December 1, 2020
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
Join us for online services
Livestreamed on Sunday mornings at 10:15 am

Sunday, December 6, 2020
10:15 am Livestreamed
Choosing Our Focus
Reverend Dave Clements, Reverend Mary Ann Macklin,
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
December is a time of celebration and a time of giving. In this time of year, may you find the stillness which is ever present in the moment. Part of enjoying this season is choosing your focus. Where do we put our focus? Being conscious of where we are putting our focus can teach us that we have incredible freedom in how we choose to interact with our lives. Tune in and learn about focus.
Sunday, December 13, 2020
10:15 am Livestreamed
Intergenerational Celebration of Community and Light
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite, Reverend Mary Ann Macklin, Reverend Dave Clements
Join us for our annual celebration of our congregational community and generosity. We will be lighting the menorah and sharing tales of the season, and we hope to feature images of YOU--please send a photo of yourself enjoying a favorite holiday activity so we can see one another's faces at this sacred season (images from this year or last year are both welcome! Send to media(at)uubloomington.org and mre(at)uubloomington.org.) This year, our procession of giving with gifts and singing that is usually a part of this service will be held on Saturday, December 12 from 5-7PM as a contactless drive-through event--see the article below!
Our Building is Closed, but Our Hearts are Still Open.
To do our part to disrupt the spread of coronavirus and COVID-19 in our community, our building is likely to be closed through May 2021. Our Board of Directors will review this decision at each monthly board meeting.
MAM's Musings
      WORLD AIDS DAY
           Today is World AIDS Day. I just listened to science journalist Laurie Garrett speak about how the current global pandemic hampers the capacity and resilience of communities and health systems to address HIV prevention services, as well as other global health diseases such as malaria throughout the world. There are approximately 38 million people with HIV/AIDS in the world; 12 million do not have access to life saving drugs. Access saves lives. Resources save lives. On this day, though we are dealing with the difficulties of the pandemic, may we remember those who are suffering as a result of the ripple effect on a pressured and debilitated health system. 

         Last month, Reverend Dave and I made a presentation about AIDS in Spencer, Indiana, as part of their Pride Week. Our stories were so different. Reverend Dave lived in San Francisco during the height of the AIDS epidemic and served many through hospice care.  I, in rural Indiana, lost my brother to AIDS, dealing with the inequities of small town perceptions and resources. Currently, the AIDS crisis, like so many other health crises, disproportionately harms black and brown people. 

         Please note that one of the groups that receives gifts from our congregation’s Giving Tree (Click here to help) is Positive Link in Bloomington, which serves families living with AIDS.

          I write this column in memory of local couple Doris and Bob Fox, who died recently. They lost their son Tom to AIDS in 1989. Doris and Bob guided and comforted many of us through the loss of family members and friends to the AIDS epidemic. We remember you, Doris and Bob.  We honor your spirit of compassion.

Peace and Love,
MAM
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
Senior Minister
Emily's Post
December is upon us--the month of exploring Stillness together has arrived. How can we settle in? The snow this morning may help--and the cool outside air to fill our lungs. Or perhaps these words by Margaret Renkl from her book Late Migrations:

"I pause to check the milkweed, and a caterpillar halts midbite, its face still lowered to the leaf.
I walk down my driveway at dusk, and the cottontail under the pine tree freezes, not a single twitch of ear or nose.
On the roadside, the doe stands immobile, as still as the trees that rise above her. My car passes; her soft nose doesn't quiver. Her soft flanks don't rise or fall. A current of air stirs only the hairs at the very tip of her tail.
I peek between the branches of the holly bush, and the redbird nestling looks straight at me, motionless, unblinking.
Every day the world is teaching me what I need to know to be in the world.
In the stir of too much motion:
  Hold still.
  Be quiet.
  Listen."

May we find such moments of Stillness in the coming days.
Emily
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite, Minister of Congregational Life & Religious Education

P.S. I'm seeking artists of all ages who'd like to illustrate a "winter joy" to be projected during our Celebration of Light and Giving on December 12--please email if you might be interested! mre(at)uubloomington.org
Thoughts from Rev. Dave: Looking to Make a Difference?
Looking for something you can do to make a difference? The UU the vote campaign is still active. There is one week left to register voters before the election deadline in Georgia on December 7th. Click on the link below and you can get involved.
As we saw in November, every vote counts! Worried about tech? Reclaim Our Vote uses a simple and effective system to reach out to voters. A 30-minute training is provided at the start of every phonebank. Calls are an essential way to reach voters during the pandemic. I invite all of you to get involved. Let’s make these final days count! 

