The Northliner

Sunday Services

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, if possible, through a special email.

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

This link can also be found on our website: www.ucnorth.org.

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.

Nov. 8: Celebration of Membership, Rev. Erik David Carlson

Rev. Erik David Carlson (he, him, his) is a life-long UU who has held leadership positions at every level of our Association, including the Church of the Larger Fellowship, the Central Midwest District (now MidAmerica) and the UUA Board of Trustees. Rev. Carlson has served 17 of the last 20 years in UU congregations.

Nov. 15: "Changing Perspectives," Rev. Sarah Oelberg

Sixty-five years ago, the American Unitarian Association (AUA) and the Universalist Church of America joined together to form our present lengthy name, Unitarian Universalist Association. It was a major development, and there have been other changes as well. I will look at these, and see how our present Association has taken its shape.

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 and now she frequently speaks at UCN. She and husband Gerald raised four children and have six grand- and four great-grandchildren.

This Sunday's Order of Service:

Connections

Carol Pawlak fell and broke her hip, spending a few days at the hospital and a few at rehap. She's home now and recovering nicely, and looking forward to coming back to church. She'd appreciate cards and notes.

*****

Our condolences to Anna Rychner, whose husband, Chuck, passed away recently. A memorial service will be held at UCN on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 11:00 am.

*****

Nan Hart is a new member of our congregation who jumped right in to working with the RE program. UCN and the Lay Pastoral Care Team has received the following request from April Hart.

“I am Nan Hart's daughter and I am helping to organize her after care for her upcoming hip replacement surgery. Surgery (took) place on Friday, October 30th, and Nan will be in the hospital for one overnight (possibly more). My husband (Nan's son), myself and Nan's sister will be the immediate after-care team.”

April has organized a meal train with link: https://mealtrain.com/g5k16m

Dates, address and meal preferences are all indicated within the site.

The family is also seeking assistance with transportation to/from a few medical appointments. Nan lives in Grafton and most appointments will likely be Grafton/Mequon.

You can sign on to the meal train directly. If you’re able to provide transportation, please reach out to Judy DeLillo (720-935-0851) who is helping to coordinate with the family on behalf of our LPCT.

Ask the Minister

Ask the Minister - Responses XIII

Because of time constraints, many of the excellent questions submitted during service on August 2nd were left unanswered. Over the next several months, I will be responding to those we didn’t get to and others that have been submitted since in our newsletters and regular mailings. If you have other questions you’d like me to consider, please write me at reverik@ucnorth.org.

Question: What are the implications of the recent midterm elections on us at UCN?

Response: While many of us are feeling relief or downright joy at the overall election results and the overwhelming repudiation of those in our government who have not acted in line with many (or all) our Unitarian Universalist values, I am concerned about what comes next.

As is the pattern with politics, especially the tactics of those on the Right, temporary backlashes in public sentiment are effectively combatted when situations don’t improve or simply don’t improve quickly enough. While the current administration has been working to break things integral to our government for the better part of the last decade, opposition leaders will not even begin work until January and will then have barely 18 months to make enough progress to convince voters to reelect them in 2028. When gas remains higher than anyone would like in two years, it will be much easier for the Right to blame a congress led by Democrats than the real cause of the crises that will invariably continue despite this week’s Blue Wave.

What we need to do now, as a progressive church and as a society invested in justice and equity within the public sphere, is to not get complacent, not assume that this last week has changed anything for the better… Yet.

What will make the feelings we have now in the aftermath of the elections more permanent is continuing to advocate for those things dear to us: racial justice, gender rights, environmental justice, access to voting and health care, compassionate immigration reform and so on. These issues remain regardless of who is in the halls of our government at any given time.

Though the political landscape has shifted, the issues and concerns we hold dear continue, and if we allow our optimism about last Tuesday to breed complacency, our joy will last only two more Novembers. But as always, it begins, and ends, with us.

