November 1, 2024
November 1, 2024
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October 25, 2024
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October 11, 2024
Published by Scott Alexander at October 11, 2024
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October 11, 2024
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September 27, 2024
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August 14, 2024
Published by Lyn Gust at August 14, 2024
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August 13, 2024
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July 26, 2024
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June 12, 2024
Published by Jessy Knox at June 12, 2024
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June 4, 2024
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at June 4, 2024
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June 4, 2024
May 9, 2024
Published by Lyn Gust at May 9, 2024
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April 26, 2024
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March 29, 2024
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March 12, 2024
Published by Scott Alexander at March 12, 2024
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March 8, 2024
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February 15, 2024
Published by Lyn Gust at February 15, 2024
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February 14, 2024
Published by Lyn Gust at February 14, 2024
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February 9, 2024
February 2, 2024
February 1, 2024
January 26, 2024
January 21, 2024
Published by Scott Alexander at January 21, 2024
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January 19, 2024
January 17, 2024
January 14, 2024
January 12, 2024
January 10, 2024
Published by Lyn Gust at January 10, 2024
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January 5, 2024
January 5, 2024
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at January 5, 2024
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January 3, 2024
December 29, 2023
December 24, 2023
Published by Scott Alexander at December 24, 2023
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December 24, 2023
Published by Scott Alexander at December 24, 2023
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December 22, 2023
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December 15, 2023
December 12, 2023
December 12, 2023
Published by Scott Alexander at December 12, 2023
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December 8, 2023
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November 21, 2023
Published by Lyn Gust at November 21, 2023
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November 17, 2023
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November 1, 2023
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at November 1, 2023
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October 27, 2023
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September 2, 2023
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at September 2, 2023
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September 1, 2023
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July 28, 2023
July 26, 2023
Published by Jessy Knox at July 26, 2023
We’ll hike down the lake bluff to the lakeshore and do a beach walk north to Schlitz Audubon beach and back to Doctors Park.
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July 21, 2023
July 14, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at July 14, 2023
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July 14, 2023
June 30, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at June 30, 2023
I want to thank you all for my "send off" on my last official Sunday with you (June 25th). The festivities that day were not just inspiring but so much...
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June 30, 2023
June 23, 2023
June 16, 2023
June 1, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at June 1, 2023
In this, the last issue of All Things RE before summer break, I would like to take just a moment to say thank you. Thank you to our team of teachers...
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May 26, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at May 26, 2023
On Sunday, June 4th, we will be honoring Gay Pride Month by celebrating "The Theology of The Wizard of Oz," and exploring some of its relevance to UU spiritual...
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May 21, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at May 21, 2023
Clergy through the centuries have often been called pastors ("pastor," after all, being the Latin word for "shepherd"). And a congregation has often been called a flock. (In fact, at the...
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May 5, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at May 5, 2023
A month from now (June 4th), UCN will be celebrating LGBTQ Month (June), with a service and sermon on "The Theology of The Wizard of Oz." (Yes, there is a theology there,...
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May 1, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at May 1, 2023
MAY 2023
On this fourth day of May, May the 4th be with you. Today is known as Star Wars Day. When you think about it, May is really all about flowers...
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April 5, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at April 5, 2023
Sunshine, 80 degrees and the threat of snow on the weekend. It must be spring in Wisconsin...
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March 31, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at March 31, 2023
Today (March 31st) is my 74th birthday. As some of you know, I have always wished my birthday had been the day after, since April 1st seems to fit my...
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March 30, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at March 30, 2023
UCN proudly presents an intimate evening of live music, featuring multifaceted husband & wife duo, B~Free and Quinten Farr - an Ozaukee County 1st.
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March 5, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at March 5, 2023
Sunshine, 80 degrees and the threat of snow on the weekend. It must be spring in Wisconsin...
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February 24, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at February 24, 2023
A few weeks ago UCN began our pledge drive, with a service on why we support Unitarian Universalism (and Unitarian Church North). One thing I didn't have time to mention...
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February 21, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at February 21, 2023
A few weeks ago UCN began our pledge drive, with a service on why we support Unitarian Universalism (and Unitarian Church North). One thing I didn't have time to mention...
