Sunday Services. The Monthly Newsletter of Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church. A Community of Open Hearts, Inquiring Minds, and Helping Hands

Transcription

1 A Community of Open Hearts, Inquiring Minds, and Helping Hands December 2017 Edition 626 The Monthly Newsletter of Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church Sunday Services December 3rd Choosing Hope Rev. Elwood Sturtevant This is our theme Sunday, which proclaims hope doesn t just promise us that change will come in the future; it also changes who we are in the present. When we believe that a new day is dawning, we don t just sit down and wait. We get up and go out to meet the light. But the question is, Are we listening to everything hope has to say? - ERS December 10th Oskar and The Eight Blessings Barb Friedland, DLRE, and Friends The TJUC Players, featuring our children and youth, joyfully present our annual storytelling service.this familyfriendly service will enact the tale of Oskar, a young Jewish boy who is sent to safety by his parents to find his Aunt Esther in New York City. The problem is that all he has is an old photograph of her and an address scribbled on a piece of paper. How will Oskar find his Aunt and what blessings will he encounter during his long journey? Come to this heart-warming service about hope and blessings to find out. After our service ends, we will welcome a very special visitor. This service includes our mitten tree tradition as well. Please bring mittens, gloves, hats etc. to donate to people in need. The Malvina Reynolds room will be staffed to support our Wee Ones as needed. December 17th Yes, Virginia Rev. Elwood Sturtevant One hundred twenty years ago, an eight-year-old girl wrote a letter to which a newspaper editor responded, Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. Editors might not be so optimistic these days, of course, but that s where I want to begin and no, I don t know where I m going with this yet. - ERS December 24th Winter Skies - Rev. Elwood Sturtevant It s Christmas Eve morning, and our guess is that most of you will be coming tonight for the Candles and Carols service with our choirs and other special music this evening. This morning, I ll share some stories of winter, but not necessarily of Christmas, borrowing heavily from a service of the same name from a few years ago. - ERS December 31st Intentional Sharing Members, friends and visitors will once again share their thoughts on several topics as we gather in Weston Hall at 11 a.m. Childcare and Sunday school will not be available but children and youth are most welcome to attend.

2 minister S musings You may have heard me claim that the work of a UU minister has been said to consist of comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. It turns out that phrase was first said, over 100 years ago, to be the job of a newspaper. Later, Reinhold Niebuhr apparently said it was the work of God. But maybe it s the work of Christmas. Let me try to explain. This month s theme is hope, and the introduction to the materials quotes Jurgen Moltmann, a theologian. He argues that hope causes not rest but unrest, not patience but impatience. Those who hope can no longer put up with reality as it is, but begin to suffer under it, to contradict it. Alexis de Tocqueville, made the same argument: when he noticed that the French Revolution had its strongest support in areas where conditions had been getting better, not worse, he speculated that it is not when things are at their most terrible, but when expectations begin to rise that existing conditions become intolerable and revolutions happen. And so the materials about hope insist Hope doesn t just whisper It will be different, it also shouts It should be different and It can be different. Yes, it speaks soothing words about trusting and waiting, but it also takes the form of a holy impatience that declares, Enough is enough. The time is now! As Moltmann puts it, hope is not just that which calms the unquiet heart; it also is the unquiet heart. In the hemisphere where it began, Christmas comes at about the darkest time of the year, not because anyone knows when Jesus was born, but because Pope Julius the First said the celebration should happen on December 25. There s a long explanation concerning the connections among the Winter Solstice, the Saturnalia of the Romans, New Year s Day, Christmas and more at SolsticeandChristmas.html, but for my purposes, the point is that the Christmas story of hope being born into the world was set at about the time of the Winter Solstice for symbolic purposes. That is, it was set at the turning of the year deliberately, in echo of many celebrations of days beginning to grow longer, lighter, again. If the gospel account about shepherds keeping watch over their flocks at night is true, it would be evidence that Jesus had actually been born in the spring during the lambing season, fitting the metaphor that Jesus was the lamb of God. Currently, there s a movie out called The Man Who Invented Christmas. I haven t seen it, but the premise is that Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, written when Dickens was most involved with Unitarianism, invented how our culture sees Christmas today, or at least how we feel called to see Christmas. That is, Dickens, who had lived in poverty as a child called for Christmas as an occasion for helping to change the world for the better. As reviewer Alan Scherstuhl put it, It s comforting to think, in a world of inequality, that spirits of decency might one day visit the world s miserly job creators and remind them of their and our essential humanity. And so when, in Dickens story, Scrooge attempts to justify his former partner, Marley, as a good man of business, Marley, too late for himself, warns Mankind was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The Christmas which Dickens had a hand in inventing is also about family and celebration, of course, but at heart it is a story that tells us that when we notice how we are a part of the interconnected web of all existence, our concerns broaden past just our little circle of self into an appreciation of how we each can help bring hope to life. Dickens message echoes the ancient one that hope is born in human caring and connection, and in stories that touch the heart and awaken compassion. So, as the spirits afflict Scrooge, Scrooge s story brings the comfort of hope. And hope doesn t just promise us that change will come in the future; it also changes who we are in the present. When we believe that a new day is dawning, we don t just sit down and wait. We get up and go out to meet the light. When hope convinces us that there are unseen forces working for the good, we begin to look around more closely, and in doing so we notice that darkness and pain are not all that is there. When hope s holy impatience gets into our bones, we start acting as if we deserve that new day now. Which in turn changes others by convincing them that we all have waited long enough. [ members-only/december-2017-hope ] May you all have happy holidays, warm memories, and hearts moved to be more generous by the spirit of the season. Elwood and Roxanne

