"From the time we sign the book to be part of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing, we agree to be part of a greater whole. As a member of this greater whole, we are connected to others in our church and share in the responsibility for our vibrant, enriching environment. Shared ministry is accepting the individual connection to the greater whole." -Judith Rowell DeVaney On behalf of the church, I want to warmly welcome you to this religious community. It is an important decision that you have made to join with us and we are greatly honored. Our common life is richer for having you in our midst. Hopefully, by now, you have gathered a great deal of information about Unitarian Universalism and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing in particular. This booklet is designed to help you identify the leadership and understand our local congregational structures. You will learn the most about this religious community by participating regularly in the activities and offering your skills and interests to the church as suits you. This booklet should give you an idea of the opportunities at hand. The newsletter, Liberal Express, and the calendar insert in the order of service will also help you find an entry point. Of course, speaking up, getting acquainted and talking to folks is probably the best way to learn how to be involved. Feel free to call me in the office if you need more information, need help getting started, or just want to chat. You will also begin receiving the UU World magazine, published by the Unitarian Universalist Association. This publication will give you a broader picture of Unitarian Universalism in this country. Whether you are new to Unitarian Universalism, or just new to this church, we welcome you. Rev. Kathryn A. Bert, Minister The mission of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing is to create a liberal religious community to care for one another and the world. We seek justice, celebrate diversity, and search for truth and meaning. Our vision: Developed by this UUCGL Congregation in 2004 Adopted at the Annual Congregational Meeting April, 2005 Unitarian Universalist Association Principles and Purposes The Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association We, the member congregations of the Unitarian
Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:
The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:
Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support. About Unitarian Universalism With its historical roots in the Jewish and Christian traditions, Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion -- that is, a religion that keeps an open mind to the religious questions people have struggled with in all times and places. We believe that personal experience, conscience and reason should be the final authorities in religion, and that in the end religious authority lies not in a book or person or institution, but in ourselves. We are a "non-creedal" religion: we do not ask anyone to subscribe to a creed. Our congregations are self-governing. Authority and responsibility are vested in the membership of the congregation. Each Unitarian Universalist congregation is involved in many kinds of programs. Worship is held regularly, the insights of the past and the present are shared with those who will create the future, service to the community is undertaken, and friendships are made. A visitor to a UU congregation will very likely find events and activities such as church school, day-care centers, lectures and forums, support groups, poetry festivals, family events, adult education classes, and study groups. (Excerpts from "We Are Unitarian
Universalists", pamphlet #3047) SUNDAY MORNINGS SUNDAY MORNING SERVICES: There are usually two worship services, Labor Day through Memorial Day, 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Please stop by the Newcomers and Activities Table for information about what is happening in our religious community. LIFESPAN FAITH DEVELOPMENT: Each week children join their parents in the Sanctuary for the first 15 minutes of the service. Multi-generational services are held about once a month when children join their families for the entire service. Infant and toddler childcare is provided in Room 102 beginning at 9:15 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. Preschool-Fifth grade classes are 9:30-10:45 a.m. Kindergarten through High School groups meet 11:15-12:30 p.m. For adults, current classes and sign-up, can be found at the Activities Table in the Fireplace Room, on Sunday Morning ADULT FORUM: Drop-ins are welcome! The forum, a discussion and study group, meets on Sunday mornings in Room 105. Please see the church website for the calendar of planned discussions. MORNINGSONG offers a time to practice hymns that will be sung in service. Join a choir member, our minister or the director of music 15 minutes before each service for some good singing. SOCIAL HOUR: Join us after service for beverages and conversation in the Fireplace Room directly adjacent to the worship space. FAIR TRADE SALES of coffee, tea, and chocolate supports ecologically sound growing and fair trade wages for good coffee at reasonable prices. Fair Trade Coffee is available for sale on most Sundays. GROVE STREET BOOK SHOP carries quality used books, donated by members and friends, as well as select titles of new books that enhance our understanding of Unitarian Universalism