Register for upcoming adult religious education classes here.
Holiday Craft Workshop, Caroling, Pizza, and Piñata Saturday, December 3, 2:30 pm – 6:00 pm, MVUC Meeting House *****Register by Wed., Nov. 30, midnight! TODAY. We’ll have to cancel if we don’t have enough interest.
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/MVUCSingalongPinataPizza2022
Now thru December 29 - Art Exhibit at MVUC
December 3 - Holiday Craft Workshop; Pizza Party and Caroling; MVUC Piñata
December 4 - Jazz Sunday - Worship Service
December 4 - Virtual Social Hour on Zoom after service
December 4 - Interfaith Rally for Mental Health Services (off-site)
December 11 - Pageant rehearsal
December 16 - Joint Outdoor Fellowship/Hum & Strum event (off-site)
December 18 - Annual Pageant - Worship Service
December 21 - Solstice Celebration Potluck, Dance, Poetry, and Fire
December 24 - Christmas Eve Services (4:30pm and 7:00pm)
Support MVUC with Actions that Take Two Minutes or Less:
Keys please? Do you have MVUC keys that you no longer need? If so, please return them to the Church Administrator. (The keys have to be custom made and each key costs $6.00.) Thank you
This Sunday's Service
10:00 am
Onsite and Online
“Wonderful" Rev. Christian Schmidt & Mark Zimmerman
We reflect on the monthly theme of wonder: what do we find wondrous and wonderful in our lives, the world, and the universe?
Photo credit: "Cosmic Cliffs" in the Carina Nebula - NASA and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)
Love is the Teaching of this Church - The Quest of Truth is its Daily Task - And Service is Its Prayer
Attend Interfaith Rally for Mental Health Services, Sunday December 4, Herndon, VA. See below for more.
Support Ventures in Community Hypothermia Outreach Program (VIC HOP) this winter - Sign up to provide meals in January and March. Learn more...
Welcoming new visitors to MVUC - can you offer an occasional ride? Contact Membership. Learn more...
To Dwell Together in Peace
Holiday Craft Workshop, Pizza Party, Caroling, & Piñata - Sat. December 3; 2:30-6:00pm in the Chapel.
Register by TODAY AT MIDNIGHT to ensure we can renew this tradition in-person this year!
Register by clicking https://tinyurl.com/MVUCSingalongPinataPizza2022
To the End that All Souls Shall Grow in Harmony - This is Our Covenant with Each and with All
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. Learn more...
Interfaith Rally for Mental Health Services
December 4, 2022, 3:30pm, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Herndon, VA
On December 4 join hundreds of Northern Virginia Jews, Christians, Muslims, Unitarian Universalists and others, gathered by VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement). The event will focus on the mental health and addiction crisis facing our community, and how the state and county can provide emergency centers to treat neighbors rather than incarcerating them. VOICE has aligned with VA Hospital leaders and Police Chiefs on a gold standard to address the crisis. Elected officials will be at the December 4 event, and we need a large crowd to impress on them that this is a serious concern.
Past MVUC minister Linda Olson Peebles will be attending, and invites people to carpool with her to Trinity Presbyterian Church in Herndon (leaving MVUC at 2:45). Contact LOPeebles@aol.com, to learn more.
Joint Outdoor Fellowship/Hum and Strum event for December
December 16, 2022, 6:30pm, Bistro at Fairfax Belvoir Woods retirement community
9140 Belvoir Woods Parkway, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060
MVUC's Hum and Strum group of singers has invited us to join them for caroling at the Fairfax Belvoir Woods, a retirement community at which several members of MVUC are residents. The event will take place at 6:30 PM on Friday, Dec. 16 at the 3rd floor Bistro of the Fairfax. You may use your GPS or you may carpool by meeting at MVUC in time to depart by 6:00 pm. If anyone can play the piano, please contact Marty Bredeck, the illustrious leader of the Hum and Strum.
The team leaders at Holiday Shop wish to offer resounding applause and a huge Thank You to all those who helped in any way to make our 60th Annual Holiday Shop comeback a success.
We had more than 700 people enter our doors. The carpark was full most of the time; the vendors did well; Country Kitchen was almost cleaned out; Lunch crew sold all of their soup and pies; Jewelry and Betty’s Boutique had their stock depleted; the youth Hotdog stand was busy; and the Quilters worked tirelessly to sell their tickets. We had the pleasure of having the Pourchots’ Band singing along for the final hour. It was all lovely!
With gratitude,
Jan Speakman, Martha Dyckes, Ruth Ann MacCleery, Carolyn Slenska, Mike Walker, Doug MacCleery, The Quilters, and our Treasurer Linda Burke.
