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Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
Congregation founded 1949 | LGBTQ Welcoming Congregation since 1995 | Green Sanctuary since 2007
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Seeking the Spirit | Building Community | Changing the World |
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Join us on Sunday mornings
Please note: June 19 through July 31
we will hold one Sunday service only, at 10:15 a.m.
Livestream:
We are also meeting in person in our Meeting Room.
All are welcome.
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Hearing assistive devices are now available at the AV Tech booth in the rear of the sanctuary for use during Sunday worship services.
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Pandemic Guidelines from Our Re-opening Group
Masks Required Inside the Building
Current Sunday Worship Guidelines for In-person Attendees:
- We expect all who are able to be vaccinated.
- Masks are currently required.
- Coffee Hour will be held in the Courtyard this Sunday.
As always, each individual must decide what is right for them and whether or not to attend activities in person. We reserve the right to revise these guidelines in response to changes in COVID risk levels.
Warmest regards,
The NEST (Next Steps in Transition) Working Group: Jane McLeod, Abby Gitlitz, Stephanie Kimball, Judy Klein, Dan Lodge-Rigal, Sarah Sanchez, Melinda Swenson and Rev. Emily Manvel Leite.
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Sunday, July 24, 2022
10:15 a.m.
In person and Livestream
"The Kindom of Creation"
Reverend Jamie Hinson-Rieger, guest in our pulpit
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
From slime molds to forest floors, counting crows to Happy the elephant, scientists are beginning to understand more and more that intelligence and awareness are not the unique possessions of human beings or even the so-called higher mammals. Indeed, these qualities appear to be omnipresent in creation. Of course, many other cultures and ways of knowing have always acknowledged this. What does that mean for our relationships to living things, especially as UUs, who hold inter-relatedness as a core religious principle? This Sunday we will explore the intelligence of the natural world and indigenous biologist Robin Wall Kimmerer’s concept of kinship as applied to humanity and the natural world.
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Sunday, July 24, 8:00 pm, via Zoom
How Do We Send Our Kids Back to School? Addressing Fears and Anxiety around
Gun Violence at School
A social worker-led Workshop for Parents.
Many of you will be sending your children to elementary, middle and high school in the beginning of August. Kadie Booth, a social worker from Centerstone, will be offering some insights on how to look for signs of anxiety, stress and depression in yourself and your child and offering some suggestions on creating routines and using language that is reassuring and calming. There will be breakout sessions and time for discussion. This is for parents only.
While pre-registration is not mandatory, we hope you will pre-register and think about the preliminary questions on the form. Join by Zoom at 8:00 pm on July 24 (Meeting ID: 832 9031 6029, Passcode: 511210)
This workshop is organized by the Bloomington Multi-faith Alliance for Children and Families. Please email Stephanie Kimball, our Director of Religious Education, if you have any questions, kimball (at) uubloomington.org.
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Sunday, July 31, 2022
10:15 a.m.
In person and Livestream
Reverend Forrest Gilmore, guest in our pulpit
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
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Well, It's Not Exactly a Sacrament, But We Do Love Coffee!
We need additional volunteers to help with coffee and tea on Sunday mornings. Volunteers replenish supplies before coffee hour starts (about 11:15 AM), during coffee hour (11:30-12:15 AM), and clean up afterwards (12:15 AM-12:35AM). Please note the new coffee hour times due to our temporary switch to one worship service. Java Crew questions? Contact Marlin Howard at howardm(at)indiana.edu Sign up here to keep the coffee flowing!
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Help Us Be Welcoming -- Sign up to Greet on Sundays
Whether you have been a Greeter in the past, or are looking for a new volunteer opportunity, you are invited to sign up to greet on Sunday mornings.
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Serve as a Flame Keeper Volunteer!
Flame Keeper volunteers are very important to ensuring our worship services run smoothly on Sunday mornings. They maintain the Joys and Sorrows candles and assist the ministers as needed. Read this list of tasks for more details.
All are welcome to join the Flame Keepers. Children under the age of 16 are asked to serve with a parent or guardian. If you haven't been a Flame Keeper in the past, we will provide a short tutorial for you before you serve.
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From Our Board of Directors
It is summertime here at UUCB which is usually quiet. This summer is marked as a time of transition as we have said goodbye to our departing senior minister Rev. Mary Ann Macklin June 30 and begin to look forward to our interim minister Rev. Connie Grant. Rev. Grant will begin with our congregation on August 1 and plans to hit the ground running. Look for an introductory Prologue article from her in our next issue.