and our world. Donations of your gently used books are welcome anytime. Printed copies of recent sermons by Rev. Bert are available. The book store is open most Sunday mornings, between services and after second service. AUDIO COPIES OF SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE on CD or audio cassettes for a $2.00 charge to cover costs of purchasing materials. Just let the sound technician know which service you would like. HOSPITALITY: All members of the congregation share in being aware and remaining alert to the act of hospitality, the act of welcoming the stranger in our midst. ACCESSIBILITY: Large Print and Braille hymnals are available. Sunday Orders of Services, including hymn verses, can be sent to you by e-mail, if requested. Our one service during summer months and, during the rest of the year, the 11:15 a.m. service, are American Sign Language interpreted. Cushions for chairs are available from the ushers. ACTIVITIES TABLE has information for newcomers and others about activities in the congregation. THE MARION VAUGHN PARLOUR adjacent to the Sanctuary has sound piped in from the worship service. There are a few toys available for small children. SUNDAY MORNING VOLUNTEERS GREETERS welcome congregants and visitors as they enter the foyer or downstairs entrance each Sunday morning. This is a service you can be a part of whether you are a long-time regular or a relative newcomer. USHERS help make the Sunday services function smoothly. Volunteers have guidelines to make it easy to help during each Sunday service. Ushers arrive twenty minutes early to greet people and hand out the orders of service, collect the offering, and count the attendance. This is an easy way to provide a welcoming atmosphere and get to know our congregation. Sign up at the Activities Table or contact the Membership Committee. COFFEE SERVERS brew coffee and clean up the beverage service area. FLOWER DONORS: to arrange a date to donate flower for our worship services, perhaps in memory of someone or in celebration of a special occasion, please reserve a date through the church office. Call 517.351.4081, 2#. RELGIOUS EDUCATION TEACHERS: Our religious education classes are a cooperative learning experience. Parents and members of the congregation are encouraged to offer help as lead or assistant teachers. Contact Teresa Putnam, Director of Life Span Faith Development. LITURGISTS NEEDED: Our Minister and the Celebrations Committee would like to know if you are interested in reading during a worship service. If you’d be willing to be given text to read in church Sunday (you usually get it by e-mail two days prior), please call UUCGL’s office at 351-4081, ext. 2#, and ask to be added to our list of possible liturgists. Worship is better with more voices! LEARN TO BE A SOUND TECHNICIAN: The sound tech plays a critical role in creating a pleasant, high-quality, and accessible experience for those attending worship. Training will take place in an approximate two-hour session. Following that you will work on a few Sunday mornings with an experienced technician as you become familiar with our sound system. Give Rachel Alexander, Music Director 351-4081, ext. 4# a call for more information. YOUTH CHOIR, under the direction of Marcy
Christoff, performs several times a year, with a number of weekly rehearsals preceding
each performance. All children grades K-8 will be accepted into choir. Singers will have
an opportunity to sing with the Youth Choir, but also perform solos and narrate, if
desired. ADULT CHOIR led by Director of Music, Rachel Alexander and accompanied by Pianist Stuart Foster, rehearses on Thursdays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and sings in services most Sundays from early September through early June, alternating between the 9:30 and 11:15 services, and periodically singing in both. All are welcome to join the Adult Choir, with no prior choral experience required. The choir performs an eclectic mix of music, ranging from the Western European choral tradition to contemporary world folk music, with many stops in between. Living our Faith Having no creed, each of us has the freedom and responsibility to decide and create what we believe, how it transforms us , and how we put this faith into action in our relationships, our community and the world. We hope you find the encouragement in this congregation in worship, in classes, and in discussions to sustain you in your journey. Below are some questions to help you begin. Living Our Covenant* How do I live my faith commitment through my works in the world? Pick one project. It could be a hobby, your work, or an experience) and think about :
*equate "covenant" with "commitment." Statement of Faith
