In this story-based service for all ages, we will share a tale celebrating the possibility of giving and receiving the gift of hope. The celebration will include drama (featuring our ministers, high school youth, and choir), time for quiet reflection and singing, and a joyful congregational parade of gifts for people in need.

**If possible, please bring a gift of mittens, hats, toiletries, non-perishable food, your Guest at Your Table envelope, or the gift you selected from the Giving Tree to this service. Everyone will be invited to contribute a "golden gift" of money, in amounts large or small, to benefit the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.**

Sunday, December 14, 2014 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

"Shine a Little Light: A Bountiful Sunday"

The Choir, directed by Susan Swaney

Reverend Mary Ann Macklin

We will have a bounty of music for this annual musical celebration of

the holiday season. From high energy music to reflective songs, join us as we enjoy the many gifts of our choir. Reverend Macklin will also offer seasonal reflections as part of this service. Please note this is a BOUNTY FULL SUNDAY; we ask everyone to bring nonperishable foods for donation to Monroe County United Ministries. See article on Page 7 for details.

Board of Directors, Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington:

Pat Brantlinger, Von Welch, Deb Hutton, Ann LeDuc, Kathy Sideli, Doug Cauble, and Arzetta Hults-Losensky

Update from the Board: Ministerial Transition

The board took another important step in ministerial transition planning by meeting with Reverend Keith Kron, UUA Director of Transitions, on Friday, November 14. Reverend Kron is our Ministerial Settlement Representative, which means he will guide our church through the search process for calling a second full-time minister. He and the board had a lively discussion about the different ways UU congregations have conducted searches, an evolving process across UU congregations which we learned is best tailored based on the history and practices of the congregation.

The board has created a web page (http://search.uubloomington.org/) to communicate with you about the search process and we will be presenting important information, including a detailed timeline, at the congregational meeting on December 14th from 4-6pm. Please join us at that time so you can stay informed about this critical step in our church's history and future.

As we ponder the concept of "possibility" this month, there is nothing more pressing for a congregation than the possibilities inherent in bringing another minister into our congregation.

Kathleen Sideli, President

MAM's Musings

This Prologue is chock-full of seasonal information and opportunities. From meditation to the holiday worship services, I hope everyone can find a balance of active and, well, less-active moments during the month of December.

As I mentioned on Sunday, the week of Thanksgiving was full of emotional distress for many following the verdict and events in Ferguson, Missouri. After following the news and many responses, I found the following written response by Japanese American actor, George Takei, to be the most aligned with my thoughts as a religious leader. Of note, Takei is now 77 years old; he spent much of his childhood with his family in a Japanese Internment camp during WWII. He grew up gay and has become a popular voice for all generations throughout the globe on the internet with his wit, wisdom and ongoing work in movies, theater and radio.

From actor George Takei:

Just days before Americans gathered with friends and family to give thanks, we saw turmoil in our heartland. Following the grand jury verdict in Ferguson, Missouri, riots broke out, leading to torched cars and looted structures. It was mayhem. Many understandably condemned those who were responding violently. On my social media, I urged fans not to lose sight of the anguish that gave rise to the protests, or to be blinded by smoke from so many fires. I asked them to come together once the dust had cleared to help solve the problems, together. Read more...

Thank you George. I concur. "During this holiday season may we take extra time to care and to listen. And may you find many blessings in the company of those you love."

With gratitude for all!

Rev. MAM

Reverend Mary Ann Macklin

Seeking The Spirit

Spirit Play for All Ages has been on hiatus due to scheduling challenges. We hope to start up again in the new year. If you are interested in joining the group for a monthly story, exploration and feast, please email Reverend Emily at [email protected] and she will include you in the survey regarding possible times--likely 2 hours on Saturday morning or afternoon or Sunday early evening. She is also happy to share more information about Spirit Play!

Religious Education News Blast

Want to know what is going on in Religious Education for Children and Youth? Follow this link to an easy access guide to upcoming events!

