The Prologue                                         Tuesday, October 3, 2017
  Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
   Congregation founded 1949
   LGBTQ Welcoming Congregation since 1995
   Green Sanctuary since 2007
Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, Changing the World

Sunday, October 8, 2017
9:15 and 11:15 a.m.
"The Courage of Storytelling"      
Reverend Scott McNeill and Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
This morning's worship will be centered on stories from the book Ordinary Extraordinary African American Women: The Elders, and how telling our life stories can be an act of tremendous courage. 
Sunday, October 15, 2017
9:15 and 11:15 a.m.
"Daring to Say Yes. Daring to Say No."      
Reverend Scott McNeill
There are many times that being brave means speaking up or stepping out of your comfort zone. And, there are times when the courageous act is to say no, to hold your ground. This Sunday, we'll hold space for both responses. 
MAM's Musings
HEALING.   Our hearts, prayers and thoughts are with those in Las Vegas who are enduring the heartache, pain and trauma of another senseless act of gun violence.  May a balm of healing comfort all those affected.

In Sunday's sermon I shared "Our world is pretty unstable nowadays.  From weather patterns to our country's current administration, there is a chaotic stirring that is dangerous and, at times, overwhelming."  

On Monday we encountered the news of the horrific shootings in Las Vegas.  Violence.  Instability.  A fractured culture.  Living in dangerous times can lead to a sense of being lost and tired, wandering the desert of a country which seems to have lost its soul.

What do we do?  Our congregation's vision statement provides some direction.  Seek the Spirit.  Build Community.  Change the world. Senior Jungian analyst Clarissa Pinkola Estes, author of Women Who Run with the Wolves, reminds us:


In these turbulent times, may we initiate a deeper care for our souls. May we allow our spirits to channel our shock and frustration into sustainable, loving action.  May we show our souls.  May we mourn that which is lost and offer gratitude for that which remains.  May the light of our souls throw sparks, send up flares, build signal fires.  Don't rush this process.  But don't hide from it, either.

I believe the following excerpts from a poem by John O'Donohue (1956-2008), author, spiritual leader and teacher--who drew upon Celtic spirituality for inspiration--speak to the times we are in.

In these times when anger
Is turned into anxiety
And someone has stolen
The horizons and mountains,
 
Our small emperors on parade
Never expect our indifference
To disturb their nakedness.
 
They keep their heads down
And their eyes gleam with reflection
From aluminum economic ground.
 
The media wraps everything
In a cellophane of sound,
And the ghost surface of the virtual
Overlaps the breathing earth.
 
The industry of distraction
Makes us forget
That we live in a universe.
 
We have become converts
To the religion of stress
And its deity of progress;
 
That we may have courage
To turn away from it all
 
And come to kneel down before the poor
To discover what we must do,
How to turn anxiety
Back into anger.
How to find our way home.
 
Take care of your soul, my friends.  You know the tools to find your way home. Use them.  May we allow our spirits to channel our shock and frustration into sustainable, loving action.  Courage. Our world needs our souls to show up.
 
Peace and Love, 
     MAM
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin

Thursday:   Quiet Space for Contemplation and Prayer               
On Thursday, October 5, our sanctuary will be open from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. for those who would like to light a candle for victims and survivors of the Las Vegas shooting and all those recovering from violence and trauma in our world.   In this sacred space, we also ask you to quietly reflect upon that for which you are grateful.
From Our Associate Minister
A special Invitation for October 8
     I hope that you can join us on Sunday, October 8 as we welcome Stephana I. Colbert. Stephana wrote Ordinary Extraordinary African American Women: the Elders , which tells the story of 11 African-American women who are extraordinary by the way they lived their everyday lives. We know one of those 11 women. Gladys DeVane is one of the women featured, sharing part of her story as a caregiver, scholar, and actor.
     Sunday morning's worship will be centered on how telling our life stories is an act of tremendous courage. Following the second service, there will be a special book-signing event--punch will be served, followed by a reading of some passages from the book, and then a social time for snacks and conversation, and book-signing.  Join us in celebrating the life of Gladys DeVane and other Black women. We also will celebrate the hard work of Ms. Colbert, herself an extraordinary person, as one of the first Freedom Riders in the 60s, engaging in justice-making along the way, in part by telling stories of great Black women who might otherwise be silenced.

