Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA

A diverse, welcoming community of open hearts and minds since 1948

October 2010 Blog Posts (39)

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Capital Campaign Update: We Need To Show Up

Today's church service was wonderful, and a reminder of why this capital campaign is so important: we need to assure the future of our church. We want a vibrant church to be in existence for our 100th anniversary in 2048; we need to create a meaningful church for our children to inherit.



When Rev. Linda says "We need to show up", I take it to mean that we need to speak up when we see injustice, and we need to be full participants in the life of our church, in order to create caring… Continue

Added by Bill Fogarty on October 31, 2010 at 7:47pm — 1 Comment

Secure Communities Update & Actions to Take

There is progress in raising awareness of the risks of this flawed program and its human rights abuses. We are winning battles, reflected in the acceptance of Walter Tejada’s eloquent, County Board resolution, declaring Arlington’s intent to opt out of SCOMM on Sept. 28, 2010.



As a member of the SCOMM Coalition since its inception last spring, I was pleased to read Barbara Johnson’s UUCA blog, noting one common consequence of this flawed program. She cites a domestic abuse case… Continue

Added by Wendy DeMegret on October 31, 2010 at 11:00am — 1 Comment

"Where Can I Get Help?"

Below is a list of resources for OWL students, local youth, and their families to seek help with a wide range of issues.

************************************************

“Where Can I Get Help?”



Virginia 2-1-1

Call 2-1-1 for counseling, local resources, all kinds of help! Available 24/7.

An expert will answer the phone, listen to you, and help you find the organizations or individuals who may help you.…

Continue

Added by Jane Zimmerman on October 28, 2010 at 7:28pm — No Comments

Guatemala Trip

I'm excited about joining our delegation of 12 UUCAers on a journey to Guatemala next week. Three of our group are already there doing video work, and the rest of us will fly out this Saturday, returning Sunday, November 7. This will be the second trip for some of us, including myself. Two years ago a group of us went under the auspices of the UU Service Committee. This trip is sponsored by the Guatemala Human Rights Commission and will focus on looking at immigration and migration issues. The… Continue

Added by Rev. Michael McGee on October 28, 2010 at 11:50am — No Comments

Dear President Obama

Driving to the Metro stop, Joe and I were both in tears listening to our CD of Bruce Springsteen's The Rising (his post-9/11 album that somehow contains both utter anguish and a terrible joy--joy in what?



That we Americans will find the courage to rise again, not to triumph over others but to become our deepest, truest selves?



I don't know, but this letter to President Obama, on the eve of the national elections, is what emerged for me:



Dear President… Continue

Added by Cynthia Adcock on October 27, 2010 at 4:30pm — 1 Comment

UUCA too can become a "Breakthrough Congregation"

On Sunday, our Rev. Carlton Smith mentioned three UU congregations that the UUA has recognized as "breakthrough congregations"--congregations that have achieved significant and sustained numerical growth: Portland OR by declaring its property to be a "hate-free zone", Summit NJ by giving $100,000 to community service programs, and Harrisburg PA by moving to an inner-city church property. These stories remind me of the "public church/private church" conversations we have been… Continue

Added by David McTaggart on October 25, 2010 at 8:26pm — 3 Comments

Capital Campaign Update: The Parking Lot Is Full

My reference to the parking lot is a result of looking around the parking lot last night, at 7:30. The lot was full...and the church was jumping with energy and activities. We have a great congregation. A 7 Day A Week congregation.



And I must also say...we have a great Capital Campaign Steering Committee. Allen Keiswetter and I, as co-chairs, are extremely fortunate to have a tremendous committee. We have been meeting weekly, and we are now ready to start the process of visiting… Continue

Added by Bill Fogarty on October 22, 2010 at 7:48am — No Comments

Another gap in the social safety net and a reporting team

Homeless after leaving foster care at 18.



This link is to a nonprofit investigative journalism site that ran a story about children coming out of the foster care system at age 18 and into homelessness on the streets. Not just one or two, but hundreds and thousands -- and where they used to move into work and be self-sufficient, the current economy has shut off jobs to them -- jobs going to the 20-something (maybe) and the… Continue

Added by jill herndon on October 19, 2010 at 9:20am — 3 Comments

Legacy Sunday

I appreciate the supportive words about the sermon on immigration, but I thought Richard Hardin also gave an excellent Witness for Legacy Sunday. Here are his words:



We first came to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington in 1977. We arrived from Westover Baptist Church where we attended as children, were married and had been active members. We had taken the Baptist doctrine of the priesthood of the individual about as far as it could go. While I think it is likely that… Continue

Added by Rev. Michael McGee on October 18, 2010 at 2:43pm — No Comments

The One-Two Punch Labor Bills Get a Presidential Boost

Hello UUCA Community: Wasn't Rev. Michael's Immigration sermon so gorgeous today? I think he hit all the points in this debate which we don't hear in the media. We do hear about the prejudice, the narrow-minded views, the hateful rhetoric, so it was refreshing to hear such articulate summation of the compassionate, rational view of the immigration mess.

