A Look Back: More on UU Lansing’s Unimass
by Ed Busch
Last week, I shared the story of UU Lansing’s unique Unimass service. After the post went out, I received an email from Bob Lovell with a wonderful memory:
“The 1980 UniMass score called for a xylophone, which we didn't have, but Kathy Lovell subbed in on her marimba. This was the first of many solo and ensemble performances for her at UUCGL; she is now the organizer for the UUCGL jazz combo, playing vibraphone.”
It’s these kinds of details that bring our church history to life—moments of improvisation, creativity, and community that still resonate today.
As I continued digging through the church archives, I discovered at least three other instances of similar services—though there may be more!
Lansing State Journal ad, April 21, 2001.
One notable example took place on April 22, 2001. The service that day was titled “e. e. cummings”, and the order of service (OOS) cover proclaimed:
"every human being is illimitable. Art means TO BE INTENSELY ALIVE.”
Order of Service cover, April 22, 2001. The full OOS can be viewed here.
At the time, Rev. Dr. Wayne Robinson served as our minister, and Bob Lovell was church president. The order of service, which functioned much like our current weekly email newsletter, was called The Weekly and provided updates on church life, activities, and events.
Activities Announced in The Weekly
The vibrancy of UU Lansing in 2001 is evident in the wide array of gatherings that week, including:
Lamplighters enjoying Chinese cuisine at Gourmet Village in Hannah Plaza (with plans for Harry Pruitt to host and prepare lamb in May).
Earth-Centered Traditions celebrating spring and Mother Earth with a potluck on April 23.
A New Member Potluck scheduled for April 29 after the service.
A Call for Musicians for the upcoming Music Sunday on June 3.
Congregational Connections, a new initiative replacing the Congregational Care Council, designed to foster care and communication within the church.
The Women’s Fellowship Spring Salad Luncheon in May, featuring guest speaker Sen. Dianne Byrum.
Religious Education Highlights
On that Sunday, RE classes were bustling, with eight different sessions ranging from toddlers to high schoolers. Highlights included:
5th-6th graders exploring the uniqueness and interconnection of each individual.
7th-8th graders sharing breakfast with their adult mentors, discussing values and religious beliefs.
Church Life Throughout the Week
Beyond Sunday, UU Lansing’s schedule was packed with gatherings such as:
Earth-Centered Traditions
Yoga
Wholly Wednesday Potluck
Lamplighters
Various Committee Meetings
Reflections on the 2001 Unimass
Church member Karl Paananen shared a vivid memory of the 2001 Unimass service. It was modeled on the structure of a Roman Catholic Mass, with each traditional section replaced by a poem or passage from e. e. cummings, creating a powerful blend of reverence and creativity.
“The Unimass was put together from poems and other writings from Unitarian poet e. e. cummings. It was structured as a Roman Catholic Mass, with something from cummings substituting in each section that is found in a Roman Catholic mass. The actual communion consisted of scraps of paper, each with a line from a cummings poem, being distributed to the congregation. The missal (script for the mass) was created in some other UU church.”
Karl also recalled that one of the poems was read in a way that mimicked cummings’ unique page layout—capturing not just the text but the visual rhythm of his work.
Unimass: A Celebration of Love and Art
The Unimass service, formally titled un(mass)itArian Missal, was an artistic and spiritual experience, centered around the themes of love and creativity. The program explained:
"The cryptogram of the mass which appears on the front cover is in the form of a 'Z'; which, with the capitalization of the central 'A,' reveals the central mystery of this celebration: LOVE, the beginning and the end. The capital 'A' also serves to arrange the three center letters into 'Art,' which 'means to be i(ntensely) (al)i(ve).' The cryptogram serves further to emphasize the unmassness of it."
Program cover, April 22, 2001. The full program begins on page of this pdf.
Kathy Lovell produced the service under the direction of Rachel Alexander. Celebrants included:
Brad Rutledge, Lori Kunze, Karl Paananen, Debra Bennett, Jane Alexander, Lynn Fendler, Mark McWilliams, and Ralph Putnam.
Musicians featured:
Stuart Foster (piano)
Gene Mellen (recorder)
Keper Amun (trumpet)
Dan Dettweiler (trumpet)
Nathan Schleicher (French horn)
Stuart Pankratz (trombone)
Percussionists: Adam Putnam, Maeve Murphy, Kathy Lovell, and Stuart Foster
Visual art was provided by Regina Fry, and the service featured a mix of music, poetry, and readings.
e. e. cummings and Unitarianism
The choice to center a service around e. e. cummings reflects his deep connection to Unitarian principles. Raised in a Unitarian household, cummings embraced individual expression, nonconformity, and the sacredness of everyday life. His poetry challenged rigid structures—both linguistic and ideological—aligning with the UU commitment to free thought, creativity, and questioning dogma. His works celebrate the inherent worth and dignity of every person, encouraging readers to approach life with curiosity, joy, and wonder.
Other e. e. cummings Services
In addition to the 2001 service, I found references to e. e. cummings services held on November 15, 2009, and April 8, 2012. Were there others?
Do You Remember These Events?
Were you at UU Lansing in 2001, 2009, or 2012? If you recall these services, how did the Un(mass) service feel compared to a traditional UU service? How have creative expressions like this shaped your spiritual experience at UU Lansing? Please share your reflections at uucgl.archives@gmail.com. Do you have memories, photographs, or artifacts from these services? We’d love to add them to the church archives!
Do you have a question about the church's history? Let me know and I’ll look it up in the archives!
[ChatGPT provided edit suggestions for this blog.]
Sources
Order of Service, April 22, 2001.
Un(mass)itarian program, April 22, 2001.
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About the Author
Hi, I’m Ed Busch, the writer behind these blog posts exploring the history of UU Lansing. After retiring in 2023 from a 15-year career as an Electronic Records Archivist at Michigan State University’s Archives & Historical Collections, I’m thrilled to dedicate my time to sharing our church’s rich history.
I hold a Master’s in Library and Information Science, specializing in archival administration, and my academic background also includes a degree in Fisheries and coursework in Computer Science. Before shifting to a career in archives, I worked across diverse fields, including fisheries, aerospace, and IT.
My wife, Leigh White, and I have been part of the UU Lansing community since the early 2000s and became members in 2006. I’ve been actively involved with the church archives since 2007, and both of our daughters enjoyed growing up in UU Lansing’s Religious Education (RE) program.
I look forward to connecting with you through these blog posts as we delve into the stories that have shaped UU Lansing over the years.