Sunday morning, Rev. Julie Taylor once again visited our Fellowship to wrap up our monthly theme of Joy.  They started with a basic question: what is joy, and what makes it different from happiness?  Sometimes the two aren't much different, but when we say "joy," often we mean something more fleeting, rare, powerful, and spiritual.  Rev. Taylor used the example of the movie "Inside Out," where a character personifying "Joy" learns that as important as her job is, the other emotions also play important roles in a person's life, that trying to be nothing but happy can block growth and a deeper sense of joy.  To cultivate this deeper joy, Rev. Taylor suggested embracing the balance and complexity of our feelings, as well as connecting to others and to a larger purpose.

Next Sunday, August 6th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Child Advocacy," with guest Bruce Bates, Betty Cooper moderating
Bruce Bates is an attorney who is a court-appointed Guardian ad Lidem; he represents children in paternity or custody matters where abuse or neglect has been alleged; he advises the court as to what is best for the children.

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "Presence," Jim Davis
We often take Presence for granted and hold it in the background of our awareness, but we should pause and reflect on the importance of Presence in our daily lives and communal living.  Some examples from UU history will be used as illustrations.
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 --- Volunteers Needed!

Joys and Concerns Circle - 15 minutes after service, Forum Room
An opportunity to share aloud your own Joys and Concerns.  Everyone is welcome, whether you have a joy, milestone, concern, or sorrow to share, something you want to bring silently in your heart, or if you’re willing to support others by coming to listen.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

The August newsletter and print calendar are ready.  Paper copies are available in our building by the entrance, and electronic copies are available for download.

We need a small group of people to coordinate UUFJC's participation in Project Homeless Connect, which is scheduled for October 20th.  Contact Patt Behler.

Faith Voices for Jefferson City is collecting signatures for the Clean Missouri initiative petition.  If you would like to sign or want more information about the petition, contact Katherine Connor.

This Saturday, August 5th, the Hola Amigos Spanish Speakers group will be meeting in our building from 1 pm to 4 pm.  Contact Patt Behler.

The UUFJC Board meets next Sunday, August 6th at 6:45 pm here at the Fellowship.  All are welcome to attend the board meeting.  For more information, contact our president, Katherine Connor.

Community Events this week:

If you missed the recent UUFJC Lecture Series presentation "Beyond PTSD, A First-Person Account," you may hear the same program at Rotary this Tuesday, August 1st at 5:30 pm at Grace Episcopal Church.  Contact Frank Rycyk.

This Friday, August 4th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents their First Friday Film: "The Zookeeper's Wife."  In 1939, Antonina and Jan Zabinski operate the Warsaw zoo, and live an idyllic life on the premises with their family. Their world changes when Poland is invaded by the Nazis. They risk everything by using the zoo’s hidden places to save people during the invasion and the Warsaw Ghetto uprising.  Jessica Chastain stars in this fact-based drama.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "The Journey" (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).  For showtimes and more information, visit capitolcitycinema.org.

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

Service Committee
Religious Education
Building Use (other)
Social Action
Community Events

Have a great week!

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Sunday morning, UUFJC member and laughter yoga teacher Jan Harcourt continued with our monthly theme of Joy.  Too often, Jan said, we suffer from the fears of "too much future" or the resentments of "too much past" when Joy is found in the present.  Jan shared some ways to meet Joy in the present.  For her, "Zen photography" --- bringing a camera on unhurried nature walks --- helps her to engage and pay attention, finding joy in the structural details of plants and the spontaneous play of animals.  We can also connect with the joy of the present moment through centering ourselves in our own bodies, as Jan showed us through a participatory movement and breathing exercise.  Being present in the moment brings us face to face with our pain as well as our joy, but it can teach us that every feeling passes in its time; being able to face suffering ultimately deepens our capacity for joy as well.

Next Sunday, July 30th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
Terri Rodgers

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "More Than Happy," Rev. Julie Taylor
Returning guest Rev. Julie Taylor specializes in critical incident response, trauma, and disaster spiritual care. They serve the UU Trauma Response Ministry team, are on the steering committee of the Don’t Shoot Coalition in St. Louis, are a Chaplain with the New York Air National Guard and are the director of the UU House of Study at Eden Theological Seminary.
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 --- Volunteers Needed!

