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Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, Changing the World
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Saturday, April 22, 2017 7:00 p.m.
Intergenerational Earth Day Celebration:
The Promise
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite,
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin, Reverend Scott McNeill
with special guest Carrie Newcomer
Join us for the culmination of Earth Day/Pledge Day as we enjoy a story, sing together, and hear both familiar and new music from Carrie Newcomer. We will celebrate our planet and reflect upon the promises that we make to one another and to the Earth to sustain a healthy future together. All ages are invited to attend. Our UU children's choir, conducted by Jill Courtney, will also be performing. (Childcare for children aged 3 and under is available for this event.)
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Sunday, April 23, 2017 9:15 and 11:15 a.m.
Unitarian Universalism:
Where All Lifted Hearts Can Be Free
Reverend Chris Long
As the theme for April here at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington is "transformation," Reverend Chris Long will be joining us to continue to explore what transformation may mean within this religious community as the country continues to struggle with the reality we find ourselves in, post the 2016 election, whether immigrants and refugees should be accepted in this and other communities around the country, and what spiritual/religious resources do we need to continue to face the realities of loss, grief and joy we may be experiencing within our own lives. Is Unitarian Universalism a faith tradition that can lift hearts where more people can be free during such times as these? He looks forward to seeing some of you again very soon.
Reverend Long was ordained by First Unitarian Church of Oakland, California, in June 2009. He currently lives in Cleveland, Ohio, where he is a member of West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, serving on the Inclusivity Ministry Task Force. He also provides pastoral care and support to Black Lives Cleveland and SURJ North East Ohio (Showing Up for Racial Justice) in their activism to eradicate racism.
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Sunday, April 30, 2017 9:15 and 11:15 a.m.
Transformation: Hope is the Thing with Feathers
The Choir, directed by Susan Swaney
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything." (Plato) Join us this Sunday as we enjoy several Gifts of Music as part of our worship time together:
Hope is the Thing with Feathers
, words by Emily Dickinson, music by Lauren Bernofsky;
Gnothi Safton (Know Thyself)
by Jim Papoulis; and Salvation is Created by Paul Tschesnokoff.
Reverend Macklin will off
er reflections on the transformational powers of hope.
This is also Mega Bounty-Full food drive Sunday for Monroe County United Ministries. See article elsewhere in this issue to see which foods are needed.
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MAM's Musings
With the tragic news of bombings within rising global world tensions, I take heart in the continued work and spirit of this congregation. May we find sustenance in our vision of Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, and Changing the World. May we each lend our talent, treasure and time to manifest this vision in the days, weeks, months, and years to come.
As we prapre for our first Earth Day! Pledge Day! may these words from Nancy Newhall invite you into the spirit of that day, April 22:
We seek a renewed stirring of life for the earth
We plead that what we are capable of doing is
not always what we ought to do.
We urge that all people now determine
that a wide untrammeled freedom shall remain
to testify that this generation has love for the next.
If we want to succeed in that, we might show, meanwhile,
a little more love for this one, and for each other.
--Nancy Newhall
Also, for those of you who volunteer and lend a hand here at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, we would like to show our appreciation for your service:
Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast Open to All--April 22 starting at Exactly 8:00 a.m.!
Please come to the Leadership and Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast at
8:00 AM SHARP on April 22 in Fellowship Hall, to kick off our Pledge Day Celebration. You will be treated to breakfast, a programmatic element with Reverend Chris Long, and a small token of our appreciation.
Speaking of Volunteers, here is another opportunity to help! Please note the following from Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator:
Volunteers Needed on April 22
Our fun-filled Pledge Day Celebration will require many volunteers to make it a success. Come build community by volunteering! We especially need volunteers to help in the kitchen during dinner and to help clean-up at the end of the event. You can sign up to volunteer on-line here:
Donations of food are also needed, especially donations of breakfast foods. If you would like to donate food, please sign up here:
Thank you! Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
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Saturday, April 22, 2017 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Now More Than Ever
Pledge Day Celebration
We are very excited to celebrate Earth-Day, Pledge-Day with you this year! The goal is to focus our annual pledge campaign into a single day of celebration and commitment! We will have events at Church from
8am to 8pm--
see the church website for the day's schedule. If you would like to volunteer to help at Pledge Day, please see the signup genius links in the article above.
