In Tulsa, I lived a few blocks away from The Center of the Universe. Despite the lofty name, the spot itself doesn't seem particularly remarkable at first glance: halfway across a wide concrete bridge, a curving brick path leads to a small stone circle... and that’s it. The remarkable part happens when you begin to speak. Inside the circle, your voice echoes back to you, louder and stronger than it was when it left your lips. To those standing outside the circle, what you say sounds strangely distorted, muffled and unclear. People like to joke that a tornado siren could go off inside the circle and you wouldn’t be able to hear it from the other side of the bridge.
I usually took visitors to see it, because it was funny to stop halfway across a railroad bridge and say, “Here we are: The Center of the Universe!” The juxtaposition between the grandeur of the name and the ordinariness of the location always amused me. We would take turns standing in the center of the circle and shouting while the other person stood outside the circle and said, “Well that’s weird.” And then, since that was pretty much all there was to it, we’d continue on our walk around the neighborhood and discuss our options for dinner.
I was still living in Tulsa when the Covid-19 pandemic began, and it didn’t take long to figure out that it was the wrong place to be. Oklahoma had an antivaxxer governor, so the state wasn’t in great hands when it came to community health decisions overall. But more importantly, Tulsa was an eleven hour drive from the center of my own universe: my family here in Madison.
My parents never left Dane County, so though I spent twenty years bouncing around the country, Madison was always my anchor, the place I came back to and launched off from again. Mov -
ing back was never in my plans, not exactly, but on some level I suppose it felt inevitable. Home has a gravitational pull that’s hard to resist.
In the two and a half years since, I have reconnected with my younger self in some interesting ways. The “Better Living Through Showtunes” radio show on WORT reminded me how much I loved Broadway as a teen, and helped me learn about new shows and rediscover old favorites. Poetry has come back into my life in a big way, and now when I’m brushing my teeth or watering the plants I’ll realize I’m recalling lines from a poem I haven’t read in twenty years. And, of course, being back at FUS has helped me to revitalize my relationship with UUism and this community of generous, curious, good-hearted people (that’s you!).
When I think about centering myself, sometimes I imagine an alternate self who gets up at dawn to meditate, maintains a consistent yoga practice, drinks water all day long instead of coffee, and smiles benignly at people who cut her off in traffic. Sounds nice, but that’s not me. Coming back home has reminded me that though I spent twenty years having adventures and meeting new people and learning big lessons and gaining wisdom, I’m still the same person at my core: dramatic, poetic, spiritual, curious, ambitious, overly caffeinated. A little gentler, maybe, a little more patient, but still fundamentally myself.
So here I am at the center of the universe again. Unlike in Tulsa, here there’s no concrete bridge, no brick path, no stone to mark the spot. There’s just me, standing in my own circle, hearing my own voice more clearly than I have in years.
When we thought of our Finding Our Center as our theme for this month, we were immediately asking ourselves, “What is the center of our faith as Unitarian Universalists?” As you may know, our Unitarian Universalist Association has spent the past two years reviewing Article II of their bylaws. This is the section which holds the Seven Principles and Six Sources of Unitarian Universalism.
In the Spring of 2021, the Study Commission began hosting theological panel discussions with surveys to gain an understanding of the values and sources of inspiration shared amongst Unitarian Universalists. Focus groups, individual interviews, and surveys continued through the winter and spring of 2022. Draft language was prepared and shared during General Sessions at the 2022 General Assembly. In the fall of 2022, the Article II Study Commission, via their Outreach Team, held feedback sessions and surveys on different drafts of Article II, each draft informed by previous feedback sessions and surveys. At the end of this feedback cycle, the Article II Study Commission submitted its recommendation for a new Article II to the Board of Trustees in January 2023. That recommendation came to the 2023 General Assembly and passed with a vote of 86.3%. We will now spend the coming year discussing this new language in our congregation. Please see the dates for discussion and join us!
In answer to how the Commission came to these seven values, they wrote, “In group after group, setting after setting, we were getting a range of answers, but with definite areas of commonality and overlap. It then fell to us to discern the collective, spiritual truths within them and translate that into writing. The challenge was to be both broadly inclusive but also discerning of prophetic moments of insight in both our own and others’ responses. We ended with seven
single-word values that are touchstones for our conversations, in congregational governance, and in educational settings.”
When you look at the image for the proposed Article II, you will see that love is at the center.
The Commission had this to say about that choice: “As Unitarian Universalists, we covenant, congregation-to-congregation and through our association, to support and assist one another in our ministries. We draw from our heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love. Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. We are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of Love.”
Love is the center of our faith. We have a poster hanging here in our Commons that reads “Love is hard. Do it anyway.”
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In case you haven’t seen this poster, let me share the rest of it with you:
Love for people, especially those who are different from you. Love that says, I see you as a person. Love that says, “let your unique light shine in the world,” because each of our souls touches the divine mystery. Love that says we are on a journey together, and my fate is tied up with yours. Love that grabs you and won’t let go until your whole life is dedicated to living on the side of love. Love that changes the world. Love is hard. Do it anyway.
This is no passive love. This is a radical love that calls us out to act, to change, to transform our very selves, putting ourselves back together, supporting others as they do the same, and one person at a time, put the world back together. This is what lives at the heart of our shared faith and what gives it the transformative power of hope.
The activist, author, and spiritual teacher bell hooks, who passed away in December 2021, had this to say about love: “To open our hearts more fully to love’s power and grace we must dare to acknowledge how little we know of love in both theory and practice. The word ‘love’ is most often defined as a noun, yet the more astute theorists acknowledge that we would all love better if we used it as a verb. If we recognized love as an act of will—both an intention and an action. A choice. We do not have to love. We choose to love.”
After all the searching and thinking about what love truly is, bell hooks landed here: “Only Love can give us strength to go forward in the midst of heartbreak and misery. Only love can give us the power to reconcile, to redeem, holds the power to renew weary spirits and save lost Souls. The transformative power of love is the foundation of all meaningful social change... Love is the heart of the matter. When all else has fallen away, love is what remains, love is what sustains.” ◊
You must hold your quiet center, where you do what only you can do. If others call you a maniac or a fool, just let them wag their tongues. If some praise your perseverance, don’t feel too happy about it— only solitude is a lasting friend.
You must hold your distant center. Don’t move even if earth and heaven quake. If others think you are insignificant, that’s because you haven’t held on long enough. As long as you stay put year after year, eventually you will find a world beginning to revolve around you.
Ha Jin, 2018
We know that each of us has moments of great joy and celebration in our lives, and that we also all have deep and heartbreaking challenges. The Lay Ministers at FUS are here to help one another during times of need, help one another in practical and supportive ways, and offer connection so that no one struggles alone.
Lay Ministers visit members in the hospital or at home, rehab centers and hospice. They coordinate meals for various reasons ranging from undergoing medical treatments or surgeries, welcoming new children or dealing with long illnesses. They offer listening ears and open hearts for those who just need someone to talk with.
Over the summer, our Lay Ministers field phone calls and emails that arrive to the Lay Ministry voicemail and email. This is a great gift to our ministers and staff who are reassured that there is a caring presence to answer the needs that arise over the summer. This past summer they fielded calls for visits to members who are seriously ill, requests for meals to be set up, and more. We are grateful to the Lay Ministers who took a shift of a week or two this summer: Carol Ferguson, Hannah Lee, Karen Rose Gredler, Lois Evenson, Dorit Bergen, Jeanne Sears, Roz Woodward, and John McGevna.
Another kindness that our Lay Ministers provide to our community is assisting at memorial services. During a service, they assist the ministers
and support a loved one’s family, friends and colleagues with set up, hospitality, and clean up after a service. The number of people needed per service ranges from three to five, depending on the size of the celebration. With an aging FUS population, the demand for this ritual has been increasing, and until recently, it has been our Lay Ministers assisting at each memorial. We have been asked if others—people who are not formally Lay Ministers—could also give back to the congregation in this way, showing love and support to our grieving families. The answer is: absolutely!
