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 a basic need and a human right to an aesthetic art and a cornerstone of culture and identity.  For more information from UUSC, visit http://www.uusc.org/justice-sunday.

You can get involved in Food Sovereignty right here in Jefferson City.  See below for our Social Action Committee's stand on an agricultural ballot issue and a tour of Heart of Missouri Gardens.

UUFJC News and Announcements this week:

The July Newsletter and print calendar are ready!  A few paper copies are available in the Sanctuary, and electronic copies are available.

Our Social Action Committee has come out in opposition to Amendment 1, which would make it difficult to regulate agriculture (for example, GMOs and animal abuse).  You can sign up to join in opposition; contact Don Love.

UUA General Assembly is ending today.  Some of the events are available to view online; visit UUA.org for more information.

Monday, June 30th, Citizens for JeffTran will be at City Hall from 5:20 to 7 pm to support a public transit advisory committee for Jefferson City.  Expanding public transit is one of our Fellowship's social action goals, in cooperation with Faith Voices for Jefferson City.  Free shuttle service to and from the meeting is available; call 635-4395

Wednesday, July 2nd, The NEEED Project is offering a tour of their beautiful and empowering Heart of Missouri Gardens 5:30 pm.  Pamphlets are available in the Sanctuary.  Contact Bob Boldt.

Community Events this week:

This week, Capitol City Cinema on High Street presents "Snowpiercer" at various showtimes, Wednesday, July 2nd through Sunday, July 6th.  For more information, visit http://www.capitolcitycinema.org/

For yoga and even more events, see our Calendars.

Yesterday, our own Jim Davis brought us a message about the fascinating history of University City, Missouri (a suburb of St. Louis) and its founder, Edward Gardner Lewis (Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Gardner_Lewis).  Lewis published a magazine for women and founded the American Woman's League, as well as an Art Academy, People's University, and a mail-order People's Bank.  While his financial success didn't last, his legacy was far-reaching and may even have played a role in the Women's Suffrage movement.

(PS: Talk of Women's Suffrage reminded me of this historically-informative Lady Gaga parody video that made the rounds a few years ago: http://youtu.be/IYQhRCs9IHM --- the roses?  The letter in the pocket?  As Jim Davis told us: yes, that happened.)

UUFJC News and Events this week:

We still need Adult Forum leaders for July; contact Laura Gilkey if you have a topic for our lively discussion group!

This Tuesday, June 24th, the Worship Service Committee will meet at the Fellowship at 6:30 pm.  Contact Carol Bontempo for more information.

This Friday, June 27th at 5 pm is our monthly Salvation Army work day.  Our usual contact person, Bob Antweiler, is traveling; Sharon Morgan, Shanon Hawk and others will be helping if you need more information.

Later Friday evening, the Last Friday Documentary will be shown at the Fellowship at 7 pm.  This month's selection is the penultimate episode of "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey" with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, focused on Global Warming.  Contact Bob Boldt.

UUA General Assembly is this Wednesday, June 25th through next Sunday, June 29th.  Some of the events will be streamed online; visit http://www.uua.org/ga/virtual/30754.shtml for more details.

Community Events this week:

This Thursday, June 26th at 7 pm upstairs in the Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library welcomes local authors Matt Crowell, Alan Easley, Susan Finlay, Marlene Lee, and Darla Noble for discussion and readings from their books, which range from fiction to nonfiction to memoir. Their books will be available for sale after the program.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This Saturday, June 28th at noon, there will be a PrideFest BBQ at Cosmo Park in Columbia.  Hot dogs and hamburgers are provided; please bring side dishes.  Contact Don Love for more information.

Next Sunday, June 29th, Community Christian Church is holding a community-wide baby shower to gather layette items in kits to be donated to low-income families around the world, regardless of their nationality or religion.  Cloth diapers, newborn to 3-month size t-shirts (not onesies), sleepers, washcloths and monetary donations are especially helpful at this time.

This week, Capitol City Cinema on High Street presents "The Unknown Known," a film based on extensive interviews with former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, at various showtimes Wednesday, June 25th through Sunday, June 29th.  Also check their schedule for showings of "The Haunting of Cellblock 11" and "The Kings of Silent Comedy."  For more information, visit www.capitolcitycinema.org.

For yoga and even more events, see our Calendars.

