In the Interim 

Thoughts from Your Interim Minister

Greetings good people! 

     We are a little over a quarter of the way through our journey together!  The time flies, does it not?!?   Looking ahead, it won't be long until the search team for your future associate minister is announced. Then that team will meet with your Minister Settle Representative, the Rev. Keith Kron, the Transitions Director for the Unitarian Universalist Association. He will get them started sagaciously for the tasks of the coming year, preparing and shepherding the search.  In the meantime, there is much good work for all in addressing this time of transition.  

     Within my ministry this winter, I have been working with staff, your ministry team, the board and many of the committees of the congregation to engage the past, present and future of UUCB.  I am currently working with the staff to explore the strengths they bring to their ministries and how to best utilize them as a team. This work will help them consider the best qualities to broaden the strength of the ministry for future clergy and lay staff alike. T

     he spring and fall will include important work for you all in creating a space where the mission and vision of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington invigorates and shapes the daily life of the congregation.  You have an essential part to play in this time. Your input will help shape your search team's understanding of who you are, and who will be the right person to join the ministry in this vibrant community. Your wisdom will join a collaborative effort that will discern the shared vision of this congregation's future ministry.  

     Remember, there are possibilities that can be imagined in this time of transition that are unique and powerful. Your investment now of all that you bring to this congregation will nurture a sense of partnership that will serve you and your community well in the coming years. 

     There is wonderful work ahead for us.  The time will continue to unfold with alarming rapidity, but we will make the most of our shared sojourn.  I must tell you, it has been a glorious, full and fulfilling first quarter!   Together we shall move forward and engage this time creatively!

With signs of the renewal of Spring! 

    Doug 

The Reverend Douglas Wadkins, Interim Minister 

MAM's Musings

          Ministry is changing and technological breakthroughs are part of that change.  We utilize many resources to reach out to congregation members and friends as we go forth with our vision of Seeking the Spirit. Building Community.  Changing the World.  Last week, when I was in Selma, I was able to be with you in worship through the technological skills of our Multi-Media specialist Andy Beargie and Reverend Douglas Wadkins.   I also communicated part of this civil rights pilgrimage through Facebook.  It was great to be in touch with so many people in such a moment by moment manner.  For those of you who were not on Facebook, here are some images shared:  Reverend Gordon Gibson, UU author of Southern Witness and Reverend Mark Morrison-Reed, UU author of Selma Awakening; Pastor Leddis Strong of Brown Chapel in Selma, an AME Church.  When we arrived Pastor Strong was leaving; in this photo he is saying to me, 

MAM at Pettus Bridge, Selma

"Because you are Unitarian Universalist.  Because of James Reeb and Viola Liuzzo, I will stay and let you in."  Our UU presence 50 years ago is still remembered today.  The next photo is sitting in Brown Chapel with Reverend UU Richard Gilbert, whose words I often use in worship.   Dick Gilbert shared that he was sitting behind the chancel when Martin Luther King Jr. rushed by him as an electric-energy filled the chapel fifty years ago.

         I look forward to the continued lifting up of our vision as liberal religious community as we enter our Annual Giving Campaign within the next month.  Thanks to Drew Schrader for his Pledge Drive comments in this newsletter.

Peace,

    MAM

UU Seder, Saturday, April 4

The UU Seder will be held  Saturday April 4 at 6:00 p.m. This meal and retelling of the Exodus story will be led by Reverend Emily Manvel Leite. The meal will be traditional, but not Kosher. Omnivore, vegetarian and vegan choices will be available. Tickets will be available at church for the next 2 Sundays.  Contact Ruellen Fessenbecker for questions:  rfessenb@indiana.edu  or call 812-837-9550.  

Our Folks...

