Perspectives for September 2024

September 29

10:15 a.m.

“Question Box Service: What Do You Want to Know about Me?”

Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray

Sarah Barnett, Worship Associate

Since I am new here, I want you to have the chance to ask me burning questions you might have about me - they can be about my beliefs, my theology, my perspective on issues, how I lead, or what my favorite food is! I am excited to hear your questions. Check Friday updates for information on how to ask questions.

A Season of Beginnings

As summer turns slowly to fall, this season is one of beginnings. New school years start, new people arrive to Bloomington - some for the first time, many returning after a summer away. And in many UU congregations, September serves as a kick-off to a new year of ministry, activity, and community building. The annual Ingathering Water Communion service is a way of noting this new beginning. And this year, we have a really big new beginning as we embark on this new shared ministry adventure together!

Beginnings are exciting. They naturally invite us to imagine possibilities for the future. They are also times of growth, because a beginning means there will be change. Beginnings can also be daunting, even overwhelming, as they are always filled with some unknown. For me, alongside all of these realities, what feels most important is to be intentional in this first year to create a strong foundation for the ministry ahead. If I have one overarching goal for this year it is for us to build trust and knowledge of each other. When I speak of building knowledge of each other, I mean more than just knowing each other’s names, but growing to understand each other, with love and care for one another. The writer and educator, Parker Palmer says it well in his book To Know As We Are Known, where he argues that “knowing is an act of love,” and “In such knowing, we know and are known as members of one community, and our knowing becomes a way of reweaving that community’s bonds.” In this way, by growing to know and love and trust one another, we weave stronger bonds of community.

To help support a good foundation for our ministry, Rev. Connie Grant helped organize a Settled Ministry Planning Team for this first year of ministry. This team is already working to help organize welcome parties in member’s homes so that I can meet more members of the congregation in smaller settings. Andrew Appel is leading this effort and if you are interested in hosting or attending one of these events, please be in contact with Andrew. This team will also work on planning the Ministerial Installation Service (a special service where the congregation formally installs the minister) and generally help me get to know the Bloomington community, both within and beyond the congregation. The members of the team are Mary Beth O’Brien (chairperson), Andrew Appel, Christine Bannister, Denise Breeden-Ost, Olaya Fernandez Gayol, Ann Kamman, Mike McGregor, and Sarah Montgomery.

I am excited for this year of growing and learning together and building a foundation for a strong ministry ahead.

Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray

revsfg@uubloomington.org

Beginnings are exciting – a chance to put new ideas into action, to meet new people, to try something new, and maybe learn and grow in new ways. They might also be overwhelming, as the familiar slips away, decisions must be made, priorities evaluated. It can take a lot of work to begin something new.

I am super excited about a number of new things in Religious Education this year: a new class for middle schoolers, a new curriculum in Kids’ Club, new stories and works in Spirit Play, a new Coming of Age cohort, several new Adult religious education offerings, and a grant for a new youth program in the works. We have lovely new teachers, ready to work alongside our wonderful returning teachers, and a new teacher training to help everyone feel prepared and informed.

I’m also excited about some new ways for you to get to know your religious education program and see how you’d like to get involved. Our Religious Education Fair on September 8 offers a chance to talk to class facilitators and learn more about their programs. Parents can learn about children and youth programs at the Parent Orientation on Friday, September 13, 5:30 - 7:30pm. Food and childcare will be provided; please register! And our new Religious Education Handbook is available for everyone, in print and online. I hope you will take a look, and see how you would like to get involved.

And finally, a couple of reminders: Parents, please register your children, birth through age 18, if they will participate in any programming including childcare, OWL, Youth Group, Coming of Age, Spirit Play, Kids’ Club, or Middle School Youth Group. And everyone: we still need two more volunteers to commit to teaching children or youth one Sunday per month. Please contact me if you are interested.

Peace,

Stephanie

Stephanie Kimball

Director of Lifespan Religious Education

kimball@uubloomington.org

Intentionally Arriving to a New Era, Together

After this two-year period of transition, many at UUCB may be thinking and grounding into a state of more constancy moving into the coming years. This new beginning is an opportunity to think about what to deeply cultivate, what activities and religious education opportunities to start engaging with–a time to intentionally and with curiosity get to know one another. After much discernment, we have arrived.

Of course, it is also true that our community is a constant embodiment of change–new programs, new faces, new ways of doing things. As Connections Coordinator, I strive to help community members navigate this changing and deepening landscape in finding what feels most nourishing and meaningful to them. I genuinely enjoy meeting with folks to discuss opportunities and make introductions. If you are looking for a new group to join, a new volunteer task, or want to talk through current activities, please reach out to me. I am always available via email at connect@uubloomington.org to answer questions.

