Friday UU Update 
February 28, 2020
Unitarian Universalist Church  of Bloomington, Indiana
Come hike with us tomorrow, Sat. 2/29!
This Saturday, February 29, we will hike at Pate Hollow near Lake Monroe. There is a 3.3 mile and a 6.2 mile option. Most of us will probably choose the 3.3 mile option, but some may choose the 6.2 mile option. There is plenty of parking at the trailhead, but we will still carpool. Meet us at the old east side K-mart parking lot, behind Bloomingfoods East, at 12:30 pm to carpool to the trailhead. As usual, we will cancel if the roads are icy, it rains, or the temps are too cold.    -- Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
Sunday, March 1, 2020
9:15 and 11:15 am
The Bible Sermon: Newly Revised Standard Version
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
Reverend Macklin will revisit her sermon about the Bible, with updates and new stories. Our Habitat for Humanity Task Force will offer the Social Justice Moment, along with special guest UU Boomwhackers, singing about hammers.
This Week in Religious Education
Caring Connections  (Childcare) will be engaging their senses while playing with friends. 
World of Wonder (Preschool) will be hearing the story The Rooster Who Learned to Crow as they explore finding their own voice and our Yellow UU Promise: Yearn to Learn.  
Roots and Wings (9:15 K+, 11:15 K-2) are learning a Chinese legend about Cang Jie and the creation of writing, and will have the opportunity to write letters and try out Chinese writing and paper folding.
Curiosity Club (11:15am- 3rd-5th grade) will have an introductory lesson on Hinduism and a visit from a special guest.  
6th-7th Graders will meet in the Kitchen to cook up delicious treats for their bake sale next week, which will benefit Monroe County Humane Association.  
Youth Group (11:00-12:30, 8th-12th grade) are continuing their work on anti-racism and anti-oppression as they engage with a "Deridians and Engineers" activity and consider group action addressing these issues.
Our Folks...
   Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Jerry Nees, who passed away this past week.
   We send wishes for a smooth recovery to Emma Rush, who recently had hip surgery. Emma is recovering at Bell Trace. Visitors are welcome. Cards welcome.
Improving Our Livestreaming Experience
We are still researching the problems folks have been having when watching our livestreamed services, with the livestream dropping out or disappearing. So far, we have discovered that most problems are happening when viewing the livestream on our website, and that everyone viewing the livestream on our Facebook page has experienced clear uninterrupted viewing. This is probably a server problem on the livestream provider's end, and we are figuring out how to remedy that. We'll keep you updated with further developments.
At Church this Sunday:
Many Kitchen Items to Claim
Many kitchen items have accumulated at church following a few months filled with a variety of fellowship events. These items are on a table in the courtyard entrance for you to pick up, through March 1. After that we will find new homes for them.
The Getting Involved Fair Continues
The February/March Getting Involved Fair will continue this Sunday, March 1,10:30-11:15 AM in the Fellowship Hall. Fifteen groups will be featured in this Sunday's Fair. See you at the fair! -- Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
Ready to become a member?
The next membership ceremony is this Sunday, March 1, at 10:30 AM. If you are new to Unitarian Universalism, we ask that you complete the Exploring Unitarian Universalism class before signing the membership book. Let the Connections Coordinator know if you would like to become a member or if you have questions at connect@uubloomington.org or call (812)332-3695. Children are welcome to attend the ceremony, and free childcare is also available in Room 108.
Freethinkers Meet March 1, 12:45 pm
The UU Freethinkers group will meet this Sunday at 12:45 pm in Room 208 for an open discussion of social, political, and theological/religious issues.  
Protecting the Health and Safety of 
Our Congregation and Community
Our senior staff is in active conversation about the coronavirus (covid-19) and the possible effects of an outbreak in our community. We are consulting health professionals as well as the Centers for Disease Control website on this topic, to stay aware of developments. We're working with a Faith-based & Community Organizations Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist that was compiled by colleagues in Fort Wayne.
Now Accepting Nominations for the 25% Sunday Plate Fund
for July 2020-June 2021 -- Due April 15

