​Our August Newsletter is now available to view or download:
UUFJC Newsletter "Flame on the Water" August 2021

Sunday we were invited to join our neighbors at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia for their online services.  In a lay-led service entitled "Building Our Ship As We Sail It," UUCC members built on the metaphor of a poem by Kay Ryan and the insight of a reflection by Sean Parker Dennison.  It can be an awkward time when we have committed to intentions like radical welcome and begun to move toward them, but work remains undone.  From technical glitches in online services to missing elevators to groups of people chatting on their way down the stairs leaving someone alone to take the ramp, our good intentions can highlight our incomplete efforts.  Our efforts will always be incomplete, because imperfection is part of our humanity, and learning grace and compassion for ourselves will aid us, but we must also stay committed, try to see the flaws from the viewpoint of those affected by them, and renew our efforts again and again.

Now as we move into a new phase of gathering, it is a good time to give our "ship" a good inspection.  Who was left out when we were meeting solely online, and how can we best serve them?  Who will be left out if we rush back into in-person meetings and forget to value our online gathering spaces?  Who will face challenges in our building?  Who can or cannot use our chairs, our audio system, our deck, or any other part of our space?  What next steps can we take to make our intention of radical welcome that much more complete?

The full service is now available to view online: https://youtu.be/-LiWwtWINfU

Next Sunday, August 1st:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am

"The Missouri Bicentennial," Carrie Tergin
August 10th will bring us 200 years of Missouri statehood.  Mayor Tergin will enlighten us about the Bicentennial Bridge and other festivities.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98858741051?pwd=d3ZMbHJSL3NjMGMxZEM5N1VxUysxQT09
Meeting ID: 988 5874 1051
Password: 047662  
Phone
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago - US toll)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/aeC2zyWdIo

Service - 10:30 am

"Humanity is the Best, Humanity is the Worst" Rev. Thom Belote
We will share a message from our wider UU community, delivered by Rev. Thom Belote, minister of The Community Church of Chapel Hill, Unitarian Universalist on July 18, 2021.
(Our usual first-Sunday-of-the-month speaker, Rev. Mike Adamek, will be back next month.)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94285041130
Meeting ID: 942 8504 1130
By Phone (US toll):
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/ak1ZLCDJG

All are currently welcome to attend services in person at our building.  Masks are required for those not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and strongly recommended for everyone.  Free masks will be available if you do not have one.


UUFJC News and Events this week:

For accessibility and convenience, we now have an option to donate to our Fellowship online through PayPal:  Donate to UUFJC
You can also mail donations and pledges to:
UUFJC
Attn: Treasurer
PO Box 1245
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Thank you for being with us and supporting us!

The UUFJC board has approved a new Covid-19 policy.  Due to the recent surge in Missouri, masks are required at in-person services for those not fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and masks are strongly recommended for everyone.  Free masks will be available if you do not have one.  We are also trying to improve the distancing of our seating arrangement.  For more details, contact our president, Rich Burdge.

Due to the rapidly changing Covid situation, anyone planning to attend any of the below-listed events is encouraged to check with your event organizers and confirm meeting status.

We have a text-message list to send reminders about our upcoming Zoom events to those who wish to receive them on their mobile phones.  If you would like to be included, contact Katherine Connor: [email protected]

Katherine Connor has been named as the new chair of our Social Action Committee.  If you want to get involved in social action work with our Fellowship, contact Katherine: [email protected].

Community Pantry update: due to concerns regarding heat and food safety, we will not have any canned goods in the pantry until September 1.  We still need other nonperishable items, and we can also now accept small numbers of books, especially children's books.  For more information, contact Katherine Connor at this time: [email protected].  Reimbursements are available; contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler: [email protected].

Alberta Mobley is offering her own chair yoga classes Tuesdays at 9 am in our building to those who are fully vaccinated against covid-19.  Donations requested.  Contact Alberta for more information.

On Thursdays at 5:30 pm, Katherine Connor hosts a weekly Zoom Happy Hour for UUFJC Members and Friends to gather and check in.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91843966450?pwd=djBwTEx4YUxseW9SdytSZjJGS0xrdz09
Meeting ID: 918 4396 6450
Password: 918925    
Phone:
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago - US toll)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/aeC2zyWdIo

On Fridays at 1 pm, Robin Duple of the UU Church of Columbia hosts a weekly Zoom get-together for crafters and creators of all stripes and has invited UUFJC members and friends to join in.  For more information, visit the UUCC website:  https://uucomo.org/event/crafting-club-online-weekly/all/

Jan Harcourt offers her own Gentle Yoga classes at our building Saturday mornings at 11 am  to those who are fully vaccinated against covid-19.  Donations requested.  Contact Jan for more information.