Thinking back on Rev. Barbara Child’s recent sermon on artificial intelligence and community (my four-word paraphrase), I also love meeting face-to-face to talk through these options. To me, the emotional relationship-building of these meetings speaks to the core of what “Connections” means. These types of connections are also, I believe, foundational roots that strengthen our community. Sometimes, particularly complex questions or inquiries about larger projects are simply also addressed more efficiently in-person. If you are looking to discuss engagement at UUCB, just reach out to me to schedule a time. I am available to meet in-person at the church or over a cup of coffee, virtually via Zoom, and over the phone. That’s why I am here!

Gratitude to All Who Keep This Community Thriving

I am grateful to those congregants who have reached out with initiative to discuss potential projects and group involvement. So much of the time, those folks realize these hopes and bring forth skillful facilitation and dedicated contributions of time and energy at the church. I want to express how grateful I am for the folks who have all volunteered for Sunday morning activities–Java Crew, Greeters, Flame Keepers, and others–membership-related programming, and who have served on committees with me. So many of you have risen early on Sundays to concentrate on time-consuming morning tasks. So many of you have spent hours preparing at home to facilitate classes and to bring back information to committees that will then provide valuable assistance to the larger congregation. So many of you have also volunteered valuable daytime and evening hours during the week to connections teams such as the Welcoming Team and the Membership Anniversary Phone Call Team. These teams aim to help folks feel appreciated and welcomed–thank you to those who have served on these teams to do this generous work. I so appreciate your intention and care. It is a joy to help a community embody this interconnectedness within itself. If you are interested in knowing more about these teams and discussing whether they might be a good fit for you, please also reach out!

How to Get Started: An Introduction

For those wanting to get started within the community, there are upcoming opportunities to gain broader and more generalized knowledge. Each first Sunday of the month I facilitate a short introductory class called New to UU. This class covers general information about Unitarian Universalism, our church, offers a glimpse of our many regularly occurring activities (with a guest presentation for a Social Justice Task Force representative), and welcomes the opportunity to get to know one another. If you have recently visited UUCB for the first time, or if you have been curiously attending for several months, you are welcome to attend this class!

How to Get Started: Membership Opportunity (sign up here!)

For those looking to dive a bit deeper, the Exploring UUCB course, also known as the Membership Class, is upcoming on September 22nd and 29th. This two-day course is a prerequisite to joining official membership at UUCB and is also an excellent learning opportunity for those newer congregants to lean into the details of information presented in the New to UU class. We cover UUCB and UU history, the topic of ministry, governance, membership, and so much more. After culmination, participants have the opportunity to sign the Membership Book and participate in a Covenanting Ceremony during an upcoming Sunday. It is an engaging class with long-time members as facilitators and guest speakers and an opportunity for meaningful connection amongst participants. Whether you are hoping to become a member, looking to learn more about this community, or both, I welcome you to sign up. This two-day class occurs 3-4 times a year. So, if you are unable to make this fall offering, keep an eye out for upcoming dates. Please register HERE or reach out to me for more information at connect@uubloomington.org.

A “New” Year!

In many ways, though the church year began at the beginning of July, the year feels to be starting now. Many employed by or attending IU are returning to Bloomington and to UUCB, our new settled minister Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray has begun preaching, programming is kicking off in the congregation, and groups are holding their initial meetings as the summer comes to a close. For those young adults returning to school after the summer break–and to all young adults generally–there will be a YA pizza gathering and hike at Lake Griffy on Sunday, September 15th. For more information, join the YA group (18~35yrs) on Church Center and keep an eye on the Friday Update.

I hope this “new year” feels like a welcoming invitation to engage within the UUCB community. I hope it feels like an opportunity to deepen connections and intentionally participate in classes and groups.

Thank you for being here.

Anabel Watson

Connections Coordinator

connect@uubloomington.org

Directories: What's the Use?

According to the first definition presented by The Britannica Dictionary, a directory is, “a book that contains an alphabetical list of names of people, businesses, etc.” While that is the cut and dry, no-nonsense definition, I like to think of a directory as the ultimate tool for connection. Before social media and the internet, people within a community used this tool to contact one another. Even within this age of social media, communication and connection can be challenging. With the various advertisements, suggested pages, and myriad slew of information prompted by an algorithm tailored to you, it is easy to get distracted. It is my feeling that the easiest way to connect with other people in your community is often the simplest. In this sense, a directory is a great guide to connect with someone in a meaningful way. With a directory, connecting with people is, well, more direct. You can use it to mail someone a card, give them a call, or send them an email.

