The Northliner

Sunday services are held at 10:00 am. Currently our services are held live at UCN and also streamed on Zoom. Coffee hour follows the service.

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/93364454692?pwd=U29yanFGZTUvOXAvcWM0UWQ1UFU0QT09
Meeting ID: 933 6445 4692
Password: 13800

Services begin promptly at 10 am. If you'd like to join in conversation before the service, you may join the Zoom meeting at 9:50 and wrap up your conversations shortly before 10.

Jan. 7: All Souls’ Cafe

The New Year will bring the UCN annual All Soul's Cafe' to you on Sunday January 7 at 10 am. We have some great acts again this year & we hope to have some great brunch food, too.

Please bring cookies, coffeecakes, cheese trays, etc., to make a festive brunch for all to share. But, due to allergies, NO NUTS!

Brunch will be in the west lobby, with Dan Lusk making wonderful coffee. If you can help set up on Saturday morning at 10 am, please come to set up card tables & chairs. Contact Linda Sandersen with questions.

January 14: Martin Luther King Sunday, “Race Matters…” Rev. Scott W. Alexander

Scott writes: Decades ago, Martin Luther King famously said: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." Today many American conservatives--including a majority on our Supreme Court -- seem to feel that day has fully arrived, and that our society no longer needs affirmative action or “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion “ programs and protections. With all my heart and soul, I beg to disagree. Let’s explore this together as we work keep the legacy and challenge of Dr. King alive.

For our special service of All Souls' Cafe we will have a staffed nursery from 10 to 11 AM. Elementary-aged kids will be offered a craft activity in a downstairs class room from approximately 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Please contact Betsy Muellenbach.

New Programing for 2024!

Childcare on Non-RE Sundays

Childcare is now offered every Sunday during the second half of the service. Elementary aged students will have structured activities that include yoga, sharing time, games and crafts on the second and fourth Sundays. We will continue to have Religious Education classes on the first and third Sundays for children and youth of all ages, and an intergenerational service on the fifth Sunday.

The nursery will continue to be staffed weekly for the entire length of the service.

Grades 7-9 OWL (“Our Whole Lives”) Starts Soon

Space is still available for friends & neighbors of UU families to be part of this truth- & values-based class on human sexuality. Led by trained UUCW (Brookfield) and LCUUC (Hartland) facilitators at United UU Congregation (in Waukesha). Important dates:

Sun. Jan. 14, 1:30-3:30 pm – Parent Orientation

Sat. Feb. 3, 6-10 pm – Student “Take-off” with games & pizza

Sun. Feb. 11 - May 5 (5:30-8 pm) – Weekly workshops

More details and sign-up info at:

https://onrealm.org/UUCW/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=NmZmNTlmOTctNmNmYS00MjJkLWI1MWUtYWZmMTAxMzk2MzNl

Craft Supply Requests

Throughout the year, we’ll be asking for common household items for upcoming craft projects. A labeled box will be set inside the door of the elementary school classroom for donations.

For the coming weeks, we need:

• Paper towel tubes
• Pint-size canning jars or peanut butter jars, with lids
• Buttons – all colors and sizes

Defend Democracy Training at UCN This Sunday, 12:30 pm

The First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee is proud to host an event on January 7, where they will welcome non-partisan community organizations to discuss how we can enable and encourage voting to direct our efforts to defend democracy in Wisconsin.

Come to hear from the representatives of Milwaukee Election Commission, the League of Women Voters, MICAH/ We All Belong, Souls to the Polls, Supermarket Legends, and Wisconsin Unitarian Universalist Social Action Network (WUUSAN).

In UCN's Clara Barton room downstairs, we will be able to attend the panel discussion via Zoom and discuss ways we may each get involved in the democratic process to make a difference in our community. If you'd rather view the panel discussion at home, the link is

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85137260735?pwd=djhycUJCbEV0bFc3cmRNd1V2UmNPZz09

Meeting ID: 851 3726 0735 Passcode: 307401

The Zoom session will run 12:30 to 1:45 pm. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan ahead.

Interfaith Meal

The Committee for Interfaith Understanding invites you to join us on Wednesday, January 17 at 5:30 pm to eat a communal vegetarian meal at the Sikh Gurduara in Brookfield. This meal is referred to as a langar and it is an important service offered by Sikhs to demonstrate people are equal. Everyone is welcome no matter their status or beliefs.

