Perspectives for October 2023

Join the Board for lunch in Fellowship Hall after the worship service on Sunday, October 8!

We’ll be offering fruits, veggies, baked goods (savory and sweet), and bagels. This lunch takes place during the Building Community Fair, and we’d love to talk to you at the Board table about ways to get involved in and be more knowledgeable about UUCB governance.

Congregational Meeting for Bylaws Vote: October 22, 2 p.m.

Please make sure the special congregational meeting is on your calendar for Sunday, October 22 at 2:00 pm. We’ll be meeting to vote on amending our Bylaws. Learn more about the Bylaws Revision Process.

Please complete the Congregational Survey by October 15!

In case you don't know: this congregation is in the process of seeking a new settled minister. Reverend Connie Grant, our Interim Minister, will be with us until next August, when the new minister arrives. This fall, the search committee's task is to learn as much as possible about what this congregation wants and needs in our next minister. Our Congregational Survey on ministry is out now, and ready for your responses.

Fill out the survey online

Some questions we have heard…

• Who should fill out this survey? We want to hear from everyone who considers themselves part of this congregation! Members, friends, and staff; newcomers and long-timers. If you're here every week, if we haven't seen you in a while, or anything in between, we need to hear from YOU.
• What if I already filled it out? Thank you! We've heard from nearly 120 people so far.
• If I haven't filled it out, what's the deadline? October 15.
• What if I can't fill it out online? Paper copies of the survey are available in the church office, or ask a Search Committee member.
• What should I do if someone in our community hasn’t heard about the survey? If you know someone who hasn't gotten the survey, please share the link with them, or let us know who they are—this will really help us get input from as many people in our congregation as possible.

Your response to the survey is important. It helps the search committee and possible ministers understand who we are as a congregation, and what we want and need in a settled minister. Survey responses will also shape the questions we ask during focus groups and cottage meetings in October and November, when we hope you will join us for more open and in-depth conversation.

If you have a question not answered in this article, you can contact the Ministerial Search Committee anytime at search@uubloomington.org. And you can find us every Sunday after the service in the hallway outside of Fellowship Hall, along with a timeline of the search process and updates on our work.

Thank you for your participation in this valuable search process!

Denise Breeden-Ost, Chair of the UUCB Ministerial Search Committee.

Sign up now to learn about the history of Unitarian Universalism

October 7, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

When did Unitarian and Universalist ideas first crop up? What happened to the people who promoted those ideas? How has the faith changed over the years? Learn answers to these questions and much, much more by attending Stuart Yoak’s one-day workshop on Saturday, October 7. (You can visit the Clothing Swap during the lunch break!) (Note: This class will be repeated on February 3, 2024.)

Fall Clothing Swap

Saturday, October 7, 12 - 2 p.m.

If you’re wondering whether the semi-annual Clothing Swap is for you, the answer is YES!

There will be items for children, men, AND women – though the quantities, sizes and styles will depend on who shows up and what they bring. Swapping is a great way to refresh your wardrobe, or find items for your fast-growing kids. Everything is free, so you can even try out things you’re not completely sure about, knowing you can “return” them to the next swap in a few months. Leftovers will be donated to local charities.

After hearing from many people who had regular Saturday morning commitments, we are experimenting with a new time: noon to 2 p.m. You can come anytime between those hours, but it’s best to arrive 30 minutes before the end (1:30 pm) so that any items you bring will have a chance to be seen by others who might be able to use them. We’ll pack up promptly at 2 p.m, and always need volunteers to help deliver leftovers. Boxes and sturdy bags are always appreciated as well.

Why do we do this? As people who have been participating for the past 15+ years can tell you, it’s a fun community event that encourages people to clean out their closets and provides an opportunity for everyone to pick up free clothing. What’s not to love? But here’s the bigger reason: We know that producing, shipping, and selling clothing comes with a significant carbon footprint. We know that many items available in stores and online are produced in sweatshops, sometimes by children. Meanwhile, so much clothing is discarded in this country that it ends up in landfills. By swapping the clothing we no longer need, we can begin to opt out of this system, and stop supporting these injustices with our dollars. The more we get in the habit of exchanging items instead of always buying new, the more impact we’ll have. Moving away from our assumed roles as consumers takes effort and intention – but come to the Clothing Swap and see that it’s also fun and rewarding!

