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Upcoming
Beyond Categorical Thinking
February 14
All You Need is Love
February 21
Red Cross Blood Drive
February 28
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Sunday, February 7, 2016 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
The Agony and the Ecstasy:
What is This Strange Desire?
The Reverend Doug Wadkins
February presents to us the theme of "Desire." As is often the case with the gift of monthly themes, in addition to the opportunity to explore the theme in a variety of ways, the themes also allow us to explore new ways to understand these meaningful concepts. This service will offer a variety of pathways to the deeper insights of desire.
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Sunday, February 14, 2016 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
Beyond Categorical Thinking
Jerry Carden and Kathleen Robbins
THINK OF A MINISTER. DON'T THINK OF AN ELEPHANT. Chances are you thought of both. And distinct images perhaps came to mind. In terms of a minister, what images came to mind? Was it a person of a particular gender, race, or age?
Beyond Categorical Thinking is a highly recommended part of the search process for our congregation. In finding the person who would be the best Associate Minister for us, we could potentially overlook or even let biases keep us from knowing that a particular person would be the best match for us. Jerry Carden and Kathleen Robbins are our guests in the pulpit on February 14, and will lead us in a workshop exploring this topic that afternoon.
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Sunday, February 14 12:30-4:00 p.m.
Beyond Categorical Thinking Workshop
Lunch from 12:30 to 1:00. Workshop from 1:00 to 4:00pm
With Kathleen Robbins and Jerry Carden
Sometimes congregations have assumed that their ideal minister looks a certain way, and often ministers who are not white or male or able-bodied or of a particular age or class are discounted and seen as "less than" in some ways. Ministers in our faith who are people of color, bisexual, transgender, differently-abled, young, old, ethnically different, or of a different social class--all of these credentialed ministers still face discrimination as part of the ministerial search process.
Kathleen and Jerry will facilitate a 3-hour conversation to examine how we can avoid letting prejudice become a part of our search process. This is yet another way to put our faith into lived experience and improve the odds that we will find the minister who is the best match for our congregation and will serve us well.
Please let us know if you are coming so we can plan for the food and childcare, at [email protected].
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MAM's Science Sermon Musings
1) 9th Planet
In mid-January, I offered my annual Science Review Sermon, exploring scientific discoveries and stories from 2015. In that sermon I waxed plutotonic about the merits of the demoted planet Pluto and its proper place in the Universe. My attachment to Pluto as the 9th planet admittedly are somewhat sentimental. After all, "My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pickles," seems rather shallow without the pickles. Plus, y'know, Pluto's discoverer was a Unitarian!!
Carter Makice, of our congregation, did make an excellent post-sermon point. He allowed that I could retain acknowledgement of Pluto as a significant member of our solar system IF I also included the other dwarf planets. The planets and dwarf planets in order are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris.
Carter even included two possible mnemonic devices for said planets: "My Very Exciting Mermaid Career Just Sank Underwater. Now, Pedestrian Hobbies Mean Everything," and the even nerdier option, " 'Man,' Voldemort Exclaimed. 'My Catastrophic Jinx Shall Utterly Nuke Potter!' Harry's Move: 'EXPELLIARMUS!' " Mmm, methinks that is pretty cool.
BUT! Who knew that a few weeks after the 2016 Science Sermon, the scientific world would announce that there actually might be a 9th planet out there!!!! Researchers at the California Institute of Technology have found evidence in the outer solar system of an object that could be a real ninth planet. Stay tuned for Science Sermon 2017!
2) CRISPR
Meanwhile, I neglected one of the biggest science stories of 2015 in my 2016 Science Sermon! It inadvertently ended up on the cutting board, so to speak! CRISPR is an acronym for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat. This name refers to the unique organization of short, partially palindromic repeated DNA sequences found in the genomes of bacteria and other microorganisms. According to Science in the News, CRISPR has seized the scientific community. "Within only a few years, research labs worldwide have adopted a new technology that facilitates making specific changes in the DNA of humans, other animals, and plants. Compared to previous techniques for modifying DNA, this new approach is much faster and easier. It has changed not only the way basic research is conducted, but also the way we can now think about treating diseases. Again, stay tuned for Science Sermon 2017.
