Worship & Music
Services are held on Sunday mornings at 10:00 and 11:30.
Sunday, Jan. 27 Claiming Control By Letting Go
Led by Seth Carrier and Worship Associate Elaine Bowen –
When we have too little control, life can feel overwhelming. When someone in our lives is trying to exert too much control, we can feel trapped. Claiming an appropriate amount of control in our lives is thus very important to our emotional health and well-being. One way we can seek to find that balance is by shifting our perception of the amount of control we have. Part of that perceptual shift is letting go of the things we think we control, but actually don’t. By doing so, we can help ourselves lead a healthier, more balanced life.
Sunday Flowers!
Are you interested in helping to spruce up the Chancel on Sunday mornings? If so, please consider sponsoring flowers for our Sunday services. Please see the Sunday Flowers sign-up sheet located on the bulletin board in Fessenden Hall. Flowers may be donated in honor, in celebration, in appreciation of someone or something or for any other reason. You may indicate your dedication on the sign-up sheet. In addition, you may choose to supply the flowers yourself or donate the money for flowers to be purchased. Also, please know that dedications will be noted in the Thread from the Web each week. If you have any questions, please contact the Church Office.
Lifespan Learning
Our Director of Religious Education, Karen Lapidus, will be on vacation from Tuesday, January 22nd until Monday, January 28th. Please contact our minister, the Reverend Melissa Carvill-Ziemer for any urgent concerns in Karen’s absence.
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander has been selected as the 2012-13 Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Common Read. Alexander, an attorney who is a civil rights advocate and litigator, asserts that crime-fighting policies and systems in the U.S., such as the “war on drugs” and the incarceration system, disproportionately and intentionally affect Americans of color. She describes multifaceted, lifelong discrimination and disenfranchisement that affect people who are branded “felon.”
A Common Read invites participants to read and discuss the same book in a given period of time. A Common Read can build community in our congregations and our movement by giving diverse people a shared experience, shared language, and a basis for deep, meaningful conversations.
Lee Brooker will facilitate a discussion of Michelle Alexander’s book on Thursday, 1/31 at 7:00 pm in the Annex. The discussion is geared toward those who have read the book. In addition, Lee would like to suggest a field trip to go hear Michelle Alexander speak at the University of Akron on Thursday, 2/7 at 7:30 pm in EJ Thomas Hall. Her lecture is a keynote address as part of the annual Rethinking Race conference at UA. Tickets are $10 for the general public, less for UA affiliated staff and students. Purchase tickets at http://uaevents.com/site/page.php?id=126&event_id=1386 and then email the church office if you are interested in being part of a carpool to the lecture.
What Moves Us: Unitarian Universalist Theology
Co-facilitated by Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer and Rev. Christie Anderson
Tuesday evenings 7pm to 9pm in the Founders Lounge
Now – February 26
This series, begun last fall, provides an opportunity to consider the intersection of our theology and our emotions. Each session stands alone, thus new participants are welcome to join us at any time. No prior experience is required for this series which will be of value for both new and long tenured Unitarian Universalists.
This curriculum provides an opportunity for personal reflection and Unitarian Universalist education. In every meeting we offer an opportunity to learn about the life experiences of some noteworthy Unitarian Universalist theologians, highlighting that which caused in them a change of heart, a new direction, new hope, and a deeper understanding of their own liberal faith. These are offered as a launching ground for our personal theological reflection, not as an intellectual exercise, but as a process of meaning-making that equips us for living in the world. Created by the Rev. Dr. Thandeka, the program offers a pathway for developing not only our own personal theology but also for deepening understanding of the threads of our Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist theological heritage.
Statements from people who participated in this class in the fall:
“ I found this adult RE class engaging because it combined the historical figures in our religious movement with the theology of our religion.”
“Taking one aspect of one prominent Unitarian or Universalist’s theology and discussing it through our present day lens’ is illuminating and spirit building in a non-academic, relaxed format.”
