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Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
Congregation founded 1949 | LGBTQ Welcoming Congregation since 1995 | Green Sanctuary since 2007
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Seeking the Spirit | Building Community | Changing the World |
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Join us for online services
Livestreamed on Sunday mornings at 10:15 am
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Hearing assistive devices are now available at the AV Tech booth in the rear of the sanctuary for use during Sunday worship services.
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Sunday, January 9, 2022
10:15 a.m. Livestream and in-person
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
Dr. Michele Townsend Grove
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Sunday, January 16, 2022
10:15 a.m. Livestream and in-person
Reverend Bill Breeden
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
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There is room for you at in-person worship
When deciding whether or not to attend in-person services, please take into account your health risk factors and the fact that we cannot ensure that all participants are vaccinated.
If you have any trouble registering, please email Carol Marks at admin(at)uubloomington.org or Monica Overman and Mandy Skinner at office(at)uubloomington.org, and we will register you.
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Greet the New Year by being a Greeter!
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Emily’s Post
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year! Happy New Month! Happy New Theme!
To introduce our theme, I’m sharing the words I offered at the beginning of our service last Sunday.
This month, we are taking up the theme of Intention.
And let me tell you, that theme can rub folks the wrong way when we take it up in January. It can sound like an invitation to New Years Resolutions, which may work well for you, or may not, but they usually take the form of addressing something that we are unsatisfied with, maybe even judgmental about, regarding how we are living our lives.
But when I met with Raymond Sage, a member of our Worship Arts Playgroup, we talked about the juxtaposition of this month exploring Intention with last month, when we celebrated Joy.
And here is where we landed:
May we find that our Intention in this time grows out of Joy.
May we discover what makes our heart sing
and Intend more of it in our lives.
What makes your heart sing? Only you can know.
So take a moment right now to consider…
Now: Intend more of that.
Wishing you all a sweet new year,
Emily
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
Minister of Story and Ritual
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From Reverend Bill
Hello, 2022!
And a welcome sight you are, with 12 months of possibilities. As I look to the future of this phenomenal congregation, it is helpful to remember the past, even the recent past. I was nearly floored to learn that, during the past nearly two years of Covid restrictions, there have been more than forty persons who have "signed the book," as we say. Folks who have never had the experience of joining en masse with this community, but have become engaged with it enough to know that this is where they want to be.
As we "boldly go" into our future, let us re-commit ourselves to the work of loving the world, and creating a peaceful home for generations to come.
peace--bill
Reverend Bill Breeden
Minister Emeritus
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Message from Michele
Many of us begin a new year as if it is a clean slate in which we can reimagine and redesign ourselves and our future. Soon, we may discover that this slate is not as clean as we had hoped. Many imperfections permeate our lives.
Margaret Wheatley teaches us that there is order and beauty in chaos. It has taken me a long time to believe this because I adore a well-ordered system! But I see the truth in her teaching. We may not have the control, but we do have each other, and we have Unitarian Universalism. As this year begins with a new COVID variant growing at rapid rates, the climate crisis continuing to remind us of looming dangers, and other uncertainties too numerous to count, I invite you to take a moment to stop…. breathe…. and name five beautiful things around you and in you.
This may be an uncertain year. It can still be a meaningful one with moments of magic and joy! I look forward to sharing one or two of these moments with you. Thank you for your gifts of presence and talent with the UU Bloomington congregation.
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Shout Mouse Press Reading Groups:
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Embracing the Interim:
Exploring our Religious Education Heritage
And now it is your turn! In the past 4 months, I have gotten to know you and begun the discernment process around the congregation’s lifespan religious education future. This is liminal space which provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect on your religious education values and dreams. Beth Lodge-Rigal and Drew Schrader are working with me to design an intentional process for storytelling, reflection, and discernment.
In January, these opportunities to gather will look at this congregation’s religious education heritage. See below for specific dates and times. Then in February, there are more opportunities to gather to discern this congregation’s religious education core values. In March, we will gather to dream UU Bloomington’s religious education future. We hope that each of your will participate. Lifespan religious education is an integral part of this congregation’s mission and vision.
There are specific learning programs for all ages AND there is learning in unexpected places. Because learning happens all the time, each of you has experience religious education and have something of value to share in this process. I look forward to hearing your stories and perspective. Thank you for all you give this community.
The in-person session will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2022, 10:00 AM to Noon in the Library at church.
Facilitators: Beth Lodge-Rigel and Michele Townsend Grove
The online session will be held on Sunday, January 23, 2022, Noon to 2:00 PM
Facilitators: Drew Schrader and Michele Townsend Grove
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Omicron Intersession!
Since the current Omicron Wave of our ongoing pandemic is expected to peak this month and then dissipate quickly, we are pivoting our plans for in-person religious education ever so slightly. Weekly Religious Education will start on January 9, 2022, but it will look different from what we had been planning and will offer many options to meet families’ varying needs.