I also was so pleased to wake up this morning in time to hear CSPAN play the President's Weekly address, in which he explains why he is… Continue

Added by Laura Dely on October 17, 2010 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Recruitment for Human Rights Accompanier in Guatemala

UUCA's partner, NISGUA (Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala), trains and places qualified candidates as human rights accompaniers in Guatemala. NISGUA will conduct its next training session in January 2011 in the San Francisco Bay area.



Accompaniers work as human rights observers, providing an international presence to Guatemalans organizing in defense of their rights in several contexts, including genocide case trials and opposition by Mayan communities to the severe… Continue

Added by PAGUUCA on October 17, 2010 at 6:37pm — No Comments

Guatemalan puppetry program at Smithsonian Am. Indian Museum

On Sat/Sun, Nov. 6/7, 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM, families are invited to kick off Smithsonian's American Indian Heritage Month. This festival explores how Native communities celebrate the harvest. It includes dance and theater performances, cooking demonstrations, and hands-on activities -- including grinding corn, weaving cornhusks, making masa, and making and wrapping tamales.



The local Mayan community will develop a special large-scale puppetry presentation based on the Popul Vuh,… Continue

Added by PAGUUCA on October 17, 2010 at 4:25pm — No Comments

Recipe

Here's a link to the pumpkin gingerbread that was served at the first service today:-)

Added by Claudia Vandermade on October 17, 2010 at 12:58pm — No Comments

ARTisphere! Check it Out!

The brand new Artisphere has opened! This amazing venue, in the old Newseum building, at the river end of Wilson Blvd in Rosslyn, is creating something new, and I would like UUCAers to explore it and consider how it could add to our ministry of community and arts. Spaces for interactive art and creation, galleries for display, theatres for drama and film, a dance/music hall, coffee house/bar/eating area for small… Continue

Added by Rev. Linda Olson Peebles on October 15, 2010 at 4:51pm — 1 Comment

Capital Campaign Update 10/14/10

It has been another wonderful week of conversations and feedback from members and friends. I would like to update all on our progress, and respond to some on-line postings.



A Capital Campaign Steering Committee is in the process of formation, and our Architectural Study Group is starting the process of reviewing plans. All of this, of course, is based upon the overwhelming resolution of the congregation to conduct a capital campaign, which in turn was the result of an intense, six… Continue

Added by Bill Fogarty on October 15, 2010 at 12:03am — 1 Comment

Psychology Today on "It Gets Better"

12-16-10 Update: Psychology Today article on It's Get Better and Make It Better campaigns

10-13-10: Faith and Religion on Bullying -- Update Oct. 13. In my original post on the It Gets Better and Make It Better YouTube projects, I began to ask questions about faith, bullying, and gay teen suicide. Change.org has published a blog on how religions are reacting…

Continue

Added by June Herold on October 14, 2010 at 9:00pm — 4 Comments

“Secure Communities” Program makes people less secure!

DEMAND THAT ICE STOP COERCING LOCALS

TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION

Dear Friends,



On July 2010, a Chinese immigrant in California called the police for help in a domestic violence case, but instead of receiving the help she needed, she was arrested.



Pursuant to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program known as Secure Communities (or S-Comm), her fingerprints were immediately sent to ICE and she was transferred into ICE custody even though no charges were… Continue

Added by Barbara Johnson on October 14, 2010 at 10:43am — 2 Comments

Help us fill the bus from Silver Spring to Philly + back on Saturday! - (Discount Registration ends today)

There's still room on the roundtrip bus going to the Racial Justice Conference outside of Philadelphia this Saturday.



Conference details are at jpd.uua.org, and copied below.



Go Green and contact Carol Carter Walker at dartt@pbuuc.org to reserve a seat on the bus to and from the parking lot at Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church at 3215 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi , MD 20783.



(We hope to have 35 – 40 riders and anticipate a cost of $50.00

or less… Continue

Added by Barbara Johnson on October 12, 2010 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Immigration

Did you see the article in yesterday's Post about the human cost of the oppressive immigration policy in Arizona? Here's the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/09/AR2010100904406.html



I will be giving a sermon this Sunday on "Immigration: A Long Way From Home," which will be exploring the complex issues around our nation's immigration policy. Immigration… Continue

Added by Rev. Michael McGee on October 11, 2010 at 2:27pm — No Comments

Join us for A Metro Home Companion - UUCA Fall Cabaret -Line-up

I hope everyone decides to join the Choir and Chalice Theatre for A Metro Home Companion and a classic Spaghetti dinner.



Kate Beyselance, the producer, has done a great job of bringing together a wide variety of talents

including those below.



A Metro Home Companion – UUCA, October 15-16, 2010

Musicians and House Band- Barbara Schelstrate, Bob Kline, and the All-Star Shoe Band



Song / Welcome Tishomingo Blues Host – Lance Haworth

Commercial… Continue

Added by Cheryl Gibbs Binkley on October 11, 2010 at 7:49am — No Comments

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Agenda for Board of Trustees Business Meeting May 21

Posted by John L. Bohman on May 17, 2013 at 9:30pm

Improvement Update 5/15

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