June 14, 2026: All Our Relations in the Beloved Community
Ryan T. Conway (Pakawi)
What if we understood the plants and animals around us as non-human kin, here to help us serve our purpose in the Cosmos? What if corn were more than a commodity? What if we understood her as a spiritual being, tied not just to our nutritional survival, but to our vital, umbilical connection to Mother Earth, and a gift from our Creator? A Native perspective on the Beloved Community would consider all these beings as integral to our vision of an achievable, better world...and, moreover, would consider our care for them as a fundamental prerequisite for restoring balance within the human community. If these sacred kin can once again be recognized as those who nourish us and heal us...might we also be willing to renew our relationships with them, so that they may teach us about wisdoms we have obviously long forgotten? The sharing of a single, sacred seed is a spiritual act of renewal, an object lesson in faith, and a material manifestation of solidarity. Join us as we braid together a vision of Alliance suitable for renewing our relationships and co-creating our Beloved Community.
Ryan T. Conway (Pakawi) is a seasoned community organizer, farmer, and independent researcher with extensive experience in food systems and policy governance. As a proud citizen of the Shawnee Tribe, Ryan actively engages in tribal life by teaching the Shawnee language and cultivating ceremonial corn, while researching and preserving traditional medicine and foodways through the IU Institute for Indigenous Knowledge. With a rich background spanning academic research, nonprofit leadership, and small-business ownership, Ryan applies a holistic and integrative approach to research design and project execution, fostering innovative and community-centered solutions. Examples include the Shawnee Seed Sanctuary, a new 501c3 he is empowered to Direct by a board of Shawnee Elders, and the Prophetstown Seed Alliance, a growing network of seed-saving and food-sovereignty among the 14+ tribes of the original Prophetstown Alliance.
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
Dr. Stephanie Kimball, Director of Lifespan Religious Education
Congregational Prelude
#318 We Would Be One
Welcome & Announcements
Anabel Watson, Connections Coordinator
Land Acknowledgement
Lighting the Chalice Flame
Erica Whichello, Worship Associate
Mary Craig
Time for All Ages
“To Whom Does the Land Belong?” as retold by Faye Mogensen
Musical Interlude
“One Summer’s Day” by Joe Hisaishi
Kim Carballo, piano
Social Justice Task Force Moment
Racial Justice
Ruth Aydt
Pastoral Prayer and Meditation
Ryan Conway
Hymn
#1069 Ancient Mother
Dedication of Offering
This fiscal year, 25% of our non-pledge Sunday offerings will be donated to Tandem to directly support The Postpartum Doula Equity Program and Free Perinatal Mental Health Groups for families in our community. See tandembloomington.org for more information.
You can contribute to the basket online at this link, or pay your pledge online.
Offertory
“Lejano azul” by Luis Calvo
Kim Carballo, piano
Reading
“So Live Your Life” by Tecumseh
Gift of Music
“Vos advenae” by Abby Henkel-Roman
Voces Novae
Sermon
All Our Relations in the Beloved Community
Ryan Conway
Closing Hymn
#1064 Blue Boat Home
Benediction
Choral Benediction
“Benedictus” by Mary Goetze and Violet Cookie Lynch
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington’s office will be closed on Friday, June 19, in observation of Juneteenth.
Today
The Habitat Task Force meets at 11:30 a.m. in Room 112.
New to UU meets at 12 p.m. in the UUCB Library. If you are new to our congregation, a very warm welcome to you! You are invited to join in a brief introduction to Unitarian Universalism and this congregation.
The UU Humanist Forum meets at 12 p.m. in Room 208 with an option to join online. The topic is "History of Humanism in the UUA,” by Kevin.
The Young Adult Pizza and Hike will be held at 12 p.m. in Room 210 with a hike at Lake Griffy afterward!
“Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment,” a free 90-minute livestreamed concert featuring Bette Middler, Rufus Wainwright, Patti Smith, and more, will be held at 7 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Doors will open at 6:30 (the southern entrance); the concert runs from 7 to 8:30 pm, and afterwards we can talk about what we’ve learned and how we can confront threats to our freedoms of speech, religion, press, and protest. The event is sponsored by the UUCB Green Sanctuary Task Force and the Uplands Network of the Sierra Club. Popcorn will be served, but please bring your own (non-alcoholic) drinks.
This Week
Tuusday Thing (a Young Adult Gathering) meets weekly on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in Room 210.
The Rainbow Rights Task Force meets on Tuesday, June 16, at 6 p.m. in the Library.
The UU Men’s Group Meets on Tuesday, June 16, at 7 p.m. in the Library.
Pastoral Conversations meets on Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m. in the Library.
Heartland String Band Practice will be held on Thursday, June 18, at 5:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.
Community Singing Facilitated by Angela Gabriel will be held on Thursday, June 18, at 7 p.m. in the Meeting Room.
Bloomington Transgender Support Group meets on Saturday, June 20, at 12 p.m. offsite. Contact office@uubloomington.org for more information.
The Fiber Arts Group meets on Saturday, June 20, at 2 p.m. in Room 112.
Next Sunday
Join us during Community Hour after the service to celebrate the congregation’s vote to name Rev. Mary Ann Macklin as Minister Emerita of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington!
The UU Humanist Forum meets at 12 p.m. in Room 208 with an option to join online. The topic is “Optimism vs Pessimism” presented by Mary.