Play Your Part -- 

by Drew Schrader

     As is the case most years, we stumbled upon this year's Annual Giving Campaign theme somewhat accidentally, but the longer I've had time to sit with it, the more that "Play your part" feels just right.  The Annual Giving campaign is both a celebration and an opportunity for intentional reflection about the church as presence in our individual lives as well as in the life of the larger Bloomington and world communities.  As a congregation, we really do play our part as both a liberal religious home and an ever growing force for social justice.

UU Children's Choir Returns - Rehearse March 22

 Any Kg-6th grade singers welcome! 

March 22, Rehearse 10:30-11am, Room 212

March 22 Spring Equinox Service, 6:15pm: (Sing in service)

Questions or info about future schedule: jillmcourtney@gmail.com  

Join UU Fellowship Dinners!

Goods and Services Auction Sunday, May 17 -- 

Donation Form Available Soon!

Our UU Annual Goods and Services Auction will be Sunday, May 17. Save the Date! Join us for a modestly priced lunch after 2nd service on May 17th and stay for the live auction called by our own Darrell Breeden; registration begins at 1:30 and bidding starts at 2:00! Contact Martha Foster or Earon Davis for more info. A donation form will be available soon.  Childcare provided during the auction.  

Spring Greeter Orientation March 29

Learn to be a greeter or newcomer welcomer.  The work is fun, takes little time, and you get to choose the time and date of the one service every month or so that you will serve.  Walk-ons welcome at the orientation Sunday, March 29, 12:45 in the Meeting Room.  

Lost Water Bottle or Thermal Coffee Mug?

We have quite a collection of lost and found water bottles and thermal coffee mugs, and they have been placed in boxes on the coatrack upstairs by the Portico Entrance. If you are missing one, please check to see if it is there. 

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. 

Reverend Bill Breeden Receives 

Bloomington Human Rights Award

     The Bloomington Human Rights Commission has chosen our Minister Emeritus the Rev. Bill Breeden as the winner of its 14th Annual Human Rights Award.  Rev. Breeden was selected for his lifelong advocacy for peace and human rights. Breeden has organized and participated in anti-war demonstrations, was a key organizer of Bloomington's Interfaith Winter Shelter, has visited inmates on death row for years and helped transport humanitarian aid to Nicaragua.

     Every year, the commission honors an individual or group that has made a significant contribution to improving civil rights, human relations or civility.  

Special Purposes Fund Studies Fossil Fuels Divestment 

Our Special Purposes Fund Committee is engaged in an investment review, including the potential for fossil fuel divestment. We look forward to hosting a Town Hall meeting to share the results of our divestment research and providing an opportunity for community dialog on divestment. It was anticipated this meeting would be held early this year, but with unforeseen delays in concluding our investigation it will be somewhat later.   Chris Haynes, Chair, SPF Committee 

Save the Date: Saturday, April 11!

Spring Building and Grounds Workday 

     We'll be working on caring for existing plantings and beds, expanding plantings around the base of trees, creating a veggie garden for R.E. programs, and having lots of fun! If you have extra bulbs, corms or tubers to share, we'd love to include them in the planting spaces: gladiolas, iris, dahlias, daylilies, hostas, bleeding hearts, or other perennials are all welcome. Please contact Rhonda Baird, shelteringhills@gmail.com to let us know you are coming or if you have questions. 

Green Sanctuary Task Force Spring Clothing 

(& Household Goods) Swap April 18

     For the month of April, the Green Sanctuary Task Force encourages all of us to examine our habits of consumption.  What do we buy? Where does it come from? What happens to it when we're finished with it? What impact does our consumption have on the earth and its inhabitants?

Community Connections

Our Faith at Work in the Community

Host Households Needed for Visitors from Burma April 4-18

The IU Office of International Development is seeking Bloomington households that are interested in hosting 1-2 participants from the Youth Leadership Program with Burma for a two week time period from April 4th- April 18th. Currently there is a special need for households willing to host adult participants (male, 41; female, 36; female age 24). Info:  Deb Hutton (huttond@iu.edu) or Courtney Hermann (cmherman@indiana.edu; phone 812-855-0775).

