February 4, 2022
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
Please Delay Visits to Church Until Sunday
We (and our snow plow service) are still digging out from under the snow, so please do not drop off groceries for the food drives at church until Sunday, when we plan to have completed snow removal on the driveways and parking areas. Thanks!
NEW Guidelines from NEST

The NEST (Next Steps in Transition) working group met on Sunday, January 30th. Upon further review of the most current scientific evidence regarding differential risks for vaccinated and unvaccinated persons, and to best serve our congregation, it was decided that we will open for in-person worship service attendance starting on Sunday, February 6. * 

Please read the new guidelines below since they have changed.

NEW Sunday Worship Guidelines for In-person Attendees:
  • Vaccination, including the third dose booster, against Covid-19 will be required.
  • N95, KN95, or double masking will be required.
  • We will continue to maintain social distancing.
  • Pre-registration for worship services will not be required.
  • Quiet singing in worship services will be allowed.

For a complete list of current guidelines, including guidelines for in-person meetings, please click here.

As always, each individual must decide what is right for them when deciding whether or not to attend activities in-person.

Warmest regards,
The NEST Working Group: Jane McLeod, Abby Gitlitz, Michele Grove, Judy Klein, Ann LeDuc, Dan Lodge-Rigal, Sarah Sanchez, Melinda Swenson, and Reverend Mary Ann Macklin.

*There will be NO in-person religious education classes for children on Sunday mornings until Monroe County is out of the "Extreme" risk category, as defined by Covid Act Now.
This Sunday's Service
Sunday, February 6, 2022
10:15 am
Livestream and In-person
Widening the Circle
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
Reverend Bill Breeden
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
In this worship service, we will explore this month’s theme of Widening the Circle by exploring the 2020 book Widening the Circle of Concern from the UUA Commission on Institutional Change.

In a world where people can understand more about one another’s lives, cultural competency is increasingly expected. Our theological legacy has long put us on the forefront of advocacy and prophetic action to widen the circle of concern for marginalized groups. How do we, as a congregation, prepare for today’s issues of inclusion? Where have we been? Where are we today? Where are we going?
Widening the Circle Food Drives:
This month, we are hoping to widen the circle of people in our congregation who donate non-perishable goods. If you have been giving, please keep on giving to support our ongoing collections for Beacon and Shalom Center. Click here for the list of needed items 

You can also join us for two new collections during February:
check out the list of items needed as we continue to support the local Afghan family sponsored by our Refugee Task Force. (Collection box near Portico)
* donate to our Widen the Circle collection (for March distribution to local Little Free Pantries)--this week we're collecting cereal and any non-perishable item that is a favorite in your family. (Collection at Sunday service and near Portico).
Covid Memorial Visiting Hour
Sundays, noon-1PM
Each Sunday, beginning February 6th, we will be opening our sanctuary to those who would like to visit our Covid Memorial Installation. Please see the February 1 Prologue to learn more.
Religious Education Updates
Parent Coffee Hour with Michele Grove
Sunday, February 6, 9:00 AM
Dear Families, I would love to connect with you. How are you?? Come Zoom with a cup of hot chocolate, coffee, tea or other favorite beverage. Come as you are! Family members of all ages are welcome to check in!
-- Michele Grove, interim religious education consultant
605-237-1319
Embracing the Interim: 
Exploring Our Religious Education Identity
In January, folx had the opportunity to gather and tell UU Bloomington Religious Education stories. The warmth of this trip down memory-lane built relationships between the generations. In February, we will look at today’s UU Bloomington lifespan religious education identity. Come share your thoughts with us!
Session 1, Online: Saturday, February 12, 10:00 am to Noon
Session 2, In-person: Sunday, February 27, Noon to 2:00 pm
Current Adult Religious Education Opportunities
See the Feb. 1 Prologue for class descriptions and details.
  • Drugs, Mind, and Society, with Brian O’Donnell. Online for 6 weeks, Thursdays, 4-5:30 p.m. starting February 24. Register here. This class is limited to 12 participants.
  • Widening the Circle of Concern Study Group, with Martha Oakley, Ruth Aydt, Michele Grove, Rev. Emily Manvel Leite, and Stephanie Kimball. Online Sunday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m: February 27, March 6 and 27, April 3 and 24. Register here.

