A few highlights:

• In-person events have resumed at our Fellowship building. Masks are required.
• Registration is  open for our MidAmerica UUA Region’s annual Regional Assembly, to be held online April 30th.  For information, visit the Regional Assembly Registration webpage.
  
• A reminder that our building is reserved by community groups Tuesday through Thursday, and Saturdays, starting at 6 pm . Please allow privacy at these times. Please also note that  this Friday, February 25th, our building is reserved for a private party starting at 7 pm.
  
• This Friday, February 25th is our monthly Salvation Army meal.  Contact Bob Antweiler
  
• Our ministerial needs survey is due February 27. Contact Rich Burdge
  
  

Sunday, February 20

This morning, our building was open once again both in-person and via Zoom as we shared a message from our wider UU community via video.  In January, Rev. Ruth MacKenzie spoke at the First Unitarian Church of Dallas about "Non-Negotiables."  Our commitment to freely chosen faith can make UUs seem like "a religion where you can believe anything you want," but this is not so.  We are also committed to responsibility, authenticity, and the common good, and we hold these "non-negotiables" in balance with our freedom.  Rev. MacKenzie drew on the work of theologian James Luther Adams, who studied in Germany during the rise of Nazism.  He saw too many liberal churches collapse into complacency and collaboration, but he also saw authentic faith speak out in the face of hatred and danger.  Our faith goes beyond choosing what to believe; authentic faith means seeking what we are truly committed to, how we make those commitments real, how they make a difference and raise up the common good.

The message is available to view online: https://youtu.be/m5oAtLQshrA

For those who would also like to keep up with our neighbors at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia, their service from this morning is now available to view online: https://youtu.be/gjIAznQX7aI


Next Sunday, February 27th:

In-Person Events Have Resumed. Masks are currently required for everyone attending indoor UUFJC events in-person.  Free masks will be available if you do not have one.

Ministerial Needs Survey Due.
Contact our president, Rich Burdge, for more information.

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation," Betty Cooper

The February Soul Matters theme is: “Widening the Circle.” Our circle widens as we connect with the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and study Paul K. Chappell’s Peace Literacy curriculum. We will discuss some of the principles, and build practices that lessen violence and end wars worldwide.

Our Adult Forum is currently available both in-person and via Zoom.
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 and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia Service

When we are not holding our own services, our building will be open for those who wish to come and share the online services of our neighbor congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia.  For more information, visit UUCC's website: uucomo.org.

Children's Religious Education - 10:30 am
Children are welcome to join RE Instructor Samantha Porter for a lesson during the service hour.

If you have a joy or concern that you would like to have read during a service or shared in our weekly email, please submit it by noon on the Friday before through our website: http://uufjc.org/joys--concerns.html
We will also have paper forms available Sunday morning for submissions.
Zoom participants, please use the web form.  Submissions made after noon on Friday may not be read or shared until the following week..

UUFJC News and Events this week:

Donate online: Donate to UUFJC
Or 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 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).

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

As part of our search for a part-time minister, we are asking everyone to complete a ministerial needs survey.  We have paper copies available at the building and by email if you receive our emails. Responses are due  Sunday, February 27th.  For more about the survey or the minister search, contact our president, Rich Burdge.

We are always in need of donations for our free community pantry  For more about the pantry and current needs, contact Joan Kurtzeborn.  Reimbursements are available; contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler: [email protected].

Registration is now open for our MidAmerica UUA Region’s annual Regional Assembly, to be held online April 30th.  For more information, visit the Regional Assembly Registration webpage.

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

This Friday, February 25th is our monthly Salvation Army meal.  Please contact Bob Antweiler if you can help provide food for those in need.  Due to the pandemic, we have been asked not to serve the meal in person at this time.  Reimbursements are available.

Later this Friday, February 25th, our building is reserved for a private party starting at 7 pm.

