December 4, 2020
Bazaar 2020: THANK YOU and Pick Up Reminder
The online Bazaar was a great success! Many, many people were involved in this congregational event. Thanks to all the bakers, donors, persimmon pickers and pulpers, volunteers of all sorts and of course, the buyers who did a great job navigating the online version of the Bazaar. We're so glad that members and friends were able to purchase goodies and gifts this year for holiday celebrating.

Oh, and we earned over $11,500 for the church and several of the task forces. Great job everyone!

If you bought something at the Bazaar (unless you also bought home delivery), please don't forget to pick it up today or tomorrow at the portico north side of the church. Pick up times are Friday Dec 4 from 12 - 6 p.m. and Saturday Dec 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Even if you have not reserved a pick up time, come during these hours to pick up your purchases. --Ruellen Fessenbecker, Bazaar co-chair
This Sunday's Service
Sunday, December 6, 2020
10:15 am Livestream
Choosing Our Focus
Reverend Dave Clements
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
December is a time of celebration and a time of giving. In this time of year, may you find the stillness which is ever present in the moment.

Part of enjoying this season is choosing your focus. Where do we put our focus? Being conscious of where we are putting our focus can teach us that we have incredible freedom in how we choose to interact with our lives. Tune in as we learn together about focus.

As a part of this service, we will reflect upon our Unitarian Universalist principles and the proposed adoption of the 8th principle (see below) at our congregational meeting December 13.
If you miss the livestream, you can view archived videos on our website.
Connect with our UU Community during Virtual Coffee Hour
Everyone is welcome to join us after the worship service, until 12:30 p.m., for engaging conversation in Virtual Coffee Hour. 
 
Breakout Conversations:
  • 8th Principle Discussion with our Board members
  • Winter Play Families (All ages welcome!)
  • General Discussion

Email connect(at)uubloomington.org if you would like to host a breakout conversation on the topic of your choice.  --Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
Fall Congregational Meeting
Sunday, December 13, 2020 4:00 p.m. on Zoom
All members encouraged to attend.

Look for Special Email from the Board Next Week
Keep your eye out for a special email from our Board early next week, with instructions about how to join the December 13 Congregational Meeting via Zoom.
Are you new here? Join us at 2 pm this Sunday, December 6!
If you are new to our congregation, a very warm welcome to you! This Sunday, December 6, at 2:00 pm you are invited to join in a brief online introduction to Unitarian Universalism and this congregation. Just click on this link at 2 PM on Sunday. Additionally, here is our online connection form if you are ready to get involved. If you have questions, you are always welcome to email me at connect(at)uubloomington.org or call me at (812) 720-3688. Welcome!  --Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
8th UU Principle Discussions

“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”

As part of a faith community deeply rooted in the fight for social justice, members of this congregation will be asked to vote on a motion to adopt the 8th principle (above) at our congregational meeting December 13, 2020. To learn about the 8th principle, its history, and why it is coming up for a vote at this time, we invite you to join UUCB board members at a series of informal zoom discussions before the congregational meeting. Please do join us for one or more discussion:


We encourage you to visit www.8thprincipleuu.org for more information. You can also review the current seven principles on the church website.
UUSC Giving Tree: Roots and Stars
Join us this season in supporting the UU Service Committee's justice work around the world. Each contribution will be celebrated with a colored star on our tree. Go to http://bit.ly/UUCBdonate and choose "UUSC" from the drop-down menu. Add a note to choose the color of your star! And add a strong root to our tree by sharing a self-care practice here. We will share your ideas throughout December.
Give Good Gifts!
Our Celebration of Light and Giving
December 12, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Mark your calendars now for a special drive-through, no-contact celebration on December 12 between 5 and 7PM. We will be enjoying beautiful lights and collecting gifts for homeless teens, children participating in Head Start, and families affected by HIV/AIDS.
We'll also collect food for the food pantry and hats, gloves, and warm socks for adults at Beacon, and will listen to our very own UU choir singing live over our radios. Finally, we will provide a special gift for each household that visits the Celebration. We hope to see you there!
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION UPDATES
Welcome to Winter Play! This coming Sunday is St. Nicholas Day. To learn more and connect with this holiday and traditions, visit our Winter Play page for craft instructions, music, and more!
One of the wonderful things about St. Nicholas was his spirit of generosity. Do you know about our Giving Tree? Or perhaps you are able to bring items for MCUM or Shalom Center, which can be dropped off at our portico entrance. 

