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.

June 16: Fathers’ Day (and Bridging Ceremony for our Graduating High School Seniors) “Nosebubbles and All That…” Rev. Scott W. Alexander

Scott writes: On this Father’s Day 2024, I want to speak of “fathering” by way of addressing good “parenting” in general. By way of a story or two about my own Father, I want us to reflect on how we are all called – in our interactions with young people – to add to the quality of what it means to be human. We will also celebrate, this Sunday, the “bridging ceremony” for our UCN graduating high school seniors as they “bridge” into young adulthood.

June 23: “What Makes People Healthy?” Geof Swain, MD, MPH

The US has some of the best healthcare in the world, but we do not enjoy the best health overall. Worse yet, health in America is very unequally distributed. Wisconsin is, unfortunately, a good example of this: our overall health gets only a “C” grade, and we get “D” and “F” grades for health disparities by race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and urban/suburban/rural locations. Dr. Swain will discuss what really drives these poor outcomes and these large disparities, and how people of faith can help move us towards better health for everyone.

Geoffrey R. Swain, MD, MPH, is a public health physician and an Emeritus Professor at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. He is also a former member, past President, and now friend of UCN. Dr. Swain started his career as a practicing Family Physician, but spent most of his career in Public Health teaching and practice, retiring after over 15 years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, and for 14 years prior to that as at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Swain also served for 26 years as Medical Director for the City of Milwaukee Health Department, and before that teaching in a family practice residency program.

“Getting to Peace: What Gets in our Way?”

In June 2006 UCN dedicated our Peace Pole, a symbol of peace that is seen throughout the world. On each Pole are the words “May Peace Prevail” in more than one language. The languages on our Pole are English, Hebrew, Arabic, and a Native American language. Our speaker for the service will be Robert Ricigliano. Ricigliano has taught peace and conflict strategies at UWM and throughout the world. Join us as we all continue to seek peace. The service will be indoors but the rededication of the Peace Pole will take place outdoors after the service. It is located next to the driveway on the north side of the church building.

Rev. Alexander's Summer Schedule and Availability

Dear Members and Friends of UCN,

After I conduct the Sunday Father’s Day service on June 16th, I will begin my summer schedule which will shift my availability (and presence) a bit until September. I will be spending time both at my home in the Adirondacks of New York, and my home in Sheboygan, and traveling to the West Coast to visit family.

The good news is that the Worship Committee and I have planned a full summer schedule of excellent and interesting Sunday services…every Sunday at 10 AM there will be a meaningful service “at the barn” you will not want to miss! Also, I will be here in Mid-July to conduct the service on Sunday July 14th. In addition, I will be attending UCN meetings as appropriate and needed, and will remain available to you (at least by phone or zoom) in case of pastoral emergencies or other needs. The best way to reach me in case of need is to call or text my cell phone 772 359 0602, which I check regularly.

May these summer months treat all of us gently and well, and please don’t forget to include UCN in your summer weekend plans!

Last Sunday's Story

Here is Rev. Scott's story, "Let's Build a Cabin," from June 9: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Uvhf8mtkaB9oI40PJh2CbAjflpa2zqjS/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109072791973067277249&rtpof=true&sd=true

Religious Education

This week for RE we are celebrating Bats & Dad with Batty for Daddy. Katie Egan- Bruhy will lead our program which will include creating a bat themed T-shirt & masks (for you & Dad) as well as installing a new bat house on the property. Help us celebrate our favorite furry flying mammals.

Outdoor Play

We will be outside each Sunday that the weather allows following our indoor time. Our Summer RE classes will be mostly outdoors (with an indoor plan in case of inclement weather). Please bring appropriate clothes for being outdoors including shoes that can get muddy. Old gym shoes work great!

We are looking for children of any age and any level of musical ability, who would be interested in joining the UCN Children’s Choir. Rehearsals will be held Sunday mornings at 9:30am in the Emerson Room. The first rehearsal will be June 30th. The first Children’s Choir performance will be during the Sunday service on August 4th, which is the Intergenerational Lughnasa service. More announcements and information to follow. You may also contact Dana Lusk at danalusk04@gmail.com for any questions.

For RE this summer we will be exploring, learning and enjoying the natural world around us, by investigating our UCN outdoor acres together.

Check out our Summer RE class offerings below. Remember to dress for the outdoors each week. We will have indoor activities in case of inclement weather.

June 16th: BATTY for DADDY with Katie Egan-Bruhy

June 23rd: BIRDING with Matt Smith (Orson & June’s Dad)

June 30th: ANIMAL HOMES around UCN with Jessy Knox

July 7th: FIREBUILDING & MARSHMALLOWS with Todd Zumach

July 14th: YOGA with Cecile Duhnke & her yoga instructor friend

July 21st: Scavenger Hunt with Brian Bunzel around UCN

July 28th: Lean-To Construction with Jim DeLillo

August 4th: Intergenerational Service LUGHNASA with Dana Lusk

August 11th: PONDING with Jessy Knox

August 18th: YTD

August 25th: CULTURE HISTORY & MYSTERY with Katie Egan-Bruhy

Sept 1st: WATER & BUBBLE FUN. This is our last Summer Class for RE

We start the UCN RE 2024-2025 school year on Sept 15th due to the intergenerational service on September 8th.

Sept 8th: Intergenerational Service IN-GATHERING

Sept 15th: First RE class of the 2024-2025 UCN RE school year.

More information forthcoming!