SO, what should you bring? Any clean, wearable article of clothing: shirts, pants, jackets, formalwear, Halloween costumes, gloves, hats, shoes, socks, belts, pajamas, accessories, sweaters, etc. All sizes, styles, colors, and fabrics are welcome. You may also bring household items, but please be aware that leftovers need to be carried and transported by volunteers at the end of the swap – so, no furniture, TVs, computers, etc. (If you have things like that to give away, feel free to bring a sign with a description and your contact information; perhaps you’ll find a taker!) And if you happen to have cardboard boxes ready for recycling, bring your items in those so that we’ll have containers for packing leftovers.

See you Saturday at the Swap!

2023 Faith in Place Green Team Summit Watch Party

“Bridging the Divide: Intersectionality in Environmentalism” Keynote address by Leah Thomas

Sunday, October 8, 6 p.m.

Fellowship Hall

When you hear “Climate Change” do you feel overwhelmed or hopeless?

Join our Green Sanctuary Task Force on Sunday, October 8 in Fellowship Hall to watch the livestream of the keynote address for the 2023 Faith in Place Green Team Summit. The talk, “Bridging the Divide: Intersectionality in Environmentalism” is by Leah Thomas, author of The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet. Members of Earth Care and Bloomington Multifaith Alliance have been invited to attend. The talk begins at 6:00 PM. Courtyard doors will open at 5:45 PM. To register, please go to: https://www.greenteamsummit.org/register-2023 and scroll down to select the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington. Together, we can make a difference! Questions? Email Molly O’Donnell, mollysod@gmail.com.

Announcing Parents’ Night Out!

Friday, October 20, 5 - 9 p.m.

This Fall, the Religious Education Support Staff is offering a monthly Parents’ Night Out (PNO) on an experimental basis. If there is sufficient interest and the events go well, we will continue into the spring and add some Parents’ Day Out dates as well!

Parents may drop off their child(ren) at 5pm, and must pick them up by 9pm. Staff will provide activities that may include games, crafts, movies, stories, and more. Please pack a sack dinner with foods your child is likely to eat. Suggested donation is $40 per child (less for siblings). Note that when you register, it will appear that the set cost is $40; however, you may enter a different amount. Children ages 3-12 are welcome; if you would like your infant or toddler to participate, please discuss this with Stephanie to ensure adequate staffing.

Possible future PNO dates include November 10, and December 15; a Parents’ Day Out is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, December 9, from 1-5 p.m.

Advance registration is required to secure your spot!

Questions? Contact Stephanie Kimball (kimball@uubloomington.org)

Emma’s Revolution: Justice in the Heartland Concert

Friday, October 27, 7 p.m.

UUCB Meeting Room

We are so excited to be hosting Emma’s Revolution as part of their midwest tour this fall! This songwriting duo from Oakland, California has been inspiring audiences with their music for twenty years. They are especially known for their social justice themes, so it’s fitting that our Social Justice Circle is organizing this event as a fundraiser for their important work. Let’s pack our Meeting Room on the 27th! Purchase tickets here, or in person during Community Hour after services this month.

Not familiar with Emma’s Revolution? Check them out on Spotify, on YouTube, or on their website. Here are some staff favorites!

Our House is On Fire (Stephanie)

Keep on Moving Forward (Hans)

Swimming to the Other Side (Connie)

Pumpkin Decorating

Sunday, October 29, 11:30 a.m.

Celebrate the season by joining in our pumpkin decorating event during Community Hour after the service on October 29! Bring your pumpkin, or use one of ours (while supplies last). Pumpkin carving stations will be available for those with the time (and stamina) to create a jack-o-lantern. Paint, markers, and all kinds of embellishments will be provided to help you create your unique fall decoration. If you’d like to volunteer to help on the 29th, please contact Stephanie (kimball@uubloomington.org).

