The Prologue                                         Tuesday, August 15, 2017
  Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
   Congregation founded 1949
   LGBTQ Welcoming Congregation since 1995
   Green Sanctuary since 2007
Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, Changing the World

Sunday, August 20, 2017
9:15 and 11:15 a.m.
"Dreams--Gifts for Living"       Reverend Barbara Child
     Join Rev. Barbara Child in reflecting on the treasures found in dreams, as our choir sings of being still and learning how to live and practice love.
Sunday, August 27, 2017  
9:15 and 11:15 a.m. 
"Stories I Tell"      Reverend Scott McNeill
     A little-known song from 1991 provides a perfect glimpse into the benefits of Chalice Circles--namely, these small groups provide an opportunity to share our experiences and have people listen deeply, without needing to offer advice or jumping in to speak. Join us for our Chalice Circle kickoff, as we reflect on the spiritual acts of wondering, listening, and sharing. 
Sunday, September 3, 2017  
9:15 and 11:15 a.m. 
"Intergenerational Water Communion"
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite, 
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin,
and Reverend Scott McNeill
       Reverend Mary Ann Macklin will return on September 3 from her month away, as we join in an immersive celebration of our intergenerational community through story, reflection, exploration, percussional music, and our water communion ritual.  Please bring water representing the essence of your summer's experience.  Our adult Choir directed by Susan Swaney, and also our Children's Choir, directed by Jill Courtney and accompanied by Colleen Haas, will share gifts of music.
Summer of Gratitude
      
     Sometimes, events or activities come together so seamlessly, it seems as though the whole affair was magically or divinely created and executed. And yet, often, there are hard workers behind the scenes who exert a lot of energy and attention into keeping the church going strong.
     So, this is a little note of appreciation for the many folks who worked through the summer doing the following things:

  • Ensuring we had a robust presence at the Fourth of July parade and at the Monroe County Fair, with beautiful art and music and tools to engage in conversations
  • Caring for one another, with visits and cards and meals and calls and conversations; and, preparing our small group ministries for the upcoming year (since we typically have approximately 200 people involved in chalice circles, men's group, women's alliance, and the upcoming Wellsprings program).
  • Paying our bills and being mindful stewards of our resources, both financial and physical (taking care of the building, making aesthetic improvements, working with groups and individuals to use our space)
  • Continuing our fantastic Sunday morning experience, greeting people with a smile at the door, offering great music and programs for children, youth, and adults, and allowing us the time, space, and caffeine to socialize and connect with one another.
  • Changing the world through acts of love and justice, by showing up at rallies and events or planning for the year, or hosting film screenings, and more.
     I hope you know that there is even more that happened this summer and that no list can capture how many people contribute to the thriving spiritual community we have.
     In gratitude for all of you (members and friends, volunteers and leaders, staff and supporters),
   Rev. Scott
Reverend Scott McNeill, Associate Minister

From Our Board of Directors 
     Notice: The August board meeting has been rescheduled to August 30th at 7:00 p.m. in the Library.
     A quick update on the Covenant of Right Relations and its Committee. The Board has asked the Leadership Cultivation Committee, leveraging their ongoing efforts to be familiar with our community and its skills, to nominate initial members for the Right Relations Committee. The staff will update our website and membership materials to reflect the covenant. We thank both groups for their efforts.  --Von Welch, Congregational President

Religious Education Registration 
is open!
    Currently we have 56 kids registered for religious education classes.  That is only about 31% of our children and youth.   Please take a moment, and click here to register your children today!     This helps our Religious Education staff and volunteers to prepare the classrooms, ensures important communication and helps to keep your children safe while in our care.  For a look at what exciting things are going on in RE this year, you can view the new prospectus:  
 
