January 21, 2024: Celebrating 75 Years
10:15 a.m.
Reverend Connie Grant
Erica Whichello, Worship Associate
2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of this congregation, recognized as the Bloomington Unitarian Fellowship by the American Unitarian Association. We’ll recognize membership anniversaries and begin a year of celebration.
View the video archive of this service here:
Order of Service
Our order of service is available both here on our website and in print.Ringing of the World Bell
Congregational Prelude
“Sanctuary” by Randy Scruggs
Welcome & Announcements
Anabel Watson, Connections Coordinator
Land Acknowledgement
Lighting the Chalice Flame
Nolan Banister
“The Lamp of Our History” by Audette Fulbright Fulson
Stephanie Kimball, Director of Lifespan Religious Education
Opening Words
“We Come to Love a Church” by Drew Kennedy
Reverend Connie Grant
Opening Hymn
#145 “As Tranquil Streams”
Story
“The Self-Hugging Tree” by Emily Manvel Leite
Childcare is available from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Room 108.
Religious Education for Children:
Ages 3-6 meet for Spirit Play in Room 105
Ages 7-12 meet for Kids' Club in Room 208
Children may be picked up at these rooms at 11:30 a.m.
Musical Moment
from “Stillwater Suite” by Peter Strickholm
Ray Fellman, piano
Ministerial Search Committee Moment
Denise Breeden-Ost
Recognizing Membership Anniversaries
Anabel Watson
Reflection
Fifty Years at UUCB
Joan Caulton
Pastoral Prayer and Meditation
“Prayer for a Church” by Theresa Novak
Offertory
“Träumerei” by Robert Schumann
Ray Fellman, piano
During the Offertory, you are invited to silently light a candle to represent a joy or sorrow in your life.
You are invited to participate in this morning’s offering by contributing as the basket passes or online at uucb.churchcenter.com/giving. You may make a non-pledge gift or a contribution towards your annual pledge, or both, at that site. This fiscal year, 25% of our non-pledge Sunday offerings will be given to All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center, which provides cloth and disposable diapers/wipes, pregnancy tests, feeding supplies, and other essentials to families in need. See alloptionsprc.org for more information.
Reading
“A History of Church, Including Yours” by Sean Neil-Barron
Erica Whichello, Worship Associate
Gift of Music
“When I Take Leave,” commission in memory of John and Julie Lawson, music by Monika Herzig, text by Norbert Krapf (“Blood Song”)
UUCB Choir
with Monika Herzig: piano, Peter Kienle: bass, Joel Brainard: bass, Carolyn Dutton: violin, Jonathan Elmer: trombone
When Julie Lawson and I discussed commissioning a piece to commemorate her late husband, John, we agreed it should be in the jazz tradition John loved so much. Monika Herzig agreed to compose the piece, and she suggested using a text by a former Indiana Poet Laureate Norbert Krapf. Julie went through his works and chose this poem. We planned to premiere it while Monika was back in Bloomington this month, and we settled on Julie’s own birthday, January 21, for the premier performance. When it became clear Julie was not going to make it back from Nashville, where she had gone for a clinical trial, she sent word through her sons to me to go ahead with the music! And so we are (heaven help us), and we honor Julie as well as John with this performance.
-Susan Swaney, Music Director
Homily
The Founding of the Bloomington Unitarian Fellowship
Rev. Connie Grant
Closing Hymn
#1028 “Fire of Commitment”
Extinguishing the Chalice Flame
“The Memories We Gather” by Gary Kowalski
Benediction
Choral Benediction
“Love is Love is Love” by Pam Blevins-Hinkle