Society

Join the St. Augustine Society every Wednesday at 7:00 pm in St. Timothy Catholic Church's New Parish Hall for study on the Church Fathers! We'll read and discuss a chapter a week from the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine by James Papandrea Email staugustinesociety@sttimothyparish.org for more information or if you have any questions. Sponsored by the St. Augustine Society, a 30's to 50's Catholic singles ministry based at St. Timothy's in Chantilly. We host weekly meetings on Wednesday on topics related to the Catholic faith and serve as both a fellowship meeting and a learning opportunity. We also host monthly social events, which are usually advertised by email to our members. Email us if you'd like to get on our email distribution list.

Join the St. Augustine Society every Wednesday at 7:00 pm in St. Timothy Catholic Church's New Parish Hall for study on the Church Fathers! We'll read and discuss a chapter a week from the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine by James Papandrea Email staugustinesociety@sttimothyparish.org for more information or if you have any questions. Sponsored by the St. Augustine Society, a 30's to 50's Catholic singles ministry based at St. Timothy's in Chantilly. We host weekly meetings on Wednesday on topics related to the Catholic faith and serve as both a fellowship meeting and a learning opportunity. We also host monthly social events, which are usually advertised by email to our members. Email us if you'd like to get on our email distribution list.

Come out to the Reston Community Center and play some games! Party games? Strategy games? Tabletop role-playing games? This massive space can accommodate games for every interest. While the event starts at 5pm, feel free to roll in whenever you are able! If you have games to bring that you'd like to share or run, please do! Food and drink are not provided within the venue, but you are allowed to bring in anything you need from outside locations, just please be considerate of other people's games and the tables when doing so. Park anywhere in the parking lot. The Community Center building is located directly behind Ledo Pizza. Walk straight back to the main room once you enter the building. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to either David Gray or Bill Parker through Meetup, or you can email Bill at william.parker@fairfaxcounty.gov. Hope to see you all there!

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – Business Presentation** **Featuring Aida Davalos, Founder of Argon Accounting** **Wednesday\, May 13 \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** Join us as we welcome **Aida Davalos**, founder of **Argon Accounting**, to the 1 Million Cups Loudoun stage for a thoughtful conversation around financial clarity, intentional growth, and building a relationship-driven business. *** ## **About the Presenter** Aida is a **first-generation college graduate with a master’s degree** and an entrepreneur at heart, inspired by her family’s business roots in Ecuador. With a strong background in **corporate accounting, financial operations, tax strategy, and advisory**, her career has been focused on helping businesses make smarter financial decisions and build sustainable foundations for growth. Over the past seven years, Aida has been growing her own **boutique accounting and tax practice organically**, built on trust, relationships, and practical, real-world financial guidance. She is also actively involved with **George Mason University**, mentoring students and supporting the next generation of professionals. *** ## **About the Business** Argon Accounting provides **accounting, bookkeeping, financial advisory, and tax services** designed to help small business owners and individuals feel confident and informed about their finances. Aida’s approach focuses on making financial information **clear, approachable, and actionable**, so clients can understand what their numbers are telling them — and use that insight to make better decisions for long-term growth. *** ## **Who Aida Is Looking to Hear From** Aida would especially value feedback from: * Small business owners and founders * Service-based business operators * Marketing and brand strategy professionals * Entrepreneurs who have grown beyond referral-based business * Individuals passionate about supporting BIPOC entrepreneurs and professionals *** ## **Current Business Focus & Challenge** Aida is in the **early stages of intentional growth**, focused on building a sustainable and well-positioned business. Her biggest challenge is **gaining visibility and attracting a consistent client base**, and she is seeking feedback around: * Clearly communicating her value to small business owners * Marketing her services effectively without relying on paid advertising * Building trust and credibility as a growing business * Expanding beyond word-of-mouth while maintaining strong relationships *** ## **Why Attend?** * Gain insight into building a service-based business with intention * Provide valuable feedback on marketing, positioning, and growth strategy * Connect with entrepreneurs focused on sustainable, relationship-driven growth * Be part of a meaningful, solutions-focused conversation *** ## **About 1 Million Cups** 1 Million Cups is a national program that brings entrepreneurs and communities together to learn, connect, and grow through presentations and discussion. Loudoun’s chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month. Join us on **May 13** for coffee, connection, and a conversation about building financial clarity and growing a business with purpose. We look forward to seeing you there.

[Book Your Classes by Clicking This Link! ](https://crowndancestudio.com/group-classes/) Mid-week is for the experts with **Level 3 Bachata (7:45 PM)** and **Level 3 Salsa (8:30 PM),** followed by a **Social Dance Party at 9:15 PM.** These advanced classes challenge experienced dancers with intricate footwork and styling, emphasizing the joy of high-level performance. **The evening costs $25 for the classes and social**, providing an inclusive space where advanced students can sharpen their craft and immediately practice their moves with peers. 7:45 Bachata (Level 3) 8:45 Salsa (Level 3) $18 for 1 Class $22 for 1 Class + Social $25 for 2 Classes + Social $10 for Social Only

Every Wednesday and Saturday! There will be prizes and fun, and even drinks!

We will meet in the Janney Parlor.

A Pathfinder Society adventure for 3rd-4th level characters, playable in 2-3 hours. The Windspire strix tribe has gone completely silent, causing concern in the tribes throughout the Devil's Perch in Cheliax and the coast of Ravounel. When an ally to the Pathfinder Society requests their help in investigating this silence, the Pathfinders find not only plans for an ambush on the tribal lands, but also that Hellknights from the Order of the Chain have already invaded! The Pathfinders will need to ally with the winged strix to help them throw off this invasion and forced conscription into the Chelaxian army! Written by Marlowe Miller **Scenario tags:** Hellfire Crisis

Join us for conversations that go beyond small talk, diving into topics like the shifting nature of spirituality, the challenges and joys of midlife transitions, the impact of culture and capitalism, and the search for meaning in art, travel, and daily life. Our gatherings are about genuine, thought-provoking dialogue, with no set leader or strict agenda—just an open space to share ideas, perspectives, and experiences that matter to us. The direction of the discussion is shaped by everyone who shows up, making each event unique and enriching. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others who are also seeking deeper conversations. Let the conversation flow from topic to topic. Optional questions are listed below.

Optional Questions: Life Stages & Transitions

1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging?
2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists?
3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about?

Optional Questions: Identity After the Roles

4. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you?
5. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed?
6. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted?

Optional Questions: AI & Being Human

7. What human experiences will AI never truly understand?
8. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do?
9. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated?

Optional Questions: Belief & Meaning

10. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space?
11. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live?
12. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self?

Optional Questions: The Modern Psyche

13. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have?
14. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire?
15. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept?

Optional Questions: Work & Purpose

16. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you?
17. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors?
18. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years?

Optional Questions: Relationships & Connection

19. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why?
20. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best?
21. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others?

Optional Questions: Time & Mortality

22. What are you running out of time to say or do?
23. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite?
24. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail?

Optional Questions: Society & Culture

25. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense?
26. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing?
27. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years?

Optional Questions: Personal Philosophy

28. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way?
29. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out
30. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

Join us at **[Crossroads Tavern](https://ttoptav.com/)** on **Sunday, May 17th** at **6pm**. Enjoy good food and drinks while you adventure and roll dice with the this week's **Pathfinder** **GM: Sean M.** **THE STORY:** During the exploration of an ancient Jistkan ruin in Katapesh, the automaton Star goes missing, leaving their archeologist companions worried for their safety. The head archeologist calls upon the Pathfinder Society for assistance, but warns the agents that arrive that the ruin is filled with dangerous creatures and traps and that they should be careful while exploring. A strange frozen automaton meets the Pathfinders on each floor, slowly pointing the way deeper and deeper into the ruin. Will they find Star? Or does the automaton have more malicious motives?\* **Scenario tags:** Repeatable \*\*\* **CHARACTER INFO:** If you are a newer player or don't have a **character** in the **1-2 range**, you can use one of the 1st level iconic **[pregens](https://paizo.com/pathfindersociety)**. If you need one of these, please let us know ahead of time so we bring the printouts. **THE GAME:** Pathfinder 2nd edition is a role-playing game similar to Dungeons & Dragons, but with more character options and slightly different game mechanics. In this one-shot, you can jump in as a new player or join if you're more experienced. Feel free to comment or send us a message if you have any questions. \*This one has some tough fights, so think about party synergy and make sure your group has some strong damage dealers and a healer.

What becomes possible when different generations come together—not just to share perspectives, but to truly collaborate? This meetup invites participants of all ages to explore how intergenerational connection can strengthen communities, spark innovation, and create more sustainable solutions for today’s challenges. Each generation brings unique experiences, insights, and strengths—and when combined, they can become a powerful force for positive change. Through guided discussion and reflection, we’ll explore: * How generational perspectives shape the way we see the world * Where misunderstandings arise—and how to move beyond them * Practical ways to collaborate across age groups in our communities and work Whether you’re early in your journey or bring decades of experience, your voice matters in this conversation. All thoughtful voices are welcome.