Parking will be tight given our events as well as it being Little 5 weekend! We are encouraging as many people as possible to walbicus (walk, bike, bus, carpool) to help ease parking pressure. We also know many of you will be attending other events for Earth Day and the March for Science. We are encouraging people to use the hashtag #uucbDay and #UU4Sci across their social media for these events to stay connected and so we create a feed of all our activity from the day.
If you will not be able to attend the
April 22nd
festivities, we would ask that you make your pledge before then, so we can have a celebratory total at the event. Members of the stewardship committee will be available between services the next several weeks to take your pledge. You can also pledge with our simplified Online Pledge Form, or online at the church website, or by contacting Church Administrator Carol Marks at
812-332-3695, ext. 200.
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From Your Board of Directors
Saturday the 22nd, is now less than a week away! We look forward to seeing everyone there.
If you are new, you may be wondering - why pledge? Can't you give without pledging?
Yes, but pledging is incredibly important as it lets us know how much you plan on giving over the year. Your pledging lets us plan by drafting an accurate budget, giving funds to social justice committees, setting salaries, planning on building maintenance, and so many other important tasks to our church.
So come on the 22nd and pledge. As we heard from Jessie and Michelle Monroe-Cook during their Stewardship moment: "With UUCB, our collective impact is limitless. Now more than ever, we all need to feel like what we do matters. We all need to feel like we belong."
And while you are making sure pledge day is on your calendar, don't forget to mark April 30. Between services that Sunday, 10:15 to 11:00 a.m., the Board will be hosting a Town Hall meeting on the Healthy Communications Covenant, upstairs in the Library. For more information on the Covenant, please see
http://www.uubloomington.org/about-us/board-of-directors/
and bring your questions and comments to the meeting.
Finally, the Board recognizes the passing of John Lawson, who, among many other contributions to the congregation, served on prior Boards as Treasurer. His gentle spirit will be missed.
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Calling UU Families:
Pledge Day Earth Day Celebration
April 22
Please plan to join us for our intergenerational Pledge Day celebration on Earth Day,
April 22! There will be fun activities for kids and youth all day long--including making flower crowns, dancing the Maypole Dance with Tamara Loewenthal and the Heartland String Band, jumping in the bouncy house, planting the garden tower, and singing along during our intergenerational Earth Day evening service featuring Carrie Newcomer and our Children's Choir (new singers K-8th grade are always welcome--contact Emily for details). We'll also share tasty meals as we celebrate our UU community of all ages. We hope you will find a part of the day that your family will enjoy and come along for the fun.
We're looking forward to celebrating with all of you on Earth Day!
Emily (mre@uubloomington), Adrienne and Kitty
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite, Adrienne Summerlot, Kitty McIntosh
Your Religious Education Staff
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Getting Here (and/or Parking) for
Pledge Day/Earth Day Celebration April 22
There are several IU events during the day on April 22 on this side of town, and so parking on Jordan Avenue and by the softball field are not options for us that day, especially between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Access to the church is going to be easiest from the Bypass, due to foot traffic on south Fee Lane for the Little 500. However, there will be some parking spaces available at Marching Hundred Hall across the Bypass. And since it's Earth Day, we encourage everyone to get friendly and carpool to church for the events you are interested in, or ride your bikes, or
wal
k, or take the IU Transit B bus, which stops nearby on Jordan Avenue, a short walk around the corner to the church. B Route schedule is here. Anyone can ride IU Transit for free. Here is the schedule for the Bloomington Transit Route 1 bus that stops at 17th and Fee. (stops running at 6:15 p.m. on Saturdays) You'll have a short walk up the hill to the church, but we hope the weather will be pleasant for a walk! Extra Bonus! Bloomington Transit is charging NO FARES on Earth Day, April 22.
