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Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, Changing the World
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Sunday, May 20
, 2018
9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
Flower Communion Celebration
for All Ages
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
The Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
The Reverend Scott McNeill
Please bring a flower (or several if you have them) to share at this service!
All ages are invited to join us for story and rituals as we celebrate the uniqueness and beauty of each individual within our community and acknowledge the changes happening in our lives. Our children's choir, directed by Jill Courtney, will be singing.
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Sunday, May 27
, 2018
9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
Reverend Scott McNeill
"Cry 'Havoc,' and Let Slip the Dogs of War"
In Shakespeare's
Julius Caesar, these words were used to explain how Marc Antony foresaw violence coming throughout the streets and cities of Italy. On this Memorial Day, join us as we reflect on those lost to war and violence, and help us pray that these words are never again spoken from the lips of our leaders.
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Sunday, June 3
, 2018
9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
See the order of service on May 27 or the Friday UU Update on June 1 for this sermon description!
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Help Us Keep Moving Forward and Growing Strong!
Pledge Drive Update
THANK YOU to those of you who have already pledged! To those who haven't yet, we need your help--we are $61,000 away from meeting our financial goal for the next year of ministry! This is exciting news! We need your help to get us across the finish line.
In the past year, we have welcomed more than 50 new individuals and families to our congregation largely because of our vibrant worship, fun and engaging religious education, committed social justice work, and our welcoming community. We want to keep that momentum going by strengthening our online worship experience (more than 100 people watch our online worship each week), supporting our ministers and staff by providing fair compensation (our church has worked towards this for years, and will reach it if we make this year's goal), and reaching the broader Bloomington community in partnership with our first Affiliated Community Minister.
Your generosity makes a major difference in the lives of many people who need our diverse and welcoming community!
Click here to make a pledge. Choose "I want to make a Pledge Commitment." If you wish, you may also call the office to let us know your pledge for 2018-19, 812-332-3695, ext. 200, or email [email protected]. On May 16 (tomorrow!), our Board of Directors will discuss next year's budget based on the progress of our pledge drive--so, please consider making, or increasing, your pledge as soon as possible. Thank you for all of the ways you support our congregation!
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MAM's Musings
Thanks again to our Unitarian Universalist Choir,
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photo by
Linda Mjolsnes
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musicians, and Music Director, Reverend Doctor Susan Swaney for Sunday's amazing performance of Cary Boyce's
The Flower of Departure: A Universal Requiem; gratitude also to Harlan Lewis, who commissioned this piece, which was first performed in 2012.
The Flower of Departure: A Universal Requiem is a lament for our earth in an era when reminders of climate change devastation appear daily. As Susan Swaney said about
The Flower of Departure, "In the same way Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day Proclamation took on a nation heading into war, this piece is both a warning and a call to action on behalf of Mother Earth."
Sunday's music was a soulful and stirring reminder of the courage it takes to live fully in the 21st century when hope can too easily change to cynicism.
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A UU Gothic (!)
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Our congregation's Social Justice Task Forces continue to provide concrete action and hope in these uncertain times. Our green grounds crew, of our Green Sanctuary Task Force, has done some ambitious projects this spring, on our way to making the grounds reflect our Unitarian Universalist values.
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Cheerful terrace workers,
10:30 a.m. 5-15-18, 78F
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To honor our vision of a perma-culture campus even as people enter the property, we are terracing the slope outside the sanctuary. The second limestone retaining wall will be completed this week, and next they will fill the area with good soil, mulch, in preparation for adding plants. They can use more volunteers to add native, drought- and deer-resistant plants we plan to purchase, some later this month, the rest--especially bulbs and shrubs--are best transplanted in the fall.
This month they also need help to plant herbs and water our garden tower near the portico entrance.
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| UU Hazelnut Orchard |
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Our hazelnuts on the north and south property lines have all sprouted healthy leaves, but need watering when the weather remains hot and dry for more than a week. And there is always weeding to be done in the gardens!
