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 than these "goat coats," but we resist giving them up.  Only when we break through the resistance do we find that their comfort was keeping us from the treasure that could truly fill our hearts.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

The Board is looking for volunteers to help review our financial books.  If you'd like to help with this, particularly if you have accounting experience, or if you know someone who can help, please talk to a board member.

We still have some unsold items from the Chili Cook-Off Silent Auction in the Library; if you brought those items please take them home or let us know what you want done with them.  Contact Nancy Ordway.

We've opened our Fellowship building to a Keeping it Real, a Narcotics Anonymous home group, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 6 pm - 9 pm.  We ask our members and friends to respect the group's privacy and avoid being in the building at those times.

Today, Monday, February 24th, is the deadline to register for the UU Junior-High Mini-Con in St. Louis.  The event itself is this Friday and Saturday, February 28th - March 1st.  See the flier on the back page of the February newsletter (there's a copy on the bulletin board in the Sanctuary) or contact Amy Regnier for more information.

This Friday, February 28th, at 5 pm is our monthly meal at the Salvation Army.  If you can help with preparing or serving food, contact Bob Antweiler.

Later Friday evening at 7 pm is the Last Friday Documentary.  This month's selection is the Oscar-nominated "Dirty Wars" featuring journalist Jeremy Scahill as he investigates drone strikes and secret ops in the War on Terror.  Contact Bob Boldt.

Faith Voices for Jefferson City is collecting signatures to put Early Voting on the ballot.  They're holding trainings and group canvassing on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm at First Baptist Church downtown; the next session is this coming Saturday, March 1st.  If you'd like to learn more, sign the petition, or get involved, see Kath Connor, Laura Gilkey, or Sharon Morgan.

Also this Saturday at 9 am, the Ethical Eating Group meets at the Fellowship to discuss the historical shift from small family farms to a global food market economy.  Contact Shanon Hawk.

Community Events this week:

Documentary Days continue Monday, February 24th at Capitol 8 Theater with "The Michigan Beer Film;" shows at 5 and 7 pm.

Wednesday, February 26th, 6:30 pm at Lincoln University's Inman E. Page Library, diverse local organizations host a forum on two different tax proposals in the Missouri General Assembly, including a Q&A.  Free and open to the public; light refreshments provided.

Thursday, February 27th at 11 am, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori of the US Episcopal Church will be speaking at Westminster College, at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury.  (If I remember right, Dr. Cliff Cain gave us the tip on this one; he'll be our speaker again sometime in March).

Later on Thursday, at 7 pm, Missouri River Regional Library hosts Sean Visintainer of the Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library in St. Louis for a talk about the many ways that one can sink, scuttle, or explode a steamboat.

Next Sunday, March 2nd at 2:30 pm, The ACLU's regional Executive Director Jeffrey Mittman and Legal Director Tony Rothert will speak about the work of the ACLU in Missouri.  The event will be held in the Truman Room of the Holiday Inn Convention Center, 2200 I-70 Drive SW in Columbia.  RSVP by February 26th to [email protected], or to 314-652-3114.

For exercise, yoga, and even more events, see our Calendars.

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 learn too well.  If a situation in our life seems like a chance to do right what we once did wrong, we might leap at it with zealous --- and comforting --- certainty, but in fact, no situation is a perfect "do-over" of anything that went before, and it's important to be open to questioning and uncertainty at each new turn.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

If you ordered Girl Scout Cookies from our younger members, they have come in!  Contact Kim Connor.

The Board is looking for volunteers to help review our financial books.  If you'd like to help with this, particularly if you have accounting experience, or if you know someone who can help, please talk to a board member.

We still have some unsold items from the Chili Cook-Off Silent Auction in the Library; if you donated those items please take them home or let us know what you want done with them.  Contact Nancy Ordway.

We've opened our Fellowship building to Keeping it Real, a Narcotics Anonymous home group, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 6 pm - 9 pm.  We ask our members and friends to respect the group's privacy and avoid being in the building at those times.

Faith Voices for Jefferson City is having their monthly Assembly Monday night, February 17th at 6:30 pm at the Catholic Center.  For more information, contact Kath Connor.

Wednesday, February 19th, is PROMO Equality Day to support LGBT rights at the Missouri State Capitol.  Contact Don Love or go to PromoOnline.org and click on "Events" for more information.

Faith Voices for Jefferson City is collecting signatures to put Early Voting on the ballot.  They're holding trainings and group canvassing on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm at First Baptist Church downtown; the next session is this coming Saturday, February 22nd.  If you'd like to learn more, sign the petition, or get involved, see Kath Connor, Laura Gilkey, or Sharon Morgan.

Community Events This Week:

Jefferson City's new independent movie theater, Capitol City Cinema, is now open downtown next to Cork on High Street.  Watch for more information on their shows as it becomes available.

Speaking of movies, Documentary Days continue at Capitol 8 Theater Monday, February 17th with "Cutie and the Boxer," an intimate, Oscar-nominated look at art and marriage.  Shows at 5 pm and 7 pm.

