out about the group's Second Principle Project and other ways the RJSC is working toward these goals at uucf.org/racial-justice.

NAMI family support meeting

Thu., Nov. 1, 7:30-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Meets each first Thursday, unless otherwise noted. Contact Joanna Walker. Support meeting for families with a loved one suffering from mental illness.

Climate Action Group

Wed., Nov. 7, 7:30-9 p.m., Social Hall, or via conference call to 1-563-999-2090, access code 308302#. Contact Eric Goplerud. Everyone welcome.

Refugee Resettlement Project

Thu., Nov. 8, 7-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Contact Ann King. Help support the family from Afghanistan that UUCF and the UU Congregation of Sterling are co-sponsoring.

Poetry Club

Sun., Nov. 11, 4-6 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Meets the second Sunday of the month, unless otherwise noted. Contact Barb Dutchak.

Monday Night Book Club

Nov. 12, 7:30-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Meets the second Monday of each month, unless otherwise noted. Contact Don Andress. Group will discuss "Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee.

Committee for Immigration Justice

Wed., Nov. 14, 7:30-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Contact Dan Rothbart. For anyone interested in work relating to UUCF's role in supporting our immigrant neighbors in danger of deportation or detention through the DMV Sanctuary Congregation Network. Come see how you can make a difference in someone's life. All are welcome.

Meditation Practice Group

Tue., Nov. 20, 7-8:30 p.m., Chapel. (Note: No meeting Nov. 6.) Meets first and third Tuesdays of the month, unless otherwise noted. Contact Karen Monroe. Join us in supporting each other in our meditation practice. No expectation to attend every meeting.

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Caring news

Check back later for more Caring news.

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Kudos

Check back later for gratitude and congratulatory announcements

From our friends

SCOV Caregivers Support Group

Thu., Oct. 18, 10-11:30 a.m., Prog. Bldg. For caregivers to adult family members with dementia. Meets the first and third Thursdays of the month. Free. Hosted by Shepherd's Center of Oakton-Vienna. Click here for flier. Contact facilitator Jack Tarr, 703-821-6838.

Immigration Film Fest

Sat., Oct. 27, 2-9:30 p.m., Washington Ethical Society. Sun., Oct. 28, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Washington National Cathedral. Schedule here. Purchase tickets here. The 5th Annual Immigration Film Fest is the largest annual film festival dedicated to the issue of immigration. This year, IFF is once again joining the International CInema Series and the Films Across Borders consortium to bring viewers Stories of Women, immigration films by and about women.

Climate rally

Rally for Securing the Legal Right to a Safe Climate. Sun., Oct. 28, 2-4 p.m., Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse, 401 Courthouse Sq., Alexandria, VA. Join the Climate Reality Project Northern VA Chapter and other concerned groups at a rally in support of the landmark environmental case at the #TrialoftheCentury. The young climate champions who are the #youthvgov plaintiffs in Juliana v. United States, allege that the U.S. government has knowingly violated their constitutional rights for over 50 years by contributing to climate change. They're asking for a science-based National Climate Recovery Plan to end the reign of fossil fuels and require the government to do its part to stop dangerous climate change for young people and all future generations. #youthvgov #TrialoftheCentury #SeeYouInCourt #LeadonClimate Live music will be provided by Uptown Boyz, a DC-based intertribal drum group and a “resistance rock” band M4TR, which includes two UUCF members Keynote speaker: Larry Schweiger, Climate Reality Project board of directors and former president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation Scott Emery, Zero Carbon VA Jerome Foster II, Zero Hour youth organizer Laura Anderko, R.N., Ph.D., director, Mid-Atlantic Center, Children’s Health and Environment, Georgetown University Miss Earth state title holder and trained Climate Reality Leader Isabella Bennett

Rochelle Rice performance

A Soulful Afternoon. Sun., Oct. 28, 2:30 p.m., All Souls Church Unitarian, 1500 Harvard St. NW, Washington, DC. Tickets online here or at the door. Adults: $25, Students $15. Proceeds will refurbish the Eaton Room in time for All Soul's 200th anniversary in 2021. This afternoon concert will feature award-winning vocalist, composer and clinician Rochelle Rice. She has performed at such places as Blues Alley, the Mansion at Strathmore, has toured with Grammy-Award winning Sweet Honey in the Rock. In 2017, she was invited by the U.S. Embassy in Nassau, Bahamas, to sing and give masters classes in celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month. In addition, she serves as alto section leader to the All Souls Choir.

2018 Mississippi Living Legacy Pilgrimage

Sun., Oct. 28-Thu., Nov. 1, Jackson, MS. Plan to arrive by 4 p.m. Oct. 28 and depart on Nov. 1. (This trip begins and ends in Jackson, Mississippi. We will stay in Jackson all four nights and take day trips east and north.) Registration now open here! $985 (double occupancy rate, per person) $1,175 (single occupancy rate, per person). For more information, visit 2018 Mississippi Living Legacy Pilgrimage. Did you know that the Mississippi murder of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old from Chicago, roused the resistance into a movement, that is, the American Civil Rights movement? Understanding what is happening in our world today means taking the time to learn our history, so we can more effectively work against 21st Century white supremacy. How else can we move to an equitable future? Join the Living Legacy Project for a four-day direct experience of key elements of Mississippi’s civil rights stories. On this pilgrimage, you will: Deepen your understanding of what is happening today by learning about the courageous people who risked everything for the right to vote! Engage in in-depth conversations with veterans of the Mississippi Freedom Movement, like Mr. Hollis Watkins Meet the family of Vernon Dahmer, murdered by the Klan in 1966 in retaliation for his voting rights work near Hattiesburg, MS. Hear how the town of Philadelphia, MS, where three civil rights workers - James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner - were murdered in 1964’s Freedom Summer, has been transformed from hatred to love through the reckoning of its history. No more secrets! Explore the new Mississippi Civil Rights Museum to learn about the movement that changed the nation. Travel north through the Mississippi Delta to honor the legacy of Fannie Lou Hamer, who attempted to desegregate the Mississippi Democratic Party as part of her commitment to ensuring that every Mississippian has a right to vote. Acquire a deep understanding of the 1955 murder of Emmett Till, a case that has just been re-opened by the Justice Department.

