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. If UCN closes due to weather or building issues, the closing will be reflected on our website, on our office voice mail, and a special email will be sent out, if possible.

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.

November 3: “The Election Sermon,” Rev. Scott W. Alexander

Scott writes: The long-standing American principle of “The Separation of Church and State” (and the IRS statue which prohibits tax-exempt religious congregations explicitly engaging in “partisan politics”) do not mean that religious communities (like UCN) cannot or should not be passionately engaged in governmental matters and election choices. As you all painfully understand, the outcome of this pivotal national election will have huge consequences on the shape, humanity and quality of our shared American life. Because of our values and principles, all Unitarian Universalists must vote, and must vote wisely. Do be with us as, together, we discuss what is morally and humanly at stake in this election.

November 10: “So…Where Do We Go from Here?” a Post-Election Sermon,
Rev. Scott W. Alexander

Scott writes: With the American people so bitterly divided (between “Right” and “Left”…“Liberal” and “Conservative”) all indications are that this election will be narrowly decided, leaving almost half of the population wildly unhappy with the outcome. Regardless of which side “wins” the election, we Americans have cause to be concerned about how the nation will move forward as a civil and functioning democracy. Do be with us as (this Sunday after the election) we discuss our role as Unitarian Universalists in the future of our nation.

Processing the Upcoming National Election as a Trauma Event in our Lives

Dear Members and Friends of UCN,

As your minister, over the upcoming weeks (both before and after November 5th election) I will be focused on helping us both face and process what I believe to be a significant trauma event in our shared lives. While nothing like the trauma of a hurricane or tornado or flood, the terrible dynamics of this election have made us all anxious, disheartened and fearful…and I believe that (whether we are fully aware of it or not) we are already experiencing trauma that is dangerous to our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

For me as a Unitarian Universalist, this trauma has two obvious dimensions:

1) I am terribly worried that a slight majority of the electorate may make a terribly wrong choice, sending America spiraling down a mean, dark, divisive and destructive path.

2) I am already experiencing incredible disbelief (and profound grief) that so many of my fellow citizens seem willing to support a hateful, racist, xenophobic, misogynistic, homophobic, compassionless, excusatory and backward-looking vision of what America must be.

And no matter what the actual outcome of the election is -- and whether we succeed in settling the results without falsehoods and violence, something I am not at all sure of – we still we face the on-going, and unrelenting trauma of having a nation deeply divided between “Right” and “Left.”

Because of all these painful concerns and more, I will be devoting the Sunday before the election, November 3, to an “Election Sermon” addressing what we together face…and the Sunday after the election, November 10, to the topic of “So, Where Do We Go From Here?”

Also, we have scheduled a special congregational “REFLECTON AND SUPPORT” SESSION at 6:30 on Thursday evening, November 7th for us as a community to process the election and its on-going ramifications.

I know that all of you share my awareness of how terribly monumental and important this election is to us as a people of faith and Americans -- so very much is humanly at stake. Please be in touch with me personally if you have other concerns, and join with the other members and friends of the congregation as together we work to process this trauma and move forward.

We are back to classes for the next couple of weeks.

The K - 2nd graders will continue with the World of Wonder curriculum. This week's lesson introduces the mystery and wonder of life cycles through the concept of metamorphosis. This age group is fascinated by the "magic" that turns a caterpillar into a butterfly, or a tadpole into a frog. Key goals of the session are emphasize science as a Source in Unitarian Universalism and reinforce the seventh Unitarian Universalist Principle, "respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part."

The 3rd to 6th graders Moral Tales lesson this week introduces the concept of forgiveness. As the group continues to consider what is morally good and just, the focus on forgiveness gives them an invaluable tool for strengthening relationships and choosing compassion. It speaks to the third Unitarian Universalist principle of acceptance of one another and encouragement of spiritual growth.

The Our Whole Lives cohort has this Sunday off.

For questions about our Religious Education programming and upcoming events, please contact Jessy Knox, Religious Education and Family Programming Coordinator

Jessy can be contacted at refpc@ucnorth.org or at 414-840-5377. Please also see her office hours listed below.

The Social Justice Committee has chosen Just Listen, Inc. to receive Share the Plate donations for November and December. Just Listen’s mission is to provide support and resources for those affected by addiction. Founded in Ozaukee County, in 2011, their most prominent services are for those in recovery from substance abuse, on the road to recovery, and those affected by addiction. The Ozaukee County Court system recognizes Just Listen as an important and effective resource for those who have legal encounters precipitated by their drug use. Judges make referrals to programs the organization offers.

Our own Brian Bunzel, who nominated Just Listen, has facilitated a partnership between Just Listen and UCN: They do landscape projects in exchange for use of our building for some of their meetings/events.

Half of the donations, cash or check, will go to Just Listen, Inc. Checks can be written to UCN with “Share the Plate” (STP) on the memo line. On our website, www.ucnorth.org, you can donate by using PayPal. Thank you for your generosity.

Tour America’s Black Holocaust Museum with UCN

America’s Black Holocaust Museum is a one-of-a-kind historical and memorial museum about the Black Holocaust in America. History museums study, exhibit, and interpret history. Memorial museums explain and commemorate past events of mass suffering.