The Board would like to thank Nancy Olson for stepping in and supervising the staff during July. Nancy is an experienced religious educator, spiritual director, personal and organizational transitions coach as well as a practiced supervisor. She has led several board retreats for our congregation and currently lives in Franklin, Indiana.
The board would also like to thank the members of this congregation for all of the celebrations for Rev. Mary Ann as she wound down her ministry. As part of this, as is tradition, we presented our outgoing Senior Minister with a financial gift from the generous donations from members and friends of UUCB. Reverend Macklin was deeply moved by the generosity of this gift.
Reverend Macklin parted with this message, "My heartfelt gratitude to one and all. You have helped soften my landing across the threshold into new territory. Such a gift you have provided. Keep looking up, especially for those upcoming images from NASA's James Webb Telescope. Lastly, as some of you know by now, in my last few days of ministry I contracted Covid. I was symptomatic for 10 days but am on the mend. My greatest joy is regaining taste and smell. All is well. In gratitude."
Looking forward as we enter this new phase,
Abby Gitlitz
Congregational President
pres (at) uubloomington.org
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Emily's Post
Dear Friends,
Here in mid-July, we are right in the middle of a gentle pause—the time between Reverend Mary Ann Macklin’s ministry ending and Reverend Constance Grant’s ministry beginning. The energy of summer invites us into pausing. As the heat rises, it can be good to be still and listen to the cicadas’ call. Last Sunday, Scott Russell Sanders invited us into a place of not hurrying—as his father used to say, “Trees don’t rush, so why should we?” If you need a moment of pause, you might like to connect with this past Sunday’s service again. It can be found here. Scott is a wonderful storyteller!
On the other hand, if you are feeling curious, or anxious, about the interim process we are about to begin with Reverend Grant, you might revisit Reverend David Pyle’s sermon from July 10th. He talked about interim time, and about more helpful and less helpful congregational attitudes as we enter in. If you haven’t heard it yet, listening to Reverend Pyle’s reflections are a gift to our congregation, so more of us know something about interim times, and also a gift to yourself if you are wondering what lies ahead.
And then, I invite you to arrive again into pausing—into a time of observing the world and being sure to seek its beauty as well as its acknowledging its pain. Eat some peaches. Smell the roses. Feel the gentle summer breeze against your cheek. And laugh at the groundhogs’ antics, or at whatever delights cross your path in these summer days.
Sending you my love,
Emily
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
Minister of Story and Ritual
(Below, one of our resident groundhogs displays their acrobatic skills, July 2022.)
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Wanted: Used iPads
As children's religious education programming switches to a new check-in procedure, we are in need of a few iPads capable of running iOS 12 or above. Please contact Stephanie Kimball, Director of Religious Education, if you have one to donate! kimball (at) uubloomington.org
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Volunteer to Support Religious Education
Click here for information on our volunteer needs, including teachers for Sunday morning programming, facilitators for Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality curriculum, and Spirit Play curriculum training. To apply for a Childcare job, please click here.
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Grounds Workdays on
Saturdays and Wednesdays
Starting July 20, 7:30 - 10 a.m.
Calling all yard workers to work in community on our grounds! We're weeding, moving mulch, trimming walkways, and watering when needed. Meet at the church anytime between 7:30am-10am, before it gets unbearably hot, SATURDAYS 7/23, and 7/30, and WEDNESDAYS 7/20 and 7/27. If you're not free during these times but want to contribute, please contact Ann Kamman and we'll find a way for you to help. Great way to meet new people and share our common love of the earth!
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UU Online Book Club Discusses Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law, by Mary Roach,
Monday, August 1, 6:30 p.m.
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Are you new to UU Bloomington?
Join us on Sunday, August 7 for a short introduction
If you are new to our congregation, a very warm welcome to you! On Sunday, August 7 at ~10:35 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. you are invited to join in a brief introduction to Unitarian Universalism and this congregation. This short introduction will take place between worship services. Just click here at 10:35 a.m. on August 7 to join via Zoom (Meeting ID: 848 9039 7300
Passcode: new) or join us in person in the church library upstairs. If you have questions, you are always welcome to email Connections Coordinator, Anabel Watson, at connect(at)uubloomington.org.