3 TJ Preparing for 2018 Combined Campaign On October 22, our congregation voted overwhelmingly to move forward with a special stewardship campaign in Our theme will be Nurturing Our Flame and in place of our normal canvass we will be asking people to consider both an annual pledge for our operating budget and longer term commitments in the form of capital support and planned gifts. Todd Gruenig, Deb McChane, and Dennis Neyman have agreed to co-chair the 2018 campaign. Please watch your inbox for further updates on our plans and consider joining in helping prepare TJ for a successful campaign. We will be asking the majority of the congregation to consider their response to the campaign in March, but some members have expressed interest in making an initial gift this current tax year. We welcome support at any time, and Todd Gruenig and Kay Omanson can both provide further details on how to make a year-end gift to the Nurturing Our Flame campaign in the form of a cash contribution, a transfer of securities, or a charitable IRA distribution if you are interested. Hope Needs Help by Bruce Springsteen (Beginning of Tenth Ave Freeze Out ) I want to find that river of life, I want to find that river of love, I want to find that river of faith, that river of hope, I want to go that river of transformation where you can go and be changed, but you have to work at it. I want to go that river of sanctification where all life s graces and blessings can fall down upon you like rain, but you got to work at it. I want to go to that river of resurrection where everybody gets a second chance, I want to find that river of joy and river of happiness. But you don t stumble upon those things, or find them by accident, you have to seek them out and search after them. That s why we come out night after night after night. You can t get to those things by yourself. You have to have help. Shows in the Marx Gallery Enjoy the Members Show in the Gallery while you can! This Show will be up through WinterFair weekend, so all the customers will see the creativity of our congregation. After church on Sunday December 3, show participants will be taking down their art work to make way for the next show. For the month of December, Cozad Terry Taylor will be showing 21 pieces of art in 21 different media. There will be a reception and art talk following church on a Sunday in December. Details will be in the order of service and the weekly .

