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Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun
20460 Gleedsville Road
Leesburg, Virginia 20175
703-737-764  4 |
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Youth's Corner |
Meet Charlie Ferre nz
Charlie is 8 years old and likes attending UUCL RE classes because she enjoys playing spiritual games and making crafts. Her mentor is her brother Joey because, "He is someone I can talk to and he is nice to me." Charlie is an active soccer player as goalie and striker. Next time you see Charlie - tell her HELLO!
Decker Ward
September marked the new year for RE classes and Decker is excited to see what the new classes have in store for him. He said they talked about the new curriculm  and some of the activities they are planning for the year. "The new classes sound like they are going to be pretty fun. We are having a Lock-In and hope to go rafting in the Spring. I also like who is teaching the classes," said Decker. He also stated that with the activities planned for the RE Classes - it just might motivate him to listen and learn something! Decker is 14 years old and a Freshman at Loudoun County High School. An honor student at LCHS, Decker also plays the sausaphone in the LCHS Marching Band! |
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Letter from the Editor
The Readership Survey results provided a sense of direction of where you would like to see the future of your newsletter. Because of your input, design and content updates will continue until we get closer to a final product. New features added this month are the Youth Corner and a monthly featured lead article. There were submissions to name the newsletter - Chalice Chat, UUCL Communicator, The Chalice, The Candle, and The Trumpet. Please send me your vote on which name you like best to newsletter@uuloudoun.org.The winner will receive a prize and recognition in the November issue. Your input to improve your newsletter is always appreciated. Thanks much and have a great October!
Barb Mendoza |
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UUCL Choir Director Holds Retreat |
The Music Committee held is 1st Ever Music Committee Retreat on Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Purcellville Community Library. 
The Retreat began with breakfast and conversation with Revs. Phyllis Hubbell and John Manwell as they discussed their ideas of what music should and can be within the UUCL church, what they'd like to see, and how they can be a part of the discussion. According the Gerri Rollins, Music director, "We had serious chats, fun chats, joked and teased. It was a great time for us to get to know one another and the new ministers." Read More |
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President's Corner |
 By Tamar Datan
September has been an action packed month with some watershed events - most notably the arrival of our new Ministers, John and Phyllis. Thanks to everyone for making them feel so welcomed, especially our terrific Hospitality Co-Chairs, Barbara Berge and Deb Tanner, who organized the wonderful welcome lunch on Sept. 11. And speaking of watersheds, I'd like to extend a hearty thanks to all who contributed to September's special collection for Pennsylvania's BuxMont UU church, which recently suffered extensive flooding damage. We collected nearly $600! Read More |
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Adopt-a-River Canoe Cleanup |
 Keeping Loudoun Beautiful
Coordinated by the UUCL Social Action Committee, on Aug. 16, UUCL volunteers joined the Potomac River cleanup event organized by the folks at Keep Loudoun Beautiful. River & Trail Outfitters of Harpers Ferry provided canoes, rafts and shuttle service. Tarara Vineyards provided parking and a takeout spot which allowed the volunteers to clean a section of the Potomac downstream from Point of Rocks. Each August, a flotilla of canoes paddles down the Potomac, pulling massive amounts of trash and tires from the Potomac. There were so many tires and large pieces of junk that some of the canoes had to be lashed together to haul the big stuff (including a demolished plastic playhouse, a sunken johnboat, a wrecked canoe, a big old TV, monster tractor tires, and not one but two refrigerators). Join us next April or August when there will be a canoe flotilla cleanup on Goose Creek.
Photo L to R: Tom Solitario, Sandy Shihadeh, Tamar Datan, Peggy Fallon, and Natalie Pien |
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A Message from our Ministers | |
Roots and Wings
 By John Parker Manwell, co-minister
We told the board last month about the advice we heard offered, many years ago, by a Methodist bishop in Baltimore. Always remember the main thing, he said. What is it? The main thing is to find the main thing, then keep the main thing the main thing. That's the main thing.
At Loudoun we've heard you say you need more space, and maybe a new location. You want to grow so you can support full-time ministry and raise your visibility in the community. You want a more focused approach to the work of justice. All worthy goals, but what comes first? It's not for us to say. But our strong wish for you is that before deciding, you reflect together on what's it's all about: To what end do you want these things? What are you trying to do as a congregation? Read More
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Worship Services |
Oct. 2: Beginning Again in Love by Rev. Manwell & Rev. Hubbell
 Oct. 9: How do silkworms fly? by Sara Ghaffari and Andi Ferrenz. A sermon on religious education for all.
Oct. 16: House of Hope by Rev. Manwell & Rev. Hubbell. So many of us, at some level, come to this place out of longing to find fresh hope in our lives, and it is our experience of hope that keeps us here. We are a house of hope. How can we also be a beacon of hope to those around us?
Oct. 23: The Bright Side of Life by Gus Vandermeeren. Some people seem to be perpetually cheerful and upbeat. Others are the opposite. Most of us fall somewhere in between. Is it possible to train yourself to be more positive and by doing so become happier?
Oct. 30: When the Walls are the Thinnest by Peggy Fallon. On the Day of the Dead, the 'walls between the worlds are thinnest', giving us an opportunity to think about what information we would like to pass through those walls. |
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Religious Education News |
 "Big Wheels Keep On Turnin'By Sara Ghaffari,
Religious Education coordinator
Sometimes as you are going along with what it is that needs to get done, you have that moment when you start seeing yourself as this cog in a big turning wheel, which is part of a much larger mechanism. Suddenly you realize: "Oh, okay, Universe, I got you. This is what we're up to this time." Well, this past month as I raced back and forth between Leesburg, Va., Rockville and Columbia, Md., trying to check everything off my to-do-list (while also stopping at the church and Home Depot no less than three separate times to fix a wire that hangs a dividing curtain in the RE space). I didn't realize I was turning my little wheel in such a way that the wheels next to me could move in order for something really great to happen. The universe had a big goal this month and I believe it was about making connections. Read More
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Story for All Ages |
On Sunday, Sept. 24, Karen Ward read a story, written by Leslie Wright, about Saint Francis and his love for animals. Leslie also held a sermon about the special relationships and responsibilities we have to the animal world. The congregation took time to thank the animals and conducted a Blessing of Animals ceremony for their  animals that provide us with companionship.    
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Committee Updates and UUCL Events |
 October 2011 Oct 1: "Telling our Stories"
Oct. 2: New to UU Fall Class
Oct. 2: SOTF Committee Update
Oct. 4: RE Teacher TrainingOct. 9: New to UU Fall Class Oct. 9: Music Committee Meeting
Oct. 9: Young Adults Overnight Cabin Stay Oct. 14: UU Jammers Jam Away! Oct. 21: WomenSpirit Gathering
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UUCL Book Club | |
The UUCL Book Club gathered on Friday, Sept. 23 for the first meeting of the new church year. A dozen church members discussed the book 'The Amish Way' by Donald Kraybill while sharing snacks and fellowship. A great time was had by all. Everyone is looking forward to the next gathering, on Friday, Dec.2 and especially to the next book, 'The Year of Living Biblically' by A.J. Jacobs. It's a hilarious true story about one man's quest to live by every single rule in the Bible. We hope you'll read the book and join us in December! |
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UUCL Board and Committee Members | | Get to know your Board and Committe Members. If you would like to volunteer on any of the committees, please reach out to the Committee Chairperson (s). See the attachment for the complete listing. |
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