For Sunday morning's message, we received our first (but not last) visit from minister-in-training Andy Grizzle.  He talked about his experiences studying theology among fellow students from Christian denominations, and how the questioning arising from his Unitarian Universalist viewpoint sometimes made those fellow students feel as if their beliefs were being dismissed.  We are often tempted to see ourselves as scrappy freedom fighters in the cause of greater truth, but Andy found that his perceived hostility threatened his colleagues' most honest and intimate expressions of their faith --- their "Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder" as affirmed in our own UU Sources.  Even among ourselves, some of us may feel pressure to set aside our mystical wonder to find social belonging in our congregations.  Andy called us to open ourselves beyond labels and dogma to sharing of our core experiences and the ways we are called to be in the world.

Next Sunday begins October (already!) and our new Soul Matters theme: "Courage."

Next Sunday, October 1st:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Courage," Betty Cooper
Courageous people change the world, but courage needs both heart and action. With two TED Talks, one from Ash Beckham, we learn that we’re all hiding something, so we need to follow our hearts and find the courage to open up.  And from Clint Smith we learn to find the courage to speak up against ignorance and injustice, because there is “danger in silence.”

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "The First Virtue, or at least the Second," Rev. Mike Adamek
Winston Churchill thought courage the first virtue because every other virtue depended on it.  A virtue is a form of human excellence and acting on what you know you should do is important. But is it the most important virtue?  I will offer a revisionist interpretation.

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 --- "The Meaning of Courage," plus Pour Painting.
Joanna Babb will lead a pour painting class for the students --- participants be sure to bring mess-able clothes!  The Fellowship will cover the cost of materials.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

The October newsletter and print calendar are ready.  Paper copies are available on the table by our entrance.  Electronic copies are available for download.

The Jefferson City Multicultural Festival is coming Saturday, October 7th and UUFJC will once again have a booth.  If you can help with setup, takedown, or staffing the booth, or if you can donate items to sell such as handmade items or baked goods, please see the signup sheet by our entrance or contact Bob Antweiler.

Monday, September 25th at 6:30 pm, Faith Voices for Jefferson City holds its monthly assembly at Quinn Chapel AME Church.  This month's topic is Living Wage.  Contact Katherine Connor.

This Thursday, September 28th at 7 pm, the local Transgender Support Group meets at our Fellowship.  Contact [email protected].

This Friday, September 29th at 6:30 pm, Citizens for Peace presents their monthly documentary film at our Fellowship.  For film selection and more information, contact Betty Cooper.

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, September 26th at 6:30 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents "Healthcare at the Tipping Point."  This program will feature a showing of “Fix It,” a powerful documentary that reaches across the political and ideological divide to make the case for major healthcare reform. Following the film will be a panel discussion including physicians from mid-Missouri. Hosted by Physicians for a National Health Program and Jefferson City Area Indivisible.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This Thursday, September 28th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, MRRL hosts a Capital READ Author Talk.  Will Schwalbe will discuss and read from his book, The End of Your Life Book Club, the 2017 Capital READ title. His new book, Books for Living, was just published this year. Both books  will be available for sale and signing after the program.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "Anita O'Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer" (Wednesday only) and "Whose Streets" (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!

View or Download our October Newsletter and Calendar:

Newsletter
Calendar

Sunday morning, Rev. Nancy TannerThies continued our monthly theme of "Welcome" by reflecting on two personages of lore: the witch who welcomed Hansel and Gretel and tried to make them her supper, and Jethro of the Hebrew Bible, who welcomed Moses and made him his son-in-law.  These very different welcomes both had roots in the welcomer's needs for survival --- the witch's need for food, Jethro's need for connection and reciprocal kindness amid a harsh landscape.  Rev. Nancy called on us to acknowledge our needs as we welcome others in --- our dark thoughts, our fears, our motives --- but to beware "power over," surviving at others' expense, and look to "power with" that will help us thrive together.

