Friday UU Update 
October 16, 2020
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
Beware Email Fraud
Our ministers, staff, and board members will never send you email asking you for any money besides your pledge payment! 

Here's a Handy Email Fraud Detection Tip:

Is the email addressed to you personally? Does it have a greeting in the opening text followed by your first name? If the email is supposed to be from a person or business that is asking something specific to you, it will always be personalized with at least your first name. "Dear Janice,  I need you to update your information..."
Our Sunday Service 


Sunday October 18, 2020
10:15 am LIVESTREAM
Seeking Justice
Reverend Bill Breeden 

Beware of those who promise to restore "law and order." Law and order has produced the highest incarceration rate in the history of nations, and recently an assembly line of executions. Justice is not served by the restoration of an order that serves the wishes of the "haves" over the needs of the "have nots." Justice is not the perpetuation of inequity, but rather a balancing of the scales, a re-ordering of socio-economic priorities in the interest of the many rather than the few, and based on need rather than greed. Building community requires a commitment to justice and equality for all, a re-ordering rather than a restoration of the old order. I hope you will join us on Sunday morning, and I will be hanging out in the Zoom coffee hour that follows the service.  peace--Rev. Bill


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Our Building is Closed, but Our Hearts are Still Open.

Caring for Our Community: 
A Message from Our Ministers and Staff  
Dear Members and Friends of our UU Community,
     During the pandemic, our staff and ministers want to stay in touch with you. We want to know how you are doing. Are you struggling? Are you okay? Have you been able to stay connected to the church through our online Sunday services, various online classes, groups, and meetings? 
     Here is a link to a short questionnaire we would like you to complete so that we can know how you are, and stay connected. 
In community,
Reverend Macklin, Reverend Clements, Reverend Leite,
and Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
Connect with our UU Community during Virtual Coffee Hour!
Everyone is welcome to join us after the worship service until 12:15 pm for engaging conversation in Virtual Coffee Hour. Just click on this link to join us!
 
Breakout Conversations:
  • Online Holiday Bazaar Information
  • Hope for Prisoners Task Force Information
  • Choir
  • General Discussion
Email connect(at)uubloomington.org if you would like to host a breakout conversation on the topic of your choice.   --Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
Learn how to use Zoom
Would you like to connect with your UU friends via Zoom, but don't know how?  This is a great time to learn! Our simple instructions are available here. Extensive instructions, videos, and online workshops are available at Zoom's Help Center.

Religious Education Updates and Resources 
 
Curious about what we are up to in Religious Education? View our October email and subscribe to it easily  here. If you'd like to join any of our fall RE offerings, contact Adrienne Summerlot, Director of Religious Education, dre(at)uubloomington.org.
Bazaar 2020 Breakout Room at Coffee Hour
Rich LeDuc and Ruellen Fessenbecker, the co-chairs of the Bazaar, will be available this Sunday to answer questions about the 2020 Bazaar, which will be held on line from November 20 to November 30. Can I donate my Grandmother's antique Ring? Can I find my favorite coffee cake at the Gourmet Galaxy? Will there be persimmon pulp or persimmon pudding for sale? How can I help? All these questions will be answered as well as any more that you have. Join us as we re-imagine the UU Bazaar.
Spots still open in Chalice Circles
A few spots have opened up in this year's Chalice Circles. Visit our sign up page to see if one suits you, or to add your name to a wait list for future openings.
Become a Member on October 25
Membership indicates your kinship and affinity with this church and the larger Unitarian Universalist religious community.  The next membership ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, October 25 at 2 pm via Zoom. If you are new to Unitarian Universalism, we ask that you complete the Exploring Unitarian Universalism class before becoming a member.  Let the Connections Coordinator know if you would like to attend the membership ceremony and become a member of the UU Church of Bloomington. Email Ann at connect(at)uubloomington.org or phone (812) 720-3688.
Upcoming UU Singles Events, Thursday, Oct. 22
We are a group of single adults within the UU Bloomington community who meet occasionally for various kinds of connective events as a group. We'd love to have you join us! The following event will take place over Zoom.

