June 1986: A Snapshot of Life at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Greater Lansing
by Ed Busch, UU Lansing church archivist
What was happening at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Greater Lansing forty years ago?
The June 9, 1986 issue of The Liberal Express offers a fascinating glimpse into a congregation that was simultaneously saying goodbye, preparing for change, and looking forward to summer. Rev. Maryell Cleary was concluding her service as Interim Minister, while Rev. Robert Lehman was expected to arrive later that summer. Church leadership included Board President Henry Dykema and Religious Education Director Margo Smith, helping provide continuity during this period of transition.
The June 9, 1986 issue was mailed from the congregation's home at 855 Grove Street in East Lansing. (Note: The masthead carries a date of June 9, 1987, which appears to be a typographical error in the original; the mailing panel reads "Mailed June 9, 1986," consistent with the newsletter's contents.) While many of the names in its pages now belong to our history, several remain familiar to current members. Margo Smith, listed as Religious Education Director in 1986, continues to serve UU Lansing today through the Membership Team, Memorial Garden, Pledge Team, and numerous other volunteer efforts over the years. Bob Lovell, one of two Vice Presidents listed in the same issue, has also remained active in the congregation across the decades — he went on to serve as Board President from 1999 to 2001. And a photograph of the 1986–1987 Ministerial Search Committee, also included with this post, shows four more members still active today: Jim Smith, Alice Hill, Alice Erickson, and Lynn Scott. Their continuing involvement provides a living connection between the congregation of 1986 and the congregation of today.
The newsletter reveals a church that was anything but quiet.
The congregation was preparing for its annual church picnic at Patriarche Park following the June 15 service. There would be softball, volleyball, tennis, playground activities, and a shared meal. The same Sunday would feature a special "Wheel of Life" service led by Rev. Cleary, celebrating important changes and milestones in members' lives during the previous year. It would also be her final regular service with the congregation.
A heartfelt farewell message from Rev. Cleary appears inside the newsletter. She wrote that the flowers, gifts, and notes so many members had sent made her feel "both humble and so glad to have been your interim minister," and she expressed deep gratitude for the warmth, caring, and generosity shown by the congregation. A surprise envelope from the entire congregation, with a check enclosed, moved her especially. Although her interim ministry was ending, her connection to the church did not. Rev. Cleary remained in the Lansing area and continued participating in congregational life for many years afterward.
Rev. Maryell Cleary and Elizabeth Winder, 1985. Elizabeth Winder is believed to be one of the congregation's oldest living members.(2008.0557)
Religious Education was thriving under Margo Smith's leadership. Several children and youth had just participated in the Magic Bike Ride on June 7th, raising money to help prevent child abuse. Their accomplishments spoke for themselves. Julie Swanson rode 25 miles and raised $101. Brandon Lyon also rode 25 miles — his first time ever doing so. Aaron Lyon covered 3 miles in a half hour, and Chris Wyatt helped at a rest stop. "We are proud of our children!!" the newsletter declared. An end-of-year celebration with games and refreshments was planned for the following Sunday, providing a joyful conclusion to another church year.
Women's groups remained active as summer approached. The Women's Bookreading Group was scheduled to meet on June 11, while the final Women's Bag Lunch of the season would take place on June 12. That gathering would serve as an opportunity for members to say goodbye to Maryell and thank her for her service.
One of the more historically interesting announcements concerned Anita Wolfe. A July 2 potluck was being organized in her honor. The newsletter notes that Anita had twice served as interim coordinator during previous ministerial searches, first from 1969 to 1971 and again from 1974 to 1976. Her behind-the-scenes leadership helped guide the congregation through important periods of transition. Although she was leaving her current role, she would remain in the Lansing area, and the potluck was intended to allow friends and members to visit with her and express their appreciation.
The newsletter also demonstrates how much congregational life depended on volunteers. Members were invited to help assemble cabinets for the caretaker's apartment, contribute items for the rummage sale, attend budget planning meetings, and participate in the annual canvass. The Bazaar Committee was busy making cedar sachets for future fundraising efforts, while church leaders were already beginning discussions about the 1987 budget.
Our 1986-1987 Ministerial Search Committee- BR: Jim Smith, Marianne Davis, Frank Pinner. FR: Bill Bennalack, Alice Hill, Alice Erickson, Lynn Scott. (2008.0129)
The congregation's concern for the wider community is also evident. Members were informed about HARBOR, Michigan's statewide domestic violence crisis and information service, and about the Samaritan Counseling Center's pastoral counseling and psychotherapy services. These announcements reflected values that continue to be important to UU Lansing today: compassion, community support, and concern for those in need.
Not every challenge involved programs or planning. The newsletter also reports that the congregation was in need of a new Social Hall carpet — the existing one had worn spots, and a recent heavy rainstorm had caused the storm sewer to back up and left it wet. Some aspects of church life, it seems, remain remarkably familiar across the decades.
Beyond the walls of the Grove Street church, June 1986 was an eventful time. Americans were still mourning the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger crew earlier that year. The nation was also following news of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which had occurred only weeks before. Concerns about homelessness, domestic violence, nuclear safety, and international tensions frequently filled newspaper headlines. For a congregation whose values had long included care for the world beyond its walls, these were not distant abstractions.
Church service circa 1986 at our Grove St. church building. (2009.0127)
Yet amid those world events, members of the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Greater Lansing were doing what congregations have always done: gathering for worship, educating children, planning picnics, supporting one another through life's changes, maintaining their building, and preparing for the future.
Looking back, the June 9, 1986 issue of The Liberal Express reminds us that church history is often found not in dramatic events but in the everyday life of a congregation. It lives in bike rides and bag lunches, committee meetings and potlucks, farewell celebrations and summer picnics. Together, these ordinary moments tell the story of a vibrant religious community and the people who sustained it.
Seeking Your Input
If you were part of the congregation during this period, your memories matter to this project. What do you remember about 1980s church life? What made it special? Written recollections are welcome, as are photos, bulletins, letters, or other mementos you may have held onto. Even fragments help. If you have something to share, or simply a story you've never written down, please reach out at uucgl.archives@gmail.com.
Acknowledgment
This post was researched and written by Ed Busch. AI writing assistants — Claude and ChatGPT — were used to help organize and refine the presentation of archival content. The research, archival work, and interpretive judgments are his own.
About the Author
Ed Busch is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing and serves as the volunteer archivist for the congregation. He is retired from Michigan State University, where he worked in digital preservation and archives.
Through the UU Lansing Archives project, he enjoys uncovering stories from church newsletters, board records, photographs, and local history sources to help connect the congregation's past with its present.
Ed also serves on the UU Lansing Stewardship Team and helps with Building and Grounds projects.
Sources
Liberal Express, June 9, 1986 issue.