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February 6, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at February 6, 2023
February may be the shortest month of the year, but it gives us so much. Punxsutawney Phil makes his annual prediction on Groundhog Day, February 2nd (get ready for six more weeks of winter this year)...
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January 29, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at January 29, 2023
Many of you have probably noticed that we have been getting more families with children here at UCN. (Which is exactly what we were hoping for when we revamped our Sunday School...
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January 15, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at January 15, 2023
“Prejudice and Privilege” Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen 1/15/23 During the Civil Rights Era of the 1960s, many of us thought that if we could just get rid of overt prejudice, […]
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January 3, 2023
Published by Carissa Mooren at January 3, 2023
And just like that...we have a new year. 2022 seemed to exit in a whirlwind, sprinkling blessings and challenges all along the way. As we enter this traditional time of...
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January 2, 2023
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at January 2, 2023
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December 30, 2022
Published by Carissa Mooren at December 30, 2022
One of my favorite singer/songwriters, Chris Williamson, grew up in Wisconsin (in a little place called Moonlight Ranch). This holiday season I've been thinking about a story she once...
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December 1, 2022
Published by Carissa Mooren at December 1, 2022
It’s hard to believe December is here. Shorter days, colder nights, the season for hot chocolate and lights. It has been my privilege to get to know you..
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November 20, 2022
Published by Carissa Mooren at November 20, 2022
There once was a farmer who called a real-estate company to help her sell her farm. And so a real-estate broker came over and wrote an ad for...
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November 17, 2022
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at November 17, 2022
The UCN Fund for Social Justice was established in 2000 following the state legislature's decision to send tax-rebate checks to taxpayers, rather than using...
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November 17, 2022
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at November 17, 2022
The Unitarian Universalist principles serve us in many ways, including helping guide us in our personal search for truth and meaning. They can also serve to help guide us in relation to our role in our community...
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November 17, 2022
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at November 17, 2022
There are many ways to engage in the democratic process and support democracy in our society at large. Not everyone can do everything, but we hope you will take the time to vote...
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November 2, 2022
Published by Carissa Mooren at November 2, 2022
All Things RE!
November 2022
Welcome Our New Director of Religious Education!
LaToya Bates is proud to be a member of UCN and is excited...
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November 1, 2022
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at November 1, 2022
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September 30, 2022
Published by Carissa Mooren at September 30, 2022
Religious education at Unitarian Church North is off and running! September 18th marked the beginning of the new RE year with three classes for our children...
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September 28, 2022
Published by Carissa Mooren at September 28, 2022
Welcome to the first issue of the monthly UCN Religious Education newsletter – All Things RE! that will be published the third Wednesday of each...
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September 18, 2022
Published by Carissa Mooren at September 18, 2022
There is an author and speaker I like named Doug Adams. (Not the Doug Adams who wrote The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but a former Episcopalian...
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September 6, 2022
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at September 6, 2022
In late June, the first bipartisan gun safety legislation in 26 years — the “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act” — was passed by the U.S. Senate and House and signed by […]
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September 1, 2022
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at September 1, 2022
UCN’s Share the Plate for Sept. and Oct. is the Ozaukee County Jail’s Literacy Program, a non-profit that teaches literacy, GED preparation, and life skills...
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August 14, 2022
Published by Carissa Mooren at August 14, 2022
I'd like to try a little experiment. If I were to ask you, "Do you consider yourself more religious or more spiritual?" how many of you would say...
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July 29, 2022
Published by Carissa Mooren at July 29, 2022
I once read about a sermon-rating system that coincides somewhat with movie ratings. I thought you might find it interesting food for thought, so here it is...
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July 6, 2022
Published by unitariannorth at July 6, 2022
For the Summer and Fall, there are two categories of hikes: 1. Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA) sponsored hikes 2. UCN hikes organized by the Green Committee (Julie and John […]
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July 6, 2022
Published by Carissa Mooren at July 6, 2022
As I watched UCN folks clear the sanctuary for the laying of the new carpet (thank you, thank you!), I thought about a few typos from church bulletins that I...
