Mormons

Our 3rd Annual DC Tree Hike is back to illuminate your dark December night! This year, we're embracing the Norwegian concept of *'friluftsliv', (*"open-air life") - the love of the outdoors, despite the weather. Join us for a easy 4.5-mile hike around Washington, DC. We'll visit tree displays at Union Station, the U.S. Capitol, the Canadian Embassy, the Ellipse and City Center DC to take in all the sights and sounds of the winter season along Pennsylvania Avenue. We will start our hike outside of the Downtown Holiday Market adjacent to the National Portrait Gallery and Gallery Place Metro. Arrive early and enjoy the Downtown Holiday Market before the hike. We'll gather at the Portrait Gallery stairs on 7th and F Streets NW (across from Capital One Arena) We'll depart promptly at 6:30pm and keep a steady walking pace to keep our toes and hearts warm. In the spirit of the holiday season, the trip fee for this hike is only $1.\*\*(cash/electronic payments). RSVPs will open two weeks before the event. Please [click here](https://adventuringlgbtq.com/Adventuring_Release_Form.pdf) to review our release form. When you RSVP to an event, you affirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the release.

Every Monday Night (Rare Execeptions posted on NOVA BG website ) since the late 1980s, we are new to Meetup. https://sites.google.com/site/novabackgammon/ Register at 6:45PM Random Draw 7:00PM sharp. Results Usually Reported on Tuesday - via NOVA BG E-Mail Double-Elimination: Main & Consolation Brackets We follow USBGF Rules and the following options: - Legal Moves. - Use of two dice is Preferred over four dice. - Dice landing on checkers is legal. - Use of clocks is Preferred.

PLEASE CHECK THE ONLINE MEDITATION CALENDAR FOR DETAILS OF THESE MORE THAN 50 SERVICES A WEEK- https://onlinemeditation.yogananda.org/calendar/

• If you RSVP for an event, please attend that event or cancel at least two hours before the event starts. Members that no-show will receive one warning then will be benched (suspended) from events for two weeks. Three no-shows can result in a permanent ban. (No-shows create uneven numbers and prevent folks on the waitlist from playing. Please do your part to un-RSVP as soon as you know that you cannot attend an event.)
• Members must have a way to communicate with organizers and hosts. This can be through the Meetup app messages or by providing other contact info.
• Any member can ask a host or organizer to have their skill rated for event attendance purposes. You will not be allowed to participate in events higher than your NTRP rating. (We may try to limit numbers or have multiple events on a given day to accommodate players of different skill levels and also to help alleviate the court availability problem).
• All members shall conduct good sportsmanship and be courteous to other members at all times.
• Sexual harassment, racism, sexism or any kind of intolerance will not be tolerated and will result in the permanent ban from the group.
• If member receives three warning infractions, the member will be suspended from the Meetup for a period of one month. If a member is suspended twice (six warnings), that member will be permanently banned and any membership dues will then be forfeited.
• If you are scheduling to play with others outside of a MoCo Topspinners event, and you know that there is a MoCo Topspinners event scheduled for that day at that time, please try to use courts other than the courts where the event is scheduled, or move your time so that it does not conflict with the Topspinners event.
For a list of complete rules and definitions you can see the MoCo Topspinners front page. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. We are hoping for a fun season but we may have to wait for courts and leave earlier than we are used to. Please be patient as we adjust to this new normal and try a few different things that will hopefully help the situation. Happy playing!

Please join us. We are a group of 6-12 people who come together weekly on Mondays for an hour of silent meditation, walking meditation. We all need more silence and peace in this world. We end with tea and snack and a poem with sharing. Our guiding teacher has practiced Zen meditation for 25 years, but we all share leadership. Beginners or anyone interested in silent meditation and fellowship are welcome. We sit in chairs, have a reading or brief instruction, a bell and silent meditation for 10 minutes, followed by walking meditation, a bell and 20 minutes of silent meditation. We end with an offering of tea and a snack, conversation and a poem and reflections. A warm and welcoming group. Free, please join us. We meet in the sanctuary In [Rockville United Church](https://www.rockvilleunitedchurch.org/) in Twinbrook, MD. Plenty of parking. Enter the main door and look for a green sign. ***This is a good place to rest and refresh on the way home from work and before dinner.*** Free. Try it.