Sometimes, when the world's problems seem overwhelming, it is good to simply get down in the dirt and do some work. I invite you, and encourage you, to volunteer with Green Grounds this summer and into the fall.
Contact Molly O'Donnell or Jana Pereau, or ask at the Green Sanctuary coffee and chocolate sales table on Sundays, if you can help with any of these tasks.
Seeking the Spirit. Building Community. Changing the World.
Thanks, everyone--
MAM
The Reverend Mary Ann Macklin, Senior Minister
P.S. But wait there's more---for your Unitarian Universalist Lexicon:
Inexorable: 1 - impossible to stop or prevent, 2 - (of a person) impossible to persuade by request or entreaty.
Exonerable: Capable of being exonerated. As adjectives, the difference between exonerated and exonerable is that exonerated is freed from any question of guilt, acquitted, while exonerable is (rare) capable of being exonerated. --MAM
Final Note: Do not try to pronounce
inexorable and
exonerable at the same time.
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Our Folks...
Congregation members Lorraine and Clarence Hawking celebrated their 75th Wedding Anniversary on May 14th, 2018. Senior Minister Reverend Mary Ann Macklin and Connections Coordinator Ann LeDuc delivered the signed card from our congregation to Lorraine and Clarence the afternoon of May 14th--delightful conversation followed. The happily married couple sends their gratitude to all.
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From Our Board of Directors
Our next congregational meeting is Sunday June 10th, 4pm. We hope to see you there. There will be several things to vote on, including:
1) The leadership slate from Leadership Cultivation Committee - see article below from the Leadership Cultivate Committee.
2) Our 25% of the Sunday Plate recipient - see the article from the Social Justice Funds committee.
3) Amending our Articles of Incorporation. This is unusual and we're doing it at the suggestion of legal counsel to bring our governance arrangement regarding the Special Purposes Fund Committee into full compliance with Indiana State law. For details, please see the SPFC report at
http://www.uubloomington.org/reports/
.
Finally, a big thank you to the volunteers who helped with the Goods and Services Auction and who helped the Green Grounds Committee beautifying the church grounds and improving our sustainability!
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Official Notice
Congregational Meeting
Sunday, June 10, 2018 4:00 p.m.
in our Meeting Room
2120 N. Fee Lane, Bloomington, Indiana
All members urged to attend. Childcare provided.
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Leadership Cultivation Committee Slate
for June 10, 2018 Congregational Meeting
Your Leadership Cultivation Committee (LCC) presents the following slate for your vote at the June 10th Congregational Meeting. We thank all these members for their willingness to serve the congregation, and we also thank those they are replacing for their service. LCC: Sheri Benham, Danny Callison, Harv Hegarty, Deb Hutton, and Michelle Monroe-Cook.
Board of Directors
President: Michelle Monroe-Cook (replacing Von Welch)
Vice President: Stuart Yoak (replacing Michelle Monroe-Cook)
Treasurer: Ed Robbins (replacing Sandy Churchill)
Secretary: Steve Gilbert (incumbent)
Elected Leaders
Leadership Cultivation Committee: Dan Wiseman (replacing Harv Hegarty)
Leadership Cultivation Committee: Anne Haynes (replacing Sheri Benham)
Leadership Cultivation Committee: Arzetta Hults-Losensky (replacing Danny Callison)
Special Purposes Fund (SPF): Harlan Lewis (replacing Joanne Wilhelm)
To read biographies of these new leaders,
click here.
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Continuing Conversations about Religious Education
Join the Vision Team Sunday, May 20th
12:30-2:00 p.m. in Room 208.
Amy Makice and Lisa Meuser will facilitate a conversation to seek feedback from anyone who would like to talk about our religious education program.
Pizza Lunch will be provided, childcare available. Optional: bring fruit, veggies, or dessert to share.
