In April of 1865, at the end of the Civil War, Union troops entered the city of Charleston, S.C.  A great many of the white residents of Charleston had left the city in advance of the soldiers, but the Black citizens remained, welcoming the troops to the city where it had all begun four years earlier.  Among […]

In life, borrowing and sharing are pretty basic. But can we (predominantly white) UUs really “borrow” from other cultures when we’re in a position of power? When does borrowing feels like a form of theft? In his Music Sunday sermon, director of music Scott DeVeaux will explore this, with the choir singing apposite examples. The […]

Like so many things, there are deep roots to Mother’s Day (and yes, the placement of that apostrophe after the “r” and before the “s” is important to story). During the 19th century, there have been several attempts by women’s peace groups to establish a holiday which celebrated peace, rather than war.  It was not uncommon, for […]

This service was a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the formal founding of the congregation. Looking Back; Looking Forward It was the early 1940s, and a woman named Carrie Baker moved to Charlottesville from Montclair, NJ.  In a letter to a friend she said that she liked her new home well enough, except for one […]

It being Earth Day, this was the perfect Sunday to celebrate Flower Communion.  Especially in light of the discontent and disquiet current being felt in the congregation, it was the right time to remember the beauty of our community and how each of us contributes to it. I want to tell you the story of the […]

I want to thank those of you – both here and not here this morning – who have taken the step of formalizing your membership in this community.  The two things I like to say to new members are:  congratulations (because you’ve joined a wonderful congregation), and thank you (because by your joining, and by […]

We have sung the hymn Morning Has Broken, with its references to the sensation of fresh defall in the wet garden, the sound of blackbird singing, and the sight of sunlight. The hymn writer praises for them, and names their origin in the Word, meaning the sacred text of the Bible, and originating in God’s creativity. […]

No fooling — On this morning when our Christian brothers and sisters celebrate Easter, we will have our annual “Rite of Spring” service of words, sounds, and images, to help us consider all of the “spring-inspired” truths our human kin have found and that we, and our world, so desperately need to hear.  [The TJMC […]

Last Spring, while preparing its annual budget, TJMC decided to cut the membership dues that it pays to be part of the IMPACT program. The church faced a deficit, and the congregation’s enthusiasm for participating in the program seemed to be waning. Then a handful of energized, dedicated members took up the cause, petitioned the […]

The poet, peace activist, and Buddhist monk, the Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh, makes quite a bit of “smiling” as a spiritual practice.  “Breathing in, I relax body and mind,” one of his breath prayers goes, “Breathing out, I smile.”  “Smile, breathe, and go slowly,” is his advice on how to live. A woman came up […]