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Our Folks...
Our sympathy and thoughts of healing are with the family of Kathie Lazerwitz, who died on April 11. There will be a memorial service in early June in northwest Indiana.
Our sympathy and thoughts are also with Julie Lawson and her family, upon the death of John Lawson on April 5. A memorial service for John was held here April 8.
Sarah Sackmann was recently awarded Most Artistic Senior at Bloomington High School North.
Emma DiLavore was recognized by The Herald Times as a 2017 Scholastic Star.
She is one of 51 students from 14 area schools being honored as an extraordinary student.
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Monroe County United Ministries
Spring Luncheon and Auction April 30
Monroe County United Ministries
(MCUM), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, provides affordable childcare to low-income working families and basic needs assistance (food, clothing, household items, and rent/utilities assistance) to those experiencing financial difficulties.
Our congregation is a big supporter of MCUM and we have representation on the board of directors, currently Jackie Hall and previously Diane Gregory. As a board member, I am charged with promoting MCUM's annual Spring Into Action! Luncheon & Auction bring held at the Monroe County Convention Center on Sunday, April 30 from 12-2pm,
an opportunity to share a meal together, possibly bid on auction items and hear from The Honorable State Senator Mark Stoops. The event raises money and awareness to benefit MCUM's Affordable Childcare program and Self Sufficiency Center. There will be a very exciting announcement about the Childcare program at this event. We hope the event will raise more than $40,000.
Cost is $25 per person and several UUs are planning to attend. Contact me if you will join us to support this worthwhile organization in our community. I will reserve your seat and can collect the money later, but we need to get your spot reserved now.
Thanks!
Jackie Hall,
[email protected]
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Thanks for Donations of Food at the Let Us Persist Concert--Peanut Butter Still Needed
Thanks to all who brought food for MCUM to the Let Us Persist concert on April 2. You too can help stock the MCUM food pantry which needs more peanut butter. Please bring on Sunday we will be sure it gets to MCUM. Thanks for your consideration and help. --Jackie Hall
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April 30th is Our Twice-Annual
MEGA Bounty Full Sunday Food Drive!
The Help Feed Our Hungry Neighbors Task Force will collect non-perishable food and toiletries for Monroe County United Ministries' Emergency Food Pantry on Sunday, April 30. Don't forget to bring an item or two with you to Sunday service.
Current needs: canned tuna/meat, canned fruit, dry beans, diapers (sizes 4-6), hair conditioner, deodorant, laundry soap, razors, socks, feminine hygiene products, canvas grocery bags, fruit juices, coffee.
PLEASE check expiration dates. Expired food cannot be distributed and must be thrown away.
If you are interested in helping transport donated food to MCUM
on Monday
,
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Habitat Task Force Donates
$11,000 to Interfaith Build
The UU Habitat Task Force recently contributed a total of $11,330 to the CommUNITY Interfaith Build, the highest amount so far of any of the nine participating faith communities who have raised $38,419 of the $70,000 goal. Our contribution is in addition to nearly $3,000 raised at the recent benefit concert. More funds are needed, but task force members extend a huge thank you to everyone for financially supporting this build and/or participating in the three-day building blitz. Many have helped by buying breakfasts we've prepared, purchasing baked goods, buying Holiday Bazaar items, attending our recent concert and making donations. We are truly blessed to have such a supportive faith community that appreciates the value of helping people live in decent, affordable homes.
If anyone would like to contribute additional funds, you can do so at
communitybuild.kintera.org(look for UU team). Building will continue on most Saturdays through June, so if you'd like to participate, contact Barb Berggoetz,
[email protected].
We are also sponsoring another Women Build team this year and we have a full team of 37 members, including some UU women and some from the larger community. The team has raised more than $10,280 and our total will likely surpass $12,000. Several other UUs, as well as the Women's Alliance, are supporting this build financially to help women meet the minimum $250 donation.
