Sunday morning, our topic was prayer.
Laura Gilkey tied that theme to this month's "30 Days of Love," using an overheard prayer to examine whether we deserve love --- from God, the universe, or each other. She found that "deserving" has two parts: a sense of entitlement that can keep us from appreciating love, but also a sense of basic worthiness that grounds us in love.
Then, our guest speaker, Rev. Krista Taves, spoke directly about a UU theology of prayer. Prayer can mean different things to us with our different religious backgrounds. Maybe we've had hurtful experiences with prayer in the past, or maybe it was a comfort to us but we don't know how to reconcile it with our current understanding. Rev. Krista offered a way to reclaim prayer by seeing it not as a bid to change reality, but as a spiritual practice to change ourselves. In prayer we can connect with our deepest yearnings, with the love that wishes blessing on others, with the confessions that call us to do better, with our pain, our reverence, our gratitude. And, Rev. Krista told us, the true measure of prayer is not in the words but in what happens afterward.
Rev. Krista is a part-time minister at the UU Church of Quincy, Illinois. You can hear more of her sermons on their website.
Next Sunday, February 7th:
Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Gaming Can Make a Better World," Laura Gilkey
We will discuss a TED talk in which game designer Jane McGonigal argues for the positive potential of online video games.
Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "This Unitarian Universalist Life: Creation In Its Many Forms"
Join us in a celebration of Evolution Sunday in which Roger TannerThies, Jim Davis, and Alexis Engelbrecht share their reflections on creation drawing from various life experiences, science, and literature, with special musical interludes.
If you have a joy or concern that you would like to have read during the Service, please submit it through our website: http://uufjc.org/joys--concerns.html
Plus Children's RE --- Volunteers Needed!
UUFJC News and Events this week:
Guest at Your Table donations were due Sunday. If you still have any donations to turn in, please contact our Treasurer, Bob Antweiler, as soon as possible.
The February newsletter and print calendar are ready. Paper copies are available in the back of the sanctuary and electronic copies are available on request.
We need RE volunteers and Adult Forum leaders. Contact Kim Connor to help with RE or contact Laura Gilkey to lead the Adult Forum.
The Membership Committee would very much appreciate two more volunteers who can give members and friends rides to and from services once a month. Scheduling is very flexible. Contact Bob Antweiler if you can help.
Jan Harcourt is starting a new Laughter and Movement class here at the Fellowship at 9:30 on Saturday mornings. Contact Jan for details.
Next Sunday, February 7th, the Worship Service Committee meets at 1:30 pm. All are welcome to come get involved in planning our Sunday services. See Alexis Engelbrecht for more information.
And coming Monday, February 8th at 7 pm is our monthly Lecture Series. This month’s speaker is Rod Chapell, President of the Missouri State Conference for NAACP. Contact Carol Bontempo or Frank Rycyk.
Community Events this week:
This Friday, February 5th at 7 pm, Missouri River Regional Library hosts its First Friday Film: "Selma." In 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King and civil rights workers planned and carried out an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, part of the years-long nonviolent movement to secure voting rights for African Americans. Contact Madeline Matson.
This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "Groundhog Day" (Tuesday only) and a program of Oscar-Nominated Shorts, both live and animated (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!
Laura Gilkey tied that theme to this month's "30 Days of Love," using an overheard prayer to examine whether we deserve love --- from God, the universe, or each other. She found that "deserving" has two parts: a sense of entitlement that can keep us from appreciating love, but also a sense of basic worthiness that grounds us in love.
Then, our guest speaker, Rev. Krista Taves, spoke directly about a UU theology of prayer. Prayer can mean different things to us with our different religious backgrounds. Maybe we've had hurtful experiences with prayer in the past, or maybe it was a comfort to us but we don't know how to reconcile it with our current understanding. Rev. Krista offered a way to reclaim prayer by seeing it not as a bid to change reality, but as a spiritual practice to change ourselves. In prayer we can connect with our deepest yearnings, with the love that wishes blessing on others, with the confessions that call us to do better, with our pain, our reverence, our gratitude. And, Rev. Krista told us, the true measure of prayer is not in the words but in what happens afterward.
Rev. Krista is a part-time minister at the UU Church of Quincy, Illinois. You can hear more of her sermons on their website.
Next Sunday, February 7th:
Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Gaming Can Make a Better World," Laura Gilkey
We will discuss a TED talk in which game designer Jane McGonigal argues for the positive potential of online video games.
Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "This Unitarian Universalist Life: Creation In Its Many Forms"
Join us in a celebration of Evolution Sunday in which Roger TannerThies, Jim Davis, and Alexis Engelbrecht share their reflections on creation drawing from various life experiences, science, and literature, with special musical interludes.
If you have a joy or concern that you would like to have read during the Service, please submit it through our website: http://uufjc.org/joys--concerns.html
Plus Children's RE --- Volunteers Needed!
UUFJC News and Events this week:
Guest at Your Table donations were due Sunday. If you still have any donations to turn in, please contact our Treasurer, Bob Antweiler, as soon as possible.
The February newsletter and print calendar are ready. Paper copies are available in the back of the sanctuary and electronic copies are available on request.
We need RE volunteers and Adult Forum leaders. Contact Kim Connor to help with RE or contact Laura Gilkey to lead the Adult Forum.
The Membership Committee would very much appreciate two more volunteers who can give members and friends rides to and from services once a month. Scheduling is very flexible. Contact Bob Antweiler if you can help.
Jan Harcourt is starting a new Laughter and Movement class here at the Fellowship at 9:30 on Saturday mornings. Contact Jan for details.
Next Sunday, February 7th, the Worship Service Committee meets at 1:30 pm. All are welcome to come get involved in planning our Sunday services. See Alexis Engelbrecht for more information.
And coming Monday, February 8th at 7 pm is our monthly Lecture Series. This month’s speaker is Rod Chapell, President of the Missouri State Conference for NAACP. Contact Carol Bontempo or Frank Rycyk.
Community Events this week:
This Friday, February 5th at 7 pm, Missouri River Regional Library hosts its First Friday Film: "Selma." In 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King and civil rights workers planned and carried out an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, part of the years-long nonviolent movement to secure voting rights for African Americans. Contact Madeline Matson.
This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "Groundhog Day" (Tuesday only) and a program of Oscar-Nominated Shorts, both live and animated (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!
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