As our year picks up, we have so many wonderful opportunities to get involved, take classes, and be in community with one another. In an effort to build connections, I am going to be available during Community Hour on the first Sunday of each month to snap photos of members for our directory. During this time, if you need to update your information or learn how to share your information with the online directory, please let me know! Our Technology Coordinator, Hans Kelson, made a step-by-step manual on how to share your information with the directory - click here to view the instructions. If you have a photo you would like to use for the directory, or need to update your phone number, address, or email, please contact me. My email is office@uubloomington.org and I can be reached via phone with this number: (812) 531-1262. We can make sure all of your information is up to date and folks who are in our community have a way of contacting you. I look forward to capturing your smiling faces!

With love,

Jo Bowman

Jo Bowman

Communications Coordinator

office@uubloomington.org

The Board held its annual retreat on Saturday, August 17th. After spending some time getting acquainted (Can you guess which Board members have jumped out of a plane? Speak more than one language? Enjoy line dancing?), we dug into the main tasks for the day: reviewing the Board Covenant, revising our Ends statements, and developing our annual planning document. These annual tasks are referenced in our new Board policies document, which the Board adopted in June. The Covenant describes the principles that guide how we work together as a Board. The Ends statements articulate the Church’s vision in more specific terms. The annual planning document describes our goals for the coming year and the action steps we will take. You can find each of these documents on the UUCB website, under Governance.

This year, the Board will focus its energies on nurturing the Congregation as we change and grow together; supporting Rev. Susan, the Congregation, and ourselves as we build trusting relationships around the new settled ministry; and implementing our partnership governance model. Our annual plan incorporates a commitment to bringing a joyful, welcoming, and open-hearted spirit to our work as a Board; to building relationships of trust, love, and care among the Board, Rev. Susan, and the Congregation; and to being courageous as we step into the new settled ministry. We are bursting with excitement for this year of new beginnings!

Please watch for announcements about the “startup” weekend at which UUA staff will facilitate conversations and activities designed to help build a solid foundation for Rev. Susan’s ministry. The announcements will provide detail about how you can participate in this important work.

Jane McLeod

Board President

pres@uubloomington.org

New Beginnings! What is UU the Vote? What’s All the Fuss About?

This month is about new beginnings. It feels like there are new beginnings all around us: new minister, new church year, new school year, and possibly new generation of national leadership. In fact, fueled by an important and exciting election and a new minister – who over the years helped inspire and create UU the Vote - we’ve jumped into this new beginning!

UU the Vote is a ‘bold initiative’ created by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)’s Side With Love team (https://uuthevote.org) that offers a plug and play home base of options and opportunities for UUs to participate in shoring up our democracy with details and support. It is guided by our principles, especially respecting the inherent worth and dignity of all persons, their voices and their being able to participate in the democratic process. Doing this work is spiritual and moral!

We the People . . . have the privilege and responsibility to select our civic leaders and influence public policy every two-four years. Despite its flaws, our electoral system allows us the opportunity to begin again, to envision and create a future—an opportunity unique to democracy.

During election seasons, we do this by registering and voting, and supporting all eligible people to get registered and vote. As UU’s, we do something! Currently, we are active with our UU the Vote program that started with 30 people who met in our church library and divided into teams to work on postcards to voters and/or registering voters.

We now have a trained team ready to help with voter registration and furnishing information about how, when, and where to vote. We have been at Shalom and on the IU campus. Currently others are gathering possible sites and events where we will be available.

And yes, there are postcards! Statistics show that postcarding is effective voter engagement especially for those who do not have cell phones and texting.

How does postcarding work?

• We, the UU the Vote team, order postcards
• You pick up postcards along with names, addresses, model messages and by hand fill them out and return to us
• We stamp and mail at appropriate dates.

Postcards will be available Sundays September 8th and 15th in Room 106. Watch Friday Update for details about postcarding and how you too can do postcards.

Voter registration ends October 7 when we move onto another beginning. On October 8, early voting begins. We will be working on how we can encourage and involve people in voting and being an active participant in our democratic process. Please let us know your thoughts, ideas, and your willingness to help with that month of voting. Stop by the UU the Vote table after Sunday service or email SJCoordinatingteam@uubloomington.org

How are we able to do all this?

Carrie Newcomer came to us and offered to donate a portion of the proceeds from her concert on September 14 for our UU the Vote work. Several people in the congregation have made donations of stamps and funds. We also have funds set aside for Social Justice from our last capital campaign. Many, many people have jumped in to make UU the Vote a go! Thanks to all for their time and resources.

Below is the information about Carrie Newcomer concert. There are still tickets. Carrie enthusiastically welcomes us to register voters at it!

