November 12, 2021
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
This Sunday's Service
Sunday, November 14, 2021
10:15 am Livestream
We Give Thanks
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
Reverend Bill Breeden
Limited In-Person Attendance is 50 for this Sunday
Advance Registration Required Each Week -- See Details Below
All ages are invited to join us for songs and stories as we reflect together on all that makes our days more joyful. 

Our children's choir (directed by Jill Courtney) will be singing! 

Our Giving Tree will be available beginning this Sunday with online sign ups available to support Head Start, Stepping Stones, Program for Homeless Teens, or Positive Link, supporting people living with HIV.
A Birthday Invitation from The Rev MAM  
Tuesday, November 16, 12-6 pm
I have truly been inspired by the individual stories of people’s experiences while writing numbers for our Covid Memorial Project.  
Since I am an extrovert, I would love to invite you all to join me in this sacred task on my 62nd birthday. I will be in Fellowship Hall with music and tables set up for number scribing from noon to 6 pm on November 16th. I hope you can stop by and complete a scroll or drop one off. It seems a good creation of sacred communal space to honor 62 years of travel around the sun and remember the lives lost to Covid. 
--Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
Covid Memorial Installation Update
Thank you so much to Sam Cusack (pictured) and to all those who have been co-creating our Covid Memorial. Everyone is invited to join in, and to invite your friends and neighbors to join in, too. If you can't join Reverend Mary Ann on Tuesday,
sign up here or contact Reverend Emily (leite(at)uubloomington.org) to request 1 or more number rolls to record some of the numbers of people who have died of Covid in the US. We are creating a beautiful place of memory together.
Pledge Statements by Email Coming Soon!
We are excited that our new database allows us to send pledge statements via email, and save lots of time, paper, and postage for the church. Our goal is to send pledge statements via email to everyone who has made a pledge for 21-22 by the end of November. We will send paper statements to members who do not have email. We appreciate everyone's patience as we move to this big new way of doing things, and as always we thank everyone for their generous financial support of our congregation. Carol Marks, Church Administrator, Monica Overman and Mandy Skinner, Office Assistants
Wondering What's Happening in the Larger UU World?
Anyone can sign up to receive monthly email news from the MidAmerica UU Region. Subscribe here: uua.org/midamerica/news
Updated guidelines for gatherings in the church
The NEST (Next Steps in Transition to reopening) Committee has updated the guidelines pertaining to gatherings in our church building. Those guidelines are available via this link.
The NEST Committee: Abby Gitlitz, Judy Klein, Rich LeDuc, Dan Lodge-Rigal, Jane McLeod, Sarah Sanchez, Melinda Swenson, Ann LeDuc, and Mary Ann Macklin
There is room for you at in-person Sunday worship
If you would like to attend Sunday worship service in-person, please sign up via this link:
When deciding whether or not to attend in-person services, please take into account your health risk factors and that we cannot ensure that all participants are vaccinated. If you have any trouble registering, please email Reverend Emily at leite(at)uubloomington.org anytime, but definitely before 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, and we will register you.
Become a member on November 14!
Membership indicates your kinship and affinity with this church and the larger Unitarian Universalist religious community. Our next membership ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, November 14 at 11:45 am in the church library. If you are new to Unitarian Universalism, we ask that you complete the Exploring Unitarian Universalism class before becoming a member. Let our Connections Coordinator, Ann LeDuc, know if you would like to attend the membership ceremony and become a member of the UU Church of Bloomington. Email connect(at)uubloomington.org or phone (812) 720-3688.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Updates
Education Matters
Please subscribe now to receive a new monthly newsletter from Religious Education!

While we hope that all children and their families will continue to be actively engaged with religious education, we also hope that in the near future every member of our community will find programs that help them learn and grow in their UU faith, throughout their lifespans. Our Interim Religious Education Consultant, Michele Grove, is leading a process of discernment this year to help us determine what these programs will look like. 

