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, 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.

May 3: “The Heart of Islam,” An Interfaith Chancel conversation between Rev. Scott W. Alexander and Dr. Abdelouahid Souala

Scott writes: On this special Sunday, Dr. Souala (who is a practicing medical surgeon from Sheboygan and a lay leader of the Islamic Society of Sheboygan) will join me in a chancel conversation which will explore “The Heart of Islam” and also touch on some of the similarities and differences between Islam and our Unitarian Universalist faith. Members of the Islamic society of Sheboygan (who hosted 20 of us for a “breaking of the Ramadan fast last month) will be joining us for this service, and a “Mediterranean First Sunday Lunch” that will follow. This will be an interfaith experience you will not want to miss, so plan now on being with us!

May 10: “The Divinity School Address: Then and Now,” Rev. Scott W. Alexander, Preaching

Scott writes: On Sunday evening, July 15, 1838, Unitarian theologian Rev. Ralph Waldo Emerson delivered the address to the seven young men who comprised that year’s graduating Harvard Divinity School class. He set New England’s theological establishment “on fire” that night with his bold proclamation that set Unitarianism apart from other faiths. Today, we still owe a great debt of gratitude to Emerson for setting us firmly on our liberal spiritual and epistemological path. Do be with me this Sunday as I offer this retrospective, and remind us what our UU faith is – at its core – all about.

This Sunday's Order of Service:

Sunday, May 3rd

First Sunday Lunch: Mediterranean theme

• Nursery: Constance & Tiffany
• K4-2nd: Leigh, Pete & Kas: Lego 17
• 3rd-6th: Betsy & Jessy: Get Moving Session 16: Get Moving
• OWL GRADUATION! Julie K, Paul and Emily
• COA: Peggy w/ Frankie & Gideon

A Reminder

Jessy will not ask you for a directory, or 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.

Spoken Announcement Guidelines for UCN Sunday Services (with some changes)

UCN Sunday services sometimes include spoken announcements about specific events or other church activities. 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 of the preceding 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.

This Saturday, May 2nd - Get Your Tickets Now!

Invite a friend!

The UCN Goods and Services Auction is back for 2026 with the theme "Happy Days." The church will be transported back to the 50's: the decade of fast cars, poodle skirts, and sock hops. The evening will feature both a silent and live auction filled with amazing auction items. The "Blue Plate Diner" will offer some of your favorite diner meal options, beverages, and desserts. Doors open at 4:00 PM with the silent auction bidding and reception. Dinner will be served at 5:00, and the live auction begins at 6:15. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Click here to purchase tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/goods-and-services-auction

Bid on cool stuff, chat with old friends, meet new friends, and bid your way to a full social calendar and services. Your generous bids raise money to keep us going strong and enjoying Happy Days here at UCN.

PrideFest

UCN is excited to be representing Unitarian Universalism along with UUCW at PrideFest this year! We're looking for volunteers to work the booth which would involve: talking about Unitarian Universalism and the local UU congregations, and handing out stickers and information. You can sign up at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScA3DcC7lWbgm1ZM1WggNF-4LGve0GowTp2fGAibkBISI9z6Q/viewform?usp=dialog

Share the Plate Update

Diverse & Resilient has been selected as the Share the Plate recipient for May and June.

Founded in 1995, this organization is on a mission to achieve health equity and improve the safety and well-being of LGBTQ people and communities in Wisconsin. The following services are available:

• Anti-violence programs which serve survivors of intimate partner, sexual, and hate- or community-based violence by working directly with survivors through listening, helping safety plan, and referrals to inclusive shelters and programs within local communities. This is facilitated through a statewide warmline: (414) 856-LGBT (5428).
• Leadership development which promotes participants to find their power and exercise it on behalf of LGBTQ communities.
• Sexual health programs which focus on disease prevention, healthy relationships, and reproduction options. This includes addressing how anti-gay and anti-transgender discrimination can complicate achieving and maintaining sexual health.
• Substance use and abuse programming. Prevention includes providing safe zones where alcohol and other drug use is not encouraged, as well as informing community members about tobacco and other drug use, corporate targeting of LGBTQ people, and the lack of healthy venues. For addressing substance use and abuse among LGBTQ youth, prevention includes the use of evidence-based approaches that provide clear information on refusal skills, peer supports, and fun alternatives.
  
  

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.
• 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.

UUs Out-To-Lunch

The next UUs Out-To-Lunch is at Foxtown Restaurant (6411 W. Mequon Rd) at 11:30 AM on Wednesday, May 6th.

Events at UCN

• The next Wisconsin Singer Songwriter Series concert will be held on Friday, May 8.
  UCN members are offered a discount on tickets. 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.

Community Events

The Ozaukee Master Gardener Plant Sale will be held Saturday, May 16 from 9-noon at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds.

Calendar through May 17

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

• Saturday, May 2: UCN Auction (doors open at 4 pm)

• Sunday, May 3, 11:30 am: First Sunday Lunch - Fellowship Hall

• Monday, May 4, 7:00 pm: Building Committee (Brian Bunzel)

• Wed. May 5: UUs Out to Lunch (Ann Buchel)

• Sunday, May 10, 11:30 am: Social Justice - Emerson (Julie Konik)

• Monday, May 11, 7:00 pm: RE Committee (Katie Egan-Bruhy)

• Tuesday, May 12, 7:00 pm: Sunday Services (Dana Lusk, CJ Winter)

• Thursday, May 14, 6:00 pm: Parent's Night - Emerson/Fellowship (Carissa Mooren)

• Sunday, May 17, after the service: Annual Congregational Meeting - Sanctuary

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.

Use this convenient QR code to donate!

The link to the giving page, for the less tech savvy, is: https://ucnorth.breezechms.com/give/online

Service and UUA Information

• Service Assistants are needed for Sunday Services. Please contact Sunday Service Committee Chairs, Dana Lusk (danalusk04@gmail.com) or CJ Winter (cjwinter01@outlook.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 Chairs, Dana Lusk (danalusk04@gmail.com) or CJ Winter (cjwinter01@outlook.com).

• 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 are encouraged to subscribe to MidAmerica Region's newsletter, News page. More information at uua.org/midamerica .
• GA 2026 will be held June 14-21. You can join from home or attend a satellite session or the in-person event. Full schedule: https://www.uua.org/ga/program/schedule . Early registration goes till April 30.

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 Cecile Duhnke at cecileduhnke@gmail.com or Tannie Bemis at bemis.tannie@gmail.com.

• Rev. Scott will never ask you to buy a gift card for him. 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.

• 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 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

• 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 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.

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 submit articles for our website to webdesigner@ucnorth.org.

Rev. Scott Alexander, Minister

Cell phone: 772-359-0602. Email: UURevScott@gmail.com .

Rev. Alexander will generally preach two times per month and will maintain regular but sporadic office hours. Please call his cell phone to arrange in-person or zoom meetings with him.

Jessy Knox, Religious Exploration and Family Programming Coordinator

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

Office Hours: Wednesdays 10 am-3 pm.

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

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.

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.

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