Annual Information Meeting Tomorrow! May 31, 2012 @ 7:00 pm

Voting Meeting: Sunday, June 3, 2012 @ 10:30 AM

Please note: Only active members who have signed the membership book, at least 4 weeks prior to the annual meeting are eligible to vote on June 3, 2012.

 

Sunday, June 3    Coming of Age Sunday

Led by Coming of Age Youth, their Facilitators and their Mentors.

Publicly presenting their Faith Statements is the culminating event of the Coming of Age program. The youth have been in discernment all year to determine what they believe and have created an inspiring worship service to present their faith statements. The facilitators and the mentors will share a glimpse into their experiences, as well. This momentous worship service is akin to a Jewish bar or bat Mitzah or a Christian confirmation. Each Coming of Age youth will sp

 

Special Schedule for Coming of Age Sunday

This Sunday is a bit unusual, so please read carefully!  The Coming of Age youth will be presenting their Faith Statements during the multigenerational worship at both 9:30 and 11:15 on Sunday, June 3rd.  Nursery care for children younger than three will be provided at both services, as usual.   Spirit Play (age 3 through grade K) will meet during the 11:15 service only.  No multiage activity during the 9:30 service.  All children and youth grade 1-12 are invited to attend either worship service.

 

Tupperware News!

The Tupperware orders are in and will be at the church during Coffee Hour for the next 2 Sundays. If you ordered something with June or Meg please see Meg to pick up your order.  If you won’t be at the church please feel free to call me to schedule a time to pick up your order.

This fundraiser was a HUGE success raising $451 for our church!  A heartfelt thank you to all who participated.

Thank you again,

Meg Milko

 

 

Sock Collection Extended One Week

During the RE Social Justice Intersession, we engaged in the mini-curriculum, “With Justice and Compassion:  Immigration Sessions for Children’s Religious Education”.  The program included the collection of new socks which will be distributed through No More Deaths, which is an advocacy group based in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona that seeks to end the deaths of migrants crossing the desert regions near the United States-Mexico border. Volunteers for the organization provide food, water, and medical aid to migrants in the desert and offer humanitarian aid to people in Mexico who have been deported from the US.  The Unitarian Universalist Churches in those areas are part of the advocacy group.

If you would like to donate new socks to this worthy cause, please leave them in the labeled box in Fessenden Hall on Sunday.  The socks will be mailed to Arizona early next week.

 

Recycle your Electronics and Small Appliances

The KentHogwarts School is in need of any unwanted electrical or mechanical small appliances; for example: vacuum, kitchen appliances, old computer equipment, typewriters.  No TVs or monitors please.  All donations will be greatly appreciated.   Please bring your items to church and deposit in the box located in Fessenden Hall. Deadline to donate is June 6^th.   Please contact John Bores at 330.703.9502 or [email protected] with any questions.

 

Next Sunday, June 10:  Share the Wealth 

Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer and Worship Associate Kathy Kerns

One Service Only at 10:30 AM at Plum Creek Park

Join us for our annual outdoor service at Plum Creek Park! This will be a joyful service for all ages lifting up the riches that come of sharing kindnesses. There will be one service only at 10:30 am followed by an all church picnic. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket, sunscreen, water and a dish to share. Feel free to bring your frisbees, wiffle balls and bats and any other lawn games you might want to play after lunch.

 

The Book Group will be meeting on Tuesday, June 12 at 7 pm in the home Mary Ann Kasper. This month we will be reading Swamplandia by Karen Russell. The Bigtree alligator-wrestling dynasty is in decline, and Swamplandia!, their island home and gator-wrestling theme park, formerly #1 in the region, is swiftly being encroached upon by a fearsome and sophisticated competitor called the World of Darkness. Against a backdrop of hauntingly fecund plant life animated by ancient lizards and lawless hungers, the author has written a novel about a family’s struggle to stay afloat in a world that is inexorably sinking.  In July we will read Unsaid by Neil Abramson, and in August we will read The Paris Wife, a novel by Paula McLain. If you have any questions you may contact Bonnie Harper.

 

Summer RE Begins on Sunday, June 17

Our theme for this summer, is “Stories that Inspire”.   During the months of June and August, we will be offering an all-ages, story-based program at 11:15 in Fessenden Hall.  During the month of July, we will be holding only one service at 10:30 and will offer RE at that time.  Nursery care will be available during all of the worship services.  There will be no Time for All Ages during the worship services over the summer.

 

Summer Solstice/Midsummer Celebration at KC’s home in Ravenna

June 23 at 5 PM

Potluck dinner and bbq, bonfire, and interactive ritual for the group!

Bring a dish to share and a lawn chair or blanket!

Contact KC for details.

 

Time to Celebrate!!

Thanks to the generosity of so many members and friends of our congregation, our annual stewardship campaign was a great success!  For the first time in many years, we are going to be able to pay our full fair share in Annual Program Fund dues to both the Ohio Meadville District and the Unitarian Universalist Association.  This is a goal we have been working toward for some time and we are thrilled to be able to fulfill our covenantal obligations to our larger association.  In addition, our budget allows for cost of living adjustments for the staff as well as a decent rainy day fund for unforeseen expenses.  You will learn more about the details of our budget at the annual congregational meeting coming up on May 31.  But before then, we are planning a special coffee hour on May 27 to thank you for your generosity.  We hope you will be able to attend and enjoy celebrating this success!

 

Sunday, May 27    Engaging Sacred Curiosity and Flower Celebration

Led by Christie Anderson and Worship Associate Trish McLoughlin –  We will continue to share the results from the recent congregational survey as we continue to explore who we are as a faith community.

This Sunday is our annual flower celebration.  If you are able, please bring a flower stem to church to share as part of our flower communion.  Even if you are unable to bring a flower, please join us as there will be extra flowers.  The children will be having their own Flower Ceremony in the RE classroom.  Each child should bring a cut flower or two for when they go to their RE class at 11:15.

 

New Summer Schedule for the RE Program

• May 27  Social Justice Intersession at 11:15   (No “Time for All Ages” during the worship services, but we will hold a Flower Ceremony for the children in the classroom) We continue our mini-curriculum on immigration justice.  Classes will be for younger children (grade K through 3) and for older children (grade 4 through 8).  Childcare will be offered for 3- and 4-year-olds in the Spirit Play room.   Our nursery care will be offered as usual during both worship services and our multi-age program will happen during the 9:30 service.  We will be collecting new socks which we will send to the UU church in Tucson, AZ which partners with other churches in the region to support the “No More Deaths” program.

• June 3  Coming of Age Multigenerational Worship at both services  Our CoA youth will be presenting their faith statements during the worship services.  It is going to be wonderful!  Children in grades 1 and older are welcome to attend with their families. We will offer a Spirit Play session at 11:15 and nursery care at both services.  (No multi-age program at 9:30)

• June 10   Church Picnic and Multigenerational Worship at 10:30 in Plum Creek Park  No nursery care or RE classes.  More details forthcoming…

• June 17   Summer RE Begins  (No “Time for All Ages” during the worship services.)  Our theme for this summer, is “Stories that Inspire”.    During the months of June and August, we will be offering an all-ages, story-based program at 11:15 in Fesenden Hall.  During the month of July, we will be holding only one service at 10:30 and will offer RE at that time.  Nursery care will be available during all of the worship services.

.

Recycle your Electronics and Small Appliances

The KentHogwarts School is in need of any unwanted electrical or mechanical small appliances; for example: vacuum, kitchen appliances, old computer equipment, typewriters.  No TVs or monitors please.  All donations will be greatly appreciated.   Please bring your items to church and deposit in the box located in Fessenden Hall. Deadline to donate is June 6^th.   Please contact John Bores with any questions.

 

Annual Meeting

Information Meeting: Thursday, May 31, 2012 @ 7 PM

Voting Meeting: Sunday, June 3, 2012 @ 10:30 AM

Please note: Only active members who have signed the membership book, at least 4 weeks prior to the annual meeting are eligible to vote on June 3, 2012.

 

Canvassers Needed

Concerned Citizens Ohio is looking for folks to help with its petition campaign in support of a Community Bill of Rights and a ban on fracking in Kent.  Please call Paulette Thurman for information.

