Worship & Music

 

Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM.

 

September 29 – Returning to a Faith That Matters

Led by the Rev. Doug Wadkins and Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer

As we move into the autumn together, it is a good time to recall essential matters and think about how we will journey through this new year together. This service will explore some of the core aspects of our faith, past, present and future, that bring us back to a dynamic understanding of who we are as a community.

 

Seeking photos for worship service

I am hoping to include a short slide show as part of the worship service that I’ll be leading in October.  The topic is about environmentalist Rachel Carson and her philosophy on the importance of instilling a sense of wonder in children.  You are invited to email several photos to me that illustrate a child’s sense of awe, curiosity or excitement about the natural world.  The photo can be of your children, grandchildren or even yourself as a child.  Email photos to [email protected] by Oct. 4.  Thanks!  Christie Anderson

 

Sacred Song Circle Returns

The Sacred Song Circle returns to Thursday nights starting Sept. 26 for 30 minutes of community harmony and sacular stimulation beginning at 6:15 PM. Please note that this is a slightly earlier time than we had been meeting.  In addition, I will be available at 6:00 for 15 minutes of teaching time to help people become familiar with the songs, and to explain the framework we use and it’s theoretical underpinnings for anyone who is interested.  In addition, due to popular request, I’m going to try having a Sacred Song Circle every week instead of every two or three weeks.  As always, you don’t have to consider yourself a singer to be able to participate, and in fact you don’t even have to sing.  It’s free and open to all.  The more voices the better!  Bring your friends, and a water bottle if you’ll need it. Please gather in the Sanctuary.  Hope to see you there.

 

We hope you plan to join us for what is sure to be an entertaining event!

U.U.’ve Got Talent!  “An Evening of Musical Variety”

On Saturday September 28^th, the UU church of Kent Music Committee is hosting a musical fundraiser. We are hoping to raise $800 to pay for the services of an accompanist for our beloved choir.  Join us at 7:30 that evening as we transform the Kent sanctuary into a venue for highlighting the remarkable talents of local UU’s and Friends!  $10 is the suggested donation, but please give what you can – hope to see you there!

 

Lifespan Learning

 

The Super Brain group will meet at 3 PM on Sunday, October 6 in the Annex.  The group will be examining developing your greatest gift and how the brain makes reality.  All are welcome to join in the exploration.  Any questions, call Mary Maske at 330.677.0174.

 

Dear members and friends of UUCK,

If you were thinking about joining a small group this year but didn’t get around to signing up, you have another chance!  We met this morning to sort people into groups and it looks like we may be able to offer the following small groups (each meeting once per month from October through May):

Sunday night Food for Thought Group from 6-8pm

Monday night Chalice Group from 7-9pm

Tuesday night Chalice Group from 7-9pm

Thursday night Chalice group from 7-9pm

Each of these groups can accommodate a couple more people.  If you would like to participate, please email me with your preferred day and the other information requested on the attached sign-up sheet and copy the church office at [email protected] by this coming Friday, 9/27.

I personally think that participating in a monthly small group is a wonderful way to deepen your connections with others in the congregation while having meaningful conversations.  Each month’s theme for the small group conversations reflects our monthly worship themes, thus the groups provide an opportunity to share your own ideas, feelings and experiences about the themes we are exploring in our services.  The brochure about this program is attached if you need more information.

 

Save the Date!

The annual Halloween Party and Haunted House will take place on Saturday, October 26th starting at 6:00. More details are forthcoming in the October edition of the Chalice Flame and in future eNuu’s and Facebook posts.

 

Community Within

 

The planning task force for the church’s 150th anniversary celebration will be meeting on Sunday, September 29 at 12:45 in the Annex. 

 

The Patricia Pownall UU Book Group will be meeting on Tuesday, October 8 at 7 pm. We are again meeting in the home of Trish Johnson-Kwartler, 2937 Overlook Rd. in Silver Lake. Please bring a snack to share. Beverages will be provided. This month we are reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.   A mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, The Language of Flowers beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past. In November we will be reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. If you have any questions you may contact Bonnie Harper at [email protected].  All are welcome.

 

The 2nd Bill Moyers Symposium will be held on Wednesday, October 9th at 7:30 P.M. in Fessenden

Hall. The program will be an interview by Moyers with the atheist philosopher, Colin McGinn. It is part of the series exploring the theme, “Faith vs.Reason”. After viewing the program, Carolyn Schlemmer will moderate the discussion. Please join us. Our first program was enthusiastically received.

 

Parents and guardians of our older (age 9 and above) children,

On behalf of KentHogwarts I would like to cordially invite you participate in our upcoming Forbidden Forest night hike. Prepare to face down Dementors, Death Eaters and Acromantulas in an after dark adventure!

We are hosting this event on Saturday, October 12th 2013 at the Tallmadge Meadows Metropark in Munroe Falls. This is an open event so please feel free to invite other friends but due to the scary nature of the program we do ask that all participants be 9 years old or older.

We do require that parents/guardians be present during the event, you don’t have to go on the hike as we have a hangout spot by the shelter, but we will need to have a signed permission slip for the event.

Please do RSVP for this event at http://tinyurl.com/forbiddenforest and feel free to pass along this information and invitation to any others you think may be interested. For updated information please visit our website at www.kenthogwarts.org or email [email protected].

Yours in magical fraternity,
Professor Chroniculus FizzBOOM!
Headmaster, KentHogwarts

 

Be the first to see the artwork for the 2013 auction! Hear the artists talk about their creations while you enjoy appetizers and beverages. Artists this year are Brad Bolton, Don Easterling, Heidrun Hultgren, Wendy Jenks, John Kluth, Claudia Miller, Georgia Quinn, Rhonda Mitchell, and Jan Noden.

Date: Friday, Oct. 18

Time: 7-9 pm

Place: Fessenden Hall

Donation: $15

 

The Library continues to process new books. Below are more new titles we are adding to the collection.They will be ready for circulation the beginning of October.

Jonathan Haidt, “The Righteous Mind”; Martin Luther King Jr.

“Thou Dear God”:Prayers that Open the Hearts and Spirits.; Eboo Patel

“Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation; Margaret Regan

“The Death of Josseline: Immigration Stories from the Arizona-Mexico Borderlands.

The Library Committee would like to remind everyone to put complete information on the card you find in each book you check out. In order for the Library to function efficiently, we need to know where the books in circulation are located. Books may be checked out for 2 weeks, and may be renewed with the Library committee member in Founders Lounge during each Sunday coffee hour. We have a number of over-due books. Since we do not have a fine policy for over-due books we count on your cooperation to return the books in a timely manner. We are aggressively pursuing those volumes that are overdue. Please check to see if you are holding overdue books: if you see a Library committee member bearing down on you, forewarned is forearmed.

In addition, the Library Committee is very pleased to welcome Jane Krimmer as a new committee member. We are grateful to the following congregational members who volunteered to help the committee on a one-time-only basis with various Library functions: Sue Crossen, Paulette Thurman, Barbara Brovarone, Zachary Johnson, Mary Lou Holly and Ruth Peterson. Thank you all.

 

Outreach and Social Justice

 

Social Justice Human Rights Committee Meeting – Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 6:30 PM in the Annex.  All are welcome!   

 

UU and Interfaith Connections

 

The October Kent Community Dinner Needs our Help!

On October 19, the Kent Community Dinner will be held at the United Church of Christ in Kent.  As it did two years ago, this dinner will once again focus on celebrating the GLBTQ community, though this time with particular

emphasis on one segment of that community. Two members of our congregation will be involved in the leadership of that dinner; Rev. Christie Anderson will be the moderator of the panel and Kat Holtz will be one of the presenters.  We have been asked to identify 4-6 people who would support this dinner by agreeing to cook. The 4-6 cooks will receive about 20 pounds of meat or fish and asked to cook it and stretch it by making it into a meal to feed many. The cooks could work together or separately. Are you willing to help? Please let Rev. Melissa know.

 

Income Generation

 

Thanks4Giving Auction Saturday, November 2, 6 pm

Did you save the date?  You don’t want to miss this year’s auction of goods and services in support of our beloved church.  Fun, food, fraternizing, fundraising. something for everyone in every price range.  Look for our table at coffee hour, soon.  Tickets will soon be on sale, and FAQS brochures are being made.  We’ll be looking for volunteers to help that weekend.  Have you thought about making a donation, maybe more than one donation?  The FAQS brochure can help with ideas, and donation forms are available.  You will be hearing more about the auction as time goes on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worship & Music

 

Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM.

 

September 22 – Building Your Own Theology: Journeys in Faith

Led by Elaine Yehle Bowen

Participants of the 10 session Adult Religious Exploration class, Building Your Own Theology (BYOT), will share their personal credos or statement of beliefs, discerned through reading, discussion and art over the past 3 months of meetings. Come join us on our journeys of faith.

 

Sacred Song Circle Returns

The Sacred Song Circle returns to Thursday nights starting Sept. 26 for 30 minutes of community harmony and sacular stimulation beginning at 6:15 PM. Please note that this is a slightly earlier time than we had been meeting.  In addition, I will be available at 6:00 for 15 minutes of teaching time to help people become familiar with the songs, and to explain the framework we use and it’s theoretical underpinnings for anyone who is interested.  In addition, due to popular request, I’m going to try having a Sacred Song Circle every week instead of every two or three weeks.  As always, you don’t have to consider yourself a singer to be able to participate, and in fact you don’t even have to sing.  It’s free and open to all.  The more voices the better!  Bring your friends, and a water bottle if you’ll need it. Please gather in the Sanctuary.  Hope to see you there.

 

Lay-Led Programs Solicited:

The Sunday program committee wants to hear from YOU for your ideas and/or proposals for Sunday services.  If you have an idea, please consider talking to someone on the committee (Lois Weir, Christie Anderson, Liz Bright, Joe Kuemerle, Lori McGee, Andrew Rome, and Kristofer Sperry), and/or submitting a proposal (find more information and the form at //kentuu.org/ministry/sunday-program/).  Contact Lois Weir with your questions or to submit a proposal.  The Sunday Program Committee meets tonight, September 11^th at 6:30 PM.

 

Following the Returning to Right Relationship Sermon

During my sermon on Sept.  8, I raised a series of questions for self-reflection inspired by the practices of returning, repentance and atonement kept by Jewish people who observe the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  If you’d like to reflect on them further, the questions follow:

SELF

How have you done this year taking care of your body?  Are you satisfied with the way you are eating, with how much rest and exercise you are getting?  How have you done taking care of your mind?  Are you satisfied with the ways you are engaging your intellect?  How have you done taking care of your spirit?  Are you satisfied with your spiritual life and the way you have nurtured that part of yourself?  Are you satisfied with your connection with something larger than yourself?

OTHERS

How are your relationships with the people who are closest to you – your family and your friends? Take each important relationship in turn.  Is there friction or challenge anywhere and, if there is, in what ways might you be contributing?  How are your relationships with your co-workers, or classmates or the people in your communities?  Again you can ask yourself, if any of those relationships have friction or challenge, in what ways might you be contributing?

WIDER WORLD

How have you done this year in engaging concerns beyond your own?  Are you satisfied with the ways you have responded to some of the social or political or environmental concerns of our common life today?

I took inspiration for these questions from Rabbi Michael Lerner’s High Holiday Repentance Workbook which you can find at http://www.tikkun.org/nextgen/high-holiday-repentance-workbook-2013-5774

 

We hope you’re planning to join us for what is sure to be an entertaining event!

U.U.’ve Got Talent!  “An Evening of Musical Variety”

On Saturday September 28^th, the UU church of Kent Music Committee is hosting a musical fundraiser. We are hoping to raise $800 to pay for the services of an accompanist for our beloved choir.  Join us at 7:30 that evening as we transform the Kent sanctuary into a venue for highlighting the remarkable talents of local UU’s and Friends!  $10 is the suggested donation, but please give what you can – hope to see you there!

 

It takes all of us to create a welcoming environment on Sunday mornings.  All the members and friends of this church are needed to extend hospitality to our visitors.  On any given Sunday, some people volunteer to be a part of our hospitality efforts in particular ways.  We have a large team of people who volunteer to help greet and usher on Sunday mornings, to prepare an inviting coffee hour and to donate flowers to add a focal point of beauty to our services.  In order to make it easier to participate, we are using a new tool that will allow you to see what Sunday morning hospitality positions are available and to decide when and how frequently you might be able to help.

If you are a member or an active friend of this congregation, we hope you will consider finding at least one time this fall and early winter when you might be able to volunteer in one of this very easy but extremely important roles.  Of course, there is no limit to the number of times you can volunteer!  Also, we want you to know that children and youth are welcome to participate in any of these roles.  Thank you for considering how you might be part of helping us practice the fragile art of hospitality every Sunday.   Sign up at:  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/904054FA9A62BA57-sunday

 

Lifespan Learning

 

Small Group Ministry:  Food for Thought Groups and Chalice Groups

Deadline to register is this Sunday, September 22.  Please complete your sign-up form and drop it in the offering plate, in the box marked Small Group Ministry located in Founders Lounge or mail it to the Church office.  Thank you.

 

The Super Brain group will meet at 3 PM on Sunday, September 22 in the Annex.  The group will be examining the concepts of personal power, core self, happiness and self-healing.  All are welcome to join in the exploration.  Any questions, call Mary Maske at 330.677.0174.

 

Save the Date!

The annual Halloween Party and Haunted House will take place on Saturday, October 26th starting at 6:00. More details are forthcoming in the October edition of the Chalice Flame and in future eNuu’s and Facebook posts.

(Many thanks to those families who participated in the straw poll to identify the best date!)

 

Community Within

 

Locavore Dinner Tickets Available:

On Saturday, September 21 at 6:30 pm, Jennifer May and Lois Weir will host the 4^th annual Locavore Dinner, which will be all vegetarian this year.  A multi-course meal will be served that features the best produce that northeast Ohio has to offer.  Lois & Jennifer source almost everything locally (including the wine, beer, and cocktails) for this unique event.  Some vegan dishes will be included, and most dietary restrictions can be accommodated.  Children and adults are welcome.  This was a 2012 Thanks4Giving Auction offering which did not sell out; therefore, there are 3 tickets available for purchase at $80 each.  Contact Lois Weir to reserve your seat(s).

 

UUCK Men’s Group – Join Us!

The Men’s Group, led by Max Grubb,  will be meeting on September 22 in the Sanctuary.  This is an opportunity for men to connect and engage each other for support concerning issues and challenges that arise from being male, husband or partner, father and friend in today’s society.  All men are welcome.   Please contact Max if you have any questions.

 

The planning task force for the church’s 150th anniversary celebration will be meeting on Sunday, September 29 at 12:45 in the Annex. 

 

The Patricia Pownall UU Book Group will be meeting on Tuesday, October 8 at 7 pm. We are again meeting in the home of Trish Johnson-Kwartler.  Please bring a snack to share. Beverages will be provided. This month we are reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.   A mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, The Language of Flowers beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past. In November we will be reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. If you have any questions you may contact Bonnie Harper.  All are welcome.

 

Parents and guardians of our older (age 9 and above) children,

On behalf of KentHogwarts I would like to cordially invite you participate in our upcoming Forbidden Forest night hike. Prepare to face down Dementors, Death Eaters and Acromantulas in an after dark adventure!

We are hosting this event on Saturday, October 12th 2013 at the Tallmadge Meadows Metropark in Munroe Falls. This is an open event so please feel free to invite other friends but due to the scary nature of the program we do ask that all participants be 9 years old or older.

We do require that parents/guardians be present during the event, you don’t have to go on the hike as we have a hangout spot by the shelter, but we will need to have a signed permission slip for the event.

Please do RSVP for this event at http://tinyurl.com/forbiddenforest and feel free to pass along this information and invitation to any others you think may be interested. For updated information please visit our website at www.kenthogwarts.org or email [email protected].

Yours in magical fraternity,
Professor Chroniculus FizzBOOM!
Headmaster, KentHogwarts

 

Be the first to see the artwork for the 2013 auction! Hear the artists talk about their creations while you enjoy appetizers and beverages. Artists this year are Brad Bolton, Don Easterling, Heidrun Hultgren, Wendy Jenks, John Kluth, Claudia Miller, Georgia Quinn, Rhonda Mitchell, and Jan Noden.

Date: Friday, Oct. 18

Time: 7-9 pm

Place: Fessenden Hall

Donation: $15

 

From the Library

The Library has received almost 20 new titles that will be available by the end of the month. Included are Proof of Heaven, by Eben Alexander; Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy, by Emily Bazelton; The Separation of Church and State: Writings on a Fundamental Freedom by America’s Founders, by Forrest Church; Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation by Eboo Patel. A complete list will be available once all new titles have been processed. Below is a review of The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Resa Aslan, also a new addition. 

Aslan, Resa, The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth (New York, Random House, 2013). This book has just been added to the Library collection and should be available by the last week in September, 2013. It is popular new treatment of the life of Jesus based on information from the Bible and from historical sources. Aslan is an Iranian American Muslim, a religious studies scholar, and a creative writing professor. The author believes that the best way to understand the life of Jesus is to see him in his historical and social context.  by Martha Kluth

The Library Committee thanks all those who committed to volunteer on a limited, one-time-only basis, to the work of the Library. If you are able to give us a small amount of your time, either during coffee hour by helping a committee member, or any other Library activity, please speak to a committee member:  Matthew Cox, Martha Kluth, Harry Noden, Carolyn Schlemmer, Ann Waters or Kathy Wilen. We thank you in advance.

Ann Waters, Publicity

 

Outreach and Social Justice

 

Many thanks to everyone who support the September 15 Special Collection to benefit  Family and Community Services to help fund security deposits for families moving out of homeless shelters into transitional housing.  $599.00 was raised for this cause.

 

Social Justice Human Rights Committee Meeting – Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 6:30 PM in the Annex.  All are welcome!   

 

The October Kent Community Dinner Needs our Help!

On October 19, the Kent Community Dinner will be held at the United Church of Christ in Kent.  As it did two years ago, this dinner will once again focus on celebrating the GLBTQ community, though this time with particular

emphasis on one segment of that community. Two members of our congregation will be involved in the leadership of that dinner; Rev. Christie Anderson will be the moderator of the panel and Kat Holtz will be one of the presenters.  We have been asked to identify 4-6 people who would support this dinner by agreeing to cook. The 4-6 cooks will receive about 20 pounds of meat or fish and asked to cook it and stretch it by making it into a meal to feed many. The cooks could work together or separately. Are you willing to help? Please let Rev. Melissa know.

 

Clothing Donations Needed

The network of shelters for veterans in Northeast OH has expanded with the opening of Valor Home in Akron.  Valor Home has also opened a thrift shop, the proceeds of which will be used to help fund supportive housing for veterans who are moving out of a shelter.  The Valor Home Thrift Shop is located in Akron in Highland Square and sells used clothing for men and women.  They are especially in need of donations of women’s clothing to stock the store.  Donations may be brought directly to the Valor Home Thrift Shop or to Freedom House in Kent.

 

Opportunities from the Hunger and Economic Justice Task Group

We have been invited by Trinity Lutheran Church in Kent to be part of augmenting the hot meals available for hungry people in our community.  Currently meals are offered every day of the week save Saturdays under the auspices of Kent Social Services. Trinity Lutheran, a trusted partner of Kent Social Services, is planning to offer a hot lunch every Saturday and has invited us to help. We get to determine the frequency with which we would host and to do so we need to know how many of you would be interested in being involved. For each meal we host, we would need 10 – 12 people to cook, serve and clean up. Children are welcome to be an active part of our team so we are especially encouraging families to consider volunteering to participate together. We are thinking we might start with one Saturday every month or every other month. If you might be interested in being involved, please write to Rev. Melissa and Tanya Kahl.  Let us know how frequently you would be interested in participating and whether you would be volunteering on your own or with others in your family. Once we know how many people are interested, we’ll make a more concrete plan for our congregation’s involvement.

 

UU and Interfaith Connections

 

Our Congregation – 2020 and Beyond

A congregation is the product of both the surrounding society as well as the members within.  Drawing on sociological research, join other UUs in exploring how we can be a liberal religious beacon in the greater Cleveland area.  What does a “UU to be” look like?   Karen LoBracco, Lifespan Faith Development Consultant with the Ohio Meadville District will uncover practical applications from the research.  This FREE workshop is Saturday, Sept. 21 from 9:30 am to noon in Fellowship Hall at First Unitarian Church of Cleveland (www.firstunitariancleveland.org).  Light refreshments provided.  RSVP for childcare by Sept. 16. Register by contacting Bethany Ward, DRE, at [email protected] or by calling the office at (216) 751-2320.

 

Income Generation

 

Thanks4Giving Auction Saturday, November 2, 6 pm

Did you save the date?  You don’t want to miss this year’s auction of goods and services in support of our beloved church.  Fun, food, fraternizing, fundraising. something for everyone in every price range.  Look for our table at coffee hour, soon.  Tickets will soon be on sale, and FAQS brochures are being made.  We’ll be looking for volunteers to help that weekend.  Have you thought about making a donation, maybe more than one donation?  The FAQS brochure can help with ideas, and donation forms are available.  You will be hearing more about the auction as time goes on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worship & Music

 

Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM.

 

September 15 – Revisiting our Stories

Led by the Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer and Worship Associate Joel Slater

Several members and friends of the congregation and I have been engaging in a series exploring our spiritual autobiographies. In returning to our stories, we discover insights about who we have been and who we are now that might not have been accessible to us at the time of the original experience. It may even be that revisiting our stories can help us discover how we are called at this time in our lives.

 

Lay-Led Programs Solicited:

The Sunday program committee wants to hear from YOU for your ideas and/or proposals for Sunday services.  If you have an idea, please consider talking to someone on the committee (Lois Weir, Christie Anderson, Liz Bright, Joe Kuemerle, Lori McGee, Andrew Rome, and Kristofer Sperry), and/or submitting a proposal (find more information and the form at //kentuu.org/ministry/sunday-program/).  Contact Lois Weir with your questions or to submit a proposal.  The Sunday Program Committee meets tonight, September 11^th at 6:30 PM.

 

Following the Returning to Right Relationship Sermon

During my sermon last week I raised a series of questions for self-reflection inspired by the practices of returning, repentance and atonement kept by Jewish people who observe the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  If you’d like to reflect on them further, the questions follow:

SELF

How have you done this year taking care of your body?  Are you satisfied with the way you are eating, with how much rest and exercise you are getting?  How have you done taking care of your mind?  Are you satisfied with the ways you are engaging your intellect?  How have you done taking care of your spirit?  Are you satisfied with your spiritual life and the way you have nurtured that part of yourself?  Are you satisfied with your connection with something larger than yourself?

OTHERS

How are your relationships with the people who are closest to you – your family and your friends? Take each important relationship in turn.  Is there friction or challenge anywhere and, if there is, in what ways might you be contributing?  How are your relationships with your co-workers, or classmates or the people in your communities?  Again you can ask yourself, if any of those relationships have friction or challenge, in what ways might you be contributing?

WIDER WORLD

How have you done this year in engaging concerns beyond your own?  Are you satisfied with the ways you have responded to some of the social or political or environmental concerns of our common life today?

I took inspiration for these questions from Rabbi Michael Lerner’s High Holiday Repentance Workbook which you can find at http://www.tikkun.org/nextgen/high-holiday-repentance-workbook-2013-5774

 

 

U.U.’ve Got Talent!

“We know you’ve got it, it’s time to let it out!”

WE ARE IN SEARCH OF TALENT. This is your opportunity to perform solo or to invite other members of the congregation and friends to create a small ensemble. This is your chance to release that creative spark within you. Before Sunday, September 15, please contact Hal Walker  with your idea. We are looking for a diverse range of 3 to 5 minute musical selections that express your unique talent. Only a limited number of spots are available, so start getting ready now!   All ages welcome!

 

SAVE THE DATE!

U.U.’ve Got Talent!  “An Evening of Musical Variety”

Please SAVE THE DATE!  On Saturday September 28^th, the UU church of Kent Music Committee is hosting a musical fundraiser. We are hoping to raise $800 to pay for the services of an accompanist for our beloved choir.  Join us at 7:30 that evening as we transform the Kent sanctuary into a venue for highlighting the remarkable talents of local UU’s and Friends!  $10 is the suggested donation, but please give what you can – hope to see you there!

 

It takes all of us to create a welcoming environment on Sunday mornings.  All the members and friends of this church are needed to extend hospitality to our visitors.  On any given Sunday, some people volunteer to be a part of our hospitality efforts in particular ways.  We have a large team of people who volunteer to help greet and usher on Sunday mornings, to prepare an inviting coffee hour and to donate flowers to add a focal point of beauty to our services.  In order to make it easier to participate, we are using a new tool that will allow you to see what Sunday morning hospitality positions are available and to decide when and how frequently you might be able to help.

If you are a member or an active friend of this congregation, we hope you will consider finding at least one time this fall and early winter when you might be able to volunteer in one of this very easy but extremely important roles.  Of course, there is no limit to the number of times you can volunteer!  Also, we want you to know that children and youth are welcome to participate in any of these roles.  Thank you for considering how you might be part of helping us practice the fragile art of hospitality every Sunday.

Sign up at:  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/904054FA9A62BA57-sunday

 

 

Lifespan Learning

 

Small Group Ministry:  Food for Thought Groups and Chalice Groups

Deadline to register is September 22.  Please complete your sign-up form and drop it in the offering plate, in the box marked Small Group Ministry located on the Adult Religious Exploration table during our Ministry Fair or you may mail it to the Church office.  Thank you.

 

Have you ever wanted to volunteer at church but cannot make a continued or lengthy time commitment? Do you enjoy spending time with infants and toddlers? If yes, then volunteering in the nursery is right up your alley! Every Sunday we ask that 2 adults or older teens (1 for each service) assist Michelle in the nursery. We are scheduling for nursery helpers now and we NEED you! To volunteer to be placed in the potential pool of nursery helpers, please email  Colleen Thoele.

 

The Super Brain book group will meet at 3:00 PM on Sunday, September 22 in the Annex.  The group will be examining the concepts of personal power, core self, happiness and self-healing.  All are welcome to join in the exploration.  Any questions, please call Mary Maske.

 

Spiritual Cinema: Contact

This year the middle school youth group will be studying “Popcorn Theology” and we are going to use our monthly Spiritual Cinema as an opportunity to watch some of the movies in their entirety. Our movie nights have always been open to people of all ages but we strongly encourage youth to attend with their parents.

For our next Spiritual Cinema on Friday, September 13 at 7:00 PM, we will watch the motion picture, “Contact” (1997) which was written by the late Dr. Carl Sagan. The movie is 150 minutes and will be followed by a short discussion of some of the topics raised by the movie. Previously Dan Flippo has shown this movie in his home but we will be showing the film at the church to allow more people to attend. Please RSVP to Dan.

Comments by Dan:

One of the key themes in “Contact” is the conflict between science and religion. In the movie, a message discovered by radio telescope immediately causes conflict between scientists who would learn more about the message and others who find their beliefs threatened.  At the conclusion I believe the protagonist realizes that even science might require an element of faith.
 

Community Within

We hope you can join us for this special evening!

Tonight is the first of the Library’s evening gathering for viewing Bill Moyers DVD followed by refreshments and discussion.  7:30 in Fessenden Hall.   We’re looking forward to seeing you. 

 

Don’t forget to join us for the Ministries Fair this Sunday, September 15

Several of the programs and ministries will be highlighted.   Following each of the services, representatives from each team and committee will be available to help you learn about their activities and explore varied opportunities to get involved.  We hope you’ll find something that both interests you and helps build your faith and sense of community here at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent.

 

Locavore Dinner Tickets Available:

On Saturday, September 21 at 6:30 pm, Jennifer May and Lois Weir will host the 4^th annual Locavore Dinner, which will be all vegetarian this year.  A multi-course meal will be served that features the best produce that northeast Ohio has to offer.  Lois & Jennifer source almost everything locally (including the wine, beer, and cocktails) for this unique event.  Some vegan dishes will be included, and most dietary restrictions can be accommodated.  Children and adults are welcome.  This was a 2012 Thanks4Giving Auction offering which did not sell out; therefore, there are 3 tickets available for purchase at $80 each.  Contact Lois Weir  to reserve your seat(s).

 

UUCK Men’s Group – Join Us!

The Men’s Group, led by Max Grubb,  will be meeting on September 22 in the Sanctuary.  This is an opportunity for men to connect and engage each other for support concerning issues and challenges that arise from being male, husband or partner, father and friend in today’s society.  All men are welcome.   Please contact Max if you have any questions.

 

The planning task force for the church’s 150th anniversary celebration will be meeting on Sunday, September 29 at 12:45 in the Annex. 

 

As our days are getting shorter and we have a need for lights on at the church, especially for our evening meetings, we ask that you please ensure that all lights are turned off prior to leaving the building, with the exception of the foyer lights by the front door.  These are left on through the night to ensure that our front door area is illuminated.  Thank you!

 

The Patricia Pownall UU Book Group will be meeting on Tuesday, October 8 at 7 pm. We are again meeting in the home of Trish Johnson-Kwartler. Please bring a snack to share. Beverages will be provided. This month we are reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.   A mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, The Language of Flowers beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past. In November we will be reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. If you have any questions you may contact Bonnie Harper.  All are welcome.

 

Be the first to see the artwork for the 2013 auction! Hear the artists talk about their creations while you enjoy appetizers and beverages. Artists this year are Brad Bolton, Don Easterling, Heidrun Hultgren, Wendy Jenks, John Kluth, Claudia Miller, Georgia Quinn, Rhonda Mitchell, and Jan Noden.

Date: Friday, Oct. 18

Time: 7-9 pm

Place: Fessenden Hall

Donation: $15

 

Outreach and Social Justice

 

The Human Rights Social Justice Committee will meet on tomorrow, September 12^th at 6:30 pm in the Annex.  All are welcome.

 

Clothing Donations Needed

The network of shelters for veterans in Northeast OH has expanded with the opening of Valor Home in Akron.  Valor Home has also opened a thrift shop, the proceeds of which will be used to help fund supportive housing for veterans who are moving out of a shelter.  The Valor Home Thrift Shop is located in Akron in Highland Square and sells used clothing for men and women.  They are especially in need of donations of women’s clothing to stock the store.  Donations may be brought directly to the Valor Home Thrift Shop or to Freedom House in Kent.

 

Opportunities from the Hunger and Economic Justice Task Group

We have been invited by Trinity Lutheran Church in Kent to be part of augmenting the hot meals available for hungry people in our community.  Currently meals are offered every day of the week save Saturdays under the auspices of Kent Social Services. Trinity Lutheran, a trusted partner of Kent Social Services, is planning to offer a hot lunch every Saturday and has invited us to help. We get to determine the frequency with which we would host and to do so we need to know how many of you would be interested in being involved. For each meal we host, we would need 10 – 12 people to cook, serve and clean up. Children are welcome to be an active part of our team so we are especially encouraging families to consider volunteering to participate together. We are thinking we might start with one Saturday every month or every other month. If you might be interested in being involved, please write to Rev. Melissa and Tanya Kahl.   Let us know how frequently you would be interested in participating and whether you would be volunteering on your own or with others in your family. Once we know how many people are interested, we’ll make a more concrete plan for our congregation’s involvement.

 

 

The October Kent Community Dinner Needs our Help!

On October 19, the Kent Community Dinner will be held at the United Church of Christ in Kent.  As it did two years ago, this dinner will once again focus on celebrating the GLBTQ community, though this time with particular

emphasis on one segment of that community. Two members of our congregation will be involved in the leadership of that dinner; Rev. Christie Anderson will be the moderator of the panel and Kat Holtz will be one of the presenters.  We have been asked to identify 4-6 people who would support this dinner by agreeing to cook. The 4-6 cooks will receive about 20 pounds of meat or fish and asked to cook it and stretch it by making it into a meal to feed many. The cooks could work together or separately. Are you willing to help? Please let Rev. Melissa know.

 

 

Income Generation

 

WHAT ARE THOSE GROCERY CARDS ABOUT ANYHOW?

Every week we sell gift cards for ACME and Giant Eagle stores during coffee hour.  This program raises a few thousand dollars for the church every year!  There is nothing special you have to do – when you buy your grocery cards from the Church, the Church receives 5% of the card’s value.  You get to spend the full value of the card; use them like a debit card at either ACME or Giant Eagle. Cards can be used for anything bought at the store: Prescriptions, other name-brand gift cards sold at the stores, and of course groceries. And there is an added bonus…you still receive the fuel rewards!  For those who don’t bring cash or checks to church, you may use your credit or debit card to purchase your Acme or Giant Eagle cards, Fair Trade Coffee and the cost of fund raising events such as the pancake breakfasts. We do pay a fee per credit card transaction, so if you have cash or a check, that would be better, but if not, we’re happy to process the payment through your credit or debit card. Stop by and visit Carol Gould or Bob Erdman or one of the many who help in this effort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worship & Music

 

Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM.

 

 

September 8      Returning to Right Relationship

Led by the Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer and Worship Associate Elaine Bowen

The Jewish observances of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and the Ten Days of Repentance in between are steeped in tradition and infused with the wisdom of generations.  Drawing on that wisdom, we will consider again what is required of us if we would return to right relationship with the people in our own lives and with source of life itself.

 

Lay-Led Programs Solicited:

The Sunday program committee wants to hear from YOU for your ideas and/or proposals for Sunday services.  If you have an idea, please consider talking to someone on the committee (Lois Weir, Christie Anderson, Liz Bright, Joe Kuemerle, Lori McGee, Andrew Rome, and Kristofer Sperry), and/or submitting a proposal (find more information and the form at //kentuu.org/ministry/sunday-program/).  Contact Lois Weir with your questions or to submit a proposal.  The Sunday Program Committee meets next on September 11^th.

 

 

U.U.’ve Got Talent!

“We know you’ve got it, it’s time to let it out!”

On Saturday, September 28, the UU Church of Kent music committee is hosting a musical fundraiser. WE ARE IN SEARCH OF TALENT. This is your opportunity to perform solo or to invite other members of the congregation and friends to create a small ensemble. This is your chance to release that creative spark within you. Before Sunday, September 15, please contact Hal Walker with your idea. We are looking for a diverse range of 3 to 5 minute musical selections that express your unique talent. Only a limited number of spots are available, so start getting ready now!   All ages welcome!

 

 

SAVE THE DATE!

U.U.’ve Got Talent!  “An Evening of Musical Variety”

Please SAVE THE DATE!  On Saturday September 28^th, the UU church of Kent Music Committee is hosting a musical fundraiser. We are hoping to raise $800 to pay for the services of an accompanist for our beloved choir.  Join us at 7:30 that evening as we transform the Kent sanctuary into a venue for highlighting the remarkable talents of local UU’s and Friends!  $10 is the suggested donation, but please give what you can – hope to see you there!

 

 

It takes all of us to create a welcoming environment on Sunday mornings.  All the members and friends of this church are needed to extend hospitality to our visitors.  On any given Sunday, some people volunteer to be a part of our hospitality efforts in particular ways.  We have a large team of people who volunteer to help greet and usher on Sunday mornings, to prepare an inviting coffee hour and to donate flowers to add a focal point of beauty to our services.  In order to make it easier to participate, we are using a new tool that will allow you to see what Sunday morning hospitality positions are available and to decide when and how frequently you might be able to help.

If you are a member or an active friend of this congregation, we hope you will consider finding at least one time this fall and early winter when you might be able to volunteer in one of this very easy but extremely important roles.  Of course, there is no limit to the number of times you can volunteer!  Also, we want you to know that children and youth are welcome to participate in any of these roles.  Thank you for considering how you might be part of helping us practice the fragile art of hospitality every Sunday.

Sign up at:  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/904054FA9A62BA57-sunday

 

 

Lifespan Learning

 

Small Group Ministry:  Food for Thought Groups and Chalice Groups

Attached to today’s e-nUUs is this year’s Small Group Ministry brochure and sign-up form.  Deadline to register is September 22.  Please complete the sign-up form and drop it in the offering plate or mail it to the Church office.  Thank you.

 

 

Our Religious Education is back to its regular schedule. The RE committee is very excited about the curriculum.  And we are even more excited about the amazing group of teachers who are graciously giving their talents to the awesome kids of our church!  It’s going to be a great year!