Please join Adrienne Summerlot via Zoom at Coffee Hour in the family breakout room this Sunday, December 6th at 11:30 am to connect with other families and show and share!
UU Freethinkers meet December 6, 12:45 p.m.
The UU Freethinkers will meet this Sunday at 12:45 p.m. via Zoom for an open discussion of social, political, and theological/religious issues. If you'd like to join us, please contact Harold Ogren, ogrenh (at) gmail.com, to get the link to the Zoom meetings and to be added to our email discussion list.
Holiday Baskets for Monroe Co. United Ministries -
Please Deliver on December 7 or 8
Monroe County United Ministries needed to close unexpectedly for cleaning on December 3 and 4, but is happy and grateful to receive your Holiday Basket grocery donations on Monday, December 7 or Tuesday, December 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Now on Tuesdays! Visit with the Connections Coordinator via Zoom
Every Tuesday, 1:00-2:00 pm, join the Connections Coordinator, Ann LeDuc, via Zoom to ask questions, or just to visit. Newcomers and current congregation members are all welcome to drop-in. Additional ways to contact Ann are via email at connect(at)uubloomington.org or phone at (812) 720-3688. 
Use this link to drop-in and talk to Ann on Tuesdays, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Become a member on December 9!
Membership indicates your kinship and affinity with this church and the larger Unitarian Universalist religious community. The next membership ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, December 9, at 12:30 p.m. 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.
UU Singles Events Coming Up
Thursday, December 10
6:00 to 6:30 pm - Hanukkah Celebration
6:30 to 7:30 pm - Game Night
We are a group of single adults within the UU Bloomington community who meet occasionally for various kinds of connective events as a group. We'd love to have you join us! Our events take place over Zoom. Contact Marie Deer for the Zoom link and to join our email list.
The Choir Has Resumed!
Last Sunday after church, the choir tried something new--rehearsing from our cars! With extensive help from Andy Beargie, his assistant Drake, Ned Joyner, Rev. Dave, and the Special Purposes Fund that Clarke Dewey Wells created in honor of Barbara Carlson, plus the support and encouragement of Carol Marks and Reverend Macklin, we made music together for the first time in over 8 months! Our goal is to begin recording music to be used in services.

We will rehearse in the parking lot after services on Sundays, weather permitting, at 11:45 a.m. 

Meanwhile, we have been gathering on Zoom on Thursday nights to prepare a virtual choir premiere of Weave In, a choral tango by Aaron Travers with a text by Walt Whitman that we commissioned in memory of Dan Quilter. Choir members have been bravely learning their parts and recording them for an engineer to line up into a virtual performance of the piece. We can’t wait to hear it!

If you are not on the choir email list and would like to be, contact Sue Swaney at music(at)uubloomington.org.
Gauging interest in a new online book club:
Delving into our congregation's monthly themes
Interested in participating in a new online book club? This group would read books that explore our congregation's monthly themes. For example, this month we would read a book related to stillness, the theme for December, and in January a book connected to the theme of imagination. The books could be fiction or non-fiction. Each month a different member would pick the next month's book and lead that discussion. Some more popular books even come with discussion questions for book clubs. If you are interested in participating, please fill out this form to let us know!
Voices from the Holy Land Film Salon: Detaining Dreams and Obaida
Zoom discussion on Sunday, December 13, 3 pm
Note from Rev. Bill: Here is a link to register for a zoom conference and info about two films regarding the situation in Palestine. The films are free to view, and I recommend you do. Sorry for bad poetry. Peace--bill
Detaining Dreams and OBAIDA are two short documentaries about Israel’s military detention of children. Click here to register for the Zoom salon on Dec 13th to discuss the films - when you register you will get links to watch the documentaries ahead of time. The live panel discussion will feature a child advocate and a former Palestinian youth detainee. Co-sponsored by Voices from the Holy Land film Series and Churches for Middle East Peace (UUA is a member of CMEP). 
DECEMBER DONATIONS: UU Hunger Task Force will be collecting food for the Community Kitchen Christmas Dinner
Help the Community Kitchen put on a holiday feast for those in need this year! Please drop off donations in the bins on the north side of the church.
Requested items:
  • 300 cans of green beans
  • 200 cans of cream of mushroom soup
  • 100 large cans of sweet potatoes
  • Other canned vegetables  
  • 120 cans of tropical fruit, 120 cans of mandarin oranges, 120 cans of pineapple

THANK YOU AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE UU HUNGER TASK FORCE.
Deadline for submissions to the Order of service and Friday UU Update
Thursday, 9 am, to office (at) uubloomington.org
Masthead photo by John Woodcock.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
Mailing address during covid:
UU Church, PO Box 1158,
Nashville, Indiana 47448-1158