From Our Board of Directors

RE Consultant Nancy Heege August 12th Open Conversation and 

Ministerial Search Update

     We hope everyone had a good Summer. August will be an exciting time at the church, marking not only a return to two Sunday services, but a couple of key visitors to our congregation. As mentioned by Reverend Wadkins and the board in the previous two Prologues, as well as in Reverend Wadkins's column above, Nancy Heege will be here at our invitation to consult with us on healthy practices for a growing congregation and religious education programs. In addition to numerous meetings with staff and RE volunteers, she will host an open conversation on Wednesday, August 12th at 6:30pm to which all are invited. Please look to the Friday Updates and Prologues for more details. Info can also be found on our Facebook page: Click here.

     The Ministerial Search Committee will also have their kick-off retreat in August, hosting Rev. Keith Kron, the UUA's Director of Transitions, to facilitate. Please continue to support this committee as they start this important work for our congregation. A list of the members of the committee and biographical information can be found at http://search.uubloomington.org     

Congratulations to Nick Dold, one of our former pianists, now a staff pianist for the San Francisco Conservatory PreCollege Strings Program, who has recently begun work as the accompanist for the brand new San Francisco Conservatory PreCollege Chorus.    

MUUSA -- Church Camp for Unitarian Universalists    

     MUUSA camp (Midwest Unitarian Universalist Summer Assembly) will be held in Potosi, Missouri,  July  3-9, 2016.

     Approximately 400 Unitarian Universalists of all ages from our region and around the country meet in early July every year for a week long camp. Many activities and workshops are offered.  Programs for kids, Jr. High, Sr. High and young adult campers are specialized for each age group.  I have been going to camp for 25 years and many other members of our congregation make it an annual event.  My own kids  grew up in the camp and I feel that it gave them a good identity as UU's.  They are still in contact with camp friends from years ago.  

      I feel that MUUSA is a very good value for a summer vacation-- all meals are included, yet it was a budget item to plan for each year.  To reduce costs, I took a compensated "job" at camp most years-- children's program helper, workshop leader, or coffeehouse MC.  This involved a 2 or 3 hour daily committment that was fun as well as helpful.  

     The best part of camp is that it is really fun.  What keeps me coming back is the incredible feeling of singing songs, having conversations, debates and learning with so many UU's.  I hope you'll join us next July!  The camp brochure listing the registration information and workshop offerings will be available in February.  In the meantime, see the web site  www.MUUSA.org   

      We will be sharing UU camp songs during the services on Sunday, August 9th and invite you to join us for a brown bag lunch at 12:30 pm in the library to hear more from past participants.  

--  Ruellen Fessenbecker  

P.S.  the lake is GREAT for swimming, boating and fishing.   

How Warm Is Your Welcome?

     As the season turns toward fall and more people visit our congregation, please help them feel at home in this new place.  Here are ways to offer a warm welcome.

Wear your name tag. If you see someone new looking for a place to sit, invite them to join you. Sitting alone can feel awkward and lonely to a newcomer.

Use a "welcome mug" to show that you like to meet new people. Introduce yourself if you see an unfamiliar face at coffee hour. Here are some great conversation-starters:

• I don't think we've met. My name is...
• What brought you here today?
• How was the service for you?
• Tell me about yourself.
• Let me introduce you to...

Welcoming the stranger is an important spiritual practice for all of us. Thank you for doing your part!

--Shari Woodbury, Connections Coordinator

  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 August 9th, at 10:30am in room 207B.  (We ask for participation in our "Exploring UU" class prior to signing the membership book.)  To make arrangements to sign the membership book, please contact Shari Woodbury, Connections Coordinator, at 332-3695 or connect@uubloomington.org, by Wednesday, August 5th.  

Women's Alliance Meets August 6 and September 3

      Women's Alliance meets the first Thursday of each month 11:30 am at the church, unless otherwise indicated. Meetings begin at 11:30 with a brown bag lunch; drinks and dessert are provided The program begins at noon, followed by the business meeting.

August 6, 2015, is Open Topic (Members share their experiences)

Hosts: Linda Pickle and Jean Knowlton.

       September 3, 2015, is Monroe County CASA; our church donates 25% of our Sunday morning non-pledge offerings to CASA. Hosts: NA

Where's Judy Bennett?

Our long-time Connections Coordinator Judy Bennett left her staff position this past June 30 to pursue other interests in retirement (including a recent visit to England and Scotland!) We already miss Judy, but our new Connections Coordinator, Shari Woodbury, will be with us for the coming year. Shari has been a member of our congregation for many years, is a graduate of Meadville-Lombard Theological School, and is currently seeking Ministerial Fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association. She recently served her ministerial internship at the UU Congregation of Columbus, Indiana, and also served as their summer minister upon the retirement of, Reverend Dennis McCarty. Shari also served as Campus Ministry Coordinator for our congregation a few years ago. We are delighted to have her on our staff team again, now as Connections Coordinator! She can be reached at connect@uubloomington.org or 812-332-3695, ext 209.

Reducing the Glare from our Circular Window

The beautiful circular window in our Meeting Room can be inspiring, but also challenging. While many of us enjoy the view of clouds, birds, and blue sky, others find the glare and brightness distracting and even painful. Glare is also a problem for the camera system which generates our popular internet streaming services. A committee, including our senior minister, the building architect, a video expert and several long-term members, has been exploring a wide range of options. Whatever we recommend will need to balance aesthetics, practicality, flexibility and cost. We will present the best options this fall for feedback from the congregation. Questions and comments can be directed to Molly O'Donnell, co-chair of building and grounds, at mollysod@gmail.com.

Attention Artists! Holiday Bazaar Applications are Due September 1

The UU Holiday Art Fair and Bazaar is coming this December 4th and 5th! For information on how to apply to this highly respected and wonderful juried show, where you can sell the beautiful things you have made, Follow this LINK

Family to Family Class on Mental Illness Offered Starting September 2

NAMI (National Association for Mental Illness) Family to Family Class is a free 12-week course offered to families of individuals with serious and persistent mental illness.  It will provide knowledge and skills family members need when faced with problems of mental illness.  The class is being offered through our Adult Religious Education program, and will begin on September 2 and conclude on November 18.  Registration is required.  For information and registration, call Cyndi Nelson 812-323-2453 or Cathy Korinek 812-339-6168. 

Could you help keep our church beautiful and welcoming this summer?  You could pick one small area you'd like to tend or select a week in which you can do whatever tasks are ne eded, like weeding or watering. (Be sure to bring your own gloves and favorite tools!) If so, you can see a longer description and sign up for a week or for a specific area in which you would like to work using our form on Sign Up Genius: HERE

Questions? Contact Molly O'Donnell at mollysod@gmail.com or 812-219-5388.

Is the Church in Your Estate Plans?

Have you recently included the church in your will, or made it a beneficiary of your retirement plan or insurance policy?  If so, please let the Planned Giving committee know.  We want to include you in the Legacy Circle and invite you to an informal thank-you luncheon this fall.

Contact Libby DeVoe  legacy@uubloomington.org  or 812 336-868.   No sum need  be mentioned, and we will honor any request to remain anonymous.

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. 

Community Connections

Our Faith in Action in the Community 

Shalom Community Center Crowdfunding Campaign