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Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, Changing the World
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Sunday, March 10, 2019
9:15 am and 11:15 am
Generosity: The Breath and Depth
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
Janice Jaffe, Worship Artist in Residence
Cynthia Bretheim, Breath Inspiration
Join us this Sunday as we explore the theme of the month, Generosity, through the breath and depth of our lives as spiritual seekers. "The body is our first home. Breathing in, I arrive in my body. Breathing out, I am home." These words from Thich Nhat Hanh invite us into the generosity. Seeking the Spirit. Building Community. Changing the World.
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Sunday, March 17, 2019
9:15 am and 11:15 am
Eternal Echoes: And Generous in Love
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
St. Patrick's Day coincides with this Sunday worship, so it's a safe bet that Reverend Macklin will explore the Irish poet and Celtic Spirituality teacher, John
O'Donohue, whose words provide generous guidance for living in these challenging times. "May I live this day compassionate in heart, dear in word, gracious in awareness, courageous in thought and generous in love."
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I remain grateful for the gift of being away from the office and ministerial duties for the month of February. Thanks to everyone who made this a rather seamless transition for the congregation and me. You know who you are. This month off was the first of five months due to me as part of a sabbatical covenant in my agreement with this congregation. I will be applying for a grant from the Clergy Renewal Program for the last four months of sabbatical time. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, some of you are aware that during part of my time away in February, I completed a fifteen-week training as an End of Life Sacred Passage Doula. I have received numerous queries regarding the nature of this training. Here is the general description:
"The Sacred Passage: End of Life Doula Certificate program benefits all those involved in the care of life, love, family, and healing. From healthcare professionals to concerned family members to end-of-life experts, this provides the preparation needed to befriend death, surrender and trust deeply in each moment, become part of the next great evolution in healthcare, and become a supportive and effective end-of-life companion."
At the end of the program we each presented a short statement of our identity as a Sacred Passage Doula; mine is, "I am in love with the sacredness of life, so too, I am in love with the sacredness of death. And I do cool things."
Be cool, MAM
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin, Senior Minister
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Women's Alliance Meets March 7
Presentation by Planned Parenthood
Laura Miller, Regional Health Center Manager of Planned Parenthood will present the Women's Alliance program from 12:00 to 12:30 on Thursday, March 7.
We gather at 11:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall with a brown bag lunch. The
presentation begins at noon, followed by a brief Q & A and a business
meeting. The hostesses for the month, Hayden Bangert and Sue Medland,
will provide drinks and dessert. Everyone, including women, men, and
gender non-binary persons, is welcome.
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Gardeners Unite March 17!
On March 17, all gardeners are invited to gather during coffee hour at the Birds of a Feather Common Interest table in Fellowship Hall during coffee hour (10:30-11:15 AM). Bring your garden stories, knowledge, questions, and ideas to share
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-Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
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Upcoming Children's Choir Schedule
(Sunday, March 10: No rehearsal)
Sunday, March 17: Rehearse 10:40-11:00 am, Rm 110
Wednesday, March 20: Sing at Spring Equinox Celebration Service - Rehearse 5:55 pm, Service 6:15-7:00 pm
It's always helpful to know if your children are coming - let them know they can invite friends to join too! Contact Jill here.
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UU Men Meet March 19
Our UU Men's group will meet here at church on Tuesday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 210. For info, please contact Dan Wiseman.
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Join the UU Hikers on March 23 and April 13
On Saturday, March 23, at 1:00 p.m., join us to hike the Pate Hollow Trail. This trail has options for those wanting a shorter hike (3-4 miles), as well as those who want a longer hike (7.7 miles). Contact Ann LeDuc
here for details.
On Saturday, April 13, join us to hike the Dilcher-Turner Canyon Forest trail with David Dilcher from our congregation. We will meet at the west side K-mart parking lot at 1:30 PM to car pool to the trail head. This is a 1.6 mile moderate hike. Let us know if you plan to join us and/or want to be added to the Hikers email list by emailing Ann LeDuc
here.
Hikes will be rescheduled if it rains, or if roads become slick due to
inclement weather.
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Ready to become a member of UU Bloomington?
Sign the Membership Book on Sunday, March 24
If this is your community, if you feel at home here, join us! A membership book signing is scheduled for Sunday, March 24, at 10:30 AM in Room 112. Contact Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator, to make arrangements to become a member
at (812) 332-3695 or email Ann here.
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UUs and Friends Monthly Build for Habitat on the Third Saturday
Starts March 16
The Habitat task force is establishing a regular "UU and friends" build date on the third Saturday of each month, beginning March 16, when we will be framing a house. You can register at SignUp Genius here. Please come join the builds on a regular basis or whenever you can--no experience is necessary.
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Soup Fundraiser Lunch to Support Backpack Buddies
March 17
Our Grade 3-6 religious education class is holding a fundraiser lunch on March 17 to benefit the Backpack Buddies program, which sends food home with elementary school children on Fridays so they have enough to eat on the weekend. Tickets will be available for purchase on Sunday, March 10 during coffee hour in Fellowship Hall and they will also be available on the day of the lunch, March 17.
$5 for Adults, $3 for Children.
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Just Peace Task Force Urges Attendance at Upcoming Events
March 17: "The Day After" film screening
March 20: Joyce Aljouny--American Friends Svc Committee
March 24: Anthony Wier--Friends Cmte on Natl Legislation
April 3: Bloomington City Council on Nuke-free zone
The Just Peace Task Force urgently needs your attendance and help over the coming month. On Sunday, March 24th, at 4 p.m. Anthony Wier of Friends Committee on National Legislation will be speaking here in our Meeting Room on "The Myth of Usable Nuclear Weapons." Anthony is one of the nation's leading experts in nuclear arms control and is in the thick of Congressional efforts to stop these dangerous programs. We need a strong turnout. Child care is available, free, but you must click here to reserve it by March 17.