RE News Blast

Do you love Drama? Religious Education is searching for 3 teachers for January Intersession to share their time and talents with children in Kindergarten-8th grade for 4 short weeks! Contact Adrienne Summerlot [email protected]

Tuesday, December 16th - Holiday Sing a Long - 6:00-6:45 pm

The best way to spread holiday cheer is singing loudly for all to hear! Join us in the Meeting Room for this musical celebration. Newcomers and Visitors are welcome to join in the fun! Find this event on Facebook and share with your friends! Holiday Sing-Along

Wednesday, December 24th

Away in a Manger Christmas Eve Family Service - 4:00pm

Reverend Mary Ann Macklin and Adrienne Summerlot, Director of Religious Education Our tradition on Christmas Eve is to offer a special family worship service entitled "Away in a Manger." This worship is an interactive Christmas Pageant designed for families with young children and to those young at heart. This service will take place in Fellowship Hall in a relaxed and casual atmosphere and ends with shared cookies. Keep your eyes open in The Prologue and R.E. Parents email for details about your child's part.

Photo by Jack King

Christmas Eve Services

Wednesday, December 24
Away in a Manger Family Service, 4:00 p.m. (See above article)

Candlelight Christmas Eve Service, 7:00 p.m.

Monday Shambhala Meditation is Every Monday at Noon

Join us at 12 noon every Monday in the Meeting Room for an hour of Shambhala Meditation, walking meditation, and Shamatha yoga with Sarah Flint. Please bring your own cushion; sitting in one of the Meeting Room chairs is also fine.

Our Congregational Themes for 2014-15

November: Possibility December: Hope

January: Integrity February: Faith

March: Resilience April: Revelation

How does Hope help you Seek the Spirit, Build Community, and Change the World?

Building Community

Holiday Harmonies at Women's Alliance December 4

Join Women's Alliance in Fellowship Hall on Thursday, December 4 for our annual music program. This year we're thrilled to have Hoosier Darlings, a four part vocal group led by our own Sarah Flint, to fill us with the holiday spirit. As usual, we'll meet at11:30 for a brown bag lunch with desserts and beverages provided by hosts Nancy Lair and Barb Backler. Hoosier Darlings will entertain us beginning at noon.

The Women's Alliance has voted to collect new hats/scarves/gloves for women or children at Middle Way House. We will have a collection box in the Commons so the entire congregation can join us. After the December Alliance meeting (Thursday, Dec 4) we will deliver our offerings. We will also be collecting gently used hats/scarves/gloves for Shalom Center. Your support is greatly appreciated. Collection baskets are in the Commons at church.

Official Notice of Congregational Meeting

Sunday, December 14, 4:00 p.m.

Meeting Room

2120 N. Fee Lane, Bloomington, Indiana

Childcare will be provided. All members are encouraged to attend.

Bylaw changes for vote at Congregational Meeting December 14

Our Board of Directors, working with others, has compiled a set of proposed changes to the bylaws to promote clarity, better reflect current practices, and streamline church operations. The changes will be brought to the congregation for a vote at the December 14th congregational meeting. The proposed changes can be found online at http://goo.gl/IldGzt and a printed copy is posted at the Church workroom, Room 204 as well as on the bulletin board in the courtyard entrance. Please take the time to review the changes before the meeting on December 14 at 4:00 p.m. in our Meeting Room.

Vote for Us to Win a Free On-line Auction Website

Please vote for us to win this free website to help with our spring auction. Go to Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mediaworksadagency?ref=bookmarks, and scroll down to November 10 to find the UU self-nomination post by Judy Bennett. Then click on "Like". Share with your friends!

Hospitality for Those with Allergies

As a courtesy to our friends and members who have allergies to fragrances, we are designating the west section of the Meeting Room (next to the sliding glass doors and tall narrow windows) as Fragrance Free. Please do not sit there if you have used any fragrances. Anyone else is welcome to sit in this area. Thank you for your consideration.

Ready to become a member of

UU Bloomington?