      Thursday evening, October 22 [NOTE EARLIER STARTING TIME]
      5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Communal Cooking and Eating Together over Zoom    
      (mystery ingredient has been revealed as red cabbage, 
with a backup of sweet potato)

If you are not already on the 
UU singles e-mail list, please contact mariedeer1961(at)gmail.com or 812-391-0900 to get the Zoom link.
Join us for a fall grounds party!
Saturday, October 24, 3-5 pm 
You are invited to join us on Saturday, October 24, 3-5 pm, to enjoy conversation, community, and a little sprucing up of the church grounds. Bring your favorite snack and mask and hang out with us (safely distanced) after the work is done. We will pull a few weeds, spread a little mulch, and maybe transplant a plant or two. If you can let us know you are coming by emailing greengrounds(at)uubloomington.org, that would be great.
Writing as a Spiritual Practice (Season 2)
A Drop-in Group with Rev. Barbara Child
Tuesdays, 1-2 pm, Sept 1-Oct 27
     This is an invitation to join me on an autumn journey of personal exploration through autobiographical writing in community on Zoom. 
     REGISTRATION: Please register for Season 2 by clicking here. You may register up to a few minutes before a session begins.
LAST CALL:
Collection of Items for New Leaf-New Life
September 20-October 20
Support formerly incarcerated individuals by bringing clothing of any type, and especially: new socks and underwear, hygiene products, or backpacks to the labeled tote outside the Portico entrance.  --Chris Haynes, Hope for Prisoners Task Force
Ask your questions on Mondays!
Every Monday, from 1-2 pm, join the Connections Coordinator, Ann LeDuc, via Zoom to ask any church related questions. Newcomers and current congregation members are all welcome to drop-in. Additional ways to contact Ann are via email at connect (at) uubloomington.org or phone at (812) 720-3688. Use this link to drop-in and talk to Ann on Mondays, 1-2 pm.    
Click here to see the back of the shirt! *
Click here for the order form: Blue Boat Home shirt orders

If you are unable to print the order form, please request a printed copy by October 31 from admin(at)uubloomington.org.
Changing the World
Click here for updates from our Social Justice Task Forces:
Homelessness and Hunger Task Forces Still Collecting Items
Through October 31, we will be collecting food, hygiene items, and clothing for Shalom Community Center and food for our Pantry at College Square.
Needed items: Chunky soups, tuna, canned vegetables and fruit, cereal, coffee, peanut butter, macaroni & cheese, powdered milk, pasta, institutional size cans of food, condiments, tea, new socks. We have placed collection bins outside the building, under the north side porch near the Portico Entrance. Simply drive up and drop off--we are collecting donations from these bins daily.  Many thanks! 
--Homelessness Task Force and Hunger Task Force
We have grocery cards      
We are still selling grocery cards for Bloomingfoods and Fresh Thyme. Click here to see what kind of cards and how many are currently available. Send your check to the church (payable to UU Church) with a note to let us know the type and value of card(s) you want, and we will mail them to you. (UU Church, P.O. Box 1158, Nashville, Indiana  47448-1158)
Community Connections: Our Faith in Action in the Community

Spencer Pride's 2020 Festival -- Events October 12-18
In lieu of our 2020 Festival, Spencer Pride is holding a series of online and limited in-person events from October 12 through October 18. Visit our Facebook page for a complete list. I'd like to personally invite you to take part in our limited seating, socially distanced fundraiser, Documentary and Drag. Our very own Reverend Mary Ann Macklin is the featured speaker! Learn about the history of the AIDS quilt and support Spencer Pride. Here's the link to buy tickets! (& here's the event poster.) If you can't attend, consider purchasing a ticket to donate to a youth who might otherwise not be able to attend. (Just notify jonathan@spencerpride.org if you do that.) Thank you to this wonderful, generous community for your continued support!   --Judi Epp, for Spencer Pride

Stay Tuned for Information on Holiday Baskets for 
Monroe County United Ministries
Keep an eye out for information Holiday Baskets for Monroe County United Ministries coming soon. Although we will not have a sign up for this effort this year, we still encourage you to participate if possible! Info coming in the October 20 Prologue.
On October 15, UU Staff members prepared for the Animal Blessing service...

Deadline for Order of service and Friday UU Update
Thursday, 9 am, to office(at)uubloomington.org

Friday Update is for Events Happening in the Next 10 Days
The Friday UU Update is designed to remind the members of the congregation about events and services that are coming up within the next 10 days. For events that are further in the future, please consult our twice-monthly Prologue newsletter.

For More Information
See the October 6 edition of our newsletter, The Prologue, published on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Past issues for quite awhile back can be found here
(Next Prologue deadline is Tuesday, October 20, at 10 am.) 
Carol Marks has editorial responsibility for our congregation's publications. Email her at admin(at)uubloomington.org.

How to Subscribe
If you are not already regularly receiving emails like this from us, you can subscribe by sending an email to office(at)uubloomington.org.
Masthead photo by John Woodcock.
Unitarian Universalist Church
2120 N. Fee Lane   Bloomington, IN   47408

Mailing address for the UU Church during COVID emergency: 
UU Church, P.O. Box 1158, Nashville, Indiana 47448-1158