Yesterday morning, we wrapped up our month of reflections on Welcome as Lisa Sanning read a sermon by Rev. Jone Johnson Lewis.  Lewis described the UU aspiration of welcome as: "to grow and develop our capacity, and the world’s capacity, to see each human being as precious as they are and full of potential to grow."  This, she points out, is a paradox, like saying we are already perfect at the same time that we are a messy work in progress.  Lewis centers her message on a poem by Rumi, the one we at UUFJC sing a version of as our ingathering; this is the translation she uses:

"Come, come, whoever you are.
Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving — it doesn't matter,
Ours is not a caravan of despair.
Come, though you have broken your vows a thousand times,
Come, come again, come."


We have broken our vows a thousand times, but we need not despair.  We can look at ourselves with compassion --- what were we trying to achieve with those broken vows?  What values were we trying however imperfectly to live into?  We can see our mistakes and our preciousness, and move together toward the fullness of our potential for growth.  By looking at ourselves and others with this lens of compassionate curiosity, we can create a spirit of welcome and truly say: "Come, yet again come."

UUFJC News and Events this week:

For accessibility and convenience, we 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!


And remember all our ways to stay in touch!  You can visit our website at uufjc.org.  You can also join our open-posting "UUFJC Cafe" Google Group to chat with other members and friends via e-mail and receive additional announcements and reminders (contact the Administrator at [email protected] to join).

The restoration of our building after our recent fire continues, although we still expect it to be some time before we can move back.  If you have any questions about the state of the restoration, please contact our board president, Rich Burdge.

An independent Insight Meditation group taught by Joe McCormack meets at our building Thursday nights at 7 pm, when possible.  Zoom may also be available.  For more information, contact Bob Antweiler.

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

Community Events this week:

No community events were submitted for inclusion in this week's email.  If you know of a community event you would like to see listed in this space, contact our administrator: [email protected].

For more events, see our online calendars:

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

Yesterday morning, we celebrated our annual Water Communion.  Those attending brought samples of water to add to a communal bowl and shared how that water represented something significant to them.

In past years, we have begun each year's Water Communion with water saved from previous years.  Unfortunately, the water we had saved was lost in our recent fire.  Bob Antweiler did, however, contribute water to this year's bowl with some soot from the fire mixed in to represent the loss, the new beginning that follows, and the continuity flowing through.

UUFJC News and Events this week:

For accessibility and convenience, we 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!


And remember all our ways to stay in touch!  You can visit our website at uufjc.org.  You can also join our open-posting "UUFJC Cafe" Google Group to chat with other members and friends via e-mail and receive additional announcements and reminders (contact the Administrator at [email protected] to join).

The restoration of our building after our recent fire is underway, although we still expect it to be some weeks before we can move back.  If you have any questions about the state of the restoration, please contact our board president, Rich Burdge.

Submissions for our October newsletter were due yesterday.  Please email any last-minute items to Laura Gilkey ASAP: [email protected].

An independent Insight Meditation group taught by Joe McCormack meets at our building Thursday nights at 7 pm, when possible.  Zoom may also be available.  For more information, contact Bob Antweiler.
This Friday, September 22nd is our monthly Salvation Army meal.  Please contact Bob Antweiler if you can help provide food for those in need.


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

Community Events this week:

No community events were submitted for inclusion in this week's email.  If you know of a community event you would like to see listed in this space, contact our administrator: [email protected].

For more events, see our online calendars:

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

Note: Next Sunday is our annual Water Communion.  Those attending our service are asked to bring small samples of water representing somewhere or something significant to them.


Yesterday morning, George Grimm-Howell joined us to continue exploring our theme for September: Welcome.

Beyond our own services, creating a broad welcome is a major goal of Unitarian Universalism.  The ideal is captured in the poem (often used by UUs as a worship opening) "House of Welcoming" by Orlanda Brugnola:

Here find a house of welcoming
Here find vision and hope
Here be received as you truly are
Unique and beautiful
Your journey acknowledged
Your love honored
Let us rejoice together

UUFJC News and Events this week:

For accessibility and convenience, we 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!


And remember all our ways to stay in touch!  You can visit our website at uufjc.org.  You can also join our open-posting "UUFJC Cafe" Google Group to chat with other members and friends via e-mail and receive additional announcements and reminders (contact the Administrator at [email protected] to join).

The restoration of our building after our recent fire is underway, although we still expect it to be some weeks before we can move back.  If you have any questions about the state of the restoration, please contact our board president, Rich Burdge.

This evening, Monday, September 11th, the local chapter of the American Association of University Women (which normally meets in our building) holds its monthly meeting.  For Zoom link and more information, contact Betty Cooper.

