News and Notes from

Mount Vernon Unitarian Church

1909 Windmill Lane, Alexandria, Virginia 22307
703.765.5950; fax 703.765.1237; info (at) mvuc.org

Mimi Stevens, Editor

The Board in brief (Jim McGovern)

At its regular monthly meeting on February 3 the Board endorsed an innovative and cost-effective design for future capital expansion and voted to award a contract to the architecture firm of Cole & Denny to bring this project through the concept design stage.

The Board also appointed a Capital Campaign Planning Committee and received updates on our application for a line of credit and the hiring of a business administrator.

For details, see the Minutes, which are posted in the Commons and on our website.

The January 31, 2004, financial report shows:

The year-to-date expenses include $68,010 of "unfunded projects".

This is the category for improvements to Hollin Hall including plumbing, heating and air conditioning, handicap access to the building and a handicap accessible bathroom. Work is well under way. This money will be "repaid" from the line of credit loan.

The theme for this year’s Annual Canvass is meant to convey that our church has a proud history and also a bright future. Important dates to put on your calendar: March 14 is Pledge Sunday and on Saturday, March 13 we are reviving the tradition of a canvass kickoff potluck dinner. You’ll hear more - much more - in the weeks ahead.

The guest speaker at both services on February 22 will be Vanessa Eaton, appointed a year ago as executive director of Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice of the Baltimore-Washington area. Come to find out how MVUC is collaborating with other UU churches and organizations in this area and to express your commitment to the importance of social justice.

The Annual Lasagna Dinner to benefit the 8^th grade Coming of Age trip to Boston will be held on Saturday, February 21^st, 5:30-

6:30 PM in the Meeting House, prior to the Variety Show at 7:00 PM. Dinner will include a variety of delicious homemade lasagna –– including vegetarian options, as well as garlic bread, salad, and beverages. Tickets, which include the Variety Show, are $8 per person or a maximum of $25 for immediate family members. After dinner, tasty desserts will be sold during the Variety Show to further benefit our 8^th graders. Please come and support the Coming of Age group! For questions, please contact dinner co-chairs Julie & Steve Dressing or Melissa & Michael Hentges.

Because of the winter storms, Wisdom Years was cancelled on January 27th. However, we have been assured that Officer Greg Kottemann, Crime Prevention Officer, will reschedule to appear before us on March 9th, with his take on Identity Theft. As an aside, Mr. Kottemann was chosen by the Mount Vernon Citizens Advisory Committee as Officer of the Month in December of 2003.

On February 24th, Dr. Bruce Tinker is scheduled to speak with us about various questions and issues having to do with our own health. And on March 23rd, our speaker will be Donna Bolton, who will talk to us concerning Estate Appraisals. having to do with disposition of valuable possessions when faced with making a life change.

If you have any questions or suggestions concerning Wisdom Years, please contact Ginny Endicott or Bev Southerland. Barring unforeseen weather problems, we plan our Wisdom Years group meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 10:30 A.M. til Noon.

On Saturday, February 28th from 5:30 ­ 7:30 p.m. we are having a "Little Persons’ Night Out" in the Chapel. Families with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are invited to spend an evening of good food, fun, and interrupted conversations with other MVUC families and friends with young children. The theme for the evening is PAJAMA PARTY. All children (and adults too) are invited to wear their pajamas to the event. What could be more fun than eating, dancing, and playing with your friends at church in your PJs! Special games, activities, and bedtime stories are planned. Neighbors and friends with young children are also welcome. This will be a potluck dinner. Please bring a Toddler/Preschooler-friendly salad, main dish, or dessert to share. Each family is also asked to donate $5 to cover the cost of paper products, decorations, beverages, appetizers, etc. Please RSVP by February 21st if you plan to attend. The organizers for the event are Daria Bergen-Hill and Suzanne McDonnell. Hope to see you and your little ones there!

The Partner Church Committee is pleased to have Potomac Fever entertain at its annual fund raising dinner on Saturday, March 6. Dinner, featuring Hungarian-style food, begins at 6 p.m. Potomac Fever, an a cappella ensemble of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C., will perform at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $20 for all over 18 and $5 for those under 18.

Congratulations to Wendy and Bill Burns on the birth of their grandson Wyatt Raymond Wolfman, on January 30. Proud parents are Laura Burns and Alex Wolfman.

Last spring, the congregations of the Baltimore Washington area gathered together and enthusiastically endorsed the idea of undertaking a regional growth initiative. This initiative has now begun!

With the work and support of the UUA and the JPD staff, a Growth Planning Committee has been formed and begun to meet. The committee is co-chaired by Nancy Proctor (Annapolis, MD) and Rev. Rebecca Cohen (Burke, VA). The other members of the committee are Este Armstrong (Germantown, MD), Ron Brandt (Mt. Vernon, VA), Barbara Corprew (Washington, DC), John Crestwell (Camp Springs, MD), Gregg Forte (Arlington, VA), Rev. Ginger Luke (Bethesda, MD), and Doreen Rosenthal (Baltimore, MD). Bob Johnsen is providing staff support and expertise.