In faith,
   Rev. Scott
Reverend Scott McNeill, Associate Minister 
Message from MAM
GRIEF.   Have you suffered the loss of a loved one within the last couple of years?   If so, please consider the four session UU Grief Support Group that is being offered soon.  While grief is the internal reaction to a significant loss, the expression of that loss (mourning) and sifting through the layers of the loss can be vital to wholeness in mind, body and spirit. 

UU Grief Support Group Starts in November
Grief may be one of life's most challenging and difficult transitions. To help give support to this transition, our Caring Committee is offering a four-part series to explore the grief process. We will create a safe place to share our feelings about the death of a loved one, to process the grief experience, and to share coping strategies. Four Saturdays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in our Library, November 4 and 11, and December 2 and 16. Participants must commit to attending all four sessions. This will be a shared group experience honoring members' privacy and confidentiality. Facilitators will be Reverend Mary Ann Macklin and Sharon Yarber. If you have questions, please call Sharon Yarber, 812-345-0364. We ask that interested persons register by October 22 by calling Sharon Yarber at the phone number listed. Minimum 5, Maximum 10 participants. 
Our Folks...
      Our healing thoughts are with Jamie Kirkley and her family as she recovers from surgery.   Here is a message from Jamie regarding breast cancer.   
      Nedra Carlson is recovering at home from knee replacement surgery.  Her family have been providing support, and report that Nedra's spirits are good.
     Congratulations to Melissa Keller on her book release celebration for Crazy is Relative on  Oct. 12 at 7:00 p.m. at The John Waldron Arts Center (Rose Firebay Theater)!  Free event with a reading & reception to follow.
Welcome Back, John Summerlot
          It was good to see John Summerlot at the back of the sanctuary this Sunday, returning to his role of usher/emergency procedures expert for our congregation.  John was one of four IU emergency management coordinators who spent two weeks in Florida to provide disaster relief. As stated in the Herald Times, "Just days after Hurricane Irma hit the Florida Keys, John Summerlot was there helping to coordinate relief efforts. At its peak, the center he was managing distributed supplies to 13,000 people a day."  John said, "That's a lot to move into a town with one road in and one road out."   He worked up to 15 hours a day and 'slept' on a cot inside a mobile command unit.  It's good to have John back home again in Indiana and in our congregation.  Kudos also to Adrienne Summerlot, our Director of Religious Education, who managed their household and our religious education program in John's absence. 
Religious Education 
How to Talk to Young Children about Race and Racism
Sundays, October 29th and 
November 5th, 1-3pm, Fellowship Hall
This workshop is for adults who want to learn how to talk to young children (infant through Kindergarten) about race and racism.  Everyone is welcome.  Two-day workshop led by IU professor Nya McCarthy-Brown.  Attendance at BOTH sessions is expected.  Reserve your space in the workshop and childcare if needed at this link:  https://goo.gl/forms/KQoHVTQYyJvQHipG3  
Tech Help Available Sunday, October 8th
Come to room 210 between  1 and 2:30pm.  Bring your troublesome or mysterious device along.  Our youth are happy to help you with your technological puzzles.

"Tomorr ow" screening on October 27
Great ideas to help our world:
To Take Concrete Steps to a Sustainable Future
Friday, October 27, 7-9pm, Fellowship Hall, discussion to follow.  Free, all are welcome.
     This film shows people writing a new story. For instance, San Francisco diverts 80% of its waste for reuse! See the trailer.  
     TODAY, we sometimes feel powerless confronting the crises of our times, in Agriculture, Economics, Energy, Education . TODAY, we need a new direction or objective... A new dream! The film offers constructive solutions to act on a local level to make a difference on a global level and seeks encourage communities to change the way they live for the sake of our planet.

Our 6th-8th graders went to Camp Piomingo in Bradenburg, KY for the 4th Annual Middle School Youth Retreat where they played gaga ball, went on a night time pipeslide, hiked, enjoyed s'mores and campfire and connected with UU youth from our region.