Also of note: On Sunday, March 17th at 5 p.m., the Just Peace Task Force is showing "The Day After" as part of the social justice film series. Free pizza and discussion following.
Click here
by March 10 to reserve childcare.
On Wednesday, March 20th at 7:30 p.m., Joyce Aljouny, General Secretary of the American Friends Service Committee, who will be in town as speaker for Women's History Month luncheon earlier that day, will speak here at UUCB on peacemaking and the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. A lifelong Quaker, Joyce grew up in Palestine and attended the Ramallah Friends School herself for her elementary and secondary education. She is a member of Ramallah Monthly Meeting and attends several monthly meetings in the U.S. Childcare available 7:15-8:30 p.m. in Room 108.
On April 3rd, the Bloomington City Council will debate and vote on a resolution declaring Bloomington a nuclear weapons-free zone. This is our initiative, and we need you to come and speak out for it or just be present. 7:30 p.m. City Council Chambers, City Hall.
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UU History for You
Ernest Cassara--
Unitarian Universalist Minister and Historian
Ernest Cassara (1925-2015) was born in Boston to an Italian oman Catholic family that was indifferent to the Catholic church's teachings. His father designed men's clothing. In 1944,Cassara tried to enlist in the army, but was rejected because he had rheumatic fever in his youth. He worked in a radio studio in Brockton, Massachusetts, and discussed Unitarianism with an invited Unitarian minister who was giving a Sunday radio sermon. That appealed to Cassara. He joined the Channing Unitarian Church and became its choir director because he liked to sing. He was awarded a scholarship to Tufts University for his BA. He served as a Unitarian minister in Billerica, Massachusetts, for 4 years and then went to Boston University for a PhD in church history, writing the life of Hosea Ballou. He also wrote a book on The Enlightenment in America. He taught history at George Mason University in Virginia, and wrote Universalism in America: A Documentary History of a Liberal Religion in America (1971). For the rest of his career, he turned to academic history and chaired the history department at George Mason. He and his wife, Beverly (n
é
e Benner), enjoyed travel. Beverly Cassara taught multicultural and women's education.
--Elof Axel Carlson, UUCB Historian
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Community Connections: Our Faith in Action
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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.
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Traditional Taiji on Tuesdays
Brian Flaherty leads "Wu (Hao)" style Taiji in Fellowship Hall on Tuesdays at 7:15 pm. All are welcome, even those with no previous Taiji experience. Please wear loose-fitting clothing.
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Open Mind Zen Meets Thursdays at 7:00 pm
Join Frank Seisho Diaz for meditation, talks, and discussions on Zen Buddhism, Thursdays 7:00-8:30 pm, in Room 112 here at the church. All are welcome regardless of faith or experience.
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UU Humanist Forum Meets March 10,
12:45 pm
On Sunday, March 10, at 12:45 pm the UU Humanist Forum will meet in Room 208, after children's Religious Education classes end. A discussion on "Reducing Firearm Violence" will be facilitated by Jan Steenblik.
The Humanist Forum meets every other Sunday, with a different
discussion topic
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UU Freethinkers Meet March 17
, 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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NEW!
UU History Class March 24, 2-4 pm
Unitarian Universalism is an ever-evolving spiritual practice advanced by courageous and thoughtful women and men.
Our history begins in Europe over 500 years ago, and can be traced through the questions and challenges that faced our forebears. Their legacy inspires us today, and we draw strength from their progress as we confront the uncertainties of our
own time.
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Kim Hampton
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Please join us for a romp through history as we meet these leaders and discuss the questions and challenges they faced in bringing us to where we are today. Everyone is welcome.
Sunday, March 24, 2019, 2:00 to 4:00 pm, in the church Library.
Instructor: Stuart D. Yoak, UUCB Member and Vice President of our Board of Directors.
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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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Who Ya Gonna Call?
Click here
for a semi-comprehensive list of which UUCB Staff Member to call for various kinds of questions. A staff email directory is included. --Carol Marks, Church Administrator, 812-332-3695, ext 200
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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, our
Facebook page, 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
WTIU television
. (We've noticed that WFIU doesn't bother to read cancellation announcements on the air anymore.) 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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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: macklin (at) uubloomington.org
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.
For pastoral emergencies, please call Scott at 812-727-0919.
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
,
our Minister of Religious Education,
can be reached at
812-332
-3695 (ext. 207)
on Wednesday and Friday mornings.
Email: mre (at) uubloomington.org
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Our Covenant of Right Relations
In June 2017, our members affirmed a Covenant of Right Relations.
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Office hours
: M-F, 10 am-4 pm
Calendar:
A link to our full church calendar of events can be found on this page of our website.
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:
March 19, April 2, April 16, May 7, May 21.
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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 or hearing the service, please email
Andy Beargie and Ned Joyner.
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
Facebook.
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Membership: 533 certified members; 538 current members.
Attendance:
Sunday, February 24 9:15 - 116 11:15 - 139 TOTAL: 255 RE: 64
Sunday, March 3 9:15 - 104 11:15 - 119 TOTAL: 223 RE: 50
Non-Pledge Offering:
February 24
: $542 March 3: $452
Total to be donated (25%) to Spencer Pride: $248.38
Grocery Card Sales:
(Bloomingfoods, Lucky's Market, or Fresh Thyme)
February 24: $200 March 3
: $250 Total income to UUCB: $22.50
D
uring the last quarter (October thru December 2018) we received $494.85 from Kroger, with 118 households participating.
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Masthead photo from the Prologue archives.
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