The Prologue                                       Tuesday, September 5, 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, September 10, 2017
9:15 and 11:15 a.m.
"Habits of the Heart"      
Reverend Kimberley Debus
     We don't have to be Zen masters or devout monks to be good at personal spiritual practice. We will examine what it means to take on a spiritual practice in order to achieve a sense of wholeness and satisfaction, to deepen our faith, and make meaning in these uncertain times.
     Rev. Kimberley Debus is a community minister based near Albany, New York, inspiring congregations to more artful and art-filled worship, congregational life, and public witness. She has previously served the First Universalist Church of Southold on Long Island and One Island Family UU Congregation in Key West. She is the chair of the UU Wellspring Board of Directors.
Sunday, September 17, 2017  
9:15 and 11:15 a.m. 
"Connected to Everything: A Spiritual Paradox"     
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin and Reverend Scott McNeill
          Writer and naturalist L. M. Browning states, " Being connected to everything has disconnected us from ourselves and the preciousness of this present moment."   Yet, mystics and physicists often remind us that we are connected to everything.  What role does "the church" play in our sense of connection and disconnection within our lives?  Reverend Macklin and Reverend McNeill will offer reflections on this question and more.
MAM's Musings

Distance does not make you falter. Now, arriving in magic, flying, and finally, insane for the light, you are the butterfly and you--are gone!
                                       --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

     Arrival:  It was delightful to arrive back to my ministry here by participating in such a lively, wonderful water communion service.   I heard from a number of people, "That was the best water communion ever!"   Since our congregation has become too large and too self-aware to engage the water communion in its former "everyone shares/travelogue" format, this new way of gathering together is refreshing.  Thank you to Reverend Emily Leite for creating Sunday's Water Communion worship service and everyone who contributed to the creativity.  And thank you to Reverend Scott McNeill for his wise words and his ministry here in my absence. And!---Gratitude to all ministers, staff, lay leaders and members/friends for your support of this community in my absence and in my presence!
     This Sunday, September 10, our guest in the pulpit is Reverend Kimberley Debus, who will share ways we can deepen our spirituality within our congregation.   The following Sunday, September 17, Reverend Scott McNeill and I will share ways the "legacy of church" promotes various forms of connection and disconnection in our lives.    On Sunday, September 24th, I will offer my annual forgiveness sermon in honor of the Jewish High Holidays.   
     On October 1st, I will offer reflections on our (my spouse Deborah Phelps and me) time away in the green mountains of Vermont.   For those of you who like numbers:   Average miles backpacked a day:  5-10 miles.   Shortest distance in a day:  3.1 miles.  Longest distance in a day: 17.5.   Both the shortest and longest were about 7 ½ hours;  the former being a rugged mountain, and the latter an easy, upward slope into a mountain range.    We did go rogue (in the best sense of that word!) and hiked mountains on The Long Trail, Appalachian Trail and other parts of Vermont.  So far I don't have a lot of words to express the experience.  I do note that Beethoven's symphonies are helping me integrate the stunning variations of green we experienced---in both shades and altitude.
 
Peace, 
   MAM
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin, Senior Minister

Refugee and Immigration Services Education
     In the 5+ months since the congregation voted to become a "Sanctuary Congregation," the congregation has hosted and members have attended workshops where people learn more about being a witness in the event of a possible deportation, being willing to hold important documents for anyone deported (such as birth certificates, papers related to immigration, etc) in order to keep them safe, and how to lobby on the issue of immigration, through letters to the editor and engagement with Members of Congress.
     We continue to learn from the other UU churches who have declared themselves a "Sanctuary Congregation" and many have been learning from our process in the past six months, as they have held discussions and votes about this at their congregation. In the coming months, the new "RISE Task Force" (Refugee and Immigration Services and Education) will host an opportunity for the UUCB community to help set our strategy for how best to work for compassionate engagement with issues affecting refugees, those who are seeking asylum, and those who are immigrants (or fear being deported because they're thought of as immigrants).

