Rev. Dr. Janet Newman and Leia Durland-Jones, DRE

Celebrate the beginning of our church school year in this colorful, lighthearted and joyful service of welcome.

We are also organizing a carpool to attend a rally in Washington, D.C., Sept. 27 (Monday), “Appalachia Rising,” led by our new friends from Charleston, WV.

AND watch for our special worship service on Sunday evening, Oct. 17, A Vigil for the People and Mountains of Appalachia, our second annual vigil marking the International Day for Climate Action.  Speakers from Appalachia, mountain music, a Roll Call of the (Lost) Mountains, and Americana quilts will be part of this candlelight vigil to call attention to MTR and our complicity in it. Contact Sharon Baiocco, green@uucharlottesville.org for more information.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Friday E-Mail News           August 27, 2010

Sunday Service   10 AM

August 29, Sunday: Sermon - Productive Anticipation: New Beginnings/New Visions, 10 AM. Worship Associates. In our church life and our home life, many of us find that the new year is actually September, armed with new pencils freshly sharpened or the energy of cooling air we feel the anticipation of a fresh start. We will examine that time of productive anticipation when there are new beginnings and new visions.

Sunday Child Care

Our children (five-year-olds thru fifth grade) will have a day of water play during Sunday’s service - water balloons, “carry water in the spoon” relay - and maybe a water-filled piñata. We will also have popsicles! Please wear appropriate clothing and bring a towel. Check-in in the lower hall on Sunday morning.

To register, contact robynf@embarqmail.com.

Church This Week

August 29, Sunday: Book Sale Closeout. This is the last day for our Summer Book Sale, so make a generous donation to the church and pack up a bag or box of leftover books to take away for your reading enjoyment.

August 31, Tuesday: Gay Straight Alliance, 7:30 PM, Parlor.

September 2, Thursday: Our Adult Choir Begins, 6:45 PM, Parlor. If you want to be a part of a fun, friendly, and supportive community, come and try us out! Folks come from a variety of backgrounds, and there are selections for those who do not read music. If you can carry a tune, we would love to have you join us! Contact KaeRenae Mitchell, Director of Music, at 293-8179 or krmitchell@embarqmail.com if you would like more information. Thanks!

September 2+9+16+23+30, Thursdays: Active Minds, 1 PM, Parlor.

September 2, Thursday: Finance, 7:30 PM, Social Hall.

September 3, Friday: Food Pantry, 9:30 PM, Social Hall.

September 5, Sunday: Water Ceremony, 10 AM, Sanctuary.  Join us for our annual ingathering service. Come take your place in our beloved community and bring a small amount of water from your home, a favorite outdoor location/sacred place or your recent travels. We will pour all our offerings into a common vessel and celebrate the beautiful fluidity of both life and our congregation.

September 5, Sunday: Welcome Brunch, 11 AM, Social Hall. Gather in at TJMC on Sept 5! Everyone is welcome to greet this momentous new program year, and welcome our Interim Minister, Rev. Dr. Janet Newman and Transition Ministry Associate, Alex McGee. Bring brunchy finger foods and drinks to share. To help set up and clean up, please contact Wendy Repass at wrepass@hotmail.com. New folks are encouraged to participate

September 5, Sunday: Artist Reception, 11 AM, Social Hall.

September 5+12+19, Sundays: Covenant Group, One-shot-deal Samples. Covenant Groups are TJMC’s small group program. Newcomers, recent members, and long-time church goers alike are placed in groups of eight to twelve people, meeting twice a month for the whole church/school year. Each Covenant Group, so called because participants covenant to attend regularly, maintain confidentiality, and speak and listen deeply, is convened by a trained facilitator. Covenant Groups are an enjoyable, meaningful, and fun way to find community. For details contact Christine Gresser at 760-0690 or christine@deercottage.net and to preregister for a sample one-time group; walk-ins also welcome. 

Church Notes & Requests for Help

Name Tags: Just a reminder to everyone, please wear your name tag as we welcome Rev. Dr. Janet Newman. Members may get a replacement nametag from the Church Office at office@uucharlottesville.org. Visitors may get a name tag from the Greeters at the Visitors’ Table in the foyer.

TJMC-UU September 2010 Monthly Bulletin is now online at: uucharlottesville.org. All in the Family:

Congratulations to: George Jones and Jean Sorrells-Jones, soon to be grandparents.

