Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

Friday News Update

February 17, 2012

February Theme: Justice.

Albert Einstein said, “In matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same.” This month see what TJMCers are saying about it!

9:15 AM + 11:15 AM Services

February 19, Sunday: Sermon - Justice GA – Standing on the Side of Love, 9:15 AM+ 11:15 AM. 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.

Pledge Drive

Thanks to Commitment Sunday, our pledge drive is off to a great start with $230,000 in pledges representing 130 people. These pledges include a group of our most generous, loyal, and stalwart donors, a core of support that TJMC depends on. Are YOU included? Pledge this week and be entered into a very special raffle. Potter Patty Wallens has donated a hand crafted chalice, and everyone who pledges is entered to win it. The winner will be announced at the “How Sweet It Is!” Auction Saturday, February 25. Make your pledge online at uucharlottesville.org/pledge or in the Social Hall after the service. Contact co-chairs Adam Slate and Tom Colbert at pledgedrive@uucharlottesville.org with questions.

Religious Education classes for children are offered during both services.

Programming for youth (sixth thru twelfth grades) is available during the 11:15 AM service only.

Four year-olds through fifth grades begin their morning in the Sanctuary

for the first twenty minutes of the service.

The two and three year-olds RE class as well as the youth classes start in their classrooms.

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

Our first-fifth graders will be staffing a table in the Social Hall this month after the service

to share what they are learning in their UU Stars Studios about justice.

Please visit their “Standing of the Side of Love” display.

Children are welcome in worship.

Nursery care is available for children two years old and younger

during both services 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.

uucharlottesville.org Information Go To Links

February 2012 Bulletin: http://www.uucharlottesville.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/february-2012-monthly-bulletin-2pub.pdf

Calendar: http://www.uucharlottesville.org/calendar

Sermons: http://www.uucharlottesville.org/about/worship-life/services-and-sermons

Are you part of the TJMC-UU Facebook community? Click HERE or log on to Facebook and ask to join the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church group.

Have you seen the Unitarian Universalist weekly e-news letter? Click HERE for this week’s edition.

Click HERE to visit the Southeast UUA District webpage. It is full of information for our UU district.

Did you know that TJMC is a member of the Center for Non-Profit Excellence? This allows you to access any of the CNE’s classes at the membership rate. Simply state your connection to our congregation on your registration. Click HERE for more information about the CNE.

Church This Week.

February 17-19: Virginia UU Young Adult Spirituality Conference. There will be a region-wide young adult conference here at TJMC-UU. It will have a spiritual focus, with workshops lead our very own Rev. Erik Walker Wikstrom and Chaplain Alexandra McGee on how to incorporate spirituality into daily life and small groups. This is a great opportunity to meet other UU young adults not only from our area but the entire district. Meals are provided, cost is $35 for the full weekend, or $20 for Saturday only. Ages~18-35. Please join us! More information and registration is available on the district website http://www.seduua.org/events/virginiayoungadultcon.html Please email Tim Matthiessen if you have any questions.

February 19, Sunday: Social Action Collection - The Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR). The mission of the Public Housing Association of Residents is to empower Charlottesville’s low income residents to protect and improve our own communities through collective action. In the coming year PHAR will strengthen public housing resident involvement in improving their neighborhoods, including participation in the redevelopment planning process and other issues related to quality of life among residents, including site-based organizing; and develop knowledge and civic participation among a new class of PHAR Interns.

February 19, Sunday: United Nations, 3 PM, Social Hall. The speaker will be the Rev. Roy Hange, Co-Pastor of the Charlottesville Mennonite Church, on “Peace Building in the Middle East.” The meeting is free and open to the public.

February 20, Monday: Church Office closed for Holiday.

February 21, Tuesday & February 22, Wednesday: AFD: World Religions. Cancelled.

February 21, Tuesday: UUppities, 7 PM, Parlor. Barbara Beach will present on the International Convocation of UU Woman (www.icuuw.com).

February 22, Wednesday: Social Action Council, 5:30 PM, Summit Room 1.

February 23, Thursdays: Active Minds, 1 PM, Parlor.

February 23, Thursday: AFD: Spiritual Direction, 7-9 PM, Summit Room 2. When most Unitarian Universalists hear the words “spiritual direction” the image that is conjured up is that of an old priest or monk in some stone chapel telling you what is wrong with your spiritual life. Yet more and more Unitarian Universalists are discovering this ancient practice – known in Ireland as “soul friends” and more commonly today as “spiritual companionship” or “spiritual guidance.” See what spiritual direction might have to offer you and TJMC. Facilitators: Rev. Erik Walker Wikstrom & Chaplain Alexandra McGee. Fee: Free. Register: leiadj@embarqmail.com.

