July 2, 2021
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
We missed a couple of edits earlier, so we are sending this
New & Improved Version!
This Sunday's Service
Sunday, July 4, 2021
10:15 am Livestream
In the Aftermath
Reverend Bill Breeden
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
We've been through some storms together. Reverend Breeden will offer his thoughts about reacting to short-term memory or reflecting on long-term memory. Reverend Leite will share Elsa Marston's story "The Olive Tree." We also welcome Kim Carballo, who will be our pianist for services during the summer months.
Early Bird Coffee Hour
Bring your coffee or tea and join us at 9:15 am to relax with friends and enjoy your coffee before the service. Everyone is welcome! Click here to register for Early Bird Coffee Hour and receive the Zoom link
Connect with Our UU Community during
Virtual Coffee Hour
Everyone is welcome to join us after the worship service, until 12:30 pm, for engaging conversation in Virtual Coffee Hour. 
-- Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator

UU Freethinkers Meet July 4, 12:45 pm
The UU Freethinkers will meet this Sunday at 12:45 pm via Zoom for an open discussion of social, political, and theological/religious issues. 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.
Are you new to UU Bloomington? 
Join us this Sunday, July 4, at 2 pm for a short introduction
If you are new to our congregation, a very warm welcome to you! This Sunday afternoon you are invited to join in a brief online introduction to Unitarian Universalism and this congregation. Just click on this link at 2:00 pm on Sunday. Think of it as a way to celebrate your freedom of religion! If you have questions, you are always welcome to email me at connect(at)uubloomington.org. Hope to see you online this Sunday!    -- Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
Religious Education Updates
New Staff Member Hired to Begin 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 and leadership to the Board of Directors and the congregation in understanding the ongoing and future religious education needs of the church.  

She will offer opportunities for discussion, listening and healing regarding past issues that have arisen in our Religious Education (RE) program. She will help the congregation to gain a new understanding of itself as a lifelong learning community, illuminating the congregation’s strengths, its needs and challenges in this process. 
 
She will help to identify changes needed in our RE program structure and staffing, and define ways to empower the congregation to take a leadership role in the development of a lifelong religious faith development model and/or process. 
 
Michele will continue to maintain her permanent residence in Illinois, but will come to Bloomington for roughly two intensive visits per month, and will conduct the rest of her job remotely. Stephanie Kimball will continue on as our Religious Education Assistant to facilitate ongoing programming for our children and youth, including our current Summer of Play program and Practicing Our promises story boxes (contact Stephanie if you would like to join either of these programs: rea (at) uubloomington.org.) In the Fall, Stephanie will support RE programs including Coming of Age and Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education.
  
Abby Gitlitz 
Vice President of the Board
Our Summer Read: An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Look for questions from Rev. Dave in next week's Prologue about the first part of our summer read, An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States. In the mean time, here are a few additional resources to explore:
Explore Unitarian Universalism!
Explore Unitarian Universalism with us on July 11 and 18, 2-4 pm, now in the church library! These small group gatherings are a great opportunity to learn about the UU Principles, our ministers, the history of this church, all the ways to get involved here, and what it means to be a member of the church.  Plan to attend both dates, since different material will be discussed in each session. We request completion of these sessions before becoming a member of the church. Everyone ages 14 to 100+ is welcome! To register for this class email connect(at)uubloomington.org or call (812)720-3688.

Use Our New Online Giving System -- It's Easy!

Click here to get started: uucb.churchcenter.com/giving

We encourage anyone who has made a financial pledge to the congregation for the coming fiscal year (begins July 1, 2021) to use our handy new online giving form to set up a recurring payment either using a credit or debit card or an automatic payment from your checking account, if you feel comfortable with online giving. The instructions are clear and the system is better than PayPal, because it automatically records your gifts in your giving record within the database, greatly reducing the chance of clerical errors. The transaction fees are also lower than PayPal’s. If you like, you can also make Sunday Plate contributions on this new giving page. 

Thank you so much for your patience and sense of humor while we make this transition to a new, improved system. Please call the church office mobile if you need help or have questions: 812-287-9615. --Carol Marks, Ch.Admin.

Please Make Your Pledge Today!
We are still encouraging everyone who has not already done so to make a financial pledge for the coming fiscal year, July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022.

Hike with us! Wednesday, July 14, 8:15 am
Join us to hike the Hayes Trail in the Deam Wilderness on the morning of Wednesday, July 14. We'll meet at the Pate Hollow parking lot at 8:15 am to carpool to the trailhead. Click here to see the maps and sign up. All ages welcome! This is a 5 mile hike. Thank you to Mary Reardon for leading this hike.
Free Dance Party for All Ages
Friday, July 16, 7 pm at Bryan Park 
Get out of the house and move your body! Cardinal Stage is throwing an outdoor dance party that will be fun for all ages. Want to show off your moves? You can learn a choreographed group dance at home and join the performance that will kick off the party! Plus, see a special performance from the Bloomington Academy of Film and Theatre’s Cardinal Broadway Bootcamp.
RSVP and learn more: cardinalstage.org/dance-party
If you or your family would be willing to represent the church and meet up with other UUs at the dance party, email Ann and let her know: connect(at)uubloomington.org.
Offices Closed on Monday, July 5
Because Monday, July 5, is a federal holiday, our staff offices will be closed. Our staff and ministers continue to work from home most weekdays, but on July 1 we began working in the church building on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10-4. If you come to the church, please remember to wear a mask while inside the building, out of respect for those who might be vulnerable to infection.
Beware of Spam: Reverend Macklin's Away from Email
Reverend Macklin will be away from email for July and August. This will trigger the scammers to start sending members of the congregation all kinds of outrageous email requests for eBay cards, VISA gift cards, Western Union transfers, and who knows what-all. I am going to stop listing the ways they can try to scam us, because I don't want to give them ideas. Suffice it to say that no one on our staff or lay leadership, including the ministers, will ever send you email describing some far-fetched but somehow kind of believable emergency, fraudulently asking you to go buy gift cards and then send them the numbers in an email or with a phone call. That is just not how we operate. I promise! Be alert for these kinds of shenanigans, please, and just delete the scam emails without clicking on anything! --Carol Marks, Church Administrator
Choir on Break until August
The choir is on break until August 12. If you want to be added to the choir contact list, email Sue Swaney at music(at)uubloomington.org.
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. If you prefer not to mask, you are invited to transact your business outdoors or via phone or email. Thank you for helping to keep everyone safe.
Reverend Leite's Email Address Has Changed
Because Reverend Emily Manvel Leite has a new position here at the church, her email address has changed. To contact Emily from now on, please email her at leite (at) uubloomington.org.
Grocery Cards Will be Available Again Starting July 26
Because of your enthusiastic participation in our grocery card fundraiser (thank you so much!), we are running a little low on grocery cards for Bloomingfoods and Fresh Thyme at the moment, but we will have more available starting July 26. Please click here to see what kinds and denominations are available. 
July Food Drives
The UU Hunger Task Force holds a food drive every month, benefiting a different recipient monthly. Our recipient for July is our Little Free Pantry. The bins for drop-off donations are on the north side of the church under the portico. The UU Homelessness Task Force also has bins on the north side of the church for their continued drive for supplies for Beacon (Shalom). See suggested lists of needed items below.
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 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