This morning, we shared a recent message from Rev. Michelle Scott-Huffman and our neighbors at First UU of Springfield, where they are also exploring the monthly Soul Matters theme of Vulnerability. Rev. Michelle shared her own experience of, like so many of us, trying to avoid vulnerability in favor of "stoic" objectivity, but vulnerability is a reality of life that we cannot opt in or out of. Sudden tragedies, circumstances beyond our control, marginalizing treatment --- all these things remind us that we are at risk whether we want to be or not, and some of us need no reminding. But on the other hand, a level of vulnerability is needed to truly relate to each other. As UUs, our faith tradition is defined not by creed but by covenant --- by relationship, and so we are called to build spaces where leaning into vulnerability is never forced but can feel welcome and safe. We are called, too, to lean into our own vulnerability where we can, to realize that we always have more to learn if we listen to others and are willing to risk finding that what we have known is wrong or incomplete.
For those who would like to keep up with our neighbors at the UU Church of Columbia, their service message from this morning is available to view online:
For accessibility and convenience, we have an option to donate to our Fellowship online through PayPal:
Donate to UUFJC
You can also mail donations and pledges to:
UUFJC
Attn: Treasurer
PO Box 1245
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Thank you for being with us and supporting us!
And remember all our ways to stay in touch! You can visit our website at uufjc.org. You can also join our open-posting "UUFJC Cafe" Google Group to chat with other members and friends via e-mail and receive additional announcements and reminders (contact the Administrator at uufjc1@gmail.com to join).
We are always in need of donations for our free community pantry. For donation ideas and more information, contact Joan Kurtzeborn. Reimbursements are available; contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler: rp8mm9@gmail.com.
On Thursdays at 5:30 pm, Katherine Connor hosts a weekly Zoom Happy Hour for UUFJC Members and Friends to gather and check in.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91843966450?pwd=djBwTEx4YUxseW9SdytSZjJGS0xrdz09
Meeting ID: 918 4396 6450
Password: 918925
Phone:
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago - US toll)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/aeC2zyWdIo
An independent Insight Meditation group taught by Joe McCormack meets at our building Thursday nights at 7 pm. For more information, contact Bob Antweiler.
Our building is reserved by community groups Wednesdays and Saturdays starting at 6 pm and Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 5:30 pm. If you have access to our building, please allow privacy at these times.
Community Events this week:
This Tuesday, March 14th at 6:30 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents: "Colombia’s Changing Rural Areas: The Peace Process, China, and a New Economy." Historic peace accords in 2016 made life safer in many rural areas in the South American country of Colombia. But this peace dividend has brought new challenges in areas that are home to 15% of Colombians. Chinese capital has given a new lease on life to some rural Colombian entrepreneurs. However, rural Colombians are more generally searching for meaningful ways to fit into a global economy, and it is not always clear what they should do to make money. What can the US do to help these Colombians? What debates are rural Colombians having about the new society they want to construct? Dr. Brian Norris, associate professor of political science at Lincoln University, will address these concerns in this program. He is a recipient of a Fulbright global award to conduct a three-year study of rural local government in Colombia and Mozambique. He did six weeks of fieldwork in Colombia in summer of 2022, and he was an international elections observer in the first round of presidential elections with the Organization of America States. Contact Madeline Matson. For more library events, visit MRRL.org.
For more events, see our online calendars:
UUFJC Events
Virtual Gatherings
Affiliated Events
Religious Education
Building Use (other)
Community Events