This morning, our own Alexis Engelbrecht-Villafañe brought us a message harking back to the great Romantic poets and thinkers, from William Wordsworth to Henry David Thoreau.  Alexis reminded us that the Romantics were not fluffy, nature-loving sentimentalists, but rebels in the age of the Industrial Revolution.  "The world is too much with us," wrote Wordsworth, a mechanical, economic world threatening to alienate people from the worlds of nature and their inner selves.  But as Alexis said, it is not enough just to rebel, to move against.  We must also have a vision to move toward.

Next Sunday, June 7th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Traffic Software and Police Tracking," Frank Rycyk
Law-enforcement officials are pressuring a software company to remove police-tracking capability from a popular app.  The company counters that they "think deeply about safety and security."

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "How are you using your future today?" Rev. Mike Adamek
The most American of philosophies is pragmatism.  Use what works. How can we use the future when it is not here yet? Patience begins the kerf but concentration and stamina determine the direction of sawing.   What expectations, assumptions, intuitions, or hopes are your days cutting into?

Plus Children's RE --- Volunteers Needed!

Potluck Lunch --- bring a favorite dish to share!

Shared Pulpit Sermon Seminar - 1:30 pm
It's our second session and not too late to join in!  Contact Alexis Engelbrecht-Villafañe if you would like to get involved and ultimately create a sermon to share with the Fellowship.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

The June Newsletter and Print Calendar are ready.  Paper copies are available in the back of the Sanctuary and electronic copies are available on request.

Draft minutes of the Annual Business Meeting are also ready; there is a paper copy on the bulletin board for review, and electronic copies of that are also available on request.  Contact Laura Gilkey with any corrections.

This Friday, June 5th starting at 5 pm is our First Friday Social.  Bring refreshments for yourself or to share, enjoy our patio and grill, or just hang out.  Attendance at these has been low, so please RSVP to Katherine Connor if you plan to be there.

Also Friday evening, Relay for Life starts at 6 pm at the JC Fairgrounds.  Contact Patt Behler for more information.

Community Events this week:

This Wednesday, June 3rd at 6 pm, the Central Chapter of Empower Missouri (formerly MIssouri Association for Social Welfare) holds its 2nd Annual Social Networking Picnic & Legislative Wrap-up at Memorial Park.  This is a FREE picnic with hot dogs, brats, sides and ice cream.  Please help spread the word.  RSVP attendance to Susan Cook at [email protected].

This Thursday, June 4th at 7 pm in the Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library hosts local historian Henry Gensky, who will show photos he recently discovered documenting Jefferson City architecture and events during the 1960s.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This Friday, June 5th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, MRRL presents their First Friday Film: "Still Alice."  Julianne Moore won this year’s Best Actress Oscar for her subtle portrayal of a respected linguistics professor at Columbia University whose increasing forgetfulness is diagnosed as early onset familial Alzheimer’s disease. The film deals with how she and her family deal with this discovery and the ensuing problems that arise.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "Adult Beginners" (through Thursday) and "Seeds of Time" (starting Friday --- Ethical Eating enthusiasts will want to check this one out).  For showtimes and more information, visit capitolcitycinema.org.

For yoga and even more events, see our Calendars.

Sunday morning, Rev. Nancy got a bit "meta" with a message about how we approach our time together on Sundays.  She described worship as "a crossroads between the apprehension of the holy and daily life."  In our sort of Fellowship, we don't necessarily agree on what (or whether) "the holy" might be, but we don't have to agree to come together in liturgy, open ourselves to the experience, and carry something of it back out into the world.

Next Sunday, May 31st:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Bernie Sanders," Bob Boldt

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "Reflections from a Rebellious Romantic," Alexis Engelbrecht-Villafañe
Inspired by the poetry and philosophy of Romantic poets such as William Wordsworth, this talk explores how to live according to our values in a society that often demands compromise and is full of distractions. 

Plus Children's RE --- Volunteers Needed!

Youth RE is available.  Contact Alexis Engelbrecht-Villafañe

UUFJC News and Events this week:

Submissions for the June Newsletter and Print Calendar are due YESTERDAY.  E-mail any last-minute items to Laura Gilkey ASAP.

We need Adult Forum leaders and RE volunteers!  Contact Laura Gilkey to lead the Forum, Kim Connor to volunteer for RE.

