Looking Back: A Snapshot of UU Lansing in July 1986
by Ed Busch, UU Lansing Archivist
One of my favorite things about exploring our archives is discovering how much of our congregation's history is preserved in something as ordinary as a church newsletter.
After my last blog post about a 2006 Liberal Express, Bob Lovell shared an interesting observation. He noted that the train on the newsletter's old masthead was probably the Pioneer Zephyr, the famous streamlined passenger train that operated on the Burlington Route from 1934 until 1960 and is now preserved at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. Years of photocopying had gradually obscured the image, but once you know what you're looking at, you can still recognize it.
This month, I decided to travel even farther back—to the July 14, 1986 issue of the Liberal Express.
July 1986: The World Beyond Grove Street
The summer of 1986 was an eventful one.
The United States was marking its 210th birthday during the Reagan administration, having just celebrated the Statue of Liberty's Centennial with “Liberty Weekend” earlier that month. Just a few months earlier, the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster had shocked the nation. In Michigan, people were enjoying another beautiful summer while following Tigers baseball and looking ahead to football season.
Meanwhile, here at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing, life continued with Sunday services, committee meetings, softball games, weddings, memorials, and preparations for another pledge drive.
Leadership Changes
The front page carried major news.
A clip from the July 14, 1986 Liberal Express, Page 1.
Rev. Robert S. Lehman had been selected as our next interim minister, while Rev. Maryell Cleary, who had served as interim minister, had accepted a new interim ministry in Toronto beginning that September. Church president Henry Dykema announced the transition, calling Rev. Lehman “a widely respected, vastly experienced minister.”
Rev. Robert Lehman is at right, against the wall in this 1986 photograph. (2008.0561)
The newsletter also reminds us who was helping lead the congregation at the time. Henry Dykema served as president, Margo Smith was serving as Interim Religious Education Director (a role she'd hold only through that August, before Susan Hollon took over), and Kathy Albaugh managed the church office.
A Busy Congregation
Even during the summer, the church calendar was full.
Members gathered for a rescheduled Fourth of July picnic, Women's Bookreading Group meetings, board meetings, bazaar planning, worship services featuring music and drama, and preparations for upcoming Sunday services on Woody Guthrie and other topics. The Sunday Morning Forum schedule for the coming fall was already nearly complete, with presentations ranging from Irish folk tales to genealogy and financial aid for students.
Preparing for the Annual Pledge Drive
One article encouraged members to volunteer as canvassers for the upcoming 1987 pledge drive. The committee hoped to recruit about sixty volunteers, and Canvass Director Dotty Hagens made the case for pitching in: it's “a great way to get better acquainted with other UUs and contribute a valuable service to your Church.”
That timing feels especially appropriate today. Our current Stewardship Team is beginning to organize this year's pledge campaign and will soon be looking for volunteers. If you'd like to help continue this long tradition of member stewardship, watch for opportunities to participate or contact Margo Smith (Pledge Drive coordinator).
Remembering John Hazzard Wright
Not every story in the newsletter was joyful.
A memorial service had recently been held for John Hazzard Wright, who died in an automobile accident at only eighteen years old. He was the son of Edith Hazzard Wright and Paul Wright.
Edith Hazzard Wright holds a special place in our congregation's history—she was the artist behind the Flaming Chalice sculpture affectionately known to many longtime members as “the Egg,” which I've written about in two earlier Archives posts: The Egg and The Egg & Edith Wright. Knowing this connection gives additional meaning to the memorial notice and reminds us how closely intertwined the lives of our members have always been.
Caring for the Church
The newsletter also records countless acts of volunteer service.
Building and Grounds volunteers had completed remodeling work in the caretaker's kitchen and bath area. Other announcements sought donations for the rummage sale, volunteers to serve as Board Secretary, and reminded members to keep their pledges current during the summer months.
Celebrations and Community
The final pages captured life's happy milestones.
Members welcomed the birth of Isadora Margaret Scott, daughter of Lynn and Randy Scott. The newsletter also celebrated the marriage of Beth Bogue and C. B. Smith, whose wedding took place in the Memorial Garden gazebo with Rev. Maryell Cleary officiating.
Beth Bogue and C.B. Smith wedding officiated by Rev. Cleary, 1986 (2008.0251)
There was even a tongue-in-cheek update on the church softball team, which admitted they hadn't won a game yet—but assured readers everyone was having fun and improving. Some things never change!
Looking Back
Reading this newsletter nearly forty years later, I'm reminded that archives aren't just about preserving big events.
They're about preserving everyday congregational life: committee meetings, volunteer projects, births, weddings, memorials, stewardship campaigns, and even softball standings.
Taken together, these ordinary moments tell the extraordinary story of a community that has gathered, cared for one another, and worked together across generations.
The July 1986 Liberal Express offers one more snapshot of that continuing story—and we're fortunate that these newsletters have survived so future generations can see what life at UU Lansing was like one summer nearly four decades ago.
Seeking Your Input
If you were part of the congregation during this period, your memories matter to this project. What do you remember about church life in 1986? What made it special? Written recollections are welcome, as are photos, newsletters, bulletins, letters, or other mementos you may have held onto. Even small details or fragments help enrich our understanding of the congregation's history.
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 the author's 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, July 14, 1986.