Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Friday  News Update

December 2, 2011

Theme for December: Incarnation

“The incarnation is true, not of Christ exclusively, but of [Humanity] universally, and God everlastingly.” ~ James Martineau

Services – 9:15 AM+11:15 AM

Decemeber 4, Sunday: Sermon - You Only Have One Gift to Give, 9:15 AM +11:15 AM. Being incarnated can be scary. But worth it. Luckily, there are tools for the path of being the most embodied you can be. The ancient yoga philosophy is just one example. A STARS Story Sunday, so all ages begin in the Sanctuary together.

Four year-olds through fifth grades begin their morning in the Sanctuary

for the first part of the worship service.

Religious Education classes for children and youth are offered during both services.

The two and three year-olds RE class as well as the youth classes (sixth thru twelfth grades)

start in their classrooms.

For more information, see the RE display table in the Social Hall on Sunday morning.

Children are always welcome in worship.

Nursery and child care is available for children four years old and younger

during both services in the lower hall of the main building.

The Comfort Room at the Rugby Road entrance of the Sanctuary is designed for parents with young children. Audio from the service can be heard in the Comfort Room.

uucharlottesville.org Information Go To Links

December 2011 Bulletin: http://www.uucharlottesville.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/december-2011-monthly-bulletin-2pub.pdf

Calendar: http://www.uucharlottesville.org/calendar

Sermons: http://www.uucharlottesville.org/about/worship-life/services-and-sermons

Church This Week.

December 4, Sunday: Pledge Statements Available. Your contribution statement for pledge payments during the period July 1 - November 27, 2011, will be available after each service. Please see Larry Briggs or other volunteers at the Pledge Tracker table in the Social Hall to pick up your envelope. Those that are not handed out will be mailed. Please help us save some postage.

December 4, Sunday: Giving Tree, Foyer. Share the Joy of the Holiday Season through TJMC’s Giving Tree by choosing a wish card from the tree in the foyer. This year, we are partnering with Hope House and The Women’s Initiative to provide holiday gifts for low income families in our area. All the details are available in the foyer. Bring your gifts on Sunday, December 18. Thanks in advance for your generosity!

December 4, Sunday: December Season of Light All-Church Art Show Reception, 1 PM, Social Hall. Come and see the works of our talented congregation.

December 4, Sunday: Support Your Church & TJMC Artisans and Crafters. Artisans and crafters will be selling handmade items in the Social Hall every Sunday in December. Vendors pay a commission to TJMC plus many donate all profits to the church. You will find Jewelry, Christmas Ornaments, Music CDs, Niki’s dolls, and more. Each week will have some of the same vendors and some new vendors so be sure to shop every week. And do not forget to admire the art work displayed around the church. Some of which is for sale.

December 6, Tuesday: AFD: Poetry: Reading, Writing, Sharing, Caring Change of Venue, 1-2:30 PM, C’ville Coffee. For more information contact Holly Dilatush.

December 6–January 31, Tuesdays: AFD: Why Evil Exists, 1–3 PM, Parlor. Leader: Rev. Tony Perrino. Fee: $20 for series or $2/class. Number of participants: 4 minimum, 21 maximum. To register email leiadj@embarqmail.com.

December 6–Tuesday: AFD: Belief and Reason: Readings & Discussion in Psychology and Philosophy, 7–8:30 PM, Summit House Room 2. Leader: Barbara Shenefield. All are welcome.

December 6, Tuesday: UUppity Women, 7 PM, Social Hall. We will be making the church wreaths. Elizabeth Breeden will bring boxwood and we have the blank straw frames and pins for creating the wreaths. If you have special greens like holly or blue cedar or nydeeea (red berry bush) or pine cones, etc. cuttings in your yard, please bring them. We have extra straw frames for those who want to make their own after we finish the church ones. This is an easy craft and lots of fun. There will be hot apple cider and popcorn, bring some other snacks to share! Questions: Contact uuppities@uucharlottesville.org

December 6–January 31, Ongoing Tuesdays: AFD: Why Evil Exists, 1–3 PM, Parlor. Leader: Rev.Tony Perrino.Fee: $20 for series or $2/class. Register online or at leiadj@embarqmail.com.

December 7, Ongoing Wednesdays: Weekly Lunchtime Labyrinth Walk, 11:45 AM, Outdoor Labyrinth. Leader: Leia Durland-Jones. Fee: free of charge. Drop-ins welcome.

December 7, Ongoing Wednesdays: AFD: Wednesday Wonderings, 12:15–1:15 PM, Summit Room 1. Leader: Erik Walker Wikstrom. Fee: free of charge. Register online at leiadj@embarqmail.com .

December 7, Wednesday: Green Sanctuary, 7 PM, Parlor.

December 7, Wednesday: Partner Church, 7 PM, Green Room.

December 8, Thursday: UU Christian Fellowship, 7 PM, Offsite. An Advent Evening, at the home of Dee Plunkett. Contact Jean Newland.

December 10, Monday: Deadline for January Bulletin Submissions.