**Join us for Soul Coffee, an informal gathering where we can connect a bit deeper, check in on each other, and share some real soul conversation together - as always, across beliefs and traditions.** Soul Coffee is a gathering by BreadBreakers, a community for people of all stripes to build meaningful relationships and have curious conversations. **Our mission in BreadBreakers is to be a place of compassion and belonging in a time of division and isolation; to rebuild the town square, one table at a time.** Usually we do this by breaking bread and having facilitated conversations over dinner, but sometimes it's good to just meet over coffee and spend some unstructured time talking about the deep stuff. At each Soul Coffee, we'll keep it simple and talk about three questions: - How's your soul doing? - How have you experienced wonder lately? - What do you need right now? No matter your religion, or if you even are religious; no matter where you are spiritually; no matter if you even think souls exist - come to be seen and known, to just be humans together in a crazy world, to talk about those things of the spirit that are so central to the human experience but rarely get discussed. **Join us, invite a friend, and be a part of the movement to mend our fractured society and normalize a better way of being in community with one another.** BreadBreakers, an initiative by[ Restoration United Methodist Churc](https://restorationreston.org/breadbreakers)h in Reston, VA, is a religiously inclusive community, a collaboration between the church and those of all different beliefs. All faiths and all stripes are welcomed. Our leadership, volunteer team, and community include people who attend Restoration and people who don't.

**In a time of division and isolation, come be part of the community that's rebuilding the town square, one table at a time.** In BreadBreakers, we use the common space of the dining table to have conversations where neighbors can **hear, be heard, and know one another.** If you're hungry for good conversation and deeper community, join us for a Community Dinner in Reston and help blaze the trail to a healthier, more connected society and democracy. Here’s how it works: For just two hours, multiple tables of people set aside the need to "win" and instead focus on sharing, listening, and connecting. Guided by experienced table hosts, we'll tell our stories, try to understand each other, and practice being in community with those with different views or backgrounds. **At this dinner, participants will get to choose between three different topics, including some current events.** Topics range from the political, to the "slice of life", to the spiritual, to the philosophical, to the off-the-wall - but no matter which table you choose to sit at, you can be sure it'll be like no dinner conversation you've had before! You can also **suggest a topic** by emailing us at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com. Food will be provided for free. For those who wish to provide a donation to help fund BreadBreakers, you can [give here](https://pushpay.com/g/restorationrestonumc?fnd=pO6G-N7oO7FH7Mp1u-x6mA&fndv=Lock&r=No&lang=en&src=pcgl) or at the event. We'll have vegetarian and gluten-free options available. If you have any additional dietary restrictions (Celiac Disease, vegan, etc.) please let us know at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com so that we can implement the appropriate food handling procedures. **Join us, invite a friend, and be a part of the movement to mend our fractured society and normalize a better way of talking with one another.** BreadBreakers, an initiative by [Restoration United Methodist Church](https://restorationreston.org/breadbreakers) in Reston, VA, is a religiously inclusive community. We are a collaboration between people of all faiths and stripes. Our leadership, volunteer team, and community include people who attend Restoration and people who don't.

A Pathfinder Society adventure for 3rd-4th level characters, playable in 2-3 hours. The Windspire strix tribe has gone completely silent, causing concern in the tribes throughout the Devil's Perch in Cheliax and the coast of Ravounel. When an ally to the Pathfinder Society requests their help in investigating this silence, the Pathfinders find not only plans for an ambush on the tribal lands, but also that Hellknights from the Order of the Chain have already invaded! The Pathfinders will need to ally with the winged strix to help them throw off this invasion and forced conscription into the Chelaxian army! Written by Marlowe Miller **Scenario tags:** Hellfire Crisis

Join us for a Friday evening of creative practice\* and cozy conversation! Please visit the group page for details on event structure and what to expect: https://www.meetup.com/the-evening-art-society/?eventOrigin=your_groups Guests are welcome, though we request that you please let us know how many to account for. We don't want to run out of snacks! Kids are also welcome, with the understanding that this is a shared space intended to be comfortable for all and conducive to creative work. Reach out if you have any questions. We can't wait to see you! \*Because we ultimately just want to provide a safe, warm space for our community to enjoy on a weekly basis, our definition of this is pretty broad. Want to curl up with a good book? Working on the next great American novel? Looking for a café-like hum as the backing track to doing your taxes? You're also welcome here!

Qamaria Yemeni Coffee is authentic, spacious, has a helpful staff, and I like their espresso. If you try this place on your own, they’re open early and late. This spot has been recommended a couple times and I think it’ll make a great stop on our journey. Come out Saturday morning for a relaxed convo. (Please keep your RSVP updated if you know you won't be able to attend, so others who can join have the opportunity to. No discussions on politics, religion or potentially controversial topics. We're here to relax and have fun. Just be respectful and we'll be alright. Pay your own way, and enjoy!)

