Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Stewardship Campaign News

9:15 AM + 11:15 AM Services

April 3, Sunday: Sermon - I Have a Dream, Rev. Dr. Janet E. Newman. As Dr. King expressed his dreams to the people of the U.S., I want to tell UUs about my dreams of ministry. I will limit myself to three of them in the hope that my dreams will help you articulate yours.

Religious Education—No Classes this Sunday

Due to Spring Break, there are NO religious education classes for children or youth.

Child care is available for children four years-old and younger in the lower hall.

Church This Week.

April 5-May 17 (Not April 12), Tuesdays: AFD: The Great Ideas of Psychology, 1 PM, Parlor. Fee: $2 a class. To register contact Leia Durland-Jones at leiadj@embarqmail.com.

April 1, Friday: Food Pantry, 9 AM, Social Hall.

April 2, Saturday: AFD: Building/Designing Altar Displays & Sacred Spaces, 10:30 AM, Social Hall.

April 3+24, Sunday: Green Sanctuary, After Services, Social Hall. Car Pooling Challenge Buddy Sign Ups.

April 3, Sunday: Artist Reception - Jean Sampson, 12:30 PM, Social Hall. “All of my oil paintings are done with a painting knife and rag. The oil pastels are done on rough watercolor paper. I use a single -edged razor blade to scratch the oil pastel off the paper. My method of working is what I would call “responsive painting.” I respond to the color, the value, the shape that is already on the surface. What I hope people will enjoy and respond to in these works is the energy with which they were created, the internal music that color releases in all of us, and the life force that will never cease trying to bring order and beauty from chaos!”

April 3, Sunday: FFUUN Potluck, 6 PM, Social Hall.

April 5–May 17, Tuesdays: AFD: The Great Ideas of Psychology, 1 PM, Parlor. Fee: $2 per class or $20 for the entire series. Register: Leia Durland-Jones, DRE, at leiadj@embarqmail.com

April 5+19, Tuesday: UUppity Women, 7 PM+7:30 PM, Social Hall & Offsite. Wondering what SUUSI is? Find out at our Tuesday, April 5, meeting. SUUSI staffers and past attendees will be there to tell you about a fabulous, family-friendly way to spend a week in July - something for all generations. Includes a short video. Everybody is welcome, UUppity or not. Tuesday, April 19, we will attend the Charlottesville Municipal Band concert at PVCC at 8 PM. Doors open at 7:30 PM. Arrive early so we can sit together. Email uuppities@uucharlottesville.org.

April 5, Tuesday: Ministerial Search, 7 PM, Parlor.

April 6, Wednesday: Lunchtime Labyrinth Walk, 12:15 PM, Outdoor Labyrinth. Join Leia Durland-Jones, DRE for a mid-week pause over the lunch hour on our church’s outdoor labyrinth. Come and go as best meets your own needs. No experience necessary. All are welcome. If inclement weather, we will use finger labyrinths indoors and savor our time together.

April 6, Wednesday: Environmental Action, 7 PM, Parlor. We will be focusing on spring programs, particularly Green Sanctuary Mother’s Day service and activities, including our Mother Earth Brunch. All welcome!

April 7+14+21+28, Thursdays: Active Minds, 1 PM, Parlor.

April 7+14+21+28, Thursdays: Adult Choir Rehearsal, 6:45 PM, Parlor. We invite you to participate in the rehearsals for music to be shared during Rev. Erik Wikstrom’s service April 17 and for Easter April 24.

April 7, Thursday: UU Christian Fellowship, 7 PM, Summit Room 2. Dick Abrams will lead this service, in which he will continue the discussion of the Beatitudes, covering the last four.

April 8, Friday: Green Sanctuary Social Action Film, 7 PM, Parlor. “Blue Gold: World Water Wars” “Water is one of the most common things on earth, but the supply of it on this planet is finite, … and many believe that it will become a valuable strategic commodity with the passing of time …The film examines how major corporations and financial institutions are buying up territories where large water supplies can be found, the fight to protect the Great Lakes, … and was an official selection at the 2009 Palm Springs International Film Festival.” ~ Fandango. Join us to watch for the third video in our Environmental Social Action Film series. Local water experts also are invited for a discussion after the video.

April 9, Saturday: AFD: Spiritual Practices, 10 AM, Parlor. Interested in how to fit your personality style with a spiritual practice? Come explore this possibility with Chaplain Alexandra McGee in a loving environment including silent prayer, spoken prayer, chanting, lectio divina, and simple yoga movements. You will go home with  tools for keeping a discipline which can nourish your life with equilibrium and hope, so that whatever challenges you are facing go more smoothly. All are welcome. Please pre-register with Leia Durland-Jones at leiadj@embarqmail.com

April 10, Sunday: Sermon - None of This Matters, Rev. Erik Walker Wikstrom, 9:15+11:15 AM. Most congregations think that “the church” is the community that gathers together for worship on Sunday morning. What, though, if none of that mattered? What if it is, in fact, something very different that is at the heart of things? Rev. Erik Walker Wikstrom, candidate for the position of TJMC’s next settled ministry, will try to turn things on their heads a bit and see what wisdom can be gleaned from this altered perspective. Sophie Maus will sing “Hallelujah” during the 9:15 AM service and the Virginia Women’s Chorus will sing “Ain’t No Grave Can Hold My Body Down” during the 11:15 AM service.

April 10, Sunday: Welcome Receptions for Rev. Wikstrom, 10:30 AM+12:30 PM, Social Hall. Please help provide food items for these festive receptions occurring after both services. To sign up to bring food, go to http://www.perfectpotluck.com/meals.php?t=SDPJ8051 and “take” an item. If you have questions, please contact: Marlene Jones at Marz4mail@gmail.com. Thank you for your help in providing a warm welcome to Rev. Wikstrom.

April 10, Sunday: Spring Auction Donation Deadline 1 PM. Yikes! Red Hot Auction Alert! The donation deadline for the Saturday, April 30, auction is right around the corner! We need your donations of antiques, jewelry, artwork, gift baskets, personal services, dinners and events, and vacation home use asap. The donation deadline is 1PM on Sunday, April 10, but please send them in early so we can all enjoy the reception for Rev. Wikstrom. Donate via the website at uucharlottesville.org/get-involved or stop by the auction table in the Social Hall on any Sunday. What will you donate to the Auction? We are anxious to see!

• April 10-13: Dialog Series. Pick one or all for dialogue with Rev. Wikstrom on the topics that matter most to TJMC-UU. Each session will include a brief presentation by TJMCUU leaders, followed by a short response by Rev. Wikstrom, and plenty of time for open question and answers. Childcare will be available.
• April 10, Sunday: Social Justice Mission, 7 PM, Social Hall. The TJMC-UU Social Justice Mission with Rev. Wikstrom, and members of the Social Action Council in the Social Hall.
• April 11, Monday: Operations, 7 PM, Social Hall. TJMC-UU Operations (budget, buildings, IT and more) with Rev. Wikstrom and members of the Administrative Council in the Social Hall.
• April 12, Tuesday: Beloved Community, 7 PM, Social Hall. TJMC-UU as a Beloved Community with Rev. Wikstrom and members of the Community Life Council in the Social Hall.
• April 13, Wednesday: Spirituality and Worship, 7 PM, Social Hall+Sanctuary. Spirituality and Worship at TJMC-UU, featuring meditation with our Clear Spring Buddhist Sangha in the Sanctuary, followed by dialogue with Rev. Wikstrom and congregational members and groups interested in the worship life of TJMC-UU.
• April 15, Friday: RE Pot Luck, 6 PM, Social Hall. Especially for our valued RE families; children welcome!
• April 13, Wednesday: AFD: Harvest the Power Workshop, Module 9: Facing Danger, 7 PM, Social Hall. Register: Leia Durland-Jones at leiadj@embarqmail.com.

Church Notes & Requests for Help

Reminder – Your Suggestions Welcome. Next year will be a very important year for TJMC. The Leadership Development Committee will shortly complete the slate of candidates to fill the positions of retiring members of the Board, the Personnel Committee, and the Leadership Development Committee. These are the three leadership bodies whose members are elected directly by the congregation at the congregational meeting in May. The Leadership Development Committee welcomes your suggestions for this slate. If you wish to suggest a TJMC member whom you believe to be well-qualified to serve on any of these three leadership bodies, please send your suggestion(s) now to leadership@uucharlottesville.org, or drop your written suggestion into the box in the Mail Room.

Spring Cleaning Alert! As you are cleaning out your garage, attic, basement, closets, and kitchen miscellaneous drawers, keep in mind the TJMC Back-to-School Yard Sale Extravaganza scheduled for Saturday, August 20. Please set aside those “treasures” of excess furniture, household items, toys, books, DVDs and CDs for our sale. Limited pre-sale storage space is available if needed. If you have any questions, please write to yardsale@uucharlottesville.org.

Grounds News: To new members and as a reminder to old members there is an Adopt-a-Plot plan for helping to maintain church grounds. See Admin bulletin board for diagram of grounds and sign up sheet. Our hope is that we can have the grounds shining for our new ministerial candidate’s arrival. Contact: Sallie Kate Park, Grounds Chair, at windlwindsk@earthlink.net.

Easter Memorial Lilies: The UUCF is arranging for the church to be decorated with lilies for Easter Sunday, April 24. The cost per lily will be $12. Donations can be made to Jackie Olshefski or Jean Newland in the Social Hall after the services. If this is not convenient, please call Eleanor May at 295-7624. The names of the givers and those to be memorialized or honored should be specified on the check as “TJMC – Easter Lilies.”

Chalice Lighters: Help provide funding for UU congregations in our district and you will be a “Chalice Lighter.” The TJ District has sent Call #154 for funds to help the UU Fellowship of Beaufort, SC. As a congregation with a conscience, they sold land back to a Gullah community rather than build their first home. They now have found another site and plan expansion. Closing date for Call #154 is Wednesday, March 30. The UU Congregation of Columbia, SC Call #153 thanks the 1160 Chalice Lighter from the District who sent them $27,000. Thanks to all at TJMC-UU who contributed to their expansion. Updated Chalice Lighter information can be found on the table in the foyer or from Edith Good on Sundays at the cold drinks counter.

Attention Kroger Shoppers! When you buy groceries, pharmacy items or gasoline at Kroger, TJMC gets 5% of every dollar you spend. Just use a TJMC-Linked Kroger Gift Card. It costs you nothing! Buy a $50 starter card at the $CRIP table on Sunday. Refill the card at the store as needed. And Yes! You can use your rewards credit card to refill your Gift Card. Last year we generated $8,000, and this year, with your help, we hope to raise over $20,000! Imagine the good we could do with that money and at no cost to you. It is just that easy! Please sign up today and shop at Kroger with your TJMC-Linked GiftCard.

Do you receive our Religious Education newsletter with weekly 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. Contact Leia Durland-Jones, DRE, at leiadj@embarqmail.com.

The Children’s RE program is making care packages for US Troop members connected to our congregation and serving in Afghanistan. We are seeking donations of travel-sized baby wipes, laundry soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand sanitizer, sun block, etc. For a complete list of items to donate, see the collection box in the Edgewood Lane hallway or visit the church website at uucharlottesville.org.

Ink cartridges needed! Please bring your used ink cartridges to the office of KaeRenae Mitchell, Director of Music. We need to buy folders and supplies for the Adult Choir and this helps us. Thank you for the many contributions. Please keep them coming.