Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Friday E-Mail News           November 26, 2010

Service at 10 AM Only

November 28, Sunday: Sermon - Spirit of Gratitude. Wendy Repass. Appreciation, gratitude, thanksgiving. There are times in life when the feeling of gratitude appears and other times when it helps to practice and just say “thank you.” We will explore the spirit of gratitude together in different ways. In Taiwanese Buddhism, the practice of thanking the gods after a wish has come true is called, Huan-yuan. A theatrical group is invited to perform at the temple as part of the spiritual gathering of thanksgiving. Come celebrate the wishes that came true in your life this year, as we invite female performers from Charlottesville’s improv community to join us as we celebrate together.

Religious Education

There are no Religious Education classes today for children or youth.

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

Church This Week

November 25, Thursday: There will be no Thanksgiving Dinner at TJMC-UU this year.

November 25-26: Church Office Closed for Holidays.

November 28, Sunday: Guest at Your Table Boxes Available. UU Service Committee Guest at Your Table boxes may be picked up in the foyer. Please take a box home with you to host an imaginary “guest” at your meals. Your financial gifts support the UUSC’s global initiatives which help make the world a better place. Boxes will be collected at TJMC on Sunday, December 19. Thank you for your generosity!

November 28 + December 5, Sundays: Art Work Deadline Extended: Art Work for the Season of Light All Church Art Show will be received on both Sunday, November 28, and Sunday, December 5. Work, framed and ready for hanging, will be received in the Social Hall after each service. The show will therefore be from Sunday, December 12, to Sunday, January 30. Questions or arrangements for receiving work at other times contact Elizabeth Breeden brs@cstone.net.

December 1, Wednesday: Finance, 7 PM, Down Stairs Kitchen.

December 2+9+16+23+30, Thursdays: Active Minds, 1 PM, Parlor.

December 2+9+16, Thursday: Adult Choir Rehearsal, 6:45 PM, Parlor.

December 3, Friday: Food Pantry, 9:30 AM, Social Hall.

December 5, Sunday: Sample Covenant Group, 1 PM, Summit Room 2. Are you curious about how a Covenant Group works? We will provide a light lunch and drinks. Sign up in the Social Hall this Sunday or next, or register on line at uucharlottesville.org. Pre-registration not required.

Church Notes & Requests for Help

Make the holiday season brighter for others—support TJMC’s Giving Tree! Our congregation partners with Aids Services Group by providing holidays gifts for ASG’s clients. Simply chose a tag from the Giving Tree in the foyer. Gifts will be collected at TJMC on Sunday, December 19. Many recipients prefer to receive gift cards which can be purchased in the Social Hall at the script table after services. Questions? Speak with Leia Durland-Jones, DRE at 293-8179 extension 3# or leiadj@embarqmail.com. Thank you!

Honoring our Military: We have a board in the Sanctuary with the names of our active military family members that needs to be updates. If you have helped with this in the past please contact the Church Office. If you have a family member who is on the board we ask that you write your name and the date on the back of their name card.

We also want to thank Doug Owens who really did a lot for our Coming of Age Luncheon by organizing the kids and parents to set up and take down all of the tables and chairs in the Social Hall. We want to thank our Coming of Age youth Rebecca Mendelsohn, Carly Moulis, Emma Ferreira, Max Dreyfus, Tommy Carr, Cooper Brett, Matt Kimpel, Hayley Owens, Ian Milburn, Miranda Drumm; and our youth advisors and parents Raven Long, Julie Mendelsohn, Loria Craddock, Carrie Berger, David Ferreira, Diane Siebel, Don Kimple, Sue Drumm for all of their hard work and delicious food for lunch last Sunday, November 14. They did a great job!

Extraordinary Service to TJMC! That is why we present the Connie Cheetham Award. Please make your nominations by Sunday, December 12, of a very deserving soul or even a couple. Criteria and paperwork can be found on the bulletin outside the Church Office. Help your Board recognize the hard work that keeps our church humming. For more information contact Dan Grogan at 295-3258.

Stock Donations to the Church: Some members of our church choose to fulfill their pledge commitments to the church by donating appreciated stock to the church. This usually has income tax advantages because it may allow the donating individual to avoid being taxed on any capital gains, while also allowing a tax deductible contribution to the church. For those members that may wish to make such donations, we remind them that there is a form in the Church Office which they should fill out in order to ensure that the donation will be properly credited to them. The form also provides information concerning the brokerage account to which the stock should be donated. Finally, in order to ensure that all stock donations are processed and received by the church before the close of the calendar year 2010, donations should be made no later than Friday, December 10.

And Did You Know: Gifts of cash and/or securities given to the TJMC Endowment Fund in memory of, in celebration of, or in honor of friends and relatives make wonderful holiday gifts. As the end of year approaches, the Endowment Committee hopes you will consider a gift to this Fund which will help ensure the Church’s financial stability. If you itemize, you may claim a charitable income tax deduction for your gift.

Adopt-a-Plot: The new sign-up board for “Adopt a Plot” is on the Administrative Council bulletin board. The grounds are divided into fifteen areas, so that one can keep their “plot” looking good from Spring to Fall. For more information contact Sallie Kate Parkat wildwindsk@earthlink.net.

Buy Scrip! There are just four Scrip shopping days left until Christmas, and the scrip table is fully stocked with GiftCards for more than twenty 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 e-mailing 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 12.

Crafter Opportunity: Traditionally we have opened our social hour between services and after the second service to crafters in our church community who would like to sell their wares. If interested, please contact Elizabeth Breeden at brs@cstone.net

Sign up for our new electronic weekly 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.

Religious Education Wish List for upcoming RE activities: new white pillar and/or taper candles, old calendars with photos/interesting images, shallow wooden cigar boxes, buttons, old keys, dice, marbles (to make interesting shadow boxes). Please leave your donations in the RE office or on the RE table in the Edgewood Lane hallway. Thanks for your on-going support!