This morning, we were joined again by Dr. Cliff Cain, Professor of Religious Studies at Westminster College, who brought us thoughts about the early history of Christianity in the Roman Empire.  Early members of the "Jesus movement" were persecuted, seen as unpatriotic for their refusal to honor the official gods of Rome.  One historian wrote that the persecutors "think Christians are the cause of every public disaster."  But when the emperors converted and Christianity became the official religion of the empire, they became the oppressors in turn, suppressing both paganism and the diversity within their own faith.  Again and again throughout history, we see peoples targeted as outsiders to the nation and its religion, and again and again, we see political power corrupt the oppressed into oppressors.  How does this insight inform how we see our present world, and what are we called to do about it?  Where is this pattern repeating itself?  Where is it being resisted?  What would we do if suddenly we were completely in charge?  What might we be tempted to do, telling ourselves "we're right and they're wrong"?

Next Sunday, May 5th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"The Harvard Photo," Jim Davis

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "Make It Alright," Kim Mason
In 2018 Netflix rebooted the make over reality show, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. With a new cast and new location, what lessons does Queer Eye offer for us now? How does the cast's willingness to engage with a range of people inspire our own curiosity and openness? The Fab 5 aren't making over the fellowship - but they just may make over your heart! 
Due to an unexpected and exciting opportunity, Kim Mason, a graduating student from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, will be speaking to us on May 5th.
(Rev. Mike Adamek will return May 26th.)
If you have a joy or concern that you would like to have read during the Service, please submit it by noon on Friday through our website: http://uufjc.org/joys--concerns.html

Plus Children's RE --- "Curiosity and Understanding"

Farewell Potluck for Sharon - Please Bring a Favorite Dish
After services, we will hold a special potluck to say goodbye to longtime UUFJC member and leader Sharon Morgan as she is moving to be closer to family.  Thank you and best to you, Sharon!
We also have a card for Sharon that you are invited to sign.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

Our May newsletter and print calendar are ready.  Paper copies are available in the wall box near the coat rack.  Electronic copies are available to view or download: Newsletter, Calendar

Our Annual Business Meeting is coming Sunday, May 12th.  The agenda for the meeting is now ready; it is included in the May newsletter (see link above), or see our President, Katherine Connor, for a copy.  If you wish to review the minutes of last year’s meeting, you can view or download them here, or see Katherine.  If you wish to look at the proposed budget in advance, please see our Treasurer, Bob Antweiler.

If you wish to participate in the national Unitarian Universalist Association’s General Assembly this year, this Tuesday, April 30th, is the last day to sign up at early-bird rates.  Registration costs go up starting May 1st.  This year’s GA is taking place in Spokane Washington, and offsite registrations are available to let you participate online.  Some GA events will also be livestreamed online and open to all.  For more information or to register, visit UUA.org/GA.

And coming a week from tomorrow, Monday, May 6th at 6:30 pm, our own Alexis will give a special presentation: “Stories from the Border, Sanctuary, and Ways to Help.”  Alexis will share what she learned from her time on the border in Tuscan, Arizona, plus an immediate opportunity to be of assistance to a family in Columbia.  Please invite anyone you think would like to learn more about this important issue and how to help.

This Thursday, May 2nd at 7 pm, the local chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America meets in our building.  Contact Susan Randolph.

Next Sunday, May 5th, our building is reserved by a community group starting at 6:30 pm.  Please allow privacy.

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, April 30th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library hosts a presentation on Missouri Courthouses.  Bill Hart, executive director of the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation, will discuss the architectural history of Missouri’s courthouses.  Contact Madeline Matson.  For more library events, visit MRRL.org.

This Friday, May 3rd at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, MRRL presents their monthly First Friday Film: "On the Basis of Sex."  Inspired by a true story, this film depicts Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a young lawyer and new mother facing multiple career challenges. She takes on a case, which she knows could change the courts' view of gender discrimination. Teaming with her husband, Martin Ginsburg, she fights the case all the way to the Supreme Court, resulting in a landmark decision in the fight for equal rights.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "Beach Bum" (Thursday through Sunday).  For showtimes, more events, and more information, visit capitolcitycinema.org.

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

UUFJC Events
Affiliated Events 
Religious Education
Building Use (other)
Community Events  

Have a great week!