Why subscribe? Each month, this newsletter will highlight events and program offerings happening during the month, along with links for registration and more information. There will also be highlights from recent events, updates from Michele and Stephanie on our emerging programs, and announcements of changes due to COVID and other factors. 
If you missed our November issue, you can view it here

Young Adult (18-35) Free Lunch and Companionship
Sunday, November 14, 11:30 am
This Sunday, November 14, we'll be hosting another in-person gathering on the church grounds for those ages 18-35 to meet others. We can explore the monthly theme or just get to know each other (as we did last month), but it will be catered to those who gather (and also catered with free food that is decided by those assembled). If you're interested in a free lunch and real connection, just bring yourself (and perhaps fellow young adults) to the church Courtyard at 11:30 am. I also welcome you to sign up to attend the service (though you won't be turned away if you only choose to attend the lunch).
Questions? Email Jason Michálek at beacon(at)uubloomington.org.
UU Humanists Meet November 14, 12:45 pm
The UU Humanist Forum will meet this Sunday at 12:45 pm via Zoom. Sandy Dolby will lead a discussion on identity politics. If you'd like to join us, please contact Harold Ogren or Ann Watzel for the link to the Zoom meetings and to be added to our email discussion list.
Bazaar Catalog Available Monday, November 15!
* Donations still welcome * Volunteers needed *
Great News! The Holiday Bazaar catalog will be ready for viewing early on November 15! On Monday morning, we welcome you to sit down with a nice mug of coffee or tea, go to uubloomington.org or our Facebook event for the link, and start browsing. Then be prepared to place your bids and purchase your items when the auction/sales go live at 8 am on Friday, November 19.
More Great News! We are still accepting donations for the bazaar.
    TO DONATE...
Volunteers Needed Nov. 30 - Dec 4:
Help is needed at the church for sorting delivery and pick up of items as well. 
To volunteer, sign up here.
UU Online Book Club reads...
The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams 
Join us online on December 6 at 6:30 pm to discuss it.  If you would like to join the discussion, sign up here. The UU Online Book Club meets the first Monday of each month at 6:30 PM via Zoom.
Your Church Office Staff is Available Monday-Friday
You can reach a member of the church administrative staff each weekday. Here is the info:
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
The land line at the church, 812-332-3695, is checked for messages twice weekly.
Change of Address Back to 2120 N. Fee Lane
Since April of 2020, we have had our church mail forwarded to our PO Box in Nashville, Indiana, so that our church administrator who lives there could manage our bank deposits and bill paying, as she was exclusively working from home until fairly recently. Now that our staff is in the church building more often, we will now once again be receiving all church mail at 2120 N. Fee Lane, Bloomington, IN 47408. Mail sent to the PO Box in Nashville will be forwarded back to our address on Fee Lane for the next 18 months, so no worries if you forget and send your pledge checks to Nashville for a while. We will get them. Thanks for your patience during these unusual times.
Our collection for Beacon is also continuing
Look for bins at the Portico entrance
Showing Support for the Islamic Center of Bloomington
The Racial Justice Task Force and Resilience Productions will be sending $125 and a letter of support to the Islamic Center of Bloomington to help them recover from the vandalism they suffered on October 18th. If individuals would like to reach out, you can send a note and/or donation to the Islamic Center of Bloomington, 1925 E. Atwater Ave., Bloomington, IN, 47401. There is also a GoFundMe Fundraiser if you would like to donate online.
Covid-19 Booster Vaccines are now available
The CDC has issued booster eligibility guidance. Based on those recommendations, the Indiana Department of Health supports the administration of booster doses to individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at 6 months ago or earlier, and are age 65 years or older, or are age 18+, live in long-term care settings, have underlying medical conditions, or work or live in high-risk settings. For more information, visit: coronavirus.in.gov/vaccine

UPDATE
1) people who received the J&J shot at least 2 months ago are eligible for boosters regardless of age or health status, and 2) kids 5-11 can now be vaccinated.
Masthead photo by Linda Mjolsnes.
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