Month: May 2026

Sunday, June 14, 2026 Blossoming Forth: Flower Communion 2026

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

One service at 11 AM in Hobbs Hall.

Join us for our annual end-of-year worship service and a century-old tradition known as the Flower Ceremony. Bring a flower from your garden, from the grocery store, or from the side of the road, as we celebrate the beauty and diversity of life together.

Sunday Morning Schedule:

10:00 AM

Religious Education for Children and Youth

Facilitated Drop-In Small Reflection Groups for Adults

Location: Fessenden Hall

This Week’s Wondering Questions:

  1. If you had a personal crest, what flower would be on it as an emblem of your life? What about it speaks to you: its appearance, life cycle, survival strategy, something else? 
  2. The writer Anais Nin said of her life, “The day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” Is there something in your life that wants to blossom? What do you need in order to take the risk?

11:00 AM Service — meeting in Hobbs Hall and on Zoom

Led by Rev. Kristina Church with DRE Colleen Thoele.

CLICK HERE to view or print the Order of Service.

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Sunday, June 7, 2026 The Wrong Miracle

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

One service at 11 AM in Hobbs Hall.

God was all over the place in the Old Testament, talking to people, creating miracles. . .  It seemed that he was very involved in people’s everyday lives. Then, he seemed to go away.  Where did he go?  As UUs, do we even acknowledge God?  If we do, how do we find him?  

Sunday Morning Schedule:

10:00 AM

Religious Education for Children and Youth

Facilitated Drop-In Small Reflection Groups for Adults

Location: Fessenden Hall

This Week’s Wondering Questions:

  1. Have your beliefs around divinities (or any kinds of supernatural elements) changed over the course of your life? At this point in your journey, would you describe yourself as a theist (believer in a god or gods), a non-theist (don’t believe in a god or gods), or perhaps a mystical in-between (leaving space for the unknown or unknowable)?
  2. When you are in need of life’s wisdom, is there a place you go to seek it? (Could be a person, a text, nature, or a sacred practice)

11:00 AM Service — meeting in Hobbs Hall and on Zoom

Led by Mike Hovancsek with Worship Associate Heidi Sumser.

CLICK HERE to view or print the Order of Service.

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Dances of Universal Peace

Posted on by Emily Hall

Saturday, June 6, 5:00-7:00pm

(photo by Bobby Burke)

Join us for an evening of the Dances of Universal Peace!

Dance leader: Alicia Patrice
Musicians: Lisa Thiel on banjo, Dawn Heartsong on percussion, Daniel Kennedy on percussion, and Emily Hall, Kent UU Director of Music Ministries, on guitar and flute

The Dances of Universal Peace are spiritual practice in motion. Drawing on the sacred phrases, scripture, and poetry of the many spiritual traditions of the earth, the Dances blend chant, live music and evocative movement into a living experience of unity, peace and integration. This taste of our true nature – as Universal Peace – opens to the possibility of a deep spiritual revolution within the person.

The Dances of Universal Peace are beginner friendly and we welcome all to join us! There will be space in our circle to participate seated and to sit and receive the dances for those who wish to. This spiritual practice welcomes people of all faiths to move and connect together.

This event will include musicians from and be a fundraiser for the music ministry program at Kent UU. Donations will benefit the work of the music ministry program to connect, inspire, and empower our world through collective musicking.

Suggested donation $10-15. All amounts welcome, no one turned away for lack of funds. If you are able to donate more, it allows for someone who cannot donate to attend. If you are not able to donate, please come as our guest.

Event will be held in Hobbs Hall (Fellowship Hall located behind the Church). Hobbs Hall is in the building with solar panels on the roof next to the gravel parking lot.

217 N. Mantua Street, Kent, OH 44240
Directions and Parking

This is a quarterly event. Upcoming dates:

  • Saturday, June 6, 5:00pm-7:00pm
  • Saturday, September 5, 5:00pm-7:00pm
  • Saturday, December 5, 5:00pm-7:00pm
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Farewell Potluck Dinner

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

Save the date….June 5, 4-8pm in Hobbs Hall.

