5/4/2014 May is upon us, and despite some frost earlier in the week, today we could feel the weather wandering toward Summer.  ‘Tis the season for lawn and garden dreams, which Rev. Nancy used in her message this morning as a view into into our dreams and plans in general.  We need, she said, to…

4/28/2014 Yesterday, Rev. Cliff Cain visited us again with reflections on Holocaust Remembrance Day.  We must never forget the horror of the Nazi genocide against Jews, Gypsies, and others, and we mustn’t forget the enabling role of the church and academia in the atrocities.  However, these traditions can also give us the tools to respond…

4/14/2014 Yesterday, on the eve of Passover, Jason Bright came to speak to us about the Jewish holiday and about the ritual Seder meal.  He said that Passover celebrates not just the historical Exodus of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt, but the more universal exodus of the soul from the slavery of restrained consciousness…

4/6/2014 After three months of terrible luck with the weather, we finally got to hear Rev. Nancy’s voice in the message again this morning.  She returned with thoughts about Solitude and Community.  Being alone doesn’t guarantee solitude, and being together doesn’t guarantee community; even when alone, we can find plenty to fill our minds and…

3/23/2014 At our service today, our Social Action Committee Chair Sue Gibson and Mickey Belosi shared their concerns about the legal issues of corporate personhood and money as free speech; when corporations are given the same rights as people but have vastly more resources and strictly profit-driven aims, they warp our political playing field.  Sue…

3/16/2014 Well, we were supposed to have a potluck and our annual financial planning meeting after service today, but the Winter that Wouldn’t Die had other plans.  Many of us stayed home, and the brave souls who ventured out seemed to forget about business, although we did have a good potluck (so at least we have…

3/9/2014 It was good to be back today after losing yet another Sunday to the Winter that just won’t end, and it was especially good to come back for another message from Dr. Cliff Cain.  His topic was “Is Religion Good or Bad?”  Any of us of course can think of historical examples on either…

3/2/2014 Our Services this morning are canceled due to inclement weather.  Stay safe and warm, and take extra care if you have to be on the roads. Be alert for cancellations of other coming events this week: UUFJC News and Events this week: We’ve opened our Fellowship building to Keeping it Real, a Narcotics Anonymous…

3/31/2014 Yesterday, we honored Women’s History Month.  With so many amazing historical women, our speakers were challenged to pick and choose, but Jan Harcourt brought us the stories of three women in the sciences — Beatrix Potter’s unsung career as a naturalist, Ada Lovelace becoming arguably the world’s first computer programmer, and Shirley Ann Jackson’s…

2/24/2014 Yesterday we had a good turnout for a Multigenerational service — thanks to Amy Regnier and the kids for a delightful story!  Delightful, but maybe uncomfortable, in a good way.  As the characters learned, the strategies we use to feel comfortable sometimes separate us from others.  We know that there are more important things…

2/17/2014 Yesterday we were happy to welcome Rev. Mike back after his injury, and he brought us a message about learning from our mistakes.  I think it’s true, as we more commonly hear, that we fear mistakes more than we should because they can be good teachers, but as Rev. Mike pointed out, sometimes we…

2/9/2014 Today we marked “Evolution Sunday.”  When we think about Evolution, many of us think of the “war” between science and religion.  Myself, I’m too used to that war, and, being on science’s side for the battles still raging over the teaching of evolution, there’s a certain amount of shellshock — any mention of “science”…

2/2/2014 Our Sunday morning service is canceled today due to icy road conditions.  Everyone, stay safe and drive carefully if you have to be out! UUFJC News and Events: The monthly Laughter Yoga session is scheduled for this afternoon at 4 pm at the Fellowship, free and open to all.  Contact Jan Harcourt for information.…

6/29/2014 Today, Kath Connor led us in an observance of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee’s Justice Sunday.  This year the theme is “Food Sovereignty” — the right of people to participate and have a say in what the food they grow, prepare, and eat.  Food justice touches us all — food is a everything from…

1/26/2014 Today, our own Jim Davis delivered a message about Dr. Martin Luther King, and the Civil Rights movement, reminding us of how hard-won its victories were, and of the role some Unitarians played in that risky and difficult work.  The violence that Dr. King and other Civil Rights workers contended against seems so irrational…

1/19/2014 Today, our own Karen Beahan brought us a message about embracing change.  There’s something in human nature that fears change; the status quo feels safe, even if we know we aren’t happy with things as they are, but Karen encouraged us to practice making changes, even small ones, to develop a friendlier relationship with…