At this gathering you will learn about the Sikh Faith and this important tradition of the langar as a service to humanity.

REGISTER HERE

Taking a Faithful Stand for Equity

The next meeting of Taking a Faithful Stand for Equity will be on Tuesday, January 9, 6:30 pm on Zoom. Our presenter will be David O'Connor, a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe) in northern Wisconsin. In January 2012, he became the American Indian Studies Consultant at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). In David's role at DPI, he supports school districts' efforts to provide instruction on the history, culture, and tribal sovereignty of Wisconsin's American Indian nations and tribal communities.

Please register here.

We are looking forward to seeing you then!

For the Taking a Faithful Stand for Equity cosponsors: Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, MICAH, Wisconsin Council of Churches, Wisconsin Council of Rabbis, Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, WISDOM

Share the Plate Update

The Social Justice Committee has chosen We Got This Community Garden, Inc. to receive the Share the Plate donations for January and February 2024. The program was initiated when a group of boys in the 53206 zone of Milwaukee decided they wanted to clean up their neighborhood and, in the process, they learned about gardening. Through their efforts, a community garden has been established at the corner of 9th and Ring in Milwaukee. In addition, smaller gardens have been established throughout the neighborhood. Participants in the project learn the basics of gardening and care for the gardens. Through weeding garden beds, planting trees, and figuring out are how to get water to gardening spaces the young people working with We Got This develop skills in communication, collaboration and problem solving while changing the physical spaces and providing healthy food to residents within the poorest area of the state. Participants from 4th grade to high school earn $20 for each four hours of service to their neighborhood project.

Half of the donations, cash or check, will go to We Got This Community Garden, Inc. Checks can be written to UCN with “Share the Plate” on the memo line. On our website, www.ucnorth.org, you can donate by using PayPal or Breeze. The Northliner also contains a QR code to scan for making a donation. Thank you for your generosity.

Only 1 Week Left to Nominate a Local Organization for this Award!

Are you a UCN member who is familiar with an organization in the Greater Milwaukee Area that is involved in social justice work that benefits the community? Would you like to see them receive hundreds of dollars from our church to support their mission? Now is the time to fill out a nomination form for the UCN Fund for Social Justice. The deadline is January 15. Guidelines for making a nomination for the annual distribution can be obtained by emailing Lyn Gust at the UCN office, info@ucnorth.org, or by picking up a nomination form in the main lobby.

Nominations must be received in the UCN office no later than January 15th.

Also, please consider donating to the Fund by making your check out to Unitarian Church North. Write "Fund for Social Justice" on the memo line and place it in the safe in the church office.

From the Reopening Subcommittee

Given the rise in respiratory infections in Wisconsin, it is recommended that those at risk of serious illness resume wearing face masks while in public. The level of hospitalizations for Covid in Ozaukee County has risen, and the CDC now ranks our county as "Medium" in this regard.

From the CDC website:

In Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, the COVID-19 hospital admission level is Medium.

• If you are at high risk of getting very sick, wear a high-quality mask or respirator (e.g., N95) when indoors in public.
• If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for getting very sick, consider self-testing to detect infection before contact, and consider wearing a high-quality mask when indoors with them.
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
• Maintain ventilation improvements.
• Avoid contact with people who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
• Follow recommendations for isolation if you have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
• Follow the recommendations for what to do if you are exposed to someone with COVID-19.

You are welcome to wear a mask at UCN. If needed, disposable masks are available in the north lobby.

Help Wanted!

The Finance Committee is asking for your help. We considered ideas for a Spring Fundraiser in addition to Britney’s much anticipated April concert and thought that hosting a speaker on a topic of general interest would be a great way to host our members and folks in the wider community in our beautiful space. Rev Scott did this at his Vero Beach, Florida, church with great success. By way of example, Scott suggested a topic like ship wrecks in the Great Lakes might have broad appeal. Please let Julie Zumach or Pete Blain know if you have suggestions for a dynamic speaker (or speakers on a panel) on an interesting topic which would appeal to wide audience. We greatly appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.

Lost and Found

If you bank at Cornerstone/Horicon Bank, you might have left an envelope at the visitor's table. Please see Lyn if you think it's yours.

