by Ed Busch, UU Lansing Church Archivist

Before diving into this week’s archival gem, I want to begin some corrections from last week’s post about the Grove Street front-lawn sign and the Evelyn Osborn mosaics. I had written that I wasn’t sure what became of the sign after its 2010 refurbishment. Many thanks to Bob Lovell for providing the real story on the sign:

From Bob Lovell:
“Al Christian and I brought the front-lawn sign to South Penn on our last day of ownership on Grove Street. Kathy McWilliams (church administrator) wanted a sign for the office entrance, so I made one using the stained glass from the front-lawn sign. This year a vandal threw a rock through it. I believe the glass shards were saved for possible repair. I think the text from the front-lawn sign became the sign at the north entrance to S. Penn (the church parking lot).”

Regarding the Evelyn Osborn mosaics, there is actually one hanging in the break area outside the administrative offices. I’m still not sure what became of the others.

Thanksgiving at UU Lansing, November 1976

This week we travel back to Thanksgiving 1976.
Our congregation was worshiping at 855 Grove Street in East Lansing, with:

Rev. Denise Tracy, Minister
Ralph Walton, Board President
Alice Erickson, Director of Religious Education

Rev. Tracy had just been installed the week before, on November 14, 1976—a festive celebration remembered warmly in the archives.

Installation Reception: Rev. Denise Tracy, Aaron Galonsky (in back), Marion Vaughn. (2008.0545)

Installation Reception: Rev. Denise Tracy, Peg Perry, Elayne Schneider. (2008.0546)

National, State, and Local Headlines – Thanksgiving Week 1976

To place our congregation’s life in context:

The nation was transitioning from the Ford administration to the incoming President-elect Jimmy Carter.
Michigan politics were shifting as well: Governor William Milliken was preparing for a new legislative session amid concerns about unemployment and inflation.
In Lansing, the State Journal was filled with coverage of the MSU Spartans’ football season, debates over downtown redevelopment, and early holiday shopping ads.

Against this backdrop of transition and uncertainty, UU Lansing gathered for warmth, ritual, and community—much as we still do today.

“Blessings and Promises – 5 Kernels of Corn”

Sunday, November 21, 1976 – 10:30 AM

Rev. Tracy’s Thanksgiving service centered on gratitude, ethical reflection, and world hunger. In her letter to the congregation, she wrote:

“I would make a request that people fast for one meal… to experience hunger as so much of our world does with great frequency.”

And regarding the service:

“We will explore the blessings and promises most of us experience at Thanksgiving time in comparison to the first colonists who had 5 kernels of corn to share at a community meal. We will explore hunger as a world issue.”

Historical Note on the Five Kernels Story

Although often retold as a Pilgrim-era event, there is no evidence in the 1600s records (including Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation) that colonists were ever issued five kernels of corn for a communal meal. The story emerged decades after the American Revolution, gaining popularity in the mid-1800s as Thanksgiving became more widely observed. Ministers and educators used the symbolic “five kernels” to highlight themes of perseverance, gratitude, and moral reflection—values that have carried forward into modern UU practice.

This makes it especially interesting that Rev. Tracy used the story in 1976—right at the height of renewed interest in social justice–focused Thanksgiving observances.

Lively Congregational Life, Late 1976

The Lansing Uni-Universe newsletter for the week of November 17, 1976 is filled with activity—much like our modern calendars.

Some programs listed:

Men’s Consciousness Raising, Wednesdays at 7:30 PM
Women’s Bag Lunch, hosted that week by Marion Vaughn:
“You bring your own sandwich. Coffee, tea, and dessert are provided.”
Lamplighters Progressive Dinner, complete with multiple stops
Creative Movement, Movielovers, Circle Dinners, and preparations for the All Church Caroling Party
December Literature Study Group reading Lillian Hellman’s An Unfinished Woman

1976 Thanksgiving Dinner

After the Thanksgiving service, the congregation enjoyed a nontraditional Thanksgiving meal in the Social Hall:

Roast beef provided by the church
Members contributed salads, vegetables, or desserts serving 10–12 people
Cost: $1.25 for adults, 50¢ for children
And a decidedly 1970s detail: everyone brought their own table service.

Religious Education Notes

Children were again invited to support holiday giving:

“We would like each child to bring 2 cans of food to church… They will be collected during the service and distributed in Lansing.”

The newsletter also thanked the children for helping bake bread for Rev. Tracy’s installation—a very hands-on RE moment.

Board Notes

At the November 11 meeting, the Board:

Approved roof repairs (Sounds very familiar to us at our So. Penn. building.)
Organized a meeting with Kehillat Israel on shared-use scheduling
Reorganized the church office with new furniture and shelving
Created a Committee on Memorials
Thanked the many volunteers who made the installation service possible

Reading these 1976 Board Notes feels surprisingly familiar. Nearly fifty years later, our current board is still navigating many of the same practical needs — from roof and electrical repairs noted in September’s financial update, to furnishing workshop and archives spaces highlighted in this week’s newsletter. It’s a quiet reminder that stewardship stretches across generations, linking us with the people who once sat in those same meetings at 855 Grove Street.

Looking Ahead – November 28, 1976

The upcoming service was titled “UU Patchword Quilt: A Montage of Talent,” inviting members to share crafts, artwork, skills, and travel stories. The Program Committee wrote:

“If you have patchword quilts that can be used in the service, call Helen.”

Maxine Herbert pictured with quilt made by UUWF, 1976. (2007.0176)

I’d Love to Hear From You

If you have memories, corrections, or stories connected to this week’s post—or if you simply enjoyed reading it—please feel free to email me. I’m always grateful for additions that help us preserve a fuller picture of UU Lansing’s history.

Email: uucgl.archives@gmail.com

Your comments truly help shape future posts.

About Me

I’m a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing and serve as the volunteer blog archivist for our congregational history series. I’m retired from Michigan State University, where I worked in digital preservation and archives. I enjoy uncovering stories from church newsletters, board records, and local history sources to help connect our past with the present. I also serve on the UU Lansing Stewardship Team and help with Building and Grounds.

This piece was developed with research assistance and editorial support from ChatGPT.