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Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, Changing the World
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Sunday, December 9, 2018
9:15 am and 11:15 am
They Lit the Menorah Anyway
Reverend Scott McNeill
The miracle of Hanakkuh is that the Maccabees were rededicating the temple after a victory to reclaim their land, but almost all of the oil necessary to light the menorah was unusable. There was just a small amount--seemingly not enough to last through the 8 days it was needed. And yet,
they lit the menorah anyway--using what they had--and that was enough. Today's worship will integrate that story and help us look at our lives and the larger world, to call us to action (even if it doesn't seem like it will be enough) and to imagine what miracles may emerge, through hard work, collaboration, and hope.
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Sunday, December 16, 2018
9:15 am and 11:15 am
The Threshold of Winter
All Music Sunday
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
Reverend Doctor Susan Swaney
How do we cross the threshold into winter? Brigita Anna McNeill states, "This is a time of rest and deep reflection, a time to wipe the slate clean as it were and clear out the old so you can walk into spring feeling ready to grow and skip without a dusty mountain on your back and chains tied to the caves in your soul." Our choir, with guest musicians, directed by Susan Swaney, will bring us a musical piece of rest as well as "light in the darkness," through Morten Lauridsen's
Lux Aeterna.
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MAM's Musings
In a recent Facebook post I shared that my spiritual mentor, Angeles Arrien, taught that there are four questions to explore if one is experiencing soul loss; soul loss is sometimes experienced as depression, disconnection, or emptiness. These questions are: When did I stop dancing? When did I stop singing? When did I stop experiencing the enchantment of stories? When did I become uncomfortable with the sweet territory of silence? In last Sunday's service, Reverend Leite offered an enchanting story and we spent time as a community reflecting upon the nature of deep listening in this season---the threshold of winter---as well as our wishes during this holiday time.
As we approach the winter season, may we each create space for inward reflection upon our feelings, thoughts and motives. During this month of December, I invite you to spend time with these four questions from Angeles Arrien. Deep Listening, our theme for this month, involves taking time to listen to our deeper selves as well as others. From the Center for Contemplative Mind,
Deep Listening is a way of hearing in which we are fully present with what is happening in the moment without trying to control it or judge it. We let go of our inner clamoring and our usual assumptions and listen with respect for precisely what is being said. For listening to be effective, we require a contemplative mind: open, fresh, alert, attentive, calm, and receptive. We often do not have a clear concept of listening as an active process; we often see listening as a passive, static activity.
In fact listening within
a contemplative mind is open and vibrant yet spacious, and it can be cultivated through instruction and practice.
I wish for you comfort in the sweet territory of silence and deep listening. I wish for you dancing. I wish for you singing. I wish for you many enchanted stories.
Peace and Love,
MAM
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin, Senior Minister
PS And I wish that you all will attend the congregational meeting at 4pm on December 9th. :-)
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From Our Associate Minister...
Live into the Quiet
There is a great comic strip being passed around social media right now (and, as I looked back over my own posts, I posted it 2 years ago--an eternity when it comes to funny images and memes). On the left panel, titled "Sunday morning," a minister stands before her church and says something like, "Slow down. Quiet. It's Advent." The right panel is titled, "Monday morning," you can see the phone ringing, her child is asking about presents, and the same minister is frantically thinking, "Hurry up, get to work, it's Advent! Have I ordered the poinsettias? A party in December, what were you thinking?"
'Tis the season! Hopefully you can come to an event at the church--and allow yourself the space needed to slow down, live into the quiet, to listen deeply to yourself and others. It can take some time to turn off the "monkey mind" that keeps us on edge, to ignore the shopping lists, the to-do lists, the "what was I thinking" lists. And yet, it's in the moments where those things are so loud in our minds that we need quiet the most.
