First gathering: March 14 at 12 PM in Fessenden Hall.

Save the date for a “tea” reception on Saturday, April 18 at 3:00pm at Hobbs Hall.

UUCK Board member Claudia Miller has brought more than 30 pieces of traditional rug art to the gallery at Hobbs Hall. The unique exhibit will run from March 1 to April 30.

The rugs were hooked by Shirley VanValkenburg (1937-2025), retired Kent State University professor, Title IX activist and textile artist. Shirley entrusted Claudia with her beautiful rugs which Claudia is now sharing with her beloved community.

Rug hooking is a craft and art traditionally done by women. It has a long, practical history. When fabrics wore out, women used the worn out fabric to make rugs as a
means to keep the cold floors warm.

But Shirley’s rugs are different. Some of the rugs are whimsical, a reflection of Shirley’s humor. Others capture the mood of the day or the culture of the Midwest, where she always lived.

For Shirley and those who share her art and craft, rug hooking led to a community of friends.

The Lord’s Lunch Congregate meal is hosted at Trinity Lutheran Church of Kent with volunteers from local churches, community organizations and families. Volunteers prepare and serve this meal to help cover the need for food on the weekends when Kent Social Services is closed. A Trinity staff member, Jenn Hedge, works closely with Kent Social Services and other local groups (e.g., Miller House) to provide food for community members living with food insecurity.

UUCK has purchased/prepared/served this meal 2-6 times/year for over fifteen years. We are always looking for volunteers to assist–we are an organized, efficient group and we have a lot of fun in the process! The dates for 2026 are March 21, July 18 and November 7. Contact Camille Pavlicek-Fauser (330) 289-2807 if you are interested in volunteering.

General Assembly is our denomination’s annual June gathering where congregation delegates do the business of the UUA and where UUs can attend workshops, lectures, and worship services. Please note that the UUA is trying a new format this year, with many changes.  I will summarize a few key pieces of information here, but please go to the GA website for more information: https://www.uua.org/ga. You can also contact Kathy Kerns ([email protected]) for more information.

** the business meeting will take place 6/14 – 6/16, online only. This meeting is for congregation delegates to GA who will attend business sessions and vote on behalf of their congregation.  Our church board selects our church’s delegates, please contact Moderator Randy Ruchotzke ([email protected]) if you are interested in serving as a delegate. You can opt out of the $175 registration fee or request reimbursement from our church’s Leadership Development Committee (request to [email protected]).  

** the programming (workshops, worship, talks) will take place 6/19 – 6/21.  You may attend online only ($350 registration before May 1; $450 after that date). There are two in person options; in addition to paying the regular registration fee, you can pay an additional $25 to attend  GA at a church that is streaming content so you can watch with other attendees (as of now, there is no local option, the closest church is in Rochester, NY). Alternatively, you can attend the streamed sessions in Louisville with others ($300 registration; does not include housing). There appear to be limited sessions to attend on these dates, although as with past years there may be additional prerecorded workshops that can be accessed as part of the registration fees. 

Remember how beautiful our church looked at our Easter service last year? Lets do it again! Order forms to purchase tulips, lilies and daffodils will be available in Hobbs foyer on March 1 and 8. The proceeds from the sale of the flowers will go to our group of UUs who provide Saturday lunch once a quarter at the Kent Lutheran Church’s Lords Lunch program. After our Easter display, we please ask that you take your potted plant home to enjoy.

This summer, from June 28 – July 4, 2026, 21 youth from our high school youth group, UUYJ (Unitarian Universalist Youth for Justice), will be embarking on a life-changing service/cultural immersion trip to Washington DC.

They will be working with the Youth Service Opportunities Project (YSOP) that hosts programs for young adults to learn and serve side-by-side with people facing hunger and homelessness, as well as exploring short and long-term solutions with DC residents with lived experiences. During their time there, our youth will volunteer at service agencies such as hot meal programs, shelters, food banks, clothing centers. These experiences will not only bring tangible help to those in need but will also foster lasting connections, cultural understanding, and how to put faith into action.

To make this trip possible, we need your support! The youth group is holding a stock sale to help fund the journey. Stocks are $20.00 per share, but we want you to buy more than one share if you can. In past years, people bought 10 ($200), 20 ($400), or even 100 ($2,000) shares! By purchasing “stocks” you are investing in the lives of 21 youth who are ready to live out their faith through love, peace, and action. There is no better investment than that!

Join us in the hallway before and after church on February 22nd to purchase stocks and help make this trip possible (cash, check or credit card accepted). If you want to donate online, you can go to our church giving site and click “one-time gift”, then select “other” for the type of donation and type in “youth group trip” to specify the nature of the donation. You can also mail in a check written to Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent and write in the memo line “youth group trip”.

This program is on break until Fall!

Friday Evening Drop-In Art Group in Fessenden Hall

Join us bi-weekly on Friday evenings in Fessenden Hall where we will be using art prompts & materials to process current events, and check in on each other. We will create collaborative projects and participatory art that we can share at our local spots. A wide variety of supplies will be provided from clay, pastels, paint, fiber arts, wood burning, collage, zine making, image transfers and much more! You are also welcome to bring your own supplies. The initial session and prompts will be facilitated by Kate Starks, but members will take turns leading the sessions and sharing their favorite mediums as we work on these projects together.

First session starts on Friday, February 13th from 5-7pm through June 2026.

Upcoming Sessions:

March 13th

March 27th

April 10th

April 24th

May 8th

May 22nd