Over the last 40 years, people around the world have created memorial museums to help their countries and communities make sense of and draw redemptive lessons from terrible periods of man’s inhumanity to man.

Dr. James Cameron was inspired to create ABHM when he visited the Yad VaShem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, Israel in 1979. Despite surviving a 1930 lynching in which two other teenagers were killed, Dr. Cameron steadfastly maintained his faith in the moral framework of liberty and justice for all embodied in the USA’s founding documents.

More information about the museum may be found here: https://www.abhmuseum.org/

Adults and middle school (and older) students are invited to join the Social Justice Committee on a guided tour of America’s Black Holocaust Museum, 401 W North Ave., Milwaukee, on Saturday, November 23. We have scheduled a museum docent (griot) to conduct a guided tour of the museum, and if needed we will request an additional docent. The cost is $10 per person. If you would like to carpool, meet at UCN by 10:15 a.m. The museum opens at 10:00 but our tour will begin at 11:00 a.m. and last 45 minutes to an hour. Please sign up at UCN or by contacting Leigh Hoftiezer, Social Justice Chairperson. The SIGN-UP DEADLINE is November 16.

If students attend without a parent or legal guardian, a signed permission slip will be required.

Replacement Shoelaces Needed

Jean Woodmansee asks UCN members and friends to bring new or used shoelaces to UCN help migrants asking for asylum in Arizona. The Border Patrol agents require migrants to remove shoelaces and belts when they are picked up in the desert and returned to Mexico. Migrants have no other source of replacement shoelaces for boots or shoes except through the efforts of the nearby UU church and other volunteers.

Collecting shoelaces is one easy way for us to participate in helping the migrants. A collection box is in the west lobby near the food and pet food collections through November. Thanks!

Social Justice Reminders

• 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.

First Sunday Lunch

Join us for a nice hot bowl of soup, yummy salads, tasty desserts, and surprise extras after the service downstairs in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, November 3 for First Sunday Lunch. Visit with longtime friends or become acquainted with new friends. Such a bargain! — $4/adult; $10/family.

Naloxone Nasal Spray is Now Easily Accessible at UCN!

Opiates as a prescription painkiller are often given to patients at need, but are also a recreational drug for those afflicted with addiction. Overdosing can occur even with the first dose of an opioid, whether prescribed or taken recreationally. UCN now has doses of Naloxone, the nasal spray version of Narcan, on both levels of our church. They are kept in the medical boxes near the elevator on each level. Easily-understood use instructions have been included. The medication in Naloxone never expires, though the bottles it comes in have an expiration date (confirmed by an M.D.).

Share your talents in the All Soul's Cafe

One of the many great traditions we enjoy at UCN is the welcoming of the new year with an all-church talent show. Everyone is invited to participate in this community event on January 5, 2025, taking the place of the regular service at 10:00 am. We need singers, dancers, poets, mimes, or whatever you're inspired to do within a 5-minute or less performance. All ages are welcome, but you have to sign up by Sunday, December 24 to be included in the show!

Get in touch with Linda Sandersen at Lsandersen@wi.rr.com with any questions or to sign up.

Message from the Security Committee

Please be aware that there will be a partial fire drill on Sunday November 24th, 2024, right after Sunday services. The fire alarm will be pulled but there will be no need to exit the church at that time. After an announcement, and the sounding of the alarm, everyone is invited downstairs for coffee, goodies, and good conversation.

Poul Sandersen, Security Committee chair

SCRIP Presentation

If you missed the zoom presentation about SCRIP, you can watch it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q3rZ3dXo96XBGI9we5yhWzCZGS3na22O/view?usp=sharing

And here is the printed presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cqepjwzsulkcGfp0cR6flyDO1eX1XWBX/view?usp=sharing

Please Note

If you are discarding furniture to the dumpster area, please do not put it in the dumpster. Please place the furniture either inside the fenced area or on the east side of the fence on the concrete pad. When the dumpster becomes full of furniture, there is no place for regular trash to be stored and must be left outside the dumpster itself. This gives those four-legged critters an invitation to rip open the plastic bags and spread trash everywhere. Thank you for your support.

Covid Tests

Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home tests. Go to covidtest.gov.

Game Night

Well, Game Afternoon, really. Save the date: Nov 16 at 2:00 pm!
Fun and free for all ages. More details to come.

Grief Group

The Good Grief support group meets every other week on Wednesday at 10:00 am in the Emerson Room. If you’ve experienced a loss and are in need of informal support, this may be a good resource for you. All are welcome. Upcoming dates are November 6 and 20, and December 4. Contact Judy DeLillo at 720-935-0851 or judelillo2@gmail.com with any questions.

Events at UCN

• "Qi Gong and Tai Chi" will resume be held on most Saturdays at 11 am in the Fellowship Hall. Call Diane at 307-763-0903 for dates and details. First class is free for UCN members.
• The next Wis. Singer Songwriter Concert will be held November 9. Go to wsss.org 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 Fellowship Hall and online. During voting, meetings are held in the Sanctuary, upper level.
  