Link to Latest Religious Ed News
Latest news and happenings in Religious Education can be found here:
  Building Community 
Women's Alliance Meets October 5
        The program for the  October 5th  Women's Alliance meeting is "Being Mortal" with  Dr. Rob Stone, MD.  The hosts will be Linda Pickle and Carol Arnold.
       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.  Please enter through the court yard  doors.  We hope you will join us.  Everyone is welcome.
Fall Congregational Directory Update 
Begins October 8
From Sunday, October 8 through Sunday, October 22, we will have a print-out of our database directory available in the Commons for you to review. Please look at your listing and be sure we have your correct name, address, phone, and email. You may make corrections (print please!) right on the draft, or send corrections to office@uubloomington.org by October 22.  An updated in-house paper directory will be available to pick up in Room 204 in early November.  Thanks! 
Office Closed October 9
It is our policy to close the church offices on federal holidays, even on Columbus Day, October 9. We will return to the office at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 10. --Carol Marks, Church Administrator
Image at left is from the flag of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians. Used with permission.
UU Book Discussion Meets October 15
The UUCB Book Discussion group will meet  Sunday, October 15 at 3:00 p.m.  at Elof and Nedra Carlsons' home.  We will be discussing a non-fiction book, WHY? WHAT MAKES US CURIOUS by Mario Livio.  Livio discusses the lives of Leonardo Da Vinci and Richard Feynman and interviews several neurobiologists and psychologists to find the relation between curiosity, creativity, and output. (The three do not always go together).  
Path to Membership: 
Exploring Unitarian Universalism Class 
Nov. 5 and 12
Are you interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism and this congregation?  Are you considering becoming a member of this church? Whether you are considering membership or are just curious, this class is for you. The Exploring UU Class will be held on  Nov. 5 and Nov. 12 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  Nov. 1  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. Abby Gitlitz and John Woodcock will lead this fun and informative class.
 
Welcome to our Newest Members!
On September 24, we welcomed 12 new members into the congregation. Please offer a warm welcome to our newest members: Kim Carballo, Courtney DeMeulenaere, Kate Ellis, Cathy and Luis Fuentes-Rohwer, Dirk and Susan Herr-Hoyman, Tracy James, Gretchen Laymon, Bill and Cindy Lonnberg, and Dennis McCarty. Below is the first installment of new member bios to help you get to know them. --Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator. 
   
Courtney DeMeulenaere     Courtney (Beckman) DeMeulenaere grew up in Odon, Indiana. She graduated from IU with a Bachelors in Education.  She student taught in Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, on the Navajo Reservation.  She taught elementary special education, took up surfing, and attended the First UU Church of San Diego for a few years before returning to Bloomington.  Courtney has a husband and two young daughters. Her other interests include yoga, meditation, gardening, and reading.
 
Kate Ellis      Kate Ellis grew up in the Chicago area and came to Bloomington in the 1970's as an undergraduate. She works at Indiana University and leads fiber arts workshops on design and natural dyes. Kate lives on the eastern edge of Monroe county with her sweetheart Dennis McCarty and two cats. Her extended family lives in Ft. Wayne, Seattle, and the Bloomington area.



Bill Lonnberg      Bill Lonnberg  and his wife Cindy have lived in Bloomington for nearly 30 years.  He is an engineer by profession, and is active in his neighborhood association.  He enjoys hiking the natural areas of South Central Indiana.  His other interests include IU basketball, animals and music.  Bill is a member of the UUCB choir.
 


Cindy Lonnberg      Cindy Lonnberg , with her husband Bill, has two children - Sam, a Freshman at IU and Emma, a Junior at South.  Cindy was a lifelong United Methodist before coming to the UU Church.  She is currently involved in the UUCB Reproductive Justice Task Force.  She has an interest in politics and enjoys time with her family & pets and watching Purdue sports.


