Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA

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November 2010 Blog Posts (31)

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Sermon "on wonder"

I often find the "School of Life" (in London, UK) providing interesting experiences. This is kind of a church for those who are un-churched and when you look at the audience, you see many young adults. The sermon is long by our standards, but not by the standards of coming to listen to a lecture and the School of Life offers many courses and lectures. Their sermons happen to be on Sundays, I believe in the mornings and obviously attract audiences.



Raymond Tallis - On Wonder…

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Added by Jacomina de Regt on November 30, 2010 at 11:57pm — 3 Comments

Tues. Nov. 30: Call Senators Webb & Warner: Protect Social Security

Time Tuesday, November 30 · 8:00am - 6:00pm



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Location: Across America



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Created By: Strengthen Social Security, Melissa Byrne



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More Info RSVP for the call-in day here:…

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Added by Laura Dely on November 29, 2010 at 2:43pm — No Comments

$, Me, and the Capital Campaign

It’s early days for the capital campaign, and everyone couldn’t be nicer.

My momma taught me to Always Think of Others Before Self, and I try, but I’m running into a serious Catch-22 here. Help me figure it out.



Some issues are minor—like how to reconcile responsible stewardship of property with caring for the needs of people in our world. Divide my gifts 50-50?

That begs the real question for me.



UUCA is the first real spiritual home I’ve known in my 70 years of… Continue

Added by Cynthia Adcock on November 29, 2010 at 1:30pm — 1 Comment

The American Dream Is Not for Him

Friday (a.k.a. "Black Friday") night WAMU public radion broadcast a number of short, award-winning documentaries, among them the story of Sam, a graduating high school senior whose parents brought him to the states when he was just 5 years old. Sam doesn't speak, read or write Spanish, but when he graduated from high school two years ago he found he could not even apply to colleges and universities as he lacked legal paperwork. Despite his good… Continue

Added by Laura Dely on November 27, 2010 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Hunger stats in DC: 91% increase in demand at area Food Banks

Well friends, just as my stomach started to growl and I imagined the Thanksgiving Day leftovers that are going to be so delicious, I was tweaking the just release UUA DRAFT Ethical Eating Statement of Conscience Statement, and went to find the recent NPR show that featured hunger experts, including the Capitol Area Food Banks director.

I knew she had some shocking data… Continue

Added by Laura Dely on November 26, 2010 at 3:01pm — No Comments

Poverty and Thanksgiving: A Call to Righteous Love

Rev. Peter Morales hits all the right notes on this great day.The only thing I would add is that we are living in the midst of inequality equal to that of the Robber Barrons' time. We ended that time of no regulation, low tax rates, and no social safety net by reversing all of that.

We currently appear to be headed deeper into cutting the social safety net, and cutting regulation that protects the health and well-being of all. (Do we want to go the way of China where they have no… Continue

Added by Laura Dely on November 25, 2010 at 10:40am — No Comments

Nov. 30 Community Forum on Immigration: A Time to Talk About the D.R.E.A.M. Act

Good news! We've just confirmed another speaker and another theme for our Community Forum on Getting Immigration Right, Part I, Tuesday, Nov. 30, 7pm-9pm, right here a UUCA --



Isabel Castillo is the founder of DREAMActivist, the Undocumented Students Action and Resource Network. The sound quality on the clip I've linked below… Continue

Added by Rev. Carlton Elliott Smith on November 25, 2010 at 1:29am — No Comments

Thankful for Partners in Advocacy for Immigrant Rights

On Wednesday, October 27, more than 200 activists and advocates gathered at UUCA for the First Annual Immigrant Advocates Summit. I welcomed everyone on behalf of the congregation and was deeply inspired to see people of many national origins and faiths coming together to promote opportunity and fair treatment for those entering the United States.



The Summit was hosted by several organizations, namely the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS Center), the Coalition of Asia Pacific… Continue

Added by Rev. Carlton Elliott Smith on November 23, 2010 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Rememberance

As long as anyone is harassed or ridiculed, we must demand an end to the bullying. As long as anyone is judged because of their gender identification or presentation, we must insist on a higher moral standard. And if, God forbid, anyone is ever again physically harmed or murdered because of his or her gender identity or expression, we must rise up and seek justice.
Peter Morales, President, Unitarian Universalist Assoc. of Congregations

Added by Barbara Johnson on November 20, 2010 at 3:07pm — No Comments

Speak Out Against the Harsh Moves Against Immigrants in Virginia

Immigration debate news: Prince William Board of Supervisors approved a policy statement that calls for all Virginia localities to adopt its notorious immigration policy.

And that Delegate Jackson Miller from Manassass is likely to carry PWC's Chairman Corey Stewart's "Virginia Rule of Law" in the legislative session that opens Jan. 12 in Richmond. This would be in addition to Fairfax County republican Dave Albo's police-empowerment bills that target undocumented or (those who look… Continue

Added by Laura Dely on November 19, 2010 at 4:32pm — No Comments

Words of memory and witness.

In addition to our personal and individual joys and sorrows, that we make a bit of time for in our services, I'm wondering how we could make words of witness and memory part of our church life - something my heart has longed for ever since coming to UUCA - part of my motivation for coming to a church community. I'm not talking about announcements, or political speech. What one person brings up may be seen differently by others, but we could honor what is in each person's heart.