Today, we had a potluck celebration to say goodbye to the Ordway family, who have been a part of our Fellowship community for many years and now are moving away.  We wish them the best in their new home and new work, and we look forward to the times when they can come back and visit.  Until then, they will be often thought of and missed!

Today was also Father's Day.  We didn't make a big production of it, and maybe that's for the best --- I know my own father doesn't like a lot of pageantry --- but I'd like to share again the words that opened our service today and that I think acknowledge the occasion well:

Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice.
Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a good father.
Let us praise those fathers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support.
Let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children.
Let us praise those fathers who, despite divorce, have remained in their children's lives.
Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing.
Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earn their stepchildren's love and respect.
Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart.
Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own.
Let us praise those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors and guides.
Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children.
And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us.

~ Kirk D. Loadman-Copeland

UUFJC News and Events this week:

Submissions for the July Newsletter and print calendar are due one week from today, next Sunday, June 22nd.

We still need Adult Forum Leaders and RE volunteers for June and July.  Contact Laura Gilkey if you'd like to lead the Adult Forum or contact Barb Koenig if you'd like to become an RE Teacher or Aide.

Our Caring Committee and Social Action Committee are currently without chairpersons.  If you'd like to lead our Fellowship in caring for members and friends in times of need or in our efforts toward social justice, please consider stepping up!

Monday, June 16th, Faith Voices for Jefferson City is holding their monthly assembly at 6:30 at the Catholic Center.

The Worship Service Committee meeting that was on the calendar for this Thursday, June 19th is being rescheduled.  Contact Carol Bontempo for updates if you wish to attend; your ideas are welcome!

Community Events this week:

This Thursday, June 19th at 7 pm, Richard Parsons is hosting an introductory meeting about Recorders and Recorder playing at his house.  No experience needed.  See the bulletin board at the Fellowship or contact Richard for more information.

This week, Capitol City Cinema on High Street presents "We Are the Best" at various showtimes, Wednesday, June 18th through Sunday, June 22nd.  They will also be showing "The Haunting of Cellblock 11" Thursday the 19th at 9 pm.  For more information, visit www.capitolcitycinema.org.

For yoga and even more events, see our Calendars.


NOTE: This post originally announced a meeting of Columbia Area NOW.  Columbia Area NOW will not be meeting in June or July.  Meetings will resume the third Thursday in August.

Yesterday, Michael Lester visited us from The NEEED Project to talk about Heart of Missouri Gardens and their general mission to find local solutions for "Nutrition, Energy, Environment and Economic Development."  The organization is working on providing fresh, wholesome food for local charities --- the Senior Center is already getting a taste --- and even fighting Global Warming, sequestering carbon and creating sustainable energy through "pyrolysis" of plant waste.

I was reminded of other items I've seen in the news lately, like advances in solar power and reports showing that even pessimistic estimates of what it would cost our economy to take on the problem of greenhouse gases are surprisingly affordable.  The problems we face can sometimes seem overwhelming, but we have the knowledge and resources to solve them.  We just need the will to commit to it, and organizations like The NEEED Project show us ways to move forward in our own community.

For more information or to contribute or volunteer, visit www.NEEEDproject.org.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

We still need Adult Forum Leaders and RE volunteers for the month of June.  Contact Laura Gilkey if you'd like to lead the Adult Forum.  If you'd like to help with RE, contact Barb Koenig or see the sign-up sheet on the RE Room door.

This Friday, June 13th at 7 pm at the Fellowship is the monthly Reader's Eye Film.  This month's selection is "Whisper of the Heart," a richly-textured and magical coming-of-age story from the acclaimed Japanese animators of Studio Ghibli.  Contact Bob Boldt for more information.  (On a personal note, this month's movie was my own choice and is one of my favorite movies of all time, so I hope you can come and see it! ~ Laura)

Next Saturday, June 14th, from 2 pm to 4 pm at the Fellowship will be an Artist Reception for Judy Jecmen, the artist behind the Mandalas that we currently see on display.  There will be light refreshments, a presentation on the history of Mandalas, and printed Mandalas for guests to decorate in a craft workshop for all ages.  The community is invited.  Contact Patt Behler (phone preferred).

