Rev. Melissa is co-leading morning worship at Summer Institute with her spouse Evin Carvill-Ziemer through July 21. For the remainder of the summer she will be working, though sometimes working half weeks in lieu of taking additional vacation and with two additional weeks of study leave. With the exception of her vacation, she will remain available via phone and email. As always, if you have an urgent concern or one which is time sensitive, call her cell phone.
Karen too, is at Summer Institute this year and will return after July 21. MaryBeth will be on vacation July 22 – 26 and while she is away next week, Rev. Melissa will once again cover basic office functions.
Worship & Music
One Service at 10:00 AM through the month of July. Beginning August 4 we will return to two services at 9:45 and 11:00 AM
July 21 This I Believe
Led by Andrew Rome and Worship Associate Lois Weir – Modeled on the This I Believe NPR program, this service will center on making a statement of your personal beliefs, of the values which rule your thought and action. This will be an interactive service presented with the confidence that your belief, simply and sincerely
spoken, is sure to stimulate and help those who hear it. May we have your contribution?
Lifespan Learning
How Do You Like to Play? Summer RE for Children Preschool through Grade 5
On Sunday, July 21st we will be playing with the wind! Kay and Mark Eckman will lead games and activities that are powered by wind. We will light the chalice in Fessenden Hall at 10 am sharp!
We only have one service at 10 am through the month of July. Middle and High School Youth are invited to participate as helpers. Nursery care is available for our littlest ones.
Spiritual Autobiography Class
Led by Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer
Orientation and Introduction on July 30 from 7-9pm
Classes on August 6, August 20, September 3 and September 17 from 7-9pm
Fessenden Hall
Using Dan Wakefield’s book The Story of Your Life: Writing Your Spiritual Autobiography, Rev. Melissa will lead a class designed to invite you to reflect on your own life journey in writing. We will use a variety of prompts to explore moments in the landscape of our histories beginning with childhood and journeying to the present. This course takes the word spiritual in its broadest sense so there is really no limit to the topics in your own life history upon which you might choose to reflect.
We will occasionally sketch scenes before we write about the experiences associated with those memories, but rest assured that no drawing or writing experience is required to participate in this course. We will also provide opportunities for you to share your writing with others in the class, but you will never be required to read what you have written. The only requirements for participation in this class are a willingness to reflect on your own life story and an interest in trying to capture moments of your story in writing.
This class will work best if participants make a commitment to attend regularly. If you believe you would miss more than one of the four classes, I’d prefer you not sign up to participate at this time. I am requiring a minimum of 6 participants to offer this class, so please notify the church office if you plan to attend by Wednesday, July 24.
Community Within
Third Annual UU Garden Tour
It is not too late to sign up for the third annual UU Garden Tour (newly renamed in honor of Clinton Hobbs). The tour will be held on Saturday, July 27th and begins at 3 pm. We will gather in the church parking lot to car pool to the first garden. Check with Claudia Miller during coffee hour this Sunday and next in Fessenden Hall. She will have information and know that for only $25 you can tour two lovely home gardens, have a tour of the community gardens at Ode to Joy (home of the Garden Club of Kent) PLUS join a compatible group of UU’s and others for a Summer Salad Supper. Questions? Talk to Claudia or call Kathie Slater. Other hostesses include Marion Yeagler and Mary Ann Kasper.
We had a request from the planners for the July 27-29 Don’t Frack Ohio! event for home hospitality for those traveling from distant parts of the state for the training workshops July 27-28 in Ravenna and for the event in Warren July 29.
The training is taking place at the Frist Congregational Church in Ravenna on July 27-28, but no one has been able to find home hospitality there for the nights of July 27 and July 28. Are you able to provide home hospitality for those two nights? If so, please contact Rev. Melissa at [email protected]
New Art in the Sanctuary
The fine photography exhibit in the sanctuary for the month of July is provided by Andrew Ritchie Graham, father of Bonny Graham of our church. He lives in Buffalo NY and is a retired actuary whose hobbies include sailing and photography.
As to artistic philosophy Andy believes that abundance and variety of color exists in all we see. Further he believes that more than just being in the right place at the right time, if you look more closely and narrowly surprises abound for us to see.
Outreach and Social Justice
Don’t Frack Ohio! Rally in Warren, OH – July 29, 2013
Join the Rally to ban Injection Wells! Be with us to witness with your presence for all Ohioans, including those of coming generations at the Trumbull County Courthouse Square in Warren. For More information and to register to attend, visit: www.dontfrackoh.org/sign-up
Learn More: Workshops, organizational and Leadership training: July 27 – 28 at the First Congregational Church in Ravenna, OH.