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Physics of Baseball,”** with Scott Paulson, professor of physics and interdisciplinary liberal studies at James Madison University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-physics-of-baseball](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-physics-of-baseball) .] Profs and Pints is offering baseball fans an even bigger treat than Cracker Jack, an exploration of the physics underlying their beloved sport. Professor Scott Paulson, who regularly teaches introductory physics classes that make the physics behind real-world phenomena accessible to all, will discuss the forces and phenomena that come into play in baseball during pitching, batting, and fielding. He’ll toss you basic physics concepts that help explain how baseball’s routine plays got to be that way, and he’ll explain what’s going on in some situations where the laws of physics seem to be violated by what’s happening on the field. Ever wondered why curveballs curve or knuckleballs behave so strangely? You’ll learn how Newton’s laws and the Magnus force explain how pitchers get drastically different results from subtle differences in their releases. Curious about what exactly the “sweet spot” of the bat is? Ever wondered how big an advantage batters get from the thin air of Mile High Stadium? We’ll explore the physics of the batted ball, examining the phenomena of waves and analyzing the interaction of ball, bat and batter with the help of high-speed video. During one of the more exciting scenarios in a baseball game—the close play at the plate—fans often see outfielders throw to an infielder rather than directly to home. We’ll look at the pros and cons of this relay play, known as a “cut-off,” in the context of the physics of projectile motion. Finally, we will also look into high-profile cheating scandals involving corked bats and doctored balls. Dr. Paulson will present models to explain how these alterations to the equipment can benefit the batter and pitcher respectively, and he’ll discuss how much these models are backed up by data. These few hours in a brewpub will forever enhance your enjoyment of time at the ballpark. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Photo by Tage Olsin / Wikimedia Commons

Games night is back! With our favorite local game store opening back up, Games night will come back starting Monday June 7th! We are an lgbt+ games group that’s been going for nearly 3 years now! We welcome anyone in the lgbt+ community to come play board games every Monday with our fun and chaotic crew! If you’re brand new to board gaming and looking to make some friends or if you love playing 4 hour space operas and are looking to make some rivals, we’re the group for you! We are an lgbt+ group that focuses on creating a safe lgbt+ community. Non-lgbt+ individuals are welcome when attending with an lgbt+ friend, family member, or partner. Huzzah hobbies currently follows cdc guidelines, where customers who are vaccinated are allowed to not wear masks indoors. With their current hours on Mondays, they are open until 9pm; if they change hours and remain open later, games night will continue until close. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to message us here!

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Popes and Politics,”** on the history of clashes between pontiffs and world leaders, with Vanessa Corcoran, medieval historian at Georgetown University and scholar of the history of the Roman Catholic church. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/northern-virginia-popes-politics](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/northern-virginia-popes-politics) .] President Trump recently shocked many by unleashing personal attacks on Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, in a post on the Truth Social platform. Trump has been widely criticized by religious leaders for these remarks, made in response to the pontiff’s advocacy of peace with the U.S and Israel at war with Iran, and for his separate posts of AI-generated images depicting himself as a pope and as Jesus. For his part, Pope Leo has told journalists, “I am not afraid of the Trump administration,” and has found himself at the center of a heated debate over the proper role of any pope when it comes to commenting on global politics. As unsettling as such developments might be to Roman Catholics, they’re hardly unprecedented. Disagreements between popes and world leaders go back to the Middle Ages, and have played a significant role in shaping the Church and its role in the world. Explore the long history of popes’ conflicts with politicians with Vanessa Corcoran, a historian of the Roman Catholic Church who previously has given excellent talks on papal conclaves and the evolution of nativity scenes. She’ll discuss fascinating developments such as the fourteenth century Avignon Papacy, when Philip IV of France got the upper hand in a feud with the Church by pressuring a papal conclave to select a French pope and then getting the church’s leadership relocated from Rome to Avignon for nearly 70 years. In drawing parallels between recent events and medieval attacks on the Church’s authority she’ll describe how today’s anti-Church memes echo the anti-pope and anti-Catholic images that Martin Luther disseminated in large numbers with the help of woodcut printing. We’ll look at tensions between past presidents and past popes over not just wars, but issues such as abortion, stem-cell research, and abortion access. The talk will leave you with a deeper appreciation of the inherent tensions between politics and matters of faith. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From an 1866 Nicolò Barabino painting of the death of Pope Boniface VIII after he was kidnapped and held captive for three days at the behest of King Philip IV of France (Usher Gallery / Wikimedia Commons).