This Sunday, Warren Solomon of Temple Beth El visited our Fellowship to speak about the upcoming Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  He described the celebration of these holidays and the days between, a time for Jews to engage in moral reflection, seek forgiveness, make amends, and resolve to do better.  Warren shared some of the prayers for the occasion, and he found in them a call to appreciate the present moment and to work for a better world, sentiments held in common with many UUs.

Warren also invited us to the High Holiday Services at Temple Beth El.  Rosh Hashanah begins with an evening service at 7:30 pm on September 9th, with additional services beginning at 10 am on the next two days, September 10th and 11th.  Yom Kippur begins with another evening service at 7:30 pm on September 18th plus an all-day service beginning at 10 am September 19th.  (We were warned that the evening services may be crowded.)

For more detailed information, Warren was kind enough to share his PowerPoint presentation with us, here: PowerPoint Presentation on the Jewish High Holy Days.

Next Sunday, September 2nd:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"World Citizenship and Cooperation," Betty Cooper
In 1928, Secretary of State Frank Kellogg and the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Aristide Briand proposed and successfully passed the Kellogg-Briand Pact, an agreement to outlaw war.  Visions are shared.  What is yours?  Mine is World Peace.  Share yours with us.  “Without vision the people perish.”

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "Vision: Choosing the Most Important Over the Merely Urgent," Rev. Mike Adamek
Our vision is limited.  Sometimes close and sometimes the horizon is far away.  Likewise, our lives are filled with pressing day to day activities and vision is metaphor for how we see ourselves planning to spend our remaining finite amount of time and energy.  We can strive to accomplish more and more by being efficient and industrious but to what ends?  On our fiftieth birthday or on the fiftieth anniversary of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Jefferson City, what would we like attendees to say about us as individuals or as individuals in the life of this congregation?
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 --- "Vision and the Water Service"

UUFJC News and Events this week:

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

The UUFJC Board and President Katherine Connor have asked Jim Davis to form a six member subcommittee to explore whether it may be possible and feasible to hire a part time UU minister for our Fellowship.  If you have any questions or any thoughts and suggestions to share, please contact Jim Davis ([email protected] or 573-619-2126).

Samantha, our RE teacher, has asked that those who visit the building during the week look in on the plants in the RE room and water them if they need it.

Monday, August 27th, Faith Voices for Jefferson City holds its monthly assembly at 6:30 pm at Quinn Chapel AME Church.  This month will be focused on relationship building and support of the Clean Missouri Initiative.  For more information, contact Katherine Connor.

This Tuesday, August 28th, roofers will be installing a new roof on our building.  We apologize for any disruption to events happening at the Fellowship.  Thanks to everyone who contributed to this process and especially to our Treasurer, Bob Antweiler.  Contact Bob if you have any questions.

Capital Area Interfaith Alliance (CAIA) and Quinn Chapel AME Church are inviting everyone for an Evening of African American Spirituality, this Thursday, August 30th.  The program will begin at 7 pm and include music and an informational keynote by the Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould, Pastor-Teacher.  A Question and Answer period will follow.

This Friday, August 31st, Citizens for Peace present their monthly peace-building documentary film at 6 pm in our building.  For film selection and more information, contact Betty Cooper.

And coming in two weeks, on Sunday, September 9th, we will be holding another Covenant-Making Session after services.  This is part of an ongoing process.  A covenant is a way to both describe and shape the culture of our Fellowship, to both invite newcomers and minister to ourselves.  Please RSVP to Katherine Connor ([email protected]) if you plan to attend, or see her with any questions.  We’re hoping to hear from new voices this time, but previous participants are also welcome.

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, August 28th at 6:30 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents: "The Great American Read."  Come for a special screening of the premiere episode of The Great American Read, hosted for PBS by Meredith Viera. The program features authors and readers talking about 100 of the country’s best-loved books selected through a representative national survey.  Stay afterward to vote for your favorites.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "Whitney" (Thursday through Sunday).  For showtimes, more events, 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!

Our September newsletter and print calendar are now available to view or download:

Newsletter
Calendar

This Sunday, Rev. Nancy TannerThies continued our month of reflections on "Here and Now."  Here and Now, we often find ourselves amid a storm of concerns.  Our lists of tasks, goals, shortcomings, and distractions can often overwhelm us moment by moment, yet Here and Now is also where we find the "direct experience of transcending mystery and wonder" honored among the sources of our UU faith.  So how can we use the moment to stabilize ourselves rather than flying in all directions --- to find a "wider, deeper center"?  Rev. Nancy pointed toward mediation, which we may also call mindfulness or prayer.  Many traditions offer many techniques for meditation, and Nancy offered some simple steps.  Focus on this moment, sufficiently for awareness.  As our many thoughts and concerns come, simply let them pass through without obsessing with them, seeing their motion as part of the moment.  Through this kind of practice, we can gain the perspective to contain our multiplicity while staying stable and helping ourselves act with integrity. 

