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Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, Changing the World
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Sunday, January 6, 2019
9:15 am and 11:15 am
Magnificent Imagination: An Exploration
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
Scott Russell Sanders
Welcome to 2019. Our congregation's theme this month is Imagination. During our January Intersession, our Religious Education program will be learning about Unitarian Beatrix Potter
through art, cooking and animals
. As said of Potter, "Beatrix Potter's magnificent imagination has affected children and adults all over the world." Reverend Macklin and Scott Russell Sanders will explore imagination through story, verse and reflection. Our Social Justice Moment will be presented by the Homelessness Task Force.
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Sunday, January 13, 2019
9:15 am and 11:15 am
Annual Science Sermon: Reflections on 2018
Bridging the Known and Unknown
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
In 1859, Sir Benjamin Brody stated, "In the pursuit of the physical sciences, the imagination supplies the hypothesis which bridges over the gulf that separates the known from the unknown." In this annual science sermon, Reverend Macklin will explore highlights from 2018 discoveries in the areas of human origins, environment, physics math, astronomy, mind and brain, technology. Per usual, there will be a 7th inning stretch!
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A Labyrinth, A Meditative Space
(January 6-12)
As the New Year begins, I always install a labyrinth in the sanctuary. For six days, it provides a meditative space for any in the community who choose to come. In the past, we have had people from toddlers through elders visit the labyrinth and walk. As Sharon Blackie writes, "... the beauty of the labyrinth is that it is not a maze.
There are no dead
ends and you cannot take a wrong path--because although the path may twist or wind back on itself, it leads always to the centre. And there, at the centre of the labyrinth, no matter how many times you have been there, you might still discover new insights; you might uncover old wisdom or find new knowledge. Then you walk back out again, taking back out into the world the gifts that you have received..."
If this practice sounds appealing to you, I invite you to visit next week. The labyrinth will be installed on Sunday afternoon, January 6, and will be open for walking during the following hours. Please enter on Sunday, Wednesday evening and Saturday at the Main Entrance by the sanctuary, and enter on weekdays at the office entrance at the northwest corner of the building.
Sun, January 6: 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Mon, January 7: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Tues, January 8: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Weds, January 9: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Thurs, January 10: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Fri, January 11: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sat, January 12: 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Hope to see you there,
Emily
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite, Minister of Religious Education
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MAM's Musings
Imagination is our theme for January. I agree with Thomas Moore, author of The Re-enchantment of Everyday Life, who states, "
We tend to consider imagination too lightly, forgetting that the life we make, for ourselves individually and for the world as a whole, is shaped and limited only by the perimeters of our imagination. Things are as we imagine them to be, as we imagine them into existence."
How do we move beyond the perimeters of our imagination?
One of my colleagues writes the following about story and imagination, which I think it a helpful exercise as we start a new year, 2019 (in case you lost count
).
Years ago, I took a class on pastoral care. The teacher suggested a method for us ministers to use with people who come to us for counseling. She suggested that we think of our life as a story, and that we write the next chapter of our story. Use your imagination to think of the characters, the scene, and the plot. What happens in that chapter? How does it advance the story? I have suggested this method to people contemplating divorce, thinking about moving or changing jobs, and for other life events.
One of the most powerful times I used this was when a woman in our church was diagnosed, for the third time in 10 years, with cancer. She had to decide to pursue aggressive and uncertain treatment or not. I asked her to write the next chapter for herself.
That process led to a clear answer: to enjoy the time left, for so long as it was. The process helped her, and her husband, to be intentional and deliberate about how they lived for what turned out to be her last 45 days.
Maybe--probably--the next chapter of your life won't turn out exactly how you write it. But the engagement of imagination to think about what we want to happen can clarify, provoke, and comfort us."
--UU Minister
May the next chapters of your life be yours!
Peace and Love,
MAM
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin, Senior Minister
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Unitarian Author Beatrix Potter Featured in January
Religious Education Intersession
We are thrilled to announce that for our January Intersession, Religious Education will be learning about Unitarian ancestor Beatrix Potter through art, cooking, and animals! Preschool classes will meet in their familiar room (Room 103) and Kindergarten-6th grade will be in small groups, visiting a different specialty (art, cooking, and animals) each week!
Adrienne Summerlot, Director of Religious Education
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Women's Alliance Meets January 3
The Women's Alliance program on Thursday, January 3 will feature the Community Justice and Mediation Center (CJAM). The presenters are Liz Granet, Executive Director, Jane Ann Gifford, and Deb Hutton. We gather at 11:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall with a brown bag lunch. The presentation begins at noon, followed by a business meeting. The hostesses for the month, Ann Connors and Beverly McGahey, will provide drinks and dessert. Everyone, including women, men, and gender non-binary persons, is welcome to join us.