Do not feel artistically constrained by these questions; they are just a guide. Avoid including what you DON'T believe. Attempt to frame your statement in the positive. Beyond Sunday Shared Ministry "To me, shared ministry is the work we do together to take care of each other and our community. It is up to each one of us to contribute and do our part, as we are able, to make this place the vibrant and warm and accepting church it is. It’s smiling at the newcomer, it’s pledging what you can, it’s teaching our kids, it’s serving on a committee, it’s offering a hand when it’s needed, it’s sharing your gift, it’s teaching a class, it’s taking a class, it’s coming to service." - Mart McClellan. "Shared ministry, to me, is the natural consequence of the notion that we are this church. The church is not a building or a set of bylaws; it is, instead, a living organism made up of its members, friends and staff. The ministry of the church -- what it does for each other and the world in furtherance of its vision and mission -- is, of necessity, shared by the integral parts of this organism. This is so whether the ministry is done well or poorly." - Brad Rutledge Worshiping and enjoying our liberal-religious community on Sunday morning sustains and nourishes us. Church is much more than Sunday morning. UUCGL is a vibrant and growing community with a wide array of activities during the week and throughout the year. What follows is a list of some of the activities of the church. For a more complete and up-to-date list, please consult our newsletter, the Sunday order of service or our web site www.uulansing.org Welcoming Congregation The UUA Welcoming Congregation is a voluntary program for congregations seeking to become more inclusive towards bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people. It consists of a series of workshops developed by the UUA. The goal of the workshops is to reduce prejudice by increasing understanding and acceptance among people of different sexual orientations. In the early 1990’s, our church began the steps to becoming a Welcoming Congregation. In addition to completing the workshop series from the Welcoming Congregation Program, our church hosted a BGLT friendly dance and participated in the annual Michigan Pride March. In 1997, the Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Concerns sent UUCGL a letter of congratulations, along with a poster proclaiming that we are a Welcoming Congregation. The poster is hanging in our Fireplace Room. As a Welcoming Congregation we:
Only when we are truly open to the wealth of diversity in our world will the inherent worth and dignity of every person be affirmed with a chorus of voices. COVENANT GROUPS A covenant group is a small group that helps to: * Foster relationships within our community; Covenant groups encourage people to talk, learn, work
and play together. Each Covenant Group undertakes a service project outside the church
into the community, putting our faith and values into action. CHILD DEDICATIONS In our tradition, we dedicate a baby or a child in order to honor the life, and acknowledge the changes in the life of the family and community brought about by the presence of a new person. The dedication is one way we publicly acknowledge our commitment to, and responsibility for this child, the parents to the child, and the community to the parents and child. The family is also declaring their intention to raise the child in the tradition of Unitarian Universalism and the values of our common faith. We present a rose as a symbol of hope that life will come to full bloom. A rose is rooted in the earth, just as the soul is rooted in the community. Along life's paths, there are always thorns. Lifespan Faith Development The Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing believes in lifelong learning and acknowledges the importance of a strong religious education program in the life of the church and its members. The Lifespan Religious Education Committees strive to provide opportunities for community and for continued spiritual and intellectual growth for children, youth, members and friends of the congregation. Our offerings are developed to further the following goals:
The Children and Youth Religious Education Committee meets monthly to envision the program, establish policy, select the yearly Sunday morning curricula and support volunteers. In an effort to nurture the development of our community the committee also plans many activities for families and the congregation. Most of these events have become tradition, and for many children, they mark the highlight of their church year. The Adult Religious Education Committee also meets monthly to plan for and create offerings for adults. The committee presents a wide variety of courses and curricula, from world religions to sexuality, that enrich learning, spiritual development, and community. Classes and courses are offered throughout the church year. We welcome energetic members who are interested in supporting and promoting these programs, and who want to find friends and community in one of these vibrant committees. Church YEAR CALENDAR of Events SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
JANUARY
February
MARCH
April
May
June
July and August
* Multigenerational Services or Activities SOCIAL ACTIVITIES The Social Activities of the congregation provide opportunities for fellowship and shared ministry that encourage connection, growth, nurturance, support and friendship to each other in all our diversity and life transitions. Lifespan faith development doesn’t just happen in classroom settings, or during worship, but in a vast array of activities that intentionally encourage each other’s search for truth and meaning. Ideas for activities that will contribute to these goals often emerge from the interests and energy of small groups of congregants. Hence, the recent emergence of the "20 Something Group," the "Lettuce Be Knitters," "Family Movie Night," and, most recently, "Piece Makers" a group of UU quilters. Please help us in creating community. Join a group. Start an interest group Sharing our talents, gifts and time, creates, and sustains this liberal-religious