Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana |
|
 |
Sunday, May 8, 2022
9:15 a.m. & 11:15 a.m.
Arise! A Graduation Celebration and Mother’s Day Exploration
Time for All Ages: Baby Dedication
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
Livestream and In person
|
|
|
|
|
“Arise, all women who have hearts,” Julia Ward Howe wrote in her 1870’s Mother's Day Proclamation to establish Mother’s Peace Day, an anti-war declaration. Join us for a journey of beauty and memory as we explore the many meanings of Mother’s Day in our lives. We will also be addressing recent news about leaked documents from the U.S. Supreme Court.
This will be a service rich in ritual, as we offer one of our cherished rites of passage during the time for all ages, Our Baby Dedication. We will also recognize and celebrate anyone who is graduating from an institution of higher education in May, and offer a final time of reflection with our Covid Memorial Installation. Special music will be provided by our Children's Choir, directed by Jill Courtney.
CHILDCARE will be available during both services in Room 108.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our Folks...
Our thoughts are with the Zoe Reed and her family. Zoe's boyfriend, Isaiah, was shot two weeks ago here in Bloomington and is going through multiple surgeries as part of a challenging recovery.
Our condolences to Licia Weber and her family upon the accidental death of her brother Robert. Care cards are welcome, sent to Licia at home.
A Celebration of Life for long-time member Marty Joachim, who died on August 30, 2021, will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Allen Funeral Home and Crematory, 4155 South Old State Road 37, Bloomington. Friends may visit from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Online condolences at www.allencares.com
|
|
A note from NEST
The NEST (Next Steps in Transition) working group is following closely the COVID-19 infection rate information and is aware of indications of an increase in infections in Monroe County. The working group would like to encourage all who are able to get the COVID-19 booster (and second booster for those who qualify). Mask wearing continues to be a good defensive mechanism and is highly encouraged in the church building, but not required. NEST will meet on Monday evening to review the current guidelines for church activities.
|
|
UUCB Board members available after services
Our Board members will be available in Fellowship Hall after Sunday services, to answer any questions folks may have.
|
|
|
|
We need you to keep the coffee flowing!
We need additional volunteers to help with coffee and tea on Sunday mornings. Volunteers replenish supplies before coffee hour starts (about 10:15 AM), during coffee hour (10:30-11:15 AM), and clean up afterwards (11:15 AM-11:35AM). Questions? Contact Marlin Howard at howardm(at)indiana.edu Sign up here to keep the coffee flowing!
|
|
|
|
Sign up to Greet on Sundays
|
|
|
|
Interim Search Committee Update
As a follow-up to our recent email about the interim minister search process, the committee wants to share a summary of our application focus. The role of the interim minister is primarily to help create opportunities for us as a congregation to pause and reflect on who we have been, who we are now, and who we want to be going forward as a liberal religious community. This interim process also creates time for us to be ready to search and call a new senior minister to replace Reverend Mary Ann Macklin. Much of the application involved collecting general profile information (history, demographics, etc) of our church for interested interim ministers.
In our application, we also noted to potential candidates that in the context of this interim work, we anticipate needing to focus on:
-
Transitioning back to “normal operations.” The last few years have left many of us feeling less connected to the church and to each other and so as we are able to return to normal operations, rebuilding our connections and community is of the highest priority.
-
Rebuilding collective congregational trust. We also noted that the church had to navigate a number of difficult internal transitions starting just before the pandemic and continuing throughout. Having these happen while we were in irregular contact as a community has strained relationships. We place a high priority on reconnecting and rebuilding trust and clear communication heading into our interim work.
-
Fostering the ongoing evolution of our leadership model. In 2008, we moved into a policy governance model of leadership with one of our ministers serving as Executive Minister. We continue to question whether policy governance is the right leadership model for our church. We also wish to reflect on our broader leadership structure.
-
Helping us develop a better sense of our identity in the community. In Southern Indiana, we are known as a church dedicated to social justice. We wish to identify and make visible to the community other strengths of our church, such as our celebration of music and the other arts, our welcoming of many spiritual paths, our embrace of science and intellectual inquiry, and our commitment to public service.
Your Interim Search Committee:
Alan Backler, Jane McLeod, Linda Pickle, Scott Sanders,
Drew Schrader
|
|
|
|
Our Covid Memorial
Throughout this month, as we explore our congregational theme of Beauty and Memory, we will be offering time to thoughtfully bear witness to the changes we are experiencing in our relationship with Covid through a transformation of our Covid 19 Memorial Installation. This will be a congregation-wide process, with several opportunities for engagement. We hope you will join in wherever these events may be meaningful or helpful to you. Here are the activities scheduled for the next few days.
May 3-8: Gathering in final scrolls--we hope to record as many numbers as possible as we remember the many beloved individuals represented by these numbers. Scrolls can be picked up and dropped off outside the portico entrance anytime this week.
Sunday, May 8: Final worship service with the Covid Memorial. We will offer time for witness and time to reflect together upon how we hope to move into the next phase of living with Covid. Scrolls brought to the services will be included in the evening visitation hours. We will offer a final time for writing numbers in community between services.
