The theme for the month of January is Creativity. We will initiate this theme by engaging creative genius extraordinaire, Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés and her book, Dangerous Old Woman.  Dr. Estés queries, "Did you know, you were born as the first, and the last and the best and the only one of your kind, and that eccentricity is the first sign of giftedness? If you have any doubt, come join us at the fireside of The Dangerous Old Woman for the soul-healing wisdom that will ignite your creativity and support your highest calling in life."  Join us by the fireside, hmm-- chalice side, on Sunday morning.

To Stand Up and To Lead Our Community

When Reverend Mary Ann mentioned that Bloom magazine would be receiving submissions on the topic "Where I Stand," a million issues came to my mind--and yet, one seemed to rise above the rest. The following is my submission, and I plan to keep working on the issue over the coming weeks and months. Each time I open the Herald-Times, or Bloom in this case, I am delighted to see our engaged and committed congregation!

 

I stand humbled by the most recent examples of people sharing their stories of surviving sexual assault, along with violence in the home. The amount of pain and trauma of harassment, assault, and abuse is not new; but, the willingness to share these difficult stories of our lives has raised our cultural consciousness. In order for real change to take hold, more people need to stand in solidarity with survivors--and we need to take a firm stand against abuses of power, wherever it occurs. I stand humbled by the courageous actions of people of all backgrounds, who have taken the risk of ridicule or disparagement to speak their truth. And, it is my duty--really, our duty--to stand up and to lead our community in learning more about respect and consent to proactively end this violence.

 

   Scott

Rev. Scott McNeill, Associate Minister

A Labyrinth, a Meditative Space

As the New Year begins, I always install a labyrinth in the sanctuary.  For six days, it provides a meditative space for any in the community who choose to come.  In the past, we have had people from toddlers through elders visit the labyrinth and walk. As Sharon Blackie writes, "... the beauty of the labyrinth is that it is not a maze.  There are no dead

ends and you cannot take a wrong path--because although the path may twist or wind back on itself, it leads always to the centre.  And there, at the centre of the labyrinth, no matter how many times you have been there, you might still discover new insights; you might uncover old wisdom or find new knowledge.  Then you walk back out again, taking back out into the world the gifts that you have received..."

If this practice sounds appealing to you in the new year, I invite you to visit next week.  The labyrinth will be installed on Sunday afternoon, and will be open for walking during the following hours. Please enter on Sunday, Wednesday evening and Saturday at the Main Entrance by the sanctuary, and on weekdays at the office entrance on the northwest corner of the building.

Sun, January 7:        2:00-4:00 p.m.

Mon, January 8:       10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Tues, January 9:      10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Weds, January 10:    10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Thurs, January 11:   10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Fri, January 12:       10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Sat, January 13:      9:30-10:30 a.m.

Hope to see you there,

   Emily

Reverend Emily Manvel Leite, Minister of Religious Education

January Creativity Intersession for 

Religious Education begins 

January 7th! 

The purpose of the UU Freethinkers bi-weekly meeting is to create the opportunity for participants to raise questions and engage in open and non-structured discussion of issues of social concern, political concern, and theological/religious concern. UU Freethinkers meet on alternating Sundays after children's religious education classes end, in Room 208.   UU Freethinkers will meet next on Sunday, January 7, 12:45 pm.

UU Humanists Meet January 14

An opportunity for regular, open, wide-ranging discussions relating to ethics, human development, and the nature of the universe. The bi-weekly forum will meet next on Sunday, January 14, at 12:45 p.m. in Room 208. The discussion will be led by John Crosby, on "Fact to Fiction to Folklore." On Sunday, January 28 at 12:45 p.m. the group will meet in Fellowship Hall for a potluck lunch and discussion of topics for the Spring. For general questions about our UU Humanist group, contact Harold Ogren .

UU Women's Alliance Meets January 4

"Recycling for Education," The Teacher's Warehouse & Recycling Center, by Judy Witt is our program for Thursday, January 4th.  

The hosts are Dian Robbins, Susan Herr-Hoyman, and Louray Cain.
The Women's Alliance meets the first Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.  The meeting begins with a brown bag lunch.  Drinks
and dessert are provided by the hosts of the month.  The program begins at
noon, followed by a business meeting.   Join us.  Everyone is welcome.

Path to Membership: Exploring Unitarian Universalism Class 

January 14 and 21

Are you interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism (UU) and this congregation?  Are you considering becoming a member of this dynamic religious community? Whether you are considering membership or are just curious, this class is for you. The Exploring UU Class will be held on January 14 and 21, 2-4 p.m. in the church library. Please plan to attend both Sunday sessions, since different material will be covered in each session.  Register before January 8 by signing up at the Welcome Table in the foyer, or emailing Ann LeDuc at connect@uubloomington.org. Free childcare is available if requested in advance. Kathy and Steve Gilbert will facilitate this fun and informative class.

 

Ready to become a member of UU Bloomington?

If this is your community, if you feel at home here, join us! A Membership Ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, January 28 at 10:30 am in the Fuchs Library upstairs at church.  We ask for participation in our Exploring Unitarian Universalism class prior to signing the membership book. To make arrangements to become a member, or for questions, please contact Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator, at (812) 332-3695 ext 203 or  connect@uubloomington.org. 

Unitarian Universalists have no fixed creed, but considerable curiosity about our human capacity for understanding the universe.  All of humanity is confronted with the reality that our physical body goes through a life cycle from a sexual act leading to conception, development, birth, and the stages of childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and senescence ending in death.  Greek philosophers distinguished the body (soma) from the psyche (which they associated with breathing). That ancient view is also biblical with the "breath of life" introduced into Adam.  In contemporary Judeo Christian tradition only humans have souls. Thus animals and plants are without souls.  Aquinas, however, argued that all living things did have souls but only humans have immortal souls. The word soul is from the Old English and Norse word seo and it means "from the sea," a belief that the Norse gods and human life arose from the sea.  Early Christians distinguished body, soul, and spirit (a trichotomy), but in 869 CE the Catholic Church reduced its belief to a dichotomy of body and soul. These changes led to Descartes' view of non-human animal life as a mechanical device or automaton.   Dualism justified vivisection of animals.  After Emerson read of the concept of the soul in Hindu and Buddhist religion, he introduced the idea of an oversoul that all of humanity shares and to which it resonates.  It may even include the entire universe in our most meditative moods.  Humanists eliminated the concept of spirit or soul and favor a biological interpretation of human life and consciousness.   

can be reached at 812-332-3695, ext. 209 and is available by appointment on Wednesday and Friday afternoons.  mcneill@uu bloomington.org . He can also be reached on his mobile phone, 703-577-0919 and for after-hours pastoral emergencies, please call him at 812-727-0919.