Please join us in community as your time and energy allow. Check out the Solstice service, especially if you've never been. Stop by a movie night to make a new friend or learn about the world around you. Take a walk around our grounds, thinking to yourself or talking with someone. This season brings up so much for so many--some of it is joyous and some of it is painful. Check in with friends and loved ones; check in with people sitting in your row at church, or folks you see in coffee hour (even if you don't know them). Most of all--check in with yourself. May this season bring about hope and peace for you, and for all of us.
In faith,
Scott
Rev. Scott McNeill
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Our Folks...
Congratulations to UU member Armin Moczek, who was made an honorary member of Phi Beta Kappa at this week's induction banquet of IU's Phi Beta Kappa chapter, Gamma of Indiana. Armin's honor citation highlighted his scientific achievements and educational service in the community.
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December Events for Our Families and Friends...
December is full of exciting events for families here in our congregation. Visit
this handy guide to find details about the Holiday Sing Along, Winter Solstice Service, and Christmas Eve Services!
Baby Dedication, Sunday, December 16th
Our congr
egation will be setting aside special time in both of our worship services on Sunday, December 16th to celebrate a rite of passage for the youngest members of our community.
Baby
dedications
are intended as celebrations of the miracle of life, the sacredness of the child-parent bond, and the importance of a strong reciprocal relationship between family and our supportive faith community. If your family is interested in participating, or you have additional questions please contact Adrienne Summerlot, [email protected]
Visit the Religious Education Vision Team during Coffee Hour on December 16th!
Members of the Religious Education Vision Team will be in the yellow booth in Fellowship Hall to receive your feedback about your experience in Religious Education, listen to how we can better support families, and hear about anything else you would like to share with us. Please plan to stop by!
Parents! Please help our RE Team plan for December 23rd and December 30th
Religious Exploration activities for Preschool-8th grade by
completing this quick survey.
Best,
Adrienne Summerlot, Director of Religious Education
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OFFICIAL NOTICE OF CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
(third posting)
Congregational Meeting
Sunday, December 9, 2018 4:00 p.m.
Meeting Room
2120 N. Fee Lane, Bloomington, Indiana
All members are encouraged to attend.
Childcare provided.
Proposed Bylaw Change Increases Flexibility of Planned Gifts
(third posting)
A proposed change to our bylaws, reviewed positively by the Board of Directors and the Finance, Planned Giving and Special Purposes Fund (SPF) committees, would expand the impact of undesignated gifts to the church. Currently, any gift not designated by its donor for a particular use is placed in the Special Purposes Fund, which cannot be used for operating expenses. Thanks to the generosity of Legacy Circle donors, we have an increasing imbalance between funds available for special (usually one-time) projects and the ongoing needs of our operating budget. The bylaws change would allow undesignated gifts to be allocated to both areas.
A new SPF policy would divide undesignated gifts evenly among four areas: special purposes endowment, special purposes general fund, operational endowment and operational general fund. This would move us toward more balance between special and operational needs, and between endowments (in-perpetuity investments whose interest earnings we may spend) and funds for more immediate use.
The change will also clarify to donors that they may designate gifts to all four areas in any proportion. A form will be available for that purpose if the bylaws change is adopted at the Dec 9 congregational meeting.
This information is being published in accordance with our Bylaws concerning changes to the Bylaws and notices of congregational meetings.
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Volunteer to Help at Interfaith Winter Shelter December 8
Our congregation helps at the shelter on the second Saturday of each month, November through March. We need two volunteers for set up on Saturdays, 8:00 - 10:30 pm. For clean up on Sunday mornings, 6:00 - 7:30 am, we will need two couples to clean up at the Center for Women and Children and four people for the Men's shelter. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older.
Contact Marlin Howard, 812-320-5460, [email protected], if you can help on December 8 or any of our other Saturday/Sundays (Jan 12, Feb 9, or Mar 9).
