Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

This is the name being given to this year’s General Assembly in Phoenix – Justice GA – because the shape of the event is being transformed in response to our being in Arizona, land of SB-1070. What does it mean to work as an association in an integrated way on issues of national importance? What is the role of the local congregation? Pam Philips and Erik Wikstrom will explore these questions.

This Sunday is the kick-off of our annual canvass, and the theme is “Giving One Hundred and Ten Percent!” Yet in these still difficult economic times, is it conscionable for a church to ask for its members to give more? And what does “110%” mean in the era of the 99%? And what does all of this have to do with justice? Thomas Collier and Erik Wikstrom will explore these questions. The choir will sing.

We begin our month of exploring the theme of justice by looking at the many justice-related efforts going on in and through TJMC. Many of these initiatives are vitally important, and something to be proud of, but the question remains – are we willing to walk through the door that they open into the new world we are called to co-create? Elizabeth Breeden and Erik Wikstrom will explore this question.

Hear Elizabeth Breeden’s prelude to the sermon.

Hear Rev. Erik’s sermon

Elie Wiesel has said, “Because of indifference, one dies before one actually dies.” Many religious communities “die before [they] actually die” because the vast majority of members do not take an active role in nurturing the life of the community. This Sunday we will experiment with not replacing our worship service with our Congregational Meeting but, rather, transforming our Congregational Meeting into a true worship service.

Read about the Green Sanctuary process.

10 AM service only

A version of the Prayer of St. Francis closes with “It is in dying to the self, that we are born to eternal life.” What does it mean to die to ‘the self?’ Please join us in exploring the struggles of being and becoming. Our Ministerial Intern Jamie McReynolds will be preaching.

Hear Thomas Collier’s prelude to the sermon.

Hear Jamie McReynolds’s sermon.

Read Jamie McReynolds’s sermon.