Thank you for supporting the groups that use our facilities.

Calendar through November 17

Meetings are held via Zoom, unless stated.

• Saturday, Nov. 2, 9:00 am: FSL Setup - Fellowship Hall
• Saturday night/Sunday morning: set your clocks back an hour
• Sunday, Nov. 3, 11:30 am: First Sunday Lunch - Fellowship Hall
• Sunday, Nov. 3, 11:30 am: New to UU Class - Emerson (Dan Lusk)
• Monday-Wednesday, Nov. 4-6: Voting, + setup & cleanup - Lower Level
• Monday, Nov. 4, 7:00 pm: Building Committee (Brian Bunzel)
• Tuesday, Nov. 5, 7:00 pm: Membership (Dan Lusk/Liam Q.)
• Wednesday, Nov. 6, 10:00 am: Good Grief Group - Emerson (Judy DeLillo)
• Wednesday, Nov. 6: UUs Out to Lunch (Brenda Berg)
• Thursday, Nov. 7, 6:30 pm: Reflection and Election Support Session - Sanctuary
• Sunday, Nov. 10, 10:00 am: OWL Class - Reeb
• Sunday, Nov. 10, 11:30 am: Social Justice - Library (Leigh Hoftiezer)
• Sunday, Nov. 10, 11:30 am: New to UU Class - Emerson (Dan Lusk/Liam Q.)
• Monday, Nov. 11, 1-6 pm: Blood Drive - Fellowship Hall
• Monday, Nov. 11, 7:00 pm: RE Committee (Katie Egan-Bruhy)
• Thursday, Nov. 14, 6:30 pm: Sunday Services Committee (Julie Konik)
• Saturday, Nov. 16, 2:00 pm: Game Night (Bernie Booth)
• Sunday, Nov. 17, 10:00 am: OWL Class - James Reeb (Jessy Knox)

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: The Sunday Services Committee encourages individuals and committees to make announcements via the attached form (below). Giving this form to the Sunday Service Assistant before the service can streamline our announcements and make the service more engaging. If you have any questions, please contact Sunday Service Committee Chair, Julie Konik, at Julie.Konik@gmail.com or 920-750-4385.

• 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/. Fall retreat: October 18-20 at a new location near West Bend.
• You are encouraged to subscribe to MidAmerica Region's newsletter, News page. More information at uua.org/midamerica .
• The UU 2024-25 Common Read is Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families (Skinner House, 2023). The Common Read builds community in our congregations and our movement by giving diverse people a shared platform for reflection and a shared focus for action. Authentic Selves invites us to explore the nature of living authentically and the ways connections among us help us thrive. Visit uua.org/read for more information.

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).

• Rev. Scott will never ask you to buy a gift card for him. Please don't fall for these scams.

• Our photo directory of members and pledging friends is sent out a few times each year. If you would prefer a printed color copy, we can print them for $5. Just tell Lyn if you want one.

• You can find copies of the Leadership List, Member Directory, Annual Report and Annual Financial Report in the library.

• Adopt A Room is still looking for people to get involved. See the display board in the north lobby to sign up, or contact Judy DeLillo at judelillo2@gmail.com for more information. We are requesting that members submit photo files for consideration to be printed on photo paper and included in our display in the west lobby. Please, send photo files with good exposure and focus to photos@ucnorth.org with identification of the event and people/children depicted.

• 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. Narcan (Naloxone) nasal spray, to reverse an opioid overdose, is also available there. If you have any questions, please contact Brian Bunzel, Building Committee Chair, at (262) 573-0045 or brianbuzel@yahoo.com.

• Are you or someone you know in need of help with basic food supplies? The Family Sharing food pantry is here when you need us. Our Mobile Pantry travels to locations in northern and southern Ozaukee. We also offer in-person shopping and deliver groceries to senior living complexes. Call us for more information. 262-377-0634 x125.

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.
  

• Update: UU Ladies' Lunch meets on the third Thursday of every month at 11:30 at Crave Restaurant, on Port Washington Road in Mequon.
  

Fundraising and Donations

• UCN is now able to accept donations via PayPal.

• Food Barrels: Don’t forget to grab a food item out of your pantry for the food barrel as you leave for church. Donations go to the Ozaukee Food Alliance. We are also accepting donations for pet food and small containers of litter. These donations go to the Humane Society of Ozaukee County's Pet Pantry, serving individuals who need help feeding their pets.
  

• 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. To sign up, use the code for UCN: 1F3EE5A9248LL. And use the QR code above for easy enrollment.

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

Please submit articles for the Northliner to info@ucnorth.org. To keep the Northliner from becoming cumbersome, 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) or Carissa Mooren (live4him56@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.

Jessy Knox, RE Coordinator

Jessy can be contacted at refpc@ucnorth.org or at 414-840-5377.

Wednesdays 10 am-3 pm: Office hours

Saturdays 10 am-1 pm: RE Prep (some of this time will be remote)

Sundays 8:30 am-12:30 pm: RE Sunday Time

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.

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