4 Olive Oil for the Holidays Are you looking for a host/hostess gift, something for your child s teacher, or maybe a small gift for your friends at work? TJ s Green Sanctuary Committee has a suggestion our organic extra virgin olive oil is the perfect meaningful holiday gift. Equal Exchange partners who are members of the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee make this olive oil. Each flavorful bottle represents a rich tradition of olive growing and your purchase helps provide a brighter future for these Palestinian farming families. Stop by the Fair Trade table in TJ s Welcome Area to see all our holiday gift ideas: organic coffee $7.50 decaf $8.50, tea $4 box chocolate bars $3, fruit & nut bars $2, olive oil $13 bottle EACM Thanksgjving Basket Collection THANK YOU Thanks to all who contributed food and Kroger gift cards to our Thanksgiving Basket Collection that benefitted EACM families in need. TJUC s generous spirit continues to help our neighbors during the holiday season! Advent is a time of anticipation and waiting [but it] is not the silencing and oppressive, Wait, told to the activist, but rather the internal preparation of holding stillness and building strength before action. If we need to wait, let it be the waiting of a farmer who knows that deep below the earth, her seeds are sprouting their roots. Let it be the waiting of a musician, who knows to count to just the right moment to strike the bell. Let it be the waiting of self-care, knowing that one s body and spirit needs times of activity, and times of rest, in order to be effective. - Rev. Christina Shu Please like our page: Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church/ Louisville, KY TJUC s Hunger Walk Team Report TJUC participated in this year s Dare to Care s Hunger Walk/ Run & Row on OCT 1. Our team raised $485 thanks to the generous contributions of our congregation! Thanks also go to TJUC members who joined the walk at Waterfront Park. Dare to Care estimates that one in six families in our community struggle with hunger. We re proud that our church joined in this public commitment to help our neighbors access healthy food. TJ T-Shirts! Are available for pickup in the church office. They cost $15 and have several sizes. Advertise TJ and Stand on the Side of Love.

5 The Social Justice Committee is proud to present our Have a Heart program for this Holiday Season. This year our TJUC community has an opportunity to share the holidays with clients of the KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services and with the H.U.G. (Helps Us Grow) Reading Program. The Have A Heart Tree will be in the Welcoming Space beginning November 26. Please look for the hearts on the tree which list gift suggestions. Here is how Have A Heart works: * Select a heart from the tree and take it with you * Please wrap the gift and label it with a nametag, if possible * Attach the original Heart to the package * Return gift to TJ by December 17 th Thank you for helping to warm the hearts of others this holiday season. Please contact Lesley Henney at or L.Henney18@gmail.com if you have any questions. Share the Plate Special Collection Louisville Youth Group (LYG) Sunday, December 10 December s Share the Plate donations will benefit LYG which is a community organization dedicated to helping and supporting young people by providing resources and a safe social atmosphere for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, questioning, asexual, intersex, and allied youth under the age of 21. LYG s vision is to see a universal community that accepts, affirms and uplifts all young people regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Its programs include social meetings, and training in leadership and in creating Gay-Straight- Trans Alliances. You can learn more about the organization and discover volunteer opportunities, such as mentoring, at November Share the Plate Special Collection- Report Smoketown Family Wellness Center (SFWC) Our collection to benefit the SFWC earned $656 which will support the Center s mission to build a culture of health by providing clinical care to children in a community-based environment with a focus on healthy lifestyle behaviors for the entire family. If you were not able to participate in the collection and would like to make a donation, you can do so at smoketownwellness.org. Look for an interesting video about the neighborhood and hopes for the Center on their website.

