Perspectives for October 2024

Diving Into Belonging

Happy October! A month when the leaves begin to change more quickly with the colors of fall and cooler temperatures arrive. I love the fall for its visual beauty and its earthy sounds. The visible changes in the scenery are a reminder of time’s passage and life’s changes. The sounds of the black walnuts “thudding” as they fall from the trees and the crunch, crunch of my dog’s feet (and mine!) in the leaves make me feel more mindful of my fundamental interdependence with life and the earth.

Fall is an invitation to slow down and be more attentive to our connections. This month at UUCB in our Sunday services, we’ll be diving into the theme of belonging. A feeling of belonging - of being known and seen in a community or relationship - is a powerful experience. Studies show that experiencing belonging improves people’s well being and can reduce stress and anxiety. As studies increasingly highlight the crisis of loneliness in our country, turning our attention to how we nurture relationships and communities of belonging matters. It’s also good to remember that one of the common reasons people visit a UU congregation is because they are looking for community.

In preparing for this exploration into belonging, our Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Stephanie Kimball, shared with me an article about community from one of my favorite writers and thought leaders, Parker Palmer. In the essay, Parker Palmer writes that “Community is not a goal to be achieved but a gift to be received…Community begins not externally but in the recesses of the human heart. Long before community can be manifest in outward relationships, it must be present in the individual as “a capacity for connectedness.” Parker goes on to challenge the effectiveness of how much work gets put into “building community.” Instead, he says our emphasis must be on receiving community, and internal, contemplative practices that reminds us of our connectedness. As someone who has long thought that a key piece of my work is to build community, this shift in perspective is interesting and helpful. Certainly, there are things we can practice in community that help us deepen belonging, and it’s helpful to remember that each of us has a role in opening ourselves to a greater feeling of belonging.

As we explore the theme of belonging this month, I invite you to consider some of these questions for yourself:

Consider times in your life or relationships or communities where you felt a strong sense of belonging? What were the qualities of those relationships? What did you bring to them, what did others bring to them?

Have you had times where you have felt an absence of belonging? Or even a strong feeling of not being included or not belonging? What was that like and what did you learn from those times?

Have you ever experienced a change in your feelings of connection or belonging happening within a relationship or community? What was the change like and what things or practices contributed to the change?

Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, Lead Minister

revsfg@uubloomington.org

Many people sign up for adult religious education classes specifically looking for community. There’s often a sense of camaraderie that develops as people learn new skills or practices together, wrestle with tough questions, or open up about their personal experiences – so perhaps it’s not surprising that groups frequently continue to meet regularly even after the class that brought them together has ended. In our programs for children and youth, one of our primary goals is to help our young people build relationships with one another so that they feel comfortable and connected to our Unitarian Universalist community.

But religious education classes build community and belonging in subtler ways, too. These days we recognize that learning is relational – it is not a matter of filling our brains with information as the “banking” models of education of the past implied. Instead, we learn, and make meaning, through our interactions with other people as we tell our stories, listen to theirs, consider different perspectives and try on new ideas. Information sticks with us best if we understand how it relates to what we already know. Each new thing that we learn is not just filed in a metaphorical folder in our brains, but becomes a part of who we are and how we make sense of the world. Thus, as we learn, we are building connections with each other and also with ourselves and with the wider world around us.

Belonging starts with knowing ourselves. And since religious education is directly or indirectly about knowing ourselves better, participating in workshops and classes can help build a sense of belonging in addition to the sense of community that often develops when people meet together on a regular basis.

Psychologists today recognize that a feeling of belonging depends upon having a sense of being worthy of belonging. Religious education classes are often places to explore and confront those voices within us that tell us we are not worthy. Where did they come from? How are they impeding our lives now? What are some alternative narratives that might empower us rather than hindering our ability to live our best lives?

Many of our religious education programs focus on what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist: the theology, values, practices, hopes, and histories that tie us together as a community. As we build our shared knowledge we also grow our own sense of belonging within this faith community, understanding ourselves as part of a movement with a long history and a broad present.