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Ready to become a member of UU Bloomington?
If this is your community, if you feel at home here, join us! A
membership
book signing
is scheduled for
Sunday, January 20, at 10:30 am
in Room 112
. Contact Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator, to make arrangements to become a
member
at
(812) 332-3695
On Sunday, December 9, we welcomed ten
new
members
into our congregation. Please give a warm welcome to our newest
members
-- Mary Blizzard, Juliana Crespo, Frank Diaz, Ned Joyner, Tera Nance-Knieriemen, Philip Knieriemen, Andy and Anna Knust, Charlotte Wager Miller, and Hwamei Shei.
Below is a bio to help you get to know one of our newest members,
Charlotte Wager Miller.
--Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
Charlotte Wager Miller is a Bloomington native and is currently studying Liberal Studies and Civic Engagement at IU. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, writing, knitting, and volunteering at WFHB Community Radio. She has been coming to UUCB on and off since childhood, and is excited to expand her community circle and continue to learn and grow with the UUCB congregation.
Bird Watchers Unite, this Sunday!
All bird watchers are welcome to gather during coffee hour this Sunday at the Birds of a Feather Common Interest table. Meet others who enjoy bird watching,
share your bird photos, bird information, bird lists, enthusiasm,
and more.
-Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
Join us to hike a portion of the Hayes Trail in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness. We will meet at 2:00 pm on January 27 in the former east side K-mart parking lot (behind the east side Bloomingfoods) to carpool to the trail head. Allow two hours for this hike. We will hike about an hour out and an hour back. Don't forget your water. If you plan to join us on the hike, email Ann LeDuc at
[email protected]
. If it rains, we will cancel.
Are you new here?
Take your "First Steps" this Sunday!
We will discuss the basics of Unitarian Universalism and this congregation, and watch a short video about Unitarian Universalism. Join us! This Sunday in Room 112 at 10:35-11:00 AM and 12:35-1:00 PM (after each service). Free childcare is available in Room 108. Just stop in, no registration is required.
--Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
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Singles Game Night January 11th!
This month the UU
Singles Fellowship and Activities Group game night is on Friday, January 11th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Please use the Courtyard entrance. Optional: bring games and/or snacks or drinks to share. We will have use of the kitchen. Contact Marie at
[email protected]
with any questions!
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Game Night and Pitch-in January 19
for Families with Young Children
Join us on Saturday, January 19th from 4-6pm in Fellowship Hall to play board and card games and enjoy a pitch-in meal together. If you are able, please bring a game and food to share. If you'd like to use childcare, contact Kitty at
[email protected]
by January 5 to reserve a spot. Contact Sarah at
[email protected]
with any questions.
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New Paper Directories Available
New paper congregational directories (green covers) are now available in Room 204. Please print your name on the list provided when you pick one up. If you are a member or a friend of the congregation and you have access to the internet, you can log on to our online database and make your very own up-to-the-minute directory or find everyone's contact info anytime, 24/7! Questions? Contact [email protected], 812-332-3695, ext. 204.
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Buy Grocery Cards on Sunday and Support the Church
We have grocery gift cards for sale in the Commons every Sunday between services. The participating grocery stores send a percentage of your purchases back to the church to support our operating budget. We have gift cards for Bloomingfoods, Lucky's, and Fresh Thyme, and you can register your Kroger Plus card by clicking here. Our new Kroger organization ID number is
EW763.
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Creating
Blessing Bags for the Homeless --
How You Can Help:
Our Religious Education Program and Homelessness Task Force are collecting items to make "Blessing Bags" for homeless people in our community. The bags will be made on Martin Luther King Jr. Day--Monday, January 21--from 9-11am at Congregation Beth Shalom, in a family-friendly collaboration with the synagogue, First Christian Church, St. Mark's United Methodist, Trinity Episcopal, and First Presbyterian.
If you would like to support this project, please bring any of the following to church through January 20. There will be a collection box in the Commons on January 6, 13 and 20.
Cough drops
Toothbrushes
Travel-sized items: toothpaste, shampoo, soap,
hand sanitizer,
shaving cream, tissue packs
Lip balm
Band-aids
Hand warmer packets
Protein bars
If you have questions about this project, please contact Reverend Emily Leite at
[email protected].
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Social Justice Film Series Continues January 20
with The Day After
Our Third Sunday Social Justice Film Series (and pizza) will continue on Sunday, January 20 at 5:00 p.m. with our Just Peace Task Force hosting a screening of "The Day After," a 1983 film set in Lawrence, Kansas, in the weeks leading up to and following a nuclear war. The film apparently had a major impact on President Ronald Reagan and influenced him to seek talks with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. We'll break for pizza at 6 (or bring your own selection), and a brief discussion will follow the movie. Running time is 2 hours and 6 minutes. Please remember that if you will need childcare in order to attend the film screening, we need to hear from you by January 13. Click on this link to reserve childcare.