3) Geeky Site
Lastly, I must boast that one of the UUCB Science Sermon naysayers admitted that she watched the January science review sermon via live-stream and "actually liked it." This dear person then sent me an awesome geeky site to explore and follow. Feel free to join me for this most excellent adventure! http://www.asteroidmission.org/ Live Long and Prosper. May the Force Be With You. There's no business like science business.
MAM
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
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RE-Visioning Religious Education
We gathered on January 31 with over 55 members of our community and had a thoughtful exploration of our core values for religious education in the new era ahead for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington. I appreciate the wisdom that comes from such experiences. It was an essential step in our longer process of visioning and clarifying our philosophy and theology of life-long faith development for our children and youth.
As I explained in a sermon in January, and touched on more briefly in the workshop on January 31, there are many factors that make this is an opportune time to do this creative work. The continued organizational and missional growth of our religious education program, the new ministry team that will soon begin its beneficial work, and the complicated cultural factors transforming our world all ask for us to revisit essential questions.
These questions include: What guiding principles and core values will be the unifying forces in our ministry of faith development? What are we seeking to address with our young people in the process of religious education? From those essential musings we explore further: How will we address the diversity of people's religious and spiritual needs? How will we engage people? How would we reach people? What technologies/approaches will we use? What resources will we need?
As you can see, there is much to consider for the future, but some components of our heritage will certainly remain alive and well. We will continue in the footsteps of a pioneer of contemporary Unitarian Universalist religious education, Sophia Lyons Fahs, who encouraged us to walk alongside each other as we seek to understand the important questions.
In the coming months, we will be walking alongside each other as we continue to discover an understanding of religious education that will call us into the new era with focus and vision. We will invite you to be part of small group experiences, and we will invite you to explore the first drafts and then give this big picture some time to see what it shows us. In the meantime, if you were part of the conversation on RE-Visioning Religious Education on January 31, keep the conversation going. Talk with your circle of friends, and if they were present, share what you each took from the meeting. If they were not present, share some of your thoughts and impressions from the event. The religious education of children and youth is one of our most imperative ministries, and it richly deserves our continued time and attention!
The Reverend Douglas Wadkins, Interim Minister
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Von Welch and Ann LeDuc at the Connections Booth
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Coffee With the Board Available Last Sundays
We had a great time hosting "Coffee with the Board" last weekend at coffee hour and enjoyed hearing your questions and comments. Going forward, please look for us in the yellow connections booth on the last Sunday of the month or feel free to talk with the board member making announcements any Sunday.
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What's the Ministerial Search Committee Doing?
Planning for the Beyond Categorical Thinking Workshop on Sunday, February 14, 12:30-4:00 p.m. (Lunch 12:30-1:00, workshop 1-4 p.m.) We hope you are planning to attend lunch and the workshop following second service. Biographies of our workshop facilitators Jerry Carden and Kathleen Robbins are posted on the timeline hanging in the Commons. Please let the church office know ([email protected]) if you plan to attend and if you need childcare so we can estimate how much food and staff to provide.
ANYTHING ELSE? We have been receiving names of Associate Minister candidates. Yes, we have interested candidates and getting names is an ongoing process! We are having conversations with candidates to get to know them better. Reverend Macklin will start joining our committee meetings. Our goal is to determine if there is a candidate in the pool that we will consider bringing here for a candidating week, possibly in April. -- Barbara Backler, Mary Boutain, Craig Coley, Michelle Cook, Abby Gitlitz, Amy Taylor, Stuart Yoak. [email protected]
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Our Folks...
Mika Emerson Monroe-Cook arrived at 3:19PM on Wednesday, January 20th, at 8 lbs 1 oz and 20.5 inches long. Moms Jessie and Michelle and baby are happy and healthy.
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Religious Education: All You Need is Love
Big International Flags Needed Kids in Kindergarten through high school are working with Broadway performer-choreographer-director Kenneth Roberson to create a musical extravaganza, "All You Need is Love" for our February 21 services. We are seeking some big international flags to use on February 21. If you have one you could loan us, contact Adrienne Summerlot [email protected]
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 Shambhala Meditation Every Monday at Noon Join us at 12 noon every Monday in the Fellowship Hall for an hour of Shambhala Meditation, walking meditation, and Shamatha yoga with Sarah Flint. We have cushions available, but you may bring your own cushion if you have one. |
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Taiji Continues on Tuesdays and Saturdays
Brian Flaherty leads Taiji in Fellowship Hall on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8:00 a.m. This form practices the "Wu (Hao)" style of taijiquan, including practice of standing exercises, forms, and "pushing hands." Anyone is welcome, even those with no experience. Please wear loose-fitting clothing.