Yours in Faith,
Rev. Erik

Religious Exploration

Sunday, Nov 8th

Nursery: Constance & Tiffany & Sophia
Message for All Ages: "Desmond Gets Free" by Matt Meyer read by Andrew S.
Kindergarten-2nd grade:The Gift of Kindness with Brian B. & Emily Z.
3rd-5th grade: “Interdependance” with Katie & Rosa (Jessy is off)
https://www.uua.org/lifespan/curricula/shared-values/uu-values-challenge (link to curriculum)
6th-9th: Session 4: Thinking of God with Betsy and Carol.

Playground Adult 11am-12pm: Katie

Thursday, November 12th: Parent's Night at UCN 6-8pm 🍕🍕🍕

Join us at 6pm for pizza followed by a lightly guided adult discussion upstairs and supervised kid's time downstairs in the fellowship hall and outside in our play area and a hike on the trails.

A Reminder

Jessy will not ask you for a directory, gift cards, bank information, or people's contact info. Scammers are trying to get our information. If you get a request, please forward it to info@ucnorth.org.

Join Our Caring Community!

Now Hiring: Childcare & Nursery Assistant - Sunday Mornings

Unitarian Church North is looking for a caring and dependable Childcare & Nursery Assistant to help provide nurturing care for children during Sunday services and occasional special events.

The position is approximately 2.5 hours (9:30 am to 11:30am/noon) on Sunday mornings.

Scheduling can be arranged for weekly service or two (2) to three (3) Sundays per month, providing

flexibility for the right person. Additional hours may be requested for special events, with flexibility

afforded in scheduling.

If you are interested, please submit a letter of interest including a statement of qualifications and three references from previous childcare positions to info@ucnorth.org.

Social and Racial Justice

Interfaith Conference Luncheon

Reserve your individual seat or sponsor a table for the 56th Annual Luncheon for the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, at noon on Thursday, December 3.

We will gather at the Marquette University Alumni Memorial Union Ballroom to celebrate the diverse faiths. The Keynote Speaker will be Darryl Morin, National President & Chairman of the Board of Forward Latino. We will be honoring Bob Connolly of Common Ground, with the Ziedler Award; the Milwaukee Diaper Mission with the Huebshmann Urban Ministry Award; and Luke Mattias with the Rohlfing Award. You don't want to miss any of this lunch so register your seat or table today!

REGISTER AT THIS LINK

Bad River Film Screening & Discussion Panel, November 12th

At its core, this film is the story of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa's decades-long fight for sovereignty, land, and water, set against a legacy of broken treaties that stretches back generations. Understanding that history isn't separate from the environmental stakes, it's an essential foundation that too many of us never learned about. Event flyer.

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 Leigh Hoftiezer, leigh.hoftiezer@gmail.com, to be added to the list.
UCN’s Share the Plate (STP) program supports organizations that help those in need in our community and across the world. You are welcome to nominate a recipient for a 2-month collection. The complete list of past STP recipients and their websites can be found at UCNorth.org, under Serve/Share the Plate/View Past Donations Spreadsheet.

Announcements

Service Announcements

If you have an announcement you would like broadcast during the service, please send it to sundayservices@ucnorth.org by noon on the Friday before the service.

Leadership Board Meeting (see corrected date)

The next leadership board meeting will be held on Thursday, Nov. 19 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.

Visitors

The following people visited our church recently:

Renee Thibodeau, Egg Harbor

Thanks for visiting us. We hope that you come back soon!

UCN Cookbooks

Christmas is coming! Time to think about gifts for those you love. What better way to let them know than with a copy of the UCN Cookbook. We'll have them for sale at the First Sunday Lunch in December & any other time you'd like one or more copies. They're only $10 each & they contain wonderful recipes from your friends at UCN. See Linda Sandersen.

Ukulele classes

Classes resume on 11/15, 11/22 and 12/20 for the year. We meet in the Sanctuary at 11:30 after the service.

All Soul's Cafe'

Calling all singers, musicians, dancers, poets, etc! Magicians are welcome, too...