RSVP by
May 16th for pizza and childcare purposes to
Please take a Survey about Religious Education
Save the Date! Splash of the Sacred is September 2
Our annual church pitch-in picnic and pool party is set for
Sunday, September 2nd from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bryan Park.
Building a Neighborhood Together
May 29-31
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood created a wonderful program for people of all ages to learn about and experience peace-making together. With several other religious communities, our congfegation is offering this program, "Building a Neighborhood Together," on Tuesday, May 29 through Thursday, May 31, 5:30-8:00 p.m. at First Christian Church. You may attend 1, 2, or all 3 sessions. Register online by May 25 at
https://kwiksurveys.com/s/JYikryko#!/0 For info, contact Rev. Emily Manvel Leite, [email protected]
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Adult Religious Education Opportunities
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Writer's
Scrivener (tm) Workshop
with Rich LeDuc
5 Wednesdays, May 9 - June 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Room 210
(You are welcome to attend any week)
Writing is one of the oldest spiritual practices that is still commonly in use. Enheduanna, author of the oldest writing that can be attributed to a named person, wrote her dreams with a stylus on damp clay over four millenia ago, but today's writer needs to be comfortable with other tools. Many of us use the Scrivener software. This workshop will provide novice and advanced users the opportunity to meet and discuss how to get more from the tool they're already using. The workshop is designed to help better use the software, rather than focusing on what we are writing. Participants will be asked to explore features of the software and share what they've learned with the group.
Sign up by contacting the church office:
[email protected]
or 812-332-3695, ext 204.
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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. [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 110 here at the church. All are welcome regardless of faith or experience.
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Traditional Taiji on Saturdays at 8:00 am
Brian Flaherty leads "Wu (Hao)" style Taiji in Fellowship Hall on Saturdays at 8:00 am. Anyone is welcome, even those with no experience. Please wear loose-fitting clothing.
[email protected]
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UU Humanists Meeting & Potluck on May 20, 12:45 pm
An opportunity for regular, open, wide-ranging discussions relating to ethics, human development, and the nature of the universe. This bi-weekly forum will meet next on Sunday, May 20 at 12:45 in Fellowship Hall.
Join us for a Potluck lunch! We will be choosing our meeting topics for summer 2018. All are invited to attend. For general questions about our UU Humanist group, contact
Ann Watzel.
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UU Freethinkers Enjoy
Free Ranging Discussion
May 27, 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, after children's religious education classes end. U
U Freethinkers will meet next on Sunday, May 27 at 12:45 pm.
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The Breeden Brothers and auction crew members Angela and Kris take care of business on May 6, 2018.
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Another Successful Auction
Thanks to so many who helped to make the 2018 Goods and Services Auction a success. Whether you contributed an item, a service or a dinner, helped in the kitchen, kept the live auction alive and moving along or oversaw the silent auction, or bid and spent your bucks...thanks to all of you! There were so many moving pieces and somehow they all worked together. The net amount raised so far is $1,000 over budget, at $12,020.13!
And...there are still items you can bid on!
-The Best Church Meading You've Ever Had (mead wine and food pairings (snacks) at Oddball Fermentables;
Sunday, June 3rd,
5-7pm.....
$30 per seat
-Vegetarian Dinner Hosted by Arzetta and Marlin;
Sunday, June 17, 6:30
....$90 per seat
-Summer Dinner with Salmon & White Wine hosted by Sandy Churchill on
Friday, June 22nd, 6pm.....
$95 per seat
If you are interested in any of these, email or call Debbie Fish ASAP,
[email protected]
or
317-431-8071
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Ramadan Iftar Dinner
Friday, June 1 at Sundown
(approx. 9:15-9:30 pm.) to 11:00 p.m.
Our Muslim friends and neighbors began their observance of Ramadan this year on May 15. Ramadan is a month-long observation marked by daily fasting from sunrise to sunset. The holiday commemorates the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. Community Iftars and prayers are ways to celebrate the holiday.
