There are lots of ways to find community, make friends, be of service, and get involved at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing. Opportunities include classes and covenant groups (small group ministry), healing the world through Social Action, volunteer service for the church, and discussion and activity gatherings (see below).
If you would like to know more about church programs or help plan future programs, you are welcome to attend Program Council meetings.
For more information about any of these groups, please call the office at 351-4081 ext. 2#:
Adult Choir
UU Bikers (bicycle riding group)
Circle Suppers
Men's Growth and Support Group
Pretty Good Book Group
Sunday Morning Forum
Women's Investment Club
Women's Fellowship
Adult Choir: Love to sing? Join us! We practice most Thursdays from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at church. Contact Chris Whittaker, Interim Director of Music, for details: 351-4081 ext. 4# or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Circle Suppers: Circle Suppers are a great way to meet or reacquaint yourselves with fellow UUs and enjoy good food, good company, and good conversation. Complete information is available at the Activities Table on Sunday mornings.
Men's Growth and Support Group: This discussion group for men remains open to new members. Meetings are usually held on the second and fourth Sundays from 7:00-9:00 p.m., beginning with member check-ins to bring others in the group up to date with important issues in their lives. Trust and confidentiality create a safe zone for discussing concerns and exploring opportunities for positive growth in a supportive environment. Meetings end with check-outs about what was learned and plans to use that knowledge.
Pretty Good Book Group: The Pretty Good Book Group meets on the first Sunday (except holiday weekends) of each month at 7:00 p.m. in Room 105. All are welcome to join us on a regular basis or whenever you can for an interesting discussion. Upcoming meetings are:
March 4: Crazy: A Father's Search… by Pete Earley
April 1: Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff
May 6: Fabric of America by Andro Linklater
June 3: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
July 1: Arc of Justice by Kevin Boyle
August 5: Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
September 9: Under The Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
October 7: The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
November 4: He, She, and It by Marge Piercy
December 2: The Shallows by Nicholas Carr
Sunday Morning Forum: Forum meets from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. most Sunday mornings. Those attending are enthusiastic, and they bring intellectually stimulating ideas to the table. January was spent mostly responding to Arc of Justice (Kevin Boyle), an educational and moving book.
Chris Christoff, Lansing Correspondence Reporter for Bloomberg News, has graciously agreed to be with the Forum on February 19. Chris’ talks are always well-received.
In the near future are another session on humor and one devoted to news headlines. Ideas about discussion topics, activities, and books are welcome at Forum meetings. Everyone is invited to attend and participate.
Women's Fellowship: The UU Women’s Fellowship meets most third Thursday afternoons at the home of a member. All women of the church are invited; new attendees are always welcome! Contact Rae Lavey or Marian Shaffer for further information. The next UU Women’s Fellowship luncheon will take place at Coral Gables on Thursday, January 19 at noon. All are welcome. Check the Events page for special activities.
Program Council: Program Council is charged with ensuring that programs of the church run well, creating and sustaining congregational leadership and participation, planning the development of programs for the future of the church, and providing input to the annual program budget process. If you would like to start a program, put something on the church calendar, or learn about church programs currently taking place, you are invited to attend Program Council meetings. They meet the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. We operate a little more loosely than the Board – we like to call them “Bob’s Rules” (as opposed to Robert’s Rules of Order). Every church group or committee should know who represents them at the Program Council for coordinating purposes. If you don’t know who your representative is, please contact the minister or any staff person.
Volunteering at UUCGL
We invite everyone interested in getting involved with church life to take the Get Connected at UUCGL survey. You can click here to take the survey online or fill it out at the Survey Table during coffee hour after Sunday morning worship. Some of the areas in which we always need volunteer help are:
Archives Committee
Building and Grounds
Sunday Mornings
Archives Committee
A book about the ministers of this church over the past 162 years is now available for sale at the church and at https://www.createspace.com/3395591 and www.amazon.com. The title of the book is Dedicated Lives: 162 Years of Liberal Ministry and Its Ministers in Lansing, Michigan 1849 – 2011.
The Archives Committee is seeking new members. Contact Ed Busch if you are interested in getting involved or if you have questions about getting materials to the archives.
Building and Grounds
Our church is like a house in that there is always something to repair. It’s just a very big house with some peculiar needs. As congregants, we all share in the care of our church home. Can you help with…
- Burned out light bulbs (must enjoy ladders)
- Doors with loose hinges and broken doorknobs
- Broken toilet-paper holder
- Kitchen cupboard with loose hinges
- Bookcase leaning unsteadily
- Wallpaper repair (several places that need tacking down)
- Couches needing a few screws and a replacement part
- Bathroom ceiling fan (gone completely AWOL)
- Vertical blinds (looking a little gap-toothed and needing a valance reattached)
- The top landing of the back stairwell (needs both ceiling and floor repair)
To help, contact Congregational Administrator Kathy McWilliams at 351-4081 ext. 6# or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Thanks to all the folks who volunteered at our Fall Cleanup Day: Stuart Campbell, Michael McClellan, Bob Lovell, Gene Mellen, Eric Walters, Nathan Wood, Jean Fierke, Chris Clampitt, and anyone else we missed. We will save a lot of energy because of the windows you covered!
Sunday Mornings
To make a Sunday morning happen, at least 35 volunteers are needed at church! We have 13-15 volunteers working with the children and youth and around 20 more volunteers making the sound and slideshow happen, selling fair trade coffee, making the coffee many of us enjoy, monitoring the bookstore, ushering and greeting, being a celebrant, saying the welcome and announcements, counting the offering, working at the Activities Table, and singing in the choir. That’s at least 35 people each week, 52 weeks a year! You are part of this community, and you shape how this community looks. We invite you to come forward and try one of these volunteer spots on Sunday morning. Without you, we are not whole. Please contact Volunteer Coordinator Corie Jason at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 351-4081 ext. 7#, and she will help you find a volunteer spot that fits you!
Ushers and Greeters are wanted! We would like to say Thank You and also extend an Invitation to anyone who is interested in becoming an Usher or Greeter for Sunday services! On Sunday, March 4 from 2-4 p.m. at church, we'll have a chance to gather for wine and conversation as well as a discussion about the important role Ushers and Greeters have in our church. This is a great way to get to know many people in our community. If you have any questions, please contact Deb Wiese.