An independent Insight Meditation group taught by Joe McCormack meets at our building Thursday nights at 7 pm, when possible.  Zoom may also be available.  For more information, contact Bob Antweiler.

Next Sunday, September 17th, the UUFJC Worship Team meets at 4:30 pm.  To get involved in creating our Sunday services, contact our vice president, Lisa Sanning.
After the worship team meeting, the UUFJC Board also meets next Sunday, September 17th at 6 pm.  All are welcome to attend our board meetings.  For agenda and more information, contact our president, Rich Burdge.


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

Community Events this week:

This Thursday, September 14th, the local chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America holds its monthly online meeting at 7:30 pm.  To register or for more information, contact Alicia Erickson at [email protected].

For more events, see our online calendars:

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

Happy Labor Day!

Yesterday morning, Rev. Nancy TannerThies joined us to begin our month of reflection on Welcome with thoughts on how to widen our circle of what we are able to Welcome.  She encouraged us to embrace the tension and paradox of holding two positions at once, or for example feeling happy and sad both at once.  She encouraged us to emulate the openness and wonder of children.  And she encouraged us to slow down and check our ego; it's all too easy to be in a hurry to be right or make a judgment, but we can widen our welcome by taking the time to meet the unfamiliar with compassionate curiosity and learning.
For those who would also like to keep up with our neighbors at the UU Church of Columbia, their service from yesterday is available to view online:

UUFJC News and Events this week:

For accessibility and convenience, we 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!


And remember all our ways to stay in touch!  You can visit our website at uufjc.org.  You can also join our open-posting "UUFJC Cafe" Google Group to chat with other members and friends via e-mail and receive additional announcements and reminders (contact the Administrator at [email protected] to join).

The restoration of our building after our recent fire is underway, although we still expect it to be some weeks before we can move back.  If you have any questions about the state of the restoration, please contact our board president, Rich Burdge.


Are you near retirement or recently retired?  Intern minister George Grimm-Howell is planning a simple ritual to mark the important life transition from paid work to what comes next in this new phase of life. If you are interested in learning more or participating in a ritual or possible discussion group, please contact George at [email protected].


This Thursday, September 7th at 7 pm, we are invited to join our neighbors at First UU of Springfield for their monthly “Date with Death Club” via Zoom.  These are standalone sessions exploring our shared mortality.  More information about the program can be found at https://datewithdeathclub.com.  Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87033373838

An independent Insight Meditation group taught by Joe McCormack meets at our building Thursday nights at 7 pm, when possible.  Zoom may also be available.  For more information, contact Bob Antweiler.

Next Sunday, September 10th, our Intergenerational Book Study group meets at 2 pm at the Regnier home.  This month’s book selection: “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley.  For location details and more information, contact Emma Regnier or Betty Cooper.

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

Community Events this week:

No community events were submitted for inclusion in this week's email.  If you know of a community event you would like to see listed in this space, contact our administrator: [email protected].

For more events, see our online calendars:

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

Yesterday morning, we gathered again at our interim location to wrap up our month of focus on Beloved Community with a message via video from Rev. Michelle Scott-Huffman and our friends at First UU of Springfield.  The message is available to view online at First UU's website: "The Building Blocks of Beloved Community."

Next week we will begin our September theme: Welcome.  It makes an appropriate transition, since a community bristling against outsiders is hardly a Beloved Community.  But at the same time, Welcoming anything and everything in without some healthy boundaries can undermine Beloved Community and ultimately the Welcome itself.  Rev. Nancy plans to grapple with this kind of paradox; see "Next Sunday," below.
For those who would also like to keep up with our neighbors at the UU Church of Columbia, their service from yesterday is available to view online:

UUFJC News and Events this week:

For accessibility and convenience, we 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!


And remember all our ways to stay in touch!  You can visit our website at uufjc.org.  You can also join our open-posting "UUFJC Cafe" Google Group to chat with other members and friends via e-mail and receive additional announcements and reminders (contact the Administrator at [email protected] to join).

Are you near retirement or recently retired?  Intern minister George Grimm-Howell is planning a simple ritual to mark the important life transition from paid work to what comes next in this new phase of life. If you are interested in learning more or participating in a ritual or possible discussion group, please contact George at [email protected].


An independent Insight Meditation group taught by Joe McCormack meets at our building Thursday nights at 7 pm, when possible.  Zoom may also be available.  For more information, contact Bob Antweiler.

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

Community Events this week:

No community events were submitted for inclusion in this week's email.  If you know of a community event you would like to see listed in this space, contact our administrator: [email protected].

For more events, see our online calendars:

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