 
Dennis McCarty      Born in Colorado, Dennis McCarty retired from ministry at the Columbus, Indiana, UU Congregation in 2015. He now lives in Bloomington with his "better half," Kate. Over the years he has written novels, nonfiction books, plays, and magazine articles as well as songs. He now writes full-time except when he is hiking, guest preaching at other Indiana congregations, or working in the yard. He has two grown daughters, Erin and Colleen, both of whom live in Seattle. So do his two grandchildren, Moira and Quinn.
Fill a jar for the Bazaar!
We know folks are not ready to think about the Holiday Bazaar, but we'd like you to do exactly that! As you preserve the bounty of the summer in the coming weeks, save one for a good cause!  Relish, chutney, chow-chow, salsa, pickles, preserves sweet and savory... Think of all the possibilities! And when you're thinking--and canning- remember the Gourmet Galaxy, and fill a jar for the Bazaar! Got questions? Contact Ann LeDuc at  a_leduc@msn.com .   --Ann LeDuc and Celeste McGregor, Co-chairs
Current Membership: 528
Attendance
Sunday, September 24           9 :15: 126          11:15: 162      TOTAL: 288
Sunday, October 1                  9 :15 : 183          11:15: 160      TOTAL: 344
Non-Pledge Offering 
September 24: $701.75      October 1: $493.16
Total to be donated (25%) to All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center $298.73
Grocery Card Sales
(Bloomingfoods or Lucky's Market)
September 24: $400, income to UUCB $22.50    October 1: $750, income to UUCB $38.50   
  Changing the World 
Social Justice Funding Available
Applications Due October 9
The Social Justice Funds Committee (SJFC) encourages all social justice task forces, organizers, workers, and leaders to apply for our church's Fall social justice grants. Click here for application.    Applications are due October 9. Info:  uucbsjfunds@uubloomington.org .   
Geoff Wilson of the Ploughshares Fund 
Speaking Here October 11 
The Just Peace Task Force asks you to attend our major event, a talk on "Nuclear Dangers" by Geoff Wilson of the Ploughshares Fund in Washington, DC.  It is on Wednesday, October 11th at 7:00 p.m. in our Meeting Room.  A strong turnout will increase the impact of the event.  Please bring a friend. If you have any questions, please contact David Keppel keppel@sbcglobal.net.  
Green Sanctuary Task Force Spring  Clothing   Swap   October 21
       T he Green Sanctuary Task Force encourages all of us to examine our habits of consumption.  What do we buy? What happens to it when we're finished with it? 
       Each spring and fall, we hold a Clothing Swap as an alternative to buying new clothes.  This fall's Swap will be held on Saturday, October 21 from 9:30 am until noon in Fellowship Hall.   If you need childcare to attend this event, please contact Stephanie Kimball (Kimball.stephanie@gmail.com)  by October 7.
Hope for Prisoners Task Force Film Screening Justice for All 
with Panel Discussion October 25
The Hope for Prisoner Task Force will host a screening of the documentary  Justice for All on Wednesday, October 25 at 4:00 p.m. in the Library.  After viewing  the documentary about Indiana's state-funded public defenders, Chris Gaal, Steve Dillon and Jesse Cook will share their views on Indiana's severely underfunded system and how it affects the lives of many in our community and state.  The meeting is open to everyone.   
Magazines Welcome at Used Book Cart
The Booktable crew welcomes your recent date already-read magazines. We are sharing them with Shalom Center. These may be placed on the book cart in Fellowship Hall.
Habitat Task Force's Resale Home Project and 
Help with Leaf-Raking Fundraiser
     The Habitat Task Force is sponsoring a resale home project , to help Habitat for Humanity get a home ready for occupancy for another family. When the original owner has to move, Habitat gets back the home and readies it for new occupants.  Our first volunteer day is  Dec. 9  and we need 10 people. Please contact Barb Berggoetz,  barbberg@bluemarble.net To help finance this, we're having a bake sale on  Oct. 29  between services. Please come buy and contribute.
        Need help raking leaves? Our task force is helping the IU Habitat for Humanity Chapter publicize its Rake-a-Thon project. Chapter members provide students who will rake your lawn, in return for a donation to IU Habitat, and the funds will help build a Habitat home. To set up a time for students to rake your leaves on  Nov. 3 , 4, 5, 10, 11, or 12, please visit  http://tinyurl.com/Rake11-3  or change the last number to 4, 5, 10, 11 or 12 to reflect the date you want.
Reproductive Justice Task Force Hosts
Jackson 
Film Screening November 5 at 
Ivy Tech Waldron Arts Center
     At one time the state of Mississippi had fourteen abortion clinics. Now only one remains. Indiana is on a similar trajectory.
     Jackson  is an intimate, unprecedented look at the lives of three women caught up in the complex issues surrounding abortion access. Set against the backdrop of the fight to close the last abortion clinic in Mississippi, Jackson captures the essential and hard truth of the lives at the center of the debate over reproductive healthcare in America.
     Join us for the Bloomington screening of Jackson on Sunday, Nov 5th at 3 pm in the Whikehart Auditorium of the Waldron Arts Center. The event is sponsored by our Reproductive Justice Task Force, and proceeds will support the fight against gerrymandering. A panel discussion will follow the screening.   Tickets are $20 and are available through task force members and at Yarns Unlimited and will be available for sale during fellowship hour at church on Sunday, Oct 29th and Nov 5th.
Read more...     
Community Connections
Our Faith in Action in the Community 

