Introducing our settled Minister. . . the Rev. Steven Protzman!

Called by a unanimous vote by the Active Members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent on May 27, 2018, the Rev. Steven Protzman began his ministry with us on August 1, 2018.

The Reverend Steven Protzman

is a native Midwesterner and grew up in Missouri and Iowa.  He holds an undergraduate degree in architecture from Iowa State University and his previous career was as a pipe organ designer for several major American organ builders.  He is a 2009 graduate of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, New Brighton, Minnesota and was ordained in 2010 at the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis.  Steven has served the Unitarian Universalist Society, Coralville, Iowa (previously the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City, Iowa) since 2011 as its settled minister.

Steven is an outgoing extrovert who loves to socialize and meet new people.  He is also passionate about nature, especially wolves, eagles and the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon, is an avid country western dancer, and  enjoys gardening, the arts, hockey, good food of all kinds, architecture, and exploring new places.  While in Iowa, he rediscovered the rugged beauty of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas and vacationed down there for several years, exploring caves, rivers, forests, springs and the natural beauty of that part of the country.

Steven believes in the power of Unitarian Universalism to transform people’s lives, to invite us to discover our fullest, most authentic selves, to guide us into deeper relationship with the Holy, and to challenge us to offer our lives in service to a world that needs the love and the gifts each of us has to share.

If you would like more information about Rev. Steven, you can check out his website at http://www.uuministry.com/stevenprotzman

The password: M2FK}JtsZ6

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e-nUUs – May 30, 2018

Click to Open this week’s e-nUUs!  (Right-click the link and choose “Save Link As…” to save the document to your computer)

 

Headlines from this week’s announcements

  • May the Blessings Be – June 3
  • Blessings in the Park with Pet Blessings – June 10
  • Annual Church Picnic – June 10 (Plum Creek)
  • Board News – Rev. Steven Protzman is our new Minister!
  • Please Provide your RE feedback
  • Board Fundraiser – Hamilton Raffle
  • Kristina Spaude Ordination
  • The Church Office will be closed through June 4
  • Plant-based vegan potluck dinner – June 1
  • Family Game Night – June 2
  • Poem from our UUCK Writing Group
  • Youth Group Outreach Project
  • Pastoral Care information

 

 

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Life Calls Us On — Sunday, May 27, 2018

Led by Rev. Steven Protzman with Worship Associate Rev. Christie Anderson

In the hymn “Life Calls Us On”, written by Rev. Kendyl Gibbons and Rev. Jason Shelton, the fourth verse says:  “And the Spirit’s gracious power dreams of good that yet shall be.”  After a week together of getting to know each other and dreaming and talking about possibilities for our shared ministry, we will reflect on our time together and who life calls us to be together in the years to come.

Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.

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In support of Kristina Spaude’s ordination

UUCK Members and Friends,

On May 13, we held a special meeting in which we unanimously decided to ordain Kristina Spaude, a member of our congregation. Kristina’s ordination will be held on June 30. This celebration will welcome Kristina’s family, friends, special individually-invited guests, and anyone from the UU Church of Youngstown and UU Church of Kent congregations who is able to attend. The ordination and reception will be held at the United Church of Christ in Kent to accommodate more guests than we can comfortably fit in our own building. The ceremony will be followed by a potluck reception. Ordination and reception expenses — to fund church rental, travel for ministers and other guests, and various printing costs — are expected to total about $2,500. In support of Kristina, we endeavor to raise $1,250 towards this amount with the remainder being paid by the UU Church of Youngstown. No funds have been allocated from our current operational budget.

Kristina Spaude has been a member of the UU Church of Kent since February 2007. Having served as a lay leader in many capacities, including pastoral care, stewardship, worship associate, social justice, and as a youth group advisor, she finally answered the call to ministry and began seminary at Meadville Lombard Theological School in 2012. Kristina has since served as Director of Religious Education at SouthWest UU Church (North Royalton), Intern & Sabbatical Minister at the UU Church of Youngstown, and is currently a Chaplain Fellow at the Cleveland VA Medical Center. Her passions in UU ministry include leading worship, pastoral care, social justice (racial, disability, LGBTQ+ especially), and faith formation for all ages. She is grateful to be called for ordination by the congregation that loved her into ministry.

Donations for Kristina’s ordination celebration, in any amount, can be made by check to UU Church of Kent with “Kristina’s Ordination” written on the memo line, or you may also donate online via PayPay at https://kentuu.org/giving/donate. Choose “other,” and make a note in the memo section designating your donation to “Kristina’s Ordination.” Please note that donations are not required to attend the ordination and reception. Your generosity is appreciated.

Please look for an invite to the celebration in the coming week, and save the date: June 30, 2018!

Kristina’s UUCK Ordination Committee Members,
Jennifer May
Dani Beale
Kathy Walker

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HAMILTON Ticket Raffle Fundraiser

Do not throw away your shot…at winning fabulous seats to Hamilton in Cleveland!

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent Board of Trustees are raffling off a pair of Loge tickets (face value $435/ticket) to Hamilton in Cleveland on July 31st, 2018. More details here.

Raffle tickets are $25 each.

Proceeds will benefit the UUCK operating budget, and anyone is eligible to purchase tickets and win (excluding current board members or spouses). Please share this and help spread the word! In-person raffle tickets sold at coffee hour each Sunday or buy on-line anytime until the drawing on July 14, 2018.

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e-nUUs – May 23, 2018

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Headlines from this week’s announcements

  • Annual Meeting of the Congregation – May 27
  • Please wear your name tags this Sundays, May 27
  • Life Calls Us On – May 27
  • Special holiday programming for Children and Youth – May 27
  • Please Provide your RE feedback
  • Introducing our Ministerial Candidate — Rev. Steven Protzman
  • What is Candidating Week?
  • We’re Over the Top! Social Hour – May 27
  • Calling All Bakers
  • The Church Office will be closed May 28 – June 4
  • Family Game Night – June 2
  • Poem from our UUCK Writing Group
  • Youth Group Outreach Project
  • Perspectives on Global Climate Change – May 24 (Case Western Reserve University)
  • Pastoral Care information

 

 

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May I Have This Dance With You? — Sunday, May 20, 2018

Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Worship Associate Kathy Kerns

 

The theme “Come Dance With Us” has guided your search committee in its journey of seeking your next settled minister.  As we reflect on the similarities between ministry and dancing, both of which invite us to practice partnership, adaptability and creativity, intimacy and experimentation, today will be a day of celebration as we begin our dance of ministry together, and we say yes once again to the invitation to join in the dance of Life.

 

Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with Nursery care available during both services.

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Candidating Week is Here! Come Meet the Minister!

The week of May 20 – 27 there will be many opportunities to meet the ministerial candidate.  These are opportunities to explore how we can work together in ministry if we call our candidate and the call is accepted.  The events are a time for asking questions you have, answering questions from the minister, exploring possibilities, having fun, and letting the candidate see what a wonderful community we have. We have endeavored to be inclusive.  We had an extremely tight timeline for getting the schedule together; if you feel your group is missing, please contact Kathy Kerns ([email protected]; 330/677-1014), and know that any omissions are unintended!

Some events are by invitation for specific groups, some are open to all. Here is a summary:

Events Open to the Entire Congregation:

Date Time Event
Sun 5/20 Candidate preaching, special coffee hour
Tues 5/22 9 – 10:30AM Coffee with the minister at Wild Goats  319 W. Main Street, Kent
Wed 5/23 3:30- 5:00PM Coffee with the Minister at Scribbles   237 N. Water Street, Kent
Sat 5/26 10 to 11:30AM Chat with the Minister (Church Sanctuary)
Sun 5/27 Candidate preaching, special coffee hour, and congregational meeting (1PM) to vote on calling a minister!  Be there for this celebratory event!

 

Large Potluck Events:   If you are involved in these areas you should receive an e-mail invite, but feel free to contact the point person if questions:

Music Ministries (Hal)

Religious Education (Lily and Colleen)

Social Justice (Vivien)

 

Smaller, Theme Based Events: We have organized groups around specific ministries.  This is to allow the leaders working in those areas an opportunity to talk about that area of ministry with the candidate.  These are intended to be smallish gatherings (15 or fewer people).  If you are a member of one of these groups, and have not yet been contacted, please contact your group’s leader for details about your event:

MSC Board Finance Teams Pastoral Care Teams MET
Membership COM Worship Associates Retirees/Library
Master Plan BET Staff Leadership Development

 

More Questions?

Contact a member of the Ministerial Search Committee.

Kathy Slater, chair

Becky Cline

Don Easterling

Saul Flanner

Bonnie Harper

Kathy Kerns

Rod Thompson

Gene Wenninger (Honoring his work with us)

 

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e-nUUs – May 16, 2018

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Headlines from this week’s announcements

  • Annual Meeting of the Congregation – May 27 (Date Change)
  • Annual Information Meeting – May 16
  • Please wear your name tags Sundays, May 20 & 27!
  • May I Have this Dance with You?  – May 20
  • Life Calls Us On – May 27
  • News from the RE Wire
  • Summer School Needs Fantastic Adventures – Can you help?
  • The RE Committee would like your feedback
  • RE Teacher teams – May 20
  • UUCK Board News
  • Introducing our Ministerial Candidate — Rev. Steven Protzman
  • What is Candidating Week?
  • Celebratory Social Hour – May 20
  • The Church Office will be closed May 28 – June 4
  • Family Game Night – June 2
  • Poems from our UUCK Writing Group
  • Youth Group Outreach Project
  • Perspectives on Global Climate Change – May 24 (Case Western Reserve University)
  • Pastoral Care information

 

 

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Introducing our Candidate. . . the Rev. Steven Protzman!