Film on Green Burial April 5

IU cinema in conjunction with the Consortium for the Study of Religion, Ethics and Society is presenting "A Will For the Woods",April 5th, 6:30 and the IU cinema.  "Diagnosed with terminal lymphoma, musician and psychiatrist Clark Wang decides to make his final act a gift to the earth. Documenting Wang's battle to opt for a green burial, this film explores the green burial movement.
 

Bloomington Commission on Black Males  

Health Fair Challenge April 11

The Bloomington Commission on Black Males encourages all African American males in the community to be screened for high blood pressure and diabetes. African American men are at higher risk for these chronic health problems than other male populations. See details on our bulletin board.

Alzheimer's Association Workshop Friday, April 24

The Alzheimer's Association will present a workshop at Ivy Tech on Friday, April 24 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in Lamkins Hall. Registration is required; call 800-272-3900 to register and see more info on our bulletin board or https://www.facebook.com/events/339817109556057/

25% Sunday Non-Pledge Plate Recipient for 2015-16

Nominations Due April 1

     The application form for nominating our next local non-profit agency to receive 25% of Sunday non-pledge plate collections (July 2015-June 2016) are now available. Send an email to Millie Jackson at uucbsjfunds@uubloomington.org to request an application form. Application deadline is April 1. The Social Justice Funds Committee will choose three nominee finalists for the congregation to vote on at the congregational meeting on June 7th. Our contributions to the current recipient, Susie's Place, total $4,897 in the first two fiscal quarters. The total donated to the Circles Initiative, last year's recipient, was $10,277! Which local non-profit agency should be our next recipient?

      Those who submit applications must be able to meet the following obligations: (1) contact the agency you support to gather the information necessary to complete the application. If among the finalists chosen you will need to (2) provide 200 word written information on the agency to be published in the Prologue; (3) arrange for written materials to be available at the church throughout May, and (4) give a brief 3-minute presentation during both services on Sunday, June 7th, including an overview of the organization and an explanation of how the funds will be spent. The agency will also be tabling between services on June 7th.

     Watch for further information from the Social Justice Funds Committee. Contact Millie Jackson, SJFC Chair, at uucbsjfunds@uubloomington.org with any questions.

     The Social Justice Funds Committee: Jana Anna, Anna Beauchamp, Millie Jackson, Steve Mascari and Ellen Tamura. Co-Advisors: Jackie Hall and the Reverend Douglas Wadkins.  

Macaroni for Shalom!

Our congregation has been supplying Shalom Center with elbow macaroni and spaghetti for the past couple of years and this need continues. Please pick up a box or two of each the next time you grocery shop and place them in the drop box in the Commons. Thank you for helping to feed our hungry neighbors!   

Pregnancy Options Workshop March 23

Backline will be facilitating a 2 hour Pregnancy Options Workshop on Monday March 23rd from 530pm-730pm here in our Fellowship Hall. The workshop is free but registration is required.  People can sign up here Pregnancy Options Workshop https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pregnancy-options-workshop-bloomington-tickets-15374615890 and this link is publicly sharable on FB, twitter and email. Light refreshments are being generously provided by the UU Reproductive Justice Task Force. Read more here.

Women Build for Habitat is May 15 

Fundraiser Breakfast Here April 5

     We are again recruiting for a 35-member Women Build team to build on Friday, May 15. Any woman is welcome to join who can donate or fund-raise at least $250. If you can't build, you can donate to help sponsor a woman. Contact Barb Berggoetz, at barbberg@bluemarble.net. The community-wide Women Build constructs two homes and contributes funds to Habitat in El Salvador.
     To provide financial support for women, the task force is sponsoring a Women Build fundraising Breakfast on Easter Sunday, April 5.  We can use baked goods donations. Contact Barb or Connie Nelson-Laird at cnelsonlaird@gmail.com.   --Barb Berggoetz