In faith,
   Rev. Scott
Reverend Scott McNeill, Associate Minister

From Our Board of Directors 
       The Board is excited to have Hans Kelson as our youth liaison. We're still defining this important position as a valuable way of hearing the youth perspective on congregational life and social justice outreach. What follows is an initial report Hans gave to the board on our congregation's YRUU.
     Young Religious Unitarian Universalists, or YRUU for short, is a group of high school aged youth in our congregation. The youth group gathers for two hours on Sunday afternoons and is typically comprised of 6-8 dedicated members, although any new or visiting members are accepted at any time. YRUU meets weekly after the 11:15am service to build community with one another through playing games, performing service projects, and engaging in meaningful conversations. One of the major projects of YRUU is to plan and execute the youth service every year. The youth-led service is an entire church service planned and run by the youth group, and it's very fun. If you haven't before, you should come to the next one! There's always something new.
     The youth also go to regional youth conferences, or CONs, which are weekend-long gatherings of 45-90 youth from around the Heartland Area. There are usually 3 to 5 CONs every year and they are structured to provide a space for thoughtful community building and forming close friendships. Every year, there is one CON which is focused more on social justice than anything else. It is a wonderful opportunity for youth to get together and discuss all sorts of issues in a safe and supported community. This year's Social Justice CON will be held here at our church.
Religious Education 
Happy September, RE Families!
There are many exciting things coming up this month in religious education and you will want to make sure to get them on your calendar.  Classes start this Sunday. Also coming soon: Our Whole Lives Sexuality Curriculum (OWL) for 1st and 2nd graders, Autumnal Equinox, and a workshop on Talking About Race and Racism with Kids in 1st-12th grade.  Find out more here 
  Seeking the Spirit  

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. 
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.  This is a part of our Adult Religious Education programming.   More  info:  [email protected]  
 

Traditional Taiji on Tuesdays and Saturdays
   Brian Flaherty leads "Wu (Hao)" style Taiji in Fellowship Hall on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8:00 a.m. Anyone is welcome, even those with no experience.  Please wear loose-fitting clothing.  [email protected]

UU Humanist Forum Meets on Alternating Sundays
This group offers an opportunity for regular, open, wide-ranging discussions relating to ethics, human development, and the nature of the universe. The bi-weekly forum will meet next on Sunday, September 10 at 12:45 a.m. in Fellowship Hall for a potluck lunch and discussion of Fall/Winter topics. Info, contact Harold Ogren.
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, September 17, at 12:45 p.m. 
Calling All Church Library Books
If you have any church library books checked out before mid-July, kindly return them.  Thank you.

