March 25, 2022
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
Sunday Worship Guidelines for In-person Attendees:
  • The seating capacity of the Meeting Room has been restored to its pre-pandemic level.
  • Vaccination, including the third dose booster, against Covid-19 is required.
  • N95, KN95, or double masking is required.
  • We no longer discourage hugging in general, although we encourage all attendees to be mindful that different people have different levels of comfort with physical contact.
  • Pre-registration for worship services is not required.
  • Quiet singing in worship services is allowed (encouraged, even!).
  • Children will begin in the sanctuary with their families.

For complete information and to learn about next steps, click here.

For current guidelines about in-person meetings and gatherings at the church, please click here. See Religious Education section below for current RE information.
 
As always, each individual must decide what is right for them when deciding whether or not to attend activities in-person.
 
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.
This Sunday's Service
Sunday, March 27, 2022
10:15 am
March Madness Pledge Drive:
A New Day, A New Way
Our 2022-23 and 2023-24 Pledge Drive Within a Week!

Livestream and In Person
A New Day. A New Way.
 
This worship service will begin and end in reverence. However, as we have learned over the years, play and fun are vital in a person’s and a congregation’s resilience. So join us for some sacred time on many levels: the holiness of wisdom and a wildness. Game on.

Our Pledge Drive will engage the spirit of March Madness by inviting all pledge commitments to be made within a week, March 27 through April 3 (payments on these pledges can be made anytime); be a part of this slam dunk experience!

We begin this week-long experience this Sunday, including our choir in person!—singing "Basketball! A Court Jest," by Bayne Dobbins, as well as an in-person pep band; we have ear plugs for those with sensitive hearing. And we’ve put together quite the basketball team with Coach Gladys DeVane and several guest appearances.

Join us as we rally together:
Seeking the Spirit. 
Building Community.
Changing the World.

Let’s do this for our beloved community, past, present and future.

For Reverend Macklin’s March 24 message about the March Madness Pledge Drive, click here. 
Our Folks...
Our thoughts of comfort are with Steve Pock and his family. Steve's brother, John, died on
March 19th.  
UUCB Board members available after services again
Our Board members will be available in Fellowship Hall after Sunday services again, as they used to be, to answer any questions folks may have.
Looking for your Annual Giving Statements for 2021?
We Can Help!
We sent everyone annual giving statements for 2021 in the last week of January 2022. Because we changed databases in July 2021, one statement was on paper, for January-June 2021, and the other was sent via email, for July-December 2021. If you have lost track of these statements and need them for tax purposes, please email office (at) uubloomington.org and we will be happy to re-send them to you via email.
--Monica Overman and Mandy Skinner, Office Assistants.
Let's Greet each other in April!
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. 
Click here for a list of Greeter duties. If you are willing to be a Greeter in April, please sign up here. Questions? email connect(at)uubloomington.org.
Covid Memorial Hour, After Service for One Hour
Each Sunday, in the coming weeks, our sanctuary is open to those who would like to visit our Covid Memorial Installation and/or write numbers together.
Religious Education Updates
Invitation: Join the RE Development Team
Saturday, March 26, 10:00 AM to Noon
Tomorrow morning we will host the inaugural Religious Education Development Team which is designed to work with the religious education staff to dream, create, and implement lifespan religious education opportunities. We will meet in person with an online option for those who wish to meet with us virtually. Attending this meeting does not commit you to a longer term. This first meeting is for dreaming into the future and we need everyone who has passion and energy to be a part of the start!
(in person in the Library at the church OR online)

And if you would like to have a conversation about the future, reach out to Stephanie at kimball(at)uubloomington.org or Michele at grove(at)uubloomington.org. 
Ages 3-13
Please register your child(ren) for Spirit Play (ages 3-7) or IMUU (ages 7-13). Registration helps us know how many adult volunteers will be needed, AND tells us who we need to contact in case of unexpected changes. 

This Sunday all children and teachers will begin in the sanctuary with their families, then we’ll go to our classrooms together from there. Masks required. We look forward to seeing you!

Volunteers needed
Please use this form to tell us how you would like to engage! Many options are available. 