community. SOCIAL ACTION This congregation supports a wide variety of social justice efforts in the Greater Lansing Area, across Michigan, and in the world. The spiritual grounding of our social justice work is found in our seven principles. The Social Action Committee coordinates Social Justice efforts of the congregation. Social Action Subcommittees include Journey to Wholeness, Sustainable Living and Welcoming Congregation. Each quarter a special offering is taken to support a social justice effort such as rebuilding UU churches damaged by Hurricane Katrina, contributing to Urban Options, and to local homeless shelters. The congregation as a whole has taken a positions on social justice issues. Recently this has included opposing the 2006 Proposal 2 Anti-Affirmative Action Initiative. Social justice is an integral part of our Religious Education curriculum. Our elementary school children have engaged in activities including recycling, collecting school supplies for children in homeless shelters, and collecting supplies for abandoned pets. Our Middle and High School youth carry on these interests. This group has volunteered at domestic violence shelters, worked for peace, and helped clean up rivers. A few years ago when a neighboring church burned down, our youth group was among the first volunteers to help clean up. Social Justice and Social Action infuse much of the work we do as a congregation. We encourage you to join in the ongoing efforts of this congregation. Denominational Affairs Although each Unitarian Universalist congregation is an independent entity with its own governance, mission statement, personality and traditions, we are connected to other UU groups through our affiliation with the Unitarian Universalist Association at the national level, and more locally, through the Heartland District. The Denominational Affairs Committee helps facilitate contact with these other congregations. The committee also helps the Nominations Committee identify potential delegates from UUCGL to serve as representatives at national and regional gatherings. Delegates serve as the voice of UUCGL on matters of importance to the district or the larger UUA, such as global warming, engagement of youth, stewardship, etc. Members of the UUCGL elect delegates to at our Annual Meeting. In addition to enjoying the honor of representing UUCGL, delegates report experiencing a greater connection to both the Congregation, and the larger movement. Attending the conferences and the various training sessions offered by the District and the UUA during these gatherings then provides access to information and new ideas that can be discussed and considered for integration into the life of UUCGL as appropriate. Governance UUCGL is fueled by the inspiration and gifts in this community that create our joint ministry, our community of religious liberals, and our sacred space. UUCGL is governed democratically according to our constitution and bylaws. At the Annual Congregational Meeting, UUCGL’s members elect the Board of Trustees. Nominations for the Board of Trustees may be made by the Nominating Committee and congregation at the annual meeting The 12-member board defines policies that guide decisions. Two of the twelve members of the Board of Trustees also are members of the Finance Committee of the Church. Officers of the board are elected by the board. The Board of Trustees submits an annual budget to the Church for approval at our Annual Meeting. Board meetings are open. Minutes of all meeting are available. "Board Splinters" (summarizing board issues) are published regularly in the church newsletter. Board member names are listed in the order of service and contact information is listed in the church directory. Standing Committees of the Board include: More information about each of these committees can be found in the church Annual Report and on the church website. Meetings of these committees are open. Dates and times of meetings are in the church calendar listed in the order of service and in the newsletter. Members of the congregation are encouraged to take an active role in these governing committees. Program Council The Program Council consists of the Vice President for Programs, the chairs of standing committees, and the chair of a committee selected by the Board at the beginning of each church year. The Program Council helps committees coordinate activities and share ideas. The Program Council is charged with:
Here are some examples of Program Council activities:
Church members who have new ideas for programs or individual fundraisers should contact the Vice President for Programs or a committee chair to be part of the monthly Council agenda. ELECTIONS/ANNUAL MEETINGS Our congregation is democratically governed by trustees elected to offices specified in our church constitution. The UUCGL Annual Meeting is held in April of each calendar year. We have a congregational meeting in January to vote on the operating budget for the church and elect delegates to represent our congregation within the Heartland District and at the UUA General Assembly. At the spring meeting the congregation will elect members to openings on the Board of Trustees, and Investment and Strategic Planning committees. In the event that the congregation is seeking a settled minister, the congregation must vote to accept the candidate selected through the Search Process. Notices of all congregational meetings are in the church calendar, and listed in the newsletter and in the orders of service. In the event that you cannot attend a duly called meeting of the church, you may designate, in writing, another member to vote for you. No member may vote more than two proxies. Friends of the congregation are welcome to attend but may not vote on issues. Strategic Planning UUCGL's Strategic Plan is the product of a long-range planning process that has evolved since 2001. it continues to form the direction of our congregation. Out of the initial Ad Hoc Planning Committee came the recommendation to elect a Strategic Planning Committee. This elected committee, with the help of a Unitarian Universalist Association Consultant, set out to assist the congregation in the development of our updated Mission and Vision Statements. From here a continuous five-year plan was developed through a process of brainstorming resulting in over 200 goals which the congregation then prioritized. Clear priorities emerged: Lifespan Religious Education, Celebrations and Music, Member Activities, and Social Action. From all of this congregational discussion and consideration, a plan was developed with costs of dollar and time amounts attached. Each year this plan is updated and adjusted by our Strategic Planning Committee in conjunction with the congregation’s Program Council and the Board. This plan is the basis for the budget development and the goal each year for our pledge drive. Stewardship is how we sustain our church, not only financially, but also by participating fully in church activities. The Stewardship Committee plans for year- round outreach to members and friends to ensure that they understand all that the church offers and how to be fully involved in its life. Stewardship volunteers meet with prospective members and new members to learn about their expectations and convey enthusiasm for supporting the church. Stewardship also supports other activities like Celebrations, Adult Lifespan Faith Development and Pastoral Care that deepen members’ commitment. The Stewardship Committee plays a major role in the annual canvass. Stewardship works with Strategic Planning to develop a prospective budget and canvass goals. Stewardship works with Celebrations, Music, and other groups to plan the special services and events that are the high points of the fund raising campaign. It is the goal of the Stewardship Committee to contact every member during the canvas to find out what they need from the church and what they can give in return. UUCGL’s Endowment plays a vital role in adding to the life of the congregation and providing for its future. Endowment gifts are never spent, but are invested and maintained as a perpetual resource for the future of our church. Every year, a portion of the returns on those investments is used to support vital needs of the church. Our Investment Committee, elected by the church membership, invests our endowment funds in a combination of stock funds and fixed-income assets. As of August 31, 2006, our endowment totaled over $365,000, including over $167,000 in stock funds and nearly $198,000 in fixed-income assets. This is a sizable increase from $306,971 at the end of 2005 and $268,128 at the end of 2004, thanks largely to several generous donations. In general, the endowment is allowed to increase in value over the long term at the rate of inflation. However, most of the earnings and capital gains in excess of inflation are used by the church to meet special needs and to take advantage of opportunities that the operating budget cannot accommodate. At the end of each year excess earnings are designated by the Investment Committee as Spendable Endowment Funds and transferred to the annual church budget to be spent in a manner outlined by the constitution and bylaws. The amount of Spendable Endowment Funds available in any year depends on the size of the endowment, its earnings and its growth in market value. Spendable can be used for staff training, a ministerial search, major maintenance or special equipment or constructing additions to, or remodeling of our church building or grounds Another category of Endowment funds is known as the "Flexible Endowment." These funds are to be considered part of the church endowment, but, unlike regular endowment funds, all or part of the Flexible Endowment may be spent as part of a church building fund or for related purposes as voted by the Board of Trustees. By August 31, 2006, several gifts had increased the Flexible Endowment to $36,621. If you would like more information about how you can make a contribution to the endowment, please contact the Chair of the Endowment Committee. Pastoral Assistants Pastoral Assistants are a small group of church members who offer caring and support to other members in times of special need. Pastoral Assistants are trained lay-persons committed to understanding, spiritual awareness, compassion, open-mindedness, and integrity. The time given to serve others is entirely voluntary. This program is an extension of our shared ministry, designed to complement and encourage the informal, caring network which already exists. You might consider calling on a Pastoral Assistant or the Minister when you are undergoing major life changes such as:
other related pastoral care ministries
