Guest Speaker:

Deacon Steve Przedpelski

Worship Leader: Eileen Gleeson

Drawing on decades of ministry alongside individuals facing poverty, exploitation, and homelessness, Deacon Steve Przedpelski reflects on discovering grace and human connection in unexpected places. His message explores how compassionate presence and humble outreach can reveal profound love amidst life’s hardest realities.

Uplifting music will be provided by Julie and Keith Fraleigh along with member Maria O’Connor.

Children and youth are invited to go directly to the lower level for our Summer “Hands on Nature” program. The Nursery will open at 9:45 am.

Kelly Bognar Announces

Her Retirement

After nearly 21 years of service as UUCW’s Communications and Marketing Specialist, Kelly Bognar has announced her retirement. Please join us in thanking Kelly for her many contributions over the last two decades.

We invite members and friends to celebrate her with cake in the Community Room following the service on Sunday, September 13th. 

Finding Community

Beyond Our Bubble

A reflection from Shawn Kalloway,

Board of Trustees Secretary

Shawn shares how summer worship and a surprising trip to her hometown reminds her that our values extend far beyond our church walls.

When the news feels overwhelming, connecting with the wider community offers a powerful antidote to isolation.

The Board of Trustees Meeting

Thursday, August 27th at 6:30 pm

Room UL4 or on Zoom

https://zoom.us/j/97338727438

Office Hours: Now thru Labor Day

Wednesdays, 9 am – 2 pm

Contact Vicki Banville, for needs outside these hours.

Staff Time Away

Rev. Jill is away on vacation or study leave on the following dates: August 27-28, and September 4.

Support Franciscan Peacemakers

We have a special opportunity to support Franciscan Peacemakers after the August 30th service. Stop by the Community Room to purchase their handcrafted products, including soaps, lotions, candles, bath bombs, and salt scrubs. Made with all-natural ingredients, these beautifully packaged items are created by women working toward healing, stability, and renewed purpose.

Every purchase supports their social enterprise and outreach ministries.

Maintenance Specialist

UUCW is seeking a motivated, reliable person to perform maintenance duties at our building and grounds. The schedule is flexible and includes approx. 10 hours/month. Questions? Contact Vicki Banville.

Please share this posting: https://www.indeed.com/job/maintenance-specialist-4b84737b63d964cd

Nursery Positions

UUCW is looking for paid childcare providers for Sunday mornings and special adult church events.

• Nursery Coordinator – Adult position
• Nursery/RE Assistant – Youth position (ages 14 and up)

Contact Dave Cicero, DLRE, for job descriptions or to apply.

Join us for the next set

of UUCW Orientation Sessions.

Newcomers and long-time visitors are invited to join Rev. Jill Braithwaite, Dave Cicero, and Membership Team members for a —

Two-part UU Orientation Class

Saturday mornings, 9:30 – 11:30 am, October 10 and 17, 2026

For more information,

contact Larry Hawley

Start your unique UU journey!

Joys and Concerns

If you or someone you know needs Pastoral Care, contact the

Lay Pastoral Care Team

Enter your Joy or Concern using the link below and choose whether you'd like them shared in the e-news or shared privately with Rev. Jill Braithwaite.

Join the Welcome Team!

Bring joy to folks just by making and serving coffee! COFFEE SIGN-UP

You can help make our church a welcoming place. GREETER SIGN-UP

Ushers are a core element of our in-person worship. USHER SIGN-UP

Greet and answer questions for our visitors. NEWCOMER TABLE SIGN-UP

Office Volunteer

Help prepare for Sunday service with Friday afternoon office tasks. OFFICE SIGN-UP

The UUCW Auction is Coming!

"Don't Stop 'Til You Bid Enough!"

Put Saturday, November 14th on your calendar! This year, we are throwing it back with a groovy Disco Theme, so get ready for a fantastic night of fun, music, and bidding on wonderful items.

.

Donate an Item or Service

To make the night a success, we need things to auction off. Our best items come directly from the UUCW community!

Auction Helpers Needed! Whether you want to help shape the event over the coming months or simply lend a hand for a couple of hours on Auction Night, we have a spot for you. If you have any questions, contact the Core Auction Team: Jeannie Baker, Sarah Frey, Kelly Bognar, or Vicki Banville. Thank you for your time, support, and generosity!

Lost and Found Clean-Out

Did you know that UUCW has a lost and found area? It is located in the main level coat rack and is cleaned out periodically.

On September 11th, any unclaimed items will be donated to a local charity. Please take a look to see if any of these items belong to you.

Contact Vicki Banville if you have any questions.

Graphic Apparel & Fall Decor Donation Rotation

Sunday, September 20 at 11:30 am

Start the new church year by clearing space and finding new treasures! Give a new home or grab printed apparel to repurpose into quilts and crafts. Pass along seasonal cheer and help neighbors deck their halls for the upcoming autumn months.

Before the service, bring your items to the Community Room. After service, browse and find treasures. Everything is free. You don’t need to bring an item to take one.

Question:

If a group of sheep is a flock,

a group of fish is a school

and a group of cows is a herd,

what do you call

31 Unitarian Universalists,

5 ministers

and their friends?

Join SJ-ACT and ARTC for a watch party featuring the League of Women Voters webinar, "What You Need to Know: Damaging Consequences of the Anti-Equity Constitutional Amendment."

Tuesday, September 8 | 6:30 PM – 8:00 Community Room at UUCW

Learn about the proposed constitutional amendment appearing on Wisconsin’s November 3, 2026 ballot. While the language focuses on discrimination and preferential treatment, the amendment could severely limit equity-focused policies, impacting public education, employment, contracting, and state programs.

Before you vote, learn how this amendment could affect communities across Wisconsin.