Here’s the simple answer: they hear stories, explore UU themes, make things, and get to know each other. But looking at the big picture, there’s much more to it than that!

When children come to church, we have many hopes for them. One is that they will learn “how we do church” in a Unitarian Universalist setting. This is why it’s important for children to be present for the first part of our service each week, and also for multi-generational services on a regular basis. We hope that familiarity with our UU traditions and rituals will help them feel comfortable and engaged as they grow into adulthood and make their own choices about ongoing involvement with UU circles.

But we also feel that it is important to offer children a chance to connect with their peers in age-appropriate ways, and to have a chance to learn more explicitly about Unitarian Universalism. Mindful of the developmental needs and capabilities of children at different ages, our classes offer different sorts of experiences. Our 4-6 year olds engage in Spirit Play, where teachers use carefully crafted objects to help tell stories that illustrate important themes. Some stories exemplify one of our Unitarian Universalist principles (or rainbow promises, as the kids know them), while others share wisdom from science or world religions; still others focus on UU or UUCB history. After the story, children are invited to explore those themes by working with various arts and crafts materials or trying specific activities (“works”) related to the story. Teachers encourage the children to share, to wait their turn, and to clean up after themselves; the familiarity of the class routine provides comfort and helps children feel confident. Spirit Play is based on the ideas of Maria Montessori, who developed methods based on careful observation of children and how they interact with their environment. We strive to make Spirit Play classrooms feel like the sacred spaces they are: spaces for children to begin to explore their own spiritual growth, doing the important work of making meaning for themselves.

Children ages 7 to 12 gather in Kids’ Club. The curriculum for this group changes year-by-year, but generally focuses on UU values, UU history and stories, our sources and principles, spiritual and community practices, and social justice. Kids who attend consistently through their elementary school years gain a pretty good idea of what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist by the time they reach middle school; they also likely have strong bonds with their peers and with several adults in the congregation. These are all helpful for young people entering the often-challenging adolescent years. Those who stay engaged in high school have a cohort – and a safe space – to continue exploring questions about meaning and belonging, values and choices, identity and connection. Ninth and tenth graders have a chance to participate in Coming of Age, an intensive program that culminates in generating a personal Credo and an opportunity to become a member of the congregation if they choose. OWL, or Our Whole Lives, is another important part of our religious education program, but that will be the highlight of a future column.

Whether our children and youth opt to join a UU congregation as adults or not, their time in religious education will have exposed them to values and experiences that will serve them and their communities well as adults: they will have thought about UU values like justice, pluralism, democracy, and interdependence, and their commitment to these concepts; they will know that there are adults besides their family members who respect and care for them; they’ll know that they can continue to learn and grow throughout their lives, and that they can make a difference in the lives of others. These are the outcomes that we are striving for every Sunday morning in our religious education classes!

If you have questions, or would like to volunteer to help with any aspect of children and youth religious education, please be in touch. We are especially in need of youth advisors for middle and high school groups.

In community,

Stephanie Kimball

Director of Lifespan Religious Education

Two Sundays ago, I shared a reflection from the pulpit about the transformative role that religio-spiritual communities have played in my own life and my sense of belonging. I highlighted the nourishing impact I felt from the welcoming-ness of these communities and their desire to help me understand and participate in their traditions. At UUCB, I similarly hope to encourage and facilitate opportunities for folks to learn more, explore what belonging looks like, and contribute personal skills in meaningful ways.

It’s been rewarding to organize and facilitate classes and activities, with many wonderful volunteers, that help folks learn about Unitarian Universalism and our community in particular. Last month’s Young Adult Pizza Gathering saw 16 folks (including two staff) sharing in conversation together. We had a lively and diverse group of young adults including folks who had grown up in other UU congregations; current members and congregants introduced friends to UUCB through the event; and others curious about our religious tradition came on their own. We discussed our congregation’s 8 Principles, shared about our religious life journeys, and got to know one another and the church. Save the date - the next Pizza Gathering is scheduled for November 12. I hope you will come (if you are between the ages of 18-35) or help spread the word – we will soon have posters to pick up and you can share the Facebook event!