Kate welcomes anyone from Singlefaith to drop in at her apartment on Christmas Day. Stay a few minutes, stay an hour, stay longer. Noon to 6:00 PM (I do have one cat, he is friendly, but I can put him in my room if necessary). Kate will provide cookies, cider, hot cocoa and other non-alcoholic beverages. Feel free to bring an appetizer, snack or other finger food item to share. 3909 Lakehouse Road, Apt #4 Beltsville (Calverton), MD 20705 ***Kate will post some signs to direct you*** \- here are written instructions: ***Once you arrive at BUILDING 3909*** \- this number is displayed at the top of the entrance door\. When you enter the building, go down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairwell there is another door. Go through that door. In the hallway will be another door on your left. Go through that door. Kate's apartment (#4) is the first door on your right. ***Please read these PARKING instructions carefully.*** Street Parking is FREE along Beltsville Road, which runs adjacent to Lakehouse Road and the Lighthouse at Twin Lakes apartment complex. Parking in the parking lot for Lighthouse at Twin Lakes requires a fee for guests. The fee is paid with the PANGO App. It is a small fee, between $1.00 and $3.00 depending on how long you stay. There are two rows of parking in front of Kate's building. The first row faces the building (and is for residents only) and the other row faces the street (this is the Pango paid parking for guests.) If you choose to pay to park in the parking lot, download the PANGO App. Each section of parking has different numbers - the number for the lot outside Kate's building door is 70908. Kate will send her phone number via Meetup Messaging to everyone who RSVPs to attend.

Top level Backgammon Tournament play. Have fun and improve your game. Free lessons to new and inexperienced players. Club been active over 30 years, posting on Meetup is new.

A unique worship experience for adults looking to engage their mind, body, spirit, and taste buds! Sundays, 5PM Join us each Sunday for a guided time of stretching, meditation, and mindfulness (think Yoga Church) – followed by a free mocktail and conversation! It’s a great day to end one week – and begin another. No reservations needed; just show up. (Invite a friend!) [https://www.thevineva.org/stretch-sip](https://www.thevineva.org/stretch-sip?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR5PvfHVivaZWvu3F4k-dNoYLoXZ9EkAZKcaOcJ2fBP09QM_svyEG0tkZgIH-w_aem_GVuOBm_3I478NQM3Lkqe0A) 2501 Gallows Road, Dunn Loring, VA 22027

Let's play monopoly in the open area called "The Landing" at the Crystal City Shops. The Landing is right at the Crystal City metro stop and, if you're driving, there is free parking [on weekdays after 4pm and weekends] in the garage. See below for more details. With many tables for games and nearby eateries in the mall, it is a fantastic location for playing board games. We'll be starting at 3:00 pm, but feel free to wander in whenever you'd like.Please RSVP to play. If you'd like to start earlier, feel free to mention that in the comment section. If everyone is already in the middle of games when you arrive, please don't hesitate to pull up a chair and watch a game in progress. We will play a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 people at each table. This is a friendly group of competitive and non competitive players and our different backgrounds and different experiences of Monopoly make for interesting conversation during the games. If you're taking the metro, exit at Crystal City and you can walk to The Landing without having to go outside. When you come up the first set of escalators, turn right to enter the underground shops and then turn right at Rite Aide. Continue straight and The Landing will be the large open seating area on your right, next to San Antonio Bar & Grill and Subway. If you're driving, parking is free in the garage. Enter the garage for 1750 Crystal Drive on 18th Street and take a ticket. (You'll need this to exit, but there's no charge). Take the elevators up to Level S. The Landing is the large open seating area next to San Antonio Bar & Grill and Subway. If that parking garage is full, exit the garage and turn left on 18th and left again on Crystal Drive. A second parking garage is located on Crystal Drive between 18th Street and 15th Street. This is a link to a map of the Crystal City Shops: http://www.thecrystalcityshops.com/ The Landing is in the yellow section on the map near the San Antonio Bar & Grill and Subway.

Trail Mix: Worship on the Move on the W&OD Trail Tuesdays \| 6PM \| Meet at the Picnic Tables @ Vine \(2501 Gallows Rd\) Step out onto the W&OD Trail for a unique worship experience that blends scripture, prayer, movement, and creation. Walk, jog, or run at your own pace as we encounter God outdoors—and share trail mix together when we return. All are welcome. Come ready to move, breathe, pray, and be surprised by the Spirit. thevineva.org