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

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, February 22nd at 6:30 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents: "Climate Change and Your Health."  If you know someone with asthma, COPD, chronic cough, cancer, allergies, or other health problems includingCovid-19, this presentation by Gary Leabman is a starting point to getting healthier. Leabman is a member of the Climate Reality Leadership Corps, a global network of more than 40,000 messengers in 185 countries who are trained to talk about the impact of climate change and what we can do to support the shift to clean, renewable energy.  Climate change is already affecting daily weather, extreme weather events, ecosystems, and human health across the globe, but it’s not too late to take action. We now have clean, affordable technology for the worldwide implementation of renewable energy. The program will include a handout on how you can reduce your carbon footprint.  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  

"Non-Negotiables," Rev. Ruth MacKenzie
For our first Sunday with our building reopened, we're sharing a special message via video from our larger UU community:

"During WWII, Unitarian Universalist theologian and scholar, John Luther Adams traveled to Germany and watched one liberal church after another fold against the tide of fascism. As we continue to explore the gifts of a liberal faith, we ask questions about the nature of a faith that is free, and whether or not there are non-negotiables that we hold in balance with our freedom."
This service will not be available both in-person and via Zoom:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94285041130
Meeting ID: 942 8504 1130
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The message is also available to view online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5oAtLQshrA
​

Highlights: 

• Sunday, February 20: We'll meet in person for forum and to watch the UUCC service.  RE for children will resume. The Board will also meet in person. Details below.
• Registration is now open for our MidAmerica UUA Region’s annual Regional Assembly, to be held online April 30th.  For more information, visit the Regional Assembly Registration webpage.
• Want to learn about cryptocurrency? See details below about the Thursday, February 17 program at Missouri River Regional Library 
• Please submit your items for our March newsletter to Laura Gilkey at [email protected].

Sunday, February 13

This morning, we were welcomed to join our neighbors at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia for a multigenerational Valentine's Day service focused on the interdependent web of love that connects us all.  As UUs we often profess our faith in this connecting, supporting love, but it is not enough to say the words.  We are called to make that web of love real, vital, visible and tangible.  We do this with our many acts of service, whether in personal relationships or in social justice work.  But, Rev. Molly Housh-Gordon pointed out, interdependence requires us not only to give but also to receive.  It can be difficult for some of us to even connect with our own needs, but if we only help and refuse to be helped, we isolate ourselves and degrade the web just as surely as if we refuse to give.  Opening our needs to others is vulnerable work, and we have all been let down, but the voice telling us we will always be let down is the voice of oppression.  We must find the courage to open ourselves again and again to share both our gifts and our needs in a thriving web of love.

The service is available to view online: https://youtu.be/LMxR-UWCTjQ


Next Sunday, February 20th:

In-Person Events Resume.  Please watch this email list or uufjc.org for any further developments.

Newsletter Submissions Due
Please submit your items for our March newsletter to Laura Gilkey at [email protected].

Adult Forum - 9:15 am

"Hope for Caribbean Kids," Iva Presberry
Richard and Iva Presberry administer this Haiti charity from Jefferson City, Missouri.

Our Adult Forum is currently available both in-person and via Zoom.
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 and Religious Education - 10:30 am

​Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia Service
When we are not holding our own services, our building will be open for those who wish to come and share the online services of our neighbor congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia.  For more information, visit UUCC's website: uucomo.org.

Children's Religious Education - 10:30 am
Children are welcome to join RE Instructor Samantha Porter for a lesson during the service hour.

Masks are currently required for everyone attending indoor UUFJC events in-person.  Free masks will be available if you do not have one.

If you have a joy or concern that you would like to have read during a service or shared in our weekly email, please submit it by noon on the Friday before through our website: http://uufjc.org/joys--concerns.html
We will also have paper forms available Sunday morning for submissions.
Zoom participants, please use the web form.  Submissions made after noon on Friday may not be read or shared until the following week..


UUFJC News and Events this week:

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

Next Sunday, February 20th, the UUFJC Board meets in-person at our building at 6 pm.  All are welcome to attend our board meetings.  For agenda and more information, contact our president, Rich Burdge.