For Intersession, we have special opportunities to get to know each other better, get oriented to our new programs, set our intentions (that is January’s theme, after all), and have some fun. You can participate in person on Sunday mornings, at special outdoor activities on other days, at home with your families, and/or via Zoom. Opportunities abound!
Here’s how to join in:
If you haven’t already, please REGISTER yourself and/or your children for Religious Education. This should only take a few minutes, and will update our database.
Register your children for the appropriate class. On Sunday mornings we’ll be offering Spirit Play for kids 3-7, and a new program called IMUU (or I Am UU) for kids 7-13. Parents with 7-year olds can decide together which class is most appropriate, by reading descriptions of each on our website and/or discussing with Stephanie or Michele. In addition, we are starting our Shout Mouse Press Book Group for 3rd grade and up, meeting online at times to be determined
If you do not have children but would like to participate, please sign up here so that we can keep you in the loop.
Once you’re signed up, you will receive information on the Omicron Intersession plans for your class(es). Information will also be posted on our website by the end of the week.
We look forward to seeing you!
For more news from Religious Education, subscribe to our newsletter, Education Matters. January's issue will arrive on Wednesday, January 5.
--Stephanie Kimball
Religious Education Coordinator
kimball(at)uubloomington.org
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The Labyrinth
We are exploring the image of the Labyrinth this month, since many people choose to travel a labyrinth holding an Intention (our January theme). We have a labyrinth banner hanging behind the pulpit, and we invite you to travel it with your eyes as you join us for worship. We also plan to install a labyrinth on the floor of the sanctuary, to be available from 1pm on January 16 to 1pm on January 22. We expect that it will be available for several hours during that week for people to travel (masked and maintaining social distance). Watch the Friday Updates and our next Prologue for the times it will be available.
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Writing as a Spiritual Practice (Season 6)
A Drop-in Group with Rev. Barbara Child
Tuesdays, January 4 through February 22
You are invited to join me on a journey of personal exploration through autobiographical writing in community on Zoom.
We will meet every Tuesday afternoon 1:00-2:00 p.m.
January 4 through February 22.
You need to register only once and can then attend as many Season 6 sessions after that as you choose. You may register up to a few minutes before a session begins.
Here is a description of “Writing as a Spiritual Practice” and what happens in our Zoom room on Tuesday afternoons at 1:00.
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Welcome to New Member David Runyon, Who Joined on December 24
David Runyon became our newest member on Christmas Eve. He is incarcerated, and sent a letter to in November to request becoming a member of our congregation, and he was added to our membership rolls on December 24. Chris Haynes, who is minister of record for David and visits him in prison, is pictured with him at left. Click here to view David's letter. The text of his letter reads:
"Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington
Membership Request
I, David A. Runyon, Sr., have studied the 7 principles and 6 sources of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Affirming them, I request membership to formally belong to a family of people with the same respect for all life and spiritual beliefs, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana.
David A. Runyon, Sr. 16 Nov 2021"
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UU Online Book Club: Postponed until January 10
Due to connectivity issues, The first half of The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber and David Wengrow will be discussed on January 10 at 6:30 PM via Zoom. The second half of the book will be discussed at the March 7 meeting. The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones will be discussed on Feb 7. If you would like to join the book discussions, sign up here. The UU Online Book Club usually meets the first Monday of each month at 6:30 PM via Zoom. If you have questions, email connect(at)uubloomington.org.
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Fellowship Dinners Restarting
With caution and our fingers crossed, we are restarting Fellowship Dinners. If you are interested in the possibility of participating, please go to Fellowship Potluck Dinners Sign Up for detailed information on how we are handling the dinners. Please note that we are limiting the dinners to participants who have been fully vaccinated. If you choose to sign up and are signing up as a couple, please include both names on the sign up form. Also, after you have filled out the form, please be sure to click the Submit Form button. You will receive a confirmation email with the information you included on the form.
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Our Covid Memorial Project
For a couple of months now, members of our community have been writing numbers to memorialize each person who has died of Covid 19 in the United States. Just like our experience of the pandemic itself, this work takes longer than we might have hoped or expected. Steadiness and patience are required along with the loving efforts of many hands.
We hope to expand this project into more congregations in the new year, and also need our congregation to keep on keeping on. Many thanks to all who have been co-creating the memorial so far. Might you like to join them? Sign up here to be a part of it.
And thank you for your loving witness in these challenging times.
(photo above by Linda Mjolsnes.)
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Diaper Delivery Volunteers Needed for All-Options
Great quick and flexible volunteer opportunity! All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center is looking for a few folks to help with no contact diaper deliveries in the Bloomington area. Requests come about every 2-3 weeks and sign-up is optional each time. No training involved. Contact UU member Jess McCanse Marchbank at jess (at) all-options.org or leave a msg @ 812-558-0089.