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May 31, 2022
Published by Carissa Mooren at May 31, 2022
The African-American preacher and author, the Rev. William Sloan Coffin, once said: “We don’t have to be ‘successful,’ only valuable. We don’t have to make money, only a difference…” Yet […]
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May 1, 2022
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at May 1, 2022
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April 27, 2022
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at April 27, 2022
The Wisconsin Black Historical Society & Museum in Milwaukee is UCN’s Share the Plate recipient for May and June 2022. The Society’s founder, Clayborn Benson III, gave UCN’s Sunday sermon […]
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March 30, 2022
Published by Carissa Mooren at March 30, 2022
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March 8, 2022
Published by Carissa Mooren at March 8, 2022
Just over a week ago was Ash Wednesday, a day I remember as a time to be humble. The priest would put ashes on people's...
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March 2, 2022
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at March 2, 2022
Nominated by Social Justice Committee member Leigh Hoftiezer, our March and April Share the Plate recipient is WRTP/BIG STEP. These two acronyms stand for the two partners in this twenty-year-old […]
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March 1, 2022
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at March 1, 2022
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February 1, 2022
Published by Carissa Mooren at February 1, 2022
Some of you may remember my sermon on "The God I Believe In" (delivered on December 12, 2021). In it I referred to a Jewish concept--"tikkun olam," which means "repair of the world."...
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January 4, 2022
Published by Carissa Mooren at January 4, 2022
Every once in a while I have shared actual typos from church newsletters and bulletins in my Northliner column. Not all of them are technically typographical, of course--some are simply words...
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January 3, 2022
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at January 3, 2022
Hanan RRG is not an official refugee resettlement agency receiving government support, but an entirely volunteer organization using 100% of donations for direct refugee services. Of the estimated 850 Afghans […]
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December 3, 2021
Published by Carissa Mooren at December 3, 2021
By the time you read this, Thanksgiving will have come and gone. But, since it’s important to give thanks on more than one day a year, I thought I’d include this anecdote...
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December 2, 2021
Published by Dan Lusk at December 2, 2021
Leadership Board Meeting Minutes - 12/2/2021
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November 23, 2021
Published by Carissa Mooren at November 23, 2021
Normally I write a Parson to Person column to be printed on the last Friday of one month, and the first Friday of the month following. But since the...
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November 8, 2021
Published by Carissa Mooren at November 8, 2021
In last week's "Parson to Person" I wrote about my visit with my family in the Seattle area, and how we "overcame" political disputes with games and small talk. There...
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November 2, 2021
Published by Leigh Hoftiezer at November 2, 2021
UCN’s Share the Plate recipient for November and December 2021 is Braver Angels, a non-partisan grassroots organization formed in 2016 to help bridge the political and cultural divide between reds […]
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November 2, 2021
Published by Carissa Mooren at November 2, 2021
Last week I came back from 4 days of vacation with my siblings at a family reunion in the Seattle area. This was our first reunion without my sister Alice...
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September 28, 2021
Published by Carissa Mooren at September 28, 2021
Since we've been doing a series of Sunday services on our 8 UU principles, I thought I'd use this column to give a few examples of how they influence me...
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September 1, 2021
Published by Carissa Mooren at September 1, 2021
Starting in August, I began a series of sermons on our eight UU principles. Although I already gave my sermon on the first one ("[we covenant to affirm and support]...
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August 3, 2021
Published by Carissa Mooren at August 3, 2021
Now that we are holding in-church services, and UCN is looking at new/old ways to reach out to the wider community, I thought I'd bring up an issue that...
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July 16, 2021
Published by Carissa Mooren at July 16, 2021
Those of you who regularly read this Parson to Person column (otherwise known as p2p) may have noticed that I haven’t written a column for a couple weeks. As you may remember...
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June 29, 2021
Published by Carissa Mooren at June 29, 2021
We will be meeting in church for Sunday services, starting July 4th. (Yay!) We may or may not have in-person visitors that Sunday, but I think we can assume that...
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June 29, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at June 29, 2021
UCN acts directly to live our principle of “justice, equity, and compassion in human relationships.” Through the Share the Plate program UCN supports, with monthly donations from offerings, humanitarian and...
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June 22, 2021
Published by Carissa Mooren at June 22, 2021
Since we will start having Sunday services at church starting in July, and probably more and more of us will start seeing each other in person...
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June 15, 2021
Published by Carissa Mooren at June 15, 2021
Last Sunday, celebrating Gay Pride Day (and month), I quoted from Glen Thomas Rideout, a young gay African American who wrote about his experience of being hired by the UU church...
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June 9, 2021
Published by Carissa Mooren at June 9, 2021
Doctors generally don’t make house calls anymore, but some ministers do. And actually, it’s a hallowed tradition going back 450 years to John Calvin. (Remember him? He’s the Protestant reformer […]
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June 1, 2021
Published by Carissa Mooren at June 1, 2021
Last Sunday I delivered my sermon from Sanibel Island (off the Florida coast) while on vacation there. My sermon was on teardrops–and their place in many world religions–but it occurred […]
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May 18, 2021
Published by Carissa Mooren at May 18, 2021
I will be leaving for Sanibel Island (off the coast of Florida) this coming Wednesday (May 19th) for a week of vacation (though I will still be leading the May […]
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May 12, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at May 12, 2021
This Sunday is Mother’s Day–a time that can be either heart-warming or heart-breaking (and sometimes both). That’s because some of us may feel gratitude for the parents we had; some […]
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April 29, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at April 29, 2021
UNC acts directly to live our principle of “justice, equity and compassion in human relationships” . Through the Share the Plate program UCN supports, with monthly donations from the offerings, […]
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April 28, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at April 28, 2021
As you can see in the description of the upcoming Sunday service (“Getting the Hell Out of Religion: Part II”), we will be celebrating the 250th birthday of Hosea Ballou […]
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April 12, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at April 12, 2021
Back in November and February I wrote a couple columns on some lessons I learned on a trip I took to Indonesia in 2013, thanks to a gift from a […]
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April 5, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at April 5, 2021
As you read this, I will have celebrated my 72nd birthday on Wednesday, March 31st. (I always wished my birthday could have been on April Fools’ Day; it always seemed […]
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March 31, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at March 31, 2021
A couple people asked whether my sermon on March 14th (“Here Comes the Sun”) would be available in print. It is, and you can get it at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vBmUNlYl-qeLlZZ8Yv7fEuRPap7xfslror8wYt0O8vc/edit But for those […]
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March 24, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at March 24, 2021
In my sermon this past Sunday I mentioned that I would tell you how (and why) Easter varies so much from year to year. Although my original intention was to […]
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March 16, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at March 16, 2021
This Sunday I will be speaking about some of the spring festivals around the world (ancient and modern). In preparing my message, however, I realized I wouldn’t have time to mention […]
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March 10, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at March 10, 2021
Last Sunday my sermon was on “The Way for This Journey.” There is one story I didn’t have time to tell you in that sermon, so I thought I’d mention […]
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March 2, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at March 2, 2021
This column has nothing specifically to do with current events, political or otherwise. But, for me, it feels like a parable of how I might look at the worlds of […]
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February 25, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at February 25, 2021
UCN acts directly to live our principle of “justice, equity, and compassion in human relationships.” Through the Share the Plate program UCN supports, with monthly donations from offerings, humanitarian and […]
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February 24, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at February 24, 2021
Two days ago it was Ash Wednesday, the day that begins Lent (the period of 40 days before Easter). When I was young, you were supposed to give something up […]
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February 16, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at February 16, 2021
(Note: Since I already took up a lot of space in my description of my “UU Catechism” above, I will write just a few notes for this column.) When I […]
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February 10, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at February 10, 2021
I don’t drive very often to Illinois (especially since COVID hit), but if I’m going through the toll booths on I-94, I usually give the toll-booth operator two tolls–one for […]
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February 3, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at February 3, 2021
The late David Rankin (the former minister at the UU church in San Francisco) once gave a sermon on the poet Robert Frost. At the end of the service, as […]
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January 28, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at January 28, 2021
Last Sunday I preached my sermon on “Martin and Malcolm,” comparing the pacifist vision of Dr. King with the more militaristic view of Malcolm X concerning civil rights. I don’t […]
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January 20, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at January 20, 2021