Thanks again for all this support. --
Barb Berggoetz
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Macaroni for Shalom Center!
For the last 3 years, our congregation members and friends have provided macaroni for the meal program at Shalom Community Center. Please remember to pick up a package the next time you go to the store. Collection basket for donations is under the Social Justice table in the Commons.
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Community Connections
Our Faith in Action in the Community
Benefit Concert for ACLU of Indiana
Here, April 30 at 2:00 p.m.
We believe that music holds the unique ability to soothe the spirit and the potential to effect great change in society. If you have been experiencing concern, grief, or anger due to the current administration's recent actions, please join us on
Sunday, April 30 at 2:00 pm for an uplifting afternoon of classical music, performed by graduate students of the IU Jacobs School of Music.
This event is free of charge but donations are greatly appreciated. One hundred percent of proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana Foundation. The event is being hosted by the UU Peace and Economic Justice Task Force.
The event will be live-streamed and donations will be accepted online as well! Please visit our GoFundMe page for information on how to donate online!
https://www.gofundme.com/aclu-benefit-concert
In the words of renowned composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein,
"This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before." We hope you can join us! --Elise Bond
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UU Summer Camp July 2-8, 2017
Consider joining fellow UUs this summer in the Missouri Ozarks at the annual Midwest Unitarian Universalist Summer Assembly (MUUSA). The week-long camp offers many workshops and activities for families, couples and singles of all ages. Reverend Marlin Lavanhar of Tulsa, Oklahoma, will lead the daily Morning Celebration service on this year's theme:
"A Summer of Love."
Come gather with hundreds of other UUs in the beautiful forests and rolling hills of the Missouri Ozarks at YMCA Trout Lodge, where you can connect with old friends, make new ones and participate in a wide variety of activities. Get all the details at
muusa.org.
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The Wiccan Component of the UU Church
and Margot Susanna Adler
The Wiccans are followers of an earth-oriented and female-centered form of worship with origins in Druid practices that flourished in western Europe and the British Isles before the Roman Conquest. Margot Susanna Adler (1946-2014) came
to
Druid practices by a long and circuitous route. She was the granddaughter of Alfred Adler, Freud's closest associate and first biographer. Her father was also a psychiatrist . Both sides of her family were Jewish but her father had been raised Lutheran in Vienna (and abandoned it). Neither of them practiced Judaism. She grew up in wealth in an apartment on the West side of Central Park in NYC. She attended a left-wing school in the Village as a child (she was a "red diaper baby"). She went to Berkeley and got involved in the Free Speech movement, was terrorized when her car was stopped during the Mississippi Voter drive, and became a journalist. She worked for KPFA and reported on events in Castro's Cuba. After her mother's death she returned to Manhattan and began her study of the Pagan movement and the history of Druid worship and wrote a book which promoted the movement. She married a fellow Pagan and it was the first society wedding for Druids ever covered in The New York Times. She and her husband joined All Souls UU Church in New York in 1992.
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UU Children's Choir Upcoming Schedule
New and returning singers, Kg-6th, are welcome! Questions? Contact Jill:
[email protected]
Sat Apr 22
, All Congregation Earth Day Service,
7pm
, Children's Choir Sing
(Tentatively plan for choir kids to meet at 6:30pm for a quick rehearsal prior to the service.)
Sun May 21, Sing in services, Flower Communion Sunday
(Rehearse at 9:45am, Sing at end of 1st service, Sing again at start of 2nd service, done approx 11:30)
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First Monday Poetry Sharing
Join us in this ongoing monthly group for poetry lovers! Bring a poem to share that you enjoy. Next meeting is Monday, May 1 at 10:00 a.m. in the Library at church. Contact Bob Taylor for info,
[email protected]
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Shambhala Meditation Every Monday at Noon
Join us at 12 noon every Monday in the Library for an hour of Shambhala Meditation, walking meditation, and Shamatha yoga with Sarah Flint. Beginners welcome in this 2500-year-old
tradition.
