Ringing the Chime Greetings Good morning, and welcome to Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist.  Ours is a congregation in the liberal religious tradition, and we welcome all who would work together to make this a world in which all are welcome.  As a part of that welcome I would encourage each of us to […]

The theme of our worship reflection this month is Transformation.  So, I picked the poem about the spider weaving its web because it has many images of transformation.  Erik read the poem to the children, and it is also printed in your order of service so you can post it on your fridge or share […]

As we consider the very real threats to our beloved Earth, it’s easy to get discouraged and overwhelmed. Instead, let us observe Earth Day by renewing both our spirits and our resolve with our annual flower communion. Bring a flower to help fill our sanctuary with beauty and our hearts with hope.

Our Christian kin celebrate Easter, the commemoration of Christ’s resurrection from the grave.  Yet there are many ways of understanding – and experiencing – “resurrection.”  Our “Rite of Spring” service is a look at the transformation of death to life, winter to spring, and the “tomb time” in our own lives into our own resurrection.  […]

The work of social justice is the work of societal transformation, and the Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together (IMPACT) is one way this work has been done in the Charlottesville – Albemarle area for the past decade.  As with all community organizing, the power of an individual is transformed into the power of […]

The Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism: Celebrating our Rainbow Chalice. Through song, story and reflection, Leia Durland-Jones and Rev. Wik will explore in multigenerational community what it means to live our values as UUs.  If you have ever struggled with articulating what UUs believe, this service will help you think about ways to articulate (y)our […]

Read the Order of Service. Because of the nature of this service, the sermon for this week contains the sermons for both the 9:15 and 11:15 service. The 11:15 service sermon starts at approximately 22:45. In each of the congregations Rev. Wik served previously there was the tradition of having an annual “question box” Sunday.  Congregants […]

Read the Order of Service. As I said earlier, this month we’re looking at “risk,” which is something we have to deal with every day, whether we’re conscious of it or not.  There are the big risks of course – telling someone you love them, or that you no longer do.  Leaving the security of the […]

Read the Order of Service. “For those who believe in God, the current national situation may be bringing some disbelief.  And for those who need language to talk to your neighbors and relatives about God, we may need new perspective.  Come find some hope and tools for going forward.”

Read the Order of Service. It was during the first few years of my first settled call that I first started working with a spiritual director, and this guy was the real deal — spiritual director, Episcopal priest, and Jungian analyst.  A seeker’s trifecta.  I remember one day when we were talking about the wrestling I […]