December 6, 2022

--Official Notice (Second Notice)--

Fall Congregational Meeting

Sunday, December 11 2:00 p.m.

Our congregation will hold its fall congregational meeting on Sunday, December 11, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. in our Meeting Room at 2120 N. Fee Lane, Bloomington. All members are encouraged to attend. Childcare will be provided in Room 108. See Abby Gitlitz's column below for details.

Connie's Column

Upcoming Changes in Staffing

Even as we prepare to celebrate Carol Marks’s thirty years of service to this congregation, we are preparing for Carol’s actual departure from her position as Director of Administration as of the end of the calendar year. Carol is, of course, irreplaceable!

And even though I’m sorry that Carol has decided that it’s time for her to leave her position here, I’m pleased about upcoming changes in your staffing configuration, and about the people who will fill those roles. I believe that this plan will serve the congregation well as you move into the future.

Your new Director of Administration, Amanda Waye, will begin on December 16 for training with Carol.  Carol has been thoughtfully and carefully developing a training manual and a plan for passing on information about the church and its workings. Amanda has considerable experience that will be applicable to this position, having been administrator of a bank branch and manager of a realty firm. She is excited to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and about the operations of this congregation. Amanda will generally be in the building five days a week, working full-time with office hours from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday through Friday, beginning January 2.

Hans Kelson will begin in a new, expanded role as full-time Technology Coordinator beginning January 16. Hans will take on overhauling the audiovisual system in the sanctuary, updating and maintaining the infrastructure of the church website, as well as a number of other immediate projects and ongoing duties to support 21^st-century technology for the church. He’ll also continue running the sound system and livestreaming services on many Sunday mornings.  Of course, many of you know Hans well as a product of the church’s Religious Education program and member of the Choir.

Monica Overman and Mandy Skinner, current Office Assistants, will expand and differentiate their roles and will each increase their working hours from 10 to 16 per week, beginning the first week of January. Monica will become Administrative Assistant and will take on additional administrative tasks to support the congregation and professional staff. Mandy will become Communications Coordinator, including editing the Prologue and Friday Update, plus updating website content.  Monica and Mandy will continue to share many of their current duties and will alternate Sundays 10:00 am – 1:00 pm in the church office (Room 204) where they are available to answer congregants’ questions.

Please be in touch if you have questions about any of this or anything else!

Looking forward,

Connie

Rev. Connie Grant

Interim Lead Minister

grant (at) uubloomington . org

Emily's Post

Dear Friends,

Join me in celebrating the abundance of your offerings at the Procession of Giving service on Sunday! Together, we offered food, warmth, and hopefully a bit of delight to many in our local community and also collected over $1400 for the global work of the UU Service Committee. It is wonderful to be a part of such a generous community.

And thank you also for your presence in our congregation, both in person and online. Rebuilding our friendly connections is important work for this time, especially in this season which can be joyful, but also lonely or hard. 

In this season focused on giving, may we give the intangible gift of ourselves and our attention, and keep our gifts flowing. As Robin Wall Kimmerer writes,

"We are showered every day with gifts, but they are not meant for us to keep. Their life is in their movement, the inhale and exhale of our shared breath. Our work and our joy is to pass along

the gift."

May your season overflow with such joy.

Sending my love,

Emily

Reverend Emily Manvel Leite

Minister of Story and Ritual

leite (at) uubloomington . org

The Heartland String Band Rises Again!

Join us on the Third Thursday of January

The Heartland String Band, a part of our music program, was founded by Carol Marks in August of 2001, but because of Covid they have not been able to play together in a while. Sally McGuire has graciously agreed to lead this merry band beginning in January. The band will practice from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, beginning January 19, in Fellowship Hall. They play old-time and Celtic music as well as folks songs, and all lovers of this music are welcome. Dulcimers, fiddles, cellos, pennywhistles, guitars, banjos, mandolins, even accordions!

Your Welcoming Energy Needed on Sunday Mornings

Help further a radically welcoming and inclusive community by volunteering on Sunday mornings! Join the mailing lists for Java Crew, Greeters, or Flame Keepers to stay up-to-date on opportunities, actively contribute to our thriving congregation, and share the joy of hospitality with fellow congregants, both old-timers and newcomers. Your help is valuable and so appreciated! Questions? Email connect(at)uubloomington.org. 

Our Refugee and Immigration Support and Education Task Force has been assisting the Fakherduin family in a variety of ways since their arrival in Bloomington. Come welcome them on December 18! RSVP so we know how much pizza to order!

Green Sanctuary Invites You to Join the UU Community

in Zero in Bloomington

Zero in Bloomington is an initiative to help individuals and groups track their progress toward reduced emissions. When you sign up, you'll see an array of actions you can take to reduce your carbon footprint. Although this is a City of Bloomington initiative, you don't have to be a resident to participate.

Sign up today and join the UU Community group already established in Zero in Bloomington. We can then support each other by forming teams that share ideas and help keep us motivated. If you've already done everything you're willing to do, you can become a team leader and help others on their path to reduced emissions.

For support in signing up or general questions, email Zero.GSTF (at) uubloomington . org.

Community Connections

Our Faith in Action in the Community

Vigil to End Gun Violence at Trinity on

Wednesday, December 14 at 6:00 p.m.

Come together to remember over one million Americans killed or injured by guns since the Sandy Hook shooting tragedy. At hundreds of locations nationwide, we will give voice to all victims and surviors of gun violence and together help end gun violence in America. All are welcome to attend; Rev. Grant will be speaking. Click here for a flyer about this event.

4th Trimester Team Seeks Volunteers to Support Families with New Babies --

In-person Training January 15 

The 4th Trimester Team is seeking participants to help families with new babies. This group offers offers in-home support such as light housekeeping, babysitting, or running errands, or by being a listening ear that is heartfelt, confidential and non- judgmental;. This is a social justice endeavor sponsored by the Reproductive Rights Task Force to reduce Indiana maternity deaths. Training session is Sunday, January 15, 12-2:30pm at the church. Learn more here.

To register please email 4thtrimester (at) uubloomington . org. 

Big Change--Please Send all Info for Prologues and Updates to

office (at) uubloomington . org From Now On!

Mandy Skinner, as our new Communications Coordinator, will be in charge of editing our email publications from now on, as well as postings to our website, Facebook, etc. Oversight and proofing of these publications will still be one of the Director of Administration's tasks, however.

From now on, please send all information for The Prologue and The Friday Update to office (at) uubloomington . org .

Grocery Gift Cards Now Available for Sale on Sundays

Office Assistants Monica Overman or Mandy Skinner are available to sell grocery gift cards on Sundays between 11:15 and 12:00 noon in the church office, Room 204. To check on how many cards we have on hand, click here. Proceeds from the sale of grocery gift cards for Bloomingfoods and Fresh Thyme support our operating budget.

How to Reach the Administrative Staff

Director of Administration Carol Marks can be reached at 812-287-9615, 812-332-3695, or admin (at) uubloomington . org, M-F 10-4. She is in the building several days a week; if you would like to stop by the church office, please call ahead, 812-332-3695.

Monica Overman or Mandy Skinner are in the church office Room 204 on Sundays, 10-1. They can also be reached at other times, below.

Administrative Assistant Monica Overman, T, Th, 10-1, Friday 12:30-3:30, 812-322-5546, office (at) uubloomington . org. Working from home.

Communications Coordinator Mandy Skinner, M, W, F, 10:30-1:30, 812-340-9981, office (at) uubloomington . org. Working from home.