Tuesday, February 18th at 7 pm, the Lincoln University Jazz Ensemble will present a Musical Showcase of Song, Dance, and Jazz in commemoration of Black History Month at Missouri River Regional Library in the Art Gallery.  Contact Madeline Matson.

Wednesday, February 19th, the Dementia Caregivers Resource Group meets in the Cafe at First Baptist Church.  Everyone is welcome.  Meetings are free.  No reservation necessary.  Bring a brown bag lunch.

Thursday, February 20th, Columbia Area NOW meets in the Hy-Vee Restaurant at Broadway and Fairview in Columbia.  Contact Sue Gibson.

For exercise, yoga, and even more events, see our online Calendars.

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" and "the supernatural" in the same breath can trigger my "incoming fire" reflexes.  We also know, however, that the war mindset can blind people to truth, maybe even the side I'm on in this.  Of course, it doesn't serve science or truth to say "a wizard did it" and stop asking questions when things stretch beyond what we can currently know (or even what it seems we can ever know), but it also doesn't serve science or truth to fall into "scientistic" prejudice and brush off what now seems "supernatural" without investigation, or to cast aside the unique and ineffable, or the ennobling, meaning-making power of sacred story.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

Submissions for the March Newsletter and print Calendar are due a week from today, Sunday, February 16th.  See Laura Gilkey.

Tomorrow, Monday, February 10th, the Worship Service Committee meets at 6:30 pm at the Fellowship.  All are welcome to attend.

Then on Tuesday, February 11th, the UUFJC Board meets at 6 pm at the Fellowship.  All are welcome to attend this meeting, too.

Friday, February 14th at 7 pm, the monthly Reader's Eye film will be shown at the Fellowship.  This month's selection is "Zero Dark Thirty," the controversial and brilliantly-produced dramatization of the manhunt for Osama bin Laden.  Contact Bob Boldt for more information.

Faith Voices for Jefferson City is collecting signatures to put Early Voting on the ballot.  They're holding trainings and group canvassing on Saturdays from 9 am to noon at First Baptist Church downtown; the next session is Saturday, February 15th.  If you'd like to learn more, sign the petition, or get involved, see Kath Connor, Laura Gilkey, or Sharon Morgan.

Community Events this week:

Documentary Days continue Monday, February 10th at Capitol 8 theater with "Blackfish," an exposé about the lives of captive orcas (aka killer whales), previously aired on CNN.  Shows at 5 and 7 pm.  (If you hurry, you can also see the film on CNN this evening, Feb. 9th at 8 pm; short notice, I know...)

Also at 7 pm on Monday the 10th, Missouri River Regional Library hosts BYOB ("Bring Your Own Book"), a pressure free, no-required-reading-list book discussion in the Story Hour room.  Contact Madeline Matson.

Tuesday, February 11th at 4 pm, Citizens for Peace meets, also at MRRL in the Story Hour room.  Contact Betty Cooper.

Later Tuesday Evening at 7 pm, MRRL hosts "Where Would We Be Without Thee?"  Master storyteller Loretta Washington from St. Louis portrays four women from African American History.  Contact Madeline Matson.

Friday, February 14th, Columbia Area NOW joins One Billion Rising's campaign to end violence against women with a Valentine's Day Dance at the Rock Quarry House in Columbia.  Contact Sue Gibson for more information.

For exercise, yoga, and even more events, see our online Calendars.

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.

Thursday, February 6th, American Association of University Women meets at the Fellowship at 7 pm; contact Charlotte Parsons.

This Friday, February 7th at 6 pm, RE is having a Pizza and Movie Night at the Fellowship, open to all RE students with pizza, games, and the movie Big Miracle.  To help with planning, please contact Amy or Scott Regnier if your child will be attending.

Community Events This Week:

Documentary Days continue at Capitol 8 Theater Monday evening, February 3rd, with "20 Feet from Stardom."  Shows at 5 pm and 7 pm.

Tuesday, February 4th at 7 pm at Mitchell Auditorium in Lincoln University's Fine Arts Center, the Jefferson City Symphony Orchestra  presents a Valentine Concert.  Tickets available at the door.  Features pop tunes from movies & Broadway, some vocalists in solos and duets, a comedian, dancers, and more for a true "pops" concert!  Contact Ruth Robertson.

Wednesday, February 5th at 11:30 am, a twice-monthly Dementia Caregivers Resource Group begins in the Cafe at First Baptist Church.  Everyone is welcome, and the meetings are free.  See our online calendar (Community Events) for program details.

Thursday, February 6th is a special day to lobby your Missouri statehouse representative for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.  Call, email, tweet, send a Facebook message, or visit the Capitol in person.  Contact Sue Gibson.

And Saturday, February 8th is the Mass Moral March in Raleigh, North Carolina.  UUs are joining with people of all faiths to resist voter suppression and push for justice.  At last report, no one from our congregation was planning to go, but let's watch for news and be there in spirit!

For exercise, yoga, and even more events, see our Calendars.