Adrienne Summerlot, 
Dir. of Religious Education
An Important Note 
from our Director of Religious Education
Our Minister of Religious Education Rev. Emily Manvel Leite and I began working with Dr. Nyama McCarthy Brown this spring to identify the needs of families in the congregation and how to help them engage in talking about race and racism with children and youth.  We are proud to announce we have two very important workshops coming up to help with this, so please mark your calendars and save the dates.  These workshops will include adults as well as children and youth--details soon! Childcare will be available.
Elementary-High School, Thursdays, Sept 21st and 28th, 6-8 pm
Early Childhood--Sundays, October 29th and November 1st, 1-3 pm   
Splash of the Sacred Picnic & Pool Party
Sunday, Sept 3rd, 
5-8 pm 
You are invited to join us for our annual Splash of the Sacred Picnic & Pool Party.  Newcomers and visitors especially welcome.  
     5-7pm  Potluck Picnic at Bryan Park--Woodlawn Shelter.
Bring a dish to share and your own table service.
     7-8pm  Private pool party* at Bryan Park Pool. 
Come splash and play or sit poolside and chat! It's free--paid for by our Celebrations budget.
*Children must be supervised by their parents
     Find this event on Facebook:
     We need a few eager volunteers to make this event a success.  If you are able to help host, load or unload or be our grill master,  sign up here!   http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0445adaa2da4fd0-splash1  
  Building Community   
Our Folks...
       Our sympathy and thoughts of healing are with Sandy Churchill and her family upon the passing on July 22 of her husband Fred, while they were with family in Vermont. A celebration of life for Fred Churchill will take place here on Saturday, October 7 at 2:00 p.m.
     Our sympathy is also with Suzanne Ziemer and her family upon the passing of her husband Bill on Satruday, August 5, in Wisconsin. Suzanne and Bill were part of our congregation for many years before their retirement. 
UUA General Assembly Delegate De-Briefing August 22
     We look forward to seeing all our General Assembly 2017 delegates at a debriefing meeting on  Tuesday, August 22 at 6:00 pm in Room 112.
     Also, we will have  a table at the Getting Involved Fair at church  on Sunday,  August 27th, so p lease come and share your experiences.
      We are also looking for delegates to next year's UUA General  Assembly in Kansas City, June 2018.
--Iris Kiesling, Denominational Affairs ( [email protected] )

Hope & Strength Sing Along Concert
with Annie Patterson and Peter Blood
Wednesday, August 23
Annie Patterson and Peter Blood, the creators of Rise Up Singing songbook, have created a quiet revolution of group singing across North America. Join us in Fellowship Hall for this rare opportunity to meet them, sing with them, and experience their gifts of nurturing community and resilience through song. Co-hosted by our Music Program and the Music Committee of the Bloomington Friends Meeting. Adults $10-$15 (freewill donation), Students $5, under 18 free. More info and advance tickets here: https://www.riseupandsing.org/events/bloomington
Save the Date!
Fall Grounds Day August 26
Let's make our building and grounds especially welcoming for Reverend Mary Ann Macklin's return on September 3. Join us here on the grounds on Saturday, August 26th between  9:00 AM & 12:00 noon. (Our "rain date" will be the morning of Saturday, September 9th.)  We expect to do some weeding, pruning and sheet mulching. Bring water, gloves and your favorite (well-marked) tools.  -- Molly O'Donnell ( 812-345-7399 [email protected] ),  Co-chair, Green Building & Grounds Team 
We Want to Thank You!
     If you have recently included the church in your estate plans, please let the Planned Giving Committee know.  We want to thank you-and invite you to the Legacy Circle's annual homemade soup and sandwich luncheon in October. 
      It is easy to make a planned gift to the church without changing your will. 
1.      Request a new Beneficiary Form from your IRA, retirement fund or life insurance administrator.
2.      Name the church as a beneficiary of a percentage of your estate or a specific sum.
3.      Return the form to the IRA, retirement fund or life insurance administrator.
    Then tell Joan Caulton, Libby DeVoe, Anne Haynes, Linda Pickle or Melinda Swenson--the Planned Giving Committee.  We want to thank you!

Join the fun! Getting Involved Fair 
Continues this Sunday      Looking for new ways to seek the spirit, build community and change the world? On  August  20 and 27, a groups from our church will be available during coffee hour in Fellowship Hall to assist you. Friendly folks will be ready to share info, answer questions, and invite you to  get   involved  in activities that interest you. Come join the fun! --Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
 
Exploring Unitarian Universalism Class--Sept 3 and 10
Are you interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism and this congregation?  Are you considering becoming a member of this church? Whether you are considering membership or are just curious, this class is for you. The Exploring UU Class will be held on  Sept 3 and 10  from  2-4 p.m.  in the church library. Please plan to attend both  Sunday  sessions, since different material will be covered in each session.  Register before  August 27  by signing up at the Welcome Table in the foyer, or emailing Ann LeDuc at   [email protected] . Free childcare is available if requested by August 27. Melinda Swenson and Jack King will facilitate this fun and informative class.
 