Sunday, May 8 and Tuesday, May 10, 7:00-9:00pm: The installation will be open for visitors to bear witness and to reflect on their own experiences of living with Covid. This visitation time will have lighting by Steve Krahnke and Mary Allen Lynch will offer reflective piano music from 7-8pm. There will be a time of silent vigil from 8-9pm. Ministers will be present.
|
|
Religious Education Updates |
|
We're Hiring Childcare Providers
Are you interested in joining our childcare team? Applicants should be prepared to work on 2-3 Sundays per month, from 8:15 am to 12:45 pm. Additional hours during the week will vary. Rate of pay is $13/hour. Please contact Michele (grove(at)uubloomington.org) if you are interested or have any questions.
YOUTH GROUP Gathering on May 21: Save the date!
On May 21 (late afternoon/early evening) we will gather to share ideas for youth group. Details to follow -- but this much we can tell you: there will be FOOD, FUN, MYSTERY GUESTS, and SURPRISES! Watch for a sign-up link in next week's Prologue.
|
|
Adult Religious Education:
Back Peddling Through the Unitarian Universalist Principles
May 9 and 16, 7:00 pm
The Unitarian Universalist principles are the foundation of this community. We use them as a guide in daily living and in how we are a community. This class will look at the seven official Unitarian Universalist Principles along with the 8th principle which guides us in our anti-racist, anti-oppression work. This is a great class for anyone new to Unitarian Universalism as well as for anyone who has been involved for a long, long time. There will be time for discussion, idea sharing, and exploring some of the changes on the horizon through the UUA’s Article II Commission.
Two Sessions:
Monday, May 9, 7:00-8:30 PM
Monday, May 16, 7:00-8:30 PM
This is a virtual class. Facilitator: Michele Townsend Grove.
If you have any questions or would like to suggest future adult religious education offerings, contact interim religious education consultant Michele Grove at grove(at)uubloomington.org.
|
|
The Annual Goods and Services
Online Auction
CLOSES THIS SUNDAY!
This is it! The UU Church of Bloomington Goods & Services Online Auction is closing Sunday, May 8th at 6 pm. Only 2 DAYS REMAIN TO PLACE YOUR BIDS! If you end the auction in a bidding battle, each bid will extend the closing time for that item for 10 minutes from the time of that bid, not to exceed a total of 30 minutes (6:30 pm). If you have any questions or problems during the week, email drew.schrader(at)gmail.com or feel free to contact any of the Auction Committee members: Ann Kamman, Charlotte Appel, or Nicki Stewart Ingersoll. For those of you who have donated so generously, we thank you!! To everyone, find your special something and PLEASE BID!
|
|
|
|
UU Freethinkers Meet May 8, 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.
|
|
|
|
Writing as a Spiritual Practice
with Rev. Barbara Child
A Drop-in Group on Zoom
Tuesdays 1-2 pm, May 3 through June 28
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.
|
|
|
|
UU Online Book Club reads Klara and the Sun
|
|
New Hope for Families Hosts May 14 Open House
Members of the public are invited to tour the newly-constructed expanded emergency shelter and early education center, located at 1140 S. Morton Street in Bloomington, on Saturday, May 14, from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m. The family-friendly event will feature live music, door prizes (including signed IU sports memorabilia), face painting, lemonade and cookies, and tours conducted by agency staff members. There is no admission fee for this event. For more information, please visit: newhope4families.org/openhouse
|
|
ERRATUM: This message appeared in the May 3 issue of The Prologue in Mary Ann's column and was a direct quote from the HT. She just wanted to be sure you all knew she was quoting!
"Lunar Eclipse Alert. I just learned that a total eclipse of the moon lasting 85 minutes will be the highlight of May for skywatchers. In the Midwest, the full moon will rise on the evening of May 15-16 with the eclipse already beginning. Observers on the East Coast will see the entire eclipse in a dark sky. Starting at 10:28 p.m. EDT May 15, the lunar surface will slowly turn dusky gray, and then an orange coloring will become noticeable, especially with a telescope. Totality will last from 11:29 p.m. to 12:54 a.m."
|
|
Jewish Theatre of Bloomington - "The Wanderers" May 5-15
Jewish Theatre of Bloomington presents "The Wanderers" by Anna Ziegler, Five performances only: May 5, 7, 12, 14, 15 at the John Waldron Rose Firebay. Tickets at bctboxoffice.org or 812-323-3020. Directed by Martha Jacobs and featuring gifted artists, the play is a thoughtful look at the sacred bond of marriage.
|
|
Annual Report Coming Soon!
Reports are Due May 15
We are assembling an annual report to the congregation about our congregation's activities over the past year. Committee chairs are invited to submit brief reports (up to 250 words) to office(at)uubloomington.org by May 20. Please send these reports in a Word file or within the text of an email. Social Justice task force leaders are invited to send their reports to Jackie Hall by May 15, and she will format all the social justice reports and send them to the office. Our Annual Report to the Congregation will be made available at our Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, June 12.
|
|
Your Church Office Staff is Available Monday-Friday
You can reach a member of the church administrative staff each weekday:
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.
|
|
From the UU Hunger & Homelessness Task Forces |
|
- Donation Suggestions for Beacon (Ongoing collection):
|
|
|
|
Covid-19 Booster Vaccines are now available
Households may receive four free Covid tests from the federal government. Order free Covid tests here:
|
|
Beware Email Fraud
Our ministers, staff, lay leaders, and board members will never send you email asking you for any money besides your pledge payment! This also means they will never use email to ask you to buy gift cards for them or anyone else.
|
|
Deadline for submissions to the Order of service and Friday UU Update
|
|
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
2120 N. Fee Lane, Bloomington, Indiana 47408
Church mobile phone: 812-287-9615
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