Quilt Raffle Winners!
The winner of this year’s raffle quilt, “Bears In The Blueberries,” is Barbara Whitehart!
The winner of our second prize quilt, “Sunrise”, is Barbara Jacobs. Sunrise is a raffle quilt from 2002 that was donated back to the church.
Thank you everyone for participating in our raffle this year!
Fort Hunt Preschool Priority Enrollment for MVUC Now Happening
Fort Hunt Preschool's Priority enrollment period is November 29-December 16. Members of Mount Vernon Unitarian Church are eligible to apply during this period.
Founded 60 years ago by members of MVUC, Fort Hunt Preschool meets in the Carriage House with classes for 2, 3, and 4 year olds. It is a nature rich and play based parent cooperative.
Wow! Your over-the-top generosity to No Child Goes Hungry has really been something. When your check arrived, I couldn’t believe my eyes. As you read this please know that your wonderful offering is already serving kids and families locally with food for the holidays, food gift cards so they can make even more choices, shelving for a new school pantry and so much more.
A heartful Thank You for believing in No Child Goes Hungry and all your support.
Liza’s husband Serhii (Sir-gay) fled Ukraine into Poland and arrived safely in Alexandria, VA on November 19, 2022. Serhii has a medical condition that precluded him from serving in the military. Family members and friends encouraged and ultimately helped Serhii to leave Ukraine and come to the United States to join Liza, Zlata, and Yeva. While they are all still very concerned about the rest of their family and the fate of their country, as you can imagine, they are all exuberant to be together again. They are more appreciative than ever that, thanks to the incredible generosity of MVUC, their family has a home of their own to live in.
Serhii, like Liza, is in the US under the Uniting for Ukraine program which was created by the US Department of Homeland Security to support Ukrainians and others affected by Russia’s attacks.
Liza, Serhii, Zlata and Yeva are looking forward to celebrating their first American Thanksgiving. They have so much to be thankful for and especially want MVUC to know how very appreciative they are of our support.
The Holidays are So Much More at MVUC!
Thanksgiving is here and that means that the holidays are upon us. Some people look forward to the holidays, and others may feel overwhelmed by the incessant pressure to buy things and be jolly. Here at MVUC though, the tone is quite different. Here on the hill, we offer a number of activities that are low on consumerism and offer opportunities to spend time with friends to enjoy the season in whatever way is most meaningful to you.
We kick things off on December 1 with our annual electronic advent calendar. The advent calendar is a great way for the whole family to explore holiday related themes with games, music, short videos, trivia, and stories. Open surprise every day in December to enjoy a minutes long-break and learn more about what’s happening on the hill, or more about the holidays in general. You can find the advent calendar here.
We’re looking forward to seeing you all on December 3, for the Holiday Craft Workshop, Pizza Party, Caroling Sing-Along and Pinata! After settling for holiday crafts to take home in a bag and carols on the radio, this wonderful MVUC tradition is back, live! Start the fun at 2:30 making holiday crafts to take home, including the ever-popular graham cracker houses to decorate. To reserve your graham cracker house kit for $9 you can go here.https://tinyurl.com/MVUCHCWS2022Volunteers are welcome and needed! Please sign up to help here. https://tinyurl.com/MVUCHCWSVolunteers2022
The merriment continues that Saturday with a pizza party and caroling sing-along. The pizza’s delicious, the songs are both heartfelt and jolly. The highlight will be "The 12 Days a Christmas," a rendition of this carol that no one can forget. Drop-ins are welcome, but if you can let us know you’re coming, click here: https://tinyurl.com/MVUCSingalongPinataPizza2022
The MVUC elves are already hard at work on the holiday Pageant to be held on December 18, this time with the theme of Yuletide. This special worship service promises both moments of reflection and contemplation as well as raucous celebration featuring Santa, a yule log ablaze, and a goat! To volunteer to be in the service or help coordinate, please contact Ann Richards at dlsg@mvuc.org
Solstice falls on Wednesday, December 21 this year, and it offers food, fun and frolic. We begin at 5:30 with a potluck dinner in Hollin Hall. Revelers then head to the chapel for more movement and merriment with Cheryl Sabo. End the evening with poems by the solstice fire. Register here https://tinyurl.com/MVUCSolstice2022 Drop-ins welcome.
Christmas Eve services on December 24. The family service will be at 4:30 for light-hearted Christmas observance, and our more contemplative service will be at 7 p.m. The latter will be available on the MVUC YouTube channel for viewing into the new year.
Sunday, December 25 will be a Christmas Morning service at our regular 10 a.m. time. Produced by our Worship Committee, this service will be a time to be with our community at its best.
