Weekly e-nUUs – October 23, 2013

enUUs_newlogo 12.2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worship & Music

 

Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM.

 

October 27 – Finding Fallow Time

Rev. Renee Ruchotzke and Worship Associate Trish McLoughlin

In a world where so many things are competing for our attention, how can we find our center? This is an intergenerational service.

 

Wanted: Photos from Our Veterans

Deb Biggins will be leading our services on November 10 in on honor of Veterans Day.  It is her hope that she will be able to create a display of photos of our Veterans.  Please submit all photos to Deb by Oct. 27 in an envelope with your name, rank and service time noted. Thank you.

 

Got Prayer?

On 12/29 we will be sharing some of the ways that members and friends of our congregation engage prayer and/or other spiritual practices with their families.  Whether or not you have children at home or even at all, we invite your stories.  Do you have any regular prayer practices or other spiritual practices you keep with your family (however you define family for yourself).  If not, have you had milestone, transitional or otherwise special moments with your family life in which you have prayed or observed some other spiritual practice together that has been especially meaningful for you?  If you are willing, we would love to share your story during the service.  This will be a multimedia program, so any photos, recordings, or videos that illustrate your family’s spiritual traditions will be most welcome.   Lois Weir and Andrew Rome will be coordinating this intergenerational service.  Please contact Lois or Andrew with your contributions.

 

Pet Remembrance Ceremony

Those who have lost a beloved pet and would like to participate in a ritual of remembrance are invited to attend a pet memorial ceremony at the church.  Rev. Christie Anderson will offer the interactive memorial service in the sanctuary at 4:00, Sunday, Nov. 3.    Participants are encouraged to bring a photo or item associated with the pet.   All ages are welcome.

 

Lifespan Learning

 

Compassionate Dialogue

The Compassionate Dialogue class has been rescheduled for Wednesday night starting at 7:00 PM and going till 8:45.  The class will be held on Nov. 6, 13, 20, and Dec. 4, and 11.  The goal is to teach a framework for managing conflict that encourages connection and understanding by using active listening skills.  Time will be set aside each class to practice the skills during role playing.  There is still time to sign up for the class at the church office if you’re interested.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call Saunis at 330-472-0956, or e-mail at [email protected].

 

You and your family are invited to join us THIS SATURDAY for the 736th Annual UUCK Halloween Party and Haunted House!

OCTOBER 26TH  at 6:00 PM in Fessenden Hall

This is an all-ages event!  Come in costume and have a spooky fun time. Please bring a finger food to share that needs no silverware.  Pumpkin carols begin at 6:15. Games for all-ages begin at 6:30. Two versions of the youth designed haunted house to follow (one for the littles and one for the older crowd)

Please come and eat, drink and be scary! See you then!

Donations gratefully accepted to cover expenses.

 

RadioLab and Pancakes is Back!

Our discussion group will return during second service on October 27th. We have changed the time so that the greatest number of people can participate. We will be meeting in Fessenden Hall at 11:30 a.m. There will be pancakes for those who wish, and our topic is “The Paradox of Choice”. Some psychological research  suggests that the twenty-first century offers too many choices for our health. Come and listen to the RadioLab hosts debate this position with famous neurologist and author Oliver Sacks, then we will toss these ideas around for ourselves. Good food, good companions, and good conversation will be had by all. If you have any questions contact Cheryl Spoehr.

 

Spiritual Cinema – Jurassic Park – Friday, November 1st 

Please join us for Spiritual Cinema on Friday, November 1st at 7:00 PM. We will watch the motion picture, “Jurassic Park” based on the novel by Michael Crichton. The middle school youth group is encouraged to attend as they will watch a bit of the film earlier in RE. The movie is 127 minutes and will be followed by a brief discussion of some of the topics raised by the movie. The Flippo family has volunteered to screen the movie in their home (this movie really needs surround sound to be appreciated) and they have room for at least 14 people. T Please RSVP to Dan Flippo.  Also, if you are in need of a ride or are willing to provide a ride to others, please tell Dan when you RSVP. People are welcome but not required to bring food to share during the movie.

Comments by Dan: Our fourth UU principle calls us to a “responsible search for truth and meaning.” This of course raises the question of what is an irresponsible search for truth? Jurassic Park helps us to consider the ethical implications of scientific advancements in genetic engineering that can be used to treat horrible diseases as well as bring back species that we have made extinct. Prior to attending, I encourage people to read the BBC article, “Should cloned mammoths roam the Earth?”.

 

The Super Brain group will meet at 3 PM Sunday, November 3 in the Annex.   All are welcome to join in the exploration.  Any questions, call Mary Maske at 330.677.0174.

 

Community Within

 

New UU Classes in November

Our New UU classes cover 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.  And, if you’re curious about membership, this is the place to be.

Part 1 will be on Sunday, November 10, from 9-11 am. Part 2 will be on Sunday, November 17, from 9-11 am.  You may attend one or both, although attendance at both is encouraged.  Different topics will be covered in each.  We will gather at the Annex, the yellow house next to the church.

If you have any questions, contact Claudia Miller or Marion Yeagler.

 

The Patricia Pownall UU Book Group will be meeting on Tuesday, November 12 at 7 pm in Founder’s Lounge at church.  Please bring a snack to share. This month we are reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian. Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. In December we will be reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and we are meeting at Kay Wind’s house. If you have any questions you may contact Bonnie Harper at [email protected].  All are welcome.