Next Sunday, September 24th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
Terri Rodgers

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "My Irresponsible Search for Truth and Meaning," Andy Grizzle
UUs work ever more frequently with Christian congregations on social justice efforts in our community. As we spend more time together, it is natural to ask and answer about each other's belief systems. Through trial and error - but mostly error - Andy has collected some lessons to share on avoiding the unintentional alienation of other people of faith.
Divinity student Andy Grizzle from St Louis will be our guest speaker.  This will be Andy’s first time with us, and may very well not be his last.  Please come to meet and welcome Andy to UUFJC.

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 --- "Welcoming All Beings"

UUFJC News and Events this week:

The art committee is holding pour painting classes with the aim of creating enough pieces to decorate the Fellowship.  The first class was held Sunday.  Another class will be held next Sunday, September 24th from 1-3 pm, and a class for parents and kids will be held the week after that.  There is a sign-up sheet by our entrance and an $8 materials fee per participant.  The classes will be held in Judi Jecmen’s garage.  For directions and more information contact Joanna Babb or Judi Jecmen.

Monday, September 18th at 6:30, a local Girl Scout troop meets in our building.  Contact Kim Connor.

This Friday, September 22nd is our monthly Salvation Army Meal.  Please contact Jim and Joanna Babb if you can help prepare or serve food for those in need.  Serving begins at 5 pm, please arrive early to help prepare.

This Saturday, September 23rd, the Hola Amigos Spanish Speakers group meets at our building from 1-4 pm.  Contact Patt Behler.

Next Sunday, September 24th at 4 pm, a Soul Matters small group will meet at the Fellowship.  This meeting is now full, but contact Alexis if you would like to participate in future meetings in person or online.

Later next Sunday at 6:30 pm, the UUFJC Board meets at the Fellowship.  All are welcome to attend the board meeing.  A meeting agenda is available for download.  Contact our president, Katherine Connor, for more information.

And coming Monday, September 25th at 6:30 pm, Faith Voices for Jefferson City holds its monthly assembly at Quinn Chapel AME Church.  Contact Katherine Connor.

Community Events this week:

Monday, September 18th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents a program on Mid-Missouri Book Groups.  Representatives from book groups in Cole and Osage counties will talk about the history of their groups, how they choose books, how the groups are structured, and offer advice to those interested in starting their own book groups.  Contact Madeline Matson

This Wednesday, September 20th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, MRRL invites you to Craft Your Own Book Sculpture.  Turn old books into works of art. Learn a few simple folding techniques to transform a book that’s past its prime into a mesmerizing sculpture. All supplies, including books, will be provided. Courtney Waters , the library’s teen services coordinator and crafter extraordinaire, will provide instruction for this unique art form.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "Bayou Maharaja" (Wednesday only), "The Last Dalai Lama" (Thursday only), and "Whose Streets" (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 continued exploring our monthly theme of "Welcome" and asked, "what do we mean by Welcome?"  He described an experience where he had felt welcome as the feeling that others were interested in him and reaching out to him.  Citing the philosophers Martin Buber and Immanuel Kant, he challenged us to move beyond sorting the people we meet into mental categories for our own ease and safety, to extend genuine interest and actively bring people into the circles of connection in our lives.

Next Sunday, September 17th:

Newsletter Submissions Due.
Please submit your items for the October newsletter and print calendar to Laura Gilkey by e-mail or in writing.

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Impolite Language in British Pubs," Frank Rycyk
A "zero-tolerance" policy has made swearing unwelcome in a chain of British pubs.  Regular patrons object: "Swearing is the language that accentuates stories.  It gets across your emotional response in a visceral way."  This is put into a context of British history.

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "Welcome!  Come On In," Rev. Nancy TannerThies
What do Jethro and the witch in Hansel and Gretel have in common?

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 --- "Welcoming the Hard Times"

UUFJC News and Events this week:

The art committee will be holding pour painting classes this month with the aim of creating enough pieces to decorate the Fellowship.  The first class is coming next Sunday, September 17th from 1-3 pm (this is different than the time listed in the newsletter and print calendar; 1-3 pm is correct).  There is a small materials fee.  Please sign up on the sheet by the entrance or contact Joanna Babb.  The classes will be held in Judi Jecmen’s garage.  For directions and more information contact Judi or Joanna.