This morning we continued exploring our monthly theme of Wholeness as we celebrated our annual Flower Communion with Rev. Nancy TannerThies.  Too often, Rev. Nancy reflected, we pick away at our own wholeness, tearing at the parts of ourselves we don't like or don't consider presentable, like tearing petals from a flower or flowers from a bouquet.  But wholeness means recognizing that we are complete and sacred in all our complexity, our beauty and our brokenness, our weakness and our strength.  It is not something we must achieve; it is always there for us to discover and embrace.  It is when we own all of ourselves that we can heal and grow, and it is when we come together with each of our unique selves --- like the unique flowers we each brought to our chalice table this morning --- that we can become something greater and rise to the challenges of our times.

Next Sunday, April 28th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Disasters and the Red Cross," with Carina Kagan
 Kagan will address volunteer recruitment and training as well as the coordination of disaster response.  

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "Christians and Pagans in the Early Roman Empire," Cliff Cain
If you have a joy or concern that you would like to have read during the Service, please submit it by noon on Friday through our website: http://uufjc.org/joys--concerns.html

Plus Children's RE --- "Wholesome: 'Be All Your Slices', The Practice of Sharing All of You with  the World"

UUFJC News and Events this week:

Our Annual Business Meeting is coming Sunday, May 12th.  The agenda for the meeting is now ready; it will be included in the May newsletter, or see our President, Katherine Connor, for a copy.  If you wish to review the minutes of last years meeting, copies will be available soon, or see Katherine.  If you wish to look at the proposed budget in advance, please see our Treasurer, Bob Antweiler.

The Worship Service Committee meets this evening at 6 pm.  To get involved in creating our Sunday services, contact our vice president, Lisa Sanning.

Tomorrow, Monday, April 22nd, Faith Voices for Jefferson City holds its monthly Assembly at 6:30 pm at Quinn Chapel AME Church.  This month's focus is Growing A Multicultural Society with training and discussions on how race and class divide us and what our role is in building a community based on authentic relationships.  Contact Rev. Kim Woodruff: [email protected]

This Friday, April 26th is our monthly Salvation Army Meal.  Please contact Roberta Dunkel if you can help provide and serve food for those in need.  Serving begins at 5 pm; please arrive early to help prepare.

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, April 23rd at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library hosts Music in the Library with the Finley River Boys.  Get ready for some rousing music with this high-energy acoustic bluegrass band that performs a wide variety of bluegrass, country, folk and gospel songs. The band performs at venues throughout the U.S., including the Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival, Missouri State Fair, Silver Dollar City, at festivals and theaters, and on television. They’ll have you feeling good, tapping your toes and clapping your hands.  Contact Madeline Matson.  For more library events, visit MRRL.org.

This Friday, April 26th at 4:30 pm in their Art Gallery, MRRL hosts an Art Crawl Reception for Amy Hernandez Greenbank.  View the exhibit, meet the artist, and enjoy some light refreshments.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "St. Louis Superman" (Monday and Tuesday), "Charm City" (Wednesday only), and "Apollo 11" (Thursday through Sunday).  For showtimes, more events, and more information, visit capitolcitycinema.org.

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

UUFJC Events
Affiliated Events 
Religious Education
Building Use (other)
Community Events  

Happy Easter and have a great week!

​Late-breaking news: This Sunday, April 21st, we will be having our annual Flower Communion.  Please bring a flower to the service with you.

This Sunday, we continued exploring our monthly theme of "Wholeness" with a message from our larger UU community, delivered by Rev. Arvid Straube and recorded at the First UU Church of San Diego (video available here).  Rev. Straube argued that UU churches, at our best, are places that "train people to be awesome human beings."  He encouraged us to challenge the "bad brand" that too many religious institutions have earned and invite the world in to share our blessings.  We provide a place for people to meet their human needs for connection and spiritual life, as well as to learn generosity and gratitude, find role models, and be empowered to live their values.  In this way we become a place where people can heal into the wholeness that makes us awesome.

Next Sunday, April 21st:

May News Due.
Please submit your items for our May newsletter and print calendar to Laura Gilkey by e-mail ([email protected]) or in writing.

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Snakes in Suits," Bob Boldt
Boldt will address the state of mind of some business people.