Last month, we also wrapped up the first Exploring UUCB class of the church year. This deep dive into Unitarian Universalism and the activities, workings, and history of UUCB allows folks a deep learning opportunity and also prompts introspection into the idea of belonging. Many folks, though not all, attend this class as they contemplate membership and explore what they are seeking in a spiritual home. They might ask, do I want to belong to a larger religious community? Or, how do I see religion playing a part in my identity? Many attendees of the Exploring UUCB course have historically come with complex prior relationships with other religious traditions and seek to explore Unitarian Universalism, and membership therein, with care, intentionality, and a deep deliberation. Though not as deep a dive, the New to UU class I offer every first Sunday of the month prompts similar introspection and discussion as folks learn more about our community and tradition and contemplate it as a part of their life. I want to thank each individual who has taken the time to participate in these courses, attendees and facilitators alike. It has been a rewarding experience to grow in community together!

Lastly, I want to touch on the Building Community fair happening Sunday, October 8 after the service in Fellowship Hall. Our community is full of dozens of groups providing vibrant opportunities to get to know other congregants and contribute our skills in meaningful ways. Positioned after the recent Religious Education and before our Social Justice involvement fairs, this fair will focus on social and volunteer groups and those groups providing structural support to the community. I encourage you to attend and engage in conversation with folks about what is happening in our community. If you have a need to be more active, more social, or more intellectually stimulated, you just might find a group that fills this need–and, you might leave on Sunday with plans to join an activity you had never contemplated before!

As we enter into this new month together, I look forward to continued connection and nurturing of our thriving community.

Anabel Watson, Connections Coordinator

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Introducing our Newest Members!

Anabel also facilitates our Membership Book Signings. Here are bios of the two most recent people to sign the book, on October 1. A warm welcome to new members Jim Strange and Valerie Elliott:

Jim Strange

I moved quite frequently as a child until we settled down in New Whiteland in 1972. I attended IUPUI while working full-time at a Kroger to earn my BSEE from Purdue. Never fear. I’ve been a Hoosier fan all my life. I worked as a technical writer at a laser manufacturer. I worked on guidance systems for the Navy. I worked very briefly for BMG—the company which swallowed up RCA Records--supporting the record club. I have worked for over 25 years at Elevance Health. (Formerly known as BCBS, Wellpoint and most recently Anthem.) I currently work in computer security and governance. I enjoy building guitars the old fashioned way with hand tools, and I’m an avid reader. I guess it’s fate that I married a librarian. My wife Val Elliott and I are avid travelers.

Valerie Elliott

I’m a born and bred SW Hoosier girl growing up just an hour away from Bloomington. My BA in print journalism is from UE, and my MLS is from IUB. I worked in the Music Room at the Indianapolis Central Library. After 35 years, Indianapolis was too crowded. I like to send handwritten cards and letters and pursue genealogy research. I’ve discovered an ancestor who died during a stunt at the Universal Studios lots. He is said to haunt the lots and is known as the Giggling Ghost.

In August, we started serving bagels and fruit along with coffee and tea during our Community Hour on Sunday mornings. Our hope was, and continues to be, that having a little something to eat will encourage people of all ages to stay for a while and chat, and perhaps to stay longer to participate in various church activities (classes, chalice circles, meetings, etc.) Judging by the quantity of food consumed and the number of people lingering in Fellowship Hall and the Courtyard well past noon on many days, this experiment seems to be a success!

Would your group or task force like to sponsor a lunch? This is a wonderful opportunity for your group or task force to host a lunch as a fundraiser.