Monday, September 11th, Betty Cooper will host a peace gathering at noon by our Fellowship's Peace Pole at the corner of our parking lot.  Contact Betty for more information.

Later Monday evening at 7 pm is the monthly UUFJC Lecture Series.  This month, James Klahr of the Missouri Ethics Commission speaks about campaign finance and lobbying.  Contact Carol Bontempo or Frank Rycyk.

This Thursday, September 14th at 7 pm, the local Transgender Support Group meets at our Fellowship.  Contact [email protected].

This Saturday, September 16th from 2-4 pm, members of the Fellowship are hosting a birthday party for Patt Behler, who is turning 90 this week.  For more information or to help, contact Roberta Dunkel.

Community Events this week:

This Thursday, September 14th, the American Association of University Women has its first meeting of the new academic year.  This month's meeting will be at Meadowbrook Acres Country Club before the Association begins meeting at our Fellowship again next month.  Contact Charlotte Parsons..

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "May It Last - A Portrait of the Avett Brothers" (Tuesday only), "I Called Him Morgan" (Wednesday only), and "The Trip to Spain" (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 was our annual Water Communion.  As is our tradition, we began a new church year, gathering back together after the summer months, and brought together samples of water representing experiences we'd had in the past year.

Jim Davis reflected on the symbolic significance of water, as it flows from rivers, lakes, and oceans to clouds and rain and snow and back again.  No water in the world is outside this cycle of the waters of the world, Jim said.  In the same way, no one of us is outside the circle of humanity that embraces all, including those around the world currently suffering from the power of water in floods.

Next Sunday, September 10th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Bots at Work," Gwen Grogan
Men Will Lose the Most Jobs...That's OK.

Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "What Do You Think, Feel, Hear, Smell, See or Taste When You Feel Welcome?," Rev. Mike Adamek
To practice the spiritual discipline of welcoming requires a willingness to see people as they are and accept people as they are without pretension, condescension, or pompousness. What is the first step in any authentic welcome?
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 --- "Welcoming Diversity"

UUFJC News and Events this week:

As part of our participation in Project Homeless Connect, we are collecting clothing this week.  New or gently used clothing, especially coats and jackets as well as new or gently used shoes or boots are needed.  Please place items in the box near the Project Homeless Connect display.  The box for clothing and the small bucket for new white socks and other personal items will be there until this Friday. Then on Saturday morning, Patt Behler and her helpers will transport it all to the collection site at the downtown Baptist Church.  For more information about Project Homeless Connect and more ways to help, contact Patt.

The art committee will be holding pour painting classes in September with the aim of creating enough pieces to decorate the Fellowship.  Note that the times have changed since the newsletter and print calendar were published.  The dates remain the same, Sunday, September 17th and Sunday, September 24th, but the correct time on both days is now 1-3 pm.  Contact Joanna Babb for more information.

This Friday, September 8th at 7 pm, Capital Area Missouri NOW (National Organization for Women) screens their monthly film at our Fellowship.  This month's selection: "Erin Brockovich."  Contact Sue Gibson.

The Worship Service Committee meets next Sunday, September 10th at 2:30 pm.  Contact Jim Davis.

Coming Monday, September 11th is the monthly UUFJC Lecture Series.  This month, James Klahr of the Missouri Ethics Commission speaks about campaign finance and lobbying.  Contact Carol Bontempo or Frank Rycyk.

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, September 5th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library hosts a Capital READ Book Discussion.  Join library director Claudia Schoonover and adult programmer Madeline Matson for a discussion of The End of Your Life Book Club, the 2017 Capital READ title.  Contact Madeline Matson.

This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "The Case of the Three-Sided Dream," part of their Fall Jazz Series (Wednesday only), and "The Trip to Spain" (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!