Our building is reserved by community groups Wednesdays and Saturdays starting at 6 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 5:30 pm; and Sundays starting at 7 pm.  If you have access to our building, please allow privacy at these times.

Community Events this week:

Tuesday, July 27th at 6:30 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents an Author Talk with Jean Becker.  As chief of staff for President George H.W. Bush for nearly 25 years, Jean Becker had a ringside seat to the never-boring story of Bush’s life post-presidency, including being at his side when he died and subsequently facing the challenge—and great honor—of being in charge of his state funeral. Full of heart and wisdom, The Man I Knew is a vibrant behind-the-scenes look into the ups and downs of heading up the office of a former president by one of the people who knew him best. The book will be available for sale after the program, and the author will do signings.  Contact Madeline Matson.  For more on Library events, visit MRRL.org.

For more events, see our online calendars:

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

Sunday morning, Rev. Nancy TannerThies continued exploring our monthly theme of Hope.  Hope, properly practiced, can keep us going and working toward a better future even in the face of all the hurt and terror we see in the world, but how does one properly practice hope?  Where is the owner's manual?  Rev. Nancy shared one draft of such a manual, which concluded Barbara Kingsolver's commencement address at Duke University, and Rev. Nancy offered her own suggestions, too, as we find our own way of working with hope.  First, as Kingsolver noted, hope needs constant repair and adjustment.  It also requires us to not just wait for rescue but to make the hard climb toward what we hope for.  We must engage with others in that effort, including others we don't at first see as likely partners.  Sometimes we will have to ignore the voices of dominant opinion or "reasonableness" and stick to our own intuition.  We will have to nurse our hope along through periods of doubt with whatever helpful balms we can find.  And sometimes --- sometimes --- we will find that it is time to let go and build new hopes all over again.

Also note, our board has approved a new Covid-19 policy.  Due to the recent surge in Missouri, masks are required at in-person services for those not fully vaccinated against Covid-10, and masks are strongly recommended for everyone.  Free masks will be available if you do not have one.  We are also trying to improve the distancing of our seating arrangement.  For more details, contact our president, Rich Burdge.

Due to the rapidly changing Covid situation, anyone planning to attend any of the below-listed events is encouraged to check with the event organizers and confirm meeting status.

For those who would like to keep up with our neighbors at the UU Church of Columbia, their service today is available to view online: https://youtu.be/_9rBPgzSu_E

Next Sunday, July 25th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am

"The Death of Character," Betty Cooper
The Death of Character is the title of the book by James Davison Hunter, a sociologist.  In the forum we will discuss Hunter’s ideas in the book’s “postmortem.”  Hopefully these ideas will awaken us to partner in reducing the rampant racism, discrimination, and violence in our society.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98858741051?pwd=d3ZMbHJSL3NjMGMxZEM5N1VxUysxQT09
Meeting ID: 988 5874 1051
Password: 047662  
Phone
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago - US toll)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/aeC2zyWdIo

Service - 10:30 am

We are not holding UUFJC services this week.  However, our building will be open for those who wish to gather in person and share the online services of our neighbor congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia (see below).  Masks are required for those not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and strongly recommended for everyone.

UU Church of Columbia Online Services - 10:30 am
When we are not holding our own online services, UUFJC members and friends have been invited to join in online services with our neighbors at the UU Church of Columbia.  For more information, Zoom links, and recordings of past services, visit https://uucomo.org/

First UU Church of Springfield Online Services - 11 am
We have also been invited to join our neighbors at First UU of Springfield, MO for online services, some featuring messages from current First UU pastor and longtime friend of UUFJC, Rev. Michelle Scott-Huffman.  For more information and recordings of past messages, visit https://springfielduu.org/

Adult Religious Education - 1:30 pm

Our Adult Religious Education series via Zoom, led by our RE Instructor Samantha Porter and based on a UUA Tapestry of Faith curriculum, “Building the World We Dream Of.”
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94705857006?pwd=VE4vTDdGM2hLYStFbkxwR3BwSDYvUT09
Meeting ID: 947 0585 7006
Passcode: 855322
Phone
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago - US toll)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/au95w91Gf

UUFJC News and Events this week:

For accessibility and convenience, we now have an option to donate to our Fellowship online through PayPal:  Donate to UUFJC
You can also mail donations and pledges to:
UUFJC
Attn: Treasurer
PO Box 1245
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Thank you for being with us and supporting us!

