Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Friday News Update          October 28, 2011

Theme for October: Atonement

This is one of those “heavy” religious words that can carry a lot of baggage for Unitarian Universalists, but look carefully at it and you will see it is simplest definition built right in: at-one-ment. At its core, atonement has to do with the rebuilding of relationship. This month we will explore how atonment functions at both the individual and collective levels.

Services – 9:15 AM+11:15 AM

October 30, Sunday: Sermon - Ancestors’ Sunday. We will begin this service by creating a communal Ancestors’ Altar. (Please bring an image or a memento of someone you love who has died.) Then Deborah Rose and Rev. Erik Wikstrom will weave a worship that explores how we can live lives that are “worthy of our ancestors.”  The service will include a Ceremony of Child Dedication.

Parents please note: Four year-olds through fifth grades begin their morning in the Sanctuary

for the first thirty minutes 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 twelveth grades) start in their classrooms (four year-olds through fifth grades begin in the sanctuary this morning.)

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

Nursery care is available for children under two years-old 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.

Church This Week.

October 29 & November 5, 12 Saturdays: AFD: Yoga Philosophy & Gentle Movement, 12:30–1:45 PM, Sanctuary. Leader: Chaplain Alexandra McGee, Mdiv. Fee: free of charge. Number of participants: minimum 4, 50 maximum.  To register email leiadj@embarqmail.com.

October 30, Sunday: Carolyn Silver Remembrance Sharing, 1 PM, Summit Room 1. Please put this date on your calendar! We will be sharing stories you have written and enjoy looking through the collection of memorabilia. There will be copies of the book that was created about Carolyn that some of you have ordered. There will also be a few extras for those interested. Liquid refreshments will be provided, but bring a snack or sandwich. Carolyn’s dedication in the Memorial Garden will take place at a later date, still to be determined. All TJMCs are invited to join us for this sharing session. For more information contact: Pat Millman.

October 30, Sunday: PACEM Sign-Ups. There will be sign up sheets for volunteers to bring food, host dinner and stay overnight with our homeless guests in our church from November 29 to December 2 in the Social Hall after the services. Many hands make light work. All of us who have enjoyed dinner with these gentlemen have found that our community is larger than we have known.

November Sermon Theme: 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.”

November 1–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 1, Ongoing Tuesdays: AFD: Poetry: Reading, Writing, Sharing, Caring, 1–2:30 PM, Summit Room 1. Leader: Holly Dilatush. Fee: free of charge. Number of participants: 2 minimum, 7 maximum. To register email leiadj@embarqmail.com.

November 1, Ongoing Tuesdays: AFD: Caring Correspondence & Cards: A Spiritual Practice, 3:15–4:15 PM, Summit Room 1. Leader: Holly Dilatush. Fee: free of charge. Number of participants: 2 minimum.  To register email leiadj@embarqmail.com.

November 1–December 13, Tuesdays: AFD: Belief and Reason: Readings & Discussion in Psychology and Philosophy, 7–8:30 PM, Social Hall for first class, then Summit Room 2. Leader: Barbara Shenefield. Fee: $18 or $2/session; come for one or come for all, drop-ins welcome. Number of participants: 5 minimum, 15 maximum.  To register email leiadj@embarqmail.com.

November 1, Tuesday: UUppity Women, 7 PM, Parlor. Book Swap. Bring a book you want to share or swap and tell us why you made this choice.

November 2, Ongoing Wednesdays: Weekly Lunchtime Labyrinth Walk, 11:45 AM, Outdoor Labyrinth at TJMC. Leader: Leia Durland-Jones. Fee: free of charge. Number of participants: unlimited.

November 2, Ongoing Wednesdays: AFD: Wednesday Wonderings, 12:15–1:15 PM, Summit Room 1. Leader: Erik Walker Wikstrom. Fee: free of charge. Number of participants: unlimited.  To register email leiadj@embarqmail.com.

November 2, Wednesday: Green Sanctuary Task Force/Environmental Action, 7 PM, Parlor. We are wrapping up our projects and gathering feedback from the congregation in preparation for drafting a final application for accreditation by the UUA. Anyone interested in leading a “Soup Group?” This could be an ongoing way to learn about and practice ethical eating, and lots of fun, too. Y’all come!