 

THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE would like to thank all those who have participated in the Library Symposiums. Our last one was exceptionally well-attended and we had a very lively discussion. Symposium #3, our last before the holidays, will feature an interview by Bill Moyers of Salman Rushdie. Because the interview takes 40 minutes, we will begin this symposium at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, November 12 in Fessenden Hall. Bill Wilen will be Moderator. Imaginative and succulent refreshments will be served before the discussion.

The new books have been cataloged and are ready for circulation. They are on top of the bookcase, along with books recommended by Rev. Melissa. We urge you to see what is available, and there is always a Library committee member available to help you during coffee hour between services. As always, we are eager to have your suggestions for new titles to add to our collection. You may put your suggestions in the Library box near the Nursery door or speak to any Library committee member.

 

Book Review

When Everything Changed: the Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present, by Gail Collins, New York (Back Bay Books)c.2009. This book was recently donated to the church library in the Women’s studies category.  Beginning in 1960, it describes five decades of change in the lives of American women. The author is a renowned New York Times columnist. Topics covered are politics, fashion, popular culture, economics, sex, families and work. Older readers will be reminded of what their lives once were while younger readers will view their history in a new way.    ~ by Martha Kluth

 

It takes all of us to create a welcoming environment on Sunday mornings.   All the members and friends of this church are needed to extend hospitality to our visitors. We need a large team of people who volunteer to help greet and usher on Sunday mornings, to prepare an inviting coffee hour or to donate flowers to add a focal point of beauty to our services.  In order to make it easier to participate, we are using a new tool that will allow you to see what Sunday morning hospitality positions are available and to decide when and how frequently you might be able to help.  Sign up at:  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/904054FA9A62BA57-sunday

 

Outreach and Social Justice

 

Many thanks to those who supported the October Special Collection to benefit Kent Social Service’s effort to provide food for the holidays for those in need.  The collection raised $895.

 

STANDING ON THE SIDE OF JUSTICE » COLUMBUS

Register for UUJO Justice Assembly, Saturday November 2, 10 am to 3 pm, 1st UU Columbus.  $25 adult.  $10 student.  Fee includes lunch.  Scholarships available  Download the event pdf flyer

Standing on the Side of Justice rally on the Capitol Steps, 4 pm Saturday, November 2 calling on Ohio lawmakers to:

  • Halt the Death Penalty
  • End the War on Drugs and Mass Incarceration
  • Break the barriers to reentry from incarceration
  • Stop “Stand Your Ground” proposals

Fill out this form to endorse the rally as a support organization. Download pdf flyer for the rally: color ~ black and white

For more information, contact us at [email protected], or visit the Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio Network website.   https://www.uujo.org/

Organized by Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio.

Co-sponsored by the ACLU of OhioOhioans to Stop Executions, and Ohio Organizing Collaborative.

Event Location:

Ohio Statehouse
1 Capitol Square
Columbus, OH 43215

Anyone interest in participating or carpooling, please contact Susan Poole.

 

 

The UUCK Environmental Justice Task Groups Presents:  Fracking Film Series

7pm Fridays, Fessenden Hall

November 8th, 7pm 

Bidder 70 highlights the remarkable story of Tim DeChristopher who, on December 19, 2008 protested the leasing of thousands of acres of pristine Utah land to oil and gas companies. Registered as bidder #70, and without corporate funding, Tim outbid industry giants on land parcels adjacent to national treasures like Canyonlands National Park. Unable to pay for these public lands, Tim DeChristopher was sentenced to serve 2 years in Federal Prison. He was released April 2013.

Movie to be followed by open discussion.

November 15th, 7pm

Gasland II is a deeper look into the complexities of fracking. Director Josh Fox explores

the gas industry and its portrayal of natural gas as a safe and clean alternative to oil. This film provides a comprehensive look at fracking and its impact on individual lives, environmental devastation, and political corruption.

Gasland II will be followed by a speaker presentation and discussion with Mary Greer from Concerned Citizens Ohio.

Contact the church office for more information at (330) 673-4247.

 

Income Generation

 

Donations needed for Karnival of Kent, the Thanks4Giving Auction

Have you made plans to attend the annual Thanks4Giving auction of the UU Church of Kent on Saturday, Nov 2?  It is an evening of fun, frivolity and fundraising not to be missed! It will be held at the United Church of Christ on Horning Rd, beginning at 6 pm.

Time is running out, and we’re looking for donations from our friends and members of the congregation.  How about donating a dinner, an event or outing to a museum, a park, a winery or a brewery?  Theme baskets are always popular; use your imagination.

If you would would like to contribute as a volunteer, contact Trish McLoughlin.  She still has some openings to fill.  Many hands make light work!

Visit the Auction table at coffee hour this Sunday.  Tickets are on sale.  Donation forms are available.  Need ideas for donations?  You’ll find them at the table.  Make your plans now!

 

Are Our Cheeks Red?!

So sorry for the confusion about the pledge contribution statements which many of you received this week.  According to our policy, we send you quarterly contribution statements which show your current balance and giving history.  These statements are for INFORMATIONAL purposes only; they are NOT intended to be requests for remittance.   One problem we have is that our QuickBooks software program (though a great program to work with in general) will not permit us to change the “Amount Due” phrase on the statement to something more appropriate.

But the greater confusion happened this week when we attached our customized email to your statement–we discovered that QuickBooks only sent our email to the first person on the list of recipients; everyone else received a QuickBooks default message which asked you to “remit payment” and thanked you for “your business”!  Yikes!  When we realized what had happened, we resent statements with our intended email message.  Again, so sorry for complicating your day, and we promise to do better on your next quarterly statement.

If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Eaglen or MaryBeth Hannan

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