For several years UU members have hosted an Iftar dinner to extend our goodwill and support for this religious community. We also open our meeting room for prayer. The Iftar dinner begins at sunset and is a celebratory breaking of the daily fast for Muslims. Our congregation's role is to provide a safe, welcoming, and accepting environment. To accomplish this, we need many helping hands, both behind the scenes and on the evening of the June 1. Click here to help.
--Judy Berkshire, coordinator
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Women's Alliance Meets June 7th
The wonderful and talented Gladys DeVane is the Women's Alliance's special guest on Thursday, June 7th. The topic of her presentation is "Moving Forward." We gather at 11:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. Meetings begin with a brown bag lunch. Gladys's presentation begins at noon, and will be followed by a business meeting. The hosts for the month, Ann McEndarfer and Beth Hollingsworth, will provide drinks and dessert. Join us and bring a friend. Everyone is welcome.
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All Are Called--
Join Us at GA!
We are sending a delegation to the UUA General Assembly in Kansas City, Missouri,
June 20-24, 2018. W
e would like you to join us as a member delegate.
Info on UUA General Assembly can be found at
www.uua.org/ga
.
Please contact Iris Kiesling [email protected] or Rev. Scott McNeill at [email protected].
We can send five more member delegates. So far our delegates will be Molly O'Donnell, Marlin Howard,
Earon Davis, Martha Foster, Dan Wiseman and Sharon Wiseman.
--Iris Kiesling,
[email protected]
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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, May 20 at 10:30 am in the Fuchs
Library
. We ask for participation in our Exploring Unitarian Universalism class prior to signing the membership book. To make arrangements to become a member, contact Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator before May 18, at
(812) 332-3695 ext 203
or [email protected].
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Make the 4th of July Parade a huge success again this year! Come be part of the fun!
We'll sing, visit, and eat pizza together while making signs for the 4th of July Parade (singing not required). Mark you calendar! The first parade prep and pizza night will be Thursday, June 7, 6-7:30 pm in room 208. If you would like to eat pizza,
contact Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator.
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UU History for You --
Julia Ward Howe's Struggle to be a Female Activist
Julia (nee Ward) Howe (1819-1910) was born in New York City to a wealthy family. Her father was a Wall Street broker and young Julia was introduced to the wealthy society of New York through tutors and a finishing school. She loved to read and her first act of emancipation was to reject the Calvinism of her parents and adopt a liberal religious outlook. Her parents died when she was young and she became an heiress. She liked to write poetry and dramas and thought of herself as a social butterfly.
Julia married Samuel Gridley Howe in 1843, although he was 18 years older. It was Howe who made her aware of social inequality and the plight of the poor and the disabled. But Howe was a traditionalist and felt a woman's role should be that of a wife and mother. They had six children. Julia used her talents to write books of poetry and dramas (many under pseudonyms).
The Howes had a tense, angry marriage of conflict over their roles but decided to stay together and appreciate the good that each tried to do for others. They both became activists in the abolitionist movement, and during the Civil War, Julia wrote "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" to celebrate John Brown's martyrdom. After Samuel's death in 1876, she became a philanthropist, supporting the woman's suffrage movement. She tried to get Congress to establish Mother's Day as a movement for world peace, but failed. To her regret, it became a commercial holiday. --
Elof Carlson, UUCB Historian
Author's note. This article originally appeared in The Prologue in 2014.
I thought Howe's association with our Mother's Day's Sunday service on May 13, 2018, helped celebrate her memory.
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Lost and Found Objects Lonely for Home
Click here to see the wild profusion of lost and found objects currently residing on the coat rack at the Courtyard Entrance.
These will all be donated to charity on May 31 if not reclaimed by their owners! So many, many water bottles...
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Current Membership: 512 certified members; 526 current members.
Attendance
Sunday, May 6
9
:15 -
94 11:15 - 145 TOTAL: 239
Sunday, May 13 9:15 - 150 11:15 - 234 TOTAL: 384
Non-Pledge Offering
May 6 -
$516.20 Sunday, May 13 - $796.83
Total to be donated (25%) to All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center $328.26
Grocery Card Sales (Bloomingfoods or Lucky's Market)
May 6: $200, i
ncome to UUCB
$14.00
May 13: $400, income to UUCB $22.00
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Volunteer Opportunity with KAP
(Kids with Absent Parents)!
KAP (Kids with Absent Parents) is an initiative of our Hope for Prisoners Task Force.
From our pamphlet: "When parents are incarcerated, innocent children suffer... Without intervention, they are at a high risk for a life of addiction, crime and incarceration." As volunteers, we seek to break this cycle by opening our hearts and our minds to these often-forgotten members of our community. We eat lunch together! We sing, tell stories, make art, and play together! We have fun together! And, hopefully, we create change together! I've been volunteering with KAP since last September and am constantly amazed at the beauty, the energy, the creativity and the resilience of the kids we serve. Please consider volunteering--it's a life-changing experience. --Glenda Breeden
To volunteer or get more info, please send an email to [email protected] or leave a message at 812-334-2828 x1227. KAP volunteers must pass appropriate background checks before working with children (a quick and easy procedure
). KAP is affiliated with Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana and Girls Inc. of Monroe County.
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Social Justice Funds Committee Nominations for 25% Fund in 2018-19
Spencer Pride
Volunteers in Medicine
First Books of Monroe County
Click here to read background information on Spencer Pride. Information from the other two nominees will be forthcoming. The members gathered at our Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, June 10 at 4:00 p.m. will vote to decide which one of these three organizations will receive 25% of our non-pledge Sunday offerings in 2018-19. --Steve Mascari, chair, Social Justice Funds Committee
Here is a list of all the helping organizations to which we have donated our 25% Fund
since we began the program in 2003. The amount we have donated since 2003 totals $111,300 so far!
Monroe Co. United Ministries, Community Kitchen, Shalom Center, Community Justice and Mediation Center, Stepping Stones, Martha's House, Bloomington Hospital Foundation (VIM), Crestmont Boys and Girls Club, PALS, Inc., Planned Parenthood, Visually Impaired Preschool Svcs, Circles Initiative, Susie's Place children's shelter, Monroe Co. CASA, New Leaf - New Life, and All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center.
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Community Connections
Our Faith in Action in the Community
Jewish Theatre of Bloomington Presents Church & State
Church & State, a timely political drama by Jason Odell Williams, will be presented by Jewish Theatre of Bloomington on May 10, 12, 17, 19, and 20 in the Rose Firebay and the Waldron Arts Center. Tickets are $25, BCT box office. There will be talk-backs after the performances on May 12 and 17. UU friend Byron Bangert will moderate the talk-back on the 17th. Click this link for details:
https://www.jewishtheatrebloomington.com/church-and-state
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Bulletin Board
TEMPORARY FOSTER HOME NEEDED FOR 5 YR OLD: Needed - temporary home for typical 5 year old boy who needs to be moved from current placement- hopefully short term (thru summer?) until dad secures custody - please help by volunteering or getting request out to friends. Info - Pat Aungst (812-219-9718)
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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 Wednesday and Friday afternoons.
He can also be reached on his mobile phone, 703-577-0919.
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 Wednesday and Friday mornings.
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Our Covenant of Right Relations
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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]
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Church Calendar
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 10-4
Calendar: A link to our church calendar can be found on
this page of our website.
Facebook:
Many church events also appear on our
Prologue
Publication Schedule:
The deadline for articles is 10 a.m. on the date of publication, which is the first and third Tuesday of each month. Next few
issues:
June 5, June 19, July 3, July 17.
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masthead photo by Marcia Hart.
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