Following the public Congregational Listening Circle on Monday, March 19, 2018, Rob Criaghurst offered these thoughts. The purpose of The Talk of TJMC is to provide a place for congregants to have a place to share their thoughts about things we, as a congregation, should be talking about. It provides a...
Kate Fraleigh, who until recently was Chair of the Racial Justice Committee, shares some of her evolving thinking about what’s been happening here since Christian Rivera found an anonymous racist note in her mailbox on Monday, February 26, as well as about our work in ending white supremacy. [Here is...
In the two weeks since the hateful racist note was anonymously left in the office mailbox of Christina Rivera, our Director of Administration and Finance, there have been a variety of responses: some of us have felt clarity; others, confusion. Many of us feel conflicted. Some have felt supported, while...
Longtime member Lynn Heath wrote the following as a letter to the Board of Trustees, and has asked to have it published here as well. The intent of this blog is to provide a place for congregants to have a place to share their thoughts about things we, as a...
Like every other Monday morning since I started at TJMC-UU in 2015, after our ministry staff team meeting I picked up my mail and sat at my desk to sort it. I came to “the note” towards the last. As I read the note, my breath stopped…not like a metaphorical...
Dear Members and Friends of TJMC-UU, We are writing to you in response to the unacceptable racist act towards our Director of Administration and Finance, Christina Rivera. We are outraged. Our faith calls us to speak out against racism. Our first principle calls us to respect the inherent worth and...
This is the text of the entire service held Wednesday evening, February 28, 2018. It was to have been a service celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the Congregation — there was to have been a time for families together, a community dinner, a service of celebration, and …...
If we really want to make a difference, if we really want to see real change so that we can become who we know we need to be – as individuals, as congregations, and as a movement – then we need to not only appreciate those who have for far...
February 27, 2018 Dear Members and Friends of TJMC-UU, The following anonymous note was discovered on Monday in her office mailbox by Christina Rivera, our Director of Administration & Finance: This racist act is unacceptable. As Presidents of the Board of Trustees, Lead Minister, and Director of Faith Development, we...
As we say most Sunday mornings, “this is a lively community.” And it is a growing community, as well. The days when anyone could expect to know everyone are in a part of our past. There is some loss in this, of course, yet also so much possibility. Our courage,...