After services, we also held the first session of our covenant building process.  More sessions are planned in the coming weeks.  If you wish to attend one or have any other questions, please contact Katherine Connor.  More information is also available in a handout Katherine prepared, which is available to view or download here: Covenant Handout.

Next Sunday, August 26th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Project Homeless Connect," Sheila Murphy
Project Homeless Connect is in its 4th year.  This presentation will describe Project Homeless Connect and what it attempts to do for those people.  Evidence of homelessness in Jefferson City is visible to us all when we drive around town.  What is less visible are people who live precariously, such as those who have recently left the Salvation Army Shelter, who live in their car or who are one emergency away from homelessness.

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "The Jewish High Holy Days," Warren Solomon
Warren will invite UUFJC members and friends to attend services at Temple Beth El for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
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 --- "People of Risk - Being Risk Takers"

UUFJC News and Events this week:

The UUFJC Board and President Katherine Connor have asked Jim Davis to form a six member subcommittee to explore whether it may be possible and feasible to hire a part time UU minister for our Fellowship.  If you have any questions or any thoughts and suggestions to share, please contact Jim Davis ([email protected] or 573-619-2126).

We are continuing the long process of cleaning our Fellowship building to free up much-needed space.  If you have any items stored at the Fellowship, please take them home or make sure that they are clearly labeled.  Contact Katherine Connor.

This Thursday, August 23rd, our building is reserved by a community group starting at 6:30 pm.  Please allow privacy.

This Friday, August 24th is our monthly Salvation Army Meal.  Please see Roberta Dunkel if you can help provide or serve food for those in need.  Serving begins at 5 pm; please arrive early to help prepare.

Next Sunday, August 26th, the Soul Matters Small Group meets from 2-4 pm.  To get involved with the Soul Matters Small Group, see Jim Davis.

And coming Monday, August 27th, Faith Voices for Jefferson City holds its monthly assembly at 6:30 pm at Quinn Chapel AME Church.  Contact Katherine Connor.

Community Events this week:

This Thursday, August 23rd at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library hosts a program on "Volunteer Opportunities in Jefferson City."  Interested in helping local nonprofit agencies with their important community work? This program will feature representatives from eight United Way health and human service agencies who will describe their missions and volunteer needs. The program will also include Ann Bax, United Way president/CPO, who will introduce the organization’s new digital volunteer application website.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "The Tale of Despereaux" (Tuesday only, in partnership with MRRL) and "Whitney" (Thursday through Sunday).  For showtimes, more events, 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!

Note: Next Sunday we will be holding a Congregational Covenant Building session.  For more information, see below or contact Katherine Connor ([email protected]).

This Sunday, our own Sharon Morgan continued our monthly theme of "Here and Now" with a sermon on the activist call of Unitarian Universalism.  Both our Unitarian and Universalist forebears held inclusive theologies and moral convictions that let them to embrace marginalized people and work for a just society.  Many of them, both the famous and the unsung, fought for the abolition of slavery, prison and mental asylum reform, support of the civil rights movement, and much more.  Here and now, similar convictions are embodied in our UU Principles, and the call to live out our faith is immediate and urgent; like Sharon, many of us feel among current events a variety of affronts to our values.  No one can do everything, but all are called to do something.

Sharon's advice:  Choose one or two issues that are close to your heart.  Research them.  Tell others about your convictions, and find or start a group of mutual support.  Talk to those affected by the issue.  Accept that you will make mistakes; learn from them.  And finally, practice self-care so that you can sustain your efforts.

Next Sunday, August 19th:

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

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Toltec Civilization, Part 2," Stephen Carew
(Continued from July; please bring your July forum handouts.)  The discussion in July centered around the Aztecs who were strongly influenced by a culture that rose to power in the Valley of Mexico called Toltec.  The Toltecs were masters of architecture, art, medicine, engineering, and calendrics. They left no written records, but a masterpiece of the teachings was written by Don Miguel, called The Four Agreements.  In July, two of The Four Agreements were discussed; this session focuses on Agreements 3 & 4. 

