UCN Celebrates 50th Anniversary in 2013

50 Years and On in the Barn

In 1962 a group of nine men and women gathered to form a new liberal religious fellowship on the North Shore of Milwaukee. They called themselves the North Shore Unitarian Fellowship of Milwaukee and began meeting in people's homes. In 1963 they received a charter from the UUA, and in 1969 renamed their congregation Unitarian Church North.

Since then we have grown to about 200 members, built a church home in 1986, and an addition to that home in 2005. We have been served by a full time minister since 1976 and a Director of Religious Education since 1991.

In the first half of 2013 we will celebrate our founding in January 1963, and the highlights of the subsequent half-century of faith and fellowship in our welcoming congregation.

We will celebrate by decade, beginning in January, 2013, looking back at our past 50 years:

  • 1960's January
  • 1970's February
  • 1980's March
  • 1990's April
  • 2000's May/June

Each month's decade celebration will feature:

  • music, food and clothing of the era
  • movies of the time--7PM the first Friday evening
  • one or more historically oriented sermons
  • a brief summary of church activities during the decade, presented as part of a Sunday service that month
  • bulletin board displays We will invite former members who were active in the congregation's life to take part as they wish.

Calendar of Anniversary Events

January, 2013 - Read the Historical Summary of UCN from the 1960's (PDF)

  • Jan 4 Movie night: To Kill a Mockingbird rated PG
  • Jan 13 Sermon: Rev. Julie Forest The Roots of our Heritage
  • Jan 20 presentation on UCN in 60's
  • Jan 27 Sermon: James Galasinski Theodore Parker

February, 2013

  • Feb 1 Movie night: Kramer vs. Kramer rated PG 
  • Feb 4 Sermon: Rev. Julie Forest John Murray
  • Feb 17 Sermon: James Galasinski Whitney Young
  • Feb 24 presentation on UCN in 70's

March, 2013

  • Mar 1 Movie night: E.T. the Extra- Terrestrial rated PG
  • Mar 3 Rev. Brent Smith (one of our past ministers) will be preaching. We look forward to his being with us on this day.
  • Mar 10 Sermon: Rev. Julie Forest Olympia Brown
  • Mar 24 presentation on UCN in 80's

April, 2013

  • Apr 19 Movie: Forrest Gump rated PG13
  • Apr 7 Sermon: Rev. Julie Forest (TBA)
  • Apr 14 presentation on UCN in 90's

May, 2013

The Grand Celebration will be held the first weekend in May, 2013, including the following:

  • Saturday, May 4: Dinner and Live Music
    5:30 Gathering; 6:00 Dinner
    Live music by The Milwaukee Hot Club
    Advance tickets required, cost TBA
     
  • Sunday, May 5: Featured Guest Speaker Rev. Dr. John Buehrens
    9:15 and 11:00 a.m. Services
    "The Ministry and Mission of UCN at Fifty"
    Rev. Dr. Buehrens is a former president of the UUA and author of several books including A House for Hope and Our Chosen Faith. 
     
  • Sunday, May 5, 2:00 pm: Workship by the Rev. Dr. Buehrens
    Rev. Dr. Buehrens will also present a workshop on "The Next 50 years of Unitarian Universalism"
    Cost $15

All past UCN ministers are invited for the weekend activities as are Central Midwest District staff and community leaders.

June, 2013

  • June 2 Flower Communion 
  • June 7 Movie Night: Wall-E rated G

Learn more

  • Read the Historical Summaries of UCN
  • Find pictures and timeline on the bulletin board from January to June
  • Find website updates on UCNorth.org
  • Information from the church office at info@ucnorth.org
  • Watch for your invitation in the mail