6 JOYS Joys and Concerns Bob Lavely appreciates all the people who expressed concern about his knee surgery and wants to assure them that things are progressing well. Melissa McDonald appreciates the community she and her family found over the last 10 years at TJ. They jare moving to NY. She will return, when she can, to visit. Pam Gersh and her family are celebrating the graduation of her son from Northeastern University. He majored in Humanitarian studies and wants to make a difference in the world. She is very proud of him. Brenda Hart is anticipating the birth of her first grandchild. Jill Baker is finished with her chemo, painting again and selling her work. Lee Pennington, despite his health issues continues to work and has a recent showing of his documentary on ancient pyramids shown at U of L. Frank Richmond is celebrating the production of his opera at the Louisville Classic Academy. Russ Funk is honored to be selected as US liaison to Canada for the Global Men Engage Alliance. The group is a regional network of organizations and individuals working with men and boys to achieve gender equality, end violence, and promote health for men, women and children in North America Maggie Hall is thankful for the community she has found at TJ,. Hiroko Lippman is excited that the lung infection Bob has been suffering from is not lung cancer as feared. Kellie Scott is proud of her daughter, who will be performing in the National Orchestra Concert Band. Bill Holt is facing many challenges caring for his mother in his home and is celebrating her 101st Birthday. Chris Rife shared that he ran his first half-marathon in two years snce he experienced a cardiac arrest while running. Debbie Horvay thanks everyone who chauffeured her and did many other special things for her while she was recovering from a broken ankle. Nancy Neil shared that she has a new grand daughter, Djephterly, who is joining her brother In NC. They are from Haiti and live with Nancy s daughter and son-in-law. Neisja Yenawine is delighted that her son who is 22 and in a wheel chair has a girl friend. Grace Wooding is very proud of her grand children who started putting meals in paper bags for homeless people and now have involved their whole family. CONCERNS Kathie Peterson is concerned about a Syrian refugee family with 3 sons age 6-12, who have lost many of their furnishings due to a bedbug infestation. Please let her know if you have a single bed you can donate. Rebecca Elliott is concerned about the health of her father, John Elliott who is having trouble getting out of bed; and about the safe travel of her son and husband, Neeraj who will soon be returning from visiting family in India. Neisja Yenawine s father has entered Hosparus. It s difficult, but she s very grateful for this time that she, her son, Phillip and daughter have with him. Jim Kidwell is saddened by the recent deaths of two PRP High School teachers. He worked with one of them before his retirement and knows how difficult this is on students and staff. Rick Rabek who is suffering from a brain tumor is back home from the hospital. His wife Karen is his sole caregiver. We have started a Meal Train. If you would like to help with that contact Roxanne Sturtevant. Chris and Dorinda Rife shared that their dear dog who was a rescue dog died on October 21st. She will be missed greatly. Grace Wooding shared that her grandson, Ryan, is having a hard time due to his parents divorce. Neisja Yenawine shared that she and her brother and sister had to make the difficult decision to place their father in Hospice recently. Susie Pasikowski will be having her knee replacement soon and is looking forward to being able to walk better.

7 Sunday Mornings at 9:30 Sunday morning adult exploration class schedule for November: Sunday December 3rd current Issues topic Sexual Harassment: Are we experiencing a paradigm shift in our society? Two videos will be followed by class discussion. Other Sundays: Being Human: Life Lessons from the Frontiers of Science Understanding our humanity the very essence of who we are and how we live our lives is one of the deepest mysteries and biggest challenges in modern science. As we learn more about the mechanisms of human behavior through evolutionary biology, neuroscience, anthropology, psychology, sociology, and other related fields, we're discovering just how intriguing the human species is. And while scientists are continually uncovering deep similarities between our behavior and that of other animals, they're also finding a wealth of insights into everything that makes us unique from any other species on Earth. (12 Sunday video lectures) Caregiver Support Group The Caregivers Support Group will be December 5th in the Hearth Room at TJ. All are welcome. This group is for anyone in a caregiving situation, either local or long-distance. Guest at Your Table: Small Change is Big Change! Guest at Your Table (GAYT) is officially underway and continues through December! There are still some boxes and story booklets on the table in the Welcoming Space. New this year, we also have an activities calendar that s especially good for families to use. GAYT is the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee s annual intergenerational program to raise support for and awareness about their work to advance human rights. Since UUSC works in over 25 countries, with over 75 grassroots partners, there are thousands of individuals who are involved in and who benefit from the work that our members make possible. Help be part of the small change that makes big change possible. Please fill your GAYT box or write out a generous check in support of this important work for human rights. Online donations may also be made to Guest at Your Table using UUSC s secure donation portal: donate.uusc.org/checkout/donation?eid=75595 Please be sure to credit your online donation to TJUC. Thanks for making a difference!

8 Winter Break Fun for Kids Children and grandchildren are invited to become Holiday Elves at TJUC while you work, go out for lunch, shop, or whatever your heart desires! Open to TJUC members, friends and their friends! Children will enjoy games, craft activities and a story corner. Youth in need of service hours are welcomed as helpers. Wednesday, December 20, 9:00 am-3:00 pm Friday, December 22, 9:00 am-3:00 pm (Extended hours until 5 PM available upon request when you RSVP) Please send a bagged lunch, snack, and beverage Adult supervision & fun activities provided. RSVP to the church office no later than Friday, December 15th! Please bring mitten, hats, scarves and gloves for the TJ Mitten tree on Sunday, December 10th. If you cannot attend the service that day, please drop off your donations at the church office ahead of time so that your items may be included in our donation delivery. Your donated items will go to people in need. New Year s Eve Celebration TJ members, friends and family are invited to a New Year's Eve Celebration on Dec 31st starting 7 p.m. The evening will feature a white elephant gift exchange, games, crafts, and conversation. Please bring a wrapped white elephant gift if you want to play, a snack/dessert/beverage to share, as well as any favorite games and traditions! Younger ones can come in pajamas. Please contact DLRE Barb at barb@tjuc.org for more information or to sign up to help plan our fun evening. WHO IS THAT PERSON?????? Maybe I should ask them!