The Reverend Steven Protzman

is a native Midwesterner and grew up in Missouri and Iowa.  He holds an undergraduate degree in architecture from Iowa State University and his previous career was as a pipe organ designer for several major American organ builders.  He is a 2009 graduate of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, New Brighton, Minnesota and was ordained in 2010 at the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis.  Steven has served the Unitarian Universalist Society, Coralville, Iowa (previously the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City, Iowa) since 2011 as its settled minister.

Steven is an outgoing extrovert who loves to socialize and meet new people.  He is also passionate about nature, especially wolves, eagles and the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon, is an avid country western dancer, and  enjoys gardening, the arts, hockey, good food of all kinds, architecture, and exploring new places.  While in Iowa, he rediscovered the rugged beauty of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas and vacationed down there for several years, exploring caves, rivers, forests, springs and the natural beauty of that part of the country.

Steven believes in the power of Unitarian Universalism to transform people’s lives, to invite us to discover our fullest, most authentic selves, to guide us into deeper relationship with the Holy, and to challenge us to offer our lives in service to a world that needs the love and the gifts each of us has to share.

 

If you would like more information about Rev. Steven, you can check out his website at http://www.uuministry.com/stevenprotzman.

The password: M2FK}JtsZ6.

He has included a letter to our congregation.

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RE Sunday: Growing in Community – Sunday, May 13, 2018

Led by DRE Lily Rappaport, REC Colleen Thoele, Mary Leeson, Chair and the Religious Education Committee

This Sunday is Religious Education Sunday:  Growing in Community. Everyone is invited to attend services in the Sanctuary in celebration of our children and youth. We will recognize our RE volunteers during both services and will have a special Bridging Ceremony for our graduating seniors during the 11:30 service.

Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with Nursery care available for both services.

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e-nUUs – May 9, 2018

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Headlines from this week’s announcements

  • Special Meeting of the Congregation Called for May 13 (between services)
  • Growing in Community – May 13 – RE Sunday!
  • All are invited to attend our multi-generational RE Sunday – May 13
  • Cuyahoga River Concert – May 12
  • RE NEEDS your aluminum cans
  • Four Volunteers needed for Summer RE
  • Second Sunday Meet & Greet – May 13 (corrected date!)
  • Retiree’s Lunch – May 15
  • Writing Group – May 15
  • May ‘New to UU Classes have been postponed.
  • Weekly Mediation Group
  • Help! A message from our Library Committee
  • Save the Date – Family Game Night – June 2
  • Don’t call Renee! – Affiliated Community Minister will be on Sabbatical April 30 – Aug 5
  • Annual Meeting of the Congregation – May 20
  • Annual Information Meeting – May 16
  • UUA LeaderLab
  • Making it All Work: A Case Study in Renewing Justice Ministry – May 9 (UU Church of Akron)
  • Pastoral Care information

 

 

 

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Fallow Time for the Soul – Sunday, May 6, 2018

Led by Lisa Thiel and Worship Associate Jeff Marsh

“Just as fields need fallow time to improve the quality of soil and crops, we all need pause to foster healthy growth. But what gets in the way? What have we lost through our culture of busyness? And what can be done about it?

Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with Nursery care available for both services.

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e-nUUs – May 2, 2018

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Click to Open this week’s e-nUUs!  (Right-click the link and choose “Save Link As…” to save the document to your computer)

 

Headlines from this week’s announcements

  • Special Meeting of the Congregation Called for May 13 (between services)
  • Fallow Time for the Soul – May 6
  • Growing in Community – May 13 – RE Sunday!
  • RE NEEDS your aluminum cans
  • Four Volunteers needed for Summer RE
  • RE This Sunday
  • RE Teacher Teams – May 6
  • Thank You Celebration – Social hour, May 6
  • May ‘New to UU Classes’ postponed
  • Weekly Mediation Group
  • Help! A message from our Library Committe
  • Plant-based Potluck – May 4
  • Second Sunday Meet & Greet – May 13 (corrected date!)
  • Save the Date – Family Game Night – June 2
  • Don’t call Renee! – Affiliated Community Minister will be on Sabbatical April 30 – Aug 5
  • Annual Meeting of the Congregation – May 20
  • Annual Information Meeting – May 16
  • Short Read – Deep Discussion — Race 4 Justice Task Group Common Read
  • UUA LeaderLab
  • Making it All Work: A Case Study in Renewing Justice Ministry – May 9 (UU Church of Akron)
  • Socially Responsible Sweat Shop Outreach to Bonyo’s Kenya Mission
  • Pastoral Care information

 

 

 

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