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Sunday, March 29, 2020
10:15 am
(one online service only)
Enter the Wild with Care, My Loves
Zen Hoshi Frank Diaz, PhD - Open Mind Zen Bloomington
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin and Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
Guest Musician: Malcolm Dalglish
Pianist: Kim Carballo
We will be welcoming Hoshi Frank Diaz into our pulpit this Sunday. Frank Seisho Diaz, Ph.D., Assistant Teacher (Hoshi), Resident Teacher at Open Mind Zen Bloomington, is a Cuban-born Zen teacher who began practicing Zen at Tallahassee's Cypress Tree Zen Center in 1994. Frank is currently on faculty at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he teaches courses in music education and mindfulness-based wellness. Special music will be offered by Malcolm Dalglish,
hammered dulcimer
player and builder, composer, and choral director.
Our Building is Closed, but Our Hearts are Still Open. To help disrupt the possible spread of the coronavirus and COVID-19 in our community, our building is closed for the time being. All in-person events and meetings have been cancelled. We urge everyone to stay home.
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A Note from Reverend Macklin
Our worship leaders appreciate hearing from you after the Sunday services. Your photos, short video clips and descriptions of your positive experiences bring home the ways our weekly Sunday morning live-stream gatherings keep us connected. As pianist Ray Fellman expressed, "We can truly feel the congregation's presence when we are in the sanctuary participating in the live-stream worship service."
We received this affirmation from one of our congregation's health care workers who has been working on the frontline, "Over the weekend I was sick with anxiety, so on Sunday I closed myself in the guest room with my candle and pinecone and flower bulb and live streamed the service. As soon as Ray started playing the prelude the tears came, but ever since the service I haven't felt much anxiety. I think I needed to release everything I was holding in. The service was so beautiful and thoughtful."
Click here to see a sweet video clip shared with us by Jill, recorded during last week's worship service, featuring her daughter dancing, Carrie Newcomer singing, and a short cameo appearance from Jill's son, who appears to be conducting the music. We also had a great clip of one family's bodacious singing of "For The Earth Forever Turning." Made me want to include that as our closing hymn again this week!
Again, thank you all for joining us.
-- Rev MAM
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PayPal Available for Donations
We now have a
PayPal page where you can make a Sunday Plate contribution and other donations to the church using a major credit card. You do not need to have a PayPal account to use this page. It's also not required. You can still mail in your pledge contributions using paper checks.
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Are you new to UU Bloomington? Start here!
Join us next Sunday,
April 5, for an online introduction
If you are new to our congregation, a very warm welcome to you! Next Sunday, April 5, at 11:30 am you are invited to join me, Ann LeDuc, for a brief online introduction to Unitarian Universalism and this congregation. Just
click on this link at 11:30 am on April 5. If you are new to using Zoom,
please read these instructions before the meeting. If you are new to Unitarian Universalism,
this video from the Unitarian Universalist Association is very informative. Additionally,
here is the link to our online connections form if you are ready to get involved here. You are always welcome to email me at connect(at)
uubloomington.org. Hope to see you online on April 5!
Also, if you'd like to say hi, connect with a member of our staff or a minister, or get more involved here in the future, please take a moment to fill out this form:
Welcome! (Our online guest card)
-- Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
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Our Folks...
Our thoughts are with Veronica Lenard and family, upon the passing of her husband, Andrew Lenard, on March 17.
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Adrienne on Facebook Live, Weekdays at 1 pm
Our Director of Religious Education, Adrienne Summerlot, will be holding space for children and those young at heart each weekday. We start with a chalice lighting and show and tell (via comments) and then she features a story. The schedule is as follows: Mindful Mondays, Time Turner Tuesdays, Weird, Wild and Wonderful Wednesdays, Tales from Around the World Thursdays and Fun Fridays. Can't join us live? The videos are posted to her page, along with some wondering questions and links to activities and other stories for you to go to when it is convenient. Her professional Facebook profile is Dre Bloomington Summerlot.
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UU Church Choir of Bloomington Facebook Page - Keep in Touch
Choir members and other interested UUs are encouraged to "Like" and "Follow" the choir Facebook page, if you are already logged in to Facebook, UU.Choir.Bloomington. This is a way to stay in touch with each other while we are apart. Susan Swaney, our Music Director, may check in there from time to time as well.
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Notice from the UU Homelessness Task Force and Hunger Task Force
Monthly Food Drives (and other needs)
Through April 30, we are collecting the following items for Shalom Community Center and The Nest. Our building is closed, but we have placed collection bins outside the building, under the northside porch near the Portico Entrance. Simply drive up and drop off - we are collecting donations from these bins daily.
For Shalom Community Center
* macaroni, coffee, spaghetti
* travel-sized toiletries; small sizes of toothpaste, soap, shaving cream
* washcloths
* socks,
new underwear
* toothbrushes
* hand sanitizers
* disinfectant sprays, Lysol wipes
Shalom is a particularly vulnerable population, and we thank you for your support in these trying times. -- The UU Homelessness Task Force
For The Nest - a child care facility at New Hope Family Shelter
Baby Food:
* Stage 2 baby food (single flavor only):
peach, mango, apple, pear, banana, butternut squash,
green bean, pea, carrot, sweet potato
* infant oatmeal
* infant formula (any kind)
Dry Goods:
* peanut butter, applesauce, pasta sauce
* vegetable stock
* flour, sugar
* olive oil, coconut oil
* noodles
* tortillas, whole grain
* whole grain Cheerios, crackers, pretzel sticks
* canned beans
* coconut milk
People still need to eat during this public health crisis, and we greatly appreciate your flexibility and compassion in this unprecedented situation. As always, THANK YOU for your continued support in helping to fight hunger in our community.