Thank You to: Sallie Kate Park, Grounds Chair, and her hard working crew of tree limb movers for moving the brush from the Summit House front yard to the side of the street. The brush was then picked up by the city. Also, for arranging to have our damaged trees repaired. Our Intrepid Yard Sale Crew: Cathey Polly, Gloria Watson, Sharon Wormser, Susan Bremer, Larry & Nancy Briggs, Jean Newland, Patsy Swindler, Carol Saliba, Elizabeth Breeden, Shirley Paul, Stephanie Lowenhaupt, and Trudy Rohm led a cast of fantastic volunteers. Charles Miles, for replacing the broken faucet in the kitchen; putting the children’s outdoor benches together, and putting up the new paper towel holders. Dick Somer, for arranging the mold remediation from Summit House.

Thoughts and Prayer to: The Fogler family, whose beloved dog, Sophie, passed away recently. The family of Carol Goldstein. Carol recently passed away. Dee Plunkett, whose husband, Walter, passed away recently.

WVTF Fall Fund Drive gives you the opportunity to support two of your favorite causes if you contribute through TJMC. Instead of sending your contribution directly to WVTF, make your check out to TJMC, with fund #1050-WVTF on the memo line and put it in a collection plate. The contributions are used for underwriting public service announcements about our church. Do you want to be published on WVTF radio? Submit a punchy portrayal of our message in twenty words or less and if selected, you will hear your announcement on the air! Send submissions and questions to Ellen Pratt at ellenwpratt@gmail.com.

Chalice Lighters: Help provide funding for new UU congregations in our district and you will be a Chalice Lighter. The Thomas Jefferson District has sent a call for funds to help Wake Forest PEACE Fellowship provide a permanent, stable site to replace their temporary, se-up-take-down meeting place. Please pick up literature at Edith Good’s cold drinks counter in the Social Hall after the service or phone her at 293-4044. Thanks.

Greeters Needed: Again it is greeter recruiting time, and we are in need. Being a greeter is such an easy job. Your purpose is to welcome all people to church, especially newcomers. All you do is turn up once every five weeks with your team at the service of your choice – early or late. There are no committee meetings during the year. The only time we gather as a group is at the Greeter Brunch (great food provided), this year it will be held on Sunday, September 26, in the Parlor after the second service. Now, truth be told, a little more is required. It is necessary to be friendly. It is necessary to greet people before the service and to stay after the service to be sure that no newcomers are standing alone in the Social Hall. The team is responsible for setting up visitor information on the table in the foyer and returning it to the cubby in the mail room after the second service. That is it. Does this sound like something you would like to do? Please contact Jenny Gaden at 293-6275 or jgaden@embarqmail.com, or Jean Newland at 971-4996 or kipandjean@gmail.com. Thank you!

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!

Are you a good supply organizer? We need a Supply Closet Coordinator for the religious education program due to the reduction this year in RE Assistant’s hours. One to two hours weekly with flexibility of when the work gets done. Contact Leia Durland-Jones at 293-8179 or leiadj@embarqmail.com if you would like to help.

Thank you for your donations of empty prescription containers for our volcano project in the summer child care co-op. The activity was a success and no more containers are needed. We appreciate your support!

RE Wish List: Krylon, Rustoleum or other enamel-based paint (not latex or water based) for our new Bingo Machine (new to us - needs refurbishing, that is why we need the paint). All colors/all types. Containers should be at least half full. Please leave in box near Edgewood Lane entrance. All unused supplies will be donated to Habitat for Humanity. Please note: This wish expires Monday, September 20, so please bring in donations before then!

Church Upcoming Dates

September 6, Monday: Church Office Closed for Labor Day.

September 7+21, Tuesdays: UUppity Women, 7 PM, Parlor. Join the UUppities for our first meeting of the program year on Tuesday, September 7. We welcome newcomers. We will talk about plans for 2010—2011 and share summer stories. On Tuesday, September 21, Gayle Floyd will present “An Insider’s Guide to Washington, DC.”  Gayle and her husband Dale were both tour guides in our nation’s capital. She will share her insights about getting around, what to avoid, and what not to miss – maybe some amusing stories as well. For more information, email uuppities@uucharlottesville.org.

September 8+22, Wednesdays: Back Page Writers, 7 PM, Green Room.

September 8, Wednesday: Undoing Racism, 7 PM, Social Hall.

September 9, Thursday: Board of Trustees, 7 PM, Social Hall.

September 9+23, Thursdays: UU Christian Fellowship, 7 PM, Summit Room 2.

September 10, Friday: Earth Friendly Friday, 7 PM, Social Hall. Sharon Astyk will speak on “Climate Change, Peak Oil, and the Economic Crisis: Why You Should Think About Them (Though We’d All Rather Not).” Astyk farms on thirty acres in upstate New York and is author of Depletion and Abundance: Life on the New Home Front and A Nation of Farmers: Defeating the Food Crisis on American Soil. Sponsored by the Green Sanctuary Task Force.