At the first meeting of the committee, we developed a list of areas of focus to explore and educate ourselves about over the next few months, with the plan of eventually choosing three or four of them around which to build the long-range plan. The areas we selected include public relations, young adult programming, planting one or more new churches in the region, growing diversity within our congregations, strengthening people’s Unitarian Universalist identity and loyalty, looking at new approaches to religious expression, attracting new and retaining old members in existing congregations, exploring how Religious Education for children and youth might contribute to our growth, and further developing our social justice presence in the area, including looking at how our existing network, UUs for Social Justice, might play a role.

Once we have narrowed down the list to three or four areas of focus, we will be communicating directly with the 27 area congregations—asking for input and feedback on the process, and looking for volunteers for the various task forces we will create. One of the most critical aspects of this undertaking is the involvement and investment of the congregations and individual Unitarian Universalists in the area. We will continue to keep you informed as we move forward, and we look forward to being directly in touch later this year.

On Wednesday, February 18, 2004, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Bryant High School Auditorium, UCM and the BEL Center proudly present child development expert and best-selling author Dr. David Bjorklund. You are invited to join BEL parents and members of the community for an informative and interactive discussion and book signing with Dr. Bjorklund. This event is presented by UCM and the BEL Center as the cornerstone event during BEL’s Parent Appreciation Week-February 16th -20^th. More info: call 703-765-0909.

11:45 to 12:45 - BYO lunch; program - 12:45 to 1:45

Meetings will be held in the Chapel (until renovations of Hollin Hall are completed)

FEBRUARY 17 - WOULD-BE POETS: LOVE AND AGING

Several members of the "Would-Be Poets" Adult Ed class will read their own poems on Love and Aging, perhaps not "Hallmark Sweet," but serious and moving. The general tone will be "love is necessary." Readers will include Bea Holmes, Alice Bagwill, Al Searle, Phyllis Smolen, June Stumpe and perhaps others.

MARCH 2 - CHARLES MORRISSEY: THE CODE-BREAKERS WAR: 1941-1945.

Chuck reaches back into his own experiences in the Army in WWII. He will show a video and talk about "Enigma." This was a code-breaking machine which Allies stole from a sunken Nazi sub. The find was a major influence in the war's outcome and the find was also the best-kept secret of the War. After his discharge, Chuck became an engineer and had a 45-year career. He and his wife, Vilma, have been MVUC members since 1972.

"On behalf of the families who experienced your kindness and generosity this year, UCM extends a heartfelt thank you. Because of you, UCM was able to serve 406 Households/769 Children in the Gift Room and 73 Households/189 children in the Adopt-a-Family program.

"The persons served in UCM’s holiday programs are varied. Some are families that are in UCM’s two-year Transitional Housing program and are working with UCM staff to learn the skills to become self-sufficient. Others are single mothers who are working in full-time jobs and doing their best to provide for basic necessities. Additionally, there are immigrants who came to America for a better life and are experiencing difficulties with language barriers and competing in a tough job market. Many just need a helping hand to get them through a rough time until they can once again hold their heads up high. Your support offers them the encourgaement and compassion they need to make this possible."

"On behalf of the entire Paint Branch congregation and staff, I want to thank you for your financial contribution in our time of need following the Dec. 9 fire in our Religious Education/Office Building. Although the fire and its aftermath have been a difficult and challenging experience, we are overwhelmed and inspired by the many expressions of support from our members and friends.

"Our insurance coverage is comprehensive and out policy is with a well-established insurance firm that has an excellent reputation, but there will still be funding challenges ahead, largely due to lost rental income and extensive upgrades for this 1965 building. Your generous gift of $1673.75 will join with many others to help provide much-needed support as we carry on with our day-to-day operations and begin the rebuilding process."

Sunday Worship Themes

A benefit dinner for women's rights and literacy in Afghanistan will be held at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, 9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda, MD, on Friday, Feb. 20, 2004, at 7:30 pm. It will start with authentic Afghan food, sale of Afghan crafts, and a raffle of Afghan clothing or craft. Then Nasrine Gross will speak about her recent work in Afghanistan. Nasrine is an Afghan woman married to an American who has been working on getting women's rights included in the Afghan constitution for the past 4 years. She will describe the process by which the new Afghan constitution was ratified and her success in getting women's rights included in it. She will also describe her innovative literacy classes for couples.

Cost: $30; raffle tickets $10 each. RSVP by: February 15^th For information and reservations, call Eleanor at (301) 299-6236.

For all Unitarian Universalists interested and involved in UU musical and worship activities: come to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring on Saturday, February 21. Share, learn new ideas for music and worship in your church, and meet your JPD neighbors! We will gather at 9:00 am for coffee and conversation, and start the program with worship at 9:30.

Unitarian Universalists and other community members throughout the United States and Canada will be gathering at The Unitarian Church of All Souls in New York City, and organizing to gain full acceptance and equality for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgendered Persons. Presenters include Forrest Church, Mel White, John Shelby Spong, Virginia Ramey Mollenkott, William Sinkford, Richard Goldstein, Gilles Marchildon, and Meg Riley. Registration is $99 per person. Full details are available at www.convocation.info.

JPD Annual Meeting and Spring Conference will be held March 19-20 in Wilmington. The theme is "Bending Toward Justice: Building a Multicultural World." Keynote Speaker is Rev. William Sinkford, President of the UUA. Registration information and forms are available at the church.

Coming in April: "Spirit Incarnate: Honoring the Goddess as Body and Earth", the JPD UU Women & Religion Committee Retreat, will be held April 16-18 at a retreat center near Lancaster, PA.