If this is your community, if you feel at home here, join us! If you would like to make the commitment and become a member of UU Bloomington, the next opportunity is Sunday, December 21st, at 10:30am in Room 207B. (We ask for participation in our "Exploring UU" class prior to signing the membership book.)

Contact Judy Bennett, Membership Coordinator,

332-3695, [email protected] by Wednesday, December 17th.

UUs for Hire - List and Waiver Form Now Available

The Elder Focus Task Force has compiled a list of gifted and talented Unitarian Universalists who are available for hire for a variety of useful purposes including Pet Sitting, Home Healthcare, Organizational Skills, Carpentry, Counseling, Sewing Machine repair, Building Construction. The list and the liability waiver form are posted here: UUs for Hire and Liability Waiver

UU Holiday Art Fair and Bazaar December 5 & 6 !

Volunteer! Make New Friends! Let's Have Lunch!

Dec. 5, 10-7 and Dec. 6, 9-4

In Fellowship Hall, Meeting Room, and Room 104, 106, 108

For details, see the November 3 Prologue or click here: Bazaar FAQ

Volunteers Still Needed at Holiday Bazaar!

Keep bringing your goodies for the Gourmet Galaxy and Cookie Walk through Friday.

We still need volunteers for shifts December 5 and 6 for Gourmet Galaxy, Cookie Walk and the Cafe. If you can help, please contact Jess Davis, [email protected] (812-929-1834) or Ann Kamman, [email protected] (812-325-0767). Remember: many hands make light the work!

Last Minute Knitted or Crocheted Items Welcome!

Still finishing last minute knitting or crocheting projects for the Holiday Bazaar? The Fiber Arts Booth will be happy to take your completed projects this week. You can even drop them off Friday at the Bazaar. Remember 100% of the proceeds will go to MCUM's Emergency Services. Questions? Anne Graham [email protected]

White Elephant Items (and Volunteers) for the Holiday Bazaar

If you have items such as fine art, fine china, pottery, holiday decorations, children's toys, exotic collectibles, or truly (but not actual) White Elephants, please donate them to the White Elephant's Trunk for this year's Bazaar. We would really appreciate it if you could pre-price items for which you know the value, particularly valuable ones. Donations may be brought to the church 11/30-12/4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you can help with unpacking, pricing, arranging, or working at the booth during the Bazaar, please contact Doris Wittenburg, (336-4993 or [email protected]).

Read and Recycle

Support the Holiday Bazaar Book Sale! Cull through your library and find those books you are ready to pass along to another reader. DVD's and CD's also welcome but please no VHS tapes, magazines or sheet music. For ease of shelving, please sort books by fiction/nonfiction. Drop your items off at the church December 1-4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You may continue to bring books until Thursday, December 4. No book donations after December 4, please! Questions? Contact Abby at [email protected] or 812-824-7755.

"C" Is For Cookies!

We hope you enjoyed the Preview Cookie Tasting and thanks to all who signed up! We will keep the sign up sheets in Fellowship Hall until the week of the event (Dec. 5th and 6th) Looking through old family recipes or thinking of new ideas is all part of the fun of Bazaar Baking. Our cookie buyers like all shapes and sizes: classics, drop cookies, rolled cut-outs, bars, chips and lots of icing and decorations. Questions, Mary Jo Conley at 988-6130 or email [email protected]. Thank you! The Cookie Walk Committee

Drop Offs for the Gourmet Galaxy! Gourmet Galaxy volunteers! Are you making something for the Gourmet Galaxy at this year's holiday bazaar? Drop it off in Fellowship Hall between 5-7pm on Thursday, Dec. 4. Thank you for making this year's event great! -- Ann LeDuc, Molly Gleeson, Co-chairs of the Gourmet Galaxy

Changing the World

Community Connections

Our Faith in Action in the Community

Third Annual "Sylvia and Friends Sing for Shalom" December 7

Launch the holiday season Sunday, December 7 at 2:00 PM with Sylvia McNair in concert at First United Methodist Church. Featuring two-time Grammy Award Winner McNair along with soloists from the Jacobs School of Music/FUMC choir. Tickets ($30.00 for adults; $20.00 for students/children) may be purchased at the Buskirk-Chumley box office, online at www.bctboxoffice.com, or at the door. ALL proceeds will go to the Shalom Community Center.

