September 20, 2026: Hope is Here
Maria Renner, Ministerial Intern
What does hope look like when life and the world around us remain uncertain? Together, we’ll explore how hope can coexist with grief, uncertainty, and difficulty, and consider where we might encounter it in unexpected places.
View the video archive of this service here:
Information about other happenings at UUCB each week is available here.
Ringing of the World Bell
Greeting
Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray
Congregational Prelude
#1000 Morning Has Come
Land Acknowledgement
Welcome & Announcements
Erica Whichello, Worship Associate (9:30 a.m.)
Sarah Barnett, Worship Associate (11:30 a.m.)
Lighting the Chalice Flame
Barbara Schwegman and Susan Swaney (9:30 a.m.)
Robin Boulding (11:30 a.m.)
Time for All Ages
Guy Loftman
Dr. Stephanie Kimball, Director of Lifespan Religious Exploration
Religious Exploration for Children:
Kids’ Club (grades 2-3) meet in Room 103 at 9:45 & 11:45 a.m.
Spirit Play (ages 4-6) meets in Room 105 at 9:45 & 11:45 a.m.
Explorers (grades 4-6) meet in Room 208 at 9:45 & 11:45 a.m.
Middle School (grades 7-8) meets in Room 210 at 11:45 a.m.
Children may be picked up at 10:45 a.m. & 12:45 p.m.
Musical Interlude
Ray Fellman, piano
Chalice Circle Facilitator's Promise
Jan Armstrong, Hilary Cannon Anderson, Sandy Churchill, Ian MacDonald, Celeste McGregor, Judy Ownes, Pat Slabach, Jenny Vessels, Janeth Welch, Amy Wolf
Pastoral Prayer and Meditation
Hymn
#1031 Filled With Loving Kindness
Dedication of Offering
This fiscal year, 25% of our non-pledge Sunday offerings will be donated to Farm to Family to support their SNAP matching program at the Bloomington Farm Stop Collective, which will expand access to local food by doubling SNAP benefits for eligible food items.
You can contribute to the basket online at this link, or pay your pledge online.
Offertory
Ray Fellman, piano
Introduction to the Gift of Music
Worship Associate
Gift of Music
“I Am Willing” by Holly Near
Soloists: MJ Wallaker, Hans Kelson, Sarah Montgomery
UUCB Choir
Susan Swaney, Director of Music
Sermon
Hope is Here
Maria Renner, Ministerial Intern
Closing Hymn
#1015 I Know I Can
Benediction
Upcoming Events and Classes!
To view our full calendar of upcoming events go to: uucb.churchcenter.com/calendar
The Autumnal Equinox Service will be held on Tuesday, September 22, at 6 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. As the days grow shorter, we pause to honor the changing season and to seek balance in our lives. We acknowledge the value of light and growth, and the value of the increasing darkness and rest.
Today
The UU the Vote Action Hub is open in Room 106 every Sunday between services and after the second service. Stop by to check your voter registration, learn about candidates, and connect with volunteer opportunities. For the next four Sundays (9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11), we'll be writing postcards to voters in Texas with the Environmental Voter Project. Our Monday Voter Outreach Nights continue each Monday from 6-7:30 p.m., where we call and write to Indiana voters.
Resilience Productions will be tabling during Community Hour in Fellowship Hall for their 5-50 Fundraiser!
The International Outreach will be holding a bake sale during Community Hour.
A Conversation with Rev. Susan and the Board about the process of hiring a second minister will be held today at 10:45 am in the Library.
The UU Freethinkers meet at 1 p.m. in Room 208.
This Week
Voter Outreach Night takes place weekly on Mondays at
6 p.m. in Room 106.
Class 101 takes place on Tuesday, September 22, at 5 p.m. in the UU Library. Knowing the basics of social class can help us meet the current moment and mobilize for change. Facilitated by Kristin Schumacher and Dr. Quentin Wheeler-Bell. Register on Church Center.
Tuusday Thing (a Young Adult Gathering) meets weekly on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in Room 210.
Pastoral Conversations meets on Wednesdays at
12:15 p.m. in the Library.
UU Choir Rehearsal is held on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the Meeting Room.
Next Sunday
To earn money for the Shawnee Seed Sanctuary the Indigenous Studies Group is hosting a Cornbread Palooza on Sunday, September 27, after each service. UUCB members and friends will have the opportunity to taste a variety of cornbread and vote with their dollars to select the winner.
The Reproductive Justice Task Force will be holding a Ted Talk Viewing on Sunday, September 27, at 10:45 a.m. in the Library. The Reproductive Justice Task Force invites you to a short session during Community Hour in the Library from 10:45-11:20 on Sunday, Sept 27th. We will view a 15 min video TED talk by the researcher and writer of the book, The Turnaway Study on women who are seeking an abortion but are turned away, followed by a brief discussion. All are welcome.
The UU Humanist Forum meets at 1 p.m. in Room 208 with an option to join online. The discussion topic is, “Thomas Paine’s Age of Reason,” led by Kevin Craig.
Traveling University will be holding a lecture on Sunday, September 27, at 2 p.m. in the Meeting Room. The lecture is Health Care for All -- Medicare for All -- Just Right or Too Radical? by Dr. Rob Stone.