For resources, visit the LWV Wisconsin Constitutional Corner. For questions please contact Karen Zimmerman.

Environment and Spirituality Summit Watch Party

and Potluck

Let’s gather in the UUCW Community Room to watch the keynote address by world-renowned environmentalist and author Bill McKibben for the Annual Environment and Spirituality Summit.

Come connect, share a meal, and dive into an inspiring evening of reflection and action for our planet.

Tuesday, September 29th:

5:00 pm - Community Potluck

6:00 - 7:30 pm - Bill McKibben Keynote

Don’t forget to bring a friend!

Two Braver Angels Workshops at UUCW

Depolarizing Ourselves

Saturday, Oct. 3, 10:00–11:30 am

Learn to recognize internal biases and tame your "inner polarizer." This workshop focuses on reframing how we view political opponents to replace harmful generalizations with mutual respect, distinguishing healthy ideological debate from viewing others as enemies.

Family & Politics

Saturday, Nov. 7, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Discover practical strategies to preserve family bonds without sacrificing your values. Explore why political friction with loved ones is challenging, identify common family roles, and gain skills to navigate differences with a bit of humor.

Standing Up for Our Values: Covenant for our Future

Thank you to everyone who signed our Covenant for our Future commitment! Partnering with other faith communities allows us to raise a collective voice for Wisconsin families and the environment.

As part of the National Week of Action, we're asking members to contact our federal legislators and urge them to repeal H.R. 1.

We make it easy to make your calls today!

DUUversity Theater Returns:

Trayf at Next Act

Mark your calendar for DUUversity’s first event of the season! Enjoy Next Act Theatre's production of Trayf (running Sept 18–Oct 4), exploring faith, culture, and friendship.

Buy tickets for any showtime on your own, then gather with UUCW friends for group dinner and conversation at Saz’s State House on Sunday, Oct 4 at 4 pm. Carpooling and childcare options are available.

The National Weekend

to End Homelessness is October 10-11, 2026.

If you would like to support efforts at UUCW for activities that weekend, please let SJ-Act know. Contact us at justice@uucw.org

Immigration in Wisconsin:

Standing Up for Due Process

Members of MICAH congregations and the broader community are invited to an educational presentation featuring Grant Soveren, immigration attorney and Director of the Community Immigration Law Center (CILC). Hosted by the Church & Society Committee, this free event focuses on current immigration issues and advocacy.

Thursday, October 15 at 6:30 pm

Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church, 1600 Underwood Ave.

Free and open to all.

Refreshments will be served.

RSVP to sherryraesteward@gmail.com, or text 920-723-0436.

Dinners in the Home Returns!

UUCW’s Dinners in the Home is a wonderful way to connect with fellow members outside of church. We extend our warmest thanks to Rita and Scott Piper for stepping up as our new program coordinators!

This year’s Saturday dinner dates: October 17, November 21, January 23 and March 6.

Participants host one dinner and attend three as guests. A substitute list is also available for those unable to host.

Visit Rita and Scott in the Community Room on September 20 to ask questions or sign up below! Sign up deadline is September 24!

In Memory

Don Newbauer

May 11, 1942 – July 17, 2026

Longtime member Don Newbauer passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 17, 2026, at the age of 84. Don and his late wife, Ellen (who passed away in June 2025), had been active members of UUCW since 2005.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at St. John's United Church of Christ (N104 W14181 Donges Bay Rd, Germantown, WI 53022). Visitation will start at 1:00 pm, followed by the service at 3:00 pm.

American Mahjongg - New Schedule

Join us for open Mahjongg! Due to the Labor Day holiday, we have added bonus sessions at the usual time to our regular calendar.

• Monday, August 31
• Monday, September 14
• Monday, September 21

Starting in October, we return to our regular schedule on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month (2:15–4:15 pm).

Open to all skill levels—friends are welcome. Please bring your 2026 NMJL card and a set if you have one.

Questions welcome, Joyce Cable

Wednesday Night Book Group Discussion

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

September 9 at 7:00 pm

The Wednesday Night Book Group will discuss The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. Inspired by the diary of midwife Martha Ballard, this historical novel follows her investigation of a murder while seeking justice after a rape that unsettles her community. The award-winning book explores power, gender, secrets, and perseverance.

All are welcome to join the discussion, even if you have not finished the book. Contact Patti Ulwelling for the Zoom link.

RE Registration for 2026-27

… is open! UUCW is still committed to its mission of creating a joyful “community of communities” for meaningful connection and spiritual growth. When you register a child/youth for Religious Education programming in 2026-27, you’ll find regular Nursery, RE, and Youth Group options for all ages.



Doing so now will provide direction and can help finalize details that will work for your family. You will also then be on the contact lists used to communicate relevant news & updates.

Members of UUCW, Lake Country UU, and United UU filled the sanctuary for our final summer destination service, "On Transformation and Letting Go."

Beyond UU Church West

Click below for community events and resources from outside our church that align with our UU values and may be of interest to members and friends.

Worship Leader: Deb Stevens

From first paychecks to formative careers, our work shapes who we become. Six UUCW members share stories from their earliest or most memorable jobs, offering a personal look at the accomplishments, struggles, and life lessons learned along the way.

Our member speakers include: Jennifer Luken, Rob Zimmerman, Mary Binkelman, Beth Zaretzke, Steven White, and Julie Brown.

Guest musician Julie Fraleigh will provide uplifting music.

Have you missed a past e-news and need to get caught up on UUCW announcements? Visit the UUCW website and click on the "news" tab for past news and featured stories.

E-news submission deadline is the end of day on Tuesday before publication.

Questions or comments about our e-news? Contact Communications and Marketing Specialist Kelly Bognar