Guest at Your Table Gifts to be Received December 7

We hope you will consider joining the Guest at Your Table program this season and support the work of the UU Service Committee. Envelopes are available in the office and we will be collecting them on December 7.

UU Humanist Discussion Group Meets on Alternating Sundays

Our Humanist Discussion group meets on alternating Sundays at 12:45 p.m. upstairs in

Room 210. This group offers an opportunity for regular, open, wide-ranging discussions of issues relating to morality and ethics, human development, and the nature of the universe. The next meeting is on Sunday, December 7, and the topic is ""Hybrid Peace," led by Betty Wagoner.

Is the Two State Solution Dead? Talk on December 10

The Just Peace Task Force invites you to a talk on Palestine and Israel: Professor Shaul Magid, "Is the Two State Solution Dead? What's Next?"

Wednesday, December 10, 7 p.m. at the Monroe County Public Library, Room 1C. Please come and support justice on this most difficult issue. David Keppel,

[email protected]

UU Freethinkers Group Enjoys Free Ranging Discussion

The purpose of the UU Freethinkers bi-weekly meeting, Sundays at 12:45 p.m. in Room 210, alternating with the UU Humanist Forum, 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. The UU Freethinkers next meeting is on Sunday, December 14. Info, contact John Crosby.

Mega BountyFull Sunday on December 14th

Please bring items to the service on Sunday, December 14th to donate to Monroe County United Ministries' Emergency Services Food Pantry. Since BountyFull Sunday is only twice a year, we need to make this a HUGE collection for our neighbors in need. Current needs: baking mixes, canned vegetables, canned meats, tomato & vegetable soup, dried beans. Also, deodorant, dish soap, shaving cream, household cleaners,

shampoo & conditioner, toothpaste, feminine hygiene items.

Volunteers needed for the Mega BountyFull Sunday Food Drive on 12/14: We need volunteers after 2nd service to load donated groceries into cars. Great opportunity for kids to help! Also, we need drivers to transport the items to MCUM the next day. To volunteer: sign up on the easel in the Commons or email Anne Graham [email protected]

Contact a Minister

Reverend Mary Ann Macklin, our Senior Minister, can be reached at 812-332-3695, ext. 201 on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, or [email protected]. For pastoral emergencies, please call her mobile, 812-322-0205.

Reverend Doug Wadkins, our Interim Minister, can be reached at 812-332-3695, ext. 207 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, or email [email protected]. For pastoral emergencies, please call his home study number, 812-369-4179.

Reverend Emily Manvel Leite, our Minister of Religious Education, can be reached at 812-332-3695, ext 203 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, or email [email protected]. For pastoral emergencies, please call her at home, 812-333-9822.

All ministers have voicemail on their numbers so that you can leave a private message.

Attendance and Membership

Current Membership: 514 Certified Membership as of 2/1/2014: 492

Attendance

Sunday, November 23 9:15: 99; 11:15: 122; RE: 79 Total: 300

Sunday, November 30 9:15: 92; 11:15 137; RE: 77 Total: 306
Online - NA

Non-Pledge Offering

11/23 - $569; 11/30- $644 Total to be donated to Susie's Place - $303.21

Grocery Card Sales

November 23 $1,075, income to UUCB $51.75

November 30 $2,475, income to UUCB $111.25

Calendar of all our congregational events can be found at www.uubloomington.org Click on "Full Calendar" and then on the date you are interested in. You can also search for a specific event! Our facebook page also has scads of useful information: www.facebook.com/uubloomington

Next issue, Monday, December 15. Deadline for articles about congregational events and projects is 10 a.m. on 12/15/14, to Carol Marks at [email protected]. Next few publication dates (1st and 3rd Mondays): 12/15, 1/5, 1/19, 2/2, 2/16.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, 2120 N. Fee Lane, Bloomington IN 47408, 812-332-3695