Many people have asked questions about various aspects of these light lunches, so we’ve gathered them here to share the answers with everyone:

• My Chalice Circle (or other group) would like to provide lunch one day. How do we do that? Contact the Lunch Bunch - or the church office - to reserve a date!
• Who is the Lunch Bunch? The Lunch Bunch is the committee that coordinates the various groups wishing to provide lunches, and fills in with bagels or other options when nothing else is scheduled. So far, Anabel Watson and Stephanie Kimball are acting as this committee, but our regular Sunday morning duties often make this difficult so we are hoping that volunteers will step up SOON. If you would like to be part of this committee, please be in touch with Anabel or Stephanie!
• Where do the funds come from? Our congregational budget does not contain any provision for weekly lunches, so each week we place a Donations box on the table and hope that people’s contributions will cover expenses. If you enjoy the snacks and are able to help keep them coming, please add a few dollars to the box if you can! If you don’t have the cash with you, you’re still welcome to partake. That’s the beauty of community: we give as we are able, and our collective abundance feeds everyone, literally and figuratively.
• Why do we use cloth napkins, and what do we do with the dirty ones? We strive to minimize the trash we generate, and cloth napkins are easy to launder with the rest of the kitchen linens each week. There is always a basket for used napkins, either near the trays for dirty dishes, on the kitchen counter, or behind the clean napkins. We’re experimenting to find the best spot! Whatever you do, please do NOT throw them out. And if you have spare cloth napkins at home, donations are very welcome.
• Can we have something besides bagels and fruit? Yes! In fact, bagels and fruit are meant to be the fall-back menu on days when no group has signed up to provide something more elaborate. Our hope is that task forces, committees, chalice circles, and other groups will step up to provide lunches most Sundays, either as fundraisers or service to the congregation.
• My group wants to have a bake sale, but we don’t want to compete with free bagels. What can we do? Please just let us know when your bake sale is scheduled, and we will not serve bagels that day. However, please be aware that there may be people who are counting on finding something to keep them going for afternoon meetings or other events, so ensure that you’ll have enough offerings. It would be great if you can include some savory items in your sale (perhaps slices of quiche, a fruit and cheese plate, or a sandwich bar?), again remembering that people need something they can consider “lunch.”
• Who is responsible for cleaning up? Generally, the group sponsoring the lunch provides volunteers to do the dishes and make sure all the food is put away. On bagel days, our Java Crew has been graciously including lunch plates in their cup-washing routine. They make dishwashing fun! They even have their own theme song. If you’re looking for a way to get involved and serve the church community, you should join the Java Crew.

We hope this answers some of your questions, but if you have more, please send them along! We’re also open to suggestions, and of course would love most of all to hear from volunteers to help keep our Sunday lunches going.

With gratitude for the warmth of community,

Stephanie Kimball and Anabel Watson

Calling all men. We have a long-standing group that meets monthly on the 3rd Tuesday of the month in the Library at 7:00. We support each other by listening to our stories. Each month we discuss an interesting topic. Interested? Call Dan Wiseman at 812-369-4976 or email connect1947@att.net. All are welcome: young or old, working or retired, gay or straight. Give us a try. Our meeting is October 17th at 7:00.

By Claire Robertson

For more than 20 years, the International Outreach Task Force has been raising money for international aid projects. We've supported projects in Haiti, Liberia, and Kenya. Jason Blankenship founded IOTF, and made the connection with Liberia because he had spent time there. Direct relationships and hands-on involvement is important in IOTF's history. A former UU member who was a graduate student at IU brought us the project in Haiti. We didn’t organize trips to Haiti or Liberia, but when we decided to focus on Kenya we started making trips every two years to visit projects there. We currently focus on supporting Spurgeon’s Academy in Nairobi.

Our connection to Kenya comes from my time there. I did research in Kenya and I've written two books about market sellers in Nairobi. I met a bunch of women selling at markets through that research, and then met someone heavily involved in Spurgeon’s Academy. Spurgeon’s is a school for orphans and vulnerable children (many whose families have been impacted by AIDS) in Kibera, a large slum in Nairobi. It is a K-9 school, and the number of students varies from 350 - 600. Spurgeon’s is a Kenyan owned and founded project. Their main financial support comes from a British charity called Global Care; we coordinate with Global Care in our support.