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "A Wider Deeper Center," 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 --- "People of Risk - Risking Failure and Change"

Congregational Covenant Building Session - After Services
We are returning to the task of creating a covenant for our congregation, to share our expectations and hopes for how we treat each other within our Fellowship community and intentionally create our Fellowship's culture.  Because it is important for everyone to have a voice in this process, it will take some time, and this session is only the first opportunity to contribute.
Please RSVP to Katherine Connor ([email protected]) if you plan to attend, and please contact her with any questions.  Katherine can provide materials for review before the session..
Finger food will be provided in lieu of lunch.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

Tomorrow, Monday, August 13th at 7 pm is the monthly UUFJC Lecture Series.  This month: "The Aging Brain" with Dr. Carolyn Perry.  Dr. Perry will focus on new research about how creativity can help maintain a healthy brain.  She will be teaching a course this fall about the aging brain at Westminster College, where she serves as vice president.  For more information about the lecture series, contact Carol Bontempo or Frank Rycyk.

This Friday, August 17th, our building is reserved by a community group starting at 6:30 pm.  Please allow privacy.

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, August 14th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library hosts a presentation on the Climate Reality Project.  Climate change is affecting ecosystems and communities across the globe, but it’s not too late to take action. Gary Leabman, a Climate Reality Leader, recently spent time in Mexico City training with the Climate Reality Project where he learned much from Nobel Prize Laureates and other about the climate crisis. He will explain why now is the time for a Sustainability Revolution with the speed of the digital revolution.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema hosts a book signing with Jason Kander (Tuesday at 7 pm), as well as presenting the film "First Reformed" (Thursday through Sunday).  For showtimes, more events, 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, Rev. Mike Adamek began our month of focus on "Here And Now" with thoughts on getting lost.  When following a map --- or following GPS navigation, or a spiritual program --- from point A to point B, we know where we intend to go, but we may not know where we are.  If we lose our orientation, we might even makes things worse through denial, telling ourselves we're still on course while the scenery doesn't match and we become more and more lost.  It is through observing where we are in the "here and now" of each moment that we gain a more robust understanding of the landscape of our lives, the places in it where we've been, and how they've led us to where we are now and where our next steps might lead.

Next Sunday, August 12th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Hugs: Yes or No?" Frank Rycyk
Psychologist Peggy Drexler opines, "Workplace hugging has been a target of the #MeToo movement, but ever more people are doing it: how to make sure that embraces are welcome."  Forum participants are invited to bring their own stories and references.

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "Side with Love - Love Resists," Sharon Morgan
UUFJC's own Sharon Morgan discusses how resistance and activism are in the DNA of Unitarian Universalism and why it is so important to remember that  in today's world.
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 --- "People of Risk - Environmental Risk"

UUFJC News and Events this week:

The UUFJC Board meets next Sunday, August 12th, at 6 pm at the Fellowship.  They will be discussing and voting on a new social media and newsletter policy.  All are welcome to attend the meeting, and all are invited to review the meeting agenda and the social media/newsletter policy draft.  Paper copies are available on the bulletin board at the Fellowship, and electronic copies are available at the links.  Please contact our President, Katherine Connor, or another member of our board with any comments or questions.

Coming in two weeks, on Sunday, August 19th after services, we will be having a Congregational Covenant-Building Session.  This will only be the start of a process that we want to ensure everyone has a voice in.  For more information, see the August newsletter or talk to our President, Katherine Connor.  Please RSVP to Katherine if you plan to attend.

This Thursday, August 9th, our building is reserved by a community group starting at 6:30 pm.  Please allow privacy.

Next Sunday, August 12th, Patt Behler is hosting a Dessert Party in our building from 2-4 pm to welcome to Samira Mahdi and Nasruddeen Al-Awaal as husband and wife.  Members and friends of UUFJC are invited.  Contact Patt Behler for more information.

Coming Monday, August 13th at 7 pm is the monthly UUFJC Lecture Series.  This month: "The Aging Brain" with Dr. Carolyn Perry.  Dr. Perry will focus on new research about how creativity can help maintain a healthy brain.  She will be teaching a course this fall about the aging brain at Westminster College, where she serves as vice president.  For more information about the lecture series, contact Carol Bontempo or Frank Rycyk.

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, August 7th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents Reel Life Cinema: "Wasted! The Story of Food Waste."  The late Anthony Bourdain, along with other influential chefs, exposes the issue of food waste and how it contributes to climate change and shows how each of us can help to create a more secure food system.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "First Reformed" (Thursday through Sunday).  For showtimes, more events, 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!