Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Friday E-Mail News January 7, 2011

9:15 AM + 11:15 AM Services

January 9, Sunday: 9:15 + 11:15 AM. Sermon - Spiritual Homelessness, Part 1, Rev. Janet E. Newman. What does it mean to be homeless in the world, without community? Let us explore what it means to belong, to have connection with others in our lives and in our church.

Stars Story Sunday: Children four years-old through fifth grade begin the morning in the Sanctuary before they attend their religious education classes.

Religious Education

Religious Education for children nursery through fifth grade is offered at both services.

Classes for sixth through twelfth grades are offered at the 11:15 AM service.

Church This Week

January 9, Sunday: PACEM Volunteer Sign up. Sign up sheets for volunteers for food, hosting and site set up/clean up for our guests of PACEM whom we are hosting from February 5 to 12 will be in the Social Hall after both services. Please contribute your chef skills or hosting warmth. Questions: Elizabeth Breeden, brs@cstone.net

January 9, Sunday: Peace Action + United Nations UU, 12:45 PM, Green Room. Note the change of time and place. Agenda includes planning for fourth Sunday tabling and visit of Bruce Knotts, Director of our UN UU Office.

January 9, Sunday: Covenant Facilitators, 1 PM, Summit Room 1.

January 10, Monday: Council Chairs, 7 PM, Social Hall.

January 12, Wednesday: AFD: Articulating Your UU Faith, 7-9 PM, Church Parlor. Join our Interim Minister, the Rev. Dr. Janet Newman, in this unique opportunity to explore your own beliefs and then learn how to articulate them in a way that helps you to speak clearly and positively about your UU faith. Space is limited to fifteen participants and the class is free of charge. Pre-registration is required at leiadj@embarqmail.com.

January 12, Wednesday: AFD: Harvest the Power, 7 PM, Social Hall. Registration is now open for the January and February Harvest the Power sessions. The first Harvest the Power session offered in November and December got rave reviews from the twenty-six TJMC members and friends who participated. Many of the participants from Session 1 have already registered for Session 2, but there are a few places left. Because these are interactional workshops, we are capping the registration at twenty-eighth participants. The January workshop is called Turning Points and Moments of Grace, and will focus on the ways congregations can experience turning points or adaptive challenges. This module will be facilitated by Laura Horn and John Semmelhack. The Wednesday, February 9, workshop at 7 PM is Caring for Ourselves and Each Other, and will explore the role of leaders in creating a spiritually healthy congregational culture that encourages spiritual and emotional health in volunteers. It will also provide opportunity for participants to examine their own spiritual well being. This session will be facilitated by Alex McGee and Christine Gresser. To register, contact Leia Durland-Jones at leiadj@embarqmail.com

January 16, Sunday: 9:15 + 11:15 AM. Sermon - If Martin Luther King Were Alive Today, an update, Rev. Tony Perrino. Rev. Perrino will talk about his classmate at Boston University of Theology.

January 16, Sunday: AFD: Communication Show & Share, 12:30-1:30 PM, Social Hall. Come see Holly Dilatush after the second service and bring your own lap top computer or use hers. She will help you explore TJMCs website and Facebook pages and maybe even other UU church’s websites. Curious about Twitter, blogs, or other computer related communications? This time has been designated to help you learn about them and feel more informed, competent and comfortable with the world of electronic communications.

January 16, Sunday: AFD “Common Read: Immigration Stories,” 12:45 PM, Summit House Room 2. Copies of the book The Death of Josseline: Immigration Stories from the Arizona-Mexico Borderlands will be available for purchase for $10. Participants will read designated sections of the book and then meet on Sunday, February 13, and Sunday, March 13, from 12:45-2 PM to discuss the book together (lunch will be available for purchase from the Coming of Age class on Sunday, February 13, and Sunday, March 13.) If you would like to purchase your copy before Sunday, January 16, please contact Leia Durland-Jones at 293-8179 extension 3# or leiadj@embarqmail.com as she has copies of the book available.

January 16, Sundays: Women Weaving Wisdom Committee, 1 PM, Green Room.

January 16, Sunday: Pastoral Visitors Speaker, 2 PM, Social Hall. Everyone is invited to a workshop on Non-Violent Communication with Terri Zweig. After the event, you are likely to have more insights into how to separate facts from generalizations, summarize feelings succinctly, and identify needs that can lead to more constructive work, family, and church relationships. This workshop is sponsored by the Pastoral Visitors, who will be using these skills in their ministries of listening and presence.

Church Notes & Requests for Help

January 2011 Monthly Bulletin is now online at uucharlottesville.org. Thank you to Eleanor May and Gloria Watson for helping get the monthly bulletin out this month. If you had a monthly bulletin mailed to you please be sure it has pages 5+6. If it does not then you can pick it up at the church.

Help Needed: Looking for people of “sound” mind. (1.) Needed immediately, a person to coordinate and schedule sound crew volunteers for Sunday morning services. (2.) Also need volunteers to run the sound board on Sunday mornings. If you can turn on a radio and control the volume you have the skills necessary. You can do this. Contact Bob Kiefer at 974-9022 or by email bkieferuu@gmail.com.

Scrip News Flash! We now have Target scrip giftcards in $100 denominations available in stock at the scrip table for those looking for a big box alternative to WalMart and Kmart. We also have a few Best Buy, Michaels and Sears cards left from the Christmas stock that need to be purchased so we can close out those inventory positions. Please support TJMC by using Scrip for all your grocery and other consumer purchases.

Niki’s Toy Chest: During the last four months I have donated toys to the local social service agencies and I have decided that this is something I want to do on a year round basis. So I am asking those of you who have children with toys they no longer need to donate them to me. I will take them and clean them up or fix them and then donate them to the appropriate agency. (Think birthdays.) For more information or to donate toys contact me, Niki Skaggs, at 979-7824 or niki.skaggs@yahoo.com.

Buy Your Groceries Online and Raise Funds for TJMC! For every family that places four orders of $100 or more by the end of January 2011 (note extended deadline!), Relay Foods will give TJMC $50. RelayFoods.com allows you to shop at more than fifty area grocery stores, specialty shops, and farms on one website. Browse for staples, prepared foods, and farm-raised meat and produce, all at in-store prices, from places like Whole Foods, Rebecca’s, Reid Supermarket, and the Cheese Shop (which has great prices, btw). You can check out with a credit card, and they will meet you with your purchase at one of their free pick-up spots conveniently located around town. Enter “TJUU” in the coupon code box to participate in the fundraiser.

Religious Education newsletter that has highlights and information about what is happening in our Children and Youth Religious Education program. You do not need to have children in the program to be added to the mailing list. To add you name, contact Leia Durland-Jones at leiadj@embarqmail.com.

Inclement Weather Policy: In case of snow, sleet, or freezing rain we will air any cancellation on local radio and tv stations. In addition, our website will have up to date information at uucharlottesville.org. Any weather related changes to the worship schedule will be posted on the main page of our website. The church’s voice mail message will also announce any cancellations due to inclement weather.

RE Wish List: Bingo Prizes! From now thru Friday, February 4, the Children’s RE Committee is seeking donations of items to use as Bingo prizes. Gently used toys and games, kitchenware, candles, art supplies, jewelry, non-perishable food, gift certificates or white elephant holiday gifts in search of a new home are needed. Donations of large baskets appreciated. Please leave donations in the box near the Edgewood Lane entrance or in the RE office. Thanks in advance!