The roles are not difficult, and with enough people the need might about two or three times a year. A greeter, someone to help the family or caterer put out refreshments, and clean-up help are the usual tasks required. The tasks may not be overly burdensome, but the rewards are great. Our families are so very grateful for assistance in their times of mourning. It means more than they can express that our community steps up and supports them in this way.
If you are interested in supporting your fellow congregants as they negotiate one of life’s more difficult times, please contact Roz Woodward at woodwardrosalind@gmail.com for more information.
You can always reach out to the Lay Ministers at layministry@fusmadison.org or (608) 233-9774, ext. 126. ◊
This time of year always feels like a bit of a frenzy to me. I have four school-aged children who grumble about waking up early after a summer of sleeping in. The evenings are filled with practices and homework rather than s’mores and badminton. Work meetings are scheduled backto-back as vacations end and deadlines loom. And after spotty summer attendance at FUS, we return regularly on Sundays as Religious Exploration classes begin.
September causes bittersweet feelings in me. I’m wistful about the end of summer but energized about new beginnings. There’s something about sharp pencils, new lunchboxes, and structured schedules that refreshes me. But the routine takes some time to settle in to and the first several weeks of September often leave me feeling unmoored. I can get caught up in trivial matters like first day-of-school outfits and game schedules and neglect the practices that bring peace and meaning to my life. It’s important for me to be purposeful about slowing down and focusing on activities that center and restore me.
I find that it’s key to reinforce this practice of centering during natural times of transition during the year; as seasons change, assignments end, programs begin. Leaving distractions behind and returning to our true purpose and values helps us focus and prioritize. Maybe your preferred method of centering is being in nature, meditating, or knitting. I hope you also find FUS to be a place that centers you. I know I do. After I leave the service on Sundays, I feel calmer and more connected to the divine. I remember that to filter out the trivial and focus on the vital. Sometimes I forget during the week, but come Sunday, I can return again to FUS.
This year FUS will be closer to the center of my life for another reason as I start my term as President of the Board of Trustees. Last year I was President-Elect with a wonderful slate of board members. Alyssa Ryanjoy completed her term as President, and I thank her deeply for her leadership and guidance. She is a thoughtful, creative leader that always reminds us to center ourselves on our purpose to carry out the mission of FUS.
We begin this year with a refreshed mission and vision. These powerful statements were produced by a task force of members through an iterative process with deep congregational feedback and involvement. These statements center us on our purpose and future as we emerge from a time of uncertainty and transition. Our mission reminds us, “At First Unitarian Society, we question boldly, listen humbly, grow spiritually, act courageously, and love unapologetically.”
Our vision guides us to be “… a spiritual community of belonging. We will transform ourselves and society through the practices of radical welcome, deep listening, and compassionate, authentic connection. We envision a world fueled by love and justice.”
Those are all tall orders, but I am confident that together we can move toward them. As we begin the journey of this church year, I wish you peace and joy. ◊
and I carry ripened plums, waiting to find the one who is interested in tasting.
Today the lily sends up a fifth white-tipped tendril, the promise of another flower opening, and I think, this must mean this plant is happy, here, in this house, by this window. Is this the right deduction?
The taller plant leans and leans toward the light. I turn it away, and soon its big hands are reaching again toward what nourishes it, but which it can never touch.
Couldn’t the yellowing leaves of the maple and their falling also be a sign of joy? Another kind of leaning into. A letting go of one thing to fall into another. A kind of trust I cannot imagine.
