by Janet Adams, past Council Treasurer
Years ago, a friend asked me, “What makes your heart sing?” I was mystified. I had never thought to ask myself that before. It took me a long time—years, in fact—to realize the answer. What makes my heart sing is making music with others. So, when I get the opportunity to do just that, I am an eager participant.
Enter Dana Lusk, member of Unitarian Church North in Mequon, Wisconsin and current UU Women’s Connection Councilwoman. Dana asked members of the Council and other UUWC members if they would like to join her in doing an intergenerational service at her church. I asked Dana what prompted this idea. This is her reply:
I had heard wonderful stories of past years when UUWC used to go to churches to lead services in the Midwest district. Sounded amazing and I thought it would be great to 1) let women in the district know about us; 2) share experiences from our retreat to gather interest; and 3) to honor our ancestors in an interactive service. I also hoped it would revamp the practice of taking the “UUWC show” back on the road to visit other churches in the district.
So, on August 23 of 2026, one week after our summer retreat, eight current and former councilwomen* headed to Mequon, WI to make our hearts sing.
In Photo: Gretchen Ohmann, Council president; Diana DeWeese, secretary; Janet Adams, past treasurer; Karen Kortsch, member-at-large and past president; Pat Hyams, past secretary; Kathleen Miezio, past treasurer; Dana Lusk, member-at-large; Kathy Miller, treasurer.
“Honoring Our Grandmothers through Stories” was our theme. We sang and played some traditional UU hymns as well as offering more modern songs including “We All Have Songs,” by Julie Shannon Geller and “1000 Grandmothers,” by Holly Near, and rounding out the music with chanting and drumming. Readings included “Wisdom’s Daughters,” by Misty Sheehan, “Grandmothers Guided Meditation,” by Elly Wynia, “What is a Crone and When Does it Happen?” by Marj Stradley, and “The Crone,” by Z. Budapest.
For the sermon we asked the congregation, especially the children, to share stories about their grandmothers. So many wonderful stories.
After the service, we stayed for Coffee Hour, met many delightful folks, and made some connections. (Just so happens that their regular accompanist is from my home town.)
Since we made a weekend of it, shopping in nearby historic Cedarburg was involved, of course.
If you have an idea for a service and would like the UU Women’s Connection to present it or if you would like to participate in any future services, contact someone on the Council, because as Dana so aptly put it, “It was fun, and we should do it again!!” I couldn’t agree more.