"Won't You Be My Neighbor? A Town Hall Discussion"

Tue., Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m., Burke United Methodist Church, 6200 Burke Center Parkway, Burke, VA. Register here. Rumi Forum is proud to sponsor "Won't You Be My Neighbor? A Town Hall Discussion." This event, inspired by Mr. (Fred) Rogers, will feature a panel discussion followed by a table dialogue session with members of diverse communities. Panelists will include: Rev. Jarrett McLaughlin, Burke Presbyterian Church Rev. Tim Heflin, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Burke Rev. Paul Collinson-Streng, Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fairfax Rev. Henry Brinton, Fairfax Presbyterian Church Rev. Susan Hartzell, St. Peter's in the Woods, Fairfax Station Rev. Jason Snow, Burke United Methodist Church Dr. Margaret Johnson, Institute of Islamic and Turkish Studies, sociologist Imam Sami Kocak, Institute of Islamic and Turkish Studies

All Souls seeks executive director or minister

All Souls Church Unitarian seeks to hire either an executive director or an executive minister. Job descriptions can be found here and here. The deadline to apply is Oct. 31, and the congregation is hoping to have its new executive staff person by mid-December. Email questions to president@allsouls.ws.

UU Loudoun seeks office & facilities administrator

Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun (UUCL) is hiring an office and facilities administrator. UUCL is a small vibrant spiritual UU congregation that gathers in a historic church a few miles from downtown Leesburg, VA. We are seeking a part-time (20 hours per week) office and facilities administrator to start on or before Nov. 1. The administrator provides administrative support and coordination for programs and operations of the church and the congregation. Hours are flexible, but certain days and work hours may be required to communicate effectively with other staff and church members. Some Sundays required. Work location is also flexible with the opportunity of working from home a strong possibility. You would work closely with the minister and be responsible for our e-newsletter, weekly What’s Happening email and weekly Order of Service with inserts, general administration including some bookkeeping and coordinating care of our facilities. People of all religious and spiritual practices are welcome to apply to help us live our mission, vision and values. Full job description here. To apply, send resume and position-specific cover letter, both in pdf format, to minister@uuloudoun.org. This position requires attention to detail: Applications that do not follow these instructions will not be considered.

Pastoral care workshop

Sat., Nov. 3, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd., Arlington, VA. Presenter: Eileen Long-Farias, M.S., LPC of the Women’s Center, Vienna, VA. Cost: $30, includes lunch. Register now here. Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church invites you to a pastoral care workshop about mental health wellness for adults and teens. For lay pastoral care team members, ministers, seminarians and others in helping roles. Mental health problems can cover a broad range of disorders affecting the way a person thinks, feels and interacts with others. This workshop will provide tools, tips and resources for the care of others and self-care for pastoral care team members when dealing with members’ mental health challenges. Topics will include stress management, tolerance, vulnerabilities and crisis intervention. Come learn how to serve your congregation’s individuals and families affected by these difficult concerns.

Social justice advocacy

Sun., Dec. 2, 4:30-6:30 p.m., River Road UU Congregation, 6301 River Rd., Bethesda, MD. Register here. Questions? Contact info@uusj.org. Join Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ) to hear Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD 8th District), a leader on the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees, on the new Congress (convening January 2019) and the opportunities for social justice advocacy where UUs can make a difference. Join regional UUs to hear from an outspoken advocate on many UUSJ priorities about what advocacy must happen, and the political context of our work. This fundraiser will support UUSJ’s advocacy in a time of great challenge to our UU values.

Saturday morning yoga

Sat., Oct. 27, Nov. 10, 17, Dec. 1, 8 & 15, 9:30-11 a.m., Prog. Bldg. (No class Nov. 3, Nov. 24, Dec. 22 or Dec. 29.) Contact Ravi Kaur (Chris Mason), 571-213-3192, to register or for more information. Ten sessions: $110. Sign up for four or more classes at $11/session. Drop-in rate: $15/session. Senior discounts available. Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan. Sessions include yoga sets, breathing, stretching and meditation. Increase your flexibility, relax and be energized.

Youth Ministry Revival

"Answer the Call of Love." Fri., Mar. 1, 2019-Sun., Mar. 3, 2019, Cedar Lane UU, Bethesda, MD. The Youth Ministry Revival is a national senior high youth event that started in 2016 in Portland. It moved to Chicago, in 2017 and this year the Central East Region of the Unitarian Universalist Association will host it in the DC area. This is bigger and different from a regular con. We encourage congregations to send teams of youth and adults (specifically adults that don’t normally go to youth events but are interested in multigenerational justice and worship teams). We’ll be bringing in local partners as well as UU religious professionals and youth leaders from all over the country to lead workshops on justice, activism, organizing and community care; share spiritual practices that nurture and sustain us in the work; and weave worship, music and ritual into the very fabric. This event is designed to introduce, inspire and encourage going deeper both personally and as a congregational team. More information to come.

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