Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Friday E-Mail News           September 24, 2010

Services at 9:15 AM & 11:15 AM

September 26, Sunday: Sermon - We Are the Promises We Make - and Keep. Rev. Dr. Janet E. Newman. This is the week following the end of the High Holy Days observed by our Jewish neighbors. Judaism is founded on promises offered and kept, promises known generically as “covenant.” This sermon will explore how as UUs we live in covenantal religion with one another – and it is part of this year’s plan to make that covenant explicit.

This is a STARS Story Sunday.

Children four years-old through fifth grade are in the Sanctuary for the first part of the service.

Church This Week

September 24, Friday: Open Labyrinth Walk, 5:30 PM, Outdoors. This walk will take place on the outdoor labyrinth behind the Social Hall instead of indoors as previously announced. Nadine Roddy will offer Native American flute music from 5:30-6:30 PM. Rain cancels the event.

September 25, Saturday: Pastoral Visitor Training, 9 AM, Social Hall.

September 26, Sunday: Worship Council Activity Fair, 10:30 AM+12:30 PM, Social Hall. The Worship Council will hold a “mini” activity fair following both services. Representatives of each committee and group will be present to describe their activities and their efforts to determine interest in them. The groups are Buddhist Sangha, Christian Fellowship, Labyrinth, Nature Spirit, and Vespers; the committees are Altar Decorations, Music, Sound Crew, Ushers, and Worship Associates. All are interested in getting additional involvement. This is your chance to learn about what each involves and what satisfaction will be obtained by involvement.

September 26, Sunday: Greeters’ Luncheon, 12:45 PM, Parlor.

September 26, Sunday: “Practice” Bingo Game, 10:30 AM + 12:30 PM, Social Hall

September 26, Sunday: 3 PM, Social Hall + September 29, Wednesday: 6:30 PM, Social Hall. IMPACT.

September 27, Monday: Administrative Council, 7 PM, Social Hall.

September 27, Monday: Green Sanctuary Field Trip, Appalachia Rising, Eco-Justice Action, DC.

September 27, Mondays: Twenties and Thirties, 7:30 AM, Parlor.

September 28, Tuesdays: UU World Discussion Group, 6:30 PM, Green Room.

September 29, Wednesday: UUGuys, 7 PM, Summit Room 1.

September 30, Thursday: Bulletin Folding, 9 AM, Summit Room 1.

September 30, Thursday: Peace Action-United Nations, 7:15 PM, Summit Room 2. TJMCs Peace Action-United Nations group will host the Interfaith Pray for Peace Gathering. TJMC members and friends are invited to come. This is a monthly interfaith gathering at which readings offered by attendees, songs and music, and meditation are directed toward peace for the world.

October 1, Friday: Oktoberfest, 5:30 PM, Social Hall. Check out the Bingo Machine next to the Religious Education table in the Social Hall after the services! We will be firing it up for Oktoberfest along with a free pasta dinner. Bingo cards will be $2 each. Great prizes! Please RSVP at the RE table and bring fruit or a dessert to share. For more information contact Lorie Craddock at lorie1963@aol.com.

October 3, Sunday: Association Sunday. During the services the church will celebrate Association Sunday. A yearly event, this celebration offers an opportunity to learn more about what holds us together as an association of congregations and to contribute to the future of the organization. The theme for this year is “The Unitarian Universalist Association at 50.” During the services speakers will reflect on the benefits and challenges they experience as committed supporters of the UUA. Bring your checkbooks for the special offering.

October 3, Sunday: Get Connected with Community Life, 10:30 AM + 12:30 PM. Come meet members of our committees and groups, find out what we are doing, and join us in our work. Community Life Council are the folks working to foster connections to the church: reaching out to newcomers, hosting social activities, keeping lines of communication open, deepening the involvement of members, and caring for each other. Get connected with Community Life. Contact Betty Warner, Community Life Council Chair, at bettywarn@aol.com for more information.

