Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

The Green Sanctuary Task Force is issuing a new challenge to the congregation to live out our 7th Principle through carpooling to church Sunday, Jan. 29, 10 a.m.  Let’s double our number of participants! Because it is a single service, and important, we expect a crowd.  To encourage you further, we will be raffling off a Whole Foods gift card to all carpool riders and drivers.  Family members don’t count unless you have a full car!

There are only 120 parking spaces in our lots and around the church and more than 400 adult members, so carpooling may be the way to overcome the #1 limit on our church’s growth (parking space), as well as to promote energy conservation. During three Sundays in the fall we averaged nearly two persons per car, a significant improvement from two people every fifth car in the spring.  More than 50 individuals participated.   (Note: overflow parking is sometimes available on Sundays at UVA’s Culbreth Parking Garage, but you have to walk a few blocks.)  For help finding a ride or a rider, stop by our table in the Social Hall or consult the membership directory.

As part of preparation for submitting our congregational accreditation application, the Green Sanctuary Task Force asks you to complete its Individual Sustainability Survey.  So far, we have 70 completed surveys, and we are learning interesting facts about our congregation.  You may pick up a survey at our table Sunday or download a copy:  Green Sanctuary Individual Sustainability Survey, print it, complete it, and return it to the Environmental Action mailbox or return it at our table.  Countdown ’till we have our congregational vote — Jan. 29.  Don’t forget to carpool!

The 2012-2013 TJMC Pledge Drive kicks off in just three weeks with the Commitment Sunday service. Our theme this year is “Giving a hundred and ten percent.”

This theme embodies two significant messages. First, in the spirit of every great sports halftime pep talk, it stresses the importance of being fully committed to our congregation’s mission and well-being.

Second, it give us a chance to consider what a dramatic transformative impact another 10% in total pledges would have on our church.

While 10% seems like a fairly small amount, most of our annual costs are fixed costs related to our building, utilities, salaries, and interest on our debt. The discretionary part of our budget that we spend on programs, community outreach, and local donations is only about $30,000, so an extra 10% in our budget would allow us to more than double the amount we spend on those things, or any other discretionary priorities.

That’s worth reiterating, to make sure you’ve hear it correctly.  Raising 110% of last year’s pledge total would give us the means to more than double the amount of money we would have available to spend on programs, outreach, local donations, and other priorities, rather than keeping our spending at last year’s level.

Now we won’t do our budget until after the pledge drive is over, so we don’t know how much we’ll have to spend on what priorities. But that decision-making process begins as soon as you start thinking about your pledge for next year. So don’t wait until February 12. Decide now what you can give, and be as generous as you can. Let’s all give a hundred and ten percent of ourselves, to make Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church the kind of church we dream it can be.

Adam Slate & Tom Colbert

2012-13 TJMC Pledge Drive Co-Chairs

P.S. Mark Saturday, March 24 on your calendar.  We are striving for our most successful pledge drive ever, and will be wrapping things up that evening with a big celebration at the church.  More details to come, but meanwhile, save the date!

Use the Online Pledge Form.

7-8:30 PM on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012

Sweet!  That’s the word to describe the 2012 auction.

Sweet bargains to bid on.  Sweet treats to eat.  Sweet music for your ears.  Sugar, you do not want to miss this one.

Feast your eyes on the auction catalog.  Items for every taste and every price!  Bidding starts Feb. 12 on dinners and other events, services, and artwork.  Fixed price events will sell out quickly, so don’t delay.  Come to the auction for final bidding on most events and items.

Eat dinner first, but save plenty of room for your “just desserts.”  We’re featuring a chocolate fondue, an ice cream sundae bar, and a host of irresistible confections.  (With fruit for the most disciplined among us.)

The fun begins at 7 PM on Saturday, Feb. 25 and you don’t want to be late, because this auction is short and sweet.  We’ll be closing out the first group of items around 7:30, and raffling off prizes throughout the evening.  Last items close at 8:30 and it’s home in time for sweet, sweet dreams.

Bidder registration numbers and raffle tickets are available after Sunday services and at the Auction.  Raffle tickets are $1 each or 12 for $10. Put your raffle tickets where you feel lucky–and increase your luck by buying more tickets.

For more information, write auction@uucharlottesville.org

Twenty-one UN supporters met with Representative Robert Hurt Monday to oppose H. R.2829,  the House bill that proposes to cut U.S. funding for the UN in half.  Thanks to all who turned out for the meeting – and on such short notice in the middle of a work day – and to all who have written Hurt to oppose cuts in UN funding.

Hurt accepted us graciously.  He was unaware of the local UNA chapter so he now knows that we exist, and the fact that 21 people showed up will make him aware how important the UN is to us.

Chapter president David Poist opened the meeting by describing the UNA and our local chapter.  We then presented our opposition to H.R. 2829.  We also listed the primary functions of the UN – i.e., Security Council crisis intervention, UN agencies for development, and peacekeeping missions – and discussed the value of these functions for both the U.S. and the world community.

Hurt does not expect H.R. 2829 to come to the House floor for a vote this session.  However, he agreed to notify our chapter if it does, and he will have our views on it.  We asked him about his general view toward the UN.  Consistent with House Republican strategy, his response began by emphasizing the U.S. debt and our need to reduce government spending, though he listened to our point that the amount we pay to the UN is small, i.e., less that 0.1% of the federal budget.  He did not express any enthusiasm for the UN though he thinks we need to remain in the UN in order to be able to assert our veto power in the Security Council.  He says that what he hears from his constituency is concern about the debt and government spending and little interest in the UN, so our group provided him with awareness of constituent support for the UN.

While our primary purpose was opposition to H.R. 2829, and this was addressed by a number of us, some raised the question of U.S. opposition to Palestinian statehood at the UN.  Hurt agrees that we should veto Palestinian statehood.   The question was raised of Senator Graham’s proposal as reported in Monday’s newspapers for military action against Pakistan for its role in the bombings in Kabul and whether military action should be proposed to the UN Security Council rather that taken unilaterally by the U.S.   Hurt said he was unaware of Graham’s proposal but that he would never favor asking the UN for permission for actions relating to U.S. interests.

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