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Some Checks Mailed to UUCB Were Stolen
Please Use P.O. Box Address for Pledge Checks
We have discovered that several checks that were mailed to the church's street address were stolen in May and June, then cashed or deposited fraudulently. If you mailed a check to UUCB in April, May, or June, and did not receive an email from us confirming that we received it, please contact your bank to see if the check has cleared. If the check was stolen, you should request that your bank investigate and refund the stolen funds to you. If it was stolen but not cashed, you can place a stop payment on it. We have reported this incident to the US Postal Service and the Bloomington Police Department. The case number at the Bloomington Police is # B22-23565, and to file a police report you can call Officer Rob Shrake at 812-349-3352. For those with online access, we also encourage you to use our online giving page at uucb.churchcenter.com/giving, to make sure your gifts are safely received by the church. Questions? please contact Carol Marks, Church Administrator, admin (at) uubloomington.org
For those who prefer to send paper checks, we have rented a PO Box and we request that pledge checks be mailed there and no longer mailed to our Fee Lane address:
UU Church
PO Box 8132
Bloomington, IN 47407
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Adding Your Photo to the Church Directory
With the recent and upcoming arrival of new staff and members, we are encouraging all to upload a profile photo to the UUCB online directory. This can be done by going to the "profile" section of Church Center (accessible by clicking HERE) and clicking on the circle with your initials in it. You will then be prompted to upload a picture from your computer. If you have any difficulties with this, or find this request particularly daunting, please don't hesitate to email a picture of yourself to connect(at)uubloomington.org and I will add it to your profile! More detailed instructions for the new directory will also be available in the near future. ~With gratitude, Anabel Watson, Connections Coordinator
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Back to the Original Date for the 2022 Bazaar:
December 2-3
Due to time conflicts in the community and the church, the date of this year’s bazaar has been re-established to December 2-3, 2022. We are sorry for any confusion the previous date change may have caused. An in-person bazaar is greatly hoped for. There was an enthusiastic response to our invitation to volunteers in the July 5 Prologue, but we still have some open positions on the bazaar committee.
Open positions on UU Bazaar Committee:
contact Ruellen Fessenbecker if you are interested, rfessenb (at) indiana.edu
· Social Media Chair: this person is web master of the Bazaar Facebook page and other social media sites. Need starts immediately. Sites will be updated as needed.
· Artisan support: (2 co-chairs) Informs artisans of time to apply for the Bazaar. Arranges jury for accepting artisans to the Bazaar. Oversees Move in of artisan booths. Answers questions during the bazaar. Oversees Move out after the bazaar.
· Sign up and recruiting: This person maintains an online sign up program such as sign up genius for recruiting bazaar approx. 100 volunteers . Also arranges for in person sign ups on the Sunday’s before the bazaar.
· Set up/tear down: This person organizes the clearing of furniture from the meeting room and other rooms. Set up occurs on the Sunday before the Bazaar and again on Thursday before the bazaar. Times might be negotiable.
Tear down and “putting the church together” happens on Saturday of the bazaar and usually takes around 4 hours depending on the number of volunteers that help.
· Friday Café coordinator. Sets the menu, instructs the kitchen volunteers, and coordinates the running of the kitchen during the day. (during covid restrictions menus and practices might need to be adjusted. The Kitchen coordinator will consult with the bazaar chair and the NEST committee for safe practices.)
· Saturday Café coordinator. Sets the menu, instructs the kitchen volunteers, and coordinates the running of the kitchen during the day. (during covid restrictions menus and practices might need to be adjusted. The Kitchen coordinator will consult with the bazaar chair and the NEST committee for safe practices.)
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UU Humanists Meet Sunday, July 10, 12:45 p.m.
on Zoom
The UU Humanists will meet this Sunday at 12:45 p.m. online via Zoom. Rich Janda will facilitate a discussion on "Demolition and promotion of emotions in politics and culture." To join the discussion, contact Ann Watzel or Harold Ogren.
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UU Freethinkers Meet Sunday, July 17, 12:45 pm
on Zoom
The UU Freethinkers bi-weekly meeting creates the opportunity for participants to raise questions and engage in open and non-structured discussion of issues of social, political, and theological/religious concern. Every other Sunday in person and via Zoom at 12:45 pm. To join the discussion on Zoom, contact Ann Watzel or Harold Ogren.
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Open Mind Zen at Friends Meeting House
Open Mind Zen with UU member Sensei Frank Seisho Diaz meets weekly at the Bloomington Friends Meeting House. If you'd like to participate, visit openmindzenbloomington.org and click on the "Welcome" tab for more information.
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From our Reproductive Justice Task Force
Because of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, Pro Choice citizens know there is an uphill battle to deal with the disaster we have now--to get our reproductive rights back. The Indiana legislature's special session is delayed until 7/25, so there's more time to take action!
There are many ways to help:
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Donate to the Hoosier Abortion Fund. (More info below)
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Email your legislators, especially to share personal stories. You can also contact Governor Eric Holcomb.
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Talk with family and friends; this empowers people to see how the issue affects them, spread the word, vote, and take action.