“Exploring theology is too often left to the theologians, while the lay members rarely get a chance to analyze and think about how to apply theological insights into their own lives. Theology tends to be abstract and somewhat removed from day to day life, something it shares with philosophy. But this series helps its participants to move in both directions of theology to experience and experience to theology. How do we see the specific and individual as part of the whole, and how does the larger theological view help us to put our experiences into a larger and holier perspective?”
If you are interested in participating in the What Moves Us theology class but would need childcare in order to do so, please let Rev. Melissa know. If enough people need childcare, we will try to arrange it through the church.
Theological and Spiritual Salon Possibilities
Do you have a religious topic or spiritual practice that you would like to explore with others? Members of the Adult Religious Exploration committee are hoping to gauge the level of interest by friends and members of the congregation to develop and lead time-limited programs for curious adults. We are hoping to offer a variety of classes and activities that over a period of time, will offer meaningful exploration opportunities covering the diverse array of theologies and spiritual sensibilities of our church community.
Recognizing the extensive knowledge and interests of our friends and members, we are calling on you to step forward and share ideas about an event or series of gatherings that you might consider leading for interested congregation members. Examples include: a workshop on
Buddhist meditation theology and practice, facilitation of an online blog on a specified topic, monthly sacred dance classes, 4 classes having topics related to the neuroscience of spirituality. At this time, we are trying to determine the extent of possibilities, so we are not asking for commitments or details. Once we have an idea of the range of possibilities, we will devise a simple proposal form and seek proposals.
If you might be willing to develop an activity for adult religious exploration, please share your idea briefly with: one of the following individuals by January 20.
Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer ([email protected]),
Rev. Christie Anderson
Mary Ann Stephens
Jack Graham
Cheryl Spoehr
Joel Slater
Community Within
Pancakes and Chat: An Update on Issues January 27 at 12:45 pm. Join the Board following second service for pancakes and a discussion.
Rev. Melissa will be out of town next week attending the Unitarian Universalist Ministers’ Association Beyond the Call Worship and Preaching Arts program and the Institute for Excellence in Ministry. She will leave Friday 1/25 and will return Friday 2/1. If you need to reach her while she is away, she will be checking her email and cell phone messages at least once each day and will prioritize responding to time sensitive and urgent concerns.
We would like to thank all the people who have already signed up to help Becky Haines both before and after her surgery scheduled on February 12. Until then, she isn’t able to do very much standing or walking and is experiencing a great deal of pain. Becky is in need of help from people who are able to prepare and take her meals. They are open to anything and have no allergies; they only ask that the meal serve four to include Bob as well as Becky’s grandchildren. Because they will need assistance up until and for several days beyond the surgery while Becky recovers, we are sending this list out to the whole church rather than just the Helping Hands Network. If you are able to help, please sign up on the following site http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=GTLE2619
If you are able to prepare a meal but are not able to deliver it, you can deliver it to the church and we can make other arrangements to get it to Becky’s home. Just be sure to contact the church office to let us know you will be dropping something off here.
Chili Cookoff – See the announcement below under Income Generation.
NEED PHOTOS FOR DIRECTORY
The Membership Team is busily working on the new church photo directory. It is not too late for you to submit your own photo for the directory. Please email it to Marion Yeagler.
The Library’s guest speaker for the 2013 Speaker’s Forum will be Mara DeMattia, who is researching the collection of artist, Robert Wood. Her presentation will be Sunday, February 3rd, at 3:00 P.M. in the Sanctuary followed by a discussion period. A reception will be held in Fessenden Hall after the program. This event is free and open to the public.
Robert Wood, long a singular personality in the Kent community and among area artists, died unexpectedly at the age of 68 on February 5, 2012. His large body of work includes a variety of techniques including oils, watercolors and computer generated designs. Ms. DeMattia has begun to research, document and date all paintings, record pertinent biographical information related to each work, such as location and circumstances of the work, teachers, colleagues and friends who may have been a part of his artistic circle, and any any professional exhibits in which he may have been included. The process becomes a fascinating detective project, particularly when works are scattered all over NE Ohio and the East coast. Since coming to Kent, DeMattia has had a longstanding interest in Wood’s creative output. Her initial interest was sparked by John Kluth of the John Kluth Gallery in Kent. They are working together on an Oral History of Mr. Wood as part of a planned biography of the artist.