The classes offered for adults this year include opportunities to explore creativity, learn or strengthen spiritual practices, deepen understanding of UU history and theology, explore money management, learn about sexuality, write a novel while (optionally) exploring Unitarian Universalist themes and concepts, confront our ideas about death, learn from dreams, grow our understanding of Indigenous people’s experiences and build more just relationships, and more. Each offers a way to learn more about ourselves and each other as well as the topic explicitly addressed. Please read our full prospectus here and register for all classes here.

Stephanie Kimball, Director of Lifespan Religious Education

kimball@uubloomington.org

When I came to UUCB in 2019, I was struck by the full-throated hymn singing on Sunday mornings. I put down my old habit of holding a hymnal and turned my eyes to the projected words. From the choir, I can look out over the Congregation, filling the Meeting Room like a many colored fan. As the piano moves the music with perfect temperament and nuance, I see bright eyes reading the words. I see expressions of discovery and affirmation. I see mouths in motion. I see eyes closed, savoring. I see arms spread wide and arms draped across another’s shoulders. I see dancing. I see a community of individuals singing boldly from our hearts.

Singing hymns together on Sunday mornings gives me a strong sense of belonging. No other church I’ve been part of has given such frank and free energy to singing together. There’s a lot of musical talent in this town, true, but I think this spirit comes from lifting our heads to the screens and communicating the hymns together.

As we focus this month on the idea of “Belonging,” I imagine you will reflect, as I have, on your time in this community. When I came, I joined the adult choir right away. I went on a hike and volunteered for grounds work. I helped with some lay worship services. There was a pandemic mixed in with all that. In 2022, I received an invitation to join the Board of Directors as an interim appointee. I’m pleased to continue serving on the Board. When time opens up, I hope to extend my sense of community and belonging by volunteering in Religious Education.

For 2024/2025, the Board has laid out an Annual Plan with three primary goals. The first goal is “To nurture the Congregation as we grow and change.” A top focus there is to work on how the Board and the Congregation communicate with one another. One way to know more about the Board’s work is to attend a meeting on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the church library. Board meetings are open to the public, and everyone is invited to attend as a spectator, either in person or via Zoom. The Zoom link is provided in the Friday Update the week before the meeting or by emailing Jane McLeod.

Let’s keep singing together!

Mary Craig

Board Member at Large

When you were born, life welcomed you with openness and love. Parents, teachers, and caregivers guided you in establishing your values and beliefs. Some of you were born into Unitarian Universalists families.

Somewhere along your life’s journey, your religious or spiritual beliefs may lead you to search for a faith community that fits your current values and social norms. Even if you don’t have a particular religious belief, you look for a community and a place where you and your children can learn and grow. You feel the yearning for a place to belong.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington is a community where you can belong, surrounded by a circle of love and support, sort of like a second family. We are a people who most likely share similar causes and who, together, take action for justice, equity and transformation. In the Sunday Morning Worship we rejoice as we sing and nurture our spiritual needs. Social Justice Task Forces and Committees work to provide us with the tools and ability to take action in the community and support others. Fellowship Hall is a special place where we gather after a service for a cup of coffee or a meal, all in community. Belonging to UUCB is like being part of a tapestry held together with silken threads of connections.

Belonging and self-care comes from balancing your needs with the needs of others in your community. Your annual pledge and your volunteer work affirms: “I belong here, I have a stake in the success of our mission, and I want to support my values in this beloved community to the extent I can.” We hope that you have found your spiritual home at UUCB, in this inclusive and caring community.

Pledge Drive Final Update

The 2024-25 Pledge Drive yielded 326 Pledges with a total of $642,379.00!

Know that your pledge of financial support makes everything we do possible.

Thank you so much for your 2024-25 generous pledge! We are so glad you are here. You belong.