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Race and Criminal Justice in Monroe County, Indiana --
New Report Published
Our Racial Justice Task Force and the Monroe County Branch of the NAACP have just published a report "Race and Criminal Justice in Monroe County, Indiana: A Long-Range Perspective" that is available at
www.uubloomington.org/race-and-criminal-justice
. A press conference will be held at the Second Baptist Church annex on Wednesday, December 12th at 11:00 a.m. to discuss the report's findings and recommendations. Everyone with concerns in this important social justice area is encouraged to attend if possible.
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Social Justice Film Series:
Come Sunday Sunday, December 16th, 5:00 p.m.
Join us Sunday, December 16th at 5:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall for a screening of the 2018 film Come Sunday, the story of the prelude to Bishop Carlton Pearson's powerful role at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa. Variety says "...t
oo fair-and-balanced to have come from the faith-based community and far too churchy to have gotten the blessing of any studio, director
Joshua Marston
's exceptional, serious-minded adaptation of a 2005 episode of NPR's This American Life recognizes the dramatic and ultimately uplifting potential in the true story of a Pentecostal bishop who lost both his flock and the backing of church leaders after he began to question one of the core beliefs of his religion - namely, the notion that souls must be "saved" in order to avoid eternal damnation."
The film will begin at 5:00, and pizza will be served at a break around 6:00 p.m. Discussion to follow the film. No admission charge, and free-will offerings will be invited to cover the cost of the pizza ($2-3 per slice). You are welcome to bring a brown-bag meal if you prefer. Childcare can be provided if you reserve it by Sunday, December 9. Click the following link to reserve childcare for this event:
https://goo.gl/i8vnRv
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Coat Drive for Refugees Through December 16
Our Refugee and Immigration Support and Eduction (RISE) Task Force is collecting new or used coats, gloves and scarves for Exodus, a helping organization for refugees located in Indianapolis, through December 16. All sizes needed. Collection boxes are in the courtyard entrance. Questions, contact Debbie Fish, [email protected].
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Holiday Toy Drive for Children with Incarcerated Parents
Through December 18th
In conjunction with our Hope for Prisoners Task Force and Kids with Absent Parents Program (KAP), Indiana Department of Corrections Watch (
www.idocwatch.org) is requesting donations of toys or money for their 2nd annual Holiday Toy Drive for children affected by incarceration. Drop off your toys in the box next to the social justice table in the Commons at the church, through December 18th. You can donate money online at:
chuffed.org/project/holiday-toy-drive-2018.
They have received an unexpected outpouring of gift requests for over 300 children from parents and grandparents incarcerated in Indiana, as well as from the children in the KAP program.
Frequently requested items: toy animals, toy cars/trucks, makeup sets, art supplies, and paw patrol merchandise.
Any contributions are appreciated!
--Mary Goetze, for Hope for Prisoners Task Force
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Community Connections
Our Faith in Action in the Community
Monroe County United Ministries
Holiday Food Basket Collection ends on Dec 7th
--Help Feed Our Hungry Neighbors Task Force
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Religious Education for Adults
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Shambhala Meditation Meets Mondays at 12 noon
Join us at 12 noon every Monday in the Library for an hour of Shambhala Meditation, walking meditation, and Shamatha yoga with Sarah Flint. Beginners welcome to participate in this 2500-year-old tradition. For more info: contact Sarah at
[email protected]
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Open Mind Zen Meets Mondays at 7:00 pm
Join Frank Seisho Diaz for meditation, talks, and discussions on Zen Buddhism, Mondays 7:00-8:30 pm, in Room 112 here at the church. All are welcome regardless of faith or experience.
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Traditional Taiji on Tuesdays at 7:15 pm
Brian Flaherty leads "Wu (Hao)" style Taiji in Fellowship Hall on Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m. Anyone is welcome, even those with no previous Taiji experience. Please wear loose-fitting clothing. For more i
nfo: contact Brian at [email protected]
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UU Freethinkers Meet this Sunday
December 9, 12:45 pm
The UU Freethinkers bi-weekly meeting creates the opportunity for participants to raise questions and engage in open and non-structured discussion of issues of social, political, and theological/religious concern. UU Freethinkers meet on every other Sunday in Room 208 at 12:45 pm, after children's Religious Education classes end.