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Interested in Working for Social Justice this Year?
Here is a list of our active Social Justice task forces, and contact info for their leaders. They can help you get involved!
End of Life Education Task Force --
Green Sanctuary Task Force on Global Climate Change
--
Help Feed Our Hungry Neighbors Task Force
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Refugee and Immigration Support and Education Task Force
--
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I
nterested in Digging Deeper
into Unitarian Universalism?
Plan to attend MidAmerica Regional Assembly in St. Louis in April, or UUA General Assembly in Spokane in June! MidAmerica Regional Assembly is April 5-7, and t
he UUA General Assembly is
June 19-23. Registration fees for delegates to both conferences are paid by the church.
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Snow and Ice Awareness and
Event Cancellations at Church
In the winter months, when travel conditions become hazardous after snowfall or ice storms, please always check our home page,
www.uubloomington.org, or our Facebook page,
www.facebook.com/uubloomington or
www.wfiu.org for updates on event cancellations or delays. If church services or other events in our building are canceled, this information will also be broadcast on radio at
FM 103.7 and on
WTIU television. You should also check with the leader of your group or committee, if you have a smaller meeting scheduled.
Best bet is to stay home if road conditions deteriorate.
--Carol Marks, Church Administrator
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Religious Education for Adults
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Shambhala Meditation Meets Mondays at 12 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 to participate in this 2500-year-old tradition. For more info: contact Sarah at
[email protected]
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Open Mind Zen Meets Mondays at 7:00 pm
Join Frank Seisho Diaz for meditation, talks, and discussions on Zen Buddhism, Mondays 7:00-8:30 pm, in Room 112 here at the church. All are welcome regardless of faith or experience.
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Traditional Taiji on Tuesdays at 7:15 pm
Brian Flaherty leads "Wu (Hao)" style Taiji in Fellowship Hall on Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m. Anyone is welcome, even those with no previous Taiji experience. Please wear loose-fitting clothing. For more i
nfo: contact Brian at [email protected]
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UU Freethinkers Meet this Sunday
January 6, 12:45 pm
The UU Freethinkers bi-weekly meeting creates the opportunity for participants to raise questions and engage in open and non-structured discussion of issues of social, political, and theological/religious concern. UU Freethinkers meet on every other Sunday in Room 208 at 12:45 pm, after children's Religious Education classes end.
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Humanist Forum Meets January 13,
12:45 pm
On Sunday, January 13, at 12:45 pm, the UU Humanist Forum will meet in Fellowship Hall for a potluck lunch and discussion of their topic list for the next few months. The Humanist Forum meets every other Sunday, with a different discussion topic.
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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.
Reverend Scott McNeill, our Associate Minister,
can be reached at 812-332-3695 (ext. 209) and is available by appointment on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons.
Reverend McNeill will be away December 31 - January 6.
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
,
our Minister of Religious Education,
can be reached at
812-332
-3695 (ext. 207)
on Wednesday and Friday mornings.
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Our Covenant of Right Relations
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Office hours have resumed: M-F, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Facebook: Many church events are also posted on our
Facebook page.
Prologue
Publication Schedule:
The deadline for articles is 10 a.m. on the date of publication, which is
the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month.
Upcoming
issues:
January 15, February 5, February 19, March 4, March 18
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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. If you have a problem viewing, please email Andy Beargie and Ned Joyner at
[email protected].
Links to Archived Videos of Services to View Online
Each Friday, we'll post the direct URL link for the previous Sunday's archived video of the service at the end of the Friday UU Update, as well as posting the links on the
Livestream page of our website. Video of recent services is also found on our
Facebook Page.
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Membership: 512 certified members; 546 current members.
Attendance:
Sunday, December 23 9:15 - 69 11:15 - 117 TOTAL: 186 RE 32
Sunday, December 30 9:15 - 78 11:15 - 143 TOTAL: 221 RE 35
Non-Pledge Offering:
December 23
: $506 December 30: $557
Total to be donated (25%) to Spencer Pride: $266
Grocery Card Sales:
(Bloomingfoods, Lucky's Market, or Fresh Thyme)
December 23: $400, income to UUCB: $22.00 December 30
: $325, income to UUCB: $16.75
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Masthead photo from the archives. (modified by cm)
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How to Subscribe:
If you are not already regularly receiving emails like this from us, you can subscribe by sending an email to [email protected].
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