February 24, Friday: NatureSpirit Deadline! We are organizing a trip to the McCormick Observatory Fan Mountain Public Night on Friday, April 13. Tickets need to be ordered. Email us at nature@uucharlottesville.org you want us to include you in our ticket order. See their website at http://www.astro.virginia.edu /public_outreach/schedule.php/

February 25, Saturday: Adopt a Highway, 9:30 AM, Meet at Foodlion on Rt 29 across from Toys R Us. Contact Dick Somer at 296-4287.

February 25, Saturday: 2012 Auction, 7-8:30 PM, One more week till the “How Sweet It Is!” Spring Auction! Register for a bid number of buy raffle tickets after each service on Sunday, and bid early on dinners, art, and a few special items. Our fixed price items will sell out quickly, so don’t delay. And don’t forget that your pledge of TJMC for 2013 enters you into a raffle for a chalice handmade by Patty Wallens. There’s something for every taste at the auction. For more information contact Betty Warner at auction@uucharlottesville.org.

February 26, Sunday: Sermon - Are We Having an IMPACT? 9:15 AM + 11:15 AM. The Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together (IMPACT) is one way that TJMC is trying to make a difference in our community. While looking in specific at the particular work of this Congregation-Based Community Organizing approach – which this year is working to address jobs and vocational training for youth – Bob Kiefer and Erik Wikstrom will also explore the role of social justice work in our congregation and in our lives.

February 26 + March 4, Sundays: Facilities Planning Task Force, after each service, Sanctuary. What should our campus look like in five years? The Facilities Planning Task Force invites you to ask questions about our report. We seek guidance on prioritizing our space needs and options for addressing them. Should we expand, renovate, build, sell, or demolish to better meet the needs of our congregation? What changes to our main church building, if any, should we make? What should we do with our two oldest buildings, Summit House and U-House? When Summit House fails, how should we replace its classrooms and meeting space? What should we do with our Sanctuary basement? When we add staff, where should we locate their offices? If you have not already read our report or spoken with us, we encourage you to go to our TJMC webpage www.uucharlottesville.org/fptf where you can also experience a virtual tour.

Church Notes & Requests for Help

Rocks for You: Nice river rock for home projects available for the taking outside the Social Hall.

TJMC Auction: Go on an adventure, enjoy an Indian or Italian feast, get some expert advice, treat yourself to jewels or crystal or a piece of art. All this and much, much more is available at the auction, and early bidding starts this week. You can download the catalog from the TJMC website and register for a bidding number after the service Sunday. And do not forget the raffle items! Tickets are $1 each or twelve for $10, and you enter only for the items you want to win. There is something for every taste at the “How Sweet It Is!” auction.

Easter Lilies: UU Christian Fellowship is arranging for the church to be decorated with lilies for Easter Sunday, April 8. The lilies are to be in memory of, or in honor of, a person or persons. The cost per lily will presumably be $11.00 and prepaid orders can be place with Jackie Olshefski or Jean Newland in the Social Hall (near the UUsed Bookstore) after the services. The names of the givers and those to be memorialized or honored should be specified on the sign-up sheet and checks made out to TJMC with “UUCF Easter Lilies “in the memo line.

Thank You Roof Crew/Ground Crew: We want to thank our Roof Crew: Dick Somer, Dan Grogan, Ian Sole, Jean Shepard, Gil Griffis, Bob Warner, Bret Minor, Burnie Davis, and Kip Newland. And our Ground Crew: Tom Damery, John Nolan, Jim Souder, Jason+Dylan Halbert, Rich Olin, and Johanna Woodchild. They helped remove eighteen tons of rocks off our roof in less than eight hours saving the church $2300. Our new roof will be put on the week of February 13.

New reservation and check-out procedure for using of the church’s LCD projector is in place. Committees and task forces needing to borrow the LCD projector must reserve it in advance through Leia Durland-Jones, DRE, at leiadj@embarqmail.com or Robyn Fogler at robynf@embarqmail.com. The folder in the projector’s box has a check-out page for groups and committees to complete. Please note that many church groups are using this machine and it may not always be available.

Coming of Age Class Marketplace: Helping Our Youth! Stop by the Social Hall after services on Sunday and get in on these great deals while supporting our upcoming Coming of Age class as they raise funds for their June 2013 pilgrimage trip to DC. Attractions Coupon Books – more than just restaurants; TJMC-UU T-shirt orders. Our youth (and their parents) thank you for your support!

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.

Giving Tree recipients say “Thank You TJMC!” See the display on the Social Action bulletin board outside the Social Hall for thank you cards and photos of joy from some of our Giving Tree recipients this past December.  Thanks for giving so generously during our holiday season gift drive!

You are invited to add your symbolic commitment to work for justice in our lives and in our world. Please choose a rock from the basket on the chancel in the sanctuary and with the markers provided write a word or symbol on the rock that speaks to your specific commitment to justice. Place your rock in the glass bowl on the altar as a reminder of all that we are holding, doing and dreaming together.