We expect that visitors to the labyrinth will be vaccinated and boosted and will wear an n95 or kn95 mask when they come. If you do not have this type of mask, one will be provided. The number of people walking the labyrinth will be limited. Our last open times are this Sunday--if they fill up, additional time will be added during the week. You can sign up by clicking here.

Sunday January 30^th and February 6^th at 9:00 AM

Parent, Guardian, and Family check in with Michele Grove. Dear Families, Michele would love to connect with you. How are you? How is everyone in your family? What have you been thinking about lately? How do you connect (or wish to connect) with UU Bloomington? Come with a cup of hot chocolate, coffee, tea or other favorite beverage and let us chat. If your children are with you – that is a gift! Family members of all ages welcome to check in!

Register here and Michele will send you the link.  The same zoom link will be used for every Sunday morning check in.

I look forward to connecting with you,

Michele Grove, interim religious education consultant

605-237-1319

 In January, these opportunities to gather will look at this congregation’s religious education heritage. See below for specific dates and times. Then in February, there are more opportunities to gather to discern this congregation’s religious education core values. In March, we will gather to dream UU Bloomington’s religious education future. We hope that each of your will participate. Lifespan religious education is an integral part of this congregation’s mission and vision.

There are specific learning programs for all ages AND there is learning in unexpected places. Because learning happens all the time, each of you has experience religious education and have something of value to share in this process. I look forward to hearing your stories and perspective. Thank you for all you give this community.

Register Here for the online January 23^rd session

In the next few weeks, a series of adult religious education opportunities will be posted. The first of several are listed in the Friday Update! Keep an eye on the Prologue and Friday Update for upcoming learning opportunities. We ask that folx register for classes so that we can communicate with participants. If you have any questions or would like to suggest future adult religious education offerings, contact interim religious education consultant Michele Grove at grove@uubloomington.org. 

The Unitarian Universalist Association’s Commission on Institutional Change researched issues of inclusion and racism within Unitarian Universalist congregations and our denomination, and Widening the Circle of Concern is the resulting report. Join this study group, looking at the first 5 chapters of the study.  Sunday evenings from 7:00-8:30 on February 27, March 6, March 27, April 3, and April 24. 

We're hoping that February will bring lower Covid infection rates and we are able to hold in-person church services. If you would be willing to greet at church in February (if we are able to have church in-person) 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.  Here are the current duties of Greeters. Questions? email connect(at)uubloomington.org.

If you're a Young Adult (age 18-35) and are interested in discussing life (and maybe this topic), come join us at Feta on Hillside and Henderson in the Bryan Park Neighborhood from 11:30 to 12:30 this Sunday January 30. Even if you just swing through, I'll buy you something from the menu as a token of gratitude. Also, I've been talking with a few of you about programming for the new year, but whether you send me an email or join in on Sunday's fellowship, I'll keep your contributions present. Feel free to RSVP: https://fb.me/e/155UkrIHU

Jason Michálek, Campus Enrichment Orchestrator 

beacon (at) uubloomington.org

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.

Reproductive Justice Online Lead with Love Bake Sale Open until February 5

Leading with Love Bake Sale Order Form 

We are in for a treat on Thursday, February 3, when Ray Fellman and Scott Hogsed (but probably not their canine pal Monty, pictured at left) will regale the Women's Alliance with love songs to help celebrate St. Valentine's Day. Join us on Zoom at 11:30 a.m. for a special program of music! Please contact Doris Wittenburg at dwittenb(at)indiana.edu for the Zoom link.

Click here for details, on the new Women's Alliance webpage.

Green Sanctuary Task Force hosts viewing & discussion of 2040 -- Sunday, February 6, 5 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.

Join members of Sing For Joy! as we sing along with presenters every Wednesday in February from 2:45 to 3:45 pm. Heather and Daniel Narducci, Katherine Gorr, and others will be singing about LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! For more information and how to join, click here.

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.

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.

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.

New Support Group for Parents with New Babies: The 4th Trimester Team

The UUCB 4th Trimester Team is forming to help support parents with new babies in our community. We plan to connect with parents, listen to their experiences, offer in-home support and referrals as needed. We will soon be accepting volunteers who are interested in being a part of this support group. Learn more here. --Sally McGuire and Anne Clark

The Poetry Group led by Linda Pickle meets via 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).

Feeling disconnected in the New Year? For deep connections to a small group of fellow UUs, consider joining one of our Zoomed Chalice Circles. We have a few openings, and welcome new folks at the beginning of the New Year. If you are interested in learning more, please email Jan Armstrong at janet_k_armstrong(at)hotmail.com.

who never asked for decades of war -- need our help. Over half the population of Afghanistan, almost 23 million people, is now threatened with malnutrition and starvation, due to civil unrest and a two-year drought. The World Food Program USA, a part of the United Nations World Food Program, can help. This highly respected charity has been helping in Afghanistan for 60 years, and continues to do so. If you would like to help, click here to go to their website to make a contribution. Your heart will thank you. -- The UU Hunger Task Force

Annual giving statements for calendar year 2021 will be sent via email and also on paper for earlier in the year contributions, by the end of January. You can also review your donations online by logging on at uucb.churchcenter.com/giving.

Please contact Monica Overman or Mandy Skinner at office@uubloomington.org or Carol Marks at admin@uubloomington.org if you have questions.

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