Added by Barbara Johnson on November 19, 2010 at 9:34am — No Comments

Gold/silver mine in Guatemala poised to seriously damage El Salvador

For three years, Mayans in Guatemala have resisted environmental damage and personal attacks that Canada’s GOLDCORP gold/silver mining has been doing to their farmland, houses, and water supplies. Now, the new Cerro Blanco mine bordering El Salvador is about to begin polluting that country’s largest river basin, the Lempa, with high concentrations of heavy metals, sediment, and thermal pollution. Three million people live in the basin.



The Catholic Church’s Archbishop has asked El… Continue

Added by PAGUUCA on November 18, 2010 at 12:34pm — No Comments

Hegel on Wallstreet ... or "How Canada Dodged the Great Recession and Proved That Regulation is in Business's Self Interest"

J.M. Bernstein:



The “Phenomenology” is a philosophical portrait gallery that presents depictions, one after another, of different, fundamental ways in which individuals and societies have understood themselves. Each self-understanding has two parts: an account of how a particular kind of self understands itself and, then, an account of the world that the self considers its natural counterpart. Hegel narrates how each formation of self and world collapses because of a mismatch between… Continue

Added by Todd Parola on November 18, 2010 at 2:27am — 3 Comments

Musings about the Compassion Connection

Do you notice how so much of our church life is connected? Our vision statement highlights refers to compassion as a central value. Our 2nd UU principle refers to compassion in human relations. And did you see the wonderful statement on our "billboard sign" at George Mason Drive and Rt. 50 before the election? It said "Vote For Compassion". And then in Rev. Carlton's recent sermon, he talked about a terrific book which highlights "compassionate communication."



I say let's throw out… Continue

Added by Bill Fogarty on November 16, 2010 at 10:39pm — No Comments

Standing on the Side of Love Across From Anti-LGBTQ demonstrators

Early this morning, Madelyn and Don Campbell, Marc DeFrancis and I rode with Sue Browning down to Woodbridge High School to participate in a rally opposing a handful of demonstrators from the rabidly anti-LGBTQ Westboro Baptist Church. We carried UUCA’s Standing on the Side of Love banner, sang protest songs and cheered with more than 200 other LGBTQ people and allies. For a news report quoting Melodie Feather, UUCA’s former… Continue

Added by Rev. Carlton Elliott Smith on November 15, 2010 at 11:30am — 8 Comments

Easy Thanksgiving Help for Sullivan House Families

While you are filling your shopping cart with Thanksgiving favorites, throw in some doubles for Sullivan House families in need. Sullivan House is encouraging volunteers to donate non-perishable items to help their families celebrate a traditional Thanksgiving. Cranberry sauce, stuffing, olives, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, pumpkin pie filling, muffin mix, roasting pan and a gift card for a turkey or ham can be bagged together to make a Thanksgiving basket or you can leave… Continue

Added by Alexandra Roth on November 14, 2010 at 5:05pm — No Comments

Earmarks -- Ever wonder if we get any?

President Obama Talked About Limiting Earmarks in his weekly address today Nov. 13). It made me wonder just how many earmarks come to our state. I took a look at the White House "earmarks" site, and found the following list of Virginia 2010 earmarks:





Earmark - FOUR MILE RUN, VA ... Conference, 112, James P. Moran, VA 8 Jim Webb, VA Mark R. Warner, VA, Appropriations

Report Language, Joint Explanatory Statement 111-278 (Energy and Water… Continue

Added by Laura Dely on November 13, 2010 at 12:40pm — 1 Comment

On Veterans Day

My colleague Rev. Dr. Matt Tittle and his wife Gail are the editors of a booklet entitled Bless All Who Serve: Sources of Hope, Faith and Courage for Military Personnel and Their Families. Gail was an active duty Air Force officer for 14 years. Matt served as an active duty naval officer for 11 years and then as a reservist for another nine years, retiring as a commander before becoming a Unitarian… Continue

Added by Rev. Carlton Elliott Smith on November 11, 2010 at 2:36pm — 2 Comments

From the Board-“Renewal of Spirit, Renewal of Spaces”

From the Board-

“Renewal of Spirit, Renewal of Spaces”:

Integrity, Generosity and Right Relationships; Principled, Meaningful Stewardship

By Natalia (Natty) Averett, Board Chair

(published in the November 2010 Arlingtarian)



On October 3rd, shortly after we completed a readiness assessment including a series of conversations on the theme of “Renewal of Spirit, Renewal of Spaces,” the congregation voted to conduct a capital campaign, to be carried out between now… Continue

Added by Natalia Averett on November 10, 2010 at 9:00pm — No Comments

Culpepper Garden Awards Event, November 8

I was among several UUCA people at the annual Culpepper Garden event celebrating extraordinary service to senior citizens in Arlington. See this article forwarded to me by Sharon Sundial for more details.



Once again, I was inspired by this remarkable story of how members of UUCA provided the foundation for such a vital part of our community. Culpepper Garden provides 340 residential… Continue

Added by Rev. Carlton Elliott Smith on November 9, 2010 at 11:30pm — No Comments

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