October 4, 2026: Balancing Pride and Humility
Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray
With a weekend full of celebration – Lotus Festival, Spencer Pride, Resilience Productions – we celebrate pride in our community, LGBTQ+ pride, pride in history and diversity, and the work for justice we do today. And we recognize how humility is not separate from pride. Together, in balance, they are a strength.
Musical guest: Sarah Dan Jones. Sarah Dan, the composer of the beloved UU song “Meditation on Breathing” is the Director of Music Ministries at the Starr King UU Fellowship in Plymouth, NH.
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
#118 This Little Light of Mine
Land Acknowledgement
Anabel Watson, Connections Coordinator
Welcome & Announcements
Lighting the Chalice Flame
Jason Michálek, Worship Associate (9:30 a.m.)
Judy Owens
Sarah Montgomery, Worship Associate (11:30 a.m.)
Time for All Ages
Amoya Blackwood is Brave by Chantaie Allick
Dr. Stephanie Kimball, Director of Lifespan Religious Exploration
Special Music
“True Colors” by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly Sarah Dan Jones
Social Justice Task Force Moment
Homelessness Task Force
Mary Blizzard and Dan Caldwell
Pastoral Prayer and Meditation
Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray
Hymn
#95 There is More Love Somewhere
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
Sarah Dan Jones
Gift of Music
“When I Breathe In” by Sarah Dan Jones
Sermon
Balancing Pride and Humility
Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray
Closing Hymn
#1014 Answering the Call of Love
Benediction
A Memorial Service for Barbara Restle will be held on Friday, October 9, at 4 p.m. in the Meeting Room. A reception will follow in Fellowship Hall.
Today
The Reproductive Justice Task Force will be tabling during Community Hour.
The Homelessness Task Force meets at 10:30 a.m. in Room 112.
The Habitat Task Force meets at 10:30 a.m. in Room 110.
New to UU will be taking place at 10:30 a.m. in the UU 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 Freethinkers meet at 1 p.m. in Room 208. What's on our Indiana ballot? Join UU Freethinkers and Democracy Task Force to talk about Public Question 1, judges' races, and more. Early voting starts October 6!
This Week
The Parkinson’s Support Group meets on Monday, October 5, at 2 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.
Monday Voter Outreach Nights takes place weekly on Mondays in Room 106 (Our UU the Vote Action Hub!) at 6 p.m. Join the Democracy Task Force every Monday from 6-7:30 in Room 106 to make calls and write postcards to voters.
The Refugee and Immigrant Support and Education Task Force meets on Tuesday, October 6, at 6:30 p.m. in Room 110.
An Indigenous Studies Forum will be held on Tuesday, October 6, at 7 p.m. in the UU Library. This forum’s topic will be, “Stories of Native Resistance to European Encroachment.”
(Re)Claiming Your Spiritual Journey begins on Tuesday, October 6, at 7 p.m. in Room 208. Many people come to Unitarian Universalism from other faith traditions that didn’t serve them well and may have done them harm. But if we do not confront our religious past, heal from any trauma it caused, and distinguish the helpful from harmful aspects of it, we’re likely to remain stuck and deny ourselves the richness of an integrated faith. This class offers a chance to explore your story, intentionally processing the good and the bad so that you can harvest what’s helpful and be free of the rest. Register at uubloomington.org/learn/for-adults/.
Tuusday Thing (a Young Adult Gathering) meets weekly on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in Room 210.
The Hunger Task Force meets on Wednesday, October 7, at 10:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.
Pastoral Conversations meets on Wednesdays at
12:15 p.m. in the Library.
Exploring Daoist Philosophy: Ziran and Reverence for the Natural begins on Wednesday, October 7, at 7 p.m. in Room 208. After covering the basics, we'll dive deep into ziran ("natural spontaneity"), a deep idea that the purest things act freely, of themselves, without outside imposition. Expect poetry, ancient but approachable texts, laid-back presentations, and open discussion facilitated by Zach Ammerman. All faith backgrounds (and none) welcome to explore this non-theistic philosophy. Appropriate both for newcomers and for those who took the previous Daoism course last spring. Register at https://www.uubloomington.org/learn/for-adults/
UU Choir Rehearsal is held on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the Meeting Room.
Next Sunday
The UU Humanist Forum meets at 1 p.m. in Room 208 with an option to join online. Miles Eddy presents “Are Verifiable Elections Possible?”
The Coming of Age Workshop will be held at 2:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.
Stop by the UU the Vote Action Hub (Room 106) this Sunday to check or update your voter registration (it's the last Sunday before the Oct. 5 deadline), write postcards to voters, learn about candidates, and more.