Our RE program is growing! We are looking for more members, particularly parents of children in RE, to consider volunteering with our expanding and exciting RE offerings. If you enjoy engaging with our youth and want to help inspire them and be inspired by them, please consider volunteering with RE. We need lead teachers and assistants for K-3rd, 4th-6th and 7th-9th grade RE classes for our upcoming 2024-2025 school year. RE teachers and assistants typically volunteer once every 6 weeks. Please contact Jessy Knox if you are interested and want more information. We’d love to have you!

Jessy Knox

Religious Education & Family Planning Coordinator

refpc@ucnorth.org

414-840-5377

Our Green Team Hikes are for UCN members, families and friends of all ages.

We meet at 9:30am in the parking lot, nearest the bathrooms. Hikes last about two hours.

Occasionally a guest speaker will join us who has special knowledge about the area.

June 22nd

Virmond Park

10606 N. Lake Shore Dr., Mequon, WI 53092

We will hike down the amazing architectural wonder that is the floating staircase, to the pier and beach, and back up.

July 13th

Mequon Nature Preserve

8200 W County Line Rd., Mequon, WI 53097

We will hike to the tower. I’m going to see if Kristin Gies (their amazing Executive Director) can join us. Also they have an award winning outdoor play area for kids and their building is very much dedicated to education and is fun to check out.

August 10th

Doctors Park

1870 E Fox Lane, Fox Point, WI 53217

We will hike from Doctors Park to Schlitz Audubon north end and then back. We will search for beach treasures and create a heart mosaic in the sand with them.

Free Pizza and a Show on June 15!

As part of UCN’s recertification as a Welcoming Congregation for LGBTQ+ people, the Social Justice Committee is sponsoring the film ‘We Exist: Beyond the Binary’ on Saturday, June 15. A pizza and salad dinner will be served at 6 pm in the Fellowship Hall, followed by the film and a panel discussion with three non-binary speakers at 6:30 pm in the sanctuary upstairs. Donations will be accepted for the Trevor Project, which provides counseling, resources, and other support for LGBTQ+ teens.

Below is a description of the film from its website weexist.co

What if the world told you that you do not exist? For many gender non-confirming individuals this is the reality. The impact of that reality is both personal and global: invisibility, silencing, systemic discrimination and exclusion, and the denial of the most fundamental human right–the legal right to exist. Despite these extraordinarily rigid conditions, personal determination and social agency prevail.

‘We Exist: Beyond the Binary’ is one of the first films to document this growing community living life “beyond the binary” construct of gender. ‘We Exist’ offers a first-hand account of what it is like to exist other than male or female while living within the confines of a world that is slow to catch up.

The narrative intimately follows the life of Lauren: a person in their mid-twenties who identifies as gender neutral. Lauren’s story chronicles their life across multiple continents capturing the emotional, physical, and mental changes and obstacles Lauren must face just to be. From leaving a promising basketball career to a near-death experience in the depths of the rainforest, Lauren’s journey is transformative and unique yet parallels the tale of so many around the world.

‘We Exist: Beyond the Binary’ is not a film about oppression and obscurity but a film of progress and truth. Lauren’s story (along with others like Lauren) is not simply one of finding and defining one’s gender identity; it is a celebration of being. ‘We Exist’ tells the tale of so many around the world forced to overcome nearly impossible and often life-threatening odds just to get to say, “I exist.”

Join the Juneteenth Jubilee Parade!
On Wednesday, June 19th, Juneteenth Day will be celebrated in myriad ways across the U.S. and in Milwaukee. From Wikipedia we learn that “Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. The holiday's name is a portmanteau of the words "June" and "nineteenth", as it was on June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War.” Nearly 2 ½ years earlier, on January 1, 1863, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln had issued the final Emancipation Proclamation, legally freeing all persons held as slaves, but there was strong resistance to it in several of the southern States.

As an extension of MICAH’s We All Belong Campaign that strongly encourages the ongoing support of the Beloved Community, we are all invited to participate in MICAH’s Juneteenth Jubilee Parade and Festival. Starting at 9 a.m. at 14th and Atkinson, the parade will head south onto Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. and end at Center St. There you can enjoy the daylong street festival and watch the opening ceremony at 11, at Locust St. and MLK Drive.

If you are interested in carpooling to and from the parade, please get in touch with Leigh Hoftiezer (leigh.hoftiezer@gmail.com).

Leadership Board Meeting

The next leadership board meeting will be held on June 27 at 6:30 pm via Zoom. The meetings are open to all members, and members are encouraged to share their thoughts or issues at the Open Forum portion of each meeting. Contact the president for the zoom link.

Photo Directory

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.

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 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 Clara Barton room and online.
  

Thank you for supporting the groups that use our facilities.

Calendar through June 30

Meetings are held via Zoom, unless stated.

• Saturday, June 15: SJ Documentary and Panel - Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall (Leigh Hoftiezer)
• Monday, June 17: A/C Installation
• Monday, June 17, noon: UU Coffee and Conversation - Mequon Fiddleheads (Brenda Berg)
• Monday, June 17, 7:30 pm: Comm/Tech Social Media Team (Todd Zumach)
• Tuesday, June 18, 7:00 pm: Finance (Pete Blain)
• Saturday, June 22, 9:30 am: Hike at Virmond Park (Jessy Knox)
• Thursday, June 27, 6:30 pm: Leadership Board (Ed Ahrenhoerster)
• Sunday, June 30, during the service: Peace Pole Rededication

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. UCN's delegates this year are Dana Lusk, Helen Michels, and Leigh Hoftiezer.

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.

• 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.

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

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

Social Justice

• 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.

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/