Endowment Fund
Our Endowment Fund provides for long-term support of UCN programs and facilities. You are encouraged to think of the Endowment Fund when you consider making a gift in honor or memory of an individual, celebration of a graduation, wedding, anniversary, or special birthday. This is a great way to support the church while recognizing a significant event in someone’s life. Endowment gifts are acknowledged with a note sent to the person/group in whose name the gift was made. Brochures with more information on the endowment fund, along with envelopes, can be found in the lobby pamphlet rack.

• Recently a donation was made by Dee Serron in memory of Al Lustig and Diane Raddatz.

Good Grief Group

Our group meetings have been paused until the new year. New dates and times will be announced soon. Please contact Judy DeLillo at 720-935-0851 with any questions.

Morning Meditations

UCN’s weekly meditation will be held every Thursday at 9:30 am in the sanctuary. No experience necessary. All are welcome. Facilitated by Anna Rychner.

Events at UCN

• "Qi Gong and Tai Chi" is held most Saturdays at 11 am in the Fellowship Hall. Call Diane at
  307-763-0903 for details. First class is free for UCN members.
• A Kirtan will be held Jan. 13 at UCN. Go to kaitakirtan.com for details.
• Al-Anon meetings, offering recovery for families and friends of alcoholics and drug addicts, are held every Tuesday morning at 8:30 am in the Clara Barton room and online.

Thank you for supporting the groups that use our facilities.

Calendar through January 21

Meetings are held via Zoom, unless stated.

• Saturday, Jan. 6, 10:00 am: All Souls' Cafe Setup - West Lobby and Sanctuary
• Sunday, Jan. 7, noon: OWL Planning - Emerson
• Sunday, Jan. 7, 12:15 pm: Defending Democracy Zoom - Clara Barton (Leigh Hoftiezer)
• Monday, Jan. 8, 6:30 pm: RE Committee (Betsy Muellenbach)
• Monday, Jan. 8, 7:00 pm: Building Committee (Brian Bunzel)
• Thursday, Jan. 11, 9:30 am: Meditation (Anna Rychner)
• Thursday, Jan. 11, 6:30 pm: Sunday Services (Julie Konik)
• Sunday, Jan. 14, 11:30 am: Social Justice (Leigh Hoftiezer)
• Monday, Jan. 15, noon-1:30 pm: UUs Coffee & Conversation (Lunch and Levity) - Mequon Fiddleheads (Brenda Berg)
• Monday, Jan. 15, 7:30 pm: Comm/Tech (Sarah Cesar)
• Tuesday, Jan. 16, 7:00 pm: Finance (Pete Blain)
• Thursday, Jan. 18, 9:30 am: Meditation (Anna Rychner)
• Sunday, Jan. 21: RE Classes (Betsy Muellenbach)

The monthly calendar for UCN events, not including rentals, can be seen on our website at: https://ucnorth.org/calendar/

Please remember to contact Lyn, info@ucnorth.org, to reserve rooms for your meetings, rehearsals, ceremonies, etc. To hold an event or ceremony at UCN, contact Lyn for date availability, facilities use forms, and answers to your questions.

All church committee meetings are open; visitors are welcome. Contact the committee chair (listed on the calendar above) for details or to receive the zoom info for a meeting. For information on classes and groups that meet at UCN, as well as future meeting and event dates, please see the website, www.ucnorth.org, or call the office, 262-375-3890.

Service and UUA Information

• Service Assistants are needed for Sunday Services. Please contact Julie Konik (julie.konik@gmail.com) if you can help.

• The Sunday Services Zoom Team is looking "for a few good zoom hosts." Please contact Gerry Schmitz or Dan Lusk if interested.
  

• Sunday Announcements: If you would like to have an announcement read at the service, please prepare it using the Spoken Announcement Guidelines, and send it to Joy Schroeder (peacenow@charter.net) or Julie Konik (julie.konik@gmail.com) or that Sunday's Service Assistant by the FRIDAY BEFORE the service, and they will relay it to the worship assistant.

• Reserving the Projector: If you will need the projector for a given date, please remember to sign the “Projector Reservation Signup List” on the clipboard on the table outside the office in the north lobby.
• UU Women's Connection offers retreats, newsletters and resources for women: https://www.uuwomensconnection.org/
• You are encouraged to subscribe to MidAmerica Region's newsletter, News page. More information at uua.org/midamerica .
  
• Join us June 20 - 23 for an all-virtual General Assembly 2024. For information, go to https://www.uua.org/ga/registration.

