W & R Committee visits Stockton May 20, 2001
	Unitarian Universalist Church of Stockton, Illinois
	W&R Commitee members Carol, Gretchen, Misty and her goddess-daughter Robyn stayed overnight with the UUC minister, Rev. Peri Murdock, who made us feel welcome and comfortable in her home on the side of a hill just below the water tower in the small town of Stockton, in northwest Illinois ALMOST to Iowa! Carol drove the whole way, including the hour-long ten-mile traffic jam before we even left Chicago.
	Saturday night when we got to Peri's house, we pitched in to make Carol's "patented" tomato crust pizza and had a great time getting to know Peri. She has lots of tales of her travels and philosophy and a great sense of humor! We all spent some time going over our order of service and practicing the songs and readings before bed.
	Sunday we got to church early and did a runthrough to make sure all the pieces parts were in the right places. Accompanist Sally Fischer's wonderful piano playing included the prelude and opening and closing hymns.
	Just for fun, we all sang and played percussion instruments for the old Harry Belafonte tune, Turn the World Around. "We come from the mountain, living in the mountain, go back to the mountain, turn the world around!" We did some of our favorite readings, all centered around the theme of our grandmothers and mothers and the women who have guided and mentored us through our lives. Misty Sheehan led a guided meditation written by Elly Wynia that helped us remember our grandmothers. She invited us all to speak out something we remembered about a grandmother. Gretchen Ohmann read a tribute to Wise Women written by Sally Gonzalez. We sang Ancient Mother, with Carol playing recorder and Gretchen on guitar, in a modified version of the song in combination with the "Isis, Astarte" chant, as arranged by the Women's Drumming Circle of South Bend, Indiana. Misty read a poem called "The Crone," which was written by Jane Watkins for Sophia Magazine. With Carol leading us and playing autoharp, we sang, "We All Have Songs," a story/song written by Julie Shannon Geller. Carol Hosmer read "Memories in Lavender," about her grandmothers. We sang Sisters on a Journey with Carol leading us on autoharp. Misty read her poem, "Wisdom's Daughters," and Robyn Schmidt read two pieces she chose from a book Carol brought, to close our portion of the service.
	Peri led the rest of the service including chalice lighting, offering, announcements, and opening and closing words. At UUC Stockton, everyone holds hands in a circle to say the closing words together, in connection with one another.

CLICK ON a picture to see the larger version!	Robyn reading to the kids from a book written by children.	The book was "Grandmas and Grandpas - Those Lovable Old Things."	Misty leading the guided meditation.
	Carol reading "Memories in Lavender," a piece she wrote for Sophia Magazine.	Robyn chose two readings to close the service.	Some of the kids zooming through after the service.
	more of the inside of the bright and inviting UUC building.	I wish the detail of the stained glass windows had come out clearer.	We talked with some wonderful people during the coffee time! Who made that great cake?
	Robyn and Peri just outside Peri's home, as we were getting ready to leave.	Okay, ham it up time! Misty, Robyn, Peri and Carol.	SMILE again!
	One more time! I wanna make sure I take a good picture!	Gretchen, Misty, Peri and Carol.	Again some more from the Department of Redundancy Department.
photos by Peri, Robyn and Gretchen.	The traveling band.	Thank you, UUC Stockton!!