Submissions for our August newsletter were due July 18, 2021.  Please e-mail any last-minute items to Laura Gilkey ASAP: [email protected].

We have a text-message list to send reminders about our upcoming Zoom events to those who wish to receive them on their mobile phones.  If you would like to be included, contact Katherine Connor: [email protected]

Community Pantry update: due to concerns regarding heat and food safety, we will not have any canned goods in the pantry until September 1.  We still need other nonperishable items, and we will also now accept small numbers of books, especially children's books.  For more information, contact Joan Kurtzeborn at [email protected].  Reimbursements are available; contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler: [email protected].

Alberta Mobley is offering chair yoga classes Tuesdays at 9 am in our building to those who are fully vaccinated against covid-19.  Donations requested.  Contact Alberta for more information.

On Thursdays at 5:30 pm, Katherine Connor hosts a weekly Zoom Happy Hour for UUFJC Members and Friends to gather and check in.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91843966450?pwd=djBwTEx4YUxseW9SdytSZjJGS0xrdz09
Meeting ID: 918 4396 6450
Password: 918925    
Phone:
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago - US toll)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/aeC2zyWdIo

On Fridays at 1 pm, Robin Duple of the UU Church of Columbia hosts a weekly Zoom get-together for crafters and creators of all stripes and has invited UUFJC members and friends to join in.  For more information, visit the UUCC website:   https://uucomo.org/event/crafting-club-online-weekly/all/

Later this Friday is our monthly Salvation Army Meal.  Please contact Bob Antweiler if you can help provide food for those in need; we will not be serving in-person this month.  Reimbursements are available; contact Bob about that as well: [email protected].

Jan Harcourt offers Gentle Yoga classes at our building Saturday mornings at 11 am  to those who are fully vaccinated against covid-19  .  Donations requested.  Contact Jan for more information.

Sunday, July 25th, our Worship Service Committee will meet in-person at our building at 5 pm.  To get involved in creating our Sunday services, contact our vice president, Lisa Sanning at [email protected].

Our building is reserved by community groups Wednesdays and Saturdays starting at 6 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 5:30 pm; and Sundays starting at 7 pm.  If you have access to our building, please allow privacy at these times.

Community Events this week:

Monday, July 19th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents the latest installment of the LU-MRRL Lecture Series: A-Maizing Origins: The Archaeology of Corn.  From food and drink to fuel and manufactured goods, corn is crucial to helping make our lives easier (and tastier). This staple was created through artificial selection and breeding by early indigenous populations in modern-day Mexico, and more recent archaeological evidence has shed light on the complex development of corn. Dr. Christine Boston, assistant professor of anthropology and sociology at Lincoln University, will discuss the origins or and changes in corn, as well as its importance throughout human history and today.  Contact Madeline Matson.  For more on Library events, visit MRRL.org.

For more events, see our online calendars:

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

Sunday we shared a message from Liz James & Rev. Anne Barker, founders of the Unitarian Universalist Hysterical Society.  Some of our members have long enjoyed the Hysterical Society's humorous Facebook posts, but humor is not just a diversion.  Too often, we are trained to hide our emotions: our loud laughs, our messy tears.  Women can be particularly pressured to seek calm and peace at any cost and disparaged as "hysterical" if they let their emotions burst out.  But a spiritual home, James & Barker argued, should be a place where all of who we are is welcome, where shared covenant -- and yes, shared humor --- connect us, where we are accepted "cracks" and all so that we can "hatch" into the people we were meant to be.

The sermon is available to view online: https://youtu.be/L1PwHW71xVg

For those who would also like to keep up with our neighbors at the UU Church of Columbia, their service today is also available to view online: https://youtu.be/3ONsWTS0HIE

Next Sunday, July 18th:

Newsletter Submissions Due.
Please e-mail your items for our August newsletter to Laura Gilkey at [email protected].

