Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Friday E-Mail News           February 25, 2011

Stewardship Campaign Begins this Sunday!

Everyone should have received, or receive shortly, a letter and pledge card regarding our 2011-2012 fundraising campaign! We will work very hard to contact as many friends and members of TJMC-UU to talk about what you love about our church, and your support for next year. This is a huge (and exciting!) undertaking and we need as much help with it as possible. If you feel comfortable about your pledge already, we would love to have you join us and reach out to a few others about their support. Also, please let us know if you are know you want to be contacted, and we will make sure that someone does that. Please come visit us in the Social Hall after services on Sunday. Pledges can be make by turning in your pledge card to the church at the Stewardship table in the Social Hall, giving them to the volunteer you meet with, mailing them into the church, or going online at www.uucharlottesville.org/stewardship-2011-2012. Additional pledge cards can be found throughout the church. More information or questions, please email us at stewardship@uucharlottesville.com. Thanks! Karen Ransom and Dan Spitzner, Campaign Co-Chairs.

9:15 AM + 11:15 AM Services

February 27, Sunday: Sermon - Words That May Not Be Used in Company, Rev. Dr. Janet E. Newman. What would you choose as words that many not be used? My choice may surprise you, but they all have to do with the Stewardship Campaign which will get underway this Sunday. The Adult Choir will sing “The Color Purple” featuring Wendy Repass.

Religious Education

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

Programming for sixth through twelfth grades is offered at the 11:15 AM service only.

“Parade of Creatures” dioramas will be on display in the Social Hall. Come see what our UU Stars (elementary age) religious education participants created in their classes focusing on evolution.

Church This Week.

February 25, Friday: Circle of Friends Concert, 7:30 PM, Sanctuary. Everyone is warmly invited to a wonderful evening of uplifting music featuring Louisa Wimberger, Wendy Repass, Mike Cvetanovich, Mike Dunn and Janet Muse, and many others. A suggested donation of $10 will benefit our church and the music program.

February 26, Saturday: PIE-Stravaganza, 6 PM, Social Hall. At the last Services Auction, fifteen of the TJMC-UUs most Famous Pie Makers promised to provide a dinner simply of Pie. Known as the PiR2 Group, you may enjoy their amazing culinary feet by signing up to attend our PIE event. The cost is $15/person (children free). We do not promise a balanced meal at this event since who knows if the cooks feel like making dinner pie or dessert pie. Contact: Elizabeth Breeden 977-5411 or brs@cstone.net.

February 27, Sunday: Communication: Show and Share, 10:30 AM, Social Hall. Come explore UU websites, Facebook pages, etc. to help expand your knowledge of communication tools and techniques both within and beyond our congregation. Led by Holly Dilatush, Adult Faith Development Committee Chair.

February 27, Sunday: Peace Action -UU UNO, After Services, Social Hall. Will be having educational materials and flyers available on “Non-violent Parenting” by Martin Poole and “Peacekeeping with Soul” by Rachel Mann.

February 27, Sunday: AFD: Being Washed in the Water of Liberal Religion: An Introduction to the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly (GA to be held in Charlotte, NC in June.) 1 PM, Church Parlor. So what is General Assembly like, anyway? Is it spiritual? Is it a bunch of meetings? Is it a chance to meet other UUs and listen to interesting speakers? Is it workshops? Dances? Great gobs of fun? Come and join Pam Philips and Josie Pipkin – unabashed GA groupies – and find out why you should plan to attend GA in North Carolina this June. All are welcome! Register: Leia Durland

February 27, Sunday: Green Sanctuary Carpool Challenge Sign-up. Stop by our Carpool Buddy Finder table in the Social Hall this Sunday after church to register and find carpooling buddies in preparation for the Sunday, May 15, TJMC Carpooling Challenge sponsored by the Green Sanctuary Task Force. The goal is to reduce the number of vehicles in TJMC parking lots and side streets by 20% on that date with the same number of congregants, measured against the last year’s attendance. We invite you to try it just one time! It might even be fun! Stay tuned for news about prizes!

