A Wonderful Time of Year

August 13, 2019

​Beloved:
       My goodness but didn’t it storm last night!  The hens are extra grumpy this morning, no doubt for loss of sleep, but the hydrangeas appear much refreshed.  Coming round the bend of late summer such soaky good rain is a treat for these plants who have taken care of business so faithfully for months.
       Other joys this time of year:  neighborhood school kids at the bus stop in their new shoes and backpacks, international students loading their bags into Uber out front of Target, and nights almost cool enough to sleep with the windows open.  Best of all – y’all are back from your summer travels, so Sunday morning attendance has picked up again.
Along with the busyness of town we’ve oodles going on at church these days too.  Check it out. 
Today ~ Pridefest Volunteer Training this evening.  If you signed up you have email with details about this.
 This weekend, August 17-18

• the East Side Art Resale At St.  Thomas
• 8 AM on Saturday ~ Sarah Asher is hosting a church garden party.  Free coffee, bagels and donuts for everyone who shows up to weed and tidy our flowerbeds!   
• Sunday after worship ~ August Church Council Meeting ​

August 22nd ~ Due date for cookies needed the next day.  Deborah E. has details.
August 23rd ~ We’re hosting a table at the IU LGBTQ+ Culture Center Open House.  No volunteers needed, just cookies.  See previous date.
August 28th ~ Wednesday Night Supper & Heidi-Chris Wedding Shower.  We’ll gather as usual for the meal but with the added fun of celebrating Heidi & Chris’s marriage with a cake and a money tree.  What’s a money tree?  Instead of gifts, guests pin money ~ $5, $10, $20 bills ~ to a tree branch, thus filling out the leaves.  Share the joy!
August 31st ~ Pridefest Bloomington on East Kirkwood 2-11 PM.  UBC’ers are volunteering in various ways.  See Laura Beth, Donetta, Greg or Jodi for more info.
And all the Sundays in September ~ Host a student for lunch after church.  See Jodi to sign up for this opportunity to welcome these special guests.

It really is the most wonderful time of the year to be called University Baptist Church.  Join me in making it mean something very special to the guests who are arriving daily as we pray for them, receive them gracefully and offer them a place in our life together.  The joy will be all ours.