Joys and Concerns Circle - 15 minutes after service, Forum Room
An opportunity to share aloud your own Joys and Concerns.  Everyone is welcome, whether you have a joy, milestone, concern, or sorrow to share, something you want to bring silently in your heart, or if you’re willing to support others by coming to listen.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

Faith Voices for Jefferson City is collecting signatures for the Clean Missouri initiative petition.  If you would like to sign or want more information about the petition, contact Katherine Connor.

Monday, July 24th, Faith Voices for Jefferson City holds its monthly assembly at 6:30 pm at Quinn Chapel AME Church.  Contact Katherine Connor.

An online Soul Matters small group will be meeting this Wednesday, July 26th from 6 to 8:30 pm (the session announced for Sunday evening was moved to Wednesday by agreement of the participants).  If you would like to join, contact Alexis.

This Thursday, July 22nd, the local Transgender Support Group meets in our building at 7 pm.  Contact [email protected].

This Friday, July 28th is our monthly Salvation Army Meal.  Contact Bob Antweiler if you can help prepare or serve food for those in need.  Serving begins at 5 pm; please arrive early to help prepare.

Later Friday evening at 6 pm, Citizens for Peace present their monthly Last Friday Film at our building.  For film selection and more information, contact Betty Cooper.

Community Events this week:

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents Monty Python's "The Life of Brian" (Wednesday only), "The Birds (a special event at the Riverside Amphitheater Thursday only), and "The Journey" (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).  For showtimes and more information, visit capitolcitycinema.org.

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

Service Committee
Religious Education
Building Use (other)
Social Action
Community Events

Have a great week!

Sunday morning, Rev. Nancy TannerThies continued exploring our monthly theme of "Joy."  She cited an author who described Joy as a feeling that comes "from fulfillment of one's potential" and suggested the following creative steps:

Freeing or Awareness to understand our world and experiences,
Association to combine those materials in new ways,
Expression to act on our insights and connect with others,
Evaluation to understand the impact,
and Perseverance, because change always takes time.

Joy is a river, Rev. Nancy said, and as an ancient saying goes, "You can't step in the same river twice."  We will make mistakes, and those moments cannot be brought back and redone.  To keep floating the river of joy means letting go --- forgiving ourselves, accepting that we can't control the world or others, and doing the best we can in each new moment, because the world needs us now.

Next Sunday, July 23rd:

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

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Project Homeless Connect" with guest Sheila Murphy, Betty Cooper moderating

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: Jan Harcourt.
Jan Harcourt - a yoga, movement, and laughter instructor and longtime UUFJC member - will help us explore our monthly theme of Joy.
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 --- Volunteers Needed!

Joys and Concerns Circle - 15 minutes after service, Forum Room
An opportunity to share aloud your own Joys and Concerns.  Everyone is welcome, whether you have a joy, milestone, concern, or sorrow to share, something you want to bring silently in your heart, or if you’re willing to support others by coming to listen.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

Monday, July 17th, Faith Voices for Jefferson City is co-sponsoring a Healthcare Reform Forum at 6:30 pm at Lincoln University’s Pawley Theater.  Featuring nationally known and local healthcare professionals.  Free and open to the public.  Contact Jan Harcourt.

The Worship Service Committee meets next Sunday, July 23rd at 9 am in the Library.  Contact Jim Davis.

Later next Sunday, a Soul Matters small group will meet in the sanctuary from 2 to 4 pm.  Alexis has been reaching out to people who expressed an interest, and that gathering is now full, but if you're interested in future meetings, please contact Alexis.  An online Soul Matters small group will also meet later next Sunday evening from 6:30 to 8 pm; at last report there was space for two more people to join, so contact Alexis if you'd like to take part. 

Coming Monday, July 24th, Faith Voices for Jefferson City holds its monthly assembly at Quinn Chapel AME Church at 6:30 pm.  Contact Katherine Connor.

Community Events this week:

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "Vera's Vault" with a Q&A after the film (Saturday only) and "The Little Hours" (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).  For showtimes and more information, visit capitolcitycinema.org.

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

Service Committee
Religious Education
Building Use (other)
Social Action
Community Events

Have a great week!

This Sunday we continued exploring our monthly theme of "Joy" with reflections from three of our members.

Elizabeth Prenger talked about her studies of Eastern medicine and Taoism, and shared the insight that joy is a guide that leads us to a balanced life, that reflecting on the joy we've experienced through virtues like justice, assertiveness, and self-care can help us maintain the balance that brings joy to our lives.