A current list of Pastoral Assistants can be found in the UUCGL Directory or Sunday Order of Service. To request pastoral assistance call 517.351.4081 (#1) Memorial Garden From earliest times, churches and churchyards have served as places for interment. In keeping with this tradition, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing has established a Memorial Garden to inter cremains of loved ones and to provide a place of peace and beauty for all to enjoy. The Memorial Garden was established in memory of Marcella Orr Rosa. The gazebo was made possible in part by a gift from church members Marion and Joe Lay in memory of their niece, Kathleen Ann Haering. Friends and members of the church contributed services, materials and money toward the completion of both the garden and gazebo. Arrangements for Interment and Memorial Services can be made in advance. Contributions for interment will provide funds for the garden care. Further information on terms and conditions can be obtained from the Memorial Garden information packet, available through the church office. The Chalice
The chalice symbol was designed by Hans Deutsch for use by the Unitarian Service Committee during World War II. Since that time, it has come to symbolize Unitarian Universalism to the world. The lighting of a chalice has become a common opening ritual in Unitarian Universalist worship. Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing: A Short History John H. Sanford, Universalist minister and newspaper publisher, could be considered the father of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing. In 1847 he came to Lansing from Ann Arbor and formed a Universalist society. He was also the publisher of Lansing’s first newspaper, The Primitive Expounder. On March 16, 1849 the church’s incorporation papers were signed. In 1852 the Rev. C.W. Knickerbocker came to Lansing to serve the society as its minister. In a meeting at the Capitol on October 24, 1852, the society adopted a constitution and by- laws. There were about 65 members and services were held in the Capitol building or in a Lansing school. In 1863 a brick church was built and dedicated at the corner of Grand Avenue and Allegan Street. The cost of construction was $6,000. Thirty years and eleven ministers later a new church was built on the corner of Capital Avenue and Ottawa Street. The land, on which the church was built, was deeded to the congregation by Sarah Vanderroot Emery. A rose window was placed in the north wall of the building in her memory. It was here that Augusta Jane Chapin was ordained and served as minister from 1881-82. The Rev. Chapin was the second woman ordained in the Universalist Church and the first woman in the country to be awarded an honorary doctor of divinity degree. (Olympia Brown was the first woman to be ordained a few months before Chapin. ) .The Universalists had a cordial relationship with the congregation of the Plymouth Congregational Church. During the years 1927-32, the two churches held joint services, co-sponsored famous speakers and the choirs performed together. During the depression, the Universalists considered merging with the Congregationalists. Several different Lansing buildings have been home to the Universalist congregation over the years. In her history, Ideas Have Consequences, 125 Years of the Liberal Tradition in the Lansing Area, Jerry Thornton wrote that the Universalist Church had its ups and downs during the early years. The original church property was sold for financial reasons after the panic of 1893. The 1930s depression effected the church with ministers taking pay cuts and accepting promissory notes. A merger with the Plymouth Congregational Church was considered. By 1935 church membership had shrunk to 71 members. According to Jerry’s history, it was the hard work of the women of the church that held the congregation together. Their projects raised funds for the church. They also cleaned and refurbished the church building . During the 1940s several Unitarian families moved to the Lansing area from Ann Arbor. They founded the Unitarian Fellowship of East Lansing and Mason, affiliating with the American Unitarian Association in March 1949. In 1957, Lansing area Universalists and Unitarians merged four years before the national merger took place. In 1971 the church purchased the former fraternity house at 855 Grove Street and for a period of time shared the space with Kehillat Israel, a Jewish congregation now located in Lansing. Over the years the congregation has worked to make this space meet the needs of our congregation. Interior walls were removed and dorm rooms transformed into religious education classrooms. Long-time members remember when a wall divided what is now the fireplace room and the joy we experienced when it was removed in 1975. The assembly hall, the front entrance and the Marion Vaughan Parlor were added in 1983-84. Mortgages on the building were paid off in 1996. For some years the church rented out upstairs rooms as office space. We reclaimed this space, and former caretaker apartment, for classrooms in 2001. Today the Peace Education Center has an office in the basement and Fellowship For Today has space on the third floor and holds services here on Sunday evening. A group left this church to form All Souls UU Church in an effort to serve a more diverse congregation and to become more socially active. It did not survive. Since 1847 this church has had 40 ministers and coordinators, both settled and interim, leading the congregation. Over this same time, the congregation has met in nearly a dozen different locations. Since the arrival of Rev. Kathryn A. Bert as our