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Humanist Forum Meets
December 16, 12:45 pm
On Sunday, December 16, at 12:45 pm, the UU Humanist Forum will meet in Room 208 after children's Religious Education classes end. The discussion topic will be "What is Not Right About Roe vs Wade?" facilitated by Judy Berkshire. The Humanist Forum meets every other Sunday, with a different discussion topic.
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UU Children's Choir Upcoming Schedule
Sun. 12/9: Rehearse, 10:30-11:00am (Rm 110)
Sun. 12/16: Rehearse, 10:30-11:00am (Rm 110)
Wed. 12/19: Sing for Winter Solstice Service. Run-through promptly at 6:00pm (in Meeting Room); Service is 6:15-7:00pm.
Questions? Contact Jill: [email protected]
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Special Worship Services and Events
in December
We will hold two services at 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. as usual on Sunday, December 23 and Sunday, December 30. Childcare may be limited on these Sundays, depending on staff availability.
Monday, December 10, 6:30 p.m.
No childcare.
Wednesday, December 19, 6:15 p.m.
Monday, December 24, 4:00 p.m.
Away in a Manger service especially for children; includes a Nativity pageant. No childcare. Click here for details on roles to play in the pageant.
Monday, December 24, 7:00 p.m.
Candlelight Christmas Eve service with music from our choir, and singing of carols, including Silent Night by candlelight (We'll be using the UU hymnal, which has some new/revised lyrics, so please feel free to sing the words you like the best!)
No childcare.
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60th Bazaar a Huge Success
The Holiday Art Fair and Bazaar on Nov 30 and Dec 1 was filled with beautiful art, wonderful smells and many holiday shoppers. The church was abuzz with soup servers, pie slicers, cookie bakers, chair movers and workers of all kinds. New friendships were formed and new community members found their way to the church. The bazaar also made over $10,000 for the church. Our social justice task forces made an additional $5,000 for their good work.
Thank you to all those who participated by working or donating food, books and white elephants. The combined effort was well worth it.
There are still bags of persimmon pulp in the church freezer available for $5.00.
There are also two more frozen persimmon puddings (9x13) available at the bargain price of $5.00. Call Carol Marks in the office, 812-332-3695, ext. 200, if you want to buy a persimmon pudding. --
Ruellen Fessenbecker, Bazaar Co-chair
Thank you from the Gourmet Galaxy!
A huge thank you to everyone who baked, canned, and volunteered for the Gourmet Galaxy at the 60th Annual Holiday Bazaar. Because of you, it was a great success.
Celeste McGregor and Ann LeDuc, Co-chairs
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Women's Alliance Welcomes Special Guests December 6: Reverend Macklin and Bev McGahey
Our very special guests at the Women's Alliance meeting on December 6 will be Reverend Mary Ann Macklin and Beverly McGahey. Bev will begin our program at noon with a surprise musical prelude. Mary Ann will present "MAM's Music Musings," a short bio of her life through music that inspired her along the way. We gather at 11:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall with a brown bag lunch. The presentation begins at noon, followed by a business meeting. Our hosts for the month, Ann Kamman and Marcia Hart, will provide drinks and dessert. Everyone, including women, men, and gender non-binary persons, is welcome.
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Griefwalker--
Come see a Film about Death and Wholeness, Sunday, December 9
Join us for a screening of
Griefwalker
, a film by Tim Wilson
with Stephen Jenkinson, an activist for clear and loving dying. Sunday, December 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room (sanctuary).
http://orphanwisdom.com
"Death is the cradle of your love of life.... Grief is a skill. The twin of grief...is the skill of being able to praise or love life. Wherever you find one authentically done, the other is very close at hand. Grief and the praise of life, side-by-side... Dying must be the fullest expression and incarnation of everything you have ever learned... It's a moral obligation to die well." Watch the trailer here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLQWM2j3AVg
Sponsored by Unitarian Universalist Vigiling at Life's End Education (VALE) and our
End of Life Task Force
. No childcare (or pizza) for this event. Extra parking west of Fee Lane on paved areas.
