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.

Aug. 11: “The Political Mind: The Psychology and Neuroscience Behind our Deep Divisions,”
Philip Chard

We will examine stark differences in perspectives, beliefs and brain functioning between liberals, conservatives and moderates. Neuroscientific and psychological research has revealed the sources behind our divisions, with some surprising findings. Do we acquire our political beliefs from our social environment or are they hardwired into the brain? Can these beliefs change? If so, how does this happen? How big a role does social media play? We will address these and other pressing questions affecting our polarized political environment.

After 32 years as President and CEO, Philip Chard recently retired from Empathia, Inc., a behavioral services firm providing health, safety and productivity solutions for over 400 organizations across North America. He remains a practicing psychotherapist who, for over 34 years, wrote an award-winning weekly column in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel titled "Out of My Mind,” now published in the Shepherd Express. Philip is author of The Healing Earth, which won the Midwest Publishers Award, and Nature’s Ways. Previously he was Director of Behavioral Science Education at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine, where he was an associate professor and received the Outstanding Faculty Award.

Aug. 18: "The Mystique of the Prairie," Rev. Sarah Oelberg

As for August, what I enjoy most about that month is the feel of the outdoors, especially the rustlings of prairie plants in the wind and the appearance of a great moving wave across the landscape. So I will talk about "The Mystique of the Prairie."

Sarah Oelberg has been a special education teacher, has written special ed. curriculum for our U.S. Office of Education, was a faculty member at Yeshiva University in New York and at NYU, and trained special ed. teachers in Iowa. She followed her heart as the first in her six-generation Unitarian family to become a UU minister. After serving churches in Nebraska and Minnesota, she retired in 2001. She and husband Gerald raised four children and have six grand- and four great-grandchildren.

Friends and family are welcome to join in celebration of Robert Broman's life.
Aug. 26, 1-5 pm. Lac Lawrann Conservancy, 300 Schmidt Rd., West Bend, 53090.

Dear Members and Friends of UCN,

I hope you are having a blessed, relaxed, safe and fun summer!

I am presently at my home in Chestertown, in the Adirondack section of New York, with Collins, enjoying a wonderful August of friends, family, outdoor cooking and cycling.

But as the days steadily get shorter, and first leaves of the maple trees around here begin turning red, I am keenly aware that Autumn (and a return to the full activities of UCN) is just around the corner. I look forward to my first Sunday back with you, on September 1, when my sermon title will be "Stumbling on Happiness," followed by our "homecoming/ingathering service" on September 8th when I will address "The New What and How of Unitarian Universalism" -- based on the newly adopted 2nd Article statement of our denomination's bylaws.

I hope that you have been enjoying the high quality services we have been providing every Summer Sunday this year...and I urge you to be at UCN over the next few remaining Sundays in August.

I also remind you that while I am your "half-time" minister (20 hours or so a week) , I remain available to you 365 days a year. Until I return to Southeastern Wisconsin later this month, I will be available to you by phone, emails or zoom meeting, should you have any pastoral or church business needs.

Unitarian Universalism is about many things, amongst them are a deep appreciation and gratitude for the gift of life. I hope you open your self and soul to fully enjoy these last weeks of summer warmth and relaxation with family and friends; see you soon!

This Week in RE

This Sunday, August 11th we will explore our outdoor sanctuary in search of animals that are right at home at UCN! We will look for and find the actual homes of many animals including mammals, birds, amphibians, and insects. Knowing where our animal friends are living and raising their young will help us be better stewards of the land we share.

Summer Fun RE Programming for the rest of Summer

August 18th we will get up close and personal with our UCN wetland by going PONDING. We will have special strainers for dipping into the murky depths of our pond water and bottom muck to find and learn more about the aquatic invertebrates that call our ponds home. Please wear shoes that can get muddy.

On August 25th we’ll learn about the Native People who lived here before Europeans came to the Americas. Students will learn about the past by looking at pieces of the past that archaeologists use to piece together an understanding of past peoples.

On September 1st, we end the Summer Fun Programming with a BIG SPLASH! There will be sprinklers, water toys, beach balls and any number of fun things to celebrate a “cool” summer at UCN. Swimsuits recommended.

Looking Forward to Fall RE

September 8th is an intergenerational In Gathering Service.