Cheers,
Rev. Dave
Reverend Dave Clements
Interim Minister Consultant
News and Happenings in Religious Education
To find family activities, information about programming for December, and more Religious Education News, visit our webpage!

Adrienne Summerlot, Director of Religious Education

--Official Notice of Congregational Meeting--

Fall Congregational Meeting
Sunday, December 13, 2020 4:00 p.m. on Zoom
All members encouraged to attend.
Watch the December 11 Update for Zoom link and instructions.
Voting on Adoption of the 8th Principle of Unitarian Universalism

As part of a faith community deeply rooted in the fight for social justice, members of this congregation will be asked to vote on a motion to adopt the 8th principle at our congregational meeting December 13th, 2020. To learn more about what the 8th principle is, its history, and why it is coming up for a vote at this time, join UUCB board members at a series of informal zoom discussions before the congregational meeting. Click on the meeting date for Zoom link.


Links for these meetings will also be posted in the next Friday Update. Please do join us for one or more discussion. You can also find more information about the 8th principle on our website, http://www.uubloomington.org/about-us/principles/.

Thank you!
Abby Gitlitz
Vice President of the Board of Directors
Our Folks...

UUCB member Denise Breeden-Ost’s novel Making It All Right is now available from Clockflower Press as a paperback or ebook! Set in southeastern Indiana in the late 1940s, Making It All Right tells the story of farm wife and tinkerer May Dixon, who has never met a problem she can’t solve--and now finds herself inventing a whole new kind of family. Get your copy at clockflowerpress.com, or ask your favorite bookseller.

Building Community
Women's Alliance on Zoom December 3
The Women's Alliance will meet on Zoom on Thursday, December 3 at 11:30 a.m. If you are a newcomer, please contact Doris Wittenburg to receive the link for the meeting, dwittenb (at) indiana.edu.
UU Men Meet Third Tuesday of Each Month
Our UU Men's group meets on Zoom on the third Tuesday of each month, 7:00-9:00 p.m. For added security, this meeting requires registration. Next meeting: December 15. Click here to register and receive the link to join the meeting.
Are you new here?
If you are new to our congregation, a very warm welcome to you! This Sunday, December 6, at 2:00 pm you are invited to join in a brief online introduction to Unitarian Universalism and this congregation. Just click on this link at 2 PM on Sunday. If you are new to using Zoom, please read these instructions before the meeting. Additionally, here is our online connection form if you are ready to get involved. If you have questions, you are always welcome to email me at connect(at)uubloomington.org or call me at (812) 720-3688. Welcome!   -- Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator
Become a member on December 9!
Membership indicates your kinship and affinity with this congregation and the larger Unitarian Universalist religious community.  The next membership ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, December 9 at 12:30 pm via Zoom. If you are new to Unitarian Universalism, we ask that you complete the Exploring Unitarian Universalism class before becoming a member. Let the Connections Coordinator know if you would like to attend the membership ceremony and become a member of the UU Church of Bloomington. Email Ann at connect(at)uubloomington.org or phone (812) 720-3688.
We are here for you!
If you find yourself struggling during these pandemic times, this church is here for you.

Our Caring Committee volunteers offer:
  • occasional food for situations of short-term health recovery, bereavement, or new parenthood
  • occasional transportation to medical appointments
  • phone calls to check on the well-being of members
  • Contact Ann LeDuc at connect(at)uubloomington.org or (812)720-3688, or Sharon Yarber at yarbersharon766(at)gmail.com for Caring Committee assistance.