September 11, Saturday: Framing Our Future, 9 AM, Social Hall. All are invited.

September 11, Saturday: RE Teacher & Youth Orientations, Noon–2 PM. Social Hall.

September 12, Two Sunday Services Resume, 9:15 AM+11:15 PM: Balloon Sunday - Intergenerational. In an effort to stretch this year’s reduced budget as far as possible, the Children’s RE Committee is looking for in-kind donations to help cover the costs of Balloon Sunday. We need helium grade 12” balloons in rainbow colors (available from The Party Starts Here) as well as helium tanks. If you have connections to an organization that might donate helium tanks for Balloon Sunday, please speak with Leia Durland-Jones at 293-8179 extension 3#. Thanks for helping make this annual celebration happen!

September 12, Sunday: Peace Action + United Nations, 10:30 AM, Green Room. Join us for our monthly meeting and discuss the results of the survey we conducted in May about your concerns and ideas for promoting peace, justice and the UN.

September 12, Sunday: Covenant Group Facilitators, 1 PM, Summit Room 1.

September 13+27, Mondays: Twenties and Thirties, 7:30 AM, Parlor.

September 13, Monday: Stewardship, 7 PM, Social Hall.

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

You will need the Adobe Acrobat reader.

You will need the Adobe Acrobat reader.

1 Youth Programs Comm. Mtg., 7 PM

8 UU Stars Studio Leader Class, 7 PM

11 Church Leadership Retreat/ Teacher & Youth Advisor Orientations

12 Balloon Sunday - 9:15 AM & 11:15 AM - Intergenerational Many Paths Parent Orientation, 12:45 PM

15 Adult Faith Development Comm. Mtg., 6:30 PM

First Day of RE classes

22 Children’s RE Comm. Mtg., 7 PM

Stars Story Sunday

Our children’s choirs have been delightful and touched many of us with their music. If you love children and have musical talents and are interested in directing a children’s choir, please let me know. They are incredible children and a lot of fun to work with. We would love to have our young musicians sharing their music with us this year!

We are most grateful for the gifts of music from our instrumentalists who enhance our worship together. If you would like to share in our Sunday services, please let me know.

An enormous bouquet of thanks goes to all who provided music over the summer months – your gifts that touch and nourish us are very much appreciated.

We hope to hear from all of you “shower singers,” instrumentalists, and music lovers out there – we need you! Blessings of peace,

KaeRenae Mitchell,

Director of Music  

Another month has passed and we continue to move forward on our mission. Vacations have been had, sub-committees have met and we are now moving into a new phase. We have spent considerable time editing the informational booklet Our Flaming Chalice. This document was beautifully and lovingly written, but needed a few changes. Some things were simply out of date while other passages were no longer relevant. All of the numbers had to be updated to 2010. This project is very near conclusion and the final draft will be sent to the printer for publication in September. As we move into September, we will begin to meet as an entire committee on a weekly basis. You will also begin to receive updates from us in the Friday Emails as well as in the Monthly Bulletin. If you have not checked out our spruced up bulletin board to the right of the mail room door, please do! Updates will also be posted there.  

All of us on the board take the roles you have elected us to very seriously. However, we cannot be successful without your continued support. Each board meeting is open to anyone in the church community. We meet on the second Thursday each month at 7 PM in the Social Hall. There is time near the beginning of each meeting for public comment. That is time set aside for you to bring questions, ideas, suggestions, or concerns to the board. We will publish a summary of the agenda in the Friday Emails prior to each board meeting so that you will know what topics are upcoming.

New this year, we will be hosting monthly Congregational Conversations. We will have some that have specific topics to consider like the meaning of membership, budget priorities, or long range planning, while others may simply be an opportunity to talk with any interested member of the congregation about things that are on your mind. Keep an eye on the Friday Emails for the dates and topics. Being on the board is a privilege, but not one that can be completed in a vacuum. We welcome your participation in this process!

 As you know, change is already afoot! We welcome Reverend Dr. Janet Newman as our new Interim Minister, and Alexandra McGee as our Transitional Ministry Associate. Please join me in welcoming both Janet and Alex in these roles for the upcoming year.

This is one time that I am ending this article with a financial appeal. There is a ministerial discretionary fund that allows our minister(s) to extend some financial support to members of our church community that are in need. This fund is not part of the regular budget process and depends upon the generosity of individuals. Due to unusual circumstances, we are starting this year with a very small balance. Please consider making a donation of money or scrip to this discretionary fund so that Janet and Alex may continue an important part of their jobs. Your kindness now can make an enormous difference in someone’s life.

 In Peace,

 Donna Baker

 President, Board of Trustees