Next Sunday, June 15th, after our Sunday Service we will have a potluck and going away party for the Ordway family at the Fellowship.  (This replaces the lunch listed in the newsletter and print calendar.)  Chicken and pizza will be provided; please bring sides.  Contact Roberta Dunkel for more information, and please let her know if you need meatless options.  Gennifer Monteer has also put together a keepsake book for the Ordways to take with them, which is available in the back of the Sanctuary for anyone who wishes to sign.

Community Events this week:

Monday, June 9th at 7 pm, Missouri River Regional Library hosts "BYOB - Bring Your Own Book," a  no-stress, pressure-free book group. There's no structured format, no "required" reading list--just a chance to talk, listen, learn and come away with some good ideas on books you might enjoy.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This Tuesday, June 10th at 4 pm, Citizens for Peace meets at MRRL upstairs in the Story Hour room.  Contact Betty Cooper.

Thursday, June 12th at 7 pm, MRRL hosts Alice Longfellow, horticultural expert and owner of Longfellow's Garden Center in Centertown, for her presentation, "A Rose is a Rose."  Longfellow will share her knowledge and advice on the care and feeding of roses, both hybrid and heritage.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema on High Street presents the documentary "Fed Up" at various showtimes, Wednesday, June 11th through Sunday, June 15th.  There will also be a special Friday the 13th showing of "The Haunting of Cellblock 11" Friday at 11 pm (you could make it after Reader's Eye if you find "Whisper of the Heart" too warm and fuzzy for the occasion of a Full Moon on Friday the 13th).  More information at www.capitolcitycinema.org.

For any anime fans, sci-fi/fantasy lovers, and costuming enthusiasts, Cosplacon returns to Jefferson City this week, at the Capitol Plaza Hotel Thursday, June 12th through Sunday, June 15th.  More information atwww.cosplacon.com.

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

Usually I take this space to recap the message from service, but this week I wanted to talk about the Adult Forum we had this morning.  Bob Boldt led us and some guests in a forum focused on poetry.  Several of us brought poems to read aloud, from the universal spiritual themes of Khalil Gibran to a chance encounter with a snake by D. H. Lawrence.  There was also much discussion, such as how poetry has in one respect shrunk into academic obscurity, and in other ways is ubiquitous --- it's all around us in song lyrics, and it seems troubled young people unfailingly write poems.  In fact there was so much discussion, some people didn't get to share all the poems they might have liked (I'll admit some impatience on my own part); maybe Bob will be up for a reprise sometime soon.

The Adult Forum is always lively and interesting, and it's a great way to really get to know fellow members as we share thoughts and feelings on a variety of topics.  We need leaders for the Adult Forum June 15th and 29th; contact me if you'd like to help.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

We still need Adult Forum Leaders and RE volunteers for the month of June.  Talk to Laura Gilkey if you'd like to lead the Adult Forum, Barb Koenig if you'd like to be an RE Teacher or Aide.

Monday, June 2nd at 6 pm, Citizens for Jefftran is calling for people to attend the Jefferson City Council Meeting.  They are hoping that over 100 will be there to support public transit expansion.  UUFJC is participating in this advocacy through Faith Voices for Jefferson City.

This Friday, June 6th is the Relay for Life at 6 pm at the JC Fairgrounds.  Come join our DrUUm Up Support team at booth #61 (right as you enter the event); bring a lawn chair.  Contact Shanon Hawk or Carol Bontempo for more information.

We will be having a potluck and going-away party for the Ordways after service June 15th (not the lunch listed in the newsletter); talk to Roberta Dunkel for more information.  Gennifer Monteer has also put together a commemorative book for the Ordways to take with them.  It's available for at the Fellowship for anyone who wishes to sign.

Community Events this week:

This Thursday, June 5th at 7 pm in the Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library host Dr. Michael Polley for a presentation about "Satchel Paige, Baseball Pioneer."  This program focuses on the bittersweet story of a superb veteran of the Negro Leagues and his belief that he waited too long to get called to play in the major leagues.  Dr. Polley has taught at Columbia College since 1990, teaching numerous courses and serving as department chair, division head, and interim academic dean.

Then, Friday evening, June 6th at 7 pm in the Art Gallery, MRRL will screen their First Friday Movie, "Philomena."  Judi Dench and Steve Coogan star in the shocking true story of a woman's 50-year search for a son she was forced to give up. 

This Friday and Saturday, June 6th and 7th, the Bluegrass Martins will be playing in Versailles, Missouri.  For more information visit http://www.theroyaltheatre.com/

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