Since this week’s Northliner is a little longer than usual, I will keep my remarks here brief. We are all aware of the attack on democracy at the U.S. Capitol […]
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January 12, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at January 12, 2021
When I was young, my mom would often send my sister Arlene and me out with our little red wagon to pick up loaves of day-old bread at the bakery […]
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January 6, 2021
Published by unitariannorth at January 6, 2021
I never really knew winter until I moved to Wisconsin. The first year I was here I remember thinking, Gee, it sure gets cold here. Then someone told me gently […]
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December 29, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at December 29, 2020
When you receive this Northliner it will probably be Christmas. I’m not sure how many of you will be reading this today, but in case any of you are, I wrote […]
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December 23, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at December 23, 2020
The Social Justice Committee is pleased to announce that the organization chosen for “share the plate” for January and February, 2021, is Family Promise, a local organization which arranges for […]
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December 23, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at December 23, 2020
For your holiday-reading pleasure, here are a few “Letters to Santa” that children have actually written–and which probably reveal more than the children intended: Dear Santa, Please give me […]
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December 15, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at December 15, 2020
All right, I’ll say it: I love the time of the year between October 31 and January 1. There’s Halloween, with its costumes and let’s-pretend; Day of the Dead, with […]
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December 9, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at December 9, 2020
I’m told a number of you received an email purportedly from me, with the subject heading “Many Blessings.” (The email used my actual email address but with one letter changed.) […]
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December 1, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at December 1, 2020
Given that this is the Thanksgiving weekend, I hope you’ll forgive me if I use this column to share a few more messages–with unintended typos and phraseology–that actually appeared in […]
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November 24, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at November 24, 2020
A couple years ago I had the chance to visit Indonesia with a UU family from my home church in Racine. I have always found that experiencing a different culture […]
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November 17, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at November 17, 2020
On Wednesday night (Nov. 11th), after our second post-election discussion, I shared a benediction I had written that uses words that begin with “un” (in honor of our religion’s name). […]
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November 15, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at November 15, 2020
The Hindu festival we're celebrating today is called Diwali, which is short for Deepa-wali. Deepa, meaning lamp or light (like this one); and Wali, meaning row. So, a row of lights, or festival of...
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November 15, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at November 15, 2020
On Wednesday night (Nov. 11th), after our second post-election discussion, I shared a benediction I had written that uses words that begin with “un” (in honor of our religion’s name). […]
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November 10, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at November 10, 2020
Last Sunday, at our Day of the Dead service, I told a story that was missing a few details, so it might not have made complete sense. (The problem was […]
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November 6, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at November 6, 2020
UCN acts directly to live our principle of “justice, equity, and compassion in human relationships.” Through the Share the Plate program UCN supports, with monthly donations from offerings, humanitarian and […]
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November 6, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at November 6, 2020
Many of you know that I like learning new (and obscure) words–especially if they have an interesting pedigree. So you probably won’t be surprised when I tell you how much […]
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November 1, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at November 1, 2020
The Day of the Dead is a time to remember loved ones who have died--not just because we may miss them, but because we may be grateful for things they...
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October 28, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at October 28, 2020
Every once in a while someone will refer to the church as a business, as in “UCN has a product to sell” or “We can’t ignore our budget’s bottom line […]
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October 21, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at October 21, 2020
I don’t know about the rest of you, but as I watch the news on the spread of COVID and witness our country’s dysfunctional politics, I find I’m in more […]
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October 13, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at October 13, 2020
I read once that when Thomas Jefferson was writing the Declaration of Independence, he was not happy about the idea of a committee making revisions to it. (It’s hard to […]
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October 6, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at October 6, 2020
There’s a story I like about a presidential candidate who asked a bishop how to receive God’s revelation. The bishop told him, “Go out into the rain, and lift your […]
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October 4, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at October 4, 2020
The ancient Aztecs prayed this prayer: "Grant me, Lord, a little light--but no more than a glow-worm gives, which goes about by night, to guide me through this life...this dream which...