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Traditional Taiji on Tuesdays and Saturdays
Brian Flaherty leads Taiji in Fellowship Hall on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8:00 a.m. This form practices the "Wu (Hao)" style of taijiquan, including practice of standing exercises, forms, and "pushing hands." Anyone is welcome, even those with no experience.
Please wear loose-fitting clothing.
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Open Mind Zen Bloomington
Mondays at 7:00 p.m.
Join Frank Seisho Diaz for meditation, talks, and discussions on Zen Buddhism,
Mondays 7:00-8:30 p.m.,
in Room 110 here at the church. All are welcome regardless
of faith or experience;
freewill donation.
More
info:
[email protected]
or
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Ministry Themes for 2016-17
We will be exploring the following themes for the remainder of the 2016-17
church year.
October: Healing
,
November: Story,
December: Presence, January: Prophecy,
February: Identity, March: Risk,
April: Transformation,
May: Embodiment, June: Zest
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New Member Bios
Please offer a warm welcome to our newest members!
Shannon Grimme
Shannon Grimme is a New Jersey native who moved to Bloomington by way of Washington, DC, where she received her BAs in Communications: Visual Media and Literature from American University After moving to Indiana with her husband, she received her Masters degrees from IU in Telecommunications and Informatics. She now works at Baked! of Bloomington and is taking culinary classes through Ivy Tech. She has a three-year-old son, is an avid cinephile, comics fan, gamer, foodie, and newcomer to watercolors.
Jan Steenblik
Jan ("Yahn") W. Steenblik recently moved to rural Monroe County from northern Virginia. A retired aviation magazine writer and editor, he enjoys flying single-engine airplanes and gliders, traditional archery, bowhunting, and shooting muzzleloading rifles. A former weekend archery instructor and hunter education instructor (and soon-to-be flight instructor), he loves sharing his interests--and free-range venison--with others.
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UU Humanist Forum Meets on Alternating Sundays
This group offers an opportunity for regular, open, wide-ranging discussions of issues relating to morality and ethics, human development, and the nature of the universe. The bi-weekly forum will meet next on Sunday, April 23 at 12:45 p.m. in Fellowship Hall for a potluck lunch
and topic selection discussion for the summer period. A complete list of winter/spring topics can be found here.
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UU Freethinkers Group Enjoys Free Ranging Discussion
The purpose of the UU Freethinkers bi-weekly meeting is to create the opportunity for participants to raise questions and engage in open and non-structured discussion of issues of social concern, political concern, and theological/religious concern. UU Freethinkers meet on alternating Sundays after children's religious education classes end, in Room 208.
UU Freethinkers meet next on Sunday, April 30, at 12:45 p.m.
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April 29--Grounds Workday
There is another opportunity this spring to help on the church grounds. It will be held between 9:00 AM and noon on Saturday April 29th, with a rain date of Saturday May 13th, if needed. This is a fun way to help our grounds reflect our UU principles, and to get to know folks you might not otherwise talk to! --Molly O'Donnell (We are also going to do some grounds work as part of our Pledge Day Celebration on April 22! --Ed.)
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Annual Goods and Services Auction: Sunday, May 7
Mark your calendars for the 2017 Goods and Services Auction on
Sunday, May 7th at 2:00 p.m. There's a way for everyone to participate in this important annual fundraiser.
New addition for this year's auction! We are in the process of collecting new items for four themed baskets: Mother's Day, Spa Time, Wine Lovers, Birding/Gardening. If you would be willing to donate new item to one of these, please stop by the auction table in Fellowship Hall and add your name to the list.
Contact Deb Fish if you would like to help,
[email protected]. Catalog of auction items will be ready soon!
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Next Membership Ceremony May 7
If this is your community, if you feel at home here, join us! The next opportunity to become a member of UU Bloomington isSunday, May 7 at 10:30 am in the library. (We ask for participation in our "Exploring UU" class prior to signing the membership book.) To make arrangements to become a member, or for questions, please contact Ann LeDuc
, Connections Coordinator, at 332-3695, ext. 203, or
[email protected]
, before May 3.