1/12/2014 As suddenly as the weather turned bad last week, it turned lovely this week, we were able to have our first meeting of 2014.  It was great to see everyone again! This morning, Kath Connor and Sharon Morgan shared with us their experiences with Faith Voices for Jefferson City (formerly known as Jefferson City…

1/5/2014 Our services are cancelled today due to the heavy snow and dangerously cold temperatures moving into the area.  Stay inside and warm if you can, and if you must go out, take extra precautions and stay safe! Be alert for cancellations of the events we have scheduled for this week: Guest At Your Table…

12/30/2013 By the next post here it’ll be 2014!  At service yesterday, Katherine led us through letting go of some of the old things and embracing a new beginning with the Fire Communion, as well as the reading “How to Begin” by Rev. Forrest Church; (a PDF version is available through the First Unitarian Church of San…

12/23/2013 Unfortunately, I missed Rev. Nancy’s Solstice Service yesterday due to dicey weather and holiday preparations, but I have been getting into the holiday spirit.  While watching some Christmas videos, as an old Mystery Science Theater fan, I ran into some veterans of its cast in the Rifftrax Christmas Short Film Extravaganza (which is great…

12/16/2013 Yesterday our own Don Love brought us a message based on the Ware Lecture by Karen Armstrong at the 2011 UUA General Conference, followed by a very lively discussion.  Armstrong identifies Ancient Greek civic theatre — in particular, the famous plays of Sophocles, Euripides, and others — as a kind of religion, a communal ritual in…

12/9/2013 This past week, the world mourned the loss and celebrated the life of Nelson Mandela, the anti-Apartheid leader and first democratically-elected president of South Africa, who became a hero and an inspiration to many people of every race throughout the world.  In media reports, again and again I heard praise for how, after Apartheid…

12/2/2013 Yesterday was a fun service to start getting us all into the spirit of the holiday season.  Rev. Mike shared a story about family Christmas traditions and foods with the whole congregation, young and old, and we followed it up with a delicious potluck meal.  Some of us later decamped to the Forum Room…

11/25/2013 The weather at last has taken a sharp turn for the wintry, and the Holiday Season is upon us!  This Thursday brings the American ritual of Thanksgiving, and while it’s worth thinking twice about all those Pilgrims-and-Indians images, it is always worth the deceptively challenging and vulnerable work of embracing gratitude, as Rev. Nancy reminded us…

11/18/2013 Yesterday we were visited by Prof. Cliff Cain of Westminster College, who described what he saw as the three greatest challenges facing religion in the 21st century: Religious Diversity, the interaction of Religion and Science, and Environmental Issues.  For the second week in a row we gave a warm welcome to a Christian speaker…

11/11/2013 Yesterday we had as our guest Father George Kramer, giving us his thoughts on the accession of Pope Francis and the hopeful developments he represents for the Catholic church.  All of us have our reasons to attend Unitarian Services instead of Catholic Mass on Sunday mornings, but seeing the enthusiasm and laughter Father George…

11/4/2013 November already!  Halloween candy is on clearance, and some of us are already Christmas shopping; where does the time go?  Speaking of time, did everyone get their clocks set back?  We had a very good turnout yesterday; maybe people were waking up “earlier”? Rev. Mike brought us a message about Trust and the Common…

10/21/2013 At Yesterday’s Multigenerational service, the RE class brought us a wonderful story in shadow puppets.  Turnout was rather light — and I’d be the last one to say that with any kind of blame; I’m not used to being around children myself and I admit I find it challenging.  However, at the same time,…

10/29/2013 (Sorry this week’s post is a day late!) This past Sunday was UUFJC’s third annual Day of the Dead Observance, and again Bob Boldt and Ruth Neudahl set up a beautiful altar in the Mexican tradition, devoted especially to the legacy of Frida Kahlo and showcasing an amazing piece of fiber art by Joanna…

10/14/2013 Yesterday, several of our members shared their experience of the recent UUA General Assembly in Louisville, Kentucky.  I know that out here in rural Missouri, it can be easy for a UU to feel isolated, so I was glad some of our members were able to experience just how many and varied we are…

10/7/2013 Yesterday, Rev. Mike brought us a message challenging the duality of strengths and weaknesses, virtue and vice; as a key quotation put it, “Evil is not the privation of good, but the perversion of good.”  As he pointed out, sometimes we’re at our worst when using our strengths to the fullest in heedless, self-deluded…