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: Rev. Nancy TannerThies
If you have a joy or concern that you would like to have read during the Service, please submit it by noon on Friday through our website: http://uufjc.org/joys--concerns.html

Plus Children's RE --- "Wholesome: Rebirth for Easter and Earth Day, The Practice of Rising from  the Ashes"

UUFJC News and Events this week:

The UUFJC Board meets this evening at 6 pm.  All are welcome to attend our board meetings.  For more information, contact our President, Katherine Connor.

Tomorrow, Monday, April 15th, our building is reserved by a community group starting at 6:30 pm.  Please allow privacy.

The Worship Service Committee meets next Sunday, April 21st at 6 pm.  To get involved in creating our Sunday services, contact our vice president, Lisa Sanning.

Community Events this week:

This Wednesday, April 17th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents "Reel Life Cinema: The Fish on My Plate."  What fish should I eat that’s good for me and good for the planet? That’s the question bestselling author and lifelong fisherman Paul Greenberg sets out to answer in this film. He explores questions of sustainability and overfishing, traveling to Norway, where modern fish farming was invented; Peru to witness the world’s largest wild fishery; Alaska, where 200 million salmon can be caught each year; and Connecticut to visit a sustainable ocean farming pioneer who is trying to transform the fishing industry.  Contact Madeline Matson.  For more library events, visit MRRL.org.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "Apollo 11" (Thursday through Sunday).  For showtimes, more events, and more information, visit capitolcitycinema.org.

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

UUFJC Events
Affiliated Events 
Religious Education
Building Use (other)
Community Events  

Have a great week!

Sunday morning, Rev. Mike Adamek began our new monthly theme of "Wholeness."  Rev. Mike talked about the phrase "Love your neighbor as yourself" which is repeated in many ways, over and over, throughout the Bible. Mike used it to illustrate that just like our personal homes, church can be a source of joy and pain because we know each other so well, we can sometimes, too easily, push each other's buttons.

Next Sunday, April 14th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
Poetry, Bob Boldt
Bob has studied poetry at Lincoln University.  Bring a favorite poem to share.

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "Wholeness" (video)
A sermon via video addressing our monthly theme of Wholeness.  Details to be determined.
If you have a joy or concern that you would like to have read during the Service, please submit it by noon on Friday through our website: http://uufjc.org/joys--concerns.html

Plus Children's RE --- "Wholesome: You are Enough, The Practice of Embracing Yourself"

UUFJC News and Events this week:

Did you participate in our Reverse Offering earlier this month?  Have you had a chance to share what it inspired you to do?  We now have a sheet of poster board and markers available on the bulletin board in our Sanctuary, and participants are invited to write in their choices.

We are currently in our annual Pledge Drive.  For all those who support our Fellowship, we thank you.  Please, if you can, fill out a pledge form and estimate what you plan to give; this is a great help to us in planning.  For Fair Share giving suggestions and pledge forms, please contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler.

Starting this Tuesday, April 9th, MidAmerica Region UUA presents a free Webinar on "RE Essentials" for new and newer religious educators.  Attendees must use the Zoom application and are asked to attend both sessions: Session One - April 9th, 6-8 pm; Session Two – April 16th, 6-8 pm.  For more upcoming webinars and videos of past webinars, visit https://www.uua.org/midamerica/events/webinars

This Wednesday, April 10th at 6:30 pm, MidAmerica Region UUA also presents a free Webinar with Simon Sinek, author of "Start With Why" and "Leaders Eat Last," among other books. He writes of organizational mission, leadership principles, and how to inspire others to achieve greatness.  More information at EventBrite.

This Thursday, April 11th, the local chapter of the American Association of University Women meets in our building starting at 7 pm.  Contact Charlotte Parsons.

The UUFJC Board meets next Sunday, April 14th at 6 pm.  All are welcome to attend our board meetings.  For more information, contact our President, Katherine Connor.

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, April 9th at 2 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents: "Extraordinary Black Missourians."  Noted educator Dr. John A. Wright Sr. will profile the African American pioneers, educators, civil rights activists, scientists, entertainers, athletes, authors, soldiers and others who have played major roles in shaping the history and culture of the state and nation. (Rescheduled from a previous date.)  Contact Madeline Matson.  For more library events, visit MRRL.org.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "Arctic" (Thursday through Sunday).  For showtimes, more events, and more information, visit capitolcitycinema.org.

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

UUFJC Events
Affiliated Events 
Religious Education
Building Use (other)
Community Events  

Have a great week!