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Our Congregational Themes
December: Expectation April: Creation
January 2016: Resistance May: Blessing
February: Desire June: Simplicity
March: Liberation
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UU History for You
The many talented Edward Everett Hale
Edward Everett Hale (1822 - 1909) is remembered for his short story in the Atlantic Monthly in 1863, "The Man Without a Country." It was still being assigned when I went to public school in New York. Born in Boston, Hale's father owned a Boston newspaper and was a bookseller. Hale was also a grand nephew of Revolutionary War hero and spy, Nathan Hale ("I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.") Largely self-taught using his father's immense personal library, he entered Harvard at age 13. While at Harvard, he shed Calvinistic Christianity and decided to become a Unitarian minister, being ordained in 1842. He believe religion should be simple in its demands and tried to live by his own motto "Look up, not down. Look forward, not back. Look out, and not in. Lend a hand." He married Emily Perkins, the niece of Harriet Beecher Stowe, and raised nine children with her. He became an abolitionist and tried to keep Kansas a free state. He founded the Lend a Hand Society which helped to better the lot of the working class and poor by offering free literacy classes. Hale tried to bring together the conservative, spiritual, and radical branches of the Unitarian denominations, arguing that diverse and larger congregations enriched the participants. He wrote histories, biographies, essays, short stories, and novels. He also hid a serious flaw. He fell in love with his secretary, Harriet Freeman, and they kept their relationship a secret for years. They wrote over 3000 letters to each other, the intimate parts in a shorthand code.
-- Elof Carlson, Designated Historian
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| | Chalice painting by Patricia Coleman |
Women's Alliance Meets February 4
At the next Women's Alliance Meeting on February 4, we will be Enjoying UU Camps, with Ann Kamman and some other UU camp participants. Hosts will be Carol Arnold and Karen Cassidy.
Not a member? No problem; all are welcome to attend. Come and join us for the meeting, conversation and dessert. The Women's Alliance meets the first Thursday of each month at 11:30 am at the church, unless otherwise indicated. Meetings begin with a brown bag lunch; drinks and dessert are provided. The program begins at noon, followed by the business meeting.
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First Steps Class - Sunday, February 7
First Steps is a 40-minute drop-in class for newcomers, one Sunday a month at 10:35am and 12:35pm in Room 207b. It offers a brief introduction to Unitarian Universalism and our congregation. Free childcare available in Room 108 (substantial snack provided for children at 12:35 p.m.). Questions? Contact Shari Woodbury, Connections Coordinator, [email protected], 812-332-3695 x209
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Adult Religious Education Opportunities
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Family to Family Class
Laura Jesseph, presenter
This is a free 12-week class for family members or caregivers of individuals with mental illness. It covers types of mental illness, current research, biology of the brain, problem-solving, medication review, empathy and communication skills workshops, Rehabilitation, advocacy and self-care. To see if your family can participate, call Laura Jesseph 333-0341 (Hoping to start in mid February)
The Quest for the Historical Jesus
John F. Crosby
Saturdays Feb. 6, 13, 20, 2016 10:30-Noon, Ralph & Annetta Fuchs Library
Crosby will elaborate on Appendix II of his new manuscript, Deconstructing God. Appendix II is entitled Deconstructing Jesus. Other relevant materials include: "The Quest for the Historical Jesus" by Albert Schweitzer, and "Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium" by Bart Ehrman.
Please register by February 3, by emailing [email protected] or calling 812-332-3695, ext. 204. Childcare is not available for the February 6 session, but if you will need it to attend on February 13 or February 20, contact [email protected] by February 3 to request it.
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Become a Greeter!
Help us build community by serving as a Greeter or Newcomer Welcomer at one service a month. Greeting is a great way to meet people and it takes very little time. Spring orientation will be held Sunday, February 28 at 12:45 pm in the Meeting Room. Join us!
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Kroger Community Rewards - Please Re-Up
Kroger Community Rewards, which sends 5% of each purchase made using your Kroger Plus card, requires us to re-register each calendar year in order to participate. If you would like a percentage of your purchase amounts this year to be donated to our congregation, please follow these instructions:
Select "Sign In" or "Create an Account"
Scroll down to Community Rewards and follow instructions.
Our church's organization number is 10159.
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Congregational Poll Results
The study action issues that our congregation voted to have placed on the agenda at UUA General Assembly in Columbus in June are A National Conversation on Race and Ending Gun Violence in America. The other two study action issues received votes, but these two were the top two vote getters.
These results were sent to the UUA by the February 1, 2016, deadline. --Iris Kiesling
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For Evening Meetings, Please Use Courtyard or Portico Entrances
To help insure the security of our building and members during evening meetings, please use either the Courtyard or Portico entrance, whichever is closer to the room where you are meeting.
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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.
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UUs Who Can Provide a Variety of Professional Services -
List and Waiver Form Now Available
The Elder Focus Task Force has compiled a list of Unitarian Universalists who are available for hire for a variety of tasks 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
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Attendance and Membership
Current Membership: 464 Certified Membership as of 2/1/2016: 464
Sunday, January 24 9:15 105 ; 11:15 158 ; RE: 95 Total: 358
Sunday, January 31 9:15 130; 11:15 189; RE: 93 Total: 412
1/24 - $684 1/31 - $647
Total to be donated to Monroe County CASA - $333.33
January 24 $2,100, income to UUCB $106
January 31 $1,900, income to UUCB $103
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Walnut Grove Food Pantry Update
In December, the Help Feed Our Hungry Neighbors Task Force assembled over 40 holiday baskets for patrons of the Walnut Grove Food Pantry. Thanks to receiving a Social Justice grant, we were able to purchase canned hams and fresh fruit to add to the baskets. The pantry goers were very appreciative. The pantry relies on food from Hoosier Hills Food Bank and fresh fruit and meat can be hard to come by.
Thanks to everyone in our congregation for making this work possible through a Social Justice Funds grant. The pantry is open the 3rd Friday of each month and we always need volunteers. It feels good to help feed our hungry neighbors. Interested in volunteering? Sign up here!
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Valentines Day Bake Sale to benefit the Reproductive Justice Task Force!
We are having a VALENTINE BAKE SALE on February 14th, between services. Funds raised will be used by the Reproductive Justice Task Force supply the Planned Parenthood Snack Brigade. This is the service we (and other churches) provide to support patients and families who must wait all day in the Planned Parenthood Health Center for pregnancy terminations. The availability of snacks helps patients avoid confrontations with protesters in the PP parking lot during this very long day. Please bring your yummy donations of baked goods (especially Valentine's Day baked goods!) to Fellowship Hall before the service. Then BUY some different cookies, brownies, or other delicious stuff during coffee hour, to take home!
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Thanks from Help Feed Our Hungry Neighbors (HFOHN)
The HFOHN Task Force would like to thank all the knitters, crocheters, fiber artisans and shoppers who made our Holiday Bazaar Fiber Arts booth a smashing success! We were able to raise $1565 which will help support Monroe County United Ministries Emergency Services as well as the UU Church's own Walnut Grove Food Pantry.
This congregation also donated over 70 Holiday Food Baskets to Monroe County United Ministries the year, making the holidays a little easier for many families and households in our community. Thank you for helping to feed our hungry neighbors!
--Anne Graham
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Red Cross Blood Drive February 28
Mark your calendars and get ready to donate blood here at our church on the Red Cross bus on Sunday, February 28, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Register at 1-800-733-2767 or readcrossblood.org, sponsor code "UUC."
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 Represent Us! UU MEMBERS Please consider joining a group of dedicated members by representing us at two important gatherings of UU's from across the country. The first is the MidAmerica Regional Conference in St . Paul, Minnesota, April 29-May 1st. The MidAmerica board includes our own Doug Cauble. The church will pay 10 delegate registrations and, if possible, some travel/housing costs.
The second is closer to home: The UUA General Assembly in Columbus, Ohio, June 22- 26. We would like a full delegation of ten members at this gathering of UU's from around the U.S. The church will cover delegate registration and some travel and hotel costs. It has been suggested that we get a van, so let us know as soon as possible if you are interested, so we can make plans. Please contact Iris Kiesling at 812-332-4225 or [email protected]. |
Help the Homeless Make the Transition to New Apartments
We are working with the Rapid Re-Housing program at Shalom Community Center, providing short-term assistance to people who are moving from homelessness to permanent housing. Many participants will be moving into their apartments with nothing. We are creating "welcome baskets" to help these community members get started. These can include toiletries (toothbrush, towel, shampoo...), cleaning supplies, a few dishes, sheets, blankets, a shower curtain, items that could ease their transition from the shelter to the apartment. To donate items please place them in the macaroni basket in the Commons. Questions, contact Alan Backler, [email protected]. This opportunity will extend through February 14.
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Calling Women Builders
A total of 35 women are needed again this year to join the UU and friends Habitat Women Build team. It's a great experience and newcomers and return builders are most welcome. Our build day is Friday, May 13, the next to last day of this year's build of two homes. We will be installing counter tops, siding, hardware and doing other jobs. Each woman needs to donate or fund-raise $250 in order to participate. The land and material for the two homes cost $170,000. No experience is necessary and trainers will explain any job you will be doing. This is a community-wide, 11-day build using 325 volunteers and some 3,200 hours of volunteer labor.
UU women and female friends, relatives and others are invited to sign up for the team at http://womenbuild.kinteria.org. Please sign up as soon as possible. Funds are due in April. Financial sponsors for builders are most appreciated. For more information or to make a contribution, contact Barb Berggoetz, [email protected] or call 812-320-8422.
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UU Humanist Forum Meets on Alternating Sundays
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 forum will meet next on Sunday, February 28, in Room 208 after religious education classes end at 12:45. The topic will be "The Mind Body Code" presented by Anna Wiley.
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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, February 7, at 12:45 p.m. Info, contact John Crosby.
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Interesting UU-Related Websites
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Community Connections
Faith in Action in the Community
WildCare, the local volunteer wildlife rehab organization, is gearing up for the spring birthing and hatching season. They care for ill, injured, and orphaned wildlife and then release them into the wild. They need financial and volunteer help! WildCare receives no government funding, and relies on donations from the public. Whether you'd like to make a donation or offer your time and energy, they'd love to have you! Opportunities include animal care, fundraising, leadership positions, carpentry and more. Info on donating money or time at www.wildcareinc.org
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Contact a Minister
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin, our Senior Minister
can be reached at 812-332-3695, ext. 201 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons
Our Interim Minister,
Reverend Douglas Wadkins
can be reached at 812-332-3695, ext. 207 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons
In case of a pastoral emergency after office hours, 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 Wednesday and Friday mornings.
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 Who Ya Gonna Call about Building Problems and
Facilities Maintenance?
If you notice a problem with the building, please contact Carol Marks, Church Administrator, [email protected], 812-332-3695, ext. 200, and she will contact the experts to get it taken care of.
Weekday office hours are generally Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday hours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Offices will be closed on Monday, February 15 in honor of Washington's Birthday, a federal holiday.
--Carol Marks, Church Administrator
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Livestreaming of Sunday Services
As archived videos of service become available they will also be at the link listed above.
If there is a problem with livestreaming, please contact Andy Beargie, Multi-media Specialist, [email protected]
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Calendar of all our congregational events can be found at www.uubloomington.org
In the left hand column, click on "Calendar" and then on the top link on the page or Click Right Here and then click on today's date. Information is also available on our public Facebook page: www.facebook.com/uubloomington You do not need a Facebook account to read our page.
Prologue Publication Schedule: Next issue, Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Deadline for articles about congregational events and projects is 10:00 a.m. on date of publication, to [email protected]. The Prologue is published on the first and third Mondays of each month, with exceptions for Monday holidays. Upcoming publication dates: 2/16 (a Tuesday), 3/7, 3/21, 4/4, 4/18.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, 2120 N. Fee Lane, Bloomington IN 47408, 812-332-3695
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Masthead photo by Linda Mjolsnes.
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