 

For those who may be interested, here is a link to the latest newsletter of Interweave Continental:    http://interweaveuu.org/

 

Now Available in the Library

Joining Hands and Hearts: Interfaith, Intercultural Wedding Celebrations, by Reverend Susanna Macomb with Andrea Thompson, Simon and Schuster, New York, 2003.

Reverend Macomb is a licensed, ordained interfaith minister. Her book answers these questions: 1) How do we make sure that our ceremony is a reflection of our love and our relationship?  2) How do we remain true to ourselves and still make our families happy?  3) How can we create a wedding ceremony that merges our religious spiritual, and personal beliefs?  3)  How can we create a wedding ceremony that merges our religious, spiritual and personal beliefs? Can we do this without offending or alienating anyone?  4) Who will officiate at our ceremony?  5) When will the ceremony take place?  Which rituals shall we include?

Ann Waters,  Library Publicity

 

Kent Community Dinner at Plum Creek Park May 19, 2012, 5:30-8:00 pm.  This is part of Cuyahoga River Day in Kent which this year celebrates the restoration of Plum Creek Park.  Join the day’s participating groups with a potluck picnic with the greater Kent community. Bring food to share. Dinner music by Crooked River Stompers & fire for grilling provided.  For more information call 330-678-8760.

 

Sunday, May 20   How Spirit Moves Us

Led by Christie Anderson and Lois Weir, Sunday Program Committee members and Worship Associate Eric Van Baars – What varying religious beliefs are held by our congregation members? What do members think about our worship? How has the spiritual profile of the congregation changed over the past decade? We will share the results from the re-cent congregational survey and explore who we are as a faith community.

Special Collection for May 20^th:  Portage Park District

The Portage Park District strives to be known throughout Portage County and Northeast Ohio as a leader in conservation of natural resources and a major contributor to local communities’ quality of life. They work hard towards being a well-respected partner to local communities in promoting and developing new parks and trails and providing recreation and education programs for all citizens.  The District cannot function with Portage County funds alone, and must rely on public and private donations and grants.  Our Hogwarts children have had great learning experiences thanks to the district personnel as these folks have taken the kids for night walks through the “Forbidden Forest” (Towner’s Woods).   All of your kind donations will go to the Portage Park District Foundation.

 

New UU Class on Sunday May 20
Everything you wanted to know about the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent in particular and Unitarian Universalism in general, but were afraid to ask.  Well, maybe not everything, but we try to give you an overview, a starting point.  Some history of both, some organizational details. Come join the conversation.  If you’re curious about membership, this is the place to be.  Sunday, May 20th from 9-11 am.  We will gather at the Annex, the yellow house next to the church.  If you have any questions, contact Claudia Miller or Marion Yeagler.

 

Immigration Justice Lessons Launch Summer RE Program

• May 20 and 27  Social Justice Intersession at 11:15   (No “Time for All Ages” during the worship services) We will be offering 2 weeks of lessons about immigration justice.  Classes will be for younger children (grade K through 3) and for older children (grade 4 through 8).  Childcare will be offered for 3- and 4-year-olds.   Our nursery care will be offered as usual during both worship services and our multi-age program will happen during the 9:30 service.  We will be collecting new socks which we will send to the UU church in Tucson, AZ which partners with other churches in the region to support the “No More Deaths” program.  Children can bring new socks to either session.

• June 3  Coming of Age Multigenerational Worship at both services.  Our CoA youth will be presenting their faith statements during the worship services.  It is going to be wonderful!  Children in grades 1 and older are welcome to attend with their families. We will offer a Spirit Play session at 11:15 and nursery care at both services.  (No multi-age program at 9:30)

• June 10   Church Picnic and Multigenerational Worship at 10:30 in Plum Creek Park  No nursery care or RE classes.  More details forthcoming…

• June 17   Summer RE Begins  (No “Time for All Ages” during the worship services.)  Our theme for this summer is “Stories that Inspire”.    During the months of June and August, we will be offering an all-ages, story-based program at 11:15 in Fessenden Hall.  During the month of July, we will be holding only one service at 10:30 and will offer RE at that time.  Nursery care will be available during all of the worship services.

 

GREAT NEWS!  We are extending our Tupperware Fundraiser through this week and we will have some Cash & Carry items available on Sunday May 20th during coffee hour!  These are the FINAL days so if you wanted something for yourself, for a gift or to donate to our church kitchen, now is the time!

So far we have sold over $1,000 of Tupperware and the orders are still coming in!  If you haven’t had a chance to order please check out our church website for a link to order online.  There will also be one last chance to place on order on Sunday.

If you have any questions or care to place an order over the phone, please contact Meg Milko.

 

Annual Meeting

Information Meeting: Thursday, May 31, 2012 @ 7 PM

Voting Meeting: Sunday, June 3, 2012 @ 10:30 AM

Please note: Only active members who have signed the membership book, at least 4 weeks prior to the annual meeting are eligible to vote on June 3, 2012.

 

Canvassers Needed

Concerned Citizens Ohio is looking for folks to help with its petition campaign in support of a Community Bill of Rights and a ban on fracking in Kent.  Please call Paulette Thurman for information.

 

Truman/Julia Child Performance DVDs 

A number of people had other commitments on the evening of April 28th, when “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry”, Julia Child and Thurber were presented at the church. Ted and Swanny’s daughter Audrey filmed the performance and their son Jim has made DVDs of it, which are ready for distribution at the unbelievably low price of $5.00.  Please see Ted at Coffee Hour on May 6th to either sign up for a DVD or to get one there.  A signup sheet will also be hung on the church bulletin board in Fessenden. Both Harry and Julia humbly admit that they look very good.  All proceeds, of course, go to the church.

 

The Library committee is indeed grateful to Carol Gould for her donation of an almost-new Acer Aspire laptop with a 17″ screen. This will be tremendously helpful to the cataloging process of new acquisitions, and for all Library records.  Thank you very much for your generosity, Carol.

The Library received an early edition of Bertrand Russell’s Why I Am Not a Christian and Other Essays, from the library of John Michaels, given to us by his wife, Eunice Michaels.  Thank you very much, Eunice.

The Library continues to seek new members to join the Library committee.  This committee is a rollicking group of people, as dedicated to fun-filled fellowship and good laughs as they are to developing the Library.  A member of the Library committee may approach you.  Do give it a try and come to at least one meeting to see this dynamic, witty, committee in action.  You won’t be able to resist their inspiring approach to building and maintaining our Library.

 

Now Available in the Library

Joining Hands and Hearts: Interfaith, Intercultural Wedding Celebrations, by Reverend Susanna Macomb with Andrea Thompson, Simon and Schuster, New York, 2003.

Reverend Macomb is a licensed, ordained interfaith minister. Her book answers these questions: 1) How do we make sure that our ceremony is a reflection of our love and our relationship?  2) How do we remain true to ourselves and still make our families happy?  3) How can we create a wedding ceremony that merges our religious spiritual and personal beliefs?  3)  How can we create a wedding ceremony that merges our religious, spiritual and personal beliefs? Can we do this without offending or alienating anyone?  4) Who will officiate at our ceremony?  5) When will the ceremony take place?  Which rituals shall we include?

Ann Waters, Library Publicity

 

Sunday, May 13  Creations of Curiosity: Arts Sunday

Led by: The Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer and Worship Associate Dani Beale – Curiosity has been heralded as a virtue. Curiosity is the desire to learn or know something; it is the impetus that lies behind so much of our exploration and discovery. This morning we will explore the connections between curiosity, imagination and creation.

 

Special Collection for May:  Portage Park District

The Portage Park District strives to be known throughout Portage County and Northeast Ohio as a leader in conservation of natural resources and a major contributor to local communities’ quality of life. They work hard towards being a well-respected partner to local communities in promoting and developing new parks and trails and providing recreation and education programs for all citizens.  The District cannot function with Portage County funds alone, and must rely on public and private donations and grants.  Our Hogwarts children have had great learning experiences thanks to the district personnel as these folks have taken the kids for night walks through the “Forbidden Forest” (Towners Woods).   All of your kind donations will go to the Portage Park District Foundation.

 

RE Schedule for the Next Several Weeks

We are doing something a bit different this year to transition from our regular schedule to summer.  It’s a bit complicated, so please read carefully!

• May 13 Regular RE classes at 11:15   This will offer the children and teachers a chance to formally conclude the regular church year, to review what was learned and to say good-bye.

• May 20 and 27  Social Justice Intersession at 11:15   (No “Time for All Ages” during the worship services) We will be offering 2 weeks of lessons about immigration justice.  Classes will be for younger children (grade K through 3) and for older children (grade 4 through 8).  Childcare will be offered for 3- and 4-year-olds.   Our nursery care will be offered as usual during both worship services and our multi-age program will happen during the 9:30 service.

• June 3  Coming of Age Multigenerational Worship at both services  Our CoA youth will be presenting their faith statements during the worship services.  It is going to be wonderful!  Children in grades 1 and older are welcome to attend with their families. We will offer a Spirit Play session at 11:15 and nursery care at both services.  (No multi-age program at 9:30)

• June 10   Church Picnic and Multigenerational Worship at 10:30 in Plum Creek Park  No nursery care or RE classes.  More details forthcoming…

• June 17   Summer RE Begins  (No “Time for All Ages” during the worship services.)  Our theme for this summer, is “Stories that Inspire”.    During the months of June and August, we will be offering an all-ages, story-based program at 11:15 in Fesenden Hall.  During the month of July, we will be holding only one service at 10:30 and will offer RE at that time.  Nursery care will be available during all of the worship services.

 

With Heartfelt Gratitude…

Thank you, dear folks of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, for your outpouring of best wishes and congratulations to honor my 25 years in professional religious education leadership as well as for the generous gift.  I will always treasure the scrapbook that Mary Leeson created which includes your messages, photographs and drawings.  I am blessed to be serving such a loving community.

In faith and with love,

Karen Lapidus

 

The Tupperware Fundraiser got off to a GREAT start on Sunday thanks to your overwhelming support.  We have already raised OVER $200 for the church!  AND we did this in ONE day!  Think what we can all do over the next week!

This is where we can use your help to make this event even more successful.  Please show the catalogs you took home to anyone you see this week.  We are asking each of you to try to obtain 4 outside orders.  Also, send the church’s website link to everyone you know.  Tell them to click on the scrolling banner when they see Tupperware and it will have the link to go to our party so they can order online!

Also, the church as created a Wish List of Tupperware items for our kitchen!! If you don’t have a need for Tupperware yourself but would like to help out you can do so by purchasing one, or more, of the items listed below and donating them to the church!  It’s a win-win!

UUCK Wish List

Qty:  1 – Freezer Mates Starter Set  $29.00

Qty:  2 – Label Dispenser Kit   $15.00

Qty:  1 – Pack-n-Stor square set   $39.50

Qty:  2 – Fridge Smart Medium   $19.00

Qty:  1 – Fridge Smart Medium Long   $21.00

If you didn’t get a catalog I left a few at the Annex with MaryBeth.  Please feel free to grab one or go online to view the current catalog and place your order.

Remember, bring your orders back to the church NEXT Sunday May 13th and give them to Meg Milko.  If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call!

Thank you again,

Meg Milko

 

Middle School Youth Pool Party!

Just a reminder…the registrations, permissions slips and fees are due Sunday, May 13^th

 

New UU Class on Sunday, May 20
Everything you wanted to know about the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent in particular and Unitarian Universalism in general, but were afraid to ask.  Well, maybe not everything, but we try to give you an overview, a starting point.  Some history of both, some organizational details. Come join the conversation.  If you’re curious about membership, this is the place to be.  Sunday, May 20th from 9-11 am.  We will gather at the Annex, the yellow house next to the church.  If you have any questions, contact Claudia Miller or Marion Yeagler.

 

Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting Packets will be emailed Friday, May 11

Information Meeting: Thursday, May 31, 2012 @ 7 PM

Voting Meeting: Sunday, June 3, 2012 @ 10:30 AM

Please note: Only active members who have signed the membership book, at least 4 weeks prior to the annual meeting are eligible to vote on June 3, 2012.

 

For those who may be interested, here is a link to the latest newsletter of Interweave Continental:    http://interweaveuu.org/

 

May Spiritual Cinema: A Man From Earth

May 4, 2012 at 7:00 PM

A detailed description and location information can be found at:  kentuu.org

 

Sunday, May 6  “Nurturing Curiosity”  Religious Education Sunday

RE Sunday is the time when our children share what they have experienced throughout the year with the congregation.