We traveled to Kenya in August of this year, for the first time since 2019. We are planning another trip for next year, summer of 2024, which will be a special trip since we were not able to go in 2021 due to the pandemic. Right now we have a group of about 8 people interested in going in 2024. We hope to make contact with Kenyan Unitarians on our next trip. (If you are interested in joining this group or learning more, you can contact Claire at 812-336-3696.)

We were able to give $20,000 to Spurgeon’s Academy this year. I take the money we donate in cash, instead of doing a bank transfer, because the exchange rate is terrible and there are a lot of fees. My purse was a bit heavy because I had 20k in it - but when I changed it to Kenyan shillings, it was 3 million! I used a large ciondo (a market basket), to carry the money to the bank to deposit for Spurgeon’s - it filled the whole basket.

Spurgeon’s uses the money for staff pay, to improve infrastructure, and for books, supplies, and food to feed the kids and staff two meals a day. They began with just one meal at school, then discovered that most kids were only getting that one meal a day, so they added breakfast.

How do we raise money?

• Sales of items from Kenya - When we go to Kenya I tell everybody who goes to bring two suitcases, and to fill their second checked suitcase with clothing to donate to kids at the school. That empty suitcase is then filled with Kenyan crafts to bring back, that we resell for fundraising.
  • Saturday, October 28 is our big fall sale fundraiser, in the church library from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. African and African-inspired jewelry, cloth, scarves, puzzles, household goods, clothing, glassware, Kazuri pottery beads, interesting purses of all sizes.
  • We also have a table at the UU Holiday Bazaar, Dec 1 and 2
• Bake sales – look for our table in Fellowship Hall every 3rd Sunday of the month
• Football parking - we sell parking in our church parking lot for IU Football games, and our Social Justice Task Forces split the funds from this
• Direct donations - individual, direct donations are welcome, and are tax-deductible through the church. Be sure to put IOTF in the memo line of your check.

Our group motto is "Have fun while doing good." Let's fill that ciondo again!

See Claire’s presentation about IOTF during our Sunday service on October 1, 2023

Claire Robertson taught history, African studies, and women’s studies courses at a number of universities, including Indiana University, Bloomington. She was a professor of history and women’s studies at The Ohio State University for almost 30 years, which included time commuting from Bloomington, and active on numerous committees and projects. She is the author or editor of ten books, has received two book awards for two different books, and published over 70 articles in scholarly journals. In 1987-1988, she held a Fulbright Fellowship to study the development of Kenyan trade and market women in the Nairobi area.

UU can make a difference! Applications accepted NOW!

It’s time to consider applying for a fall social justice grant! Think of ways our congregation can make an impact on Monroe County.

Applications are being accepted now. Once the applications are received, the committee meets to determine the recipients.

Preference is given to the following but others will be considered:

• Being a part of a Social Justice task force
• The number of UU members involved
• Consistent with the mission of the UU church
• Does this empower the organization to empower others?
• Is this seed money rather than for maintenance?
• Will our contribution make a real difference in their budget?
• Do they have finite goals?
• Have they received UU social justice grants in the past?
• The monies cannot be used to pay for professional services or salaries.

Fall Grants announcements are made in November and the recipient have one year to use their funds or they will be returned to our SPF account. They are also asked to write a review of how funds were used for our newsletter.

Guidelines and Applications are available here

UU Social Justice Funds Committee: Denise Ogren, Steve Mascari, Scott Sanders, Sarah Kopper, Sandy Davoren

The proverb with African origins that “It takes a village to raise a child,” can be applied to what it takes to build a UU & friends Habitat Women+ Build team. For about 20 years, a team of primarily UU women has been one of the 12 or so teams from throughout Bloomington that have financed and built houses for qualified homeowners.