New Titles for Sale at our Booktable
--Seven titles by Patricia Polacco including two copies of Appelemando's Dream
--Muir Woods or Bust, the newest novel by member Ian Woollen
--The Wisdom of Your Dreams  by  Rev. Jeremy Taylor
--A Mary Oliver collection entitled Dream Work 
UU Book Discussion Sept 24
We will meet Sunday, September 24 at 3PM at Elof and Nedra Carlson's home. We will discuss fiction at this meeting using Khaled Hosseini's novel AND THE MOUNTAIN ECHOED.  He is an Afghan who emigrated to the US and has a medical education.  The novel involves nine interrelated narratives about the circumstances of the sale of a girl to prevent her from dying of malnutrition or war. It is about love and its consequences, and not about the Taliban.  For those looking ahead to October's book, we switch back to non-fiction and Mario Livio's book   WHY?  WHAT MAKES US CURIOUS.  The probable date will be October 15 or 29th. --Elof Carlson
UU History for You
A Feminist Unitarian 
Who Never Gave Up Her Talents
     Margaret Brackenbury Crook (1886-1972) was born in Gloucestershire, England and died in Northampton, Massachusetts.  Her family included many Unitarian ministers, including her father who died young in an accident when Margaret was 8 years old.  She wanted to become a Unitarian minister in an era that had only male ministers.  She took a home study program from Oxford, but since at that time it did not award degrees to women, she earned her BA from the University of London.       
     At Manchester, she became an activist for female suffrage and the Labor movement, and worked with Quakers during WWI, in France helping wounded soldiers and refugees.  Eventually she became the first ordained Unitarian female minister in England, with sole authority at her church in Norwich.  
     She joined her family in moving to America because of her mother's declining health and the mental illness of one of her brothers.  She was rejected for the Unitarian ministry because of sexism by the Unitarian President Samuel Eliot.  She shifted to Biblical scholarship, and as a professor at Smith College, she created her own at-large ministry, giving lectures at numerous Unitarian churches.  She published many books, the most famous being Women and Religion (1964) which she said was inspired by reading Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique.   
      -- Elof Carlson, designated historian 
Earth Kin Book Club Discussion September 25
     On Monday, September 25th, Earth Kin, our earth-centered spiritual traditions group, will hold the second of a series of Book Club Discussions on the topic of the elements--earth, air, fire, and water. T he meeting will take place from 7-8:30 pm in the Library, and will focus on "Chapter 2: Earth" and "Chapter 3: Air" 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 Opel at [email protected] for a PDF copy of the reading(s). This meeting will be an open space for us to discuss the two chapters, and share our experiences working with Earth and Air.   We invite you to try some of the Earth and Air Practices included in the chapters prior to the discussion, and encourage everyone to bring items for an Earth and Air altar we will build during the meeting (all items will be returned by end of meeting).   All are welcome--no prior experience necessary, nor any need to have attended the first discussion.
  Building Community   
Ready to become a member of UU Bloomington?
If this is your community, if you feel at home here, join us! The next opportunity to become a member of UU Bloomington is Sunday, September 24 at 10:30 am in the Library.  We ask for participation in our "Exploring Unitarian Universalism" class prior to signing the membership book. To make arrangements to become a member, or for questions, please contact Ann LeDuc , Connections Coordinator, at (812) 332-3695 or   [email protected].  
Persimmons for the Bazaar    
The persimmons are dropping (kinda early)!  We sell persimmon pulp as part of the Gourmet Galaxy at the Holiday Bazaar in December.  If you have a persimmon tree and don't need the fruit, let us know.  We also need "picker-uppers" and pulp processors.  Please call Ruellen   812-837-9550  or e-mail  [email protected] 

Women's Alliance Meets September 7
    The September 7th  Women's Alliance guest speaker is Reverend Forrest Gilmore.  The hosts will be Karen Cassidy and Arzetta Hults-Losensky.
    The Women's Alliance meets the first  Thursday  of each month at  11:30 a.m.  in Fellowship Hall.  The meeting begins with a brown bag lunch.  Drinks  and dessert are provided by the hosts of the month.  The program begins at  noon , followed by a business meeting.  Please enter through the court yard
doors.  Join us.  Everyone is welcome.
Ready to become a member of UU Bloomington?
If this is your community, if you feel at home here, join us! The next opportunity to become a member of UU Bloomington is  Sunday, September 24 at 10:30 am in the library.  We ask for participation in our "Exploring Unitarian Universalism" class prior to signing the membership book. To make arrangements to become a member, or for questions, please contact Ann LeDuc , Connections Coordinator, at (812) 332-3695 or  [email protected] .
Fellowship Dinner Signup  
       Would you like to get to know more people in our church community in a relaxed, intimate setting? 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 convenient date and then bring a dish to help complete a full meal. 
      To register online, click here. For details, 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! --Linda Pickle 
  Changing the World 
Just Peace Bake Sale September 10
    The Just Peace Task Force is excited to be hosting Geoff Wilson of the Ploughshares Fund of Washington, DC, to speak here on  October 11 at 7 p.m.  on "A New Generation of Nuclear Dangers. To fund the event, The task force is holding a bake sale on September 10; if you are able to donate your baked creations on that day, please contact David Keppel at [email protected]. Financial donations are also welcome; make payable to "UU Church" with "Just Peace" in the memo line.   Just Peace will be meeting at  7:00 p.m.  on  Monday, September 11  in Fellowship Hall to plan the October 11 event.
Kids with Absent Parents (KAP) Program 
from Hope for Prisoners Invites Donations
     When parents are incarcerated, their children's lives are often disrupted by changes:   Where they live and go to school * Extra stress on their caretaker  * Fear  * Shame * Social exclusion
     With added responsibility and loss of the absent parent's income, the caregiver is has many emotional and material challenges. Our Hope for Prisoners Task Force has initiated the Kids with Absent Parents (KAP) Program for children in Monroe County whose parents are incarcerated. Our introductory event in late September will support these children and their caregivers by providing an evening out,  connecting children with mentors, providing small group support, and sharing information from agencies that may be able to help.
     We are inviting volunteer teachers, mentors, or assistance with meal preparation. We are also inviting the donation of items on September 10 and 17. Canned hams, Canned beef stew (lg), Peanut butter, Jelly, Toiletries, Bus passes, Games, DVDs for kids (used ok), School supplies, Children's puzzles, Coloring books, Craft and art supplies, Children's recordings, Musical instruments. Place them under the Social Justice Table in the Commons. Info, contact Hope for Prisoners chair Mary Goetze, [email protected]

