September 27, 2015 marked the kickoff of Capital Campaign here at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent.  The day began with inspiring worship services, continued with a celebration lunch, a gathering at the KSU 1910 lounge and finished with a fundraising concert at The Kent Stage featuring Hey Mavis and Hal Walker!

Many thanks to Debra Lynn Hook for creating and sharing  the following video!

We had an excellent turn out for the introduction to our new adult religious education opportunity focusing on racial justice and equity. Building the World We Dream About is an educational series that will provide the opportunity for our community to engage with the tangled knot of privilege, oppression and identity within a sacred, covenantal space held by skilled and trusted facilitators. Everyone is invited to participate.

Classes will be offered on Tuesdays at 10 AM and 7 PM beginning September 15. 

It may be possible for the Church to provide childcare for these classes – if you are in need of childcare, please contact Rev. Melissa no later than 4 PM on Sunday, September 13.  Thank you.

Tired of wearing unsightly and cumbersome headphones?  Can’t hear the services even if you have hearing aids?  Relief is coming, and soon!  The church will have a Hearing Loop system, state of the art technology for public places, installed by the end of September.  Unlike our current system, the Loop will create a magnetic field which is picked up by T-coil-equipped hearing aids, so no headphones are required.
The sound is greatly improved over headphones because each person’s hearing aid is individually tuned to their ears, and annoying room sound is eliminated because the hearing aids fit snugly in the ear canal.  Nearly all in-ear and behind-the-ear hearing aids made in the last 5 years have T-coils in them.  As an added bonus, users can elect to hear the Loop sound only (eliminates room sound), room sound only (eliminates the Loop), or both at once.  The choice is made on the user’s hearing aid.  But wait, there’s more!  We will also receive two receivers and headphones for those who don’t have hearing aids, but need a little assistance.

This all started at Summer Institute.  I noticed that Warren Brown, sound tech for SI and Akron UU member, installed a temporary Loop in the church.  I asked him about it, and he said he installed Loop systems professionally.  And if I helped him out with the grunt work, we’d get a price break. Just last week the Ministerial Executive Team approved the install.  Olive Hobbs, soon you can rejoice!

Look for this Loop System logo in the church soon.

Brad Bolton

“ . . . and to help one another”

Every Sunday, we all speak, and truly mean, this phrase from our Covenant.  On September 20^th, after both services, all UUCK Committees, Teams, and Groups will be showcasing their work and ministries.  Every Committee and Group is looking to educate us about what their team does and how we can help!  There is a Committee or Group for you!  Plan to come to the Ministries Fair in Fessenden Hall during Coffee Hour and after Second Service.  Learn what goes on and find a match with your interests and skills, and your time availability.  Engaging in service to our Community is a pathway to personal and spiritual growth.

Realize our Covenant in your life by committing to some new way of belonging within our Beloved Community this year, whether small or large.  There is much to be done.

Claudia Miller,

Volunteer Ministries Coordinator

This year the Library will partner with the KEC to present a Symposium, “How Global Warming Affects Us and What We Can Do to Save Ourselves.”

It will be held on Monday, Sept. 21st at 7:00 P.M. in the Sanctuary.  A panel of 4 speakers will include 3 Kent State Professors, each presenting a different aspect of climate change: Joseph Ortiz, from Geology; Charles Frederick, from the College of Architecture and Environmental  Design; and Andrea Case from Biological Sciences. Andrew Rome, a congregational member, will talk about assimilating climate change information into everyday life. Bill Wilen will serve as Panel Moderator. The Committee encourages you and your family to join us for this special event. Climate change becomes more critical as we observe its changes on our planet. Questions will be taken at the end of each presentation. A Free Will offering will be accepted and shared with KEC. Refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the program.