\*\*\* New Trial Process - No More Signing In \*\*\* **Step 1:** **Read the Liability Disclaimer:** [https://www.nvhc.com/signin.pdf](https://www.nvhc.com/signin.pdf) **Step 2:** When prompted, **type:** **"I Accept**/**Full Name/Contact Number/Emergency Contact Number"** Example: "I accept/Jane Doe/703-555-5555/301-666-6666" This is a trial process and is not available on all hikes. **Length**: 4 mi. Elevation gain: 200 feet. Pace: 2.0 miles per hour \*\* Not suitable for fast paced hikers \*\* **DESCRIPTION** We will take a leisurely walk through the neighborhoods of Kensington, MD and Rock Creek Trail to visit the spectacular Christmas lights decorations at the Mormon Temple. Optional dinner in Kensington after the hike. **DETAILS** We will meet in the parking lot of the MARC station in Kensington MD. We will walk first along Kensington Parkway and then on Rock Creek Trail to the Mormon Temple. We will take a 45-minute break to visit the temple and the lights. We will then continue our walk through the neighborhood streets of Kensington to return to the starting point. Mostly pavement; there is a small section where we can hike optionally on the trail by the side of Silver Creek. Wear an article of clothing that reflects light so that vehicles can see you. Flashlights are ok but are not really required; once your eyes adjust, the night vision is usually sufficient. Dinner will be at downtown Kensington; based on the group size we may need to split into different groups so that we do not overwhelm the restaurants. Options for dinner include Frankly Pizza and a couple of other restaurants. **WHERE TO MEET** **Kensington MARC Station**: at 3711 Howard Av. Coordinates: 39.026756, -77.071935 DOGS not permitted due to the nature of the event.

Please join members of the Fairlington Social Club as we celebrate "Festivus" on Tuesday December 23, 2025 at Guapo's Mexican restaurant located at 4028 Campbell Avenue Arlington, VA 22206 starting at 5:00 PM. "Festivus" is your heritage - it's part of who you are! The five tenets of "Festivus" are: * "Festivus Pole" * "Festivus Dinner" * "Airing of Grievances" * "Feats of Strength" * "Festivus Miracle" We will begin by quaffing margaritas and enjoying chips & salsa (no double dipping) while admiring the "Festivus Pole" comprised of aluminum with a very high strength-to-weight ratio. After celebrating the "Festivus Dinner", yada... yada... yada... we will continue the quaffage while engaging in practices such as the "Airing of Grievances" and the "Feats of Strength." If you have not yet finished your Christmas Shopping, celebrate a "Festivus Miracle" by making a donation to "The Human Fund" in the name of someone in lieu of buying them a Christmas gift. Yama-Hama! "Happy Festivus!" "Festivus" is always celebrated on December 23rd. Why December 23rd you ask? You have family & friends coming into town to visit you for Christmas, therefore you need a drink! You are leaving town for Christmas to visit family & friends, therefore you need a drink! Not familiar with the tradition of "Festivus" ? Watch the story of "Festivus" on-line at YouTube 04:37 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX55AzGku5Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX55AzGku5Y) We will be in the bar area. Look for the aluminum "Festivus Pole" ! And remember... Until you pin me, "Festivus" is not over. Serenity now!

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. If the weather cooperates we will be meeting in the patio. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

Some trained COUNT volunteers work together once a month at RMH (http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer.php) as Housewarmers (usually on the 1st Sunday from 1 – 5 PM). Some schedule other shifts at their convenience. You may try this out with less fuss by following a "Fast track" or go through the normal process. Fast track • Arrange a time to shadow a COUNT volunteer. Call Dave Nohle at 614-268-9558 (cell). • Show up and try it out. • Complete application, etc. later. Normal process • Complete an online application (http://rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer/). • Attend orientation in advance. • At orientation you will complete forms agreeing to keep family/patient info private and allowing a background check and tour the facility. • Complete one training shift. Daily shifts are: morning 9 AM - 1 PM, afternoon 1 - 5 PM and evening 5 - 9 PM. • Schedule shifts online using the on the RMH scheduling system (http://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=32895). The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provides housing and meals for families with sick children. The Columbus RMH is the largest in the world with 137 rooms. COUNT has been volunteering there since May 2014. Housewarmers work with RMH guests to provide a home-like environment - greet, assist with family needs, answer phones, give tours, assist with checkin/checkout, prepare guest rooms after checkout, clean facility, laundry, restock supplies and staff the front desk. RMH Housewarmers volunteer at least one four-hour shift a month. All Housewarmers must complete an application and agree to a background check before they can be full fledged volunteers.

The aim of this group is to get together and practice our German. Doesn’t matter if are a beginner or a native speaker. The goal is to speak and improve our German. Everyone is welcome! If the weather is good, look for us in the Biergarten. Pro Tip: Get there before 6:00 for happy hour pricing.