Heather Swan, 2020As autumn beckons, and we enjoy the last carefree days of summer, we welcome the new church year and our annual homecoming. To kick off our 2023 – 2024 program year together, we are offering an evening of fun and fellowship on Friday evening, September 8, 2023. Join us from 5 pm–6:30 pm for activities, conversation and ice cream! May this be an opportunity for us to be joyfully reminded of the power in joining together and sharing as one, and what that means for our community. The summer has brought many new faces to our doors, curious and interested folks looking for open minds, kind hearts, and a sense of belonging. It has been a reminder to celebrate who we are and how we grow into the vision of FUS. As we build on this energy, the church year will be punctuated by unique community events that continue, on a regular basis, to bring us together in fellowship. It is because of you that FUS is a welcoming and nurturing place. Our doors are open wide, and our arms are welcoming. The beginning of a new church year is always full of promise and possibility. Let this Welcome Back story begin with you!
Oh, the OppOrtunities!
Volunteer and Opportunity Fair
Saturday and Sunday, September 23 and 24, 2023
What better time than this beginning of promise and possibility to show our understanding and appreciation of stewardship—the collective responsibility for something bigger than ourselves —and commit to extending ourselves in new and bold ways. There is strength in this holistic practice of stewardship, the giving of talent, energy and resources. It supports intentional, spiritual
community. It is in community that we create the space for growth in shared vision, commitment, and focus. And as we deepen this sense of community, we learn the significance of our collective efforts.
We have the opportunity for you to take your own bold steps! With resources available, and seasoned volunteers in tow, FUS volunteers and members will be available to answer questions, direct you to something that may be of interest, and offer guidance in the ways that each of us can be of service to our faith community. We have many important and valuable volunteer needs at FUS, small and large ways in which we work together to feed and nurture the life of this congregation. Join a volunteer team, or two, connect with old friends and new. The list is long, the work is rewarding and the sense of community that volunteering creates is wonderful. Support FUS in one of the best ways possible—the gift of YOU. Let our promise to support one another on our journey, and to work for what is possible, be a compelling reason to serve this faith community as a volunteer. We all provide support by being an integral part of church life in our own and unique ways.
Journey Circles are our theme-based covenant groups that meet for the church year, October/ November through June; 90 minutes to two hours. Reflection and discussion at each gathering focus, specifically, on our congregational monthly theme. The time is structured to help us set aside daily distractions and make connections with one another. Sign-up is forthcoming.
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You can read more about Journey Circles in the October issue of this newsletter. With questions about our Welcome Back Celebration, Volunteer and Opportunity Fair, Journey Circles, or other adult programs, contact Janet at janets@fusmadison.org
We would like to welcome those who have joined FUS as members since Spring 2023. We are grateful for your presence in our faith community!
Amanda Baker
Bryce Baker
Heidi Bardenhagen
Deborah Beck
David Kessler
Mary Kessler
Ryan Hoffland
John Mosman
Josephine Putman
Michelle Smernoff
Olivia Montgomery
Ross Womble
“The essence of community is recognition of and deep reverence for the other.”
John Main
Cheryll Mellenthin, Project Coordinator
The events I’ve planned over the past six years have a few goals in common—make it fun, use a great deal of imagination, do the unexpected, and follow the lead of our dedicated FUS volunteers. In planning recent Cabaret events, community engagement and creating an event for members of all ages have become priorities.
Our 2023 Cabaret will be a full day of autumn-themed activities for all!
• We’re gathering on the Landmark Campus, Saturday, October 21st, 11 am – 4 pm.
• We’ll have outside games, gatherings around our fire rings, and food trucks.
• We’re hosting animal guests from Havens Petting Farm.
• We’ll have inside crafts and music.
• We’ll have a food drive for families in need.
• And mostly we’ll have each other—catching up with familiar faces and meeting new friends.
Of course, Cabaret is still our largest fundraiser of the year. It wouldn’t be Cabaret without our well-loved silent auction, a bevy of live auction favorites, and raffle opportunities for all, including kiddo treasures.
The success of our 2023 Cabaret relies on you— community engagement is the heart of this event. FUS has many long-established groups and volunteer teams. What you can do to support our event this year is to use the strength of your group.
Here’s what your group can do:
• Create an auction basket with your group’s specific skill/ interest area.
• Plan an event, learning opportunity, or other item for our silent auction.