Anyone who would like to perform at the All Soul's Cafe' on Sunday, January 3, 2027, is asked to sign up by the deadline of December 18. I have spoken with several performers already who are seriously considering it again. Your act should take about 5 minutes.

Thank you. We all look forward to the show.

Linda Sandersen, Lindasandersen60@gmail.com

Note

Constance Guysick is no longer our sexton. Please remove her from your Leadership Lists.

Events at UCN

Chair Yoga is held Tuesdays at 10 am, in the Clara Barton Room. Contact Anna Rychner at Shaktiwaves@ameritech.net for more details.
The next Wisconsin Singer Songwriter Series concerts will be held Saturday, Nov. 14.
UCN members are offered $15 tickets at the door for all concerts, with identification. 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. On voting days, meetings are held in the Sanctuary, upper level.

Thank you for supporting the groups that use our facilities.

Calendar

Calendar through November 22

Meetings are held via Zoom, unless a room/location is noted.

Friday, Nov. 6: Grief Discussion Setup - West Lobby
Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 am: Conversation on Loss, Death, Grief - Sanctuary
Sunday, Nov. 8, 11:30 am: Social Justice - Emerson (Julie Konik)
Sunday, Nov. 8, 11:30 am: Group Sing - Sanctuary (Callie Thurow)
Monday, Nov. 9, 7:00 pm: RE Committee (Katie Egan-Bruhy)
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7:00 pm: Sunday Services (CJ Winter)
Thursday, Nov. 12, 6:00 pm: Parents' Night - Emerson/Fellowship Hall (Carissa Mooren)
Sunday, Nov. 15, 11:30 am: Uke Lessons - Sanctuary (Linda Sandersen)
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 7:00 pm: Finance (Pete Blain)
Thursday, Nov. 19, 11:30 am: Ladies' Lunch - Crave (Brenda Berg)
Thursday, Nov. 19, 6:30 pm: Leadership Board (Judy DeLillo)
Saturday, Nov. 21, 11:00 am: Memorial Service for Chuck Rychner
Sunday, Nov. 22, 11:30 am: Uke Lessons - Sanctuary (Linda Sandersen)
Sunday, Nov. 22, 11:30 am: Group Sing - Emerson (Callie Thurow)

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.

Reminders

Service and UUA Information

Service Assistants are needed for Sunday Services. Please contact Sunday Service Committee Chair, CJ Winter (cjwinter01@outlook.com), or Dan Lusk (sundayservices@ucnorth.org) 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.
Spoken Announcements: Since each Sunday service is limited to an hour, spoken announcements will ideally be few in number and concise. The minister or Service Assistant (SA) will usually deliver the announcements. The text of a spoken announcement should be sent by email to UCN’s Sunday Services Committee (sundayservices@ucnorth.org) no later than noon on the Thursday preceding the service. The final decision on all spoken announcements resides with the SA, who will consider the anticipated length of a service and may abbreviate some spoken announcements. Please see the website for more details on spoken announcements.
UU Women's Connection offers retreats, newsletters and resources for women: https://www.uuwomensconnection.org/. Click this link for info about retreats:
https://www.uuwomensconnection.org/retreats. The October retreat will be at Cedar Valley Retreat Center near West Bend, Wisconsin.
You can subscribe to MidAmerica Region's newsletter at News page. More information at uua.org/midamerica .
The UUA's Common Read for the 2026-2027 year is Love at the Center: Unitarian Universalist Theologies, a collection of essays published last year and edited by our Association's President, the Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt.
UU Ministry for Earth's has chosen: Radically Reframing Climate Change: A Guide to Saving Ourselves, by Will Hackman, as their Community Read, starting in September.