February 28, Monday: Last Day to Sign-Up for Circle Dinners. Noon. These no-agenda, purely social gatherings are a great way to meet new folks and have some fun.

March 1-May 17, Tuesdays: AFD: The Great Ideas of Psychology, 1 PM, Parlor. Facilitator: Rev. Tony Perrino. Rev. Perrino is a retired minister who has over the year explored different psychological systems. Fee: $2 as class or $20 for the entire series. Participants: 10 minimum, 25 maximum. To register contact Leia Durland-Jones at leiadj@embarqmail.com.

March 1, Tuesday: AFD: Yes, You Can! Poetry & Writing Workshop, 2:30 PM, Parlor. Poetry writing workshop is hoping for more members. Drop in any or every Tuesday afternoon. Bring a notebook to write in. Weekly sharing of a favorite line or stanza, followed by an activity, a few moments to write, and then share some more. For more info: Holly Dilatush at 960-7177 or holly@dilatush.com.

March 1+15, Tuesdays: UUppity Women, 7 PM, Parlor. On Tuesday, March 1, TJMCs own Janice Walker, a gifted fabric artist, will bring some examples of her work, chat with us about the creative process, and answer our questions. If you do not know Janice’s work (and even if you do), you are in for a special treat. On Tuesday, March 15, we will begin planning for the annual Elders’ Dinner. Bring your menu ideas and suggestions for how to make this the special occasion we intend it to be. Contact: uuppities@uucharlottesville.org.

March 2, Wednesday: Green Sanctuary Task Force, 7 PM, Parlor. We will be hearing updates from our action groups and preparing for a Green Sanctuary Sunday. All are welcome.

March 4-6: Membership & Social Activities Committees: Circle Dinners.

March 5+12+19, Saturdays: AFD: Who’s Hanging Out In Your Family Tree, 10 AM, Social Hall. Questions? Phone 296-4287. Facilitators: Dick and Natalie Somer. On their journey they have experienced the kindness of strangers many times and see this class as one way to pay it forward. Fee: $10. Number of participants:  minimum 4, maximum 8

March 5, Saturday: AFD: Building/Designing Altar Displays & Sacred Spaces, 10:30 AM. Open to all ages—families particularly welcome. Led by Holly Dilatush. To register contact Leia Durland-Jones at leiadj@embarqmail.com.

March 6, Sunday: Sermon - Furnaces and Foot Warmers. 9:15+11:15 AM. Rev. Tony Perrino. Prompted by an anecdotal incident from UU history, Rev. Tony Perrino will present a reflection on the nature of religious community.

Church Notes & Requests for Help

Wondering how to contact the ministers? Rev. Dr. Janet Newman is available Monday through Thursday and Saturdays in her office. An appointment is best. You may reach her at 293-8179 extension 1# or drjanetn@embarqmail.com. Chaplain Alexandra McGee (who works quarter time) is happy to make an appointment or simply talk on the phone. You can call her at 984-4459 or alexandramcgee@gmail.com.

The Stewardship Committee would love to have canvassing volunteers come forward and help to ensure that the church we care about is well-funded in the coming fiscal year. If you would like to help, contact Dan Spitzner at dan.spitzner@gmail.com or Karen Ransom at kpransom@comcast.net.

Congratulations to Kasha and Bill Wood who would like to announce the parenthood (adoption to be) of ten year old Ryan.

National Public Radio Fund Drive Starts: If you listen to WVTF public radio, you have probably heard the public service announcements for area UU churches, including ours. Those announcements are paid for by UU listeners pooling their contributions and they are a great way to reach out to the community with our message. We hope you will join us this spring by making your check out to TJMC, with “public radio” in the memo line. Drop it in the offertory plate or mail it.

Niki’s Toys Chest needs more used and new toys for needy children. Church member, Niki Skaggs, repairs and cleans the toys as needed and then donates them to needy children such as the ESL grade school children at the Greenbrier Elementary School. If you would like to donate any toys to her contact her at 979-7824 or niki.skaggs@yahoo.com.

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. To add you name, contact Leia Durland-Jones at leiadj@embarqmail.com.