This week, Rev. Melissa will be working ½ days in the Office. Director of Religious Education, Karen Lapidus, is available by appointment and Music Director, Hal Walker is off this week. The Church Office is open this week and also next week while Rev. Melissa, Karen Lapidus and Hal Walker are attending Summer Institute (SI). While at SI, Rev. Melissa will check email daily and will be available by cell phone, as well.
Worship & Music
One Sunday service is offered at 9:45 AM through the month of July only. We will return to our regular schedule of two services at 9:45 and 11:30 AM on August 7.
July 13 – Bringing Inspiration Home
Led by the Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer and Worship Associate Mary Lou Holly
Every year Rev. Melissa attends the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association Ministry Days and the Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly. After a full week of outstanding worship, workshops, public witness and stimulating conversation, she returns filled with inspiration. This Sunday morning she hopes to share some of that inspiration with you.
From the Library
The deeply affecting service last Sunday, “Taking Perspective, Giving Perspective, arranged and organized by Amanda and Andrew Rome, featured moving personal stories by congregation members and guests. Each speaker generously shared the following sources.
Amanda and Andrew Rome: “Adopting the Hurt Child”, and “Parenting the Hurt Child”, both by Gregory Keck and Regina Kupecky.
Ann Lapidus: “Touching the Rock: An Experience of Blindness”, by John M. Hull.
Fred Smith: “Alcoholics Anonymous”, published by the AA General Service Board in New York.
Trish McLoughlin: “Kitchen Talk” by Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., and “How to Say It When You Don’t Know What to Say”, by Robbie Miller
Lifespan Learning
Summer Religious Education
Our theme is “Simple Gifts”, which will be a series of easy, mostly stand-alone social action and social justice projects.
Summer RE will take place at 9:45 am only. During the month of July, we will only have services at 9:45. In August, we’ll have the usual two services at 9:45 and 11:30. At 11:30, the only option for children and youth is to attend the worship service with their parents/designated adult.
This year we are adding a separate preschool program along with the multi-age group, which includes school-aged children and Middle School youth as helpers. Nursery care will be available for our youngest UUs during all worship services during the summer. The preschool will meet in the upstairs classroom while the older children will meet in Fessenden Hall.
Karen Lapidus, Director of Religious Education and the members of the RE Committee
Community Within
Retiree’s Lunch – Tuesday, July 15 at noon.
We’ll meet for an hour to an hour and a half depending on the number of people who attend so everyone has an opportunity to check in with the group. All retirees are welcome to join us. Bring your own lunch; beverages will be provided.Congregational Administrator Mary Beth Hannan will host the lunch in Rev. Melissa’s absence.
Annual Clinton Hobbs Garden Tour
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Tickets are still available for the UUCK Garden Tour and Salad Supper. Do join fellow nature lovers as we stroll through the gardens of Gingr Vaughn, Amanda and Andrew Rome, Trish and Anatol Kwartler, and then visit two community garden sites including Freedom House, a housing facility for military veterans, and the Kent Community Gardens. We will end our experience at Ode to Joy, the Garden Club of Kent’s shelter for dinner and community time.
Attendees will gather at the Church parking lot at 1:30 on Saturday, July 26th to car pool to the first garden.
Interested? Tickets are $25 and can be purchased on Sundays from Claudia Miller or Kathie Slater. You may also call Kathie at 330-673-2789 to reserve a spot.
Moving Forward
We continue to move forward towards our expansion. On Monday, July 7 the asbestos abatement at Mills House began. We ask that folks keep clear of the house during this time. This project will continue for approximately one week. Following that will be many small tasks that will include the final clearing of any remaining contents in the house. We project that the house demolition will be concluded by the end of the month!
Boxes Anyone?
Rod and Mary Thompson are back in the Kent/Ravenna area now that Rod has completed his interim ministry in North Carolina. They have several boxes, including wardrobe boxes available if anyone is in need. If interested, please contact Rod.
About the July Artist . . .
My name is Melodie Luther Peterson ). I am a spirit artist and my spirit name is Dancing Dove. I am not Native American by bloodline but I believe that I have had many Native American lives. I have often been drawn close to Mother Nature and I listen to my Heart. This means that I channel my art from angels, masters, guides, elementals and other benevolent Beings that work with me according to the prayer that I say that precedes each painting. If you are drawn to a painting, it is speaking to you. They are live paintings. They will do what they are meant to do whether that is healing, guiding, giving a lesson, etc. I mention on my bio that my inspiration is from my God, the ultimate naturalist and my parents. You may view my art and channeled message for each painting on my blog: mylivepaintings.blogspot.com and click on Heart Speak or make comments to: [email protected]
The Patricia Pownall UU Book Group will be meeting on Tuesday, July 22 at 7 pm in the home of Chris Hurlbut. This month we are reading The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of Revolution by Alex Storozynski . Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a Polish-Lithuanian born in 1746, was one of the most important figures of the modern world. Fleeing his homeland after a death sentence was placed on his head, he came to America with little more than a revolutionary spirit and a genius for engineering. He quickly proved his capabilities and became the most talented engineer of the Continental Army. A lifelong champion of the common man and woman, he was ahead of his time in advocating tolerance and standing up for the rights of slaves, Native Americans, women, serfs, and Jews. Following the end of the war, Kosciuszko returned to Poland and was a leading figure in that nation’s Constitutional movement. He became Commander in Chief of the Polish Army and valiantly led a defense against a Russian invasion. He lived the remainder of his life as an international celebrity and a vocal proponent for human rights. This definitive and exhaustively researched biography fills a long-standing gap in historical literature with its account of a dashing and inspiring revolutionary figure. In the month of August we will be reading Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan or The Bookstore by Debroah Meyler. In September we will be reading Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Woman’s Prison by Piper Kerman. If you have any questions you may contact Bonnie Harper. All are welcome.
Outreach and Social Justice
Pray for Relief Faith Summit on Stopping Deportations
Last month I delivered a sermon reflecting on the terrible journeys of the many unaccompanied immigrant children coming into the United States from Central America and Mexico. I talked about my fear that they will face deportation even though the UN reports that many likely qualify for refugee status. After that sermon, Dan Flippo suggested to me that my concern might warrant proposing an Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) at the Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly. The UUA Commission on Social Witness (CSW) describes an Action of Immediate Witness as a statement “that expresses the conscience and carries the authority of the delegates at the General Assembly at which it is passed.” I followed up on his suggestion by writing to several immigration justice leaders in the UUA to ask their advice. I was encouraged to propose an AIW calling people to an upcoming event in Washington DC focused on asking President Obama to stop the deportations.
With help from Dan, several colleagues and lay leaders as well from members of the Commission on Social Witness (including former UUCK member Susan Goekler who is chair of the CSW,) I proposed an AIW which was accepted and ultimately endorsed by the General Assembly. Dan took video of me presenting a statement in support of the AIW which he posted to our congregation’s FB page if you are interested in learning more.
I will be going to DC to participate in the Pray for Relief Faith Summit on Stopping Deportations at the end of the month. I’m hoping a bunch of people from Northeast Ohio will go with me and am willing to try to organize ride sharing, a van or maybe even a bus, if warranted. Are any of you moved to attend? Check out this link for much more information and please note the deadline to register is July 15.
UU and Interfaith Connections
Our friends at the United Methodist Church have invited us to their annual Concert featuring the Stan Hywet Concert Band on Monday, July 14 at 7:00 pm at the United Methodist Church. The concert will be followed by refreshments. Admission is FREE; free-will offerings will be gratefully accepted.
Led by Mike Hovancsek and Worship Associate Lori McGee