Our Ministers are available to provide pastoral care when you need a little extra support. (see their contact information at the end of the Prologue)
We have also compiled this short list of community resources that you may find helpful. 
UUSC Giving Tree: Roots and Stars
Join us this season in supporting the UU Service Committee's justice work around the world. Each contribution will be celebrated with a colored star on our tree. Go to http://bit.ly/UUCBdonate and choose "UUSC" from the drop-down menu. Add a note to choose the color of your star!
And add a strong root to our tree by sharing a self-care practice hereWe will share your ideas throughout December.
Give Good Gifts!
Our Celebration of Light and Giving
December 12, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Mark your calendars now for a special drive-through, no-contact celebration on December 12 between 5 and 7 PM. We will be enjoying beautiful lights and collecting gifts for homeless teens, children participating in Head Start, and families affected by HIV/AIDS.
We'll also collect food for the food pantry and hats, gloves, and warm socks for adults at Shalom Community Center, and will listen to our very own UU choir singing live from our parking lot, over our radios. Finally, we will provide a special gift for each household that visits the Celebration. We hope to see you there!
UU Bazaar Success!
The delivery and pickup of donated and purchased Bazaar items will take place this week, but preliminary numbers indicate that the event earned around $7,000 for the budget and around $2,800 total between the three social justice task forces that participated. Thanks to everyone for all their generosity and hard work! It was fun!
Help us envision the future of our church
If you have not participated in or signed up for one of the other scheduled "Envisioning the Future" meetings, please sign up for one of the two meetings below. In these meetings, we will discuss your experiences at our church, as well as your hopes and dreams for the future. After you sign up for a meeting, you will be sent a list of discussion questions in preparation for the meeting. Thank you! 
-- Rev Dave Clements, Interim Minister Consultant, and Ann LeDuc, Connections Coordinator

Thursday, December 3:


Fridays at Noon with Rev. Dave
Join our interim minister consultant, Reverend Dave Clements, for an online chat every Friday at noon.
UU Singles - Upcoming Events
We are a group of single adults within the UU Bloomington community who meet occasionally for various kinds of connective events as a group. We'd love to have you join us! The following events will take place over Zoom:


- Thursday evening, December 3rd:
* 6 to 6:30 p.m., happy hour, introductions, and check-ins
* 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., conversation with prompts

- Thursday evening, December 10th:
* 6 to 6:30 p.m., Hanukkah celebration (details to come)
* 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., game night

- Thursday evening, December 17th:
* 6 to 6:30 p.m., Hanukkah celebration (details to come)
* 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., shared storytelling

If you are not already on the UU singles e-mail list (where the Zoom link is published), please contact mariedeer1961(at)gmail.com or 812-391-0900.
Now on Tuesdays! 
Visit with the Connections Coordinator via Zoom
Every Tuesday, 1-2:00 pm, join the Connections Coordinator, Ann LeDuc, via Zoom to ask questions, or just to visit. Newcomers and current congregation members are all welcome to drop-in. Additional ways to contact Ann are via email at connect(at)uubloomington.org or phone at (812) 720-3688. 
Ask the Administrator on Wednesdays
Do you have burning church administrative questions? Wondering about: How much you owe on your pledge? When we will send 2020 calendar year contribution statements? Drop in on Zoom with Carol Marks our Church Administrator on Wednesdays, from 11:00-12:00 noon Also available at admin(at) uubloomington.org or call/text at (812) 287-9615, M-F 10-4.  
Zoom Tip of the Week
Save your zoom links in a handy place so you always know where to look for them. Google calendar or another calendar program on your computer or phone is helpful for this.
What Do I Owe on My Pledge?
When Will We Receive Annual Giving Statements for 2020?
Wonder of wonders! You can find this information for yourself, using your log on to our church database.
Click here for how to find out what you owe on your pledge for 20-21, and to generate a statement of your donations for 2020 so far. (We will also send out paper statements of 2020 donations by January 31, 2021, but you can print out your own statement sooner by using these instructions.)
If you need help, please contact Monica or Mandy at office@uubloomington.org.
Changing the World
Call Congress on December 3!
Join with Citizens' Climate Lobby for
Action on Climate Change
The Green Sanctuary Task Force invites everyone to join with members of Citizens’ Climate Lobby in calling Congress on December 3rd to ask for action to mitigate climate change. During the week of December 7th, CCL volunteers from all over the country (including our local chapter) will be meeting virtually with our members of Congress or their staff to ask them to cosponsor the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, and we need phone calls to demonstrate support for strong legislation.
 