9 December 2017 Friday, December 1, :00 AM - 08:00 AM WinterFair Saturday, December 2, :00 AM - 08:00 AM WinterFair Sunday, December 3, :00 AM - 08:30 AM Potluck 09:30 AM - 10:45 AM Current Event Discussions 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM Elementary OWL 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM Administration Committee 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM Play Rehearsal Monday, December 4, :00 PM - 01:30 PM Men's Group at Bob Evans 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM Women's Goup at Bristol 07:00 PM - 08:30 PM Rental Committee Tuesday, December 5, :00 PM - 08:30 PM Choir Rehearsal Wednesday, December 6, :00 PM - 09:00 PM Bridge Group Thursday, December 7, :00 PM - 08:30 PM Women's Choir Saturday, December 9, :00 AM - 04:30 PM Play Rehearsal 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM ARE Committee Sunday, December 10, :30 AM - 01:30 PM Play Rehearsal 08:30 AM - 10:30 AM KEAP Sponsor Meeting 09:30 AM - 10:30 AM Aesthetics Committee 09:30 AM - 10:45 AM Drop In Discussion Group 09:30 AM - 10:45 AM Parent Chalice Circle 12:45 PM - 02:30 PM Caring Ministry Meeting 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM Elementary OWL 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM Board of Trustees 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM Capital Campaign Meeting Monday, December 11, :00 PM - 08:30 PM Humanist Meeting Tuesday, December 12, :00 PM - 08:30 PM Choir Rehearsal Thursday, December 14, :00 PM - 02:30 PM Endowment 06:30 PM - 08:00 PM CYRE Team Meeting 07:00 PM - 08:30 PM Women's Choir Sunday, December 17, :15 AM - 10:45 AM Social Justice Committee 09:30 AM - 10:45 AM Drop In Discussion Group 12:45 PM - 02:15 PM Sunday Serice Planning 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM Elementary OWL 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM Promotions Committee Tuesday, December 19, :00 PM - 08:30 PM Choir Rehearsal Wednesday, December 20, :00 AM - 04:00 PM Winter Break Day 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM Brownbag Book Group 07:00 PM - 09:00 PM Bridge Group Thursday, December 21, :00 PM - 07:30 PM Hospitality Meeting 07:00 PM - 08:30 PM Women's Choir Friday, December 22, :00 AM - 04:00 PM Winter Break Day Sunday, December 24, :15 AM - 10:45 AM Green Sanctuary Committee 09:30 AM - 10:45 AM Drop In Discussion Group 07:00 PM - 08:30 PM Christmas Eve Service Tuesday, December 26, :00 PM - 08:30 PM Choir Rehearsal Wednesday, December 27, :00 PM - 08:30 PM Bridge Group Sunday, December 31, :30 AM - 10:45 AM Drop In Discussion 12:45 PM - 01:15 PM Council Meeting The next Tapestry Deadline is December 22nd, 2017 Wednesday, December 13, :00 PM - 09:00 PM Bridge Group