October 3, Sunday: Artist Reception - Tom Michie, 1 PM, Social Hall. Bet you did not know that our own Tom Michie is an accomplished water color artist? This is a lovely show.

Church Notes & Requests for Help

Auction donations needed: The Fall ChiliFest and Silent Auction are on Saturday, November 6, and we are especially in need of dinners and other events to take place between then and April 15, 2011. We want to offer a broad range of frugal and fancy, for children, intergenerational, and adults-only. Other great offerings would be services with a winter/spring theme and children’s items to supplement the gift-worthy treasures gleaned from the yard sale. If you have an event idea and would like a partner, contact our Dinner Diva, Lynn Heath, at 760-3279 or auctiondinner@uucharlottesville.org. Submit your donations online at the TJMC website uucharlottesville.org – look for the Get Involved tab at the top!

Greeting Cards - Collection for FWCC: The Labyrinth Ministry has begun 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. At 23 cents an hour, it takes almost two full hours of inmate employment for them to afford a single first-class stamp. Please help by placing your donations in the FWCC Collection Box located in the Jefferson Foyer under the black table. Deadline is the end of October.

RE Wish List: Thank you to all who donated spray paint! Some was used for primer and some is covering our beautifully refurbished Bingo machine. Check it out between services next to the RE table in the Social Hall. Our next wish is to add to the prize baskets for Oktoberfest Bingo games. The prize categories are: Africa, dragons, cats, China and Japan, Shamrocks, Halloween, Christmas, Flowers, things that bounce, wooden toys and things that fly. Got anything to add to the prize baskets? Please leave donations on the RE table near the Edgewood Lane entrance.

Do you love children and music? If so, our children’s choirs need you! Due to the reduction in hours this year for the Director of Music, these two choirs need volunteer directors and coordinators. The children are truly delightful and talented to work with! If you are interested in leading these fine young people, please contact KaeRenae Mitchell, Director of Music, at 293-8179 or krmitchell@embarqmail.com. Hope to hear from you soon!

Challenge/Coming of Age Class Marketplace open for business! Help our ninth graders raise the necessary funds for their class pilgrimage in the spring. “Attractions” coupon books, 2010-2011 Academic Planning Calendars and flash drives with chalice logo available in the Social Hall after the service on Sunday. Fall flower bulb orders will soon be taken. Come see!

Portable labyrinth: Did you know that we have a lightweight labyrinth that is easy to set up and can be used outdoors? Church groups are welcome to borrow this labyrinth for their functions, either on or off site. To schedule, contact Jane Ellis at 249-2621 or FrogLady@toast.net.

Attention lobster lovers! We have eight $25 Red Lobster GiftCards at the scrip table ISO love. Buy them and you get to chow down on cheese biscuits, and TJMC gets a 9% donation from Red Lobster. With the holidays around the corner, remember that Scrip GiftCards make great gifts. We can order cards for hundreds of national retailers, and with each GiftCard you purchase, you earn money for TJMC. We will keep a sign up sheet at the scrip table through the fall for you to place special orders.

Adult Faith Development classes beginning next week! See the church website or bulletin boards outside the Church Office for all the details. Fall classes include: A People so Bold, How to Meditate, Building Your Own Theology, Building Community Resilience, Women’s Spirituality Group, UU World Discussion Group, A Transylvania Travelogue, Harvest the Power: Leadership as a Spiritual Journey. Fee waivers available if requested, just ask Leia Durland-Jones, DRE, 293-8179 x 3# or leiadj@embarqmail.com.

Community News

Virginia Organizing Social Justice Bowl this year is on Friday, October 22, at 6 PM at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Local fighters for social justice will be honored and attendees can enjoy delicious soups and take their bowls, made by local potters, home with them. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased by sending a check to Virginia Organizing Project, 703 Concord Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Additionally, we would like our event to be community building and to let individuals who want to come but cannot afford to do so, get the change to come. If anyone would like to sponsor these individuals, at a cost of $25 per person, this would be most welcome.

Friday Email Submission Deadline: Thursday noon the day before the Friday.