There are many helpful ways to put your UU faith into action in our community this month.   For details on these events, please Read more...

Sing for Shalom with Sylvia McNair and Friends
Sunday, October 15th at 2:00 PM, First United Methodist Church
Proceeds support the Shalom Community Center.

Interfaith Emergency Winter Shelter Chipotle Fundraiser Oct 17
The Winter Shelter will receive 50% of the proceeds from purchases on Oct 17.

Interfaith Emergency Winter Shelter Benefit Concert Friday, October 20
A fundraising benefit concert to help the Interfaith Emergency Winter Shelter, at St. Thomas Lutheran Church.

Join the UU Team in Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention October 22   As a team we will walk together in the "Out of the Darkness Walk," on Sunday, October 22, supporting each other and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). 

Supporting Your Cause Through Community Walks
Is there a cause close to your heart that organizes an annual community walk in Bloomington?  If so, contact our Connections Coordinator about encouraging other U.U.s to join you in supporting your cause. Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator,  connect@uubloomington.org or  (812) 332-3695
  Seeking the Spirit  
Adult Religious Education Registration is Open
We hope you received the list of class offerings in the Adult Religious Education Prospectus for Fall 2017 that we sent in early September. You may still register for upcoming classes by contacting office@uubloomington.org or 812-332-3695 ext. 204. Click here to read the class listings.

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Ongoing Adult Religious Education Groups 
and Classes:
First Monday Poetry Sharing
Shambhala Meditation Every Monday
Open Mind Zen Every Monday
Taiji Every Tuesday and Saturday

UU Humanist Forum Meets on Alternating Sundays
This group offers 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, October 8, at 12:45 a.m. in Room 208. The topic will be "The case for fiction as a requirement for a fertile intellect," with Jon Chaffin leading the discussion. Info, contact Harold Ogren.
UU Freethinkers Group Enjoys Free Ranging Discussion  
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 meet next on Sunday, October 15, 12:45 p.m. 
Contact a Minister

Reverend Mary Ann Macklin, our Senior Minister,
can be reached at 812-332-3695, ext. 201 and is available by appointment on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons. macklin@uubloomington.org


 

Reverend Scott McNeill, our Associate Minister,  
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. 



Reverend Emily Manvel Leite our Minister of Religious Education,  can be reached at 
812-332 -3695, ext. 207  on Weds and Fri mornings.  mre@uubloomington.org


Our Covenant of Right Relations
In June 2017, our members affirmed a Covenant of Right Relations. Click here to read it.

Livestreaming Our Sunday Services  
You can view the livestream of our Sunday services and view archived video from the last few months at this link:    uubloomington.yourstreamlive.com 
Please let us know if you have a problem with the livestream, by emailing Andy Beargie at  media@uubloomington.org It is also helpful if you let Andy know which web browser you are using.
Orion Day 2016
Beacon Young Adult/Campus Ministry
Orion Day, our Young Adult/Campus Ministry Coordinator, can be reached at  beacon@uubloomington.org and keeps office hours at the Indiana Memorial Union Room 577. Stop by and say hello! 

Church Calendar 
A link to our church calendar can be found on this page of our website. 
Facebook  Many church events also appear on our Facebook page .
Prologue Publication Schedule 
The Prologue is edited by Carol Marks, mostly. The deadline for articles is 10 a.m. on the date of publication. Next few issues: The first and third Tuesdays of each month. Oct 17,  Nov 7, Nov 21, Dec 5, Dec 19, etc.
Masthead photo "Monarch in UU garden" by Melinda Swenson
Unitarian Universalist Church