10 Thank you TJers and community members who gave generously to support the House of Ruth and support for people who are HIV positive or living with AIDS at the recent Dining Out for Life at St Matthews Havana Rumba. Come for a casual and fun New Year's Eve morning of scrumptious goodies and games for the whole family from 10:00 AM until 12:30 PM! The Malvina Reynolds room will be open for our tiniest Wee Ones. Bridge Anyone? Every Wednesday night at 7:00 pm. All levels welcome. Just drop in! 3 parts to WinterFair! Please come to WinterFair! If you can work a shift, come on down. We can always use extra help! If you come to buy art gifts, bring your check books and credit cards. The artists will be glad to help you find just what you want. If you pray, chat with the powers of the universe, or whatever, please ask for lovely crisp days and large amounts of customers! WinterFair! Part 2 Many hearty thanks to everyone who helped make WinterFair the successful event it has come to be!!! We are grateful that you shared your time, your energy, your goodwill, and yourselves in this large undertaking. THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! WinterFair! Part 3 The rest of December includes packing away the rest of WF supplies, the arrival of the last bills and figuring out how WF did financially. The January Tapestry will have more details about how much money we can put into operating funds. Once again thanks for your involvement in this special event!!!

11 The Carols and Candles service began here at TJ in Previously, I was told that it was traditional (at least when TJ had not had its own minister) for TJ folk to attend the Christmas Eve service at First Unitarian church which began at 3 or 4 PM (I was told that there were often preludes and dancers and that went on for an hour before the actual service began.) More importantly, I was told that TJ should have a service, but not at the same time as the one at First Unitarian. So, TJ s service begins at 7 PM late enough for people who went downtown to have dinner before they come here, early enough that people with children can still get home at a reasonable time. Children are welcome. The service features TJ s choirs and other musicians, candles lit from the flame of our chalice and the singing of Silent Night to candlelight, stories and carols from our hymnal, and refreshments afterwards (often including a surprise birthday cake). There s also a special collection for Eastern Area Community Ministries as we remember our neighbors who are in need. Mystery Pals 2018! What? A fun and different way to learn about another friend or member at TJ. Why? Building new friendships is the foundation of building community. Who? Everyone! All ages may participate. The idea is to build intergenerational connections. Participants UNDER 15 years old will be matched with an adult (18+). Participants 15 years old or OLDER may choose to be matched with a child/ youth or an adult. This means that adults can have adult Mystery Pals! How cool is that? How does it work? TJ members and friends are matched up anonymously by interests and age categories Mystery Pal pairs share with each other based on themes and suggested activities beginning on January 7 th. The idea is to keep the focus on connection, but small gifts are fine if you d enjoy doing that. Mystery Pal pairs may share as often as they d like. Pals may drop off things to share at TJUC during the week, send them via the USPS, or send electronic materials to each other anonymously through the Mystery Pals Postmaster. Your Mystery Pal will be revealed at a Pancake breakfast on February 11 th! Yummy! Since the idea here is to build relationships, there will be more opportunities to hang out, have fun with, and get to know your Mystery Pal even after the Big Reveal breakfast. Notes to adults who may want to participate and are caretakers of participating child/youth: Before YOU (the adult) decide to participate as a Mystery Pal, you may need to gauge how much support your child/youth will need in their interactions with their Mystery Pal. Here are some things to consider: 1. Will they need help with the communication? 2. Will they need help creating gifts or other items? 3. Will they need help creating the clues for their Mystery Pal? Watch for the sign-up info coming soon!!

12 Your Question The goal of these questions is to figure out what being a part of a people of abundance means for you and your daily living, so instead of trying to answer each, you are invited to find the question that is calling to you. Which one contains your work? 1. What if your darkness is not the darkness of the tomb, but instead the darkness of the womb? What if this pain of yours is not about death and loss, but new life trying to be born? Could it be that Life - like any good midwife - is calling you to breathe and push? 2. Who is hope for you? Whose way of being in the world helps you believe that tomorrow will be better? What are you doing to ensure that their inspiration remains front-and-center rather than faded and far away? 3. What might it mean for you to be hope? It s one thing to believe in hope; it s quite another to become it. 4. Are you bringing more hope into the world than you realize? Are you sure that your everyday commitments and work can t be seen as bringing hope into the world? If you don t think of your work and commitments in that way, how might life look different if you did? 5. Are you hopeless? Or have you let someone take away your hope? Have you allowed someone s betrayal to convince you that the world is darker than it really is? 6. Are you sure hope abandoned you? Or did your preferred dream just not occur? What if hope is waiting for you in a new and unexpected form? 7. Why are you keeping your hopes so small? Are you really going to let that past disappointment dictate the size of your dreams? 8. Are you calling yourself a cynic, but really a disappointed idealist underneath? Is your cynicism making you feel sane or suffocated? 9. Is hope trying to sooth your heart or disturb it? Is there a holy impatience inside you that is tired of waiting? Is hope itself telling you, Stop hoping; Start acting, demanding, doing! 10. Are you clear about the responsibility we have for our grandchildren s hopes? 11. What if hope doesn t swoop in and wipe away all the pain? What if hope is you standing squarely inside the pain and saying to it, You are not the full story? 12. What s your question? Your question may not be listed above. As always, if the above questions don't include what life is asking from you, spend the month listening to your days to hear it. SAVE THE DATE- Elwood s retirement We will be celebrating Elwood s retirement during church and a luncheon afterwards on Sunday June 10, Mark your calendars now! All ages are invited. Details to come much later. Also, please be gathering e-pictures of congregational events and members doing church activities during his 31 years. We ll tell you where to send them later. Contact Jean Koehler, jkoehler2@coreys.net or for suggestions, questions, and volunteer opportunities.