Have fun at Pridefest and represent our church!
We need a few friendly people to represent UUCB in our tent at Pridefest on  August 26 .  Pridefest (formerly known as Summerfest) is Bloomington's annual celebration of LGBTQ+ life and culture. Volunteering in our tent is great fun! For more information and to volunteer, go to:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0445adaa2da4fd0-bloomington  Questions?  Contact Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator, at  [email protected]  or Amy Makice, Rainbow Rights Task Force Chair, at  [email protected]  .
 
Welcome to our Newest Members!
On July 30 we welcomed four new members into the congregation. Please offer a warm welcome to our newest members: Larry Cherniak, David Hart, Rick Modesitt, and Jerry Wilkens. Below are new member bios to help you get to know them.--Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator. 
 
New Member Bios
  
Larry Cherniak
Larry Cherniak, a 20-year UU, was born in Windsor, Ontario, in 1961. He graduated in Fine Arts from IU Bloomington, worked in graphics, and has painted, brewed beer, baked bread, flown drones, and built scale models. After a near-fatal illness he has semi-retired to a humble 5-acre homestead with his adult child Cyril, where they tend goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits, dogs, cats, blackberries, peaches, sour cherries...and each other.

David Hart
David Hart was raised on a farm in southeastern Indiana, spent two years in Vietnam, and then became a mathematics professor. He came to Bloomington as a computing expert, and is now retired. He enjoys reading about physics, history and politics. 
 


Rick Modesitt
Hi, I was Born August 1962 in Brazil IN, and still live there. I have two children, Holly 30 and Brock 27, both on their own. I'm single and own a home in the U.P. of Michigan, For Sale! Born in rural Indiana, I spent much of life living and being on the river--hunting, fishing and I love canoeing. Looking forward to my personal and financial commitment to Bloomington U.U.  Please say "Hi."
 
Jerry Wilkens
Jerry Wilkens was a school administrator  in the Chicago area before retiring to Bloomington with his partner in 1993.  We wanted to live in a university town and IU has turned out to be perfect  for us.. I have been very involved with volunteer activities dealing with international students.  One of the special programs is Bloomington Worldwide Friendship.  I am also very proud to have helped a family in Laos and continue to consider them as my family. 
   
 "When Children Leave Home"
Facilitator: Amy Cornell
Wednesday, August 30, 7-9pm, Library
For parents, grandparents, and caregivers who are in a transition to life with fewer (if any!) children at home. This time can present a multitude of feelings and observations worthy of exploration. The tender time of letting go deserves attention, and this circle allows participants to honor that transition with others who find themselves at similar junctures. Mothers, fathers, grandparents, and caregivers are welcome to this circle. We will share readings, reflection, writing and sharing together. No previous writing experience needed.   To sign up, please contact [email protected] or call 812-332-3695 with your name, phone, and email address. No childcare will be provided for this event. 
U
U Children's Choir Upcoming Schedule
Sun Aug 20 : Rehearse,  10:30-11am  (Rm 110)
Sun Aug 27: Rehearse,  10:30-11am w/percussionists (Rm 110)
FRI Sept 1: Special time, Rehearse w/ percussionists (Fellowship Hall)  7:00-7:30
Sun  Sept 3: Sing at Water Communion Multi-generational services. Meet at  9:50 in Rm 110.   Children's choir will sing near end of 1st service, and near start of 2nd service.  Future schedule TBA soon!  Questions Contact Jill: [email protected]  
W
pre-2005
omen's Alliance Meets September 7
     The members of the Women's Alliance of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana accept, and strive to implement the principles outlined in the mission statement of our church.  We gather for fellowship, church support, and community outreach.  We provide support,
financial and otherwise, for the special needs of the church and the community as voted upon by our members.
     The Women's Alliance meets the first Thursday of the month at 11:30 a.m.
at the church. Meetings begin with a brown bag lunch; drinks and dessert
are provided.  The program begins at noon, followed by a business meeting.
     Our next meeting is Thursday, September 7 with Reverend Forrest Gilmore.  All are welcome. 
Fellowship Dinner Signup  
       Would you like to get to know more people in our church community in a relaxed, intimate setting? What venue could be more relaxing and pleasant than over a shared meal? In October the first Fellowship Dinners will take place. These are small monthly dinners held October through April in the homes of those belonging to the group or in other congenial locations. The attendees agree with the host on a mutually convenient date and then bring a dish to help complete a full meal. The menu and the guest list change at each dinner, but the stimulating and fun conversation never flags!
     You don't have to be a church member to take part, and you can opt out of taking part in a month in which you are too busy or out of town. For more information and to fill out an e-registration form, click here. If you would prefer to download a Word version of the form, click here Paper registration forms are also available in the workroom Room 204. Register soon so Linda Pickle can get you in her roster!   