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Please talk to and thank our delegates to the MIDAMERICA REGIONAL ASSEMBLY in Oakbrook,
Illinois on
April 28th-30
. They will be our voice at this conference. As many
changes are taking place at the UUA, it is important that we let it be known
what our concerns are. They will also have a chance to meet/greet and hear
the candidates for President of the UUA.
Our delegates are Doug Cauble, Julie Cauble Dan Wiseman, Sharon Wiseman,
Martha Foster, Earon Davis, Iris Kiesling, Jackie Hall, and Orion Day.
UUA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
June 21-25
in New Orleans. We have room for
six more member delegates. Early bird registration forms are due to Carol Marks, Church Administrator by
Thursday April 27th.
Some financial support available.
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Installation Service for
Reverend Scott McNeill Saturday, May 20
Mark your calendars. Please save Saturday, May 20, 2017, 4:00 p.m. to join us for the Installation service for Reverend Scott McNeill as we celebrate and reaffirm the bond between Scott and our UU Church of Bloomington.
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Current Membership: 512
Attendance
Sunday, April 9 9:15: 120 11:15: 147 TOTAL: 267
Sunday, April 16 9:15: 170 11:15: 204 TOTAL: 374
Non-Pledge Offering
April 9: $654.12
April 16: $728.19
Total to be donated to New Leaf-New Life $345.58
Grocery Card Sales
(Bloomingfoods, Marsh, or Lucky's)
April 9: $1850, income to UUCB $96.50
April 16: $850, income to UUCB $44.50
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Reverend Mary Ann Macklin, our Senior Minister,
can be reached at 812-332-3695, ext. 201 and is available by appointment on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons.
[email protected]
Reverend Scott McNeill, our Associate Minister,
can be reached at 812-332-3695, ext. 209 and is available by appointment on Wednesday and Friday afternoons.
mcneill@uu
bloomington.org
. He can also be reached on his mobile phone, 703-577-0919 and for after-hours pastoral emergencies, please call him at 812-727-0919.
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
,
our Minister of Religious Education,
can be reached at
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Please Don't Park on the Grass
Please don't park in grassy areas on the church property or on the grass across Fee Lane by the ball diamonds. IU has specifically requested us not to park in the grass on their property because of the damage it causes. Please note we are not allowed to park over there at all if there is a baseball game or softball game in progress. Thanks, Carol Marks, Ch.Admin.
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Livestreaming Our Sunday Services
Please let us know if you have a problem with the livestream, by emailing Andy Beargie at
[email protected] It is also helpful if you let Andy know which web browser you are using.
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Beacon Young Adult/Campus Ministry
Orion Day, our Young Adult/Campus Ministry Coordinator, can be reached at
[email protected] and keeps office hours at the Indiana Memorial Union Room 577. Stop by and say hello!
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Deeva, Carol, and Monica
Our Administrative Staff |
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who do I call about the Auction?
2. How do I make a pledge for 17-18?
3. I need to know my pledge balance. Call either of the numbers above: 812-332-3695 ext 200 or 204
4. I need an appointment with one of the ministers. Contact them directly. See their contact info in above article on this page.
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Bulletin Board
A HEARTFELT PRODUCTION by Miles Eddy--Video productions and web promotions... with a heart! Business Internet marketing, non-profit fundraising, and family history documentation. Create connections by telling your story! [email protected]
,
719-480-2446
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Church Calendar
A link to our church calendar can be found on this page of our website.
Facebook
Prologue Publication Schedule
The Prologue is edited by Carol Marks. The deadline for articles is 10 a.m. on the date of publication, which is the first and third Monday of each month, with exceptions for federal Monday holidays.
Next few issues: May 1 and 15, June 5 and 19, July 3 and 17.
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Masthead photo by John Woodcock. Clothesline Project at the IU Health Center, April 7. Members of our congregation decorated some of the shirts in this project on April 2, as part of a nationwide effort to address the issue of violence against women.
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