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Faith and the Climate Crisis --
Inspiring Hope through Action
The Green Sanctuary Task Force encourages you to consider participation in "Faith and the Climate Crisis", a 4-part virtual Sunday school series presented by Presbyterian Climate Advocates. People of all faith backgrounds are most welcome to attend. More information and registration is available on the website.
- The first series is on 4 consecutive Sundays, January 9 - 30, 4:00 - 5:15 ET.
- There will be additional 4-part classes starting on April 24, July 10, and October 2.
Our mission is to inspire hope through action. The program includes scriptural themes, interviews with faith leaders, and solutions that range from individual to congregational to national policy. The policy component focuses on CCL's values and its nonpartisan advocacy for large-scale solutions, along with tools for taking action.
--Marcia Veldman
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UU Humanist Forum Meets Sunday, January 9,
12:45 pm
Every other Sunday at 12:45 pm, our UU Humanists meet together online on Zoom for discussion. Email Ann Watzel if you would like to join the discussion.
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Monthly Life Stories Writing Group
Welcomes New Members --
Next Meeting Thursday, January 13
Thinking about writing a story from your life? We invite you to join the monthly life writers, a supportive group that meets on the second Thursday of every month from 3 to 5p, on Zoom. Attendees usually read short excerpts from work in progress. If you are new, it’s fine to just listen and ask a few questions. To get your Zoom invitation for January 13, email John Woodcock at woodcock(at)indiana.edu.
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UU Freethinkers Meet Sunday, January 16, 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. Every other Sunday via Zoom at 12:45 pm. To join, contact Ann Watzel.
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Shambhala Meditation Online on Mondays
Every Monday at noon online, or anytime it's easy, since there are saved sessions, you can join Sarah Flint in this 2500-year-old practice of cultivating peace and inner wisdom. Contact Sarah Flint to join the group in real time. On Facebook at UU Bloomington Meditation.
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Open Mind Zen at Friends Meeting House
Open Mind Zen with UU member Sensei Frank Seisho Diaz meets weekly at the Bloomington Friends Meeting House. If you'd like to participate, visit openmindzenbloomington.org and click on the "Welcome" tab for more information.
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COVID-19 Vaccination News
Vaccines for Ages 5 and Older!
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Your Church Office Staff is Available
by Phone and Email
Here is how to be in touch with the church administrative staff during their office hours as they continue to work from home.
Church Administrator Carol Marks, M-F, 10-4, 812-287-9615, admin (at) uubloomington.org
Office Assistant Monica Overman, T, Th, 10-1, Friday 12:30-3:30, 812-322-5546, office (at) uubloomington.org
Office Assistant Mandy Skinner, M, W, F, 10:30-1:30, 812-340-9981, office (at) uubloomington.org
The land line at the church, 812-332-3695, is checked for messages twice weekly.
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Email SCAM Alert
Our ministers, staff, and board members or other members will never send you email asking you for any money besides your pledge payment!
How to Recognize an Email Phishing Scam:
Is the email impersonating Rev. Macklin or another of our staff or ministers? Are they asking you to purchase gift cards? Wait! Don't do it! We will never send you emails like that. To double check, look at the email address of the sender. Is it from an address at uubloomington.org? If not, that's the second good reason to delete it!
Office Hours, Calendar, Deadlines
Office hours: M-F, 10 am-4 pm.
The Church Office can be reached via text or voicemail during office hours at 812-287-9615. Email: admin (at) uubloomington.org or office (at) uubloomington.org
The Prologue is published on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month. Next issue is
January 18. Deadline is 10 am on date of publication, admin (at) uubloomington.org
Church Mailing Address is once again
2120 N. Fee Lane, Bloomington, IN 47408.
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Details on Membership & Offering
Membership: 574 certified members as of 2/1/2021;
566 current members.
Non-Pledge Offering:
December 19 $301
December 26 $101
To make a contribution for the Non-Pledge Offering (Sunday Plate), or to make a payment towards your pledge, click on this link to get to our new Giving page: uucb.churchcenter.com/giving
Total to be donated (25%) to The Nest childcare center at New Hope Family Shelter: $100.50
Grocery Card Sales: (Bloomingfoods or Fresh Thyme) $0; Total income to UUCB: $0
Free Money from Kroger!
Fresh Thyme and Bloomingfoods
Grocery Cards Available by Mail
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Did you know that Kroger sends us over $1,600 each year? This is made possible by those of you who participate in Kroger's Community Rewards program. Register your Kroger Plus card online at this link.
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We are also still selling grocery cards for Bloomingfoods and Fresh Thyme by mail. Click here to see what kind of cards and how many are available. Send your check to the church (UU Church, 2120 N. Fee Lane, Bloomington, IN 47408) with a note to let us know the type and value of card(s) you want, and we will mail them to you. You do not need to send an envelope.
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Masthead photo by Marcia Hart -- "New Ice for A New Year" |
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, IN
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