February 11, 2022
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
Did you order treats from the Reproductive Justice Lead with Love Bake Sale? Don't forget to pick them up tomorrow, Saturday, February 12, 10 am - 2 pm at the church! (Portico entrance)
Guidelines from NEST as of January 30
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 would 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 is required.
  • N95, KN95, or double masking is required.
  • We will continue to maintain social distancing.
  • Pre-registration for worship services is not be required.
  • Quiet singing in worship services is 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 13, 2022
10:15 am
Livestream and In-person
Widening the Circle of Concern: Resilience, Love, and The Shadow
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
On February 2, the groundhog saw its shadow on Groundhog Day. What can we learn from seeing our own shadow as we strive to widen our circle of concern? In this worship service, on the eve of Valentine’s Day, we will explore resilience, love, and the shadow side of ourselves, our congregation, and our country. Also, it is not lost on me that the Super Bowl takes place the evening of February 13, so there will be some football references as well.  
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.

Join us for two new collections during February:
  • Donate to support a local Afghan family, sponsored by our Refugee Task Force: Click here for a Grocery List. (Collection box near Portico)
  • Donate to our Widen the Circle collection for March distribution to local Little Free Pantries: This week we're collecting PROTEINS: peanut butter, canned chicken & tuna, beans.  (Collection at Sunday service and near Portico)
Let's Greet each other in February!
We are open 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.
Covid Memorial Visiting Hour
Sundays, Noon to 1 pm
Each Sunday, in the coming weeks, our sanctuary is open to those who would like to visit our Covid Memorial Installation, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. Please see the February 1 Prologue to learn more.
Religious Education Updates
Embracing the Interim:
Exploring Our Religious Education Identity
What are our religious education core values? How will these core values inform our future? We need you in this conversation. Join one of the following sessions as we continue to discern the next steps of our religious education identity. Beth Lodge-Rigal, Drew Schrader, Stephanie Kimball, and Michele Townsend Grove will facilitate.

Session 1, Online: TOMORROW, 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
Click on the registration pages for full 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.
  • An Invitation to UU History with Stuart Yoak as your tour guide. In person at UU Bloomington for 4 sessions. April 29-30. Come for one or all sessions and learn in community. Register here.
One Calendar Year of Giving -- Two Separate Giving Statements
We are hoping to clarify why contributors who donated to our congregation during 2021 have received two separate giving statements. Contributions we received during the first half of 2021, January through June, were recorded in our old database, and we mailed everyone paper statements listing those gifts a couple of weeks ago. Contributions we received during the second half of 2021, July through December, were recorded in our new database, and those statements were sent out via email at the end of January. This is all because we changed databases at the beginning of our fiscal year in July 2021. All contributions are now being recorded in the new database and everything should be much clearer from now on. If you have questions, please contact Mandy Skinner or Monica Overman at office (at) uubloomington.org. --Carol Marks, Church Administrator
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.
UU Freethinkers Meet February 13, 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 Ann Watzel or Harold Ogren for the link to the Zoom meetings and to be added to our email discussion list.
Explore Unitarian Universalism: Feb 27 and March 6
Join us to explore Unitarian Universalism (UU) on February 27 and March 6, 2-4 pm - available both in-person and online.  
In these small group gatherings you can learn more about the UU Principles, UU ministers, the history of Unitarian Universalism and this church, how to get involved here, what it means to be a member, and much more.  Plan to attend both dates, since different topics will be discussed in each session. We request completion of these sessions before becoming a member of the church. Everyone ages 14 to 100+ is welcome! Questions? Email connect(at)uubloomington.org or call (812)720-3688.
25% Sunday Plate Recipient Nomination Campaign for 2022-23: Application available March 1
The process for nominating our next local non-profit agency to receive 25% of Sunday non-pledge plate collections is approaching. An application form with guidelines will become available on March 1, 2022 for those who would like to nominate an agency to receive the funds from July 2022 – June 2023. The application deadline will be April 15th. Learn more.
UU Online Book Club: The 1619 Project
The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones will be discussed on Monday, March 7 at 6:30 PM. 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.
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 meets WEEKLY, on Mondays at 3:00 p.m., with or without dogs, at the dog park at Switchyard Park. 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.
Undiedrive 22: February 12 to 28
UUCB and Trinity Church are sponsoring a clothing drive for K-12 students in Bloomington and Monroe County. The purpose of Undiedrive 22 is to collect underwear and sweatpants from churches and to distribute them to children in need, in the Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC). Click here for information.
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 Mandy Skinner.
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