Sincerely,

UUCB Pledge Drive Committee - Corrin Clarkson (Chair), Joan Caulton, Beth Henkel, JaneAnn Gifford, Judy Witt, Pat Slabach & Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray

October’s Theme is Belonging + Reproductive Justice Month at UUCB

Belonging. What makes us feel that we belong? As co-chair of this task force, I’ve often reflected on the benefits of volunteering: we have shared values and act on them with a group which gives us inspiration, solidarity, and pooled resources to affect change in ourselves and the community at multiple levels. We feel we are seen, heard, and valued which can have profound emotional and physical benefits. Research shows we live longer! We have opportunities to stretch ourselves with tasks we’ve never attempted before. For some, it’s a spiritual act to give of ourselves without seeking recompense. There are also opportunities to educate and enlighten our children through volunteering together.

So, for the month of October, the Reproductive Justice Task Force would like to keep you up to date on what our group is about, inform you of some activities you can join in on, and others to take action on as an individual. Since we are frequently asked about the abortion situation, here’s an excellent article from Limestone Post or see our Facebook group page: https://limestonepostmagazine.com/advocates-for-womens-healthcare-hav e-plans-for-stricter-bans/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/225701937905588

Our task force was contacted in June to sign an amicus brief supporting a case brought by Hoosier Jews for Choice and 4 women citing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act which they won in appeal and is currently waiting for review about proceeding to the Indiana Supreme Court. It felt great that we are known in the community as a group and a church which supports the right to choose and is willing to go on record about it! Thank you to Guy Loftman, Steve Dillon, and Beth Henkel - attorneys and UUCB members who helped review the case and documents, plus the support of Rev. Connie Grant.

We meet on the 4th Mondays at 7 pm, from August through May in the Library or join us on zoom. Refer to our listing on the website under the Justice tab to find a link to join our group, or see our literature on the Social Justice table in the Commons. We will also be tabling during Community Hour this month and would love to chat with you and answer any questions you have. Our website page and Facebook group where articles are posted:

https://www.uubloomington.org/justice/social-justice-task-forces/reproductive-justice-task-force/

Reproductive Health is not just about contraceptives and abortion, it’s also about getting the support needed in those early, seemingly overwhelming days, to becoming a parent, to parenting your child in a safe and sustainable community. This task force supports the volunteers of the 4th Trimester Team to be of service as a Granny or Auntie or Pappy would. Let us help with the shopping, transportation, in-home childcare, meals, and light housekeeping. We are also great at community resources. If you are a pregnant congregant, or are a congregant who knows someone desirous of the offerings of the 4th Trimester Team, please email 4thtrimester@uubloomington.org to find out more. Please bring your kids to our table on October 13th at the Getting Involved Fair so they can practice diapering and swaddling an anatomically correct newborn doll. This group is headed up by Anne Clark and Sally McGuire.

October is our yearly Diaper Drive to support the diaper bank at All Options Pregnancy Resource Center. Here are links to learn more from a short video made by Fletcher Coley, a former UU youth, and a link to donate and to learn more about All Options. Diapers may also be dropped off at the All Options Center. See their hours on their website or call them. There are many compelling reasons that make diapers important besides the usual ones!!

https://alloptionsprc.org/diaper-program/

-Nan McKinley Co-Chair

Task of the Month

The October Task of the Month flier has tips for reducing your heating bills. Here are a few of the tips in the flier:

• Perform a home energy self-assessment to find ways to reduce waste and improve comfort.
• Air leaks can be like leaving a window open all the time. You can fill or cover gaps with caulk, expanding foam, or rigid insulation board.
• Thermal cameras can show where air is leaking in or out. Ask to borrow a thermal camera from GSTF: zero.gstf@uubloomington.org

Thanks for making a difference and spreading the word!

- Molly O’Donnell, Green Sanctuary Task Force Co-Chair

Attend a performance of From Truth to Justice: The Price We Paid for the Ballot, which tells the story of the contentious relationship between the Black and White suffrage movements. It provides insight into the dilemma created by the proposed ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment.

This original play examines the attitudes and behaviors of two groups fighting for a common good but who view the world and its relationship to them personally quite differently.

Each performance will be followed by a reception and a post-show talkback related to issues then and now as we approach what will perhaps be the most consequential presidential election in the past century.

You can purchase tickets through the History Center’s online calendar interface. Go to October, search for Resilience Productions, select the performance you want to attend, and follow the instructions to buy your ticket(s). The shows sell out, so purchase tickets in advance.

The Racial Justice Task Force will be serving refreshments after the performances – we hope to see you there!

Support Resilience Productions!

Join the 5-50 club and become a Remarkable Women Series Sponsor. Contribute $5 to $50 in support of the October performance of From Truth to Justice: The Price We Paid for the Ballot and your name will be listed in the program.

The Racial Justice Task Force will be collecting contributions (cash or check) after service on 9/22, 9/29, and 10/6. You can also mail a check made out to UUCB Resilience with “5-50 Club” in the memo line to UU Church / Resilience Productions, P.O. Box 8132, Bloomington, IN 47407.

UU can make a difference!

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 available now via this link and must be submitted by Oct. 31, 2024. 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 recipients have one year to use their funds or they will be returned to our SPF account. They are asked to write a review for our Perspectives.

UU Social Justice Funds Committee: Denise Ogren, Steve Mascari, Scott Sanders,

Sarah Kopper, Sandy Davoren

Welcoming Team

Transformation and Stability: Reciprocal Aspects of our Community

We have been deeply exploring an embrace of “new beginnings” as a congregation. I have heard many mentions of transforming current ways of being and introducing new ideas. For many visitors and newcomers, this current iteration of UUCB is the only one they have known. While they are indeed entering a community that is transforming, they are also entering a place that strives to provide grounding, nourishment, and enthusiastic welcome to folks who enter our doors at any time of year and during any chapter. UUCB is whole and constantly changing just as our greater society is nuanced and constantly transforming.

In thinking about this, there are constantly opportunities to transform our current hospitality practices to provide an even more inviting community and space where newcomers might like to stay...

Welcoming Team Highlight

In the past year, a Welcoming Team formed, met five times, and made such changes as:

• Ordered accessibility mats for the Meeting Room
• Created and stocked a new Welcome Table by the Courtyard entrance
• Engaged in education on how to be welcoming to more diverse populations and needs
• Identified a need for increased orders of service, name tag organization, and other improvements to our general common areas
• Brainstormed for various trainings, including two successful greeters’ orientations (thank you, Libby!)

Among other things…

I am so grateful for the shared discussions with members of this team which led to these tangible changes.

Rev. Susan and I have discussed various additional transformations to hospitality-related activities to inspire an even more welcoming environment. Starting Mid-September, we experimented with adding an additional greeter at the upstairs Portico Door on Sundays–which provided a welcoming greeting to a substantial number of congregants–and recruiting volunteer ushers to help people find seats on Sundays with unusually high attendance. Going forward, I hope that these new roles will continue and evolve.

We have discussed forming a group focused on easing the complexity of parking on Sunday mornings. As many have noted, there have been times when folks can’t find a place to park and return home. This presents an issue to newcomers who wish to try out our services but find the logistics of even getting into the door difficult.

Ways of Welcoming: Your Help is Welcome!

If you are interested in helping to form this parking-focused group, please reach out to me at connect@uubloomington.org. I invite you to also reach out to me if you are interested in more broadly participating in hospitality-related activities, or if you have a particular suggestion or idea for implementation. Maybe you would like to help greet newcomers at the Welcome Table. Perhaps you have experienced an inspiring hospitality role at another congregation. This is a time of growth in our ways of welcoming. The Welcoming Team welcomes your participation! If you would like to join in or propose an upcoming focus, please send me an email. We can use your help.

I am grateful for the opportunity to grow a welcoming environment as a part of such a thoughtful and active community. I felt very welcomed when joining the staff almost two and a half years ago. I am looking forward to continuing to support our welcoming environment in collaboration with our community.

With gratitude,

Anabel

Anabel Watson

Connections Coordinator

connect@uubloomington.org

Current Member Number: 447

Attendance-

09/01/2024: 322

09/08/2024: 313

09/15/2024: 298

09/22/2024: 258

09/29/2024:238

Offering Total for September 2024: $2,886.84

25% Donated to Monroe County Habitat for Humanity: $721.71