A Gathering of Spirits – Hope in Hard Times

Saturday, September 14th at 7PM; Buskirk-Chumley Theater

Join Carrie Newcomer with pianist Gary Walters and The Gathering of Spirits String Quartet for an intimate and uplifting evening of musical storytelling, humor, poetry and award-winning songwriting. Special guest musician and opener will be Jason Wilber, songwriter, recording artist, and 24-year music director/guitarist for the legendary singer-songwriter John Prine.

We hope you join for this evening of heart opening music.

The burden of making change in the world is so much lighter when shared on a team of like-minded people. It’s actually fun! That’s who UUCB is and we're thankful for passionate teammates Carrie Newcomer and Robert Meitus.

It all begins now –

From the members of the UU Social Justice Coordinating Team and friends, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, Barb Berggoetz, Christine Banister, Jenny Vessels, Jackie Hall, Molly O’Donnell, Marcia Veldman, Mary Ann Williams

Task of the Month

The September Task of the Month has tips for reducing the impact of doing laundry. Here are a few of the tips in the flier:

• Warm water is no more effective than cold, so wash in cold (tap) water unless your laundry is greasy or needs to be disinfected.
• Pre-soak heavily soiled items before placing them in the machine.
• Electric dryers take ±5 pounds of coal per load in Indiana!
• Air dry items year-round:
  • This month's cooler weather is perfect for hanging items outdoors.
  • When your heat is on, drying things indoors adds humidity and increases your comfort.
  • Touch up items in the drier if needed.
• Use powdered detergent to reduce the use of plastic.

Thanks for making a difference and spreading the word!

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

zero.gstf@uubloomington.org

Poverty could be abolished. How do we get there?

If tax cheats paid their taxes and the missing money was distributed to the poor we could get all Americans out of poverty. We lack the will to get it done, but not the means. That is why Desmond Morris titles his book Poverty, by America. It is a result of policy, not genetics or culture. The intersection of race, health care, drug policy, environmental degradation, and impenetrable red tape make economic mobility all but impossible. Poverty Abolitionists of UUCB try to understand the causes and work to end them. Some actions are aimed outside Bloomington, some right here. We seek to work with UUCB task forces. 

We coordinate with UU the Vote, the Homelessness and Hunger Task Forces, the Racial Justice Task Force, the Book Table and UUCB Library. Poverty disproportionately affects the LGBTQ+ community, prisoners, and those living with excessive pollution, which are concerns of other task forces. The proposed MCCSC school merger and redistricting plans will affect educational opportunities in our community. These are opportunities for action.

We are not and don’t intend to become a Task Force. We prefer working with our existing task forces as well as groups outside the church. Some of our members are coordinating our efforts with those of the Bloomington Multi-Faith Alliance for Racial Equity.

Current initiatives include voter registration, monitoring and encouraging progressive policies in our local schools, participating in SCCAP’s Thriving Connections, and helping tenants going through eviction court. 

We welcome helpers and new ideas. Please join us at our next meeting, 10:30 a.m. Sept. 16 on Zoom. Use this contact form for Connie Loftman to get the zoom link and to get on our mailing list.  

Social Justice Fall Grants

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 will be available in September and accepted in October. Notification will be made in mid November.

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 Special Purposes Fund. They are asked to write a review for our monthly newsletter, Perspectives.

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

Chalice Circles

Don't miss your chance to sign up for this year's Chalice Circles. There are three ways to sign up.

1. In Fellowship Hall after the services on Sept 8 and 15
2. Online starting today by using this registration form.
3. If neither of these ways works for you, call Steve Pock 347-820-2818

Registration closes on September 16. Late registration is sometimes possible. Call Steve Pock for availability.

Chalice Circles are groups of 7-10 people that meet once or twice a month to get to know each other and themselves better by practicing deep listening. Circles will start meeting in late September/October and meet through May/June of 2025. Chalice Circles are a good way to get and stay connected to other people from the church. Facilitators are trained to present the monthly topic and facilitate deep listening.

Here is one member's Experience with Chalice Circles:

I have participated in Chalice Circles for almost the entire time that they have existed at UUCB, both as a participant and as a facilitator. I plan to be involved, as a facilitator, again this year. I agree with Rev. Thandeka, a Unitarian Universalist theologian, who referred to the work of small group ministry as “an act that brings about spiritual transformation.” This transformation is accomplished through attentive listening, rational thought, empathy, and compassion. You learn as much about yourself as you do about other people. For an introvert like me, Chalice Circles are a perfect opportunity to connect with others. I love Chalice Circles! Please join me.

Alan Backler

Current Member Number: 449

Attendance-

08/04/2024: 153

08/11/2024: 198

08/18/2024: 194

08/25/2024: 175

Offering Total for August 2024: $3,412.48

25% Donated to Habitat for Humanity: $853.12