It will take just a few minutes to make each call. You can get the script and phone numbers using this online calling tool:  cclusa.org/call . To remind yourself to call, you can sign up on the Facebook event at cclusa.org/call-congress-fb , sign up for text action alerts from CCL, or add it to your calendar. Thank you, and please feel free to share this action with other people. --Green Sanctuary Task Force on Global Climate Change
Homelessness and Hunger Task Forces 
Still Collecting Items for Shalom & College Square
Through December 31, we will be collecting food, hygiene items, and clothing for Shalom Community Center and food for our Pantry at College Square.
Needed items: Chunky soups, tuna, canned vegetables and fruit, cereal, coffee, peanut butter, macaroni & cheese, powdered milk, pasta, institutional size cans of food, condiments, tea, new socks. Collection bins at the northside Portico Entrance. Simply drive up and drop off--we are collecting donations from these bins daily.  Many thanks! --Homelessness Task Force and Hunger Task Force
Seeking the Spirit
UU Freethinkers Meet Sunday, December 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. Every other Sunday via Zoom at 12:45 p.m. To join, contact Harold Ogren.
UU Humanist Forum Meets Sunday, December 13, 12:45 pm
Every other Sunday at 12:45 p.m., our UU Humanists meet together online on Zoom for discussion. The discussion topic on December 13 will be "Science policy in the Biden era," facilitated by Elof Carlson. Email Ann Watzel or Harold Ogren if you would like to join the discussion
Shambhala Meditation Online on Mondays
Every Monday at noon online, or anytime it's easy, since there are saved sessions, you can join Sarah Flint in this 2500-year-old practice of cultivating peace and inner wisdom. Contact Sarah Flint to join the group in real time. On Facebook at UU Bloomington Meditation.
Open Mind Zen Online 
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Open Mind Zen with Frank Seisho Diaz is currently holding all meetings online. If you'd like to participate, visit openmindzenbloomington.org and reach out via their contact page for more information.
Community Connections
Heartland UU Church Heart & Hand Auction 
Heartland UU Church in Carmel, Indiana, is holding its annual Heart & Hand Auction virtually this year on December 5th at 7:00 p.m. with a silent auction portion that began Saturday, November 21st. Click here for information.
Jewish Theatre of Bloomington presents a staged reading of Tolley's Folly
Sat, Dec 5th at 7:30 pm and Sun, Dec 6th at 2:00 pm
Join LIVE via Zoom for a staged reading of Talley's Folly by Lanford Wilson, Tony Award winning playwright. This Pulitzer Prize-winning romantic comedy is directed by Martha Jacobs; starring Daniel Meeks and Anna Doyle, MFA Acting candidates from IU’s Department of Theatre and Drama. Click here to learn more on JTB's website and to RSVP by Thursday, Dec. 3rd.
Some Details:
Email SCAM Alert
Our ministers, staff, and board members or other members will never send you email asking you for any money besides your pledge payment! And never in the form of gift cards.

How to Recognize an Email Phishing Scam:
Is the email impersonating Rev. Macklin or another of our ministers? Are they asking you to purchase gift cards? Wait! Don't do it! We will never send you emails like this. To double check, look at the email address of the sender. Is it from an address at uubloomington.org? If not, that's the second good reason to delete it!

Office Hours, Calendar, Deadlines

Office hours: M-F, 10 am-4 pm (office closed at church, but staff working from home)
Church Administrator Carol Marks can be reached via text or voicemail during office hours at 812-287-9615. Email: admin (at) uubloomington.org

Calendar: For our full calendar of events, visit uubloomington.org/calendar.

The Prologue is published on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month. Next issue is December 15. Deadline is 10 am on date of publication, admin (at) uubloomington.org

Mailing Address
During the COVID emergency:
UU Church, PO Box 1158, Nashville, Indiana 47448-1158.
Membership and Attendance

Membership: 527 certified members;
568 current members.
Attendance 
Sunday, November 15     10:15  430 attended virtually
Sunday, November 22 10:15 410 attended virtually
Non-Pledge Offering
November 15:   $406.00    November 22:   $85.00
To make a contribution for the Non-Pledge Offering (Sunday Plate), or to make a payment towards your pledge or the Minister's Discretionary Fund, click on this link to get to our PayPal page: bit.ly/UUCBdonate
  Total to be donated (25%) to Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM) Compass Early Learning Center and Self-Sufficiency Center: $122.75
Grocery Card Sales: (Bloomingfoods or Fresh Thyme) -- $0;   Total income to UUCB: $0.00
 
Free Money from Kroger!
Fresh Thyme and Bloomingfoods
Grocery Cards Available by Mail    
  • Did you know that Kroger sends us over $1,600 each year? This is made possible by those of you who participate in Kroger's Community Rewards program. Register your Kroger Plus card online at this link. We received $450.48 from Kroger for the months July through September from this program.
  • We are also still selling grocery cards for Bloomingfoods and Fresh Thyme. Click here to see what kind of cards and how many are available. Send your check to the church (UU Church, P. O. Box 1158, Nashville, Indiana 47448-1158) with a note to let us know the type and value of card(s) you want, and we will mail them to you. You do not need to send a SASE.  
Masthead photo by John Woodcock.