August 6, 2021
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
Join us tonight for a Grounds Work Party!
You are invited to join us on two Friday evenings, August 6 and 13, from 5-8 pm to enjoy conversation, community, and a little sprucing up of the church grounds. We will pull weeds and spread some wood chips. Staying the entire time is not required, just come for as long as you are able. If you can, let us know you are coming by emailing connect(at)uubloomington.org. 
This Sunday's Service
Sunday, August 6, 2021
10:15 am Livestream
Wow! That Hurt!
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
Reverend Forrest Gilmore

These past seventeen months have been not just a risk to our physical health and the health of those we love, but also a strain on our hearts and minds. What does it mean to go through a collective trauma together? How do we be good to ourselves? How do we heal? How do we carry on?





A Very Special Coffee Hour, this week only...
Come talk with Ned Joyner this Sunday!
Though our usual virtual coffee hour is taking a break for now due to low attendance, this week we have a special reason to come together for conversation and connection -- saying farewell to Ned! We invite you to come talk to our AV guru Ned Joyner after the service this Sunday, August 8 (around 11:30 am) and wish him good luck in his studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York.
Interim Religious Education Consultant
Michele Grove Begins August 15
Our Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Michele Townsend Grove has accepted our offer and has been hired to be our part-time Interim Religious Education Consultant, starting August 15. Michele has more than 30 years of experience in lifespan religious education and program development and has served at many different UU churches in her career. Most recently she served as Interim Director of Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. She has also served as trainer for interim Religious Educators for the
Unitarian Universalist Association.
 
Here at UUCB, Michele is charged with providing guidance to the congregation in understanding our ongoing and future religious education needs. Ms. Grove will be present with us here in Bloomington for the first time August 25-29. For additional information, please see the July 2, 2021 Friday UU Update.
Let's meet up at Slip-n-Foam!
Saturday, August 7, 1 - 4 pm at Butler Park
$5 per person
Rev. Ernest D. Butler Park For ages 3–12 years old w/adult guardian. Participate in water-themed games and crafts. Wear a swimsuit to cool off in the summer sun, and savor the last days of summer break! This is a Bloomington Parks and Recreation event. All the details are here: bloomington.in.gov/recreation/programs/11440
UU Humanists Meet August 8, 12:45 pm
The UU Humanist Forum will meet this Sunday at 12:45 pm via Zoom. Sandy Dolby, Jason Michάlek, and Rich Janda will lead a discussion on "What the Bleep are we talking about?" If you'd like to join us, please contact Ann Watzel for the link to the Zoom meetings and to be added to our email discussion list.
Become a Member this Sunday! 3:30 pm
Membership indicates your kinship and affinity with this church and the larger Unitarian Universalist religious community. The next membership ceremony is scheduled for this Sunday, August 8 at 3:30 pm via Zoom. If you are new to Unitarian Universalism, we ask that you complete the Exploring Unitarian Universalism class before becoming a member. Let the Connections Coordinator know if you would like to attend the membership ceremony and become a member of the UU Church of Bloomington. Email Ann at connect(at)uubloomington.org or phone (812) 720-3688.
Vigil for a Nuclear Weapons-Free World
Sunday, August 8, 8:00 pm at the Courthouse
The Just Peace Task Force invites you to stand with us on Courthouse Square for a vigil "For a Nuclear Weapons-Free World," on Sunday, August 8 at 8 pm, to commemorate the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and to oppose the $1.5 trillion program to "modernize" the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Rev. Bill Breeden and David Keppel will be among the speakers. For information, please contact David at keppel(at)sbcglobal.net.
Our Summer Read:
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Here are questions related to Chapters 7-9 of our summer read. You can look forward to more questions in the Friday Update each week, and on August 22 at 4 pm we will have a discussion about the first half of the book. 
Cheers,
Rev. Dave Clements
A special treat for those who are willing to Greet:
Greeter Orientation Sunday, August 22
If you are willing to serve our church by being a Greeter at a minimum one service a month, you are invited to attend a special Greeter orientation on Sunday, August 22 at 9:45 AM and stay to experience the Sunday worship service in-person! The Greeter duties have changed a bit as a result of the pandemic, so even if you were a Greeter in the past, please plan to attend and learn about the new duties. If you have questions about Greeting, please contact Ann LeDuc at connect (at)uubloomington.org.
Join the fun at Bloomington Pridefest
Saturday, August 28
Represent UUCB in our Pridefest booth on August 28. This is a great way to experience Pridefest. It's really easy too! Sign up here, and see all the details. Questions? contact Ann LeDuc at connect(at)uubloomington.org
Defend Voting Rights and Work on Redistricting Reform
Barbara Edmonds spoke movingly at the Women's Alliance meeting on August 5 about the need for us to defend democracy by working to preserve voting rights. An animated discussion followed. We learned that there are some good resources and suggestions for ways we can help with this at the Monroe County League of Women Voters website. Click here to find out more.
Masks Are Required in the Building
In respect for those who are vulnerable or unvaccinated, our Next Steps in Transition Working Group asks that we wear a mask while in our building. We have disposable masks if you forget to bring yours with you. Thank you for helping to keep everyone safe. If you would like to schedule a small (fewer than 15 people) church meeting in the building, please contact Carol Marks, Church Administrator, admin(at)uubloomington.org, 812-287-9615, 812-332-3695.
New Online Giving Link
We are inviting everyone to use our new Giving page for online contributions: uucb.churchcenter.com/giving   
You can use a major credit card there to make a non-pledge gift or a contribution towards your annual pledge, or both. This new Giving page is integrated with our new database, and is secure. If you have used our Paypal account in the past to arrange a recurring gift, that will continue to work just fine, but you can also use the new Giving page to arrange a recurring gift if you would like. Questions?
Carol Marks, Church Administrator, admin (at) uubloomington.org, 812-287-9615, 812-332-3695.
Helping The Little Free Pantry and Beacon Shalom Center
The Little Free Pantry by Needmore Coffee needs donations of: peanut butter, canned meat, canned protein meals, canned fruit, Spam, pasta, pasta sauce, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, shampoo. You can place these items directly inside the Little Free Pantry on Pete Ellis Drive next to Needmore Coffee.
Beacon Shalom Center needs donations of: cereal, canned food, condiments, bottled water, protein drinks, instant coffee, pasta, hygiene products, socks, tea. These items can be dropped off in the bins on the north side of the church near the Portico entrance.
Vaccinations available for age 12 and older
People age 12 and older in Indiana are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Visit this website or call 211. Extra vaccines may be available in adjoining counties. vaccine.coronavirus.in.gov
Deadline for submissions to the Order of service and Friday UU Update
Thursday, 9:00 am, to office(at)uubloomington.org
Masthead photo by Linda Mjolsnes.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
Mailing address during covid:
UU Church, PO Box 1158,
Nashville, Indiana 47448-1158 Church mobile phone: 812-287-9615