DeMattia’s previous work as an archivist began when she was contracted by the Herman Miller Furniture Company, (Zeeland, Michigan). Over a 3-year period she organized their extensive photo collection of innovative pieces manufactured since 1917. She documented the pictures and selected images to build a visual history of the company which are now displayed throughout the company. These photos may also be found through archive codes designed by DeMattia at Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan.
DeMattia received a Bachelor of Arts degree in drawing and sculpture from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was a volunteer Lecturer in Art History at Lorain Community College, and a set designer for area community theaters in the mid 1990’s. DeMattia lives in Kent with her husband, Rick, and their three daughters, Rosalyn, Eleanor and Lillian.
The newly renamed Pat Pownall UU Book Group will be meeting on Tuesday, February 12 at 7 pm in the home of Jennifer Gregg. We will meet at the church at 6:30 to carpool. This month we are reading Beautiful Lies: A Novel by Lisa Unger. If Ridley Jones had slept ten minutes later or had taken the subway instead of waiting for a cab, she would still be living the beautiful lie she used to call her life. But that’s not what happened. Instead, those inconsequential decisions lead her to perform a good deed that puts her in the right place at the right time to unleash a chain of events that brings a mysterious package to her door–a package which informs her that her entire world is a lie. Sexy and fast-paced, Beautiful Lies is a literary thriller. The author takes the reader on a breathtaking ride in which every choice Ridley makes creates a whirlwind of consequences that are impossible to imagine. In March we will be reading The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty. If you have any questions you may contact Bonnie Harper. All are welcome.
Outreach
Once again, we want to thank you for your generosity and caring! The special collection for January benefiting the Sierra Club raised $495.78.
Income Generation
Chili Cookoff Coming February 10th after 2nd service!
Calling all chefs! It’s time to cook up a pot of your award winning? chili and enter our Chili Cookoff being held on February 10th around 12:45pm. Please pre-register if you plan on entering the cookoff so we can have an idea of how many entries we will have so we know how many sides to buy. You can email Meg Milko to pre-register.
We offer you the following categories to get your creative juices flowing:
- Best Meat
- Best Veggie
- Most Exotic/unique
- Best White/Chicken chili
- Hottest Chili
You bring the chili and we will supply the sides! (unless you have something very unique then you can bring it along) We will furnish cheese, sour cream, onions, oyster crackers and other chips, jalapeno peppers, olives, etc.
This fundraiser is asking for a donation of $6 for adults and $4 for children under age 12. Come hungry and vote for your favorite!
“SOUP”ER BOWL SUNDAY – FEBRUARY 3
The UU Church of Kent annual “Soup”er Bowl will be held in Fessenden Hall on Sunday, February 3 before, between and after services. What is the “Soup”er Bowl??? It’s an amazingly generous outpouring of donated hearty canned soups/stew/chili/ravioli and coin/cash for the Kent Social Services food pantry and hot meal program.
There will be a table, festively decorated in a football theme, ready with boxes to be filled with canned soups and other non-perishible ingredients for soup and an empty soup pot for your spare coins/cash/check or donated Acme grocery cards. ALL will be donated KSS for the hungry and food insecure of Kent.
Please help your neighbors in need.
Thank you in advance for your generosity,
Coach Bowen:)
ACME COMMUNITY CASH-BACK PROGRAM ENDS FEB. 9
All ACME grocery receipts must be dated by Saturday, Feb. 9 to be eligible for the 5% cash back fundraiser. Please collect all receipts you have stashed at home, keep shopping through Feb. 9 and bring in all register tapes in by Sunday, Feb. 10. The collection box is in Fessenden Hall and is on the ACME & Giant Eagle grocery card sales table – you can’t miss it; it covered in an ACME ad!!!
Questions? Give me a buzz .
Thank you for helping with the least labor intensive, easiest fundraiser ever!
Elaine