Have you ever been the recipient of an act of mercy? What was that like for you? How did that experience influence your understanding of what it means to give mercy?
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Author: UU Church of Kent
Merciful, September 18th, 2011
The financial times in which we live are challenging. Many who work hard and play by the rules have been unable to find adequate employment. There is suffering in our midst. This morning we will explore what it might mean for us collectively, as a community and as a nation, to be merciful toward those who suffer.
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Prayers of Peace and Mercy, September 11th, 2011
September 11, 2001 was a day the world shook. Ten years later as we gather in worship we will mark the tenth anniversary of those tragic events with prayers of peace and mercy. Because this is also our annual Ingathering service, we are going to re-imagine our gathering of the waters ritual. This year we ask you to bring water with you to our services from a place which you find peaceful. Traditionally this service is a multigenerational service and we are going to keep that tradition this year. We are working hard to ensure that this service will be meaningful and appropriate for people in first grade and older. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent choir will help us create moments of peace and harmony as they return from their summer break with special music.
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Poetry: A Doorway Into Prayer, September 4th, 2011
Do UUs have prayers? Do UUs pray? Do you pray? Most major world religions have prayers that are said in times of sorrow, joy and celebration. We do not share this practice in our UU tradition. Prayer can be a powerful tool in one’s spritual life and I, for one, feel the need to have some kind of prayer to rely on in times of need. I believe that poetry can open the doorway into prayer for UUs who wish to have this practice in their daily life. This service hopes to explore this idea and will offer some poems for your consideration as a possible opening to prayer.
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You Can’t Be a Unitarian Universalist All By Yourself, August 21th, 2011
To be a Unitarian Universalist is to be united in covenantal community with other people. Our religious tradition is inherently relational; it requires our participation. This morning we will explore the theology of covenant in our religious tradition.
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Not By Common Belief, But By Common Promise, August 14th, 2011
Unitarian Universalists are not bound together in common belief. We have no dogma, we have no creeds. What we do have is covenant. We are bound by common promise. In this sermon we will explore the history and significance of covenant in our religious tradition.
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Put Your Troubles on the Bus, August 7th, 2011
Our Seven Principles include the phrases “inherent worth and dignity of every person,” “compassion in human relations,” and “acceptance of one another.” These elements of the Seven Principles focus on empathy and compassion but where does one begin in understanding the complexities of human nature in order to extend empathy and compassion to another person? Tom Beck is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron and an Administrator and Teacher at The University of Akron. Tom is the dad of three adult married sons and grandfather of two with another one on the way.
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Strands Of Earth Spirit In Our Web, July 31st, 2011
Strands Of Earth Spirit In Our Web, July 31st, 2011
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The Pastoral Act, July 24th, 2011
Truth or Meaning?, July 17th, 2011
Is there a conflict between the search for truth and the search for meaning? If there were a conflict, which would you prioritize? These are among the questions raised by Joel Slater, who won the opportunity to select a theme for a worship service at our service auction last fall. Joel will be joining Melissa in leading this service in exploration of our fourth principle.
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Silent Disabilities, July 10th, 2011
Not everyone has a disability that is readily seen. There is depression, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, autism, meineares disease, and so on. Through personal stories and experiences Deb Biggins will share what it is like to live with silent disabilities. The program will also share stories of others in our community who have disabilities that are hard to understand, and most times we don’t stop to think about them. People around us are living with difficult handicaps but they are not always seen easily so we tend to overlook them. This service will help open our eyes to those around us suffering with Silent Disabilities.
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Food for Thought, July 3rd, 2011
Is there “middle path” to the ethical eating dilemma? How can being mindful about our food choices can help us create a connection to the interdependent web? (This sermon is the winner of the 2010 Commission on Social Witness award)
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Buddhism, June 26th, 2011
Buddhism will be explored in this worship service led by the Venerable Shih Ying-Fa, Abbott of the CloudWater Zendo of Cleveland. Ven. Ying-Fa was a highly regarded theme speaker at Summer Institute several years ago, is a popular worship leader in area UU churches, and participated in a UUCK/UCC Neighboring Faiths class.
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Black Pioneers in a White Denomination, June 19th, 2011
The Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed is a distinguished Unitarian Universalist minister, now retired after 26 years of service. Black Pioneers in a White Denomination, the book that grew from his graduate thesis, remains an important work in Unitarian Universalist history. This morning we will hear stories of some of the black pioneers in this predominantly white denomination. How can we learn from their experiences as we strive to grow into our dream of anti-racist, multi-racial, multi-cultural religious community?
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Celebrating Childhood, June 5th, 2011
Our annual RE Sunday is a time to celebrate! We are sure to be delighted by the presentations from our children and their teachers. Our religious education teachers and youth group advisors will be honored for their service. Karen Lapidus, Director of Religious Education will offer the homily.
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