Book on Sale after Services

The book “Dedicated Lives” will be on sale after services at the UU Church of Greater Lansing on March 4.

Midwest Book Review of Dedicated Lives

MBR Bookwatch: February 2012

Helen’s Bookshelf

Dedicated Lives

Ed Busch, Shirley Beckman, & Harry Schwarzweller

Privately Published

9781448678242, $17.00, www.createspace.com

Faith is a guiding light through life, and should bring people together

instead of driving them apart. “Dedicated Lives: 162 Years of Liberal

Ministry and Its Ministers in Lansing, Michigan 1849-201 l” discusses

the long line of the First Universalist Church of Lansing, and those who

have worked through the years as religious liberals. A thoughtful look at

an American church and derived from well researched sources,

“Dedicated Lives” is a fine work of study for Christians, historians, and

Americana.

Helen Dumont

Reviewer

Comments on “Dedicated Lives” from a Reader

We’ve received comments from one reader of our book “Dedicated Lives”:

Hi Harry,

I read your book and sure learned a lot. I was amazed to find out that the Universalists and the Unitarians in Lansing had merged before the national movement. And, that they changed their official name to Unitarian Universalist. For so many years I have heard Universalists bemoan the fact that they are regarded as lesser with the title of our denomination being Unitarian Universalist. I always want to say, “hey, have you considered it might be alphabetical?” Oh, well. It’s good to know that those hard working, devoted Universalists in Lansing are not narrow-minded.

I was also very interested to learn about Augusta Jane Chapin as the second woman to be ordained, she after Olympia Brown, which we hear so much about. I also had a friend and colleague who was Minister of Religious Education at The Unitarian Church in Rochester, Rev. Helena Chapin. I can’t help but wonder if there is some connection. Helena had some serious problems and was fired. She died a few years later, a relatively young woman. Her family and friends did not want her Memorial Service in Rochester UU since it was the interim there who had abetted her termination, although he denied it. Carl and I did it at our little church in Cdga. It was jammed. Even people standing.

I was also interested in learning about all the moves the congregation made…buying, renting, then all over again, and all the ministers who served them. Such short terms too. Apparently, there were a lot of struggles getting it all started, but here they are, 367 members, I last read in UU Directory. Shows what we can do when we’re on the right path and put our minds to it.

As I read I also started to think that perhaps it’s too soon to do something like this for Cdga church….not enough history, not enough ministry. It would be difficult to produce anything as good as what and your group did for Lansing.

Thank you so much for lending me this book. You did an wonderful job, and that church can be proud of all they accomplished as old and new members learn about what they have joined and are committed to.

In Faith

Maureen Thitchener

“Dedicated Lives” Book Sale Tomorrow

Our Archives Committee book, “Dedicated Lives”, will be on sale after each service tomorrow (1/22) for $18. All proceeds go to the UU Church of Greater Lansing (855 Grove St., East Lansing, MI 48823). We will be selling again at church on February 12.

It is also available online at https://www.createspace.com/3395591 or through Amazon. Post a review on Amazon if you like it.

The committee has also submitted a project to the UU Historical Society for its Heritage Project Prize awarded in 2012. The project submitted was the work the committee did during 2009 as part of the church’s 160th anniversary and included ministerial biographies, a church service and this blog. We will also be submitted our book, “Dedicated Lives” for their Congregational History Prize which will be awarded in 2013.

It’s Published!

Well, we did it. We published our book “Dedicated Lives” in December 2011; only a couple years later than planned.

It is available online at https://www.createspace.com/3395591 or through Amazon.

Let us know what you think. Post a review on Amazon (hopefully a good one).

Minutes from March Meeting

The Archives Committee held its meeting on March 13 at 10:30. In attendance were Liz Schwarzweller, Harry Schwarzweller, Shirley Beckman, Liz Signell, and Ed Busch. Topics covered under Old Business were the status of the book, monthly events (none planned), and newsletter articles (will resume after book is published).

New business included a discussion of nominating Rev. Chapin for the Michigan Women’s hall of Fame. We thought it was in the fall but later learned it was this week.
Also, Ed announced that he was being put on the nomination slate for the Board of Trustees. We also discussed the planned church-wide themes to start in the fall.

The next meeting is scheduled for April 17 at 10:30.

Augusta Jane Chapin Nomination

The UUCGL Archives Committee has nominated Augusta Jane Chapin to the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame. Support our nomination and become her fan on Facebook. Her page is here.

Minutes from February 13 Meeting

The Archives Committee met at the UU Church in room 105 at 10:30 AM on February 13. In attendance were Ed Busch, Shirley Beckman, Pat Colburn and Liz Signell.

Briefly discussed the Book project: currently in a rewrite phase of some sections. There was a suggestion to give the UUA a copy when complete for inclusion as a book review.

No monthly events planned right now.

Account balance is around $1000.

Newsletter article: Ed will contact Marion Walsh to see if she would like to write an article for the news letter about the building expansion in the 1980s or on another topic. Other suggested names were Bob Swanson and Gene Mellon. (Note: The committee is trying to expand the number of contributors.)

New Business: Liz brought in some CDs with digitized sound tracks from pledge shows. Ed will look into posting these on the archives website and putting a notice in the news letter.

Next meeting is March 13 at 10:30 AM.

Minutes from October 24 Meeting

In attendance at the October 24,, 2009 Archives Committee meeting were: Ed Busch, Pat Colburn, Harry Schwarzweller, Shirley Beckman, and Liz Signell.

Meeting started with an update on the status of the Minister book. At the time, only one section (Thomas Smith) needed to be submitted, waiting on photos (Bert, Slade), cover art and index. Next will be book review.

November story for newsletter will be about the GA when it was in East Lansing.

No new business.

No meeting in December. Need to schedule one in January.

Dreaming of a Title

The book is almost ready for editing but we’ve decided our working title “A Stream of Life: 160 Years of Liberal Ministry in Lansing, MIchigan” needs to be replaced. The book is bigger than just the UUCGL church; it covers the lives of the ministers before and after they arrive in the Greater Lansing area.

Some suggested titles are:

1. Spiritual Journey: 160 Years of Liberal Ministry
   Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing
2. Dedicated Lives: 160 Years of Liberal Ministry and Its Ministers in Lansing, Michigan, 1849-2009
3. Dedicated Lives: the Liberal Ministry and Its Ministers in Lansing, Michigan, 1849-2009
4. Dedicated Lives, Different Paths: 160 Years of Liberal Ministry and Its Ministers in Lansing, Michigan, 1849-2009
5. Dedicated Lives, Diverse Paths: 160 Years of Liberal Ministry and Its Ministers in Lansing, Michigan, 1849-2009

Harry has some ideas for thought:

“There were many different “paths” or “journeys” that we are describing in these bios. And, in my opinion virtually all of these ministers were very “dedicated” (or whatever you want to call their drive.) Some were “humanists”, some “God fearing”, some “Spiritual”, some “Liberal”, some “Conservative”. There were many differing orientations represented. Often, their “dedication” to their chosen “cause” or “theo/philosophical” position and their path toward that goal was sometimes de-railed by financial problems (theirs and their family’s, or the congregations they were serving) or by national circumstances beyond their control (war and conscription), or even by congregational politics (heaven forbid). A few had clear sailing (like Bard). But for many their journeys were not easy, their paths not linear nor predictable.

Anyway — we need to hunt for a simple lead title that sort of captures the tone of what we are about. The secondary sub-title we have been using is quite clear and appropriate.”

So, if you have any suggestions, let us know. Our latest goal is for the book to start getting circulated for review at the beginning of November.

Ed