13 Council Committee Updates ARE (Adult Religious Exploration) was pleased with the success of the Open Campus Kick-off in September. We are offering eight classes on Wednesday and Thursday nights this fall, with some continuing or beginning in November. Ideas for special speakers and Winter Open Campus are welcomed - contact Lori Sargent with ideas and suggestions. Aesthetics Committee works to improve the appearance of the church - recently discussing changes to restroom signs, posters for Sawyer, and exhibits schedule for the Roberta Marks Gallery. Enjoy the Member's Exhibit which will be displayed through November. House Committee continues to coordinate normal TJ maintenance with Debbie Horvay - painting window trim, fixing gutters and other projects. We are also climbing a lot of ladders to evaluate HVAC systems and obtain estimates for replacing the sanctuary heating and air conditioning. The Promotions Committee is seeking written contributions on topics of Social Action that reflect our UU principles. Anyone who is already a blog post-er, or who finds a relevant article to credit, or wishes to expound on a specific topic that is relevant to TJ s identified social action objectives (racial justice, LGBTQ equality, Immigration rights, reproductive justice and environmental justice), please contact Ellen Sisti Wade to send your material or link. We wish to add these contributions to our TJUC website blog to encourage visitors to learn more about our values. If anyone is interested in contributing his/her talent to our social media projects, we would love to have you! Enjoy contributing from the convenience of your own home! Contact Ellen Sisti Wade, if you re interested, bigole@aol.com Dennis Neyman of the Social Justice Committee arranged thru Interfaith Paths to Peace to have Muslim women, at their request, come to TJ on OCT 1 st and discuss their faith after Pot-luck. Joe Brennon has served on a Sowers of Justice committee to plan an upcoming Systemic Racism: What People of Faith Can Do conference at LCCC to be held on 10/28. The SJC coordinated monthly Share the Plate Collections. Committee on Ministry: 1- We are actively involved in planning the retirement celebration for June 10, 2018 and welcome suggestions and volunteers 2- We are summarizing the quarterly progress of committees on TJ s 5 yr goals TJ Bumper Stickers Advertise TJ $5 In the church office We have visitors every Sunday. They would like to meet you. Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church is now on Twitter! Our account

14 Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church 4936 Brownsboro Road Hwy. 22 Louisville, KY Return Service Requested December 2017 Edition 626 To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places and there are so many where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory. - Howard Zinn The Reverend Elwood Sturtevant, Minister Tuesday - Thursday, 1-4 pm and by appointment Barb Friedland, Director Lifespan RE Tuesday - Friday, 9:00am - 3:30 pm (some exceptions due to meetings and conferences) Frank Richmond, Music Director Janet Taylor, Membership Coordinator Debbie Horvay Administrator/Newsletter Editor Monday - Friday 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Ellen Wade, Rental Coordinator Weddings and Rentals Call the office. Office hours: Monday thru Friday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm 9:30 am - Adult Religious Education 11:00 am - Sunday Service 11:00 am - Children /Youth Lifespan RE debbie@tjuc.org Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church 4936 Brownsboro Rd (Hwy 22) Louisville, KY 40222

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