Connie's Column

You Are a Living Church

Some of you went to church twice on Sunday June 4, both to the morning service and to the afternoon congregational meeting (and maybe even participated in other congregational activities in between).

You may have heard me read this passage by UU minister Steve Crump both in the morning and in the afternoon—and it still bears repeating, because it so accurately describes this living congregation, the UU Church of Bloomington.

Living churches have problems; dying churches don't.

Living churches make lots of noise; dying churches are peaceful as tombs.

Living churches often outspend their income; dying churches would not dream of giving or spending more than they did ten year ago.

Living churches look to the future for new ways to serve; dying churches look to the past for old ways to be secure.

Living churches are full of unfamiliar faces; in dying churches everyone has known everyone for years.

Living churches say, We'll find a way; dying churches say, We can't do that.

Living churches talk about money, life, death, love, birth, anger, and the weather; dying churches talk about the weather.

You are a living church!

In faith and hope,

Connie

Rev. Connie Grant

Interim Lead Minister

grant@uubloomington.org

847-840-8542

Emily's Post

Dear Ones,

As I sat down to write this, my second-to-last column, I found that I am tired of writing about saying goodbye. I wanted, instead, to share what I’m thinking about today.

Sitting inside this morning, I’m feeling the deep in-breath that comes with rain. Today’s rain is offering time for renewal, for rest, for gratitude. On this day, we don’t have to worry about the garden needing to be watered—it is being cared for without our effort.

The rain reminds me of a practice I learned a few years back: when writing your to-do list, create it in two columns—your own to-dos and a separate list for the universe to care for. 

I love this practice because it turns out that it isn’t possible to do everything that ought to get done. (Not a surprise?) Yet, it also isn’t helpful to ignore big dreams or pressing issues. I’ve found this practice offers an in-between place—acknowledging that some things are beyond our current abilities or capacity, yet claiming our power to NAME them as things that need doing, that we hope for and intend for the world.  And also claiming a place of trust—that we don’t have to do everything, that we are co-creators of this world with one another and with the earth itself.

Sometimes, the juxtaposed to-do lists offer a smile by making our tasks seem so small--

me: buy oats / universe: grow love where there is misunderstanding

Sometimes, they provide a place to hold ideas that need more support--

me: find boxes / universe: create a lending library of banned books

And sometimes, they create a dreaming space that can inspire us to bring things within the reach of our own to-dos—

me: do pages 32-35 in “Do the Work” / universe: abolish racist systems

Is there something that feels way beyond your ability to do these days?  Put it on the to-do list for the universe—sometimes, the rain just comes.  And sometimes, writing a few simple words can help us discover our own small part of the big work to be done.

Sending you my love,

Emily

Reverend Emily Manvel Leite

Minister of Story and Ritual 

leite@uubloomington.org

812-333-9822

Celebrate the Ministry of Reverend Emily Manvel Leite

on Sunday, June 18

Our last Sunday with Reverend Emily Manvel Leite before she leaves us at the end of June will be June 18. ​We have planned an event-filled day to say goodbye to Emily after her 17.5 years serving our congregation.​ ​

Please join us in recognizing Emily and gathering around her to say goodbye!

More ways to contribute:

Share a poem during the festivities

We invite you to write a poem of 3–5 lines to express your memories, thoughts, gratitude,

good wishes for Emily. Perhaps a haiku, limerick, tanka, cinquain or a form of your own.

Bring it with you for the day’s festivities or send it in ahead of time to Mary Craig

(marycraig.uucb@gmail.com).

Share your photos

Do you have photos of Reverend Emily, recent or older, that you would like to share?

Please send them to Hans Kelson (hkelson@uubloomington.org) by June 11.

Share your memories

Visit the Memory Table during coffee hour on Sundays to write cards and other

remembrances to place in the Stone Box.

Let’s enjoy this special day together and give Emily a warm and beautiful send-off!

Your Emily Good Goodbye Team,

Carol McCord

Mary Craig

Stephanie Kimball

Jason Michálek

Melinda Swenson

Anabel Watson

Questions? Contact Mary Craig (marycraig.uucb@gmail.com) or Carol McCord

(camccord@indiana.edu).

From Our Board of Directors

One of the things I love about this congregation is that we are, as Rev. Connie defined it on Sunday, a “living church”. We might be loud, and we might be messy, but we show up and we stay together to work things through. 

This was very much in evidence at our Congregational Meeting last Sunday. More than 100 members were engaged in learning about what has been happening at the church in the last year, and what some plans are going forward. If you were not able to attend the meeting, you can find the annual report at this link: 2023 Annual Report. (Annual reports back to 2008 are archived on our website.)

The two issues that garnered the most discussion were the search committee process and the proposed budget. Due to technical errors, the detailed budget was not available at the meeting. You can access those details at the following links: 

• 2022-23 Budget v Actual Detail (current fiscal year) 
• 2023-24 Budget Detail (next fiscal year)

If you have any questions about these, please contact the treasurer at treasurer@uubloomington.org. 

As we discussed at the meeting, this year our pledge revenue is currently about $100,000 below what we have set in our budget for expenses. The members of the Finance Committee have gone through the budget with a fine-tooth comb and have trimmed everywhere that they can. To make up the shortfall our congregations voted to do two things: draw roughly $100,000 from our operational reserves, leaving us with an unhealthily low amount in reserve, and cut our fair share pledge to the UUA, something we have not done in at last 20 years.  

As a congregation, you suggested another option. Many of you said at the meeting that you would be able to increase your pledge to help us meet our budgetary needs. If you have not already had a chance to do that, you can update your pledge--or make a new pledge--by filling out this form: 

Pledge Form for 2023-24

Thank you to everyone who showed up on Sunday and added your voice to the living church that we call home. Thank you for all the ways you are involved and engaged, and for all the ways we are growing and exploring together. 

Abby Gitlitz 

Board President