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 to the horror, such as with love for our neighbors and appreciation for the intrinsic goodness of all the universe, including those who are different from us.

Our financial planning meeting was a success this time as Don went over the budget with us.  We were in the red this past year, largely due to unexpectedly huge snow-plowing bills, and we don't want to cut the things most important to our Fellowship's purpose, but it gave us a chance to come together and think about possibilities and priorities.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

The May Newsletter is finished; paper copies are on the back table in the Sanctuary and digital copies are available.

This Thursday, May 1st, the American Association of University Women meets at a different time and location than usual: 6 pm at the Parsons' house.  It will be a potluck dinner, and this will be their last regular meeting until September.  Contact Charlotte Parsons.

This Saturday, May 3rd, the Ethical Eating Group meets upstairs at the Brew House at 9 am.  Contact Shanon Hawk.

Next Sunday, May 4th, Youth RE will meet during service.

Also next Sunday, the UUFJC Board will meet after service.
 
If you will not be able to attend our Annual Business Meeting May 18th but wish to have your vote counted, please fill out a proxy form and leave it with your proxy or with me.  The forms are available on the back table or I can send you one.  The minutes of last year's meeting are also available for review, and the meeting agenda as well as information on planned proposals (against corporate personhood and for marijuana decriminalization) are in the May newsletter.

Remember our Rummage Sale is coming up next month on May 24th.  Please start saving items.  Contact Pat Goetz or Bob Antweiler with any questions.

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, April 29th, the NEEED Project will hold its annual meeting in the Coca-Cola Community Room at 6:30 pm.  See the flier in the back of the Sanctuary or contact Bob Boldt.

A little later Tuesday evening at 7 pm, Missouri River Regional Library hosts "What Science Fiction Can Teach Us." Mark Tiedemann, author of Remains, Compass Reach, Metal of Night and many more science fiction titles, and Dr. Thomas F. Dillingham, retired professor of English, who taught science fiction courses at Stephens College and the University of Missouri-Columbia, will take part in a “conversation” about science fiction as significant literature.  Contact Madeline Matson.

Friday evening, May 2nd at 7 pm, MRRL presents their First Friday Film, "Nebraska."  Critics call this film from director Alexander Payne “an American masterpiece.” Shot in black and white, it concerns a father (Bruce Dern) and his adult son (Will Forte) who embark on a journey to claim a million-dollar Publishers Clearing House Prize the father thinks he won. Dern was nominated for an Oscar for his performance and won the 2013 best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival. Payne is the award-winning director of “The Descendants” and “Sideways.”  Contact Madeline Matson.

The annual Earth Day event in Columbia has been postponed due to weather and will be held next Sunday, May 4th.


For yoga and even more events, see our online calendars:

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 into the freedom of spiritual development.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

Next Sunday, April 20th, is Easter Sunday and our annual Flower Communion!  Please bring a flower from home; we will join them all in a beautiful communal bouquet, and each member will get a flower to take home with them.

Submissions for the May Newsletter and print calendar are due next Sunday.  E-mail your items to Laura Gilkey or leave them in the Administrator mailbox in the Fellowship office.

We need an Adult Forum Leader for May 4th; contact Laura Gilkey.

We are holding a silent auction for the "Mammatus Clouds" photo print on display above the Chalice Table. Proceeds will go to the Art Committee for new frames.  The auction sheet is on the table in the back of the Sanctuary, or contact Roberta Dunkel for more information.

The Worship Service Committee meets at the Fellowship Monday evening, April 14th at 6:30 pm.  All are welcome.  Contact Kath Connor.

The UUFJC Board meets at the Fellowship Tuesday, April 15th at 6 pm; among other items, they will be discussing the agenda for the Annual Membership Meeting coming in May.  All are welcome at the board meeting, but please enter quietly in consideration of the yoga group.

Community Events this week:

Monday, April 14th at 7 pm, Missouri River Regional Library hosts BYOB (Bring Your Own Book), a no-stress, pressure-free book group, upstairs in the Story Hour room.  Contact Madeline Matson.