September 15th is the start of our RE School Year.

Our Whole Lives (OWL)

The RE committee is hoping to offer the Our Whole Lives (OWL) curriculum (https://www.uua.org/re/owl) to our middle and high school students this coming year. We currently have five (5) certified teachers available to work with the students and six (6) students currently signed up. We are hoping to enroll a cohort of eight (8) or more students from UCN, other churches, and friends and family members of congregants.

OWL curriculum has been developed by the UUA and UCC with the goal of helping participants make informed and responsible decisions about their relationships, health and behavior. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. It provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but helps participants to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills and understand the social, emotional and spiritual aspects of sexuality.

The classes will be offered three Sundays a month (with breaks in December, Easter and Spring Break) concurrent with service. Please discuss with your family and let us know if you would like to participate. Please also share with your extended family and friends who may be interested. As Jessy, Religious Education Family Programming Coordinator is off for the month, please let Katie Egan-Bruhy (egan.bruhy@gmail.com), know by August 5th if you have students who like to participate. We will be making a decision as to whether we can offer the program later that week.

Request for RE Teachers and Assistants

This coming school year for RE we are going from one class to three classes! Our classes will be
K-3, 4th-6th, and 7th-9th (OWL - Our Whole Lives). With the addition of these classes, we are in need of a few more RE teachers and assistants for each grade level. RE teachers and assistants typically teach about once a month with a curriculum that is already established by the UUA. Please consider joining our growing RE program at UCN. You'll learn as much from them as they do from you. If you are interested, please contact Jessy Knox (REFPC) refpc@ucnorth.org or Katie Egan-Bruhy (RE Committee Chair) egan.bruhy@gmail.com.

RE Office Hours

Jessy is in the office 10 am-3 pm on Wednesdays; also phone/text cell phone: 414-840-5377.

Save the Date

September 8, 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary

ADVOCATING FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE: A Non-partisan relationship building approach.

The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) is the oldest faith-based (Quaker) non-partisan lobby organization on Capitol Hill with 135 advocacy teams in 47 states. Founded in 1943, it is highly respected by members of Congress and their staff for its consistent reliability working together over many years. Learn how the local Milwaukee FCNL Advocacy Team reaches out to offices of WI Senators and Representatives and how the relationships we build influence our members of Congress regarding legislation on important issues of peace, justice and environmental stewardship. The specific topic for 2024 is targeting a budget requirement that bloats the military budget by about $23 billion dollars.

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.

Grief Group

The Good Grief support group will resume meeting for the fall. If you’ve experienced a loss and are in need of informal support, this may be a good resource for you. All are welcome. Our first gathering will be Wednesday, September 11 at 10:00 in the Emerson Room off of the North Lobby. Future dates include Sept 25; October 9 and 23; November 6 and 20; 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 in September 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.
• 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.
  

Thank you for supporting the groups that use our facilities.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Classes

North Shore School for Seniors offers a variety of classes. We have a few brochures in the Fellowship Hall, or go to NSS4S.org for information.

Compassionate Conversation Series with Catherine Thomas, at the Cedarburg Public Library

In a world inundated with negative and overwhelming information, crating a reflective space of reprieve is imperative for mental and emotional well-being.

Aug. 10 at 1 pm: A Personal Accounting

Nov. 2 at 1 pm: The Power of Play

Calendar through August 25

Meetings are held via Zoom, unless stated.

• Saturday, Aug. 10, 9:30 am: Hike at Doctor's Park (Jessy Knox)
• Sunday, Aug. 11, 11:30 am: Social Justice - James Reeb (Leigh Hoftiezer)
• Monday, Aug. 12, 7:00 pm: RE Committee (Katie Egan Bruhy)
• Mon-Wed, Aug. 12-14: Voting + setup & cleanup - lower level
• Thursday, Aug. 15, 11:30 am: UU Ladies' Lunch - Crave Restaurant (Brenda Berg)
• Monday, Aug. 19, 7:30 pm: Comm/Tech/Social Media Team (Carissa Mooren)
• Tuesday, Aug. 20, 6:30 pm: Finance (Sherryl Andrus)

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/
• 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.

• 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.
  

• 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.

• 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 Barrel: 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.
  

• 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 USA
Phone: 262-375-3890
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnitarianChurchNorth/