Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Friday News Update

November 23, 2011

Sermon Theme for November - Gratitude: The Christian mystic Meister Eckhart famously said, “If you can only manage one prayer in your life, and it is ‘thank you,’ it will suffice.”

Services – 9:15 AM+11:15 AM

November 27, Sunday: Sermon - Gratitude - What Comes Next? 9:15 AM+11:15 AM. What is the end result of cultivating “an attitude of gratitude”? What happens when “thank you” becomes not just our continuous prayer but also our way of life? Scott DeVeaux, Pam Philips, and Erik Wikstrom will weave our worship.

There are no children & youth religious education classes today due to

the Thanksgiving holiday and our classroom spaces be used to host our PACEM guests.

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.

November 26-December 3: Men’s PACEM, Summit House. Our church, with our partner Ebenezer Baptist Church, will host the men of PACEM. Sign up sheets for food contributions, dinner hosting, overnight and set up/clean up will be in the Social Hall from October 2 to November 20.

November 26, Saturday: Adopt-a-Highway, 9:30 AM, Rt 29 FoodLion beside Hilldale Drive. Join us in cleaning up Hillsdale Drive and walk off your Thanksgiving dinner. It should take us about an hour and a half. Snow and rain cancels. For more information contact Dick Somer.

November 27, Sundays: Seeking Artists for December Art Show, after each service, Social Hall. The December and January Art Show features an all church display about the “Season of Light.” Artists of every age are asked to submit work for this group show, framed and ready for hanging. All work will be hung.

November 29, Tuesday: AFD: Poetry: Reading, Writing, Sharing, Caring Change of Venue, 1-2:30 PM, C’ville Coffee. For more information contact Holly Dilatush.

November 29–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.

November 29–Tuesday: AFD: Belief and Reason: Readings & Discussion in Psychology and Philosophy, 7–8:30 PM, Green Room. Leader: Barbara Shenefield. All are welcome.

December 1+8+15+22+29, Thursdays: Active Minds, 1 PM, Parlor. Join us for community and conversation.

December 2, Friday: Food Pantry, 9 AM, Social Hall. Volunteers are always welcome to help unload, sort, and distribute food.

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.

Church Notes & Requests for Help

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 Sunnday, 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.

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.

Singers! With the Christmas season around the corner, we are looking for new voices to augment the TJMC Choir. This is a non-auditioned group: choir experience is helpful, but not needed. Our Music Sunday is December 11! If you are interested, please contact the Acting Director of Music, Scott DeVeaux, at deveaux@virginia.edu. Rehearsals are Thursday evenings at 7:15 PM (with adjustments during Thanksgiving week) in the Sanctuary.

AFD announcement: Cards and Correspondence Group is no longer meeting on Tuesdays, but is seeking co-coordinators! Holly Dilatush would like to shift this to a Sunday time, to set up in the Social Hall after services, so multiple signatures can easily be obtained on letters and cards to send to folks not able to attend Sunday Services. Supplies are ready (in easy grab ‘n go form). Interested in co-coordinating, want to learn more? Contact Holly Dilatush.

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.

Fall Cleanup a Wonderful Success: On a bright crisp Saturday, November 12, about thirty members and friends of TJMC-UU turned out for a very productive outdoor workday. Much raking, grounds cleanup and bulb planting was accomplished. Our hearty crew was greatly appreciated and deserves all our thanks. They were: Carol Saliba*; Sheri Edgecomb and Nick, Ezra & Jacob Laiacona; Arthur Rashap; Pam Philips; Elizabeth Breeden; Tom Banton; Dick Somer*; Edith Good*; Sally Taylor; John Nolen*; Dan Grogan; Joan Hunt*; Mike Ludwick; Bill and Alex Gardner (who earlier had built the two-bin compost structure); Trudy Rohm; Cypress Walker; Larry Briggs*; Cathey Polly*; Jill Mulligan and fellow On Our Own members Cyndi Richardson and Ed Pase; Bob Rustic (from NY); and Jenny Gaden who prepared a fabulous lunch. We also thank Holly Hintz who organized the cleanup and Sallie Kate Park, Head of Grounds for coordinating this hard working crew and needed cleanup. The (*) after names indicates members who are part of the Adopt A Plot volunteers who signed up to maintain their small plot for continued Grounds maintenance

Spring Pledge Drive: The TJMC Spring Pledge Drive is gearing up now! Help on the Planning Committee, write a bulletin notice or draft a letter, organize contact lists from the church database, call church members to answer questions about the pledge drive, or provide food to our phone bank callers. If you are young or not-so-young, a long-time or new member, a large or not-so-large pledger, are very busy or not-so-busy, we will find a job for you! Please contact Pledge Drive Co-Chair Adam Slate.

Church Crafters Wanted: Traditionally we offer our own church crafters a chance to sell their wares after both services in the Social Hall from Thanksgiving Sunday to the Sunday before Christmas. If you are interested please email Elizabeth Breeden.

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.

Share the Joy of the Holiday Season through TJMC’s Giving Tree by choosing a wish card from the tree in the foyer beginning in December. This year, we are partnering with 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!