--
The UU Hunger Task Force
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Now Accepting Nominations for the 25% Sunday Plate Fund
for July 2020-June 2021
Due April 15
Each year our congregation gives 25% of undesignated/non-pledge Sunday Plate donations to a local project or service agency. In the spring the Social Justice Funds Committee accepts nominees for the upcoming fiscal year. This year's nominations are due by April 15. The members gathered at the June 7, 2020 Congregational Meeting will vote to choose the organization that will received these funds in 2020-21. Contact Denise Ogren, SJFC Chair, at
[email protected] with any questions.
The Social Justice Funds Committee:
Denise Ogren, Anna Beauchamp,
Steve Mascari. Advisor: Jackie Hall
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Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
Most of our groups and committees are continuing to meet via Zoom meetings (more about Zoom below!), and find new creative ways to do their good works. Let me know if you want to join a new group or task force. Just email me at connect (at) uubloomington.org, or complete the online connections form: bit.ly/UUconnect.
It's also been great hearing from many of you about how you are spending your time at home.
Here are a few ways that you have shared:
- Glee Noble is doing a lot of letter writing. Stamps can be ordered and delivered to your home via USPS.com.
- Deb Fish has recorded several video storytimes for children on her Youtube channel.
- Julie Lawson is busy gardening and thinking about a type of Victory Garden concept, "COVID Garden?"
- Jana Pereau is involved with the Monroe County Mutual Aid group on Facebook: Monroe County Area Mutual Aid for Covid-19
Several folks are getting outside for walking and hiking, including my family.
This congregation really steps up to support each other. Several of our congregation members who are less susceptible to the virus have contacted me volunteering to help those who are more susceptible (over 60 and/or pre-existing health condition). If you want to volunteer, or if you need a volunteer to help you, let me know. We currently have volunteers who are willing to go grocery shopping, pick up medications, call to visit on the phone, correspond by email, write snail mail letters, and assist with computer issues.
Connecting Using Zoom
During this time, we are exploring alternative ways to connect with each other. One way we can do this is through a computer application called Zoom meetings. The application is free and easy to use.
Follow this link for very simple instructions on how to use Zoom. There are also extensive instructions on the Zoom website at:
support.zoom.us If your UUCB group would like to schedule a Zoom meeting or gathering, email or call me.
-- Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
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Reminder about Pledging for 2020-2021
Greetings from your At-Large board members, who these days are really not very at large at all, just like the rest of you. This is a gentle reminder to make your pledge for 2020-21
by clicking here to enter it in our online pledge form, if you haven't already. We know you are busy taking care of yourselves and others the best you can, but please remember to take care of our congregation, too. Stay well and safe!
-- Julie Lawson, Jane McLeod and Sharon Wiseman
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No Meetings at Church -- Our Building is Closed
In an effort to disrupt the community spread of coronavirus Covid-19, our building is closed and all meetings are canceled. This decision will be updated as we go forward.
Church Office Closed, Staff Working from Home
Our offices are closed, but staff members are working from home and checking email frequently during their regularly scheduled work hours.
Carol Marks, Church Administrator, admin (at) uubloomington.org
Monica Overman and Mandy Skinner, office (at) uubloomington.org
Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator, connect (at) uubloomington.org
Adrienne Summerlot, Dir. of Religious Education, dre (at) uubloomington.org
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Have a sewing machine? Mask donations needed
The Monroe County Health Department would like to be able to provide the staff, volunteers, and patrons at local homeless shelters and facilities with masks, but masks are in short supply. If you would like to help,
Here is the How-To video on making protective masks.
If you can make masks to donate, contact Christina Kempf, Public Health Coordinator, at [email protected]
or 812-349-2849. (Email preferred) She can arrange to pick up any masks that are made, and will distribute them where they are needed.
Thank you! Recent H-T article indicates masks can be taken to your nearest fire station, also.
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Support Bloom Magazine and Shalom Community Center
Bloom has published a book with the proceeds going to the Shalom Community Center - click here to learn more. Due to the current crisis, the 40+ locations where they planned to sell the book are mostly closed. You can help Bloom weather this storm and help Shalom by letting your friends know about the book by email, Facebook, etc. It can be ordered on the Bloom website, magbloom.com, and at these local businesses: Bloomingfoods East & West, The Book Corner, Goods for Cooks, Feast, Caveat Emptor, Black's Mercantile.
Thank you from Malcolm Abrams, Editor & Publisher, Bloom Magazine |
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Voting by Mail
The primary election day for Indiana has been changed to June 2, and the Indiana Election Commission has decided that all registered voters will be able to vote by mail, for the June 2 election only.
For more information, see this link:
You must be registered to vote in order to receive an absentee ballot. You can check your registration at
www.indianavoters.in.gov
- "Check Voting Status."
To access an "Application to Vote by Mail," go to . . .
http://monroecountyvoters.us/voterportal/absenteevoting.html
Please check primary sources for updates on voting procedures. --Ed.
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Deadline for Order of service and Friday UU Update
Friday Update is for Events Happening in the Next 10 Days
The Friday UU Update is designed to remind the members of the congregation about events and services that are coming up within the next 10 days. For events that are further in the future, please consult our
twice-monthly Prologue newsletter.
For More Information
See the March 17
edition
of our newsletter, The Prologue, published on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Past issues for quite awhile back can be found
here
.
(Next Prologue deadline is Tuesday, April 7, at 10 am.)
Carol Marks
has editorial responsibility for our congregation's publications.
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