Faith Voices for Jefferson City holds its monthly Assembly Tuesday, May 26th at 6:30 pm at Quinn Chapel AME Church.  (Note the usual fourth-Monday schedule was changed for this month due to the Memorial Day holiday.)  Contact Katherine Connor.

The Transgender Support Group meets this Thursday, May 28th at 7 pm.  Contact Ari Morse.

This Friday, May 29th at 7 pm is the Last Friday Documentary film.  This month's selection is "Samsara," an epic audio-visual journey through the experience of being human on the planet.  Contact Bob Boldt.

This Saturday, May 30th at 9 am is our Highway Pickup on 179.  Bring work gloves and wear appropriate clothing. Orange safety vests will be provided.  Contact Barb Koenig for directions and more information.

Next Sunday, May 31st at 2 pm, we will be hosting a presentation: “Why We Should Fear Islamophobia.”  Pre-emptive prosecutions, thought crimes, pre-trial solitary confinement and declining civil liberties.  Muslims have been the usual targets, but it is unlikely to stop there.  Why are practices that decades ago were viewed as unthinkable widely accepted today?  We will look at some examples, and talk about what we are trying to do about it.  Join Mel Underbakke, Ph.D., Director of Education, National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms, and Fred Bryant, Co-Director, Friends of Human Rights.  Co-sponsored by UUFJC and Capital Area Interfaith Alliance.

And remember Relay for Life, coming up June 5th and 6th!  Contact Patt Behler for luminaria and registration forms.

Community Events this week:

This Wednesday, May 27th at 1:30 pm in the Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents an Afternoon Film: “Alice’s Ordinary People."  This documentary feature celebrates a heroine of the U.S. Civil Rights movement.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "Slow West" (through Thursday) and "Adult Beginners" (starting Friday).  For showtimes and more information, visit www.capitolcitycinema.org.

For yoga and even more events, see our Calendars.

This morning, we held our Annual Business Meeting and elected a new Board for the 2015-2016 term, with some people continuing in their offices and others stepping up to do challenging jobs:

President: Katherine Connor (returning)
Vice President: Alexis Engelbrecht-Villafañe
Treasurer: Bob Antweiler (returning)
Secretary: Laura Gilkey (returning)
Director of Religious Education: Kim Connor

This year's meeting saw no extraordinary business.  At any time, our business meeting is perhaps our dullest service of the year, but it's also the most important, and we thank not only those who volunteer for offices and committees, but those who come to engage with our principle of Democratic Process and do the plain, unglamorous work of making our Fellowship run.  As Marge Piercy wrote, "The work of the world is common as mud ... But the thing worth doing well done has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident."  We may still be working on "clean and evident," but together we give our Fellowship community a shape that satisfies.

Next Sunday, May 24th:

Newsletter Submissions Due

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"'Free-Range' Parenting," Frank Rycyk
Police and Child Protective Services intervened when Maryland parents let their children play in the park and walk home unsupervised.

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "Alms and Homage?", Rev. Nancy Tanner-Thies
Rev. Nancy will offer a reflection on our intentions for and resistance to worship.

Plus Children's RE --- Volunteers Needed!  If there are no volunteers, RE will be canceled this week.

Youth RE is available.  Contact Alexis Engelbrecht-Villafañe

UUFJC News and Events this week:

Submissions for the June Newsletter and Print Calendar are due one week from today, next Sunday, May 24th.  Send your submissions to Laura Gilkey.

We need Adult Forum leaders and RE volunteers!  Contact Laura Gilkey to lead the Forum, Barb Koenig or Kim Connor to volunteer for RE.

American Association of University Women meets this Thursday, May 21st at 6 pm.  This month’s meeting will be a salad supper at the Parsons’ house, and then AAUW goes on vacation for the summer months.  Contact Charlotte Parsons.

This Friday is our monthly Salvation Army meal.  Please contact Bob Antweiler if you can help prepare or serve food for those in need.  Serving begins at 5 pm; please arrive by 4:30 to help prepare.

Coming up June 2nd from 1-5 pm is a Faith-Based Disaster Response Workshop in Fulton Missouri, sponsored by the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency.  The event is free of charge.  If anyone would like to go on behalf of the Fellowship, register at:  http://training.dps.mo.gov/sematraining.nsf/TrainingSchedule

And remember Relay for Life, coming up June 5th and 6th!  Contact Patt Behler for luminaria and registration forms.