Artists and Makers Invited to Apply to the Holiday Art Fair and Bazaar 
All artists and makers of beautiful things are invited to apply to be included in our Holiday Art Fair and Bazaar, December 1 and 2.  This is a well-respected and enthusiastically supported juried show, and applications are due September 1.  All work must be original. Applicants will be informed by October 1 about whether they will be in the show or not. Contact the office, [email protected] or 812-332-3695 ext 204 with your mailing address to get information and an application.
  Changing the World 

Contact Your Senators on North Korea
The Just Peace Task Force suggests you contact Senators Joe Donnelly and Todd Young to express your concern over President Trump's threat to unleash "fire and fury" on North (and South) Korea.  Please ask our Senators to co-sponsor S.200, "The Restricting the First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act," which requires the President to obtain Congressional authorization to launch a "preventive war" with nuclear weapons.  Senator Donnelly:  (317) 226-5555; Senator Young  (202) 224-5623.

Citizen action can stop rush toward war, David Keppel's letter in the August 15 issue of the Herald-Times, can be read here.
Michael Moore's
"Where to Invade Next?" Film Screening
Friday, August 18, 7:00 p.m.
     The film "Where to Invade Next?" contains great ideas from other countries to help our world.
Join us in Fellowship Hall on Friday, August 18 at 7:00 p.m. to view the film and discuss it afterward. Childcare provided if reserved by TODAY--August 1. This event is free. Those under age 17 may view this Rated R film if accompanied by parent or adult guardian.
     Michael Moore visits countries where great things are happening. Guerilla humanity that is efficient, compassionate, and sustainable! Click here to view the trailer. (Rated R)*
     This event is part of our Adult Religious Education programming. If you will need childcare to attend, contact Kitty McIntosh at [email protected] by TODAY August 1. Other info, contact Cynthia Bretheim.
 
*R=Restricted to appropriate audiences. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Language, some violent images, drug use, and brief graphic nudity.   
Go Solar at Home!
Our Green Sanctuary Task Force is happy to announce that The City of Bloomington and Solar Indiana Renewable Energy Network (SIREN) are holding another opportunity for residents to add solar power on their homes, in Monroe and some of the surrounding counties ( Greene, Lawrence, Morgan, Orange and Owen .) This is the last chance to install a system, not only at reduced rates (from bulk purchases), but also the last chance to get the full 30 years of net metering credits. A percentage of each installation goes toward Solar For All, to provide equipment for lower-income households.
     With the 30% federal tax credit and a home equity loan with payments similar to your electric bill, this program is affordable to most residents.
     Interested? Visit www.tinyurl.com/SolarizeBloomington2 to sign up for one of the required information sessions:
  • August 17th, 7:00 -8:30 PM at the Ellettsville Branch of MCPL
  • August 22nd, 7:00- 8:30 PM at Bloomington City Hall
  • August 26th, 10:00-11:30 AM at Bloomington City Hall 
Green Sanctuary Task Force Alert: 
See An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power this Week, Before It's Gone!
     Al Gore's revealing film, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power is now showing at AMC 12, 2929 W. 3rd St. Bloomington, but it may not be rebooked after Thursday, August 17, so be sure to see it by then.
     "...a thesis in this new documentary is that a rise in extreme weather is making the impact of climate change harder to deny. The movie touches on  Hurricane Sandy Typhoon Haiyan  in the Philippines, the wildfire in Fort McMurray, Canada, and the Zika  virus . Mr. Gore visits  Greenland  and the flooded streets of the  Miami  area."
     The story of how the lengthy drought in Syria led directly to the current war is a truly remarkable revelation and a dire warning for our future here on Mother Earth...
     Showtimes  Tues day - Thursday , ( August 14-17 ):  2:15 4:45 7:10 pm
To check on Friday if it is held over: visit  rottentomatoes.com  and click Tickets & Showtimes. If it is held over to Sat . & Sun., they do add a show at  11:50 am  which costs less than $6.00. 
Reproductice Justice Task Force Meets August 28
      Come join us for the first fall meeting of the Reproductive Justice Task Force on  Monday, Aug 28th , at  7 pm  in Rm 208. We have some exciting projects underway! All are welcome. Questions? contact Nan McKinley @  626-824-8955  or Deborah Meader @  812-345-0930 
Social Justice Task Force Application Now Available
      The new 2017-18 application for all Social Justice Task forces is now available on the Information for SJ Leaders page    The application gives information about what and when a task force might be formed and expectations for its activities.  If you have thoughts or ideas about organizing a new one, please contact Jackie Hall or Rev McNeill to discuss how to get going.  
Homelessness Task Force Invites Donations for 
Rapid Re-housing Program
     Shalom Community Center operates a "Rapid Re-housing Program" which helps homeless  individuals and families find permanent, affordable housing. Each individual or family housed is provided with a "Welcome Basket". We are looking for donations to fill the baskets. Needed: toilet paper, dish detergent, toilet bowl cleaner, shampoo/conditioner, hand soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, all purpose cleaner, kitchen trash bags, paper towels or cleaning cloths, brooms and dust pans. You may place your donations in the macaroni basket under the table in the Commons through September 10.   --Alan Backler
Light the Chalice by Patricia Coleman, 2005
Social Justice Funding Available
Applications Due October 9
The Social Justice Funds Committee (SJFC) encourages all social justice task forces, organizers, workers, and leaders to apply for our church's Fall social justice grants. For more information, click here:
http://www.uubloomington.org/social-justice/social-justice-funds-committee/   Applications are due October 9 and are now available at the above webpage or from  [email protected]
Community Connections
Our Faith in Action in the Community 