UUA President's Statement on Charlottesville
UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick Gray's statement on the violence in Charlottesville  can be read at this link.



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. Click here for application.    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 

Unfortunate Logging Planned for Morgan-Monroe State Forest--Time to Call the Governor
Scientists have confirmed 3,800 different species living in Morgan-Monroe State forest, and the Indiana Department of Forestry has decided it will log that very area. The planned cuts abut Low Gap Trail in Morgan Monroe and the Tecumseh Trail in Yellowwood. The trees will be sold this year unless we can get Governor Holcomb to stop these plans. Please call  317-232-4567  or write the governor. Info, Click here.

QueerTalk Meetings Begin September 6
QueerTalk is a confidential space for people identifying along the spectrum of queerness to share experiences, and develop the skills needed to inspire one another and ignite actions in communities that meet monthly. A talk on "Unpacking Queerness" on September 6 will be held at the Monroe County Public Library, Rm. 1c from 6:30-8:30. For more info on  QueerTalk events, see the church bulletin board.

The 5th Annual Concert for Amethyst House September 8
Rory Block with special guest Austin Lucas will be performing Friday, September 8, 2017 at 7:00pm at the Buskirk Chumley Theatre (BCT). Tickets range from $20-$50 dollars and are available at www. buskirkchumley.org or the BCT box office.

Listening to Mystery : Writing, Presence, and Poetry
is a 6-session writing class at Women Writing for (a) Change, in which we will take inspiration from poets of many faiths, write together, and encourage one another's voices. Thursday ,  September 14 , 21, 28 and  October 5 , 12, 19,    6:30-9:00 pm at  4638 E. State Road 45.  Cost:   $180   To register click here.

Supporting causes close to our hearts:
Down's Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease Walks Sept 24
On September 24, join us in supporting two worthy causes. We will support the Down's Syndrome Family Connection through the Annual Buddy Walk, as well as Alzheimer's research and support through the Walk to End Alzheimer's, both on September 24. Click on the links to join or support  Molly Bunde's Buddy Walk team, or the   UU Walk to End Alzheimer's team. Info:  Ann LeDuc, [email protected] or  (812)332-3695 

First Annual South Central Indiana Opioid Summit Sept 28
This free, one-day summit, hosted by members of Monroe County Government, concerned citizens, and experts in the field, seeks to:
1) Educate our community on this problem
2) Provide Innovative ideas and solutions to managing this epidemic 3) Collaborate with local stakeholders to develop a Strategic Plan
4) Focus on the people this problem affects

Current Membership: 516
Attendance
Sunday, August 20           9 :15: 111          11:15: 144      TOTAL: 283
Sunday, August 27            9 :15 : 120          11:15: 163      TOTAL: 304
Sunday , September 3       9:15: 130          11:15: 156      TOTAL: 295  
Non-Pledge Offering 
August 20: $708.16    August 27: $707.30       September 3: $501.71
Total to be donated to All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center $479.41
Grocery Card Sales
(Bloomingfoods or Lucky's Market)
August 20: $375, income to UUCB $18.75    August 27: $775, income to UUCB $47.25   
 September 3 : $875, income to UUCB $44.25  
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 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]


Our Covenant of Right Relations
In June 2017, our members affirmed a 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: Tuesday, September 19 and probably the first and third Tuesdays of each month thereafter.  We'll decide in September whether to stay with the Tuesday publication schedule or go back to Mondays.
Masthead photo by Linda Mjolsnes
Unitarian Universalist Church