Adult Forum - 9:15 am

"The Jefferson City Workhouse," Jenny Smith
Jenny Smith will discuss the history of a "debtors prison" in the City of Jefferson.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98858741051?pwd=d3ZMbHJSL3NjMGMxZEM5N1VxUysxQT09
Meeting ID: 988 5874 1051
Password: 047662  
Phone
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago - US toll)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/aeC2zyWdIo

Service - 10:30 am

Rev. Nancy TannerThies
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94285041130
Meeting ID: 942 8504 1130
By Phone (US toll):
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/ak1ZLCDJG

All are currently welcome to attend services in person at our building.  Vaccinations or masks are required.

Also note, we have been having technical difficulties with our Zoom services lately as we transition to a new system.  We apologize for the shortcomings and appreciate your patience.  If this is your preferred way to attend, please bear with us as we work out this next phase.

If you have a joy or concern that you would like to have read during a service, please submit it by noon on the Friday before through our website: http://uufjc.org/joys--concerns.html

UUFJC News and Events this week:

For accessibility and convenience, we now have an option to donate to our Fellowship online through PayPal:  Donate to UUFJC
You can also mail donations and pledges to:
UUFJC
Attn: Treasurer
PO Box 1245
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Thank you for being with us and supporting us!

We have a text-message list to send reminders about our upcoming Zoom events to those who wish to receive them on their mobile phones.  If you would like to be included, contact Katherine Connor: [email protected]

Community Pantry update: due to concerns regarding heat and food safety, we will not have any canned goods in the pantry until September 1.  We will still stock our pantry this summer with other non-perishable items.  Donation Ideas:  hot or cold cereal, grits, pasta, snacks, salt and pepper, boxed side dishes, crackers, shampoo & conditioner, shower sponges, body wash, dish detergent and dish towels, family tea bags, coffee, etc.  We will also now accept small numbers of books, especially children's books.  For more information, contact Joan Kurtzeborn at [email protected].  Reimbursements are available; contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler: [email protected].

Alberta Mobley is offering chair yoga classes Tuesdays at 9 am in our building to those who are fully vaccinated against covid-19.  Donations requested.  Contact Alberta for more information.

On Thursdays at 5:30 pm, Katherine Connor hosts a weekly Zoom Happy Hour for UUFJC Members and Friends to gather and check in.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91843966450?pwd=djBwTEx4YUxseW9SdytSZjJGS0xrdz09
Meeting ID: 918 4396 6450
Password: 918925    
Phone:
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago - US toll)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/aeC2zyWdIo

On Fridays at 1 pm, Robin Duple of the UU Church of Columbia hosts a weekly Zoom get-together for crafters and creators of all stripes and has invited UUFJC members and friends to join in.  For more information, visit the UUCC website:  https://uucomo.org/event/crafting-club-online-weekly/all/

Jan Harcourt is now offering Gentle Yoga classes at our building Saturday mornings at 11 am.  Vaccinations required.  Donations requested.  Contact Jan for more information.

Our building is reserved by community groups Wednesdays and Saturdays starting at 6 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 5:30 pm; and Sundays starting at 7 pm.  If you have access to our building, please allow privacy at these times.

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, July 13th at 11 am, A subgroup of a Jefferson City homelessness working group holds its monthly meeting; this subgroup is focused on responding to emergency housing needs.  For more on getting involved with this or other aspects of the homelessness working group, contact Patt Behler.

This Wednesday, July 14th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents a program on Lincoln University’s Police Training Academy.  Police departments across the country are seeing fewer applicants for open positions brought about by large numbers of officers retiring and those simply leaving the force. With these concerns in mind, Gary Hill, Lincoln University’s police chief, developed the first police academy at a Historically Black College and University. LU’s new program has received national news attention with Chief Hill being featured on television programs in in a recent Time magazine article. Chief Hill will discuss how the Academy came into being, what he hopes to accomplish with his recruits, the response from police departments, and future plans for this important program.  Contact Madeline Matson.  For more on Library events, visit MRRL.org.