General Information

Our ministers and leaders will never ask you to buy a gift card for them. Please don't fall for these scams. And if someone asks you for a copy of the member directory, please refer them to info@ucnorth.org, as they might not be who they claim to be.
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 Cecile Duhnke at cecileduhnke@gmail.com or Tannie Bemis at bemis.tannie@gmail.com.
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.
If you would like a printed black and white copy of the directory or the Leadership List, Lyn has them available in the office.
You can find copies of the Annual Report and Annual Financial Report in the library.
The Lay Pastoral Care Team at Unitarian Church North is gathering potential volunteers for what we call Caring Circle: 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. We will be keeping a paper sign-up sheet at church, or you can sign up by emailing the care team at care@ucnorth.org. Putting your name on the list does not commit you to helping when asked. Thank you!
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 at (262) 573-0045 or brianbuzel@yahoo.com or Jim DeLillo at jimdelillo2@gmail.com
Are you or someone you know in need of help with basic food supplies? "The Family Sharing Food Pantry is there when you need them. Their Mobile Pantry travels throughout Ozaukee County. They also offer in-person shopping and deliver groceries to senior living complexes. Call for more information: 262-377-0634 x125.

Monthly Fellowship Gatherings

UU’s Out to Lunch: Did you know that there is a UU’s Out to Lunch group? We go out to lunch on the first Wednesday of each month. Everyone takes a turn choosing the time and place for lunch. Great food – Great conversation! If you are interested in joining us, contact Ann Buchel at awbuchel@gmail.com or 262-470-6355.
First Sunday Lunch: Join us after the service in the Fellowship Hall for lunch and fellowship on the first Sunday of the month, October 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. Contact Brenda Berg brendaberg@spectrum.net with questions.

Fundraising and Donations

UCN is able to accept donations via PayPal.
Food Barrels for pets and people: Don’t forget to grab a food item out of your pantry for the food bin as you leave for church. Donations go to the Ozaukee Food Alliance. We are also accepting donations of pet food and small containers of cat litter, for people needing help caring for their pets. The pet food donations should be placed in the separate bin marked “pet food.” Beginning in November, the pet food donations will be going to the Ozaukee Food Alliance.
RaiseRight Fundraiser (formerly known as Scrip): Gift Cards are a great way to support UCN. For tutorials on using RaiseRight click the link: https://www.raiseright.com/resources/participant/. There are 3 ways to purchase and reload gift cards: (eGift, Reload and Physical). eGift and Reload options are available for use in seconds. For physical cards, select the “ship to home" option; shipping fees will be incurred by the purchaser. If you have questions about RaiseRight please view https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q3rZ3dXo96XBGI9we5yhWzCZGS3na22O/view? or contact Mark Muellenbach. To help set up the RaiseRight app on your phone, watch this video How to Earn Faster with Online Payment Setup (Mobile App) | RaiseRight
If you order from Quill.com and tell them UCN recommended them, UCN will earn a $50 gift card.

Contact Information and Links

Rev. Erik David Carlson

Rev. Erik's email is RevErik@ucnorth.org

You can also reach him at his cell phone: 262-748-4302

Jessy Knox, Religious Exploration and Family Programming Coordinator

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

Office Hours: Thursdays 10 am-2 pm.

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

Callie Thurow, Music Coordinator

Callie's email is music@ucnorth.org.

Callie will use the Library as her office. Her office hours are Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 am.

Lyn Gust, Office Administrator

Contact Lyn at 262-375-3890 or info@ucnorth.org.

Office Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 9 am to 2 pm. The office is closed for holidays and bad weather.

Note: Please do not reply to the Northliner, as we do not receive messages sent to lyngust@mailgun.smore.com, only to info@ucnorth.org . But, if you are having trouble receiving the Northliner, please add this address to your contact list: lyngust@mailgun.smore.com .

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.

The Northliner

Nov. 6, 2026

Sunday Services

Connections

Ask the Minister

Religious Exploration

Grief Workshop Tomorrow

Join Our Caring Community!

Social and Racial Justice

Announcements

Calendar

Donating to UCN

Reminders

Submitting Content for our Publications

Contact Information and Links

Unitarian Church North

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