Click here for the Guidelines and Nomination Form

Each year our congregation gives 25% of undesignated/non-pledge Sunday Plate donations to a local project or service agency. In the spring the Social Justice Funds Committee accepts nominees for the upcoming fiscal year. This year's nominations are due by April 15. Contact Denise Ogren, Social Justice Funds Committee Chair, at uucbsjfunds@uubloomington.org with any questions. The Social Justice Funds Committee: Denise Ogren, Anna Beauchamp, Steve Mascari. Advisor: Jackie Hall.
UU Singles Potluck, Sunday, March 1, 5:30 pm
The UU Singles will have a potluck on Sunday night, March 1, at 5:30 pm, at the home of Allison Tomusk. Please bring a dish or drinks to share. If you'd like to carpool, we will meet in the church parking lot at 5 pm - contact Marie Deer at 812-391-0900 by 3 pm on March 1st if you want to be part of the carpool. There will be no Singles lunch after church on March 1st.
Women's Alliance Meeting: How Are We Creative?
Thursday, March 5, 11:30 am
Everyone is welcome to bring a brown-bag lunch and join us for snacks, beverages, and conversation on Thursday, March 5 in Fellowship Hall from 11:30 am to 1 pm. We'll be sharing our collective experiences with our creative sides. Come share your passions! We invite you to bring samples, photos, or stories of your creative endeavors.
Social Justice Film Series: 
Briars in the Cotton Patch
Sunday, March 8 at 5 pm
The Habitat and Racial Justice Task Force will present an award-winning documentary film,  Briars in the Cotton Patch, at 5 pm on Sunday, March 8 in Fellowship Hall. The one-hour film tells the nearly forgotten story of Koinonia Farm, a small Christian community in Southwest Georgia where whites and blacks chose to live and work together, despite the brutal and frightening consequences in the years leading up to the tumultuous Civil Rights era. Learn more on the Koinonia Farm website. Discussion to follow on racial equality and housing opportunities. Free pizza, popcorn and drinks. If you need childcare in order to attend, reserve by this Sunday, March 1.
Dementia Friendly Level 2 Certification
On January 13, we received the Dementia Friendly Level 2 Certification from the Alzheimer's Resource Service. The Level 2 certification requires an organization to take specific steps to make their building and services dementia friendly. More information about the many services provided by the Alzheimer's Resource Service can be found here:  http://www.alzresourceindiana.org/    
--Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
Your Pledge Dollars at Work
A new diaper changing station has been installed in the accessible restroom in the courtyard entrance. (Many thanks to Rich Slabach!) There are also diaper changing stations in Room 106 and Room 108.
Drop-in Childcare on Wednesdays, 6-8 pm
        On Wednesday evenings, from 6-8 pm in Room 108, our caring childcare staff are here to offer free drop-in childcare (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 their next event. When possible, the Meeting Room is available for quiet meditation.  For more information about childcare, please contact our Childcare Coordinator, Hannah Worton, at childcare@uubloomington.org .
Buy Grocery Cards on Sunday and Support the Church
     We have grocery gift cards for Bloomingfoods and Fresh Thyme for sale in the Commons every Sunday between services - pick one up before your Sunday afternoon grocery shopping! (We buy them in bulk at a small discount, and sell the cards as a fundraiser to support our operating budget.)
     Y ou can also click here to register your Kroger Plus card to request that 5% of your food purchase amounts be donated to the UU Church through their Community Rewards program - o ur organization ID number is EW763. During the last quarter (September thru December 2019) we received $424.87 from Kroger, with 135 UU households participating.
What is this for?
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 February 18  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, March 3, at 10 am.) 
Carol Marks   has editorial responsibility for our congregation's publications.

How to Subscribe
If you are not already regularly receiving emails like this from us, you can subscribe by sending an email to  office@uubloomington.org.
Masthead photo from the internet.
Unitarian Universalist Church