From Halloween Fun to Healing Reflections: October 2006
by Ed Busch, UU Lansing Archivist
2006 was a year of change and headlines. Facebook opened to the public, Google bought YouTube, and Pluto was demoted from planet status. Here in Michigan, Jennifer Granholm was re-elected governor.
At UU Lansing, the fall season brought both reflection and community spirit.
A Season of Change
In October 2006, Rev. Kathryn Bert wrote in the church newsletter about tending to her own health and caring for her husband after surgery, while also holding space for the congregation’s grief. Several beloved members had passed away that summer and fall, including Ann Williams, Pat Zipper, and Stan Hartman, along with several family members and loved ones of church members.
She found comfort in autumn’s beauty and reminded the church:
“There’s life, too, that remains in this congregation, despite our losses.”
At the same time, the annual pledge drive began, with a goal of $340,000. Its theme, Sharing Our Gifts, invited members to celebrate community even in a season of diminished energy. The Board also launched a new meeting format and began work on a revised governance structure.
Frightfully Fun: The Halloween Party
In the midst of all this, there was still plenty of room for joy. On Saturday, October 28, UU Lansing hosted its annual Halloween Party.
The evening, organized by Religious Education Director Teresa Putnam, Corie Jason, David Hill, and a team of dedicated parents, ran from 6:30–8:30 p.m. The invitation promised “a frightfully fun evening” from 6:30–8:30 p.m., with costumes, games, prizes, and snacks to share.
The Religious Education Committee also put out a special request: pumpkins! Donated pumpkins would be decorated by youth and sold to benefit UNICEF. It was a night of costumes, laughter, and community spirit—just the kind of gathering that balanced the weight of the season with lighthearted connection.
R.E. Halloween Party 2006- Katie Lemmer (witch) and Emma Busch (pug costume). (IMG_5520)
R.E. Halloween Party 2006- Two boys unidentified as is the mummy in the making. David Hill in the background. (IMG_5525)
R.E. Halloween Party 2006- Corie Jason in the costume parade with son Henry Jason followed by Sophie Busch. (IMG_5540)
R.E. Halloween Party 2006- Bobbing for apples, Kristin Riley with the apple, others not identified. (2024.0214)
R.E. Halloween Party 2006- Yoda (unknown), Kristin Riley, ? (2024.0216)
R.E. Halloween Party 2006- Kristin Riley behind mummy, the remainder unidentified. (2024.0218)
Sharing Our Gifts — The Pledge Show
As part of the 2006 pledge drive, the church hosted a special program called Sharing Our Gifts on October 21. Emceed by Mark McWilliams, the evening showcased the wide-ranging talents of UU Lansing members of all ages.
Highlights included:
The Youth Choir, directed by Marcy Christoff, singing the South African freedom song Siyahamba
Music by Lillie Wilson-Daeschlein, Cindy Lehmkuhle, and Theo Cambert & Stuart Campbell (with a Green Day classic!)
Dramatic and comic readings by Kit Breedlove and Tessa Breedlove
A fiddle medley by Aaron Riley, diabolo tricks by Evan Hertafeld, and contortionist feats by Sydney Hertafeld
Ensemble music from Mary Turner, Barb Wilber, Rachel Alexander, and many others
The evening was a true celebration of the theme Sharing Our Gifts—reminding the congregation that generosity comes in many forms, not only in financial pledges but also in music, art, laughter, and community.
Remembering Together
Taken together, October 2006 was a vivid snapshot of UU Lansing life: a congregation that knew how to grieve together, how to celebrate together, and how to keep building toward the future.
Do you have memories of the 2006 Halloween Party? Do you remember your costume or the games? Or memories of that the pledge show, or other events from that year? We’d love to hear them! Please email your stories or photos to uucgl.archives@gmail.com so we can continue preserving and sharing our history together.
[This post was prepared with the assistance of ChatGPT as part of an ongoing effort to share UU Lansing history in fresh and engaging ways.]
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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 telecom. 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."