Community Events this week:

Monday, May 18th at 7 pm in the Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library hosts A Musical Evening with Simply Strings.  Five mid-Missouri women comprise this group of musicians who between them have four mountain dulcimers, a banjo dulcimer, guitar, bowed psaltery, violin, and an odd variety of rhythm instruments. They will perform American and Celtic folk music, Civil War-era music and hymns, fiddle tunes, and maybe a waltz or two.  Contact Madeline Matson.

Thursday, May 21st at 6 pm in the Art Gallery, MRRL continues its monthly programming for Millennials with a Bad Movie Night, recommended for ages 19-39.  Did you grow up in the age of MST3K?  Come hang out, riff on a truly dreadful movie, enjoy some popcorn and have some good snarky fun.

Also Thursday evening at 7 pm, Columbia Area NOW holds its monthly meeting at the Hy-Vee Restaurant at Broadway and Fairview in Columbia.  Non-members and new members are welcome.  Contact Sue Gibson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "The Clouds of Sils Maria" (through Thursday) and "Slow West" (starting Friday).  For showtimes and more information, visit capitolcitycinema.org or contact Rebecca Bax.

For yoga and even more events, see our Calendars.

This morning, Sultan Ahmad visited our Fellowship to talk about the looming ecological crisis from an Islamic point of view.  While Ahmad's interpretation of Islam --- like common interpretations of Christianity --- sees humankind set apart as the greatest of God's creation and given Nature for the purposes of human wellbeing, he sees this as a great responsibility.  According to the Holy Koran, God created the Earth with all its elements "in due proportion," in a balance which humans should not upset.  Elsewhere the Koran urges, "And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order."  Diverse faiths as well as reason call people around the world to treat our interconnected web of life with respect rather than mischief.

Next Sunday, May 17th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
Topic TBA, Gale Fuller

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Service: UUFJC Annual Business Meeting
We will approve a new budget, elect next year's Board, and more.  For the meeting agenda, see the May Newsletter (available on request).  If you cannot be at the meeting, you can select someone to vote on your behalf; contact Laura Gilkey for a Proxy Voting form.

Plus Children's RE with Ted Koenig; Aide Needed!

Youth RE is available.  Contact Alexis Engelbrecht-Villafañe

UUFJC News and Events this week:

We need RE volunteers!  Summer is coming, when the RE lessons are Teacher's Choice.  Do you have something special to share with our children: a skill, a craft project, a favorite story?  Or could you be an aide and just be there for the teacher and kids?  Volunteers are especially needed for May 24th and 31st.  Contact Barb Koenig.

We also need volunteers for next year's Nominating Committee.  You'll have a whole year to find just 5 volunteers for our 2016 board --- how hard can it be?  Joking aside, though, many thanks to the current Nominating Committee for their generous cat-herding work, and much appreciation to anyone who steps up to volunteer!  Contact Kath Connor if you're willing to serve.

The Worship Service Committee meets tomorrow, Monday, May 11th at 6:30 pm.  All are welcome to come and share ideas for upcoming services.  Contact Carol Bontempo.

The Transgender Support Group meets this Thursday, May 14th at 7 pm.  Contact Ari Morse.

This Saturday, May 16th is our Spring Cleaning Day, starting at 9 am.  We have various jobs to do both indoors and out, but it’ll be fast and fun if we all work together.  Contact Kath Connor.  Note: Saturday morning Yoga is canceled due to the Spring Cleaning.

Next Sunday, May 17th at 4 pm is the monthly Laughter Yoga session.  Free and open to all.  Contact Jan Harcourt.

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, May 12th at 4 pm, Citizens for Peace meets at Missouri River Regional Library in the Art Gallery.  Contact Betty Cooper.

Later Tuesday evening at 5:30 pm, our own Kim Connor will address the Evening Rotary Club at Grace Episcopal Church.  Her subject: "The Role of the School Counselor."  You are invited.  For more information, contact Charlotte Parsons or Frank Rycyk.

Still later Tuesday evening at 7 pm in the Art Gallery, MRRL hosts Phil S. Dixon for a talk on "The Kansas City Monarchs in Our Home Town."  Dixon, a founder and board member of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, will discuss the history of the Kansas City Monarchs and their connection to Jefferson City. He is doing a tribute tour and a goodwill visit to the cities where the Monarchs played games to present this team’s unique history. Dixon is the author of several books on baseball history including Wilber “Bullet” Rogan and the Kansas City Monarchs.  Contact Madeline Matson.

