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Vigil for Victims of U.S. Atomic Bombling of Nagasaki, Tonight
The Just Peace Task Force invites you to join us for a candlelight vigil in honor of the victims of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki on Friday, August 9th, from 8 to 9 p.m. on Courthouse Square. There will be poetry, music, silence, and some speeches about the struggle to stop the new nuclear arms race and build a world free from the threat of nuclear annihilation. It will be a joyous, convivial event. We hope to see you.
For information, please contact David Keppel.
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9:15 am and 11:15 am
Shine On, Firefly
Reverend Scott McNeill and Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
These magnificent creatures spend their summer nights illuminating our backyards. What can we learn about ourselves by paying attention to their short lives and small lights? Join us to find out, and perhaps even see some fireflies in the service!
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This Week in Religious Exploration*:
Childcare
will gather in Room 108 to share stories, play and make new friends.
Preschool
will gather in Room 103 to hear the story of Timothy Turtle and reflect upon our Blue UU Promise, Believe in Your Ideas, as they explore creative thinking and ways of helping one another.
Children and Youth will have opportunities this month to make art, create movement with Joe Grimme, sing with Jill Courtney, and make music with Colleen Haas -- all in preparation for the Water Communion Service on Sunday, September 1st. We will be painting, so please come dressed in clothes that could get messy, though we do have smocks on hand as well.
NOTE:
Art will be offered at both services, and all other activities only at the 11:15 am service.
Middle School and High School Youth
are welcome and encouraged to join us.
* We use the term "Religious Exploration" for summer sessions and other special all-ages religious education Sundays.
For the month of August, we will be singing our children out to their classes with Hymn #1007 from Singing the Journey (the teal hymnal),
"There's a River Flowin' in My Soul" (verses 2 & 3).
High School Youth Group Begins
This Weekend
All high school-age youth are encouraged to join our youth group for fun, social justice work, and spiritual engagement.
Sign up here for any of these events (so we'll have enough food and transport!):
August 10th
(Saturday) 3-5 pm: Ice Cream and Construction Work
Come help make Reverend Mary Ann's dream of a picnic table on church grounds a reality. Rich Slabach will lead us in preparing the table for construction.
August 11th (Sunday) 12:30-2:30 pm: Starting by Finishing
Come for pizza and finish the picnic table as we play getting acquainted games.
August 18th and 25th: High School Youth will be taking water-centered photography field trips from 12:30-2:30 pm.
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Did you miss our backpack blessings last Sunday?
Our beautiful charms this year were made with care by a chalice circle and held and blessed with love by members of the congregation last week. You can visit the RE office (Room 203) upstairs to take one to carry with you this school year.
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Religious Education Registration for the 2019-2020 School Year is Now Open!
Please take a moment to register your child for Religious Education this Sunday in Fellowship Hall during coffee hour or at home. Register here.
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Dear Congregation Members and Friends,
Some of you may remember that I am due for a sabbatical. I had planned to delay this sabbatical until 2020, in hopes of receiving a grant. That was a great idea, in theory, but during my recent three weeks off in July, it became very evident to me that I needed to reconsider this plan. At this time my mind, body, and spirit need sabbatical time away this fall; a delay would be unfavorable to my ministerial health and development---and well, that's not cool.
Of note, by contract, I earn one month of sabbatical leave for every year of ministerial service. Beginning in 2019, I became eligible for a total of five months; I took one month of this sabbatical in February, partly to consider options for the remaining sabbatical time.
Our UUCB Board of Directors has approved three months of sabbatical time for me from September 2nd through November 30th, 2019, with an additional sabbatical month to be determined in 2020. Our UUCB budget provides compensation for guest ministerial services as needed during sabbatical. Reverend McNeill, Reverend Leite, and I will work together to arrange for coverage of pulpit and pastoral ministries as well as delegation of management duties. A sabbatical committee will foster communication during this time.
Meanwhile, hey folks, I love my ministry and I love this congregation and I am learning to love my limitations as a human being. I will appreciate your support during this time of renewal.
Peace and Love,
MAM
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
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Are you new here? Take your "First Steps" this Sunday!
Join us to discuss the basics of Unitarian Universalism and this congregation, and watch a short video about Unitarian Universalism. This Sunday in room 112 at 10:35-11:00 am and 12:35-1:00 pm
(after each service). Free childcare is available in Room 108. Just stop in, no registration is required.
--Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
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This Sunday -- The Getting Involved Fair begins
The Getting Involved Fair will be held over the next three Sundays (August 11, 18, and 25) to help you learn about all the groups, task forces, and activities of the church. Join us for the Fair during Coffee Hour in the Fellowship Hall. A different set of groups will be represented each Sunday. This Sunday, to kick off the fair, representatives of all the groups will parade into service holding signs with their group's name. --Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
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UU Singles Fellowship and Activities Group
Lunch Every Sunday
Join us for a weekly lunch date! Every Sunday after the second service, UU Singles will meet by the coatroom near the sanctuary to agree on a lunch spot. Hope to see you there!
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UU Humanist Forum Meets August 11 at 12:45 pm
The UU Humanist Forum will meet this Sunday at 12:45 p.m. in Room 208, after children's religious education classes end. Rob Hongen will lead a discussion on "Artificial Intelligence."
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Our Folks...
After successful initial recovery from surgery, Nedra Carlson is home with pneumonia. Cards are most certainly welcomed.
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Join the Choir--i
t prevents snoring!
UU Choir rehearsals are on Thursdays at 7:00 pm in the Meeting Room. All are welcome! Childcare is provided.
--Sue Swaney, Music Director
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RSVP: UU Jewish Connections Group to meet Wednesday, August 14, 6-8 pm
Do you feel connected to Judaism by heritage, interest, or a family connection?
Join Earon Davis and Reverend Emily Manvel Leite for this exploratory gathering. Simple food and childcare will be provided. Please email if you are coming:
mre@uubloomington.org
and get in touch if you're interested but unable to attend this time. Possibilities for this group include conversation around issues affecting Jewish-identified people, exploring Jewish teachings, or gathering for seasonal celebrations. We hope you'll bring your own ideas, too.
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New! Drop-in Childcare Wednesday, August 14, 6-8 pm
Beginning Wednesday, August 7th from 6-8 p.m., we are offering free drop-in childcare in Room 108 (as space allows).
Parents must remain on site
, on the building grounds or in the building. Please use the Courtyard Entrance. We hope to provide a moment for parents to breathe deeply, have a cup of tea with a friend, or sit in silence before running children to the next event. The Meeting Room will be available for quiet meditation.
We will be providing this drop-in childcare on Wednesdays from 6-8 pm free of charge throughout the school year. At some point we may be able to offer active and passive programming or encourage folks to schedule church meetings and chalice circles here during this time. Contact Adrienne Summerlot with any questions or ideas you may have:
dre@uubloomington.org.
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Making UUCB Dementia Friendly--Workshop August 18
On Sunday, August 18, at 1:00 pm in the church library we will hold a Dementia Friendly Location training. The goal of this training is to help us learn how to better support members of our community who are living with dementia, as well as their caregivers. The training will be provided by the Alzheimer's Resource Service of IU Health. Food will be provided. If you would like to participate in the training, please email Ann LeDuc at
connect@uubloomington.org, or call her at (812) 332-3695. All are welcome to attend.
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Wellspring Program Info Sessions: August 18
If you have participated in at least one year of Chalice Circles, our small group ministry, and are interested in increased spiritual deepening, we invite you to learn about and consider applying to our Wellspring Program. The program includes reading for bimonthly circles, a daily spiritual practice, work with a spiritual director, and engagement with the world. Come hear more about it on Sunday, August 18, at 10:30 am in Room 210 (after first service) or 12:30 pm in the Library (after second service).
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Have fun at Pridefest on August 31 and represent our church!
We need a few friendly people to represent UUCB in our tent at Pridefest on
Saturday, August 31. Pridefest is Bloomington's annual celebration of LGBTQ+ life and culture. To sign up for our booth, go to:
bit.ly/Pridefest2019. Learn more about Pridefest at
bloomingtonpride.org. Questions? Contact Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator, at
connect@uubloomington.org.
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Livestream This Sunday's Service
If you can't physically make it to church this Sunday, we invite you to join us via the
livestream
on our website. At the church we also have screens set up in the nursery (Room 104) and in Fellowship Hall, if you need to leave the Meeting Room for any reason but still want to watch the service.
Direct Links to Archived Video of Recent Services
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For More Information
see the August 6
edition
of our newsletter, The Prologue. Past issues for quite awhile back can be found here.
(Next Prologue deadline is Tuesday, August 20 at 10:00 am.)
Carol Marks has editorial responsibility for our congregation's publications.
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Masthead photo by
Mike Lewinski, "Fireflies and Star Trails No. 3"
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