minister in 2002 our congregation has grown to its current, ever-growing size of over 350
members, and approximately 200 friends. COMMON ACRONYMS BOT: UUCGL’s Board of Trustees considers and develops policies to further the life of this congregation. Meetings are open. Full minutes of meetings are posted in the church office. Summaries are featured in the church newsletter, Liberal Express. BYOT: Building Your Own Theology is a popular class for adults offered during the year by the Life Span Faith Development Committee. COA: The Coming of Age program, for 7th and 8th graders, marks the transition from childhood to youth. The teenage years are a time of tremendous growth and change. This transition is as important as other life transitions such as birth, partnering, and death, yet it is often overlooked in our society. The curriculum for this year-long class was developed and published by this congregation and is currently being used in many other UU churches. Coming of Age can be a life-changing experience, and we believe that the key to changing lives is developing deep, authentic relationships between people - between youth, facilitators, mentors, parents, and the congregation. This program includes four parts: pairing youth with adult mentors; discussions and retreats that emphasize self-awareness and confidence-building; service to the church and community; and a culminating affirmation ceremony. This is one of the most powerful programs our congregation offers to youth and their families. GA: General Assembly is the yearly meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. Programs, business events, and exhibits provide a rich experience to the thousands of UUs who attend each year. Delegates are elected by the congregation. If you would like to attend this event or the HUUD meeting as a delegate, please contact a member of the Nominations Committee GSBS : Grove Street Book Shop is located just off the Fireplace Room. Established in 1995, is a volunteer-run fundraising effort of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Great Lansing. We carry quality used books, donated by members and friends, as well as selected titles of new books that enhance our understanding of Unitarian Universalism and our world. Profits from sales of used books, and approximately 20% of the cover price of new books, generate funds that revert to the general fund of the church at the end of the fiscal year. The board of trustees determines how yearly profits will be used to benefit our church community. Read Re-read Recycle Re-use HUUD: Heartland Unitarian Universalist District represents congregations in the midwest and upper south. HUUD uses its resources to promote and develop strong, growing congregations that interact with other Unitarian Universalist congregations, their communities, the District, and the Unitarian Universalist Association. Each year UUCGL elects delegates to represent our congregation at the HUUD Annual Meeting. A conference is held in conjunction with the annual meeting and all are invited to attend. LFD: Lifespan Faith Development (formerly known as Religious Education) oversees and facilitates lifelong learning opportunities within the congregation. OOS : Order of Service details the Sunday morning worship service. It also includes current events, church activities, and other information about the congregation. To place an item in the OOS, related to congregational life, please submit to office staff by Wednesday of each week. OWL: Our Whole Lives is a series of sexuality education curricula for five age groups: grades K-1, grades 4-6, grades 7-9, grades 10-12, and adults. Our Whole Lives helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual 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. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, Our Whole Lives provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but helps participants to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality. Members of our congregation train as facilitators and volunteer as OWL leaders through our Lifespan Faith Development Programming. PC: Program Council is composed of chairs from committees and elected representatives from the congregation to develop, promote, and coordinate the shared life of the congregation. Meetings are open. Full minutes of meetings are posted in the church office. Summaries are featured in the church newsletter, Liberal Express. RE: Religious Education (aka Lifespan Faith Development). UUA The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations was formed in 1961 through the consolidation of the Universalist Church of America and the American Unitarian Association. Today the UUA encompasses more than 1000 congregations providing resources, technical assistance, and models for programming. UUCGL: Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing. The second largest Unitarian Universalist Church in Michigan. UUWF: Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation (or Fellowship). UU World is the quarterly magazine of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. Members of the Congregation will receive a home subscription shortly after signing the membership book. Free copies of current and past issues are available at the Activities Table and in the Grove Street Book Shop. Recent issues are also available on line atwww.uuworld.org. How do I reserve a room at the church?