This year, our UU & friends team of 36 members raised $19,562, the largest amount ever raised by our teams. But it wasn’t just team members who contributed. Many UU members helped in different ways, as they do every year. Team members, who included friends, co-workers and relatives of UU women and a few women in the community, raised and/or donated $16,683 of the total. Five UU women each brought in $1,000 to nearly $2,000, as members of the Sisterhood of Habitat Empowerment. They promise to raise or donate at least $1,000 for each of five years.

Also this year, the UU Women’s Alliance and eight UU women donated $2,191, ranging from $50 to $500. Women who can’t build want to help others who can. These funds were divided among those who need a financial boost. Some team members also made goodies for several bake sales at UU and at the Habitat for Humanity office. A UU woman made jewelry we sold at these sales. They brought in $688.

What do all these figures mean?

They reflect the strong commitment of women – some of whom have built for many years – and the support they garner from donors and those who want to financially help others build. Then, there are generous UUers who donate $20, $50, even $100 to buy a few cookies or a cupcake at our bake sales.

For the second year in a row, the Habitat Task Force was a financial sponsor of the overall build. We contributed $1,500 this year from funds we’ve raised with the help of UUers who buy meals we make, chili/soup we offer, items we sell at the UU Holiday Bazaar.

On Sept. 20, our team painted the entire inside of the two Women Build homes in Osage Place, a new Habitat neighborhood that will have 79 homes. Overall, teams raised a record $233,036 this year.

Since 2000, the Monroe County Women+ Build community has built 35 homes and raised more than $2.9 million, helping to house 92 individuals, including 44 children. Our UU & friends teams, supported by the UU community, have contributed significantly to this success – for which we should be proud and for which I am grateful, as a long-time Women Build team leader.

Of course, we welcome UU men and women (16 years and older) to participate in other builds during the year. We periodically organize small build groups. Only the Women Build has a financial commitment for individual builders (minimum of $300). The Habitat Task Force regularly raises funds to help finance homes, buy tools or meet other Habitat needs, too.

To do all this, it does take a church – and a lot of individual efforts.

Barb Berggoetz, Habitat Task Force leader

By Nan McKinley

When I received an email in September from Jessica Marchbank (UUCB member and State Programs Director for All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center) about “National Diaper Awareness Week,” I knew we had our own UU Diaper Drive approaching. I know that many of you support our Reproductive Justice Task Force's efforts through our bake sale and other events, and that you know that physically bringing in diapers isn't the most cost effective way to help All-Options. But do you have all the updated information you need to know about donating to the Hoosier Diaper Program? Read on – below is the message from Jessica.

During the month of October, look for our table during coffee hour in Fellowship Hall, where we will have further information about All-Options and ways to donate. You can also add some cash to our jar!

Our Reproductive Justice Task Force would be happy to involve you in our efforts to support All-Options, the Hoosier Abortion Fund, and the UU OWL program (Our Whole Lives: Lifespan Sexuality Education). Recently we also donated to Middle Way House to promote menstrual product justice. You can find info on our task force, and a link to join our email list, under the Justice tab at uubloomington.org. We meet at 7 p.m. in the Library on the 4th Monday of the month, August through May. Joining online via Zoom is also possible for our monthly meeting.

Learn more about how diaper need affects families (video link)

There are many issues which contribute to the diaper problem. The cost is one but also, children are required to have adequate disposable diapers every day they attend daycare. If those are not available, a parent will stay home from work which impacts their finances, so it's a vicious cycle. This and other issues are addressed in a video made by a church youth a few years ago.

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It’s National Diaper Awareness Week! In 2023, recognizing diaper need is more important than ever. Just one year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the National Diaper Bank Network released a study showing that nearly half of families with young children struggle to get enough diapers. That’s a huge increase since 2020, and we’ve seen it first-hand at All-Options.

You may wonder why I mention Roe and diaper need together, but they’re more connected than you might think!

In my time at All-Options here in Bloomington, I’ve connected thousands of pregnant Hoosiers to funding and resources for abortion care through our Hoosier Abortion Fund. I’ve also distributed hundreds of thousands of diapers to families in our community through our Hoosier Diaper Program. And I’ve helped the same people with both abortion funding and diapers many, many times.

