Reclaiming Our Humanity: The Healer Archetype

Reverend Mary Ann Macklin and Tafadzwa Matiure

As we witness the erosion of cherished values and key components of democracy in this country, what calls us to remain steadfast? What calls us to our highest aspirations? What do we do with our fury? May we know once again that we are not isolated beings but connected, in mystery and miracle, to the universe, to this community and to each other. Join us for this worship service which will feature guest musician, Taffie Matiure.

9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

Celebrating Our Ancestors

Reverend Emily Manvel Leite 

Reverend Mary Ann Macklin

As we begin the seasonal transition into deep fall, our community joins with many others in the world as we use ritual to remember those who have died and left an imprint upon us. At the UU Church of Bloomington, we have a history with people in our congregation who have connected us to the celebration of El Dia de Los Muertos, and many in our community feel drawn to earth-based traditions, like Samhain.  This year, we have also been inspired by the movie, "Coco," as we celebrate our loved ones who have died.  Our worship (with the children for the first half of the service) will integrate the different ways we can show respect for both our ancestors and ourselves, and will include music from "Coco" sung by the UU choir directed by Reverend Dr. Susan Swaney and the UU Children's Choir, directed by Jill Courtney. 

      I've been thinking a lot lately about the failure to empathize, and not just with our homeless neighbors. I've noticed it showing up with how some men (and even women) have responded to claims of sexual assault by centering the fear of the rare false accusation against men. And I've noticed it with how some white folks worry more about the possibility of offending veterans by kneeling before the flag than the violence against black and brown bodies from our criminal justice system. In all these instances, I can appreciate why someone might feel the concern that they feel. But I struggle to understand how they can't take a step back and realize their concern is so much less significant than the far more serious circumstance right in front of them. It's ultimately a failure to empathize. Perhaps, that's our most fundamental task as liberal religious people - to call each of us into the experience of another, granting special attention to the most vulnerable among us.

--Forrest

Reverend Forrest Gilmore

UUCB Community Minister &

Executive Director of Shalom Community Center

 

P.S. I hope you'll join me and many others at Shalom's Fireside Gala at the Woolery Mill on October 30th at 6pm. Tickets are available at the BCT box office. With Gladys DeVane telling stories, the UkeTones strumming away, Brother William Morris guiding us through an auction, and UU Minister Emeritus Rev. Bill Breeden and I cooking as two of the six celebrity chefs, it should be a great evening with all proceeds benefiting the work of Shalom Community Center.  

On Sunday, October 14, we welcomed eight new members into our congregation. Please give a warm welcome to our newest members-- Julie Adams, Marie Deer, Michele and Tom McCaffrey, Rob and Nicki Stewart Ingersoll, Tiffany Walton, and Carol Weingartner.  Below are their bios to help you get to know them.  --Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator

Tiffany Walton was born in Fort Wayne and spent her early years there and in Indianapolis, coming to Bloomington right before high school. She and her mom started coming to this church periodically in the early '90s, and their love for the church and congregation grew over the years. Tiffany is a certified massage therapist. She loves her current position with IU Children's Campus Daycare Center, and enjoys singing, playing with the ukulele club, and contra dancing. "UU is a great gathering place for people who try to do good for the community."

Carol Weingartner is a 5th generation Hoosier, along with her husband, Larry. Their families came to Indiana in the 1820s.  They have lived in California, Michigan, and Maryland.  Carol taught mostly 5th grade while Larry was a civilian faculty member at the United States Naval Academy for 32 years.  After retirement they moved here to be near family. Carol is looking  forward to being a part of the UU community.

Michele Reiling McCaffrey, dog enthusiast, has just retired to Indiana.  Born in Bloomington and raised in Greencastle, she earned her BA in Italian and an MLS from IUB.  She was a librarian at the U of Missouri and Syracuse U and retired the end of June after 27 years at Saint Michael's College in Vermont.  Also an Italian linguist and teacher, she loves to travel. 

Tom McCaffrey, an "escaped Catholic" since 1975, has sung in choirs of all sorts since then, including UU choirs in Annapolis, MD, Rochester, NY, Burlington, VT, and most recently the 'Last Minute Choir' in Jericho, VT.   He's been a college librarian much of his working life, and a Recruitment Supervisor, for Vermont, in Census 2000.  Singing folk music, as if the 60s never ended, he also writes light poetry. 

Rob Stewart Ingersoll  is from Bloomington and was a member of the UU church before moving away in 2000. He is a social and data scientist, an activist for peace and social justice, and a spiritual seeker. He is excited to reengage with the Bloomington UU community. 

We will need more than 150 volunteer shifts filled for the Holiday Bazaar, November 30 and December 1. It takes a lot of people, but each shift is only a couple of hours. There is a job to suit anyone's interests and it is so much fun! Sign up using Sign Up Genius at  http://bit.do/UUBazaar2018.  If you have questions (or have trouble signing up) please see us in Fellowship Hall between services  Sundays  beginning  October 21,  or contact Melinda Pettijohn directly at  [email protected] .

Join Earth Kin for its annual Samhain Ritual on Sunday, October 28, 2018 from 7 to 9 pm in Fellowship Hall. On Samhain (Sow-in) -- the Celtic New Year and third harvest festival -- the veil between the world of the living and the dead is thinnest. Earth Kin's Samhain ritual will honor this sacred time of the year by remembering and communing with our ancestors and preparing ourselves for the dark time of the year. This will include a summoning of Cailleach (the Divine Hag and Scottish ancestor deity), a guided meditation, and an ancestor calling. All are welcome to bring photographs of or offerings to the ancestor(s) you wish to honor, which will be placed on an ancestor altar and returned to you after the ritual. 

Benefit Concert for Interfaith Emergency Winter Shelter

Friday, October 19, 7:30 pm 

Jewish Theatre of Bloomington Presents Leipzig 

Oct 25, 27, 28, Nov 1, 3

Leipzig explores the journey of a three-member Catholic family when the mother descends into Alzheimer's Disease and begins praying in Hebrew, revealing her long held secret that she is Jewish and a child refugee of the Holocaust. Her daughter must deal with the devastating effects of her mother's secret past and come to terms with her religious identity. The play raises deep questions about identity, loyalty, and parental bonds. Talkbacks directly following the performances on October 25 and November 1. Performances are October 25 & 27 and November 1 & 3 at 7:30 pm, and October 28 at 3:00 pm, in the Ivy Tech John Waldron's Rose Firebay Theatre. For ticket information and more details: www.jewishtheatrebloomington.com/le

Better Angels Needs Volunteers

         Red and Blue organizers help depolarize America.  What is a Red/Blue Workshop?  It's an invitation-only workshop bringing together 5-7 conservative leaning citizens and 5-7 progressive leaning citizens for a day of structured conversations to better understand the experiences and beliefs of those on the other side of the political divide.  The focus is on listening and reflecting, rather than debating and persuading.  Better Angels (www.Better-Angels.org) is looking for a Red co-organizer to recruit participants for our December 8th workshop in Bloomington.  If you know of someone who may be interested,  contact Miles Eddy at (812) 361-0067, or email him at:   [email protected]

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