Volunteer Opportunity with the City of Bloomington
The City is getting ready to start another round of housing/development funding selections from one of their grants, and there are volunteer vacancies on the public advisory committee. If interested, please see this link:    https://bloomington.in.gov/onboard/applicants/apply?committee_id=51
Contact Eric Sader in H ousing and Neighborhood Development if questions.

1,000 Contacts to our Governor Will Save This Forest!
Indiana Forest Alliance encourages concerned citizens to call Governer Holcomb,  317-232-4567, to protest a proposed timber sale on 299 acres of Yellowwood/Morgan-Monroe State Forest Back Country Area (BCA). Many very old trees and endangered wildlife including warblers and Indiana bats would be threatened by this disruption. For more info, go to   www.indianaforestalliance.org

Piano for Pleasure Group Starts August 23
Piano for Pleasure Group meets Wednesdays 7:15-8:30 at Beverly McGahey's home, for camaraderie and coaching, beginning August 23. Regular attendance encouraged but not required. All levels welcome. Free and open to all. Questions?  [email protected]

Be a Host Family for a Visiting Professional in September
The International Outreach Task Force would like to call your attention to an opportunity to host foreign visitors to Bloomington:
when:       Sept 2nd-16th
who:        Young professionals from Georgia and Azerbaijan
sponsor:   IU Office of International Development - Youth Leadership Program
contact:    [email protected] ,  Tessa McConnell
"As a host family, you will help these participants experience a diverse and genuine slice of American life.  In return, you will build remarkable freindships and learn about a country rich with culture and history."      - IU Ofc of Intl Development

Fight Alzheimer's Disease! September 24 Bloomington Walk to End Alzheimer's
Has Alzheimer's Disease affected someone you care about? Would you like to raise awareness and funds for dementia care, support, and research? Maybe you would just like to show support for others in our church community who have been affected by Alzheimer's. Join us or support our team in the Bloomington Walk to End Alzheimer's by visiting this web page:  http://act.alz.org/goto/UUCBcares. The walk is Sunday, September 24. Registration starts at noon. -- Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator 
  Seeking the Spirit  

Chalice Circle Testimonial
By Nan McKinley
       The Chalice Circle experience has been a good fit for me. I was first involved with circles through the Neighborhood UU Church of Pasadena, California. I was in a group which met in the home of one of the circle members, though they were not the facilitator.  I enjoyed the setting which seemed to enhance the closeness we felt to each other.  Roughly the same group met again the next year but this time we had programming to follow.  After such a good experience the first year I feared a loss of closeness with the use of topics to spur sharing but it turned out to be a good thing, focusing us and drawing out some members of the circle who were more reticent to speak. 
     Upon moving home to Bloomington and joining this church which was new to me, I turned to Chalice Circles as a way to feel connected and to help with the transition of retiring, a divorce and the move which had occurred in quick succession.  Though I was only here for a few months the first year, I was welcomed into a group and it did help ease my heart and mind to have the opportunity to be heard and to give the gift of listening to others.  This last year, my chalice circle provided an even deeper connection.  I wholeheartedly recommend the experience!  