November 2, 9, 16, Wednesdays: AFD: Deepening Your Understanding of Chakras, 7–9 PM, Summit Room 3. Leader: MJ Lightbody. MJ believes she is on a healing and learning journey on her path here on Earth in this lifetime. She would like to share in the learning experiences with other like-minded individuals and experience the chakras together. Fee: $10. Number of participants: 2 minimum, 8 maximum.  To register email leiadj@embarqmail.com.

November 3+10+17, Thursdays: Active Minds, 1 PM, Parlor.

November 5 & 12, Saturdays: AFD: Bringing it Home: Creating a Rich Home Environment for the Young Child, 10 AM–12 PM, Parlor. Leaders: Cynthia Jordan Fisher & Dianne Bearinger. Fee: $10. Number of participants: 5 minimum, 30 maximum.  To register email leiadj@embarqmail.com.

November 5, Saturday: TJMC Community Celebration Dance & Potluck Dinner, 5 PM, Social Hall. Rob Craighurst will call dances and Al Reynolds, Mike Ludwick, and Mike Dunn will provide live music. Intergenerational – all ages welcome. You do not need to bring a partner to dance, but you do need to bring a dish to share. Come to dance, come to dine, but be sure to come! Main dish and drinks will be provided. We need three or four volunteers to help us set up and clean up. Call Gayle  or May Guenin.

November 6, Sunday: Sermon - The Practice of Gratitude, 9:15 AM+11:15 AM. Most of us were taught to say “thank you” at least as often as we say “please.” Yet the spiritual practice of gratitude can be daunting work. But oh so rewarding. Scott DeVeaux, Leia Durland-Jones, Wendy Repass, and Erik Wikstrom will weave our worship. This is a STARS story Sunday, and the choir will sing.

November 6, Sunday: UU Christian Fellowship Worship, 9:15 AM, Summit Room 1. The Lords Prayer: Past and Present. Dick Abrams will lead a service on the Prayer, who wrote it, what did it mean originally, and what does it say to us today? All are welcome.

Church Notes & Requests for Help

TJMC-UU November 2011 Bulletin is now online. Click on:

http://www.uucharlottesville.org/news-and-events/november-2011-bulletin

TJMC-UU Calendar: Be sure to check our online calendar at http://www.uucharlottesville.org/calendar for more information about events and calendars. You can also register for AFD classes at our website at http://www.uucharlottesville.org/news-and-events/upcoming-adult-faith-development-courses.

TJMC-UU Sermons: Miss a Sunday service you really wanted to go to then click on this link and you can listen or read about it: http://www.uucharlottesville.org/about/worship-life/services-and-sermons

Launch of Music Task Force: You will soon be invited to share your dreams for the ways music of all sorts could help shape the soul of our community. There will be congregational conversations in November during a weekday, on a Sunday, and in the evening. Then we will have a survey online and on paper to harvest more of your creative ideas. We want you to tell us what stirs you, what moves you, and what part you might want to play. Stay tuned! Task Force Committee: Jennifer Caswell, Heather Garrett, Bob Gross, Marlene Jones, Walt Megonigal, Carol Saliba, Bev Thierwechter, & Erik Wikstrom

TJMC Holiday Card: Send a TJMC Holiday card to members and friends and contribute to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) at the same time. Edith Good is collecting on Sundays in the Social Hall for the card that TJMC distributes during the end-of-year holidays to benefit UUSC. UUSC is a social justice affiliate organization of the UUA. See their website at volunteerservices@uusc.org. The card will be distributed electronically with the December issue of the monthly Bulletin. Hard coies will be available. Donations are tax deductible as are memberships (seniors 65 and over $20, adults $40, adult couples $75, youth $10). Make checks out to UUSC. Your name will appear on the card if you donate before November 13.

Greeting Card Collection for FWCC: TJMCs Labyrinth Ministry is still collecting stationery items (greetings cards of all kinds, writing paper, and especially stamps) for our annual holiday donation to the Fluvanna Women’s Correctional Center (FWCC). At 23 cents an hour, it takes almost two full hours of inmate employment to afford a single first-class stamp. Please help by placing your donations in the FWCC Collection Box located at the Edgewood Lane entrance by Monday, October 31. Thank you!

Niki’s Toy Chest: Niki Skaggs has been refurbishing toys for distribution to refugee and minority children in our schools whose teachers see a need for birthdays and holidays. Her supply of gently used toys and stuffed animals is down to one small bag. Please email her if you have a contribution of your outgrown toys.

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.