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September 29, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at September 29, 2020
Back in April I wrote a couple Parson-to-Person columns on things children often mis-hear (like "Howard be thy name" for "Hallowed be thy name," "Deliver us from email"...
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September 15, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at September 15, 2020
Last week I explained why I sometimes wear a clerical (“Roman”) collar at public events, explaining that it’s one of the few universally recognized public symbols of religious leadership, and it’s […]
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September 8, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at September 8, 2020
This past Saturday I went to the “Justice for Jake” march in Kenosha, to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Before the march a number of UU’s from all over southeastern […]
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August 26, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at August 26, 2020
Every once in a while someone sends me a card (as a number of you did when my sister Alice died). Sometimes I get a card that reminds me of […]
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August 23, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at August 23, 2020
The opening words are from Anne Scott, in her book Serving Fire:
"I have always been fascinated by the compost pile just outside our garden...
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August 18, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at August 18, 2020
Gertrude Stein once made an interesting statement about the capital of France. “It is not what Paris gives you,” she wrote. “It is what she does not take away.” I […]
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August 10, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at August 10, 2020
Like many of you, I have been moved by the tributes to the life of Congressman John Lewis, who represented Georgia’s 5th district (including most of Atlanta) from 1987 until […]
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August 9, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at August 9, 2020
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August 5, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at August 5, 2020
We have had another death in our UCN family. Gwen Plunkett, who with her husband Jim joined Unitarian Church North in 1967, died at home on July 22nd, surrounded by […]
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July 29, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at July 29, 2020
I once heard a piece of advice that has kept me thinking–and chuckling: “When you’re in a traffic jam, or a careless driver has just cut you off–or something else […]
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July 26, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at July 26, 2020
f you look carefully, I think you'll find the wording here rather interesting. Take the word "inspires." If it had been written without the "s," the...
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July 21, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at July 21, 2020
Last Sunday, when I gave my sermon on “Black Lives, White Lies”–there was something I didn’t end up saying–but that I think bears consideration. And that’s a thing called “false equivalency.” […]
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July 19, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at July 19, 2020
Today's sermon is the second in my series on the six sources of our UU tradition:
Words and deeds of prophetic people,
which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil
with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love...
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July 13, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at July 13, 2020
During this time of sheltering in place, sometimes our pets become even more important than usual–especially for those of us who live alone. (In fact, I have read that pet […]
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July 12, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at July 12, 2020
Consider a few statistics with me. Black folks make up about 13% of the U.S. population. But they account for about 25% of COVID-19 cases and 25% of COVID-19 deaths. For a number of reasons: One being that many service jobs that entail a lot of interaction...
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July 7, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at July 7, 2020
I recently got back from California after visiting my big sister Alice. Originally we had planned for Alice to come out to Wisconsin this spring, but then COVID hit and […]
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June 30, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at June 30, 2020
In the fall of 2017, Unitarian Church North installed a “Black Lives Matter” sign in front of the church. So did many other UU congregations (including my home church in […]
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June 24, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at June 24, 2020
As we look at the controversy around COVID restrictions (when to open up businesses, when to wear a mask, etc.) and around the news stories about police brutality against people […]
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June 16, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at June 16, 2020
At a time like this, when we think about recent deaths of UCN members (Darlene Lochbihler on May 26th and Ed Friedrichs on May 29th)–I find myself thinking about legacy. […]
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June 12, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at June 12, 2020
Since we celebrated M L King Sunday on January 19th, and we are on the cusp of February (Black History Month), I thought I’d mention a few interesting connections between […]
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June 12, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at June 12, 2020
You may have noticed that I have begun ending the services I lead at UCN with the words “peace and unrest.” If you were at the Sept. 22nd service you […]
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June 5, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at June 5, 2020
There is so much happening in our country right now that it’s hard to absorb it all. For one thing, we are dealing with COVID-19–which is something we all share […]
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June 3, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at June 3, 2020
Many of us, I'm sure, are thinking about the recent death of Darlene Lochbihler. I didn't know her for as long as many of you, but even in the time...
