Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana |
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Important Changes to In-person Worship Services
and Church Operations
As of Thursday, January 6, Monroe County is classified as severe risk by Covid Act Now for covid infections. In light of this worsening public health situation in Monroe and surrounding counties, our congregation has moved into Restricted Access status for Worship Services and church operations.
Restricted Access Includes:
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Access to Worship Services will be via livestream only, available via our website and Facebook.
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Staff and ministers will continue to offer opportunities to gather safely in outdoor settings.
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For day-to-day church operations our building is closed. Please email appropriate staff with any questions or concerns.
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Small groups of five or fewer may meet in the church building, with advance notice. Technology is available for multi-platform meetings.
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Anyone who enters the church building will be asked to wear a KN95 mask which will be made available inside.
Please know that we are working with the best scientific information available and following the recommendations of local, regional, and national public health authorities to support your well-being and the welfare of our congregational community.
We realize that for some members participating in-person at church is imperative for their mental health. If this is true for you, you may participate in-person at Worship Services. Additionally, there may be circumstances that require in-person attendance at other church gatherings for mental health reasons. Please speak to your gathering leader or a minister about these special situations.
Warmest regards,
The NEST Working Group: Jane McLeod, Abby Gitlitz, Judy Klein, Ann LeDuc,
Dan Lodge-Rigal, Sarah Sanchez, Melinda Swenson, and Reverend Macklin.
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Sunday, January 9, 2021
10:15 am Livestream Only
Intention and the Tree of Life
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
Dr. Michele Townsend Grove
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
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The Tree of Life is symbolic in many spiritual traditions. In our congregation, The Tree of Life is embodied in a quilt of many stories. Our theme this month is Intention.
Join us as we explore the spiritual journey of The Tree of Life archetype as embodied in the intention and stories behind quilting and one particular quilt.
In gratitude to our musicians for this Sunday: Cloud Seven, The Choir directed by Rev. Dr. Susan Swaney, and The Gift, formerly known as Ray Fellman.
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Embracing the Interim:
Exploring our Religious Education Heritage
Everyone is invited to be a part of the conversation, to tell stories, listen to stories, and enjoy the beauty of this congregation’s religious education heritage. Everyone has stories. We hope you will join us.
Online session: Sunday, January 23, 2022 from Noon to 2:00 PM
Facilitators: Drew Schrader and Michele Townsend Grove
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Omicron Intersession!
COVID has once again thrown us a curve ball in the form of the Omicron wave -- but we are ready, with Omicron Intersession! Our announcement earlier this week included in-person Sunday morning options which are now canceled, but will return as soon as worship can be in-person again.
Meanwhile, we have special opportunities to get to know each other better, get oriented to our new programs, set our intentions (that is January’s theme, after all), and have some fun. Opportunities abound!
Here’s how to join in:
If you haven’t already, please REGISTER yourself and/or your children for Religious Education. This should only take a few minutes, and will update our database.
Register your children for the appropriate class. We are offering Spirit Play for kids 3-7, and a new program called IMUU (or I Am UU) for kids 7-13. Parents with 7-year olds can decide together which class is most appropriate, by reading descriptions of each on our website and/or discussing with Stephanie or Michele. In addition, we are starting our Shout Mouth Press Book Group for 3rd grade and up, meeting online at times to be determined.
If you do not have children but would like to participate, please sign up here so that we can keep you in the loop.
Once you’re signed up, you will receive information on the Omicron Intersession plans for your class(es). Information is also posted on our website (click on the relevant classes).
For more news from Religious Education, subscribe to our newsletter, Education Matters. January's issue can be found here. --Stephanie Kimball
Religious Education Coordinator
kimball(at)uubloomington.org
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The Transition Between Databases and
Calendar Year Giving Statements for 2021
We began recording everyone’s contributions for 2021-22 in our new database Planning Center (churchcenter) in July 2021 (Yay!), but contributions made during towards your 2020-21 pledges were recorded in the old database. This means that when we send Calendar Year giving statements to everyone this month, you will be receiving some of the information on paper, for contributions from January through June 2021, and the rest of the information via email through our new system, for July-December 2021. After these statements, which we expect to provide before January 31, all future pledge statements or annual giving statements will be sent to you via email if you have an email address in our system. You can also review your giving yourself online, by logging on at uucb.churchcenter.com/give.
Thank you for continuing to support our congregation!
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Our Folks...