Thursday, May 14th at 7 pm in the Art Gallery, MRRL presents: "Should I read the entire book, or is reading a review of the book enough for me?"  Steve Weinberg, a nationally known book reviewer and author, will offer an inside look at the craft of book reviewing. The author of eight books, Weinberg’s current book under contract is a biography of Garry Trudeau, creator of “Doonesbury.”  Contact Madeline Matson.

Relay for Life is coming, 6 pm Friday, June 5th until 2 am Satruday, June 6th at the JC Fairgrounds.  UUFJC does not have a team this year, but some of our members are still joining in to support Cancer research, sufferers and survivors.  Patt Behler will have signup sheets for Luminaria or to register for the relay, and she will also be looking for ideas for fundraising, so contact Patt if you can help!

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "Welcome to Me" and "The Clouds of Sils Maria."  For showtimes and more information visit capitolcitycinema.org.

For yoga and even more events, see our Calendars.

Yesterday morning, our Adult Forum tried to engage our Fifth Unitarian Universalist Principle ("The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large"), as we discussed whether to create for ourselves an Adult Forum Policy.  While the members present felt that we didn't need a formal policy, we had a productive discussion.  We touched on our "editorial standards" for forum topics (specifically the fact that we don't have any standards), and considered privacy and press access issues that recently came up.  Some of our concerns couldn't be solved in one session and will be things to keep discussing with each other going forward, but we also had at least one simple and elegant idea that I myself had never thought of --- that the discussion leader sit on the far end of the table so latecomers can create less disruption and we can use the monitor without so much running back and forth.

Do you have concerns, suggestions, or new ideas for the Fellowship?  Come and share them!  Everyone is welcome next Sunday at the regular monthly meeting of the UUFJC Board, then the Sunday after that is our Annual Business meeting.  We look forward to seeing you --- and hearing you --- then!

Next Sunday, May 10th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"How to Handle Children who Kill," Betty Cooper
This is "Mother's Peace Day,"--a vibrant time to discuss the "care of our children."

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "Islam and the Environment," Sultan Ahmad
Ahmad is from a town in Bangladesh that has been affected by climate change.

Plus Children's RE with Barb Koenig; Aide Needed!

Youth RE is available.  Contact Alexis Engelbrecht-Villafañe

UUFJC Board - 1:30 pm
All are welcome to attend the board meeting.  An agenda for this meeting and draft minutes of the previous meeting are posted in the back of the Sanctuary, and electronic copies are available on request.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

We are starting to draw up next year's budget, and we need your pledges (or estimates of giving) so that we can plan accordingly.  If you haven't yet turned in a pledge form or talked to our Treasurer, Bob Antweiler, please do so!  However much or little you can give, it's a big help to let us know!

Mark your calendars for our Spring Cleaning Day, Saturday, May 16th.  We have various jobs to do indoors and out, but it’ll be fast and fun if we all work together.  Contact Kath Connor.

Also mark your calendars for our Annual Business Meeting, coming Sunday, May 17th.  We will approve a new budget, elect next year's officers, and more.  If you can't come but want your voice to be heard, you can designate someone to vote on your behalf; contact Secretary Laura Gilkey for a Proxy Voting form.

Unfortunately, we have not gotten the volunteers we need to lead the efforts for our annual Rummage Sale, so the sale will be canceled this year.  We still have more ideas for fundraisers, though, so stay alert for opportunities to help!

This Friday, May 8th at 7 pm is the monthly Reader’s Eye Film.  This month we celebrate the 100th birthday of the legendary Orson Welles.  Contact Bob Boldt.

Community Events this week:

This Thursday, May 7th at 7 pm in the Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library hosts an Author Talk with Keija Parssinen.  Parssinen’s new book, The Unraveling of Mercy Louis, is both a mystery and a coming-of-age tale of secrets and betrayals. The main character is a basketball champion and golden girl in a small Texas town who is dealing with a history of abandonment and the social pressures of adolescence.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "An Honest Liar" through Thursday, then "Welcome to Me" beginning Friday.  For showtimes and more information, visit capitolcitycinema.org.

For yoga and even more events, see our Calendars.