General Information

• Becoming a Member of UCN is very easy. Simply make a pledge of record, sign our Membership Book, and provide contact information for our records. We also provide New to UU and UCN Classes in the Spring and Fall. It is not necessary to attend the classes, however they are very informative, providing information about Unitarian Universalism and our church (its history and how it operates). For more information, you can contact Dan Lusk (262-234-9406).

• Caring Circle: a group of people who may be willing to bring meals, help with transportation, make visits, pick up groceries, etc. for members and friends of UCN in temporary need. Sign up at church or virtually: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A44ACA82BA75-caring

• First Aid Kits are located near the elevators on each level. Each kit is in a white box and mounted on the wall. AED Machines are near the first aid kits. If you have any questions, please contact Brian Bunzel, Building Committee Chair, at (262) 573-0045 or brianbuzel@yahoo.com.

• UCN is now able to accept donations via PayPal.

• Food Barrel: Don’t forget to grab a food item out of your pantry for the food barrel as you leave for church.
  

• Scrip Fundraiser: Scrip Cards are still a great way to support UCN. Use cards for carryout or online purchase with ScripNow!. There are 3 ways to buy or reload your cards: ScripNow! (Pay online, use online or in person), PrestoPay (buy or reload cards) or at UCN. If you have a special request or questions about Scrip, contact Mark Muellenbach.

• If you order from Quill.com and tell them UCN recommended them, UCN will earn a $50 gift card.
  
  

• Support Black-Owned businesses: "MKE Black" offers a list of Black-owned businesses you can reference: https://mkeblack.org/

• If you would like to donate directly to Family Promise, the only shelter for homeless people in Ozaukee County, please send your donation to them, with “UCN Member” written in the memo line. This will give UCN credit for the donation. Their address is: Family Promise of Ozaukee County, 136 W. Grand Ave., Port Washington, WI 53074.

• The Social Justice Committee has an OPT-IN email list for anyone who would like to be notified on short notice to provide a physical presence at social justice activities. Please contact Sherryl Andrus, sherryla70@gmail.com, to be added to the list.

Monthly Fellowship Gatherings

• UUsOutToLunch meets on the first Wednesday of every month at noon, and sometimes at suppertime during daylight savings time. Couples, singles, men & women are all welcome, long-term commitment or not. Each month, a different member of the group takes the responsibility of choosing a restaurant at which to meet and eat, and emails the rest of the group with the particulars as to what and where, requesting yay or nay from the emailed recipient, so that reservations can be made if required. Join us! Email brendaberg@spectrum.net

• First Sunday Lunch: Join us after the service in the Fellowship Hall for lunch and fellowship on the first Sunday of the month, November through June.
  

• UUs Coffee & Conversation (Ladies' Lunch & Levity) meets on the third Monday of every month at Mequon Fiddleheads, 10530 Port Washington Rd. Stop in anytime between 12:00 and 1:30 for something to eat, a good cuppa, and chewy conversation. We meet in the back room.

Please submit articles for the Northliner to info@ucnorth.org. To keep the Northliner from becoming cumbersome to read, you are encouraged to keep these articles short, and to run them only twice. The deadline for submitting articles is every Thursday at noon. Items submitted later might not be proofed for errors or published.

Please contact Todd Zumach (zumacht@gmail.com) to submit articles for our website.

Minister, Rev. Scott Alexander: cell phone (preferred): 772-359-0602. Office phone: 262-375-4748. Email: UURevScott@gmail.com . Rev. Scott will generally be in the pulpit the first three Sundays of the month and in his office the first two weeks of the month.

UCN Office Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 9 am to 2:30 pm. Contact Lyn at 262-375-3890 or info@ucnorth.org. The office is closed for holidays and bad weather. Please do not reply to the Northliner; we do not receive messages sent to lyngust@mailgun.smore.com, but if you are having trouble receiving the Northliner, please add that address to your contact list.

Links

• Information on our Share the Plate Recipient

For more information about UCN, see our website www.ucnorth.org or call the office at

262-375-3890.

Please check channel 4, 6, 12 or 58, or our website, www.ucnorth.org, for weather closings.

Email: info@ucnorth.org
Website: www.ucnorth.org
Location: 13800 N. Port Washington Road, Mequon, WI, 53097 USA
Phone: 262-375-3890
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnitarianChurchNorth/