Category: Announcements & Articles

So Much Beauty

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan
Holly at Plum Creek Garden, Church picnic 2008

Sunday, June 9, 2019

Led by Rev. Steven Protzman with Worship Associate Lisa Thiel

The Quaker theologian Rufus Jones writes, “Beauty has no function, no utility… It is a gift of sheer grace, a gratuitous largesse.  Our joy in it shows that we are in some sense kindred to the giver and revealer of it.”  Surrounded by the natural beauty of Plum Creek Park, we will gather as a community of all ages to celebrate beauty.  Our service will include the child dedication of Declan and then a picnic. 

One service at 10 am in Plum Creek Park, Shelter #1   Please bring a dish to share and your own place settings and beverage.  The Church will provide water.

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Annual Meeting of the Congregation for Fiscal Year 2019

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

May 19, 2019 — 11:30 AM in the Sanctuary

followed by an All-Church potluck dinner!

The Information Meeting will be held

Wednesday, May 15 at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary.

    • Calling ALL ACTIVE MEMBERS, your attendance is important as a quorum is required for voting matters.
    • A list of eligible voters will be posted in Fessenden Hall at least ten days prior to the voting meeting
    • Childcare will be provided for both meetings.

Click here to download the Annual Meeting Report

    • Printed copies of the report are available by request, contact MaryBeth at [email protected]
    • Need an absentee ballot?  Ballots are available to Active Members of the Congregation — contact MaryBeth at [email protected]

[iframe_loader width=’100%’ height=’800′ src=’https://kentuu.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/FY2019-Annual-Report-rev.-4.29.19.pdf’]

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Church Office Closed

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

The church office is closed today due to the severe weather conditions and may also be closed on Thursday, January 31 if we don’t not see an improvement in the weather. Staff are working from home and available by email and phone.

All UUCK music  rehearsals have also been canceled for both Wednesday and Thursday evenings this week.  Musicians, please check your email for updates from Hal.

In addition, the Sacred Song Circle, hosted by Saunis on Thursday evenings has been canceled this week (1/31/2019) due to the weather.  Saunis looks forward to singing with everyone next week.

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Blue Christmas – Tonight, December 12 at 7 PM

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Camille Fauser, Worship Associate

For some of us, this season is difficult.  It may be a painful reminder of loved ones who are no longer present to celebrate the holidays, there may be other losses or struggles we are facing, or the long dark nights may be a challenge.  “Blue Christmas” will be a meditative service that will provide a space for grief and loss, for reflection and remembering, and for honoring the many different feelings we have this time of year.

 

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Thanks-4-Giving Auction

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

ONLINE ACCESS FOR ALL YOUR AUCTION NEEDS!

Everyone can use the Auction web site at
www.togetherauction.com/kentuu to:

  • Find general information about the auction
  • Make a donation (or re-offer something you donated last year!)
  • Look at the catalog to see what’s already been donated
  • Look at the calendar to see when auction events are scheduled
  • See a complete statement showing your payment status, donations, and purchases
  • Find out who purchased your donated events and services
  • Send an email to purchasers of your event

Log in to our auction web site anytime at http://www.togetherauction.com/kentuu.

Simply click on the blue “login” link in the upper right corner of the screen. You will log in using your telephone number and the last 4 digits of your phone number as the PIN. If you’ve never logged in before, a blue “I’m New…” link will appear below. Click that link to proceed.

An ad in the auction program is a great way to publicize your business, congratulate someone, celebrate a milestone, or thank a person or group. And it’s inexpensive! Personal ads start at just $15 and business ads at $30. Simply complete the form located here.

Thank you for supporting the auction. We are looking forward to another wonderful event celebrating our amazing community!

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A Vigil of Lament, Healing and Hope

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

Monday, October 15, 2018  at 7 pm

Led by Rev. Steven Protzman

The SCOTUS hearings, the divisiveness so evident in our politics and in our country right now, and the treatment of survivors of sexual violence have made the last few weeks difficult for all of us and especially painful for survivors of sexual violence.  We want to offer an opportunity for a safe space to express your thoughts and feelings, to participate in a ritual of healing, and to hear words of hope to sustain us in the times to come. 
Everyone is welcome to attend.  Childcare will be provided — no RSVP needed.

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e-nUUs – May 30, 2018

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

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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In support of Kristina Spaude’s ordination

Posted on by Jen May

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

Posted on by Jen May

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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Candidating Week is Here! Come Meet the Minister!

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

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

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

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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Special Meeting of the Congregation — Sunday, May 13, 2018

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

The UUCK Board of Trustees calls a Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, May 13th in the Sanctuary between services to consider the ordination of Kristina Spaude. Kristina 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.

A quorum is needed to vote on the motion, “The Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent enthusiastically decides to continue support for the religious formation of Kristina Spaude, recognizing her years of preparation, by ordaining her as Unitarian Universalist Minister.”

Andrew Rome
Moderator, Board of Trustees

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Annual Meeting of the Congregation for Fiscal Year 2018

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

Attention ALL Members

The Annual Voting Meeting date has been postponed to Sunday, May 27 at 12:45 pm so that the very important business of voting to call a settled minister can be included in our agenda.  The informational meeting and other details all stay the same.

 

May 27, 2018 — 12:45 PM in the Sanctuary

Calling ALL ACTIVE MEMBERS, your attendance is important as a quorum will be required for voting matters.
Childcare will be provided for both meetings.

The Information Meeting will be held Wednesday, May 16 at 6:30 PM in Fessenden Hall.

Download your Annual Meeting Report here:

https://static.kentuu.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FY2018-Annual-Report-rev.-5.11.2016-.pdf

Need an absentee ballot?  Ballots are available to Active Members of the Congregation — contact MaryBeth at [email protected]

 

[iframe_loader width=’100%’ height=’800′ src=’https://static.kentuu.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FY2018-Annual-Report-rev.-5.11.2016-.pdf’]

 

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Attention all Leaders, Coordinators, and Committee Chairs

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

It’s that time of year!  Annual reports are due on or before April 10 — all reports will be included in the Annual Report to the Congregation.

The Annual Report will be published by April 20, thirty days prior to the Annual Meeting of the Congregation in accordance with our bylaws.  Reports can be submitted to MaryBeth at [email protected].

If you have any questions, please contact MaryBeth by email or calling 330.673.4247.

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