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May 22, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at May 22, 2020
The Jewish philosopher Maimonides (1136-1204) once wrote a Guide for the Perplexed, in which he created a “ladder of charity” with 8 rungs on it: The lowest rung is to […]
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May 15, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at May 15, 2020
At last Sunday’s virtual Mothers’ Day service, I introduced a new verse to “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” (Julia Ward Howe, who introduced America’s first Mothers Day, wrote the original […]
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May 8, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at May 8, 2020
If you ever visit First Unitarian Church in Chicago (near Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House in the Hyde Park area), you may notice a niche carved in the front wall […]
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May 1, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at May 1, 2020
As we are all sheltering in place during the pandemic, I have noticed some small things, small gifts, that have lifted my spirits a bit: someone making masks for others, […]
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April 29, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at April 29, 2020
Share the Plate Recipient for September and October, 2020 In the months that UCN has been closed due to COVID-19, members and friends have been asked to mail in […]
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April 23, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at April 23, 2020
One of you responded to my last Parson-to-Person column on children’s mis-hearing of things adults say (“Howard be thy name,” for example, instead of “Hallowed be thy name”). She wrote: […]
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April 21, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at April 21, 2020
I have always been intrigued by the ways children sometimes mis-hear the words to prayers, songs, and sayings (“Howard be thy name” being a misunderstanding of “Hallowed be thy name,” […]
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April 14, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at April 14, 2020
Since we are all still sheltering in place, and since UCN’s pledge drive is still happening, I thought I’d write something about why we give our time, talent, and treasure […]
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April 14, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at April 14, 2020
As you read this, you may be in a somewhat hectic state: Hanukkah, Solstice, Christmas, New Year – whatever it is you’re celebrating, and wherever you are in the process […]
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April 14, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at April 14, 2020
I was thinking recently about Stephen Colbert (who used to host “The Colbert Report” and now hosts “The Late Show”). When he was young, he apparently got into a bit […]
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April 14, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at April 14, 2020
When the Unitarian Universalist Association published our “Singing the Living Tradition” hymnal in 1993, one of the new hymns that became quite popular right away was “Spirit of Life” (conveniently […]
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April 14, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at April 14, 2020
You may have noticed that I have begun ending the services I lead at UCN with the words “peace and unrest.” If you were at the Sept. 22nd service […]
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April 10, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at April 10, 2020
Now that we are mostly “sheltering in place” due to the Corona Virus threat, I’ll bet a few more of us are working on crossword puzzles. (At least that’s what […]
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March 25, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at March 25, 2020
Because we are “sheltering in place” here in Wisconsin (and thus not meeting in person at UCN), we are all probably reading more than usual. Maybe reflecting a little more […]
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March 24, 2020
Published by unitariannorth at March 24, 2020
Sunday, March 15th, was UCN’s last “in person” service for a while–our last time to “meet and greet” (if only by touching our elbows!). We don’t know how long the […]
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March 6, 2020
Published by Carissa Mooren at March 6, 2020
On February 18th, when it was time to vote for a candidate to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, I realized that I knew which of the 3 nominees I didn’t want to win--but I wasn't sure...
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December 24, 2019
Published by Carissa Mooren at December 24, 2019
My name is Benjamin bar Jonah, and I was there at the birth of Yeshua bar Joseph, the one you call Jesus. It happened in my mother's stable at Bethlehem...
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August 18, 2019
Published by Carissa Mooren at August 18, 2019
Do events happen haphazardly in our lives, or are there things that "meant to be"? Do we each have some kind of destiny -- some thing or things we are expected...
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August 8, 2019
Published by Carissa Mooren at August 8, 2019
The African-American theologian and former president of Union Theological Seminary, Henry Sloane Coffin, was at one time a hymnbook editor and actually taught a course in hymnology...
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July 7, 2019
Published by Carissa Mooren at July 7, 2019
Was this country founded as a Christian nation? Religious conservatives often say yes; liberals usually say no. And both can marshal! quotes from the "founding fathers" to support their views...
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July 24, 2018
Published by unitariannorth at July 24, 2018
Twenty-five UCN members and friends braved the sweltering heat to promote UCN in the Mequon-Thiensville Family Fun Before the 4th Parade on June 30...
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