For more events, see our online calendars:

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

Sunday morning, relating Independence Day to our Fifth Principle, Rev. Adamek talked about attempts to give democracy away in our country, past and present. He pointed out current examples from the state and federal levels, and their dissonant nature, with democratic values and with each other. But he also noted that such conflicts are not new. The framers of our Constitution represented a wide array of conflicting interests and ideas, and resolved them in debate that was often highly contentious and not always amicable. But in the end, they tended to settle issues based on common general principles, as we have done, at our best, throughout our history. In this spirit, he called on us all to reaffirm our own basic values of truth, honesty, kindness, humility, and wisdom, in order to best benefit our communities, our country, and the human race.
(Summary by Rich Burdge)

Next Sunday, July 11th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am

Amy Rogers, Council for Drug-Free Youth
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98858741051?pwd=d3ZMbHJSL3NjMGMxZEM5N1VxUysxQT09
Meeting ID: 988 5874 1051
Password: 047662  
Phone
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago - US toll)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/aeC2zyWdIo

Service - 10:30 am

"Hysterical Women," Liz James & Rev. Anne Barker
Katherine Connor will share a message from the founders of the Unitarian Universalist Hysterical Society.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94285041130
Meeting ID: 942 8504 1130
By Phone (US toll):
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/ak1ZLCDJG

All are currently welcome to attend services in person at our building and watch our Zoom service together.  Vaccinations or masks are required.

If you have a joy or concern that you would like to have read during a service, please submit it by noon on the Friday before through our website: http://uufjc.org/joys--concerns.html

Adult Religious Education - 1:30 pm

Our Adult Religious Education series via Zoom, led by our RE Instructor Samantha Porter and based on a UUA Tapestry of Faith curriculum, “Building the World We Dream Of.”
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94705857006?pwd=VE4vTDdGM2hLYStFbkxwR3BwSDYvUT09
Meeting ID: 947 0585 7006
Passcode: 855322
Phone
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago - US toll)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/au95w91Gf

UUFJC News and Events this week:

For accessibility and convenience, we now have an option to donate to our Fellowship online through PayPal:  Donate to UUFJC
You can also mail donations and pledges to:
UUFJC
Attn: Treasurer
PO Box 1245
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Thank you for being with us and supporting us!

Results are in from our Rummage Sale, and we have made $930 so far, with eBay sales still to come.  Many thanks to everyone who donated and volunteered to make the sale a success!

Note: If you have any items you are considering donating to the fellowship, please contact a board member to discuss the possibility. This prevents problems with items suddenly appearing in the building and people having to figure out what to do with them, including possibly discarding them. Thank you,

We have a text-message list to send reminders about our upcoming Zoom events to those who wish to receive them on their mobile phones.  If you would like to be included, contact Katherine Connor: [email protected]

Community Pantry update: due to concerns regarding heat and food safety, we will not have any canned goods in the pantry until September 1.  All canned goods with an expiration date prior to September were donated to Building Community Bridges.   We will still stock our pantry this summer with other non-perishable items.  Donation Ideas:  hot or cold cereal, grits, pasta, snacks, salt and pepper, boxed side dishes, crackers, shampoo & conditioner, shower sponges, body wash, dish detergent and dish towels, family tea bags, coffee, etc.  For more information, contact Joan Kurtzeborn at [email protected].  Reimbursements are available; contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler: [email protected].

Alberta Mobley is now offering chair yoga classes Tuesdays at 9 am in our building to those who are fully vaccinated against covid-19.  Donations requested.  Contact Alberta for more information.

On Thursdays at 5:30 pm, Katherine Connor hosts a weekly Zoom Happy Hour for UUFJC Members and Friends to gather and check in.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91843966450?pwd=djBwTEx4YUxseW9SdytSZjJGS0xrdz09
Meeting ID: 918 4396 6450
Password: 918925    
Phone:
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago - US toll)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/aeC2zyWdIo

On Fridays at 1 pm, Robin Duple of the UU Church of Columbia hosts a weekly Zoom get-together for crafters and creators of all stripes and has invited UUFJC members and friends to join in.  For more information, visit the UUCC website: 
https://uucomo.org/event/crafting-club-online-weekly/all/

Jan Harcourt is now offering Gentle Yoga classes at our building Saturday mornings at 11 am.  Vaccinations required.  Donations requested.  Contact Jan for more information.

The UUFJC Board meets next Sunday, July 11th at 3 pm, in-person at our building.  All are welcome to attend our board meetings.  For more information, contact our president, Rich Burdge.

Our building is reserved by community groups Wednesdays and Saturdays starting at 6 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 5:30 pm; and Sundays starting at 7 pm.  If you have access to our building, please allow privacy at these times.

Community Events this week:

We have no Community Events to list this week.  If you would like to submit a community event to be listed in this space, please contact me at [email protected]

For more events, see our online calendars:

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