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

Community Events this week:

This Thursday, February 17th at 6:30 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents: "Cryptocurrency: Investment or Gamble?"  Bitcoin, Ethereum, crypto mining, blockchain—you might have seen these terms in news stories about the future of money. If you’re wondering how crypto operates and what investment in this form of currency involves, Roger P. Dudenhoeffer, executive vice-president and mortgage lending manager with Jefferson Bank, will provide some definitions and answers in an informative presentation on the safety and stability of tomorrow’s money today. Can we bank on it?  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, February 6

This morning, Rev. Mike Adamek joined us via Zoom to begin our month of focus on "Widening the Circle."  Rev. Mike suggested widening our circle by looking for ways to help others by finding common ground.  Often, such common ground is difficult to see, but we can remember that people have positive commitments that underlie even negative behavior, and that the cues we take from their words and actions might not be the ones that embody their meaning as they see it.  Everyone wants to be heard, and by deeply listening, we can be more helpful than if we try to impose our judgment and "fix" others.  While upholding our own values, we can listen even when it's hard and offer support, and we might find that we also receive support when we least expect it.

For those who would also like to keep up with our neighbors at the UU Church of Columbia, their sermon from this morning is available to view online: https://youtu.be/1vBEVDHhW_k

Sunday, February 13

No In-Person Events this Sunday.  See the UUFJC Board's latest Covid statement.

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"The Struggles of Immigrants," Cristhia Castro, El Puente

Our Adult Forum is currently available only via Zoom.
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 and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia Service

When we are not holding our own services, we encourage our members and friends to share the online services of our fellow UU congregations, such as our neighbors at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia.  For information and Zoom links re: UUCC's services, visit their website: uucomo.org.  

Children's Religious Education - ON HOLD
Children's RE is on hold until we are ready to start meeting in person again.  For more information, contact RE instructor Sam Porter and RE director Kim Connor.

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


UUFJC News and Events this week:

We are always in need of donations for our free community pantry  For more about the pantry and current needs, contact Joan Kurtzeborn.  Reimbursements are available; contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler: [email protected].
Registration is now open for our MidAmerica UUA Region’s annual Regional Assembly, to be held online April 30th.  For more information, visit the Regional Assembly Registration webpage.

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

Next Sunday, February 13th, Emma Regnier leads her own Intergenerational Classic Book Study in-person at our building at 3 pm.  This month's book selection: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  Contact Emma for more information.

Later next Sunday, February 13th, our Worship Service Committee meets at 5 pm via Zoom.  To get involved in creating our Sunday services, contact our vice president, Lisa Sanning.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/92182358580?pwd=VU9KaDNUbTdWeVlINFNDcHZodFRIZz09
Meeting ID: 921 8235 8580
Passcode: 407423
Phone:
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago - US toll)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/ac6Js1cR9e

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

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, February 8th, is the monthly meeting of the emergency housing subgroup of the Jefferson City homelessness working group. To get involved with this or other homelessness work, contact Patt Behler.

This Thursday, February 10th at 7 pm is the monthly meeting of the local chapter of the American Association of University Women.  For online meeting information, contact Charlotte Parsons.

Also this Thursday evening, February 10th at 7:30 pm, is the meeting of the local chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.  Meetings are currently being held virtually.  To register or for more information, contact Alicia Erickson at [email protected].

For more events, see our online calendars:
​
UUFJC Events
Virtual Gatherings
Affiliated Events 
Religious Education
Building Use (other)
Community Events  

Highlights:

• February newsletter is now available: UUFJC Newsletter "Flame on the Water" February 2022
• ​In-person events  at the Fellowship continue to be on hold
• Sunday, February 6 Forum, 9:15 am on Zoom only: "The Dawn of Everything" with Bob Boldt
• Sunday, February 6 Service, 10:30 am on Zoom only: Rev Mike Adamek
• Friday, February 4, 7 pm: Missouri River Regional Library presents their First Friday Film, "Big Night." 

Sunday, January 30:

This week wraps up our month of focus on Living with Intention.  Over the years, we have come together several times to put our intentions for our Fellowship into words, and perhaps now is a good time to remember: we created our Covenant, our Vision and Motto, and longer ago our Mission Statement.  Are these words still effective touchstones of what you intend for your faith journey with our Fellowship?  Have we marked them off our to-do list and forgotten them?  Can we dust them off, or start fresh?  What parts of these communal intentions speak to you, and how can we work to make them real even in these pandemic times when we care for each other by staying physically apart?

For those who would like to keep up with our neighbors at the UU Church of Columbia, their sermon from this morning is available to view online: https://youtu.be/bKBUYl46o5Q


Sunday, February 6:

No In-Person Events this Sunday.  See the UUFJC Board's latest Covid statement.

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"The Dawn of Everything," Bob Boldt

Our Adult Forum is currently available only via Zoom.
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 and Religious Education - 10:30 am
"What has someone done or said that has been helpful to you?," Rev. Mike Adamek
Rev. Mike writes:  "Each of us needs to widen the circle of sanity in a world that has always throughout history been one step from disaster. What simple steps can we choose to make that will be actions that help heal instead of harm our widening togetherness going forward?"

Our services are currently available only via Zoom.
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

Children's Religious Education - ON HOLD
Children's RE is on hold until we are ready to start meeting in person again.  For more information, contact RE instructor Sam Porter and RE director Kim Connor.

If you have a joy or concern that you would like to have read during a service or shared in our weekly email, 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!

To 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).

Joan Kurtzeborn offers an update on our free community pantry: "The pantry donation box near the church entry has had new items donated every week!  We are able to help our neighbors with food, warm clothing and household supplies."  For more about the pantry and current needs, please call or text Joan.  Reimbursements are available; contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler: [email protected].

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

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

Community Events this week:

This Friday, February 4th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents their monthly First Friday Film.  This month's selection: "Big Night."  Called a treat for food lovers and movie lovers, this film tells the story of two brothers whose struggling Italian restaurant is near bankruptcy.  They risk everything on one "big night" that will make or break them.  It's a small, perfect immigrant film, set in 1950s New Jersey, about working to achieve the American Dream.  The all-star cast includes Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini, Tony Shalhoub, Ian Holm, Minnie Driver, and Campbell Scott.  Tucci and Scott co-directed the film, which won a best screenplay award at Sundance.  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  


Please stay safe, well, and connected!

Laura Gilkey
Administrator, UUFJC

This week, the UUFJC Board took stock of the current pandemic situation with surging cases due to the Omicron variant, and decided that in-person UUFJC events will be suspended until February 20th.  The board will review the situation again at that time.

For many of us, we have been facing decisions and restrictions like this for so long that we're fatigued and confused, and perhaps familiarity has bred a measure of contempt.  But let us call on ourselves to get back in touch with our intention to protect our community and let the facts strike us as if with fresh eyes.  Let us hold onto our intention to keep coming together as a Fellowship and stay open to connecting in the ways that are safely available to us.

The full statement from the UUFJC Board is available here: http://uufjc.org/news-updates/in-person-events-suspended-until-feb-20th
​

Next Sunday, January 30th:

No In-Person Events this Sunday.  See the UUFJC Board's latest Covid statement.

Guest At Your Table Donations Due.
We are wrapping up our annual Guest At Your Table donation drive to support the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.  To donate to our drive, contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler: [email protected].  You can also learn more about UUSC's work and give online: https://www.uusc.org/.

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Homelessness," Patt Behler
(Note this forum's topic has changed since the publication of our January newsletter.)

Our Adult Forum is currently available only via Zoom.
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
Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia Service

When we are not holding our own services, we encourage our members and friends to share the online services of our fellow UU congregations, such as our neighbors at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia.  For information and Zoom links re: UUCC's services, visit their website: uucomo.org.  

Children's Religious Education - ON HOLD
Children's RE is on hold until we are ready to start meeting in person again.  For more information, contact RE instructor Sam Porter and RE director Kim Connor.

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


UUFJC News and Events this week:

Joan Kurtzeborn offers an update on our free community pantry: "The pantry donation box near the church entry has had new items donated every week!  We are able to help our neighbors with food, warm clothing and household supplies."  For more about the pantry and current needs, please call or text Joan.  Reimbursements are available; contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler: [email protected].

Katherine Connor and Bob Antweiler delivered the items we gathered to support an Afghan refugee, and they report that everything was very much appreciated.  Many thanks to everyone who donated and helped with this effort!

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

This Friday, January 28th is our monthly Salvation Army Meal.  Please contact Bob Antweiler if you can help provide food for those in need.  Due to the pandemic, we have been asked not to serve the food in person at this time.  Reimbursements are available; contact Bob about that as well: [email protected]

Next Sunday, January 30th, the UUFJC Board meets online via Zoom.  All are welcome to attend our board meetings. For agenda and more information, contact our president, Rich Burdge.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/97013599957?pwd=YWdoRFBpdVIyR3pPV0lYQ3BwOVczdz09
Meeting ID: 970 1359 9957
Passcode: 115687
Phone:
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago - US toll)
Find your nearest number: https://zoom.us/u/ab3xnDinkg

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

Community Events this week:

This Tuesday, January 25th at 6:30 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents an Author Talk with Deborah Reinhardt on A Culinary History of Missouri.  Missouri’s history is best told through food, from its Native American and later French colonial roots to the country’s first viticultural area. Learn about the state’s vibrant barbecue culture, which stems from African American cooks, and trace the evolution of iconic dishes such as Kansas City burnt ends. St. Louis gooey butter cake, and Springfield cashew chicken. Discover how hardscrabble Ozark farmers launched a tomato canning industry and how a financially strapped widow, Irma Rombauer, would forever change how cookbooks were written. It’s all in A Culinary History of Missouri by food historian Suzanne Corbett and Deborah Reinhardt. The program presenter will be Reinhardt, who will discuss her book that spans more than 200 years.  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  

The UUFJC Board has continued to monitor the situation with the Covid-19 pandemic, and has decided that in-person UUFJC events will be suspended until February 20th.

Full statement from the board:
 
As you all know and have experienced, our community is experiencing extremely high levels of COVID cases due to the Omicron variant. In order to safeguard the health of our members, the UUFJC board has decided to temporarily suspend in-person services and functions for four weeks, to resume February 20. During this time, we have one service scheduled; Feb. 6 with Rev. Adamek, which will be conducted via Zoom. The other Sundays, we encourage you to stream the services from Columbia or another congregation. The Forum will also be conducted by Zoom, with no more than one person in the building. The board meeting on Jan. 30 will also be conducted virtually. Given the nature of this surge, there is good reason to believe that by Feb. 20, it will be safe to resume gathering in person, using the precautions we have been using under our current policy. Still, we know that this is not what we would like to be doing. Please continue to communicate safely and support each other during this time. We look forward to gathering together again soon.


UPDATE FOR Sunday, January 23rd:

February Newsletter Submissions Due.
Please email your items to Laura Gilkey at [email protected].

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Real ID Documents," Charlotte Parsons

Avoid long lines at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles when it comes time to renew your driver's license.  Know ahead of time what is required for the REAL ID-COMPLIANT Driver's License going into effect May 3, 2023.  If you're within 6 months of renewal, they will automatically ask you if you would like one.  It's good to know what's needed.  Come find out  at our forum discussion.

Our Adult Forum is currently available only via Zoom.
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 and Religious Education - 10:30 am

When we are not holding our own services, we encourage our members and friends to share the online services of our fellow UU congregations, such as our neighbors at the Unitarian Univeralist Church of Columbia.  For information and Zoom links re: UUCC's services, visit their website: uucomo.org.


Children's Religious Education - 10:30 am

Children's RE is on hold until we can resume in-person events.  For more information, contact RE instructor Sam Porter and RE director Kim Connor.

Sunday, January 16

This morning, Rev. Nancy TannerThies was unable to join us due to unforeseen family priorities, but we were, as always, invited to share the online services of our neighbor congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia.

Today, UUCC celebrated Martin Luther King Sunday.  The Rev. Dr. C.W. Dawson Jr.'s sermon title as guest preacher was "Beyond the Dream." He quoted a homeless person posing the question, "Can white America be saved?" Invoking Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, Dr. Dawson suggested the answer may be transforming the dream from integration to multi-cultural acceptance.

The sermon is available to view online: https://youtu.be/XMB-8WJmV2c

Next Sunday, January 23

February Newsletter Submissions Due.
Please email your items to Laura Gilkey at [email protected].

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Real ID Documents," Charlotte Parsons

Avoid long lines at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles when it comes time to renew your driver's license.  Know ahead of time what is required for the REAL ID-COMPLIANT Driver's License going into effect May 3, 2023.  If you're within 6 months of renewal, they will automatically ask you if you would like one.  It's good to know what's needed.  Come find out  at our forum discussion.

Our Adult Forum is currently available both in-person and via Zoom.
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 and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia Service

When we are not holding our own services, our building will be open for those who wish to come and share the online services of our neighbor congregation, the Unitarian Univeralist Church of Columbia.  For more information, visit UUCC's website: uucomo.org.

Children's Religious Education - 10:30 am
Children are welcome to join RE Instructor Samantha Porter for a lesson during the service hour.  This week: "Think Outside the Box."

Masks are currently required for everyone attending indoor UUFJC events in-person.  Free masks will be available if you do not have one.

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
We will also have paper forms available Sunday morning for submissions.
Zoom participants, please use the web form.  Submissions made after noon on Friday may not be read until the following week..

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!

And remember all our ways to stay in touch! You can join our open-posting 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).

We are currently holding our annual Guest At Your Table donation drive to support the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.  UUSC empowers grassroots partners to work for human rights around the world.  Stories from UUSC's work, donation boxes, and donation envelopes are available at our building, or you can learn more about UUSC's work and give online: https://www.uusc.org/.  Donations to our drive are due in January 30th.

We are also collecting items to support an Afghan refugee.  For more information see our January newsletter or contact Social Action chair Katherine Connor: [email protected].

We are always in need of donations for our free community pantry.  For more about the pantry and current needs, contact Joan Kurtzeborn: j[email protected].  Reimbursements are available; contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler: [email protected].

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

This Friday, January 21st, registration opens for our MidAmerica UUA Region’s annual Regional Assembly.  This year's Regional Assembly will be held online April 30th from 9 am to 1 pm central time and will feature keynote speaker CB Beal, Annual Business Meeting, and time for connection and conversation in break-out rooms.  For more information visit uua.org/midamerica/ra

Our building is reserved by community groups Wednesdays and Saturdays starting at 6 pm and Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 6 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 would like to submit an event for our community calendar, email our Administrator at [email protected].

For more events, see our online calendars:

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

Sunday, January 9th:

This morning, we shared a recent sermon from our neighbors at the UU Church of Columbia, in which Rev. Molly Housh Gordon offered words on "Getting Free Together."  Our earliest experiences of unfreedom often come early, as we were told to tame our bodies into respectability.  For the privileged among us (white, male, straight, cisgendered, thin, abled), this unfreedom may seem like small potatoes, and in many ways it is, but it is important to acknowledge it because systems like white supremacy are about control, and controlling the privileged with the idea that respectability and worthiness are scarce and must be earned is key to perpetuating the injustices inflicted on the less privileged among us.  Wherever we are in this system, discovering abundance and liberation for ourselves and others go hand in hand.  Rev. Molly emphasized that this is not just a political vision, but a path to healing our own souls.

As part of this, Rev. Molly highlighted the "8th Principle Project," an initiative to add the following to the UU Principles:

"We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions."

Proposed by black leaders and encouraged by Black Lives of UU, the 8th principle has already been adopted democratically by over 100 congregations, and UUCC will consider joining them.  It is also expected to get a vote at the national UU General Assembly in 2024.  For more about the 8th Principle Project, visit https://www.8thprincipleuu.org/.

The sermon is available to view online: https://youtu.be/M9CslzAysdk


Sunday, January 16th:

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Russia, China, and US National Security," Darius Watson

Our Adult Forum is currently available both in-person and via Zoom.
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 and Religious Education - 10:30 am
"Intention — in tension," Rev. Nancy TannerThies

Our services are currently available both in-person and via Zoom.
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

Children's Religious Education - 10:30 am
Children are welcome to join RE Instructor Samantha Porter for a lesson during the service hour.  This week: "Imagine a Better World."

Masks are currently required for everyone attending indoor UUFJC events in-person.  Free masks will be available if you do not have one.

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
We will also have paper forms available Sunday morning for submissions. Zoom participants, please use the web form.  Submissions made after noon on Friday may not be read until the following week..


UUFJC News and Events this week:

We are currently holding our annual Guest At Your Table fundraiser to support the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.  UUSC empowers grassroots partners to work for human rights around the world.  Stories from UUSC's work, donation boxes, and donation envelopes are available at our building, or you can learn more about UUSC's work and give online: https://www.uusc.org/.  Donations to our drive are due in late January.

We are also collecting items to support an Afghan refugee.  For more information see our January newsletter or contact Social Action chair Katherine Connor: [email protected].

We are always in need of donations for our free community pantry.  For more about the pantry and current needs, contact Joan Kurtzeborn: j[email protected].  Reimbursements are available; contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler: [email protected].

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

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

Community Events this week:

Tomorrow, Monday, January 10th at 6:30 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents the latest installment of the LU-MRRL Lecture Series: "The Secret to Staying Motivated is a Choice."  How much does what you want to accomplish mean to you? What are you telling yourself when you set your goals? Following through on what you started and staying the course is not as hard as you think, but you may think it is, and that could be stopping you. The time has come for you to start seeing and getting the results you want, and you have it in you to do it. Join Richard A. Cross, retention specialist for LU’s Student Success Center, who will share how to stick to your goals and gain the confidence from achieving those meaningful goals you have for yourself. Cross is also the organizer of the LUMENtoring Program, which is geared toward mentorship of male students.  Contact Madeline Matson.  For more on library events, visit MRRL.org.

This Tuesday, January 11th, a subgroup of the 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 Thursday, January 13th is the monthly online meeting of the local chapter of the American Association of University Women.  Social begins at 6:30 pm, program at 7 pm.  Presenter Charlotte Parsons will address the topic of "Real ID Documents."  Avoid long lines at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles when it comes time to renew your driver's license.  Know ahead of time what is required for the REAL ID-COMPLIANT Driver's License going into effect May 3, 2023.  If you're within 6 months of renewal, they will automatically ask you if you would like one.  It's good to know what's needed.  Come find out this AAUW meeting.  All are welcome to attend.  Zoom meeting ID:  81802109143.  Password: 752794.  Contact Charlotte Parsons.

For more events, see our online calendars:

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

Please stay safe, well, and connected!

Laura Gilkey
Administrator, UUFJC

Highlights (read on for details and more news):

• Our January newsletter is now available:
  UUFJC Newsletter, "Flame on the Water" January 2022
• Help us support an Afghan refugee. For more information see our January newsletter or contact Social Action chair Katherine Connor: [email protected].
  
• Sunday, January 9, 3 pm: monthly Intergenerational Classical Book Study group at our building.  This month's book selection: Lord of the Flies by William Golding.  Contact Emma Regnier.
  
• Sunday, January 9, 5 pm: Worship Service Committee meeting at our building.  Contact our Vice President, Lisa Sanning.
  