How do I place an article in the newsletter?
How do I place an announcement in the Sunday Order of Service?
I’ve lost my nametag. Can I get a replacement?
Where do I register for classes?
Are activities and classes only for members?
The Rev. Kathryn A. Bert was ordained by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing in 2002 after being called to serve the church as minister. She is a graduate of Meadville Lombard Theological School affiliated with the University of Chicago. Prior to theological school, she was a bilingual teacher, working with children first grade through twelfth in the state of Washington. Kathryn is a former Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in Honduras from 1987-89, where she met her husband, a volunteer from Texas. They have one child who is in middle school, and a dog who fetches the morning newspaper. Kathryn is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist and has been a member (not minister) of at least nine Unitarian Universalist churches or fellowships over the years. MUSIC DIRECTOR, Rachel Alexander joined the staff of UUCGL in 1995. She grew up in a musical Quaker family where she learned to read music before she learned to read words. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in cello performance and a Master of Music in choral conducting. She founded Sistrum, the Lansing Women’s Chorus, in 1986, and was its artistic director for fifteen years. She writes and arranges music for both the UUCGL Adult Choir and The Bench, a band in which she sings and plays a variety of instruments. In addition to her work at UUCGL, Rachel earns her way in the world as a piano tuner-technician and a carpenter. Director of Lifespan Faith Development, Teresa Putnam came to the congregation with her family in 1987, and filled the director role for children and youth in 1993. Since then religious education has become a career. Teresa recruits and nurtures the RE volunteer staff and oversees the many activities that we offer for families. As well as being involved in RE at our Heartland district, she was part of the team that recently wrote and published our successful Coming of Age Program. Her college aged children Adam and Anna, graduated from the Religious Education program and her husband, Ralph, is a seasoned church volunteer. Pianist, STUART FOSTER, has degrees from Cornell University and the University of Arkansas, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Louisiana State University. He moved to Michigan in 1999, and started working for the church that same fall, making fall 2006 the beginning of his eighth year. He loves the job, and particularly appreciates the church’s willingness to hear a wide range of repertoire, from Bach to Bebop to The Beatles to Bob Marley. He comments almost daily about what cool people Unitarians are. In addition to his church duties, Stuart teaches piano from his house, accompanies the ELHS choirs, and performs and accompanies in the Lansing area. He lives in East Lansing with his partner, Lynn, and (half-time) with his two children, Christopher and Hans, who are both active in the church’s youth program and sing in the Youth Choir. CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR, (currenty unfilled) Office Assistant, Jeannie Smith, is a graduate of Kalamazoo College with a BA in psychology. She is currently pursuing an Educational Specialist Degree in school psychology at MSU. Jeannie and her husband, an Alternative Energy Engineering major at LCC, both grew up in Lansing and attended both Catholic and public schools. They have practiced Zen meditation with Buddhist groups in Lansing and Kalamazoo and were introduced to Unitarian Universalism by a friend who attends UU services in Asheville, North Carolina. They occasionally bike or carpool to services and buy shade grown coffee in the Fireplace Room. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing is vibrant and growing. We have approximately 350 Members and nearly 200 Friends. Our church offers an enormous array of activities including outstanding worship services, adult and youth choir and instrumental music, adult and youth religious education, discussion groups, covenant groups for personal spiritual growth and community, pastoral care for members in need, and social activities from camping and biking to luncheons and circle suppers. Church members actively support the arts and theater. Our church supports community-based social action in a variety of ways. The closing words of our Sunday service embody our spirit: May
faith in love, and hope for community, Peace. |
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