January 29, 2021
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, IN
Celebrate an Important Balloon - TONIGHT!
Join us to have fun together AND raise $30,000 to pay off our mortgage with our final "balloon" payment, which is due very soon. We're offering two virtual dinner theater fundraising events, this Friday and next, that will both be livestreamed for free on our website: uubloomington.org/live-stream

Friday, January 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Sentences: from the Pen to the Page
This Resilience Production features the writing of Glenda Breeden, Phillip Stroud (who recently joined our congregation) and the women of the Monroe County Jail. Their writing was adapted for the stage by Gladys DeVane and Danielle Bruce, with music by Dan Lodge-Rigal. The hope for this production is to provide real faces for those people who are currently incarcerated in the U.S. prison industrial complex.

Click here for a video of Glenda Breeden introducing Sentences.

Please also join us for the second event, next Friday, February 5 at 6:30 p.m. -- Fire In My Bones: A Meditative Opera, by Deborah Phelps and Reverend Mary Ann Macklin.

Of the $30,000 goal for this fundraiser, 10% will go to social justice work outside our congregation, to support New Leaf-New Life and Spencer Pride.

How to contribute:
  • Donate via our PayPal page - Choose “Balloon Mortgage Payment” in the dropdown list.
  • Mail a check - Please write “Balloon Mortgage Payment” in the memo and mail to UU Church, PO Box 1158, Nashville, IN 47448-1158.
Book Orders Due Today!
Congregational Read in February
Beginning in February, we will embark on a congregational read of Isabel Wilkerson’s book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. Facilitated discussion groups and writing groups will offer the opportunity to learn from this important book and from each other. Or, if you prefer, self-organize a group with other UUs, or read independently. Sign up here if you will be participating in the congregational read - with a group or on your own. The book order will be finalized tonight, Friday, January 29th. 
This Sunday's Service
Sunday, January 31, 2021
10:15 am Livestream
Annual Science Sermon
Ents Don't Die, They Just Become More Treeish
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
In her annual science review sermon, Reverend Macklin will explore highlights and discoveries in various areas of science from 2020, including human origins, environment, physics, math, astronomy, brain, and technology. In other words, she will not spend much time on COVID-19.

However, a gracious nod will be given to The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, particularly the Ents, even more particularly the Entwives. Like the Ents, the Entwives looked after the growing things of Middle-earth.
If you miss the livestream, you can view archived videos on our website.
Early Bird Coffee Hour at 9:15 am
Bring your coffee and join us at 9:15 am to relax with friends before the service. Click on this link to register for the early bird coffee hour and receive the Zoom link.
Connect with our UU Community during Virtual Coffee Hour
Everyone is welcome to join us after the worship service, until 12:30 pm, for engaging conversation in Virtual Coffee Hour. 

This Sunday's breakout rooms will include:
  • Choir
  • Middle Earth with Rev. Leite
  • General Discussion
-- Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION UPDATES
Our month-long journey into Worlds of Imagination is drawing to a close this Sunday. Join Reverend Emily Manvel Leite this Sunday, January 31st, at 11:30 a.m. in the breakout coffee room to share your favorite things about Middle Earth. 

Parent Support Gathering, Saturday, February 6th, at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom. Join Adrienne Summerlot and other parents to share and connect. 

Mark your calendars for our first 8th Principle Conversation where we will explore what it means to build Beloved Community. Join us during coffee hour at 11:30 a.m. via Zoom on Sunday, February 7th in the 8th Principle Breakout Room.
Our Folks . . .
Our comforting thoughts are with Bob Appelman whose brother, Dudley Ralph Appelman III, died this week in Boston.
Video of Fall 2020 Congregational Meeting Available to Watch
We've posted a link to the recording of our December 13, 2020 Congregational Meeting on the meeting minutes page of our website.
UU Freethinkers meet January 31, 12:45 pm
The UU Freethinkers will meet this Sunday at 12:45 pm via Zoom for an open discussion of social, political, and theological/religious issues. If you'd like to join us, please contact Harold Ogren, ogrenh (at) gmail.com, to get the link to the Zoom meetings and to be added to our email discussion list.
Women's Alliance Meeting: UUs Are Funny People
Thursday, February 4, 11:30 am
The Women's Alliance will meet on Zoom on Thursday, February 4 at 11:30 am. Come hear Sharon and Dan Wiseman share from their collection of the funny aspects of being a UU. They have gathered UU songs, rituals, and some of the quirky aspects of our faith to share. The material comes from their 30 years as UUs and from worship services they have led. Dan and Sharon are both IU grads, but have a house divided, as Dan also has a degree from Purdue. All are welcome. If you are a newcomer, please contact Doris Wittenburg to receive the Zoom link for the meeting: dwittenb(at)indiana.edu.
Writing as a Spiritual Practice, with Rev. Barbara Child
A Drop-in Group on Zoom
Tuesdays 1-2 pm, through February 23 
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. Register by clicking here to get the Zoom link. 
Visit with the Connections Coordinator every Friday at 3:30 pm
Join the Connections Coordinator, Ann LeDuc, on Zoom every Friday. Ask your questions, or just visit. 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 Friday afternoons, 3:30-4:30 pm.
Standby Waitlist Available for Unused COVID-19 Vaccinations
Information about joining a standby wait list for possible unused doses of vaccine at the end of a vaccination clinic day can be found here:
Noah’s Ark Hosts Dialogue this Sunday, January 31, 3-5 pm
Join Noah’s Ark Bloomington this Sunday from 3:00-5:00 pm for facilitated small group discussions (on Zoom), in response to the City of Bloomington's MLK Jr. Day Celebration keynote speech by Dr. Khalid el-Hakim on the 18th, which was titled "The Truth Hurts: Black History and Healing the Racial Divide." Dr. Hakim will join us at the end of the dialogue for a question and answer time. Click here for the flyer.
League of Women Voters Offers Film Series on Voter Suppression
The League of Women Voters of Indiana is sponsoring a film series offering deep insights into the tactics of voter suppression. Learn how you can help bring about a fair and transparent redistricting process in 2021. Upcoming films:
  • Thursday, February 4: UnCivil War: U.S. Elections under Siege
  • Thursday, February 11: Line in the Street
From 7:30-9:00 p.m. on Zoom; Q&A panels will follow each film.
Register here to receive the Zoom link. More info here.
Help Keep Beacon Winter Shelter Open
Concerned Bloomington community quickly came together to create the Beacon Winter Shelter. Now it's up to us to keep it open. Click here for information about how you can help. Please note: If you are writing a check, make it payable to "Beacon, Inc." and mail it to the address provided in the flyer. This is not a fundraiser for our Homeless task force, but an encouragement for people to support the shelter directly.
Help Feed Our Hungry Neighbors Task Force
Collecting Kitchen Items for New Hope for Families
For JANUARY & FEBRUARY our food drive will focus on New Hope for Families. We often think of food for those in need, but we overlook kitchen items that enable people to COOK the food. For a list of needed items, click here.
Deadline for submissions to the Order of service and Friday UU Update
Thursday, 9 am, to office (at) uubloomington.org
Masthead photo by Marcia Hart, Beautiful Blue on the Rise.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
Mailing address during covid:
UU Church, PO Box 1158,
Nashville, Indiana 47448-1158