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Attend events to show support, who we are, and how committed we are. (See below!)
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Get out the vote! Educate yourself about the issues and pass on what you learn to motivate others to vote as well.
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Support Abortion Rights and Access through
All Options Pregnancy Resource Center
The most cost-effective way to support abortion rights and access in Indiana is to donate to our local All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center. Very soon costs for those seeking abortion may increase astronomically, if travel to another state becomes necessary. To donate, choose the drop down menu option for 'Hoosier Abortion Fund' on this site: all-options.networkforgood.com
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Looking for Women Builders
for Habitat's September Women+ Build!
UU Habitat Task Force is now recruiting women for our 35-member team participating in the Habitat for Humanity’s Women+ Build on Tuesday, Sept. 20.
Our team this year, headed by co-leaders Barb Berggoetz, Abby Gitlitz and Anne Brahaum, is bringing together women from UU and the Bloomington Creative Glass Center and friends who’d like to join. Read more...
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From the UU Hunger & Homelessness Task Forces
Donation Suggestions for Beacon (Ongoing collection) - donation bins are at the Portico entrance on the north side of the church:
Dry Cereal, Canned Food, Condiments, Bottled Water, Protein Drinks, Coffee, Pasta, Hygiene Products, Clothes (esp. Socks), Tea.
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How to Reach the Administrative Staff
Church Administrator Carol Marks can be reached at 812-287-9615 or admin (at) uubloomington.org, M-F 10-4.
Office Assistants Monica Overman or Mandy Skinner are in the church office Room 204 on Sundays, 10-1. They can also be reached at other times, below.
Office Assistant Monica Overman, (away until July 26) T, Th, 10-1, Friday 12:30-3:30, 812-322-5546, office (at) uubloomington.org. Working from home.
Office Assistant Mandy Skinner, M, W, F, 10:30-1:30, 812-340-9981, office (at) uubloomington.org. Working from home.
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COVID-19 Vaccination News
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Community Connections
Our Faith in Action in the Community
2022 Bloomington Blues & Boogie Woogie Piano Festival Master Class
Here August 13
The Boogie Woogie Piano Festival Master Class will take place in our Meeting Room on Saturday, August 13 at 4:00 p.m. With support from the Bloomington Arts Commission and the UU Church Music Program, the Master Class is free, and targeted to intermediate and advanced pianists and observers and is limited to 20 participants and 80 observers.
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Email SCAM Alert
Our ministers, staff, and board members or other members will never send you email asking you for any money besides your pledge payment!
How to Recognize an Email Phishing Scam:
Is the email impersonating Rev. Macklin or another of our staff or ministers? Are they asking you to purchase gift cards? Wait! Don't do it! We will never send you emails like that. To double check, look at the email address of the sender. Is it from an address at uubloomington.org? If not, that's the second good reason to delete it!
Office Hours, Calendar, Deadlines
Office hours: M-F, 10 am-4 pm.
The Church Office can be reached via text or voicemail during office hours at 812-287-9615. Email: admin (at) uubloomington.org or office (at) uubloomington.org.
The Prologue is published on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month. Next issue is
August 2. Deadline is 10 am on date of publication, to admin (at) uubloomington.org
Church Mailing Address: UU Church,
PO Box 8132, Bloomington IN 47407
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Details on Membership & Offering
Membership: 561 certified members as of 2/1/2022;
563 current members.
Attendance:
July 3: 160
July 10: 123
Non-Pledge Offering:
July 3: $390
July 10: $261
To make a contribution for the Non-Pledge Offering (Sunday Plate), or to make a payment towards your pledge, click on this link to get to our new Giving page: uucb.churchcenter.com/giving
Total to be donated (25%) to Bloomington Refugee Support Network: $163.00 (from July 3 and July 10)
Grocery Card Sales: (Bloomingfoods or Fresh Thyme) $0; Total income to UUCB: $0
Free Money from Kroger!
Fresh Thyme and Bloomingfoods
Grocery Cards Available by Mail
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Did you know that Kroger sends our congregation over $1,600 each year? This is made possible by those of you who participate in Kroger's Community Rewards program. Register your Kroger Plus card online at this link.
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We are also still selling grocery cards for Bloomingfoods and Fresh Thyme by mail. Click here to see what kind of cards and how many are available. Send your check to the church (UU Church, PO Box 8132, Bloomington, IN 47407) with a note to let us know the type and value of card(s) you want, and we will mail them to you. You do not need to send a return envelope.
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Masthead photo by John Woodcock, 2016. |
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
PO Box 8132 Bloomington, IN 47407
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