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This Week at MVUC

Mount Vernon Unitarian Church
1909 Windmill Lane, Alexandria, VA, 22307; 703-765-5950; info@mvuc.org; www.mvuc.org

February 15, 2023

Unitarian Universalist
Calendar Check!

February 16 - Third Thursday Book Discussion Group
February 25 - Outdoor Fellowship Hike
March 4 - Annual Variety Show and Lasagna Dinner (RSVP!)
March 11 - Climate Action Team (CAT) Conference & Vegetarian Potluck Luncheon
March 16 - Third Thursday Book Discussion Group 

March 23-25Annual Used Book and Art Sale; Donate now! Shop later!
April 9 - Easter Egg Hunt
April 16 - Earth Day Creek Clean-Up
April 23 - Spring Workenanny

April 30 - May 7 - "Candidating Week" for prospective new minister
May 7 - Congregational Meeting to call a new minister
May 21 - MVUC Annual Meeting
June 21-25 - UUA General Assembly, Pittsburgh and Online

Our Share the Plate recipient for February is Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture.

This Sunday's Service - 10:00 am - Onsite and Online 

“Putting Love at the Center"

Rev. Christian Schmidt

What would it mean to, as the UUA is considering in revisions of its bylaws, to put love at the center of who we are and what we do? If love was our core value, it would mean engaging the world differently than we often have.

See Article II Study Report - released January 2023.

Bonus Days from this year's 30 Days of Side with Love - Blessings and Liberatory Intersections:
 
"At its core, the work of Side With Love is to be a hub for connection, growth, nourishment and action that allows Unitarian Universalists and our partners to live out our values in the world. Together, we deepen our political analysis, sharpen our skills, articulate our theological grounding, and mobilize our communities to build a world in which all of us are free and thriving. 

And – we are so aware that the work of transforming the world through liberating love is something that started long before any of us was born, and that will carry on long after we have become the ancestors of memory. The work is shared, and it is unending – as the oft-quoted truism of Rabbi Tafron in the Jewish Mishnah text Pirkei Avot goes, “You are not required to finish the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”  - Rev. Ashley Horan


More here, including a prayer, body practice, and grounding. 

Fascinations - A Retrospective

Photographs by MVUC member Jeanne Tifft.

Montebello Community Center

February 18 - March 30, 2023.  

Residents and friends are invited to the Opening Reception February 18, 5-7pm; cash bar & nibbles.
MVUC Climate Action Team (CAT) Conference
Saturday March 11, 2023, 9:00am - 3:00pm; MVUC Meeting House

Save the date for the upcoming CAT Conference on Saturday, March 11 from 9:00 - 3:00! It will be held at MVUC. The theme this year is Act Local. We'll have updates from Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS) and from each MVUC CAT Circle, a vegetarian potluck lunch, tour of the grounds, and planning for the coming year.

Questions? Stop by the CAT Table after church on Sunday.

More News in Brief: 
 

Third Thursday Book Discussion - 10:00am February 16th - Hollin Hall Dining Room. Learn more...

Outdoor Fellowship Hike - 10:00am February 25 - Franconia District Park. Learn more...

Friends of Hollin Hills Event - 3:00pm February 26 at MVUC - Doug Tallamy, author of Nature's Best Hope, offers advice on restoring biodiversity. Learn more...

Vegetarian Potluck Luncheon! - March 11, 2023, 12 noon; MVUC Commons - Come join us for this opportunity to enjoy a variety of plant rich foods in good company as part of the MVUC Climate Action Team Conference! 
Sign up here.


☕️ COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDVolunteer to help out with Sunday morning after-service coffee hours. Sign up here. Learn more...


Donate Your Used Books and Art now and then Save the Date to Shop at MVUC's Annual Used Book & Art Sale, March 23-25. Learn more...

Welcoming new visitors to MVUC - can you offer an occasional ride? Contact Membership. Learn more...

Volunteer to provide flowers at an upcoming Sunday Service using this Sign-up Genius form. Learn more...

Contact the MVUC Care Team for support of MVUC members who are ill, in crisis, or experiencing life transitions. MVUC Care Team can offer rides to appointments, check-ins, visits, and orthopedic equipment. Donate equipment to our Rehab Equipment Loan Closet or borrow from it as long as you need.

The Rehabilitation Equipment Loan Closet is in need of wheel chairs with feet rests and walkers with 4 wheels and a seat (rolators). If you have equipment to loan please contact Sandy Peterson at 703-470-4414. If you have borrowed equipment and no longer need it, please return it to the Hollin Hall kitchen. Learn more... 