Katherine Connor shared insights from "The Book of Joy," based on a meeting between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  They discuss "the Eight Pillars of Joy."  These include both qualities of mind --- perspective, humility, humor, and acceptance --- and qualities of heart --- forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, and generosity.

Jim Davis recognized that happiness can be difficult to find as we face challenging times.  Jim saw no help in leaving everything up to fate or a divine will, or in "just world" theories or individualism that can lead to self-blame.  For Jim, joy comes with interdependence, connection to others and nature, and he suggested this path toward joy: looking within to find our strengths and calling, then reaching out to connect and be of use to others.

Next Sunday, July 16th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
Alison Anderson

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "Floating the Underground River: The Joy Beneath it All," 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 --- Volunteers Needed!

Joys and Concerns Circle - 15 minutes after service, Forum Room
An opportunity to share aloud your own Joys and Concerns.  Everyone is welcome, whether you have a joy, milestone, concern, or sorrow to share, something you want to bring silently in your heart, or if you’re willing to support others by coming to listen.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

Monday, July 10th at 7 pm is the monthly UUFJC Lecture Series.  Military veteran David Hammer will share his personal experiences with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and his journey beyond.  Contact Carol Bontempo or Frank Rycyk.

Remember, this Wednesday, July 12th, is the voter registration deadline for the August election!

This Thursday, July 13th at 7 pm, the local Transgender Support Group meets in our building.  Contact [email protected].

Coming Monday, July 17th, Faith Voices for Jefferson City is co-sponsoring a Healthcare Reform Forum at 6:30 pm at Lincoln University’s Pawley Theater.  Featuring nationally known and local healthcare professionals.  Free and open to the public.  Contact Jan Harcourt.

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, July 11th at 4 pm, Citizens for Peace meet at Missouri River Regional Library, upstairs in the Storyhour room.  Contact Betty Cooper.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "The Big Lebowski" (Wednesday only) and "The Little Hours" (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).  For showtimes and more information, visit capitolcitycinema.org.

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

Service Committee
Religious Education
Building Use (other)
Social Action
Community Events

Have a great week!

Sunday morning, Rev. Mike Adamek began exploring our new Soul Matters theme for July: "Joy."  Rev. Mike described joy as a fleeting, intense feeling of pleasure, but made the point that true and lasting joy goes beyond pleasure.  It can't be earned or manufactured, it must be welcomed --- and it must be tied to the things that bring deeper meaning to our lives.  But if joy can't be achieved intentionally, how can we experience more of it?  Rev. Mike suggested that we welcome it, focus on the moments that enhance our sense of meaning, set aside our internal critic that resists the simple and spontaneous, and move forward with a sense of gratitude.

Next Sunday, July 9th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Death Penalty Reform," Frank Rycyk
John Steele Gordon argues for "courts solely dedicated to the death penalty" while presenting a fascinating history.

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "Joy Anthology."
A program of readings, music, and personal reflections on the topic of Joy.
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 --- Volunteers Needed!

Joys and Concerns Sharing - 15 Minutes After Service
Starting next Sunday, we will have an additional opportunity to share aloud your own Joys and Concerns, in the forum room at 11:45 or 15 minutes after service concludes.  Everyone is welcome, whether you have a joy, milestone, concern, or sorrow to share, something you want to bring silently in your heart, or if you’re willing to support others by coming to listen.  Contact Jim Davis.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

Faith Voices for Jefferson City is collecting signatures for the "Clean Missouri" initiative.  If you are interested in helping the UUFJC team or signing the petition, contact Katherine Connor.

This Saturday, July 8th, the Hola Amigos Spanish Speakers group meets in our building starting at 1:30 pm.  Contact Patt Behler.

Coming Monday, July 10th is the monthly UUFJC Lecture Series.  This month, military veteran David Hammer will share his personal experiences with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and his journey beyond.  Contact Carol Bontempo or Frank Rycyk.

And remember, Wednesday of next week, July 12th, is the voter registration deadline for the August election!

Community Events this week:

This Friday, July 7th, Missouri River Regional Library presents their monthly First Friday Film, "Lion."  Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman star in this poignant film about a five-year-old boy who gets lost on a train, which takes him thousands of miles from his family in India. He learns to survive in Kolkata and eventually is adopted by an Australian couple. Years later, he uses Google Earth and his childhood memories to find his family and return home.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "Band Aid" (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).  For showtimes and more information, visit capitolcitycinema.org.

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

Service Committee
Religious Education
Building Use (other)
Social Action
Community Events

Have a great week!