• Join our Cabaret volunteer team.
• We’d love to hear your ideas for the day.
Now is a great time to get information on donating to the auction, purchase tickets, and sign up to volunteer! Check out our fillable donation form and get more information about the day on our website: fusmadison.org/cabaret. You can also contact me directly: cheryllm@fusmadison. org
I’m looking forward to seeing you on this funfilled day! ◊
Mellenthin
As Members of the First Unitarian Society of Madison, we come together as a covenantal people to make meaning of our lives.We attend worship services regularly for rest, renewal, and fellowship. We encourage one another in our personal and spiritual growth. We contribute to the decision-making processes. We navigate the transitions of life together. We celebrate and mourn together. We work collectively to make a difference in the wider community. We are active participants in the life of the Society. We support this community with our time, talents, and financial contributions.
As a Member of FUS, you live your individual journey by embracing personal opportunities for spiritual and ethical understanding and growth. As a Member, you also walk with others in a committed community, spanning race, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, socioeconomic background, and belief. This journey to seek meaning, connection, and understanding is the way we each live out our UU principles and values both individually and collectively.
The full experience of this journey, in all of its life-giving messiness, is to see Membership as a verb. Membership requires us to actively participate—to uphold our commitment of presence and support to this community, to honor and respect different ideas and to engage in difficult
conversations, to live with compassion and understanding, to believe we can make a difference in the world, and to be stewards of this community.
As active participants and stewards of this faith community, there are intentional acts of stewardship—one being a financial commitment—as an important leadership requirement outlined in the FUS bylaws. Our community reaches its highest potential for doing life-changing work when every Member has a voice and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in our future. (If you have questions about our current Stewardship Campaign, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact cheryllm@fusmadison.org or visit www.fusmadison.org/giving-home .)
Membership is a journey and a choice—a choice of greater commitment and greater responsibility. We BELONG to this faith community and to one another. It is in this belonging, and acceptance of this commitment, that we share responsibility for the common good, both within our walls and outside our doors.
Make this choice. Live this commitment. Join in this community of love and intention as we live out our faith into the world.
“We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results.”
-Herman Melville
In-person worship services: Saturdays @ 4:30 pm & Sundays @ 9 & 11 am
Online worship service: Sundays @ 9 am
Rev. Kelly Asprooth-Jackson
Labor Day Weekend is a time to celebrate and reflect on the contributions of working people and the circumstances under which they labor and live. In this service, we will participate in Worker Justice Wisconsin’s Labor in the Pulpit program, as we are asked to reflect on the question: “As people of faith, what is our role in ensuring that low-wage and immigrant workers are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve?” Music for Labor Day weekend by Vaughan Williams and Aaron Copland for solo piano.
*This is the fnal 10 am service of the Summer Schedule
Rev. Kelly Crocker & Rev. Kelly Asprooth-Jackson
Water Communion is our annual ritual of ingathering and welcoming one another back into community after our summer travels. This uniquely UU ritual reminds us that we all come from water, we are made of mostly water, and just like the way water scatters into raindrops and streams, we oftentimes scatter during the summer months. The mingling of the waters from places we have been over the summer months symbolizes the mingling of our lives here in this community. We ask you to bring a small amount of water from a place sacred to you, whether you traveled to far, exotic locations, or whether it comes from a backyard rain barrel. As your water mingles with the water of others, we will be reminded of the many ways our lives are intertwined, here at home, and with the lives of people throughout the world. Music for solo harp by Voltz, Salzedo, Pratt, and Schocker. On Sunday, the Anybody Choir will sing Alice Parker’s “A Universal Blessing”—all are welcome, and rehearsal begins at 8:00 am.