First Monday Poetry Sharing Meets September 11
Join us in this ongoing monthly group for poetry lovers! Bring a poem to share that you enjoy. Next meeting is Monday, September 11 (because Labor Day is on the first Monday) at 10:00 a.m. in the Library at church. All are welcome. Contact Bob Taylor for info, [email protected]  
 

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. 
 
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.  
 
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 donations 
  accepted.  More  info:  [email protected]  or  
 

Earth Kin Book Club Monthly Discussion on the Elements Begins August 28
      On Monday, August 28th, Earth Kin, our earth-centered spirituality group, will be holding the first of a series of Book Club Discussions on the topic of the elements--earth, air, fire, and water. The meeting will take place from 
7-9 pm in Room 210, and will focus on the "Introduction" and "Chapter 1: About the Elements" of Wisdom of the Elements: The Sacred Wheel of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water by Margie McArthur. The book can be purchased used on Amazon, or you can email Brooke  at  [email protected]  for a PDF copy of the reading. This meeting will be an open space for us to discuss the two chapters, and share our experiences working with the wheel of the year and the element of air. All are welcome--no prior experience or knowledge of the elements necessary.    ~Brooke Opel, [email protected]  

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, August 27 at 12:45 a.m. in Room 208. The topic will be "Artificial Intelligence's impact on our lives" led by Clark Brittain.  A complete list of spring/summer topics   can be found here. 
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, August 20, at 12:45 p.m. 
UU History for You
Pelagius, a Dissident Christian Heretic
      Pelagius (360-418 C.E.) was raised in Britain and may have been Irish.  A monk, he became known as a scholar and theologian.  He went to Rome and there developed a following, admired by Augustine, Jerome, and other Church fathers. Pelagius felt predestination was an error, if not an impossibility, and he promoted the idea of free will.  He acknowledged that there may be acts of divine grace that shift people's lives and values, but that without free will what was the point of listening to a preacher? 
     Pelagius also rejected one of Augustine's chief proposals.  He doubted the existence of original sin.  He claimed death was part of nature for all living things and death was not a punishment imposed by God for Adam's disobedience.  His views created much debate, and in 418, he was declared a heretic and exiled to Egypt.  His writings were collected and destroyed, so most of what Pelagius wrote is known only from the records of his trials for heresy.  Pelagianism is the term used for his proposal that we have free will in the choices we make about our behavior.  Later, Unitarians accepted free will.  Calvinists accepted predestination.    -- Elof Carlson, designated historian 
Current Membership: 517
Attendance
Sunday, August 6        9 :15:   101       11:15: 160      TOTAL:  261
Sunday, August 13      9 :15:   128       11:15: 189      TOTAL:  317
Non-Pledge Offering
August 6: $467.21    August 13: $607.86       
Total to be donated to All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center $268.77
Grocery Card Sales
(Bloomingfoods or Lucky's Market)
August 6: $925, income to UUCB $50.75    August 13: $325, income to UUCB $16.75
Contact a Minister


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 Macklin will be away July 24-September 2.


 

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 
812-332 -3695, ext. 207  on Weds and Fri mornings.  [email protected]
Reverend Leite will be away August 10-17.   

Our Covenant of Right Relations
In June 2017, our members affirmed a new Covenant of Right Relations. Click here to read it.

Livestreaming Our Sunday Services  
You can view the livestream of our Sunday services and view archived video from the last few months at this link:    uubloomington.yourstreamlive.com 
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.
Orion Day 2016
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! 

Church Calendar 
A link to our church calendar can be found on this page of our website. 
Facebook 
Many church events also appear on our Facebook page.
Prologue Publication Schedule 
The Prologue is edited by Carol Marks, mostly. The deadline for articles is 10 a.m. on the date of publication.
Next few issues: September 5 and probably September 19. Stay tuned!
We'll decide in September whether to stay with the Tuesday publication schedule or go back to Mondays.
Masthead photo by John Woodcock. Morning Zinnia

Photo by John Woodcock, Zinnia and friend.

Unitarian Universalist Church