Please see the website for detailed information:  //kentuu.org/education/childrens-religious-education/

During the 9:45 service we will offer:

• Nursery
• Preschool for ages 3 + 4
• Early Elementary for grades K-2
• Upper Elementary for grades 3-5

During the 11:30 service we will offer:

• Nursery/playtime for babies through preschool
• Multi-age class for school-aged children
• Middle School Youth Group for grades 6-8
• High School Youth Group for grades 9-12

With the new RE year comes fall registration so that our information is current. Please stop by the registration table during coffee hour on 8/25 and register the children in your family. For more information on registering your family please contact RE Assistant Colleen Thoele.

 

 

Have you ever wanted to volunteer at church but cannot make a continued or lengthy time commitment? Do you enjoy spending time with infants and toddlers? If yes, then volunteering in the nursery is right up your alley! Every Sunday we ask that 2 adults or older teens (1 for each service) assist Michelle in the nursery. We are scheduling for nursery helpers now and we NEED you! To volunteer to be placed in the potential pool of nursery helpers, please email  Colleen Thoele.

 

 

Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-Being by Deepak Chopra, M.D. and Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.D.; Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology, Havard medical School.

The group will meet today, Sunday, Sept. 8 from 6:00 to 7:30 at the Eldredge Annex .  There will be a general overview of the book as well as examination of what we each believe about our brains.  The authors present us with five myths about our brains we can work to dispel as well as three brain Super Heros.

 

 

Spiritual Cinema: Contact

This year the middle school youth group will be studying “Popcorn Theology” and we are going to use our monthly Spiritual Cinema as an opportunity to watch some of the movies in their entirety. Our movie nights have always been open to people of all ages but we strongly encourage youth to attend with their parents.

For our next Spiritual Cinema on Friday, September 13 at 7:00 PM, we will watch the motion picture, “Contact” (1997) which was written by the late Dr. Carl Sagan. The movie is 150 minutes and will be followed by a short discussion of some of the topics raised by the movie. Previously Dan Flippo has shown this movie in his home but we will be showing the film at the church to allow more people to attend. Please RSVP to Dan..

Comments by Dan:

One of the key themes in “Contact” is the conflict between science and religion. In the movie, a message discovered by radio telescope immediately causes conflict between scientists who would learn more about the message and others who find their beliefs threatened.  At the conclusion I believe the protagonist realizes that even science might require an element of faith.

 

 

Community Within

 

In a recent Chalice Flame newsletter article, I wrote that Evin and I are not in need of any gifts for our baby, but that if someone wants to give a gift perhaps they might consider donating some new toys or clothes (for children of any age) to Summit County Children Services for children in foster care.  Someone recently asked me how exactly to go about making such a donation.  Items must be dropped off in person at the main SCCS building at 264 S. Arlington Street, Akron, Ohio, 44306.  Donations are accepted between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week and donation receipts are available.  Just be sure to let the person at the desk know the items are for the holiday gift program.

Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity.

~ Melissa

 

 

Several people asked this past Sunday for the title of the UUA Common Read book I referenced during my sermon as well as information about how to access the Restaurant Opportunities Center Dining Guide.  The book is called Behind the Kitchen Door by Saru Jayaraman and is available from the UUA Bookstore.  I also understand our church library is hoping to acquire a copy as well.  The Dining Guide is an online resource which also has an app you can use if you have a smartphone.  You can find a link to the guide as well as the app at http://rocunited.org/dinersguide/

~ Melissa

 

 

The Patricia Pownall UU Book Group will be meeting on Tuesday, September 10 at 7 pm in the home of Trish Johnson-Kwartler.  This month we are offering a choice of two older novels: Main Street by Sinclair Lewis or Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser.  Main Street tells the tale of a big-city girl who marries a physician and settles in a small town in the Midwest, only to fall victim to the narrow-mindedness and unimaginative natures of the town’s residents. Sister Carrie is a novel about a young country girl who moves to the big city where she starts realizing her own American Dream, first as a mistress to men that she perceives as superior, and later becoming a famous actress. In October we will be reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.  If you have any questions you may contact Bonnie Harper.  All are welcome.

 

 

From the Library:  One week from tonight, Wednesday, Sept. 11th, the first Library Symposium will be held in the Library at 7:30 P.M. We look forward to a lively discussion and refreshments after viewing the Bill Moyer’s examination of 2 faith journeys one by author Mary Gordon, and the other by philosopher Colin McGinn. Harry Noden will be Moderator.  We hope you can join us for this special evening, and we look forward to seeing you.

 

 

Ministries Fair:  September 15

Please join us on Sunday, Sept. 15 when we highlight the many programs and ministries here at the Church.  Following each of the services, representatives from each team and committee will be available to help you explore varied opportunities to get involved.  We hope you’ll find something that both interests you and helps build your faith and sense of community here at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent.

 

 

Locavore Dinner Tickets Available:

On Saturday, September 21 at 6:30 pm, Jennifer May and Lois Weir will host the 4^th annual Locavore Dinner, which will be all vegetarian this year.  A multi-course meal will be served that features the best produce that northeast Ohio has to offer.  Lois & Jennifer source almost everything locally (including the wine, beer, and cocktails) for this unique event.  Some vegan dishes will be included, and most dietary restrictions can be accommodated.  Children and adults are welcome.  This was a 2012 Thanks4Giving Auction offering which did not sell out; therefore, there are 3 tickets available for purchase at