Tuesday, April 15th at 5:30 pm, frequent UUFJC speaker Rev. Cliff Cain will address the Evening Rotary Club at Grace Episcopal Church.  The topic: "The Holy Land Today."  Contact Frank Rycyk.

Thursday, April 17th at 7 pm in the Art Gallery, MRRL hosts "Steeped in Tea," part one of a two-part class on tea.  Participation is limited; contact Madeline Matson to see if any slots remain available.

Also on Thursday at 7 pm, Columbia Area NOW meets at the Hy-Vee Restaurant at Broadway and Fairview in Columbia.  All are welcome.  Contact Sue Gibson.

For yoga and even more events, see our Calendars.

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 avoid engaging our deeper selves, and even together, it's a challenge to truly engage with others, but true community comes when we face both challenges, openly facing ourselves and each other.

Stephanie Scott-Huffman from Table of Grace was also here for the Adult Forum and gave us an exciting presentation about The Pantry, the food assistance program she's trying to start.  For more information, you can get in touch with Stephanie or visit the project's GoFundMe page here: http://www.gofundme.com/6p2t9k

UUFJC News and Events this week:

We're holding a silent auction for the Mammatus Cloud photo print currently hanging above the Chalice.  The opening bid is $35, and proceeds will help the Art Committee buy new frames for future displays.  The auction sheet is on the table in the back of the Sanctuary, and you can contact Roberta Dunkel for more information.

This Tuesday, April 8th is the Missouri Women United March for Equity at the Capitol.  There will be a Breakfast and Legislative Update at 8 am, then a Women's March on High Street and Rally for Equality in the Capitol Rotunda at noon, followed by citizen lobbying of the legistlature.  Contact Sue Gibson.

This Friday, April 11th at 7 pm here at the Fellowship is the monthly Reader's Eye Film.  This month's selection is "Hysteria" (2011), a romantic comedy with serious overtones set in Victorian England; it promises to be very interesting.  Contact Bob Boldt.

Also on Friday, the MidAmerica UUA's "Hunger for Justice" Regional Assembly begins.  The Registration deadline to attend has passed, but some of the events will be live-streamed online.  Use this link for the Regional Business Meeting, Saturday, April 12th at 10:30 am: http://www.uubloomington.org/worship/livestream.html or use this link to view other events, including the keynote address, as they happen or later at your convenience: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/midamerica-regional-assembly-2014  Visit http://www.midamericauua.org for more information about the Regional Assembly.

Our annual Rummage Sale is coming May 24th!  This is our biggest annual fundraiser and it'll be here before you know it, so keep an eye out for items to donate as you do your spring cleaning!  Contact Bob Antweiler or Pat Goetz.

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, April 8th at 4 pm, Citizens for Peace will meet in the Story Hour Room at Missouri River Regional Library.  Contact Betty Cooper.

Later Tuesday evening at 7 pm in the Conference Room, MRRL will also host a multimedia program on Human Trafficking in Missouri.  The program is presented by the Central Missouri Stop Human Trafficking Coalition, and one of the presenters will be a survivor from St. Louis.  Contact Madeline Matson.

Wednesday, April 9th, a Dementia Caregivers' Resource Group will meet in the Cafe at First Baptist Church.  Bring a brown bag lunch.  Keith Enloe of Hospice Compassus will share information about hospice and palliative care.  Caregivers will learn about both services, what they are, and how those workers can help families.  Caregivers will learn how to contact both services and when such care may be needed.  There will be time for questions and answers with handouts, and a nurse may be available to help answer questions.  Everyone is welcome at these free meetings.  No reservation necessary.

I have an unconfirmed report that a group of friendly neighborhood Pagans will be meeting to chat this Saturday, April 12th at Pañera at 3 pm and that any and all Pagans or Pagan-friendly visitors are welcome to join them.  Contact Richard Parsons as to the truth of this rumor.

For yoga and even more events, see our Calendars.