All Blog Posts (950)

This chart lays out the bare facts of inequality in the U.S.A.

Today, Rev. Carlton Smith, Moya Atkinson., Sara Anderson, Paula Smith, Barbara Johnson, and I attended an incredible UUSJ workshop on economic inequality, and the Occupy Movement at the Mount Vernon Unitarian.

There are connections to racial, immigration, poverty under the great tent of economic justice.

Interested in learning more, and/or forming a…

We have now moved to Goodwin House West (retirement community), along with a couple of dozen or so more church folks. Because of this, after a decade of leading international discussion groups at UUCA. "Great Decisions" is a wonderful program for learning more about the world, and this year's 8 units are all nicely packaged on 25-minute DVD's. Qand A and sicussion sessions can follow - These are fun, but not essential.

Leading this program is not difficult, and does not…

This year all of our Coffee Houses are focused on benefitting children and youth.  The coffee house scheduled for Friday, Feb. 3 will focus specifically on this summer’s Peace Camp.  If you feel like singing a song, telling a good joke, reciting some poetry, performing a dramatic reading or sharing any other creative talent, great or small, this would be a great time to do it.  The main purpose of the coffee house evenings is to have fun and while we have fun we also try to raise a little…

Hi. I've given Rev. Peter Morales's white paper, Congregations & Beyond, some thought and have written a blog post on it. I haven't published it here, however. It's written with a nod to my UUFS grant-sponsored work and therefore in the blog that occasionally discusses that work. 

You can read…

Webinar on Congregational Resources for Grassroots Immigration Advocacy in Our Communities – Feb 2nd at 8pm EST



The UUA and our coalition partners Interfaith Immigration Coalition, National Day Laborer’s Organizing Network (NDLON), and the New Sanctuary movement are launching a national campaign of immigration advocacy in our communities. Our goal is to have interfaith teams meeting with officials in their communities to: 1) change the way communities respond to detainment…

Most UU's probably support the right of gay and lesbian  people to marry whoever they want. Many probably don't know how important it is in many aspects of life. Being denied equal marriage rights can effect  Social Security and other retirement  benefits, Medicare, long term care cost and coverage, inheritance, immigration status,  adoption rights, and employment benefits including: health care, leave, financial assistance when a partner is disabled. The stories of people who have been…

On Sunday, January 29 prospective camper parents and staff are invited to attend a Peace Camp Informational Program.  During this session you can learn more about the camp and staffing opportunities. 

 …

Follow the link!

Social Justice Theme Identification Report and Recommendation

Chalice Theatre's presents E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web" - opening night is February 17. Buy your tickets early! Tickets are expect to sale fast. Order tickets by emailing  chalicetickets@gmail.com…

This Sunday I'm exchanging pulpits with my good friend Rev. Scott Alexander. Usually pulpit exchanges are local, but we're doing a long distance swap with Scott coming from Vero Beach, Florida, and me replacing him there (I'm not getting hardship pay). Scott and I have been friends since we attended Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, California, and we got to know each other better when he was the senior minister at the River Road UU Church for 14 years before moving to Vero…

Youth Group's Annual Chili Cuuk Off is on Sunday, February 5^th (AFTER 2nd Service).This year part of the funds raised will go towards a youth scholarship to send a youth…

Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington,

               4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington VA…

On Saturday, January 21, Ada Lee Peebles was born - my very first grandchild!  She's the beautiful daughter of my son Byron and his wife Elisabeth (Beth).  I was present at the birth, which happened in the comfort of their home, with the skilled and loving guidance of a midwife from Birthcare…

Here are the three sets of talking points included in the VCN Lobby Day jan. 23.

VCN_Clean_Energy…

Digital death and digital estate law are in their infancy as distinct "industries." The first professional conference to discuss the issues was last year in the UK. I have been thinking about death and online life since 2004. I was at AOL at the time, and we were brainstorming how to present cloud technology to AOL members. It struck me that even in the early 2000s we were encouraging people to put insurance information, health information, financial portfolios and other sensitive personal…

Has anyone else heard about the fire bombing of the Hicks family in Bogalusa LA on Monday Jan. 16, 2012? The daughter and wife of the founder of the Civil Rights era "Deacons for Defense" organization in this heavily KKK area of LA were asleep in their home when they woke to a loud knock on the door, and saw their car on fire. Luckily the gasoline trail to the house and the fire starting chemicals on the roof failed to start the house on fire. I heard about this on WPFW, 89.3 FM. Has anyone…

Yesterday Rev. Michael and I kicked off the Deepening Connection Series with a two hour session entitled “The Theology of Congregational Life.” It was snowy and icy morning, so many thanks to those who joined the conversation.   

Our goal was to step back and consider the big picture -- what is it that drives humans to gather in religious communities? We discussed the role of congregations as a voice for ethics and values. We considered the core human need to find ways to…

Please join the Immigration Working Group for two exciting educational activities on Immigration:

Immigration as a Moral Issue Study Group: Wed. at 7:30, Feb 8 & 22, March 14 & 28, April 11 & 25

Join us for the six-session study group on “Immigration as a Moral Issue,” led by members of the Immigration Working Group. The class uses the curriculum designed by the UUA to explore this highly-charged and complex issue, which is also the focus of the 2012…

Greetings RE Families and Friends!

I hope the beginning of this New Year has brought hope and strength to everyone in our RE Community. I just wanted to send out a couple of reminders and pass on some Adult RE Course information, I thought might peak your interest.

Snack-Parent!!! Please Sign-up!

Children have suggested homemade baked goods (of course!), carrots, fresh or dried fruit, graham crackers, popcorn, mini-bagels with a smear of cream cheese. AVOID juice boxes,…