December 11, Sunday: Sermon - The Speech of Angels, 9:15 AM +11:15 AM. Thomas Carlyle once wrote, “Music is well said to be the speech of angels.” As we move through this season of angels, our choir, as well the duo Terra Voce, will embody that speech with special music.

December 11, Sunday: Peace Action - United Nations (PAUN), 12:45 PM, Summit Room 2.

December 11, Sunday: NatureSpirit, 5:30 PM, Social Hall. Come join us for a presentation on the traditions of Yule. We will have a potluck starting at 5:30 PM and will assemble individual Yule logs! If you have questions, email us at nature@uucharlottesville.org.

December 15+22+29, Thursdays: Active Minds, 1 PM, Parlor. Join us for community and conversation.

Church Notes & Requests for Help

Buy Scrip! There are just three Scrip shopping days left until Christmas, and the scrip table is fully stocked with GiftCards for popular grocery and retail stores. Do your holiday and Giving Tree shopping at the Scrip table! Cash and carry from our selection or place a special order using the shopwithscrip.com website, by emailing scrip@uucharlottesville.org or at the Scrip table. Weekly order holiday deadlines are Sundays at midnight; last chance to special order for Christmas delivery is Sunday, December 11.

Back by popular demand – 2012 Attractions Coupon books only $25 to benefit the 2012-13 Coming of Age class. Just in time for holiday gift giving. See Margaret Gorman at the Scrip table on Sunday. We did not plan to sell the books this year but your requests for them has been overwhelming! Thanks for your support of our Coming of Age class! A limited number of 2011 books (five only!) available for $5 a piece!

Welcome a Guest at Your Table! Take home a collection box for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee today for your family’s dining table. You are invited to imagine a guest joining you for meals between now and Sunday, December 18, by adding a monetary contribution to your box every time you eat. We will combine our financial gifts and send our collective offering to the UUSC to support their humanitarian efforts around the globe.

Green Sanctuary Task Force Publishes YouTube Report and Green News Online. Great news! Our energy conservation measures have reduced our consumption by 15% over the past three years, according to John Semmelhack’s initial analysis. We learned this as part of our evaluation of our program in preparation for a congregational vote to apply for UUA Green Sanctuary accreditation in January. To learn more about what we have accomplished as a result of our 12 Action Projects, you can view our Green Sanctuary Video Report on YouTube by clicking on the link in this sentence. (It is also linked to our web pages at TJMC.) For more details on our final program evaluation, you can read our Fall 2011 Green News online in full color at our website or go to the link below: Fall 2011 TJMC Green News. Copies will also be available at our table in the Social Hall.

Greeters are looking for more greeters. If you seek a way to step gently into the activities of the church please consider becoming a greeter. Each person is part of a Team that serves at either the early or late Sunday service once every five weeks. Your job is to welcome newcomers both before and after the service. It takes barely a moment to “learn the ropes” and it is a fine opportunity to meet people who need a friendly greeting when arriving at TJMC for the first or second time. It also is a way to meet others in the church, especially fellow greeters with whom you will be serving. We are looking for additional greeters. Think about it! Please contact Jenny Gaden.

Cultivating Connections Continues: What are your gifts, talents, or passions? How might you choose to use your talents, interests, or passions in service to the TJMC community? Continuing our theme of Cultivating Connections, and our November focus on Gratitude, the Leadership Development Committee is asking you to consider your own gifts and interests and to review the many and varied opportunities available at TJMC. Last Sunday, we distributed a form listing positions open for election in May 2012 as well as several key volunteer areas. The form is also available on the TJMC website uucharlottesville.org, on the Leadership Development bulletin board, and at the Leadership Development table in the Social Hall; also check the bulletin boards and TJMC website for more open opportunities. If you are interested in having more information about any of these positions or volunteer opportunities, return the form in the Leadership Development box in the mailroom, send it to leadership@uucharlottesville.org, or stop by the Leadership Development table on Sundays. We will contact you to help connect you to the right opportunity for you.

Stock Donations: We would like to remind everyone that if you plan to donate stock to the church before the end of the calendar year as payment towards your pledge or for some other type of contribution, remember that it takes several weeks to complete that transaction. Also, the proceeds from stock transfers often come to the church without any donor identification on them. Therefore, if you intend to donate stock to the church, please complete a stock transfer form, available at the Church Office or on the Administrative Council bulletin board, in advance of the donation, so we may properly credit your account. The stock transfer form in the Church Office contains information about the church account to which the stock may be donated.

Registration for the 2011-2012 Religious Education Program for Children & Youth is available at http://www.uucharlottesville.org/education/religious-education-program-registration on the church’s website. All families with children infants through twelfth grades participating in the program need to register.

Let us create a collage of our beloved church family! Please email a family photo to Leia Durland-Jones, DRE, at leiadj@embarqmail.com or bring one in. All families are welcome to add to our collage in the Social Hall. Also, stop by the specially designated table in the Social Hall after worship/RE class and draw a picture of your family!