During the 9:30 service, there will be a bridging ceremony to mark major milestones for many of our children and youth.   Our graduation high school seniors, Maia O’Meara and Rowen Matney, will be sharing reflections of their future and the role our church has played in their lives.  The middle school youth will be bridging next year’s six-graders~Helena Esparza, Margee Haines, Kai Klempp, Kate Kuemerle, Marlo Schatz and Vonn Wheatley~~into their community.

The 11:15 service will include presentations from each of the classes as well as a ceremony of appreciation for our teachers. Each class has prepared a lovely offering which will give a glimpse into their Sunday morning activities.  Special music will be provided by Willow Campbell, Jonathan Kiernan, Shirley Kiernan and Bob Erdman.  Join us for what will surely be a lively, fun-filled worship experience.

 

The Social Justice Committee holds its monthly meeting Sunday, May 6, right after second service in Eldredge Annex.  All are welcome.

 

Hi!  You may have heard, the church is hosting a Tupperware Fundraiser this Sunday, May 6th at 12:30pm in Fessenden Hall.  All are welcome.  If you are unable to attend but are still interested in supporting this fundraiser, check out the announcement on the Church’s website: kentuu.org  for information on how to shop online.

 

The Book Group will be meeting on Tuesday, May 8 at 7 pm

Detailed information can be found in the Sunday Thread from the Web inserted in the Order of Service.

 

CAMPOUT

“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe”.  ~ John Muir

The time is almost here to start packing your camping gear for a weekend adventure in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny National Forest with fellow UUs and friends on May 11-13.  More information can be found in Fessenden Hall.  Questions?  Contact Ed Stolish.

 

Wondering what the new CUUPS group is up to? Join us on May 11 at 630PM for a potluck dinner and CUUPS meeting held in Fessenden Hall.   More information is available in the Sunday Thread from the Web inserted in the Order of Service.

 

Wand Walk at Towners Woods in Ravenna on May 12^th. Meet in the park parking lot at 12 noon for a hike and search for your perfect wand. At 2 PM we will meet back at Fessenden Hall to make your wand all your own!  More information is available in the Sunday Thread from the Web inserted in the Order of Service.

 

Middle School Youth Pool Party!

Swimming! Volleyball! Food!

When: Saturday, May 19 from Noon – 2:30pm

Where: Kent State Student Recreation and Wellness Center

1550 Ted Boyd Drive, Kent, OH

$10 includes admission, lunch and snacks (Scholarships available)

Registration/Permission/Fees due Sunday, May 13

 

Want an easy way to support the church?  Use Good Search.com as your search engine.  It is powered through Yahoo and the site donates about a penny for each search.  Simply go to www.GoodSearch.com  and choose the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent as your charity to support.  While on the site check out www.GoodShop.com   Major retailer will donate a percentage of your purchase to the church!

 

Dining for Charity – Have you tried GoodDining? New GoodDining members earn an additional $5 bonus donation when they join and dine in May during National Dine Out for Charity Month. GoodDining members earn up to 6% of their bill as a donation for their favorite cause at over 10,000 participating restaurants nationwide. Sign up here: http://www.goodsearch.com/gooddining.aspx?charityid=812755

 

Help us raise monies for the Church by recycling your unwanted paper!  Deposit your newspapers, magazines, office and school papers in the green and yellow bin behind the Annex.  We earn money for every pound of paper we collect.  Note: No cardboard, please.

 

From the Llibrary…

The Library is in dire need of a 2-3yr old laptop in good working condition with Windows 7 and at least 1 USB port. Please speak to any Library committee member if you have one you could donate to facilitate the cataloging of our rapidly expanding collection. Committee members are Martha Kluth, Carolyn Schlemmer, Kathy Wilen, Matt Cox, Andrew Bores and Ann Waters.

 

THANKS TO ALL 

Thanks to everyone who helped with our plantings on Earth Day, as part of our Green Sanctuary Program.  In spite of the low temperatures, quite a few brave adults and young folks came out and planted sunflowers, snap peas and pansies in the graveled area behind the rear entrance to Fessenden.  It really does brighten up the area, and when our sunflowers and snap peas appear, it will be even better.  Thanks again for all your help!