This year, take a break from the hubbub of shopping and advertisements, and spend some time with us in a comfortable, community context on our holy hill.
Lifespan Spiritual Growth 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.
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.
TEDTalk Discussion This Month - Alex Honnold, Free Climber, on Summiting El Capitan Tuesday, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m., via Zoom (offered fourth Tuesdays of each month)
Great Decisions Returns to MVUC Feb. 5, 12, 26, March 5, 12, 26, April 2, 23, Rain Date April 30, Chapel 11:30- 1:30
Great Decisions is returning to Mount Vernon Unitarian Church next 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 MVUCHollin 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.
💙Readings in Unitarian Universalism -- Offered by Davies UU Tuesdays at 7p.m., October 11 and 18 and November 8, 15, and 22. On Zoom
A five-week series of conversations centered on readings from the Unitarian Universalist tradition.
💙A Visit With Poetry -- Offered by Davies UU Saturday, January 14, 4 p.m. On Zoom.
A one-time, online opportunity to enjoy the work of well-known poets, discuss the poetry process, and share.
💙Exploring "The 1619 Project"-- Offered by Davies UU Wednesdays, January 18, February 1 & 15, at 7p.m. On Zoom.
Living into our commitment to the 8th Principle, we'll explore the riches of "The 1619 Project."
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.
Participants Needed for Pageant!
It’s that time of year: December 18 it’s the annual Pageant! We need all kinds of children to participate, and some adults too. The theme is Yuletide this year, and you can expect a meaningful, celebratory experience. The commitment includes a rehearsal on December 11 after the worship service. If you’re interested or have questions, contact Ann Richards at dlsg@mvuc.org
Holiday Craft Workshop, Caroling, Pizza, and Piñata Saturday, December 3, 2:30 pm – 6:00 pm, MVUC Meeting House *****Register by Wed., Nov. 30, midnight! TODAY. We’ll have to cancel if we don’t have enough interest.
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/MVUCSingalongPinataPizza2022 Learn more...
Solstice Celebration for All Ages
Join us on Wednesday, December 21, the longest night of the year, when we celebrate the coming of the light which begins the next day. We’ll have a potluck, poetry, dancing and a solstice fire. The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner in Hollin Hall: please bring a dish to share. For more information, contact Jim Kerr at reassist@gmail.com Register at https://tinyurl.com/MVUCSolstice2022
Advent Calendar is Back!
MVUC celebrates the season with its very own Advent Calendar! Go to http://goo.gl/MLKwfq for family fun, information and seasonal reminders in every day of December beginning on the first.
Register Your Children for Religious Education (RE) here.
The Nursery is Open During Worship on Sundays! Care will be provided by our professional caregiver, Farhi Choudhury, and an assistant.
Upcoming Calendar
Date
Time
Event
Sun. Nov. 27
10:00am
Multigenerational Worship in Chapel-No RE
Sat. Dec. 3
2:30-6pm
Holiday Craft Workshop, Caroling, Pizza, and Piñata
Sun. Dec. 4
10:00am
Worship Service in Chapel
Sun. Dec. 4
10:00am
RE classes grades K-12th.
Nursery care for ages 6 months – 4 years
Sun. Dec. 11
10:00am
RE classes grades K-12th.
Nursery care for ages 6 months – 4 years
Sun. Dec. 11
10:00am
RE classes grades K-12th.
Nursery care for ages 6 months – 4 years
Sun. Dec. 18
10:00am
Pageant: Multigenerational Worship in Chapel – No RE
Mon. Dec. 19
7:30pm
LSG Council Meeting 7:30 via Zoom
Wed. Dec. 21
5:30pm
Solstice Celebration Potluck, dance, poetry, and fire
Sat. Dec 24
4:30pm
Family Christmas Eve Multigenerational Service
Sat. Dec 24
7:00pm
Christmas Eve Multigenerational Service
Sun. Dec. 25
Sun. Jan. 1
Sun. Jan. 8
10:00am
10:00am
10:00am
Christmas Day Multigenerational Service – No RE
New Year's Day Multigenerational Service - No RE
RE Classes Resume
Keep In Touch
Moving? Have a new mailing address? New Email? New Phone? Please let us know. Send updates to admin@mvuc.org.
This Week at MVUC
This Week at MVUC, arriving each Wednesday - focuses on announcements, reminders, and near-term events.
As of August 2022, we reach more than 790 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'd like to contribute (ideas, articles, photos, art, links, video, poems, or editing) to one of our monthly newsletters, Windmill Times or Windmill Spaces, please contact communicationschair@mvuc.org.
Thank you everyone for participating in our raffle this year!
gram which was created by the US Department of Homeland Security to support Ukrainians and others affected by Russia’s attacks. 