Lifespan Spiritual Growth (LSG) at MVUC

Adult Religious Education - Children and Youth Religious Education

You are welcome here! Find out more about current classes and opportunities, our welcoming policies, and get help with our technology platforms on our website.

Adult Religious Education Announcements and Opportunities
A list of current adult classes and opportunities is below. MVUC is expanding our collaboration with Davies UU and Davies UU Offerings are marked with a blue heart 💙 in the list below. The courses marked with a green heart 💚 are offered in collaboration with East Suburban Unitarian Universalist Church.

More details and sign-up links are available on our website at This Week in Adult RE at MVUC.

TED Talks Discussions - Additional Facilitators Are Welcome!
 Those who would like to host a talk in this series may refer to the sign up sheet at TEDTalks Facilitator Sign-up to let us know you’re interested.  

Great Decisions Returns to MVUC 
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 26, April 2, 23, Rain Date April 30,  Fireplace Room  11:30- 1:30
Great Decisions is returning to Mount Vernon Unitarian Church this spring after a COVID pause.

💙ADORE: A Dialogue on Race and Ethnicity -- Offered by Davies UU
Second Fridays, 7-8:30 p.m. On Zoom
ADORE is a signature program of the Davies community and central to our 8th Principle work...

Contemplative Group
Sundays at 9 a.m. at MVUC Hollin Hall, Sun Porch and on Zoom
Deepen your spiritual life through contemplative practice with a supportive group. 

💙Thoughts about Prayer -- Offered by Davies UU
Fourth Wednesdays at 7 p.m. On Zoom
This monthly gathering invites participants to explore the nature and meaning of prayer in our daily lives.

💚 Four Zoom-based classes are being offered by East Suburban Unitarian Universalist Church in Murrysville, PA to UU’s throughout the UU Central East Region. Email Marianne (CLM@esuuc.org) of ESUUC by February11 to join and coordinate times to meet (class dates will be set on the 11th.)All are welcome; no cost. 

  • 💚 Small Group exploration of the monthly Soul Matters themes
  • 💚 Singing (Singing the Living Tradition (gray hymnal), Singing the Journey (teal hymnal), and more) – on Zoom, muted, so everyone including shy singers are welcome
  • 💚 Wisdom Walk - explore nine spiritual practices from global spiritual traditions, based on Sage Bennet’s book

Religious Education for Children and Youth
Classes for those aged 6 months to 18 years are held on Sunday mornings, beginning in the Chapel with the rest of the congregation at 10 a.m.  After the story for all ages, children will go to their classrooms. 

More details and registration links are available on our website at This Week in RE for Children and Youth at MVUC.

Register Your Children for Religious Education (RE) here.

Upcoming Classes and LSG Events: 

All Sundays January 8 – March 26, at 10 am:  

  • Worship Service in the Chapel
  • RE classes for Grades PreK – 12
  • Nursery care for ages 6 months to 4 years
Lasagna Dinner Fundraiser and Variety Show
Saturday March 4, 5:00-8:30pm - Commons and Chapel
Join Variety Show attendees to support MVUC’s youth heritage trip to Boston. Tickets, which include the Variety Show, are $8 per person or a maximum of $25 for immediate family members. Perform in the Variety Show! Adults and children, young and old, ALL are welcome to perform. Sign up to perform in the Commons or at https://tinyurl.com/MVUCVarietyShow2023.  Let us know if you're coming to enjoy the lasagna here: https://tinyurl.com/MVUCLasagnaDinner2023.

Date                           Time                           Event

Mon., Feb. 13           7:30 pm           Lifespan Spiritual Growth Council monthly meeting

Sat., Mar. 4               5:00 pm           Lasagna Dinner Boston Trip Fundraiser & Variety Show

Sun. Apr. 9                11:15 am         Easter Egg Hunt

Sun. Apr. 16               10:00 am        Earth Day Creek Clean-Up

Support MVUC with Actions that Take Two Minutes or Less:
This Week at MVUC, arriving each Wednesday - focuses on announcements, reminders, and near-term events.

As of January 2023, we reach more than 815 subscribers with news of our congregation and community. Let's keep growing! For more information about our newsletters and to subscribe, see our website.

 
If you have announcements for This Week at MVUC, please fill out the announcement request form on MVUC's website by noon on Monday of each week. 
Copyright © 2023 Mount Vernon Unitarian Church, All rights reserved.


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