We draw a circle around Karen Cassidy whose husband, Jack Cassidy, died this week at Hospice house, after an extended illness. Jack fell in love with this congregation when Karen first brought him to a service many years ago. He said at the time that he wished he had discovered this faith earlier in his life. We were honored by his presence, and we hold Karen and his surviving family members in our thoughts. A memorial service will be held at a future date.
John Woodcock, a dear member of our congregation, asked us to let you know that he will now be under hospice care due to pancreatic cancer. Cards are welcome but, during this time of Covid, no visitors please. Of note, in the 1980s John was instrumental in Hospice becoming part of our local hospital. Blessings, John.
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UU Humanists Meet January 9, 12:45 p.m. to select new discussion topics/presenters
The Humanist Forum will meet at 12:45 p.m. on Zoom on Sunday, January 9 to select the Presenters for Winter/Spring. We vote to select presenters because usually we have more ideas than days available. We encourage new folk, young or old, to join us with ideas you'd like discussed. We welcome folks with new ideas as we together decide the Winter sessions. If you'd like to join us, please contact Ann Watzel or Harold Ogren for the link to the Zoom meetings and to be added to our email discussion list.
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UU Online Book Club Rescheduled for January 10
The first half of The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber and David Wengrow will be discussed at the January 10 Book Club meeting. The second half of the book will be discussed at the March 7 meeting. The 1619 Project will be discussed on Feb 7. If you would like to join the book discussions, sign up here. The UU Online Book Club usually meets the first Monday of each month at 6:30 PM via Zoom. If you have questions email connect(at)uubloomington.org.
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Writing as a Spiritual Practice
With Rev. Barbara Child
A Drop-in Group on Zoom
Tuesdays 1-2 p.m., through February 22
I invite you to come along on this journey of personal exploration through writing in community. You are welcome to attend any or all sessions. Click here for a full description of how the group works. You will need to register by clicking here to get the Zoom link. The same link will work every session during the series, and you only need to register once.
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Chalice Circle Openings Available
Feeling disconnected in the New Year? For deep connections to a small group of fellow UUs, consider joining one of our Zoomed Chalice Circles. We have a few openings, and welcome new folks at the beginning of the New Year. If you are interested in learning more, please email Jan Armstrong at janet_k_armstrong(at)hotmail.com.
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Welcome to our Newest Member!
Here is a short bio for David Runyon, written by Chris Haynes:
David Runyon is a caring and thoughtful middle-aged man of Asian-American descent who has been on federal death row in Terre Haute for a dozen years. He is in isolation, cutoff from not just almost all human contact, but also from the sight of nature, which he loves. He is very pleased to be a member of our congregation and fully subscribes to our liberal religious values. He would very much appreciate the opportunity to correspond with members of our congregation. If interested, contact Chris Haynes, his Minister of Record, at chaynes56(at)gmail.com.
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Your Church Office Staff is Available Monday-Friday
You can reach a member of the church administrative staff each weekday:
We are in the church office at the church occasionallyten. The land line at the church, 812-332-3695, is checked for messages twice weekly.
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Desperately Seeking a Used Car
We are sponsoring our first Afghan family here in Bloomington and this family is in immediate need of a reliable used car. Please click here to learn more. Thank you for any leads you might have!
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Stop Executions! A National Call to Action to Abolish the Death Penalty
Programs will be livestreamed and combine in-person and video presentations due to COVID and the MLK Holiday. More info at the Abolitionist Action Committee's website:
Sunday, January 16, 2022 at 6:00 pm - Indoor/Livestreamed gathering the day before the action to learn, be inspired, and build community. Location: Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 212 E Capitol St NE, Washington D.C. Sponsored by Death Penalty Action & Allies.
Monday, January 17, 2022 at 9:00 am - Symbolic petition deliveries outside the US Supreme Court, then processing across the street to the U.S. Capitol. Some protestors in this action may risk arrest. This event is sponsored by the ad-hoc Abolitionist Action Committee.
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Donations for Beacon: Look for bins at the Portico entrance |
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Covid-19 Booster Vaccines are now available
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Beware Email Fraud
Our ministers, staff, lay leaders, and board members will never send you email asking you for any money besides your pledge payment! This also means they will never use email to ask you to buy gift cards for them or anyone else.
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Masthead photo by John Woodcock. |
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Deadline for submissions to the Order of service and Friday UU Update
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
2120 N. Fee Lane, Bloomington, Indiana 47408
Church mobile phone: 812-287-9615
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