2016: the Bicentennial Steering Committee

​Bicentennial Planning Team:

Co-Chairs: Bill Bechman & Chris Goodwin

Advisors: Eileen Macholl, Rev. Audette, Rev. Galen, Beth-Ellen Keyes

Board Liaison: Carol Kirkman

Communications: Rachel Rosenthal

Auction Catalogue: Chris Vesenka

Writers: Mary-Ella Holst, Laura Pedersen, Melinda Beck, Laurie Noble, Lois Coleman

​All Souls 200 Website: Lois Coleman

Archives Coordinator: Barbara Deakin

Editor: James Moskin

Historical Society: Christina Bellamy, Mary Dugan, James Moskin

Art Book Design: Carolyn Jackson, Carole Weiss, Susan Beekman

Book Artists: Pamela Healey, Barbara Hosein, Betsy Bradley

Archival Oral Histories: Jane Levenson

​Youth/Elders Interviews: Kate Phillips, Rev. Tracy Sprowls, Chris Vesenka

Showcase 3 Art Auction: Tom Creacy

Adult Ed: Rev. David Robb, Jane Furse-Friedman, Laurie Noble

Gala Planning, Nov 15, 2019: Heli Blum, Heart & Soul leaders, (list in formation)

Music: Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, Trent Johnson, Bryan McNamara,

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From the All Souls Historical Society Annual Report, 2018:

 

2018 was an exciting year as we helped our congregation prepare for the 200th Anniversary of our founding. Our Bicentennial tagline, “Honor the Past, Celebrate the Present and Shape the Future” inspired our activities.

 

Lois Coleman led a team to research and post fascinating aspects of our history. Melinda Beck created Bicentennial Minutes, snippets of our history, that appeared periodically in Sunday Orders of Service. We were delighted to engage Lese Dunton of Dunton Publishing, who used the latest technology to print-on-demand as we received orders to purchase our developing books. Three books were published:

• Mary-Ella Holst's The Senior Ministers of All Souls

• A reprint of Walter Kring's Safely Onward, and a

• Bicentennial Book, spotlighting the historic women and men in our congregation.

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Melinda Beck spearheaded art auctions which helped to finance our congregational celebrations. Several artists contributed artworks, while Mitchel Gray and Pamela Healey completed the second panel of their artwork 12 Ministers and 200 Years of History.

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Barbara Hosein created her art piece, Where the Stars Meet the Sea, representing the hundreds of 19th century members. Dr. Hosein also delivered a workshop at the UUA General Assembly in June, titled Planning for a Congregation’s Upcoming Major Anniversary that will highlight the efforts we’ve undertaken at All Souls.

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We sponsored two small fundraising events: Founding Ladies Tea, coordinated by Leesha Alemu, and a dinner/performance with the music of Johnny Mercer by Calvin Ramsey.

Showcase 3, our third annual intergenerational potluck supper, was held in November.  More than 200 people attended.  Highlights included Laura Pedersen delivering the annual Bellows Lecture, and her fascinating topic was Does God Have a Woman Problem?

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Marilynn Scott Murphy delivered a special tribute to Rev. Galen Guengerich honoring his 25th Anniversary and gave him a painting of the church by Enrico Miguel Thomas.

We restored the 1970s stained glass lightbox created by Rev. Kring and we made holiday ornaments and notecards as a limited run.

 

The Bicentennial Committee and The Historical Society happily merged efforts and enjoyed a holiday luncheon at the National Arts Club.

 

We were delighted to save the historic Channing Lectern that had been commissioned by the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield. It was presented to the congregation at the 200th Annual Meeting. This significant artifact is used on special occasions such as the Bellows Lecture.

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Barbara Deakin took on the important role of Archives Coordinator. James Moskin provided substantial research and design work.

November 15, 2019 was the actual date that marked 200 years. That evening began the Anniversary weekend, with a Gala gathering with dinners in private homes and culminating in Reidy Hall with dessert festivities. Saturday, November 16 was All Souls Family Day, and included the Bellows lecture, activities and presentations. Sunday worship included historic tributes.

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Everyone was welcomed and needed to help us envision and produce a fitting Bicentennial celebration.

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Bill Bechman and Chris Goodwin, Co-Chairs of the Bicentennial Committee

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