Farewell Party for Kay and Mark Eckman! Our dear friends are moving out of state. We will miss them!

Let’s celebrate them and send them off with good wishes by gathering for a potluck.

Contact Marion Yeagler or Susanna Smart if you have any questions or ideas.

CLICK HERE to RSVP and access the volunteer sign up.

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UU Justice Ohio Convo

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

May 30, 2026 Convo 10:00 to 11:30 AM

“Ohio, Keeping Democracy Possible in 2026”

This CONVO will feature as speaker and organizer, Edwin Fuller, UUJO President and Digital Organizer for the Ohio Organizing Collaborative. The CONVO seeks to provide UU congregation members with ideas and processes for effective personal and congregational participation in this year’s critical election. Our goal is to provide support to you by offering tools, strategies, and partnerships, as Edwin will present. UUJO will provide a recording of Edwin’s talk and our CONVO that day with references, and a vital Q&A time for all attendees.

CLICK HERE to register for the Zoom meeting.

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Hobbs HVAC Update

Posted on by Renee Ruchotzke

What’s all of that commotion in Hobbs Hall this week?

We have had chronic and serious issues with the 5-year-old HVAC system in Hobbs Hall, including but not limited to malfunctions in the temperature controls, higher than expected energy usage, and the premature failure of an air-conditioning coil. After dozens of hours of volunteer time and unsatisfactory professional service the Board of Trustees voted to end our service contract with the original installer and engage a third party to do an assessment of the entire system.  DiMarco and Associates completed the  evaluation and provided a report.

In summary, the issues that they found were breaks in the insulation envelope, which caused a major ice dam on the roof and wasted heat, a malfunctioning fresh air intake, incorrect wiring of the fan motors, more incorrect wiring that caused the furnace and AC to run simultaneously  in the kitchen and, most importantly, inadequate airflow through the system. You can find their full report here.  

After reviewing the report, the Board of Trustees hired DiMarco and Associates to do the prescribed fixes.  

Why did the board choose this contractor?

DiMarco and Associates is a company with a sterling reputation for working on problematic systems and for working on “green” systems.  We are anticipating a significant reduction in energy requirements and a longer lifespan for all of the parts in a complicated system, not to mention one that heats and cools when it is supposed to, makes less noise and creates a less drafty main hall, which have been chronic and annoying frustrations expressed by many of you.

The board also realizes that, for a system that is this complicated, it is unfair to depend on volunteers to do anything beyond simple maintenance (i.e. changing filters).

How are we paying for this?

The board is deeply grateful to the church member who understood the magnitude of the issues and offered the first half of the $20,000 cost, which enabled the board to move forward with the project.  If you would also like to help defray part of the remaining cost, you can make a donation with “Hobbs HVAC” in the memo line.

If you have further questions, contact the congregation’s Moderator Randy Ruchotzke at [email protected]

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Visioning: Save the Dates!

Posted on by Renee Ruchotzke

It’s time to update our visioning statement from 2008 to reflect where we want to go as a congregation over the next few years. All are invited and encouraged to participate in planning our future!

August 30, 11AM (one service): A worship service on visioning

Sept 13, after (one) 11 AM service: potluck and 1st visioning workshop for gathering ideas. This session is for all ages!

Sept 27 after 2nd service: 2nd workshop to coalesce ideas into a proposed vision statement

Oct 18 after 2nd service: session to update/discuss proposal for new Vision Statement

Nov 8 after 2nd service: congregational voting meeting to affirm new vision statement

-Kathy Kerns

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Sunday, May 31, 2026 We, The Curious Ones! Religious Education Sunday

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

One service at 11 AM in Hobbs Hall.