Future possibilities...
  • Stuart Yoak’s Unitarian Universalist history class held one weekend this spring.
  • Michele Grove’s Back Peddling Through the Principles.
  • A possible class on one of the Unitarian Universalist principles.
  • And a few more in the making!
Update from the Board is Available
Congregational President Stuart Yoak recently shared an update from our Board of Directors. Please see the February 1 Prologue to read the report.
Let's Greet each other in February!
As mentioned earlier in the Friday Update, we will be opening for in-person attendance in February. Click here for the NEW duties of Greeters. If you are willing to be a Greeter in February, please sign up here. Whether you have been a Greeter in the past, or are looking for a new volunteer opportunity, you are invited to sign up and greet on Sunday mornings.  Questions? email connect(at)uubloomington.org.
UU Humanists Meet February 6, 12:45 pm
The UU Humanists will meet this Sunday at 12:45 pm via Zoom. The discussion will be led by Sandy Dolby on "How to effectively teach in the public schools subjects, ideas, and information tied to politicized issues?" If you'd like to join us, please contact Ann Watzel or Harold Ogren for the link to the Zoom meetings and to be added to our email discussion list.
Are you new to UU Bloomington? Join us this Sunday, Feb 6, for a short introduction.
If you are new to our congregation, a very warm welcome to you! This Sunday, February 6, at 2:00 p.m. you are invited to join in a brief online introduction to Unitarian Universalism and this congregation. Just click on this link at 2 PM on Sunday If you have questions, you are always welcome to email me at connect(at)uubloomington.org. Hope to see you online this Sunday!    -- Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
Green Sanctuary Task Force hosts viewing & discussion of the film 2040 --
Sunday, February 6, 5:00 pm
Let’s find hope together! Please join our friends at Citizens' Climate Lobby Indiana for a virtual evening of hope and community on Sunday, February 6 from 5 - 7 pm as we view the film 2040. Then stick around for an optional facilitated discussion about the film and how we can work together for a more livable world. 
Space is limited, so reserve your spot today - Register here!
Watch the film trailer here.
Poetry Group welcomes new members
The Poetry Group founded by Bob Taylor meets on Zoom on the first Monday of the month from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. We enjoy discussing poems and sharing our ideas about them. Each of us brings a published poem (authored by others, not our own) to read to the group. This often results in lively discussion and the discovery of poems and poets new to us. New members are always welcome. If you want to receive a reminder about the meeting and the Zoom link, send your email address to Linda Pickle (linda.pickle[at]wku.edu).
UU Online Book Club February 7
The second half of The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber and David Wengrow will be discussed at the February 7 Book Club meeting. On March 7, The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones will be discussed. If you would like to join the book discussions, sign up here. The UU Online Book Club meets the first Monday of each month at 6:30 PM via Zoom. If you have questions email connect[at]uubloomington.org.
We want to celebrate your birthday!
Our church members are very precious to us and we want to celebrate each and every one of you. Some of you already know that we send a celebratory card to church members on their birthdays because you have received one. If you haven't received a birthday card in the past, and you are a member, please let us know your birthday via this form so we can send you a birthday card. If you are not a church member and would like to become one, let Ann LeDuc know by emailing connect(at)uubloomington.org.
Writing as a Spiritual Practice
With Rev. Barbara Child
A Drop-in Group on Zoom
Tuesdays 1-2 p.m., through February 22
I invite you to come along on this journey of personal exploration through writing in community. You are welcome to attend any or all sessions. Click here for a full description of how the group works. You will need to register by clicking here to get the Zoom link. The same link will work every session during the series, and you only need to register once.
Join Friends at the Dog Park for a Weekly Meetup
This small group has decided to meet WEEKLY, on Mondays at 3:00 p.m., with or without dogs, at the dog park at Switchyard Park, mostly using the small dog area. There is no RSVP required, although you can contact Martha Dogan with questions, (317) 370-3824
How to Find Out About Snow Closings at Church
If we need to cancel in-person events at church because of snow or ice, we will post a note about this on our facebook page, facebook.com/uubloomington, as well as on the front page of our website, uubloomington.org. In messy weather, please check for info in these places before coming over to the church. During business hours M-F you can also call the office mobile at 812-287-9615.
Your Church Office Staff is Available Monday-Friday
You can reach a member of the church administrative staff each weekday:
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
We are in the church office at the church occasionally. The land line at the church, 812-332-3695, is checked for messages twice weekly.
Stock photo above from the internet. Here is the link to the grocery list.
Donations for Beacon: Look for bins at the Portico entrance
Covid-19 Booster Vaccines are now available
The CDC has updated the COVID-19 booster eligibility guidance. For information on vaccine availability in Indiana, visit: coronavirus.in.gov/vaccine

Households may receive four free Covid tests from the federal government. Order free Covid tests here:
Masthead photo by Marcia Hart.
Deadline for submissions to the Order of service and Friday UU Update
Thursday, 9:00 am, to office(at)uubloomington.org
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
2120 N. Fee Lane, Bloomington, Indiana 47408
Church mobile phone: 812-287-9615