**Saturday services in the Landmark Auditorium and 9 am & 11 am Sunday services in the Atrium Auditorium resume this weekend
Rev. Kelly Asprooth-Jackson
For many of us, when we think of the contemplative disciplines we picture serene settings: soft light, calm context, and a quiet and unhurried practice. Associating outward peace with inward understanding, we might think that the first is a prerequisite for the latter. But all of us need to find our center, even in the midst of onrushing life. Join me for a service about what we hold onto in the midst of chaos, and finding the still point in the midst of the storm. Music by Chopin, von Paradis, O’Carolan, and Saint-Saëns featuring Philip Delaquess, cello.
Rev. Kelly Crocker
Recently, I was advised to begin a meditation practice with a specific practice called the Mountain Meditation. The purpose of this practice is centered around grounding and accessing our inner strength and the values that live at our core when we are faced with the challenging circumstances of life. Join me on the journey as I share what I have learned and, maybe more importantly, where I still struggle. Music for clarinet and piano featuring Terri Felton.
Rev. Kelly Asprooth-Jackson
This past June, the General Assembly (GA) was held in Pittsburgh, PA. GA is the annual meeting of delegates from Unitarian Universalist congregations to do the democratic governance work of our association. In this service, we’ll hear about what went on, the decisions that were made, and some of the highlights from this gathering. Music by Bach and Ravel, featuring Catherine Clewett and Linda Warren, harp duet. On Sunday, Choristers and Cherub Choir will sing.
With heavy hearts we share the news of the passing of Cece Bolyard on July 11. Cece was a bright light on Sunday mornings, always with a warm smile and sometimes ready to share a new poem that she had written. We send our love to her daughter, Susan Millar, sons Curtis and David, their children and grandchildren. We know her kindness and creative spirit live on in each of them.
We are saddened to share that Martha Popp passed away after a long illness on August 10. We send our love to her wife, Alix Olson, and their children and family as they miss her laughter, her courageous and gentle spirit, and her deep compassion. A memorial service will be held in the Landmark Auditorium on October 22 at 2 pm.
If you have a life transition you’d like to share with the readers of this newsletter, please send it to mollyb@fusmadison.org.
Rev. Kelly J. Crocker, Co-Senior Minister kellyc@fusmadison.org x.112
Rev. Kelly Asprooth-Jackson, Co-Senior Minister kellyaj@fusmadison.org x.113
Monica Nolan, Executive Director monican@fusmadison.org x.115
Janet Swanson, Director Membership & Adult Programs janets@fusmadison.org x.124
Leslie Ross, Director Children’s Religious Exploration leslier@fusmadison.org x.119
Kristi Sprague, Social Justice Coordinator kristis@fusmadison.org x.125
Xan Hendrick, Program Assistant alexandrah@fusmadison.org x.116
Dr. Drew Collins, Music Director drewc@fusmadison.org x.121
Heather Thorpe, Children & Youth Choir Director thorpeh2@gmail.com
Linda Warren, Assistant Music Director linda.warren@tds.net
Molly Backes, Communications Coordinator mollyb@fusmadison.org x. 117
Cheryll Mellenthin, Project Coordinator cheryllm@fusmadison.org x. 130
Tom Miskelly, Facilities Manager tomm@fusmadison.org x. 120
Dan Carnes, A/V & Event Specialist danc@fusmadison.org
Steven Gregorius, Event Specialist
Jenny Seeker Conroy, President
Chuck Evenson
Joy Stieglitz Gottschalk
Emily Cusic Putnam, Secretary
Emily Smith
Ann Schaffer
Ed Zapala
Zizi Brandt, Youth Liaison
Mira Roffers, Youth Advisor
Mason Shadle, Youth Advisor
Our lay ministers provide a confidential, caring presence to congregants undergoing stressful life challenges or joyous occasions. Under the guidance of our called ministers, they promote the spirit of community through direct service in visiting the ill and healing, facilitating support groups, and more.
Contact a lay minister at 608.233.9774 x. 126
Get information about upcoming services and events, see photos and videos, and connect with other FUS folks on our social media platforms!
FUS Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/fusmadison
FUS Community Virtual Gathering Space (FB Group) https://www.facebook.com/ groups/fusmadison
https://www.instagram.com/fusmadison/ YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/fusmadison