It’s religious education Sunday and the kids are taking over the worship service! This morning we will hear the stories and songs of the children as we bridge our graduating seniors toward adulthood! Join us and share in the milestones of our youngest UUs. Following the service, you are invited to stay for refreshments as we dedicate our first RE garden project by planting Hobbs Goose Beans on the Hobbs Hall lawn!

Sunday Morning Schedule:

10:00 AM

Religious Education for Children and Youth

Facilitated Drop-In Small Reflection Groups for Adults

Location: Fessenden Hall

This Week’s Wondering Questions:

11:00 AM Service — meeting in Hobbs Hall and on Zoom

Led by Director of Religious Education, Colleen Thoele and the our UUCK Children and Youth.

CLICK HERE to view or print the Order of Service.

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Sunday, May 24, 2026 Rejoice Like A Child

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

One service at 11 AM at Plum Creek Park, Pavilion #2

Led by Kevyn Breedon and Friends.

Awaken curiosity, connect with nature, and embrace your inner child in this outdoor worship service on the ministry of outdoor education and nature connection, complete with goofy campfire songs. Join us at Plum Creek Park, located just off Cherry St in Kent, for this service in the park followed by the church picnic.

What to Bring:

For the worship service:

  • Lawn chairs (or blanket) to sit on for the service
  • Sunscreen and hat as needed
  • Insect repellent as needed

For the picnic:

  • A dish to share & serving utensil
  • Picnic tablecloth (optional – some will be provided)
  • Your own place settings (plate/bowl/cup/flatware)
  • Your own beverages (ice water will be provided)
  • Any games you would like to invite others to play.

CLICK HERE to view or print the Order of Service.

Zoom will not be available for this service.

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Music Ministry Potluck

Posted on by Emily Hall

Wednesday, May 27 at 6:00pm
in Hobbs Hall

Welcoming all of the folks who share their music to make our services meaningful and beautiful! Singers, ringers, instrumentalists, if you have contributed to leading music on a Sunday morning, we would love to have you here. Join us for an evening celebrating you and the gifts you share. Bring a dish to share. Families are welcome!

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Community of Song

Posted on by Emily Hall

Community concert hosted by the Kent UU Peace Chorus

Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent
228 Gougler Ave. Kent, OH 44240 
Wednesday, May 20, 7:00pm-8:30pm
in the Historic Sanctuary


Program is free and open to all!
Donations warmly received in support of our Music Ministry.

Join us for an evening of Song! The choir will share favorites from their season and invite those gathered into a participatory experience of shared musicking. Special guests will be included from our Kent UU community, including the Tone Chime Ensemble!
Guest songleaders to include: Saunis Parsons, Katie Grigg-Miller, and Merlin Johnson.
Featuring Peace Chorus director, Emily Hall and accompanist, Vanessa Vesely

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Annual Voting Meeting of the Congregation: Sunday, May 31, 2026

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

The KentUU Board of Trustees invites all members and friends to the Annual Voting Meeting after the second service, in person in Hobbs Hall and on Zoom. Active Members, your attendance is important to reach a quorum.

Eligible voters will have the opportunity to vote on the following items:

  • Last year’s Minutes: Annual Voting Meeting June 1, 2025
  • Next year’s proposed budget
  • Slate of candidates for elected positions

The Annual Report to the Congregation is available to church members and friends upon request or refer to your e-nUUs (5/1/2026).

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Ed Krimmer Celebration of Life August 1, 2026

Posted on by Renee Ruchotzke

Ed’s Family is hosting a celebration of life on Saturday, August 1st from 1:00pm-5:00pm at Hobbs Hall (new location). (more details below)

Jane (a member since 1994) would love to see old KentUU friends there. They moved to Fairlawn during the pandemic when Ed’s heath was failing.

Read about Ed and his sense of adventure.

Please let us know if you are coming!

Please bring only your memories — all food and drinks will be provided.

Please RSVP to Suzanne (see graphic for number) or on the Facebook Event (updated link with new location!)

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