--Stephanie Kimball, Religious Education Coordinator
Adult Religious Education
Bookmark the Adult RE page of the UU Bloomington website, and watch for new additions! If you have any questions or would like to discuss a possible offering, reach out to Michele Grove, interim religious education consultant at grove(at)uubloomington.org.
Are you new here or just want to connect with someone?  
Looking for additional ways to get involved?
If so, please click here to fill out our online connections form so we can learn about your talents and interests. You can also click here to sign up on Church Center for activities and events.
Did you forget what you signed up for?
Have you recently signed up for an event or volunteer activity and forgot the details? If so, you can find those details by signing into your Church Center profile and clicking on "My Registrations," then click on the picture next to the event or activity. Lastly, click on "view details" to see all the details of your registration. 
First Spring Cleanups of the Grounds
Saturday, April 2, 3:30 - 5:00pm
and Saturday, April 9, 3:30 - 5:00pm
Just a quick spiffing up. Come when you can, kids are welcome, too. Bring gloves, but the church has tools. Newcomers welcome and encouraged to get to know our grounds.
--Green Grounds Committee
Gardeners' Gathering on Zoom March 27
Join this Sunday following the Sunday worship service (~11:40 AM) for the Gardeners' Gathering. Every type, age, and level of gardener is welcome. We'll share experiences, stories, advice, and maybe plants from time to time. This Sunday we will meet on Zoom and transition to in-person gatherings soon. Sign up here
UU Freethinkers Meet March 27, 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.
4th Trimester Team Seeks Volunteers
In-person Training April 3, 1:00 - 3:30 pm
The 4th Trimester Team is seeking participants to help families with new babies. No experience needed, just presence and compassion. If you can make a text or a phone call, you can be helpful. We plan to connect with parents, be a listening ear that is heartfelt, confidential and non- judgmental; offer in-home support; and help locate community resources as needed. Sign up here to join our first volunteer training.
Mark your calendar for a great workshop on Conflict
Saturday, April 9, 10-11:30 AM
You are invited to a free workshop via Zoom on Conflict, April 9, 10 -11:30 AM. Conflict shows up in many areas of our lives.—Global, Family, even in Creativity. This free workshop, hosted by the Leadership Cultivation Committee, will discuss tools for working through Conflict in many different environments. Led by Suzanne Fodor, (She/Her) CPCC, PCC, Associate Director, Graduate Career Services at IU Kelley School of Business, and Executive Coach with a panel of our UU members. Register here.
25% Sunday Plate Recipient for 2022-23: Applications Due April 15
Would you like to nominate a local non-profit agency to receive 25% of Sunday non-pledge plate collections for our next fiscal year (July 2022 - June 2023)? We are now accepting applications! Please click here! The deadline for nominating an agency is April 15th -- from there, three finalists will be chosen to be voted upon at our congregational meeting in June. Learn more.
MidAmerica Regional Assembly 2022
Saturday, April 30, 10 am - 2 pm, online
MidAmerica Regional Assembly 2022 is now open for registration! Join us online on Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 10am – 2pm ET. Our keynote speaker is social justice educator, storyteller and inspiring speaker, CB Beal. There will be worship, the annual business meeting, a keynote address and conversation, as well as community break out rooms for discussion. There is a sliding scale for registration, $25, $35 or $50, whatever you can afford. Scholarships also available. If you would like to be a member delegate representing our congregation, contact Iris Kiesling, irisfkiesling (at) gmail.com. Learn more and register today!
Thank you from MCCSC for donations to Undiedrive 22
The Homelessness Task Force would like to thank everyone who participated in Undiedrive 22, which took place in February. We received the following note from Rebecca Rose, MCCSC Director of Student Services:
Dear Unitarian Universalist Church,
Thank you for your generous donation of underwear, sweatpants, and feminine products to the United Way MCCSC School Assistance Fund. The United Way School Assistance Fund helps students and families by providing various basic needs such as clothing, school supplies, and personal hygiene items. Your donation helps assure students are prepared and ready to learn.
We are extremely grateful for your contribution towards helping students of the Monroe County Community Schools Corporation!
--Alan Backler and Marlin Howard
Resilience Productions presents:
Remarkable Women: Paving The Way 
Tuesday, March 29 at 6 pm
at the Monroe County History Center
Featuring Guest Host, Dr. Charlie Nelms, with Dr. Gladys DeVane and Elizabeth Mitchell, directed by Danielle Bruce. Admission is free.
Help Break the Cycle of Poverty: Become a
SCCAP Thriving Connections Initiative Ally!
Have you ever wondered how people break the cycle of poverty?
Here is a way you can help: Thriving Connections, an initiative of the South Central Community Action Program, is a multi-generational community of diverse people cultivating intentional relationships across economic class. The Thriving Connections community is a safe harbor where the focus is on achieving financial, emotional, mental, physical, social, and spiritual growth.
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.
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 Prairie Trillium, McCormick's Creek State Park, by David Orr
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