Are you looking for a low stress way to get involved or support the church? If so, we have an opportunity for your consideration.
The church is in need of a few folks to help keep the church signs updated.
What’s involved? The Gougler Ave. sign requires periodic message updating — maybe once a month (or maybe even every other month). The sign located on the Mantua St. side of Hobbs Hall requires a bit more attention as it is used for both church messaging and rental advertising.
Even the little jobs mean a lot and have a big impact. Might you be interested in supporting the church this way? If so, please contact MaryBeth at [email protected].
Don’t miss the latest art show in the Hobbs Hall Gallery: The Art of Andy Krebs: A Free and Responsible Search.
Artwork will be on display from January 9 through February 28.
Several selected pieces will be available for purchase.
Proceeds support a local artist and will also benefit the Kent UU Church.
Artist’s Statement:
A Free and Responsible Search
The pieces here are drawn from four bodies of work: landscape batiks, abstract birds, sun and moon faces, and poetry pieces. Together, they share free and loose processes of creating that relinquish some control over the outcomes and allow for play.
Each type of artwork embodies the practice of surrender in its own way. Hot wax is used to create the batiks, and its flowing, free-spirited nature yields fluid and unpredictable results. The birds begin with a continuous blind contour line drawing, a method that involves closing one’s eyes and drawing without lifting the pencil. The suns and moons are made rapidly and evolve without preconceived images of the final products. And finally, the poem pieces are built upon phrases that arise from free-flowing thought. Even the breadth of the show itself, drawn from multiple series of works, is a move toward greater freedom and less convention.
Highly rendered, more realistic artwork deserves its place in the world and is satisfying to create; I know this from my own experience. But as I’ve developed as an artist and a person, I’ve embraced a less rigid and more curious approach to creating and living. These works reflect that part of me. I have found that this way, making art acts as a practice toward surrender to life itself. I aspire to spend my entire life growing, living freely, loving bravely, and learning to be comfortable with the unknown. I hope that these pieces inspire a loosening, playfulness, and curiosity in you, too.
Join Brad, Margot, and friends for an evening of Kirtan chanting, a way to celebrate unity in diversity by joining voices in “call and response” chants in Sanskrit and English.
Call and response chanting to bring together our worlds, small and large, and share another evening of music, sound and silence. Be the choir and the quiet. Bring your friends
Krsnaa Fitch of Enchanted Hearts will join us again with vocals and Lexie Roth on viola. Guests this evening are Alicia Patrice and Bob Wilson. Alicia will lead us in two Dances of Universal Peace, an art of movement and music as worship. Bob Wilson ministers to the poet in us all, and he will share Inversnaid, with musical accompaniment. Join us!
This quarterly offering is jointly hosted by the communities of the UU Church of Kent and One Love Yoga. All are welcome, so please join us, and invite friends and family. Suggested donation of $10.
Location:
Church Sanctuary @ the UU Church of Kent (elevator is repaired!) 228 Gougler Ave. Kent, OH 44240
Volunteers give generously of their time to run many vital aspects of the church, and there’s one category of volunteers that works behind the scenes and is elected by members of the congregation. Financial Secretaries (FinSecs) are responsible for sorting, counting, and distributing funds from the collection basket, as well as checks that come in the mail. It’s an in-person job that’s carried out by one of the three Financial Secretaries, along with an Alternate or helper. The work is always done in pairs to provide an extra layer of trust.
“It’s one of those kind of invisible jobs, that’s really important, and it’s got to be done right,” says Financial Secretary Saunis Parsons. Although she doesn’t describe herself as a “numbers person,” Saunis says the position does require attention to detail, familiarity with spreadsheets, and some initial training. For each check or cash donation that comes in, there is a multi-step process to be sure the funds go into the correct account (such as for the youth ministry or that month’s Special Collection) or are credited to the right individual pledge, or other revenue stream (such as rentals). Once everything is entered, the information is sent to Congregational Administrator MaryBeth Hannan and money is deposited in the bank. It takes about an hour each week for one of the secretaries and a helper.
Because the job comes with a learning curve, the three-year terms of financial secretaries are staggered. Only one person’s term will expire In any given year. An exception came in 2025, after Financial Secretary Dave Watt stepped up to the treasurer position that had recently become vacant. Mike Snyder (pictured at the computer) was appointed by the board in mid-term to complete Dave’s term. “The training is extensive and I’ve had excellent tutors,” Mike says. Retired math teacher John Brannan is a longtime church member who has served as treasurer and now provides an extra set of eyes, as needed, as an elected Alternate Financial Secretary. Marion Yeagler (pictured sorting through envelopes), serves as a helper when needed.
“It’s not a huge commitment, but it’s a regular and known one,” says Lois Weir, who is currently serving as a Financial Secretary after six years as Treasurer. She likes the job because it’s an ongoing role that is predictable; the schedule is set three months at a time. “Sometimes it’s pretty exciting when we get a really big donation,” Weir says, but generally the work is routine. “That’s how we want our finances to be, routine” she quipped.
Saunis Parsons, Mike Snyder, and Lois Weir—the current team of Financial Secretaries—all say that working together in pairs is a natural way to become friends with other UUs. Contact the Leadership Development Committee [email protected] to express interest in serving as a Financial Secretary or Alternate. Both positions require a nomination by the LDC and election by the congregation at the annual meeting.
Do You Enjoy This Feature?
We are looking for more “reporters” to interview volunteers and write future articles.
And we would love to spotlight your ministry!
Contact our Moderator Randy Ruchotzke [email protected] if you are interested!
