This morning, our own Sharon Morgan presented a special service from the UUA about living out the promise of our faith with regard to centering Black UU voices. UUFJC members read messages from four Black UU women who shared ways in which UUs have fallen short of our welcoming promises and need to be called into greater growth. Rebekah Savage shares how centering whiteness leads us to blindly injure others and fall short of our theology of love and interdependence. Rayla D. Mattson shares the experience of coldness at a UU retreat, and how she reflexively hid her pain to protect others. Kimberly Quinn Johnson shares the gifts of Black contemplative practices and communal joy, and points out that common stereotypes of Black worship don't begin to describe the richness it can bring to our shared spiritual life. And Carol Thomas Cissel reminds us that words matter, that when we call ourselves "welcoming" and profess to "celebrate diversity," we must commit the resolve and planning to put substance behind the words. (The full messages are available at the links and are highly recommended.)
More than one of the writers used the common metaphor of the "welcome table." How does it feel, in a church that sings those words, to come to a meal and find no place at the table for you --- perhaps literally? Who is looking for a place at our table, and how can we make room and welcome them?
Next Sunday, April 7th:
Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Dementia," Michael H. Brownstein
Brownstein will discuss his latest book, "A slip not into somewhere else," which he describes as "a poet's journey into the borderlands of dementia."
Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "What Does Wholeness Mean When We Are Still On the Journey from Birth to Death?" Rev. Mike Adamek
Salvation is living eternally without sin as angels live. No pain. Pari-nirvana is achieved after at least 10,000 lifetimes. No pain. What does wholeness look like when pain on this journey from birth to death is necessary?
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 --- "Wholesome and Widening the Circle, The Practice of Inclusivity"
UUFJC News and Events this week:
Our April newsletter and print calendar are ready. Paper copies are available in the wall box near the coat rack. Electronic copies are available to view or download here: Newsletter, Calendar
Did you participate in our Reverse Offering earlier this month? Have you had a chance to share what it inspired you to do? We now have a sheet of poster board and markers available on the bulletin board in our Sanctuary, and participants are invited to write in their choices.
We are currently in our annual Pledge Drive. For all those who support our Fellowship, we thank you. Please, if you can, fill out a pledge form and estimate what you plan to give; this is a great help to us in planning. For Fair Share giving suggestions and pledge forms, please contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler.
This Thursday, April 4th, the local chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America meets in our building at 7 pm. Contact Susan Randolph.
This Friday and Saturday, April 5th and 6th are the 2nd annual Capital Area Interfaith Alliance “Festival of Faiths.” This event is aimed at promoting understanding and appreciation among members of different religions in Mid-Missouri. The festival begins with an Interfaith Concert at Quinn Chapel AME Church, Friday April 5th at 7 pm (doors open at 6:30). Activities continue Saturday, April 6th with a day of speakers and workshops at Lincoln University's Scruggs Center from 9 am to 3 pm (doors open at 8:30). Admission is free for the concert and $10 for the Saturday event including lunch (this is a correction to the information in our April newsletter). For more information, contact Frank Rycyk.
Next Sunday, April 7th, our building is reserved by a community group starting at 6:30 pm. Please allow privacy.
Community Events this week:
This Friday, April 5th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents their First Friday Film: "If Beale Street Could Talk." In early 1970s Harlem, daughter and wife-to-be Tish recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by the nickname Fonny. Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together, but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit. Contact Madeline Matson. For more Library events, visit MRRL.org.
This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "Arctic" (Thursday through Sunday). For showtimes, more events, and more information, visit capitolcitycinema.org.
For yoga and even more events, see our online calendars:
UUFJC Events
Affiliated Events
Religious Education
Building Use (other)
Community Events
Have a great week!
More than one of the writers used the common metaphor of the "welcome table." How does it feel, in a church that sings those words, to come to a meal and find no place at the table for you --- perhaps literally? Who is looking for a place at our table, and how can we make room and welcome them?
Next Sunday, April 7th:
Adult Forum - 9:15 am
"Dementia," Michael H. Brownstein
Brownstein will discuss his latest book, "A slip not into somewhere else," which he describes as "a poet's journey into the borderlands of dementia."
Service and Religious Education - 10:30 am
Message: "What Does Wholeness Mean When We Are Still On the Journey from Birth to Death?" Rev. Mike Adamek
Salvation is living eternally without sin as angels live. No pain. Pari-nirvana is achieved after at least 10,000 lifetimes. No pain. What does wholeness look like when pain on this journey from birth to death is necessary?
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 --- "Wholesome and Widening the Circle, The Practice of Inclusivity"
UUFJC News and Events this week:
Our April newsletter and print calendar are ready. Paper copies are available in the wall box near the coat rack. Electronic copies are available to view or download here: Newsletter, Calendar
Did you participate in our Reverse Offering earlier this month? Have you had a chance to share what it inspired you to do? We now have a sheet of poster board and markers available on the bulletin board in our Sanctuary, and participants are invited to write in their choices.
We are currently in our annual Pledge Drive. For all those who support our Fellowship, we thank you. Please, if you can, fill out a pledge form and estimate what you plan to give; this is a great help to us in planning. For Fair Share giving suggestions and pledge forms, please contact our treasurer, Bob Antweiler.
This Thursday, April 4th, the local chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America meets in our building at 7 pm. Contact Susan Randolph.
This Friday and Saturday, April 5th and 6th are the 2nd annual Capital Area Interfaith Alliance “Festival of Faiths.” This event is aimed at promoting understanding and appreciation among members of different religions in Mid-Missouri. The festival begins with an Interfaith Concert at Quinn Chapel AME Church, Friday April 5th at 7 pm (doors open at 6:30). Activities continue Saturday, April 6th with a day of speakers and workshops at Lincoln University's Scruggs Center from 9 am to 3 pm (doors open at 8:30). Admission is free for the concert and $10 for the Saturday event including lunch (this is a correction to the information in our April newsletter). For more information, contact Frank Rycyk.
Next Sunday, April 7th, our building is reserved by a community group starting at 6:30 pm. Please allow privacy.
Community Events this week:
This Friday, April 5th at 7 pm in their Art Gallery, Missouri River Regional Library presents their First Friday Film: "If Beale Street Could Talk." In early 1970s Harlem, daughter and wife-to-be Tish recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by the nickname Fonny. Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together, but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit. Contact Madeline Matson. For more Library events, visit MRRL.org.
This week, Capitol City Cinema presents "Arctic" (Thursday through Sunday). For showtimes, more events, and more information, visit capitolcitycinema.org.
For yoga and even more events, see our online calendars:
UUFJC Events
Affiliated Events
Religious Education
Building Use (other)
Community Events
Have a great week!
RSS Feed