9/30/2013 Our message at yesterday’s service was on food, from our own Ethical Eating group.  I missed it while helping with RE (aides needed October 6th and 27th, contact Amy Regnier), but ethical eating is a topic that touches us all.  As I’ve grown away from my Christian roots, I can feel some tension around…

9/23/2013 At service yesterday our own Amy Hoffman brought us a reminder of how far the “interconnected web of all existence” stretches with stories and images from her visit to the northeast, where The Puffin Project is working to repopulate Atlantic Puffins and other shorebirds.  The pictures of the unique wildlife reminded me of the…

9/16/2013 Autumn is hitting its stride.  The weather is starting to cool down and the Halloween costume shops are cropping up, although September is only halfway through.  Still gently, the arc of the year is bending toward the dark and cold that is another part of the whole.  Today Rev. Nancy brought us a great…

9/9/2013 Today we held our annual Water Communion.  We filled our bowl with water and with stories of the past year from regulars, old friends we hadn’t seen in awhile, and even new faces.  Here’s looking forward to where the coming year will take us! Other News: UUA MidAmerica region is accepting workshop proposals for…

9/2/2013 September is upon us already.  Summer is on the way out, Autumn is on the way in, and our schedule shows it.  Some events that were on hold for the Summer are returning, and next week we’ll be commemorating the change of season with our annual Water Communion and a potluck, so please bring…

8/26/2013 Today we were greeted by a new sight when we arrived at the Fellowship: we have a new board in the entryway to hang everyone’s nametags!  The old cabinet is still there for those who prefer it or don’t want their name hanging out there for anyone to see (which we respect; we know…

8/19/2013 Thank you for your continuing generosity in donating items for flood relief in Waynesville!  Laura Gilkey’s van was full on Tuesday and full again Sunday.  They are still in need, especially of cleaning supplies, linens (bedding, towels, etc.), food, and hygiene items.  Contact Laura if you still want to donate. Other news: Voting on…

8/12/2013 It’s been a rough week in parts of our state.  After all the flooding, it was was great to be together again at the Fellowship, but we also have in our thoughts the people who weren’t as fortunate. Earlier this week Shanon Hawk and friends took a load of relief supplies down to Waynesville,…

8/11/2013 The Social Action Committee will be collecting supplies for South Elementary School all this month.  Leave donations in the bin at the Fellowship.

7/28/2013 Meets this Saturday, August 3 from 11am – 1pm at Vitality Cafe in Jefferson City. (map)Join us as we discuss ways to eat and prepare food ethically. Shanon Hawk and Wayne White will speak about ethical eating workshops at GA in Louisville. Contact: Shanon Hawk.

7/16/2013 When:  Fri, July 26, 5:00pm – 6:30pmWhere:  Salvation Army, Jefferson St. (map)Description:  A team from the fellowship prepares and serves a meal to those in need in our community. Contact: Shanon Hawk or Bob Antweiler.

7/16/2013 When:  Friday, July 26, 7:30pm – 9:00pmWhere:  Unitarian Church of Columbia, 2615 Shepard Blvd. (map)An evening with UU singer-songwriter Jim Scott. Tickets $12 ($6 under age 16). Call (573)442-5764 for info.

7/10/2013 Meets this Saturday, July 13 at Brew House on E. McCarty at 9:00 a.m.

6/24/2013 UUFJC will serve a meal at the Salvation Army this Friday, June 28 at 

6/4/2013 Let’s DrUUm Up Support! Join your fellow UUs as we raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Contact Patt Behler. The booth for our team (DrUUm Up Support) is #61. Friday, June 7 at 6:00pm to Saturday, June 8 at 5:30amat the Cole County Fairgrounds (map)

5/29/2013 Join us for our monthly meeting and discussion this Saturday, June 1, at 9:00 a.m. at Brew House in Jefferson City.

5/21/2013 Join us at Memorial Park for our Service this Sunday!  We will host the entire service at Memorial Park in Jefferson City.  We begin with Adult Forum at 9:15 a.m. and end with a potluck picnic in the park.  For more information about This Sunday, fol

5/16/2013 When: Sat, May 18, 8:45am – 11:45amWhere: Hwy. B (map)Come help with the semiannual trash pickup on our adopted highway. Meet on Tanner Bridge Rd. (the little dead end off Lorenzo Greene just before B). Contact Barb Koenig, 635-0082.

4/22/2013 The coming week includes several notable activities, including the Women United march Saturday morning, and that evening, a social and film screening sponsored by the Capital Area Interfaith Alliance at the Jefferson City mosque. If you are interested in attending, please let Katherine Connor know ASAP. A group will be meeting at the fellowship…