Sunday, January 2

This morning, Rev. Mike Adamek began exploring our new monthly theme of "Living with Intention."  To live with intention, we must first discover our intentions, and Rev. Mike offered the tools for moments of silence: Reflection, Meditation, or Prayer.  Rev. Mike described Reflection as an intentional effort to decipher our own thoughts, actions and selves.  Meditation is rooted in the Buddhist tradition of listening past the chatter of our "monkey mind" to find freedom from attachment and suffering.  Prayer is a practice of communication with the divine.  Each person's outlook might draw them toward a certain one of the three, but all are based in gravity, sincerity, and getting beyond distraction.  In all of these practices, we can listen for something beyond our current conscious self, and through gradual insights --- and occasionally sudden ones --- we can discover our intentions to be better people and discover ways to live into those intentions.

For those who would also like to keep up with our neighbors at the UU Church of Columbia, their sermon from this morning is now available to view online: https://youtu.be/M9CslzAysdk

Sunday, January 9

Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Exploring our Intentions," Betty Cooper

Our January theme—intention-- is relevant for beginning a new year.  Broadly defined, it is “a course of action that one intends to follow.”  As we review “intention resources,” we will explore our intentions and determine if our personal intentions are relevant or need to be changed.

Our Adult Forum is currently available both in-person and via Zoom.
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 and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia Service
 
We will not be holding our own service; however, our building will be open for those who wish to come and share the online services of our neighbor congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia.  For more information, visit UUCC's website: uucomo.org.

Children's Religious Education - 10:30 am
Children are welcome to join RE Instructor Samantha Porter for a lesson during the service hour.  This week: "Imagine a World Without Covid."

Masks are currently required for everyone attending indoor UUFJC events in-person.  Free masks will be available if you do not have one.

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
We will also have paper forms available Sunday morning for submissions. Zoom participants, please use the web form.  Submissions made after noon on Friday may not be read until the following week..

UUFJC News and Events this week:

We are currently holding our annual Guest At Your Table fundraiser to support the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.  UUSC empowers grassroots partners to work for human rights around the world.  Stories from UUSC's work, donation boxes, and donation envelopes are available at our building, or you can learn more about UUSC's work and give online: https://www.uusc.org/.  Donations to our drive are due in late January.

We are also collecting items to support an Afghan refugee.  For more information see our January newsletter or contact Social Action chair Katherine Connor: [email protected].

Update on our free community pantry: Building Community Bridges has been generous in sharing food for our pantry, and we are grateful. Some items we could use more of are: canned chicken, any sauce or canned meal that includes protein, boxed cereal (both cold and oatmeal types), hot chocolate, coffee, and seasonings.  We can always use items for cold weather such as stocking hats, scarves, and water/snow resistant gloves.  We are out of diapers, clothing, and dish detergents. Thank you for your generosity.  Remember: no glass containers or expired items, please.  For more information about the pantry and current needs, contact Joan: j[email protected].  Reimbursements are available; contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler: [email protected].

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

Next Sunday, January 9th at 3 pm, Emma Regnier leads her own monthly Intergenerational Classical Book Study group at our building.  This month's book selection: Lord of the Flies by William Golding.  For more information, contact Emma.

Later next Sunday, January 9th, our Worship Service Committee meets in person at our building at 5 pm.  To get involved in creating our Sunday services, contact our Vice President, Lisa Sanning.

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

Community Events this week:

This Thursday, January 6th at 7 pm is the scheduled meeting of the local chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.  For meeting information, contact Susan Randolph.

This Friday, January 7th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents their monthly First Friday Film.  This month's selection: "Respect."  This biopic follows the rise of Aretha Franklin's career from a young child singing in her father's church's choir to her international superstardom. It's the story of the music icon's journey to find her voice and become the Queen of Soul. The film stars Jennifer Hudson as Aretha and Forrest Whitaker as her father, the Rev, C.L. Franklin. Hudson is mentioned often by film critics who expect her performance to garner many awards.  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  

Please stay safe, well, and connected!

Laura Gilkey
Administrator, UUFJC