You might be surprised to learn that about 80% of people who contact the Hoosier Abortion Fund are already parents. And half of parents with young children struggle to get enough diapers to keep their kids clean and dry. The need for diapers is growing so fast that our Hoosier Diaper Program can barely keep up. But you can help!

With a donation of just $28 to our Hoosier Diaper Program, you can provide diapers to one family for a whole month. Set your donation frequency to “monthly” to help the littlest Hoosiers all year!

DONATE HERE

Barriers to abortion and lack of parenting support fall hardest on people who are most marginalized – people of color, queer and trans people, immigrants, and people struggling to make ends meet. EVERY person should be able to make the decisions that are right for them, not just the wealthy and resourced. No one should go broke trying to take care of themselves or their family.

Every week, through both the abortion fund and the diaper program, Hoosiers tell us that we have eased their burden and treated them with dignity and compassion.

Please make your one-time donation to the Hoosier Diaper Program today, or help families all year with a monthly donation of only $28!

Thank you for being part of the All-Options community and helping us build a more compassionate world, where everyone has the freedom to make their own reproductive decisions and the support to back them up.

In solidarity,

Jessica Marchbank

State Programs Director

Our first meeting is at Morgenstern Books on Friday, Oct. 6, at 6:30 p.m.
From David Keppel

We think the current national debate is myopic. It is an act of hope to grapple with, not hide from, the huge existential threats of this century and think how we can make it to a more sustainable and just 22nd Century. This group will engage in critical and creative thinking and then activism. We are looking for participation and leadership from Generation Z, who will live beyond 2100. Everyone is warmly welcome. We plan to begin with a discussion of Nomad Century: How Climate Migration Will Reshape Our World by Gaia Vince.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! This is such an exciting time in Bloomington as well as across the country as our federal government admits more and more refugees and allows Venezuelans and Afghans temporary legal status, so they can get jobs and become independent and contributing members of our society wherever they live in the U.S. Bloomington welcomes new refugees every month! There are so many volunteer opportunities. A big one is direct volunteering to support the family from Afghanistan that we have been sponsoring since December 2021 - a few current needs are transportation, English practice, and driving lessons and job leads for the mother of the family. We also work on educating ourselves and our community about the challenges that refugees face and what it takes to get on the path to citizenship. It's hard work and it takes time. What can we do to help? Check out this chart and see what opportunity calls to you. And then let Barb Backler know at bbackler@gmail.com. We are also seeking a new co-chair for the task force (more info below). It is an excellent time to get involved and take on a leadership role!

A short story from Heather, RISE volunteer:

I've been reading with the Fakherduin boys, Hussain and Hassan, for a couple of months. Saturday, as I was leaving, I asked them "How do you say 'Goodbye' in Dari?" The oldest boy said, "Khudaa hafiz." I repeated it to the best of my ability and waved. The boys were impressed and grinned from ear to ear. Then Hussain excitedly said, "Wait! Let me get my Mom. You have to say that to her. She will love it!" He called her into the room, and I said, "Khudaa hafiz!" and waved. He was right. She loved it, and walked me to the door with a big smile. I may learn a Dari greeting as well, on my own, as a surprise.

Leadership transitions for RISE

We have a new co-chair!!! Jenny Vessels, who is relatively new to UUCB has offered to put her wonderful organizational skills and passion for working with and for others to good use. Thank you, Jenny. Since she retired recently but still works part time as a consultant, she would love to see someone step up to be her co-chair.

Cindy Mosca is stepping down from her position of co-chair of RISE. She is going to work virtually on a project with the University in Hawassa, Ethiopia, working with the English Department to come up with ways to make the classes more interactive, so that more people can learn English. There are so many dialects in Ethiopia that people can't communicate with each other, so they have chosen to teach everyone English.

Our other current co-chair, Barb Backler, will continue to be involved with RISE but not in a leadership position after December.