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UU History For You --
Frances Power Cobbe
Feminist, Reformer, Suffragist, Writer, and Unitarian
Frances Power Cobbe (1822-1904) was born on her father's estate in Dublin, Ireland. She was raised as an evangelical Christian, but shifted to agnosticism, Theism, and Unitarianism, much to her parents' displeasure. She was tutored, quit finishing school as she thought it frivolous, and lived as a writer for newspapers and magazines as she traveled, interviewing intellectuals and commenting on the ills of society.
She wrote numerous books and read voraciously. It was Theodore Parker's book on Unitarianism (Discourse on Religion) that converted her to Unitarianism. She believed our morals did not come from tradition or were inspired by God, but in a Kantian way were innate as our own feelings of sympathy and empathy suggest. In Paris, she met Mary Lloyd, a Welsh artist; they fell in love and lived together until Mary's death.
Cobbe wrote books on morals, women's rights, the rights of animals, and the importance of volunteer work for the needy of the world. She corresponded with virtually every well-known Unitarian, including Charles Darwin, and wrote a book on Darwin and Morals, supporting his view that morals evolved in animals. She died in Wales.
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Buy Grocery Cards on Sunday and Support the Church
We have grocery gift cards for sale in the Commons every Sunday between services. The participating grocery stores send a percentage of your purchases back to the church to support our operating budget. We have gift cards for Bloomingfoods, Lucky's, and Fresh Thyme, and you can register your Kroger Plus card by clicking here. Our new Kroger organization ID number is
EW763.
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New Paper Directories Available
New paper congregational directories (green covers) are now available in Room 204. Please print your name on the list provided when you pick one up. FUN FACT: As has been true since 2008, if you are a member or a friend of the congregation and you have access to the internet, you can log on to our online database and make your very own up-to-the-minute directory or find everyone's contact info anytime, 24/7! Questions? Contact [email protected], 812-332-3695, ext. 204.
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Have You Seen a Basket
Like this Basket?
In all the merriment and rearrangements of the Bazaar weekend, the twin of this basket, that we use for the orders of service, has gone missing. Please let us know if you've seen it so we can recover it by this Sunday. Thanks, from Your Administrative Staff: Carol, Monica, and Mandy. [email protected]
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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.
Reverend Scott McNeill, our Associate Minister,
can be reached at 812-332-3695 (ext. 209) and is available by appointment on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons.
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
,
our Minister of Religious Education,
can be reached at
812-332
-3695 (ext. 207)
on Wednesday and Friday mornings.
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Our Covenant of Right Relations
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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. If you have a problem viewing, please email Andy Beargie and Ned Joyner at
[email protected].
Links to Archived Videos of Services to View Online
Each Friday, we'll post the direct URL link for the previous Sunday's archived video of the service at the end of the Friday UU Update, as well as posting the links on the
Livestream page of our website.
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Membership: 512 certified members; 536 current members.
Attendance:
Sunday, November 25 9:15 - 71 11:15 - 159 TOTAL: 230
Sunday, December 2 9:15 - 101 11:15 - 120 TOTAL: 221
Non-Pledge Offering:
November 25
: $551 December 2: $564
Total to be donated (25%) to Spencer Pride: $278.63
Grocery Card Sales:
(Bloomingfoods, Lucky's Market, or Fresh Thyme)
November 25: $450, income to UUCB: $28.50 December 2
: $550, income to UUCB: $35.00
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Facebook: Many church events are also posted on our
Facebook page.
Prologue
Publication Schedule:
The deadline for articles is 10 a.m. on the date of publication, which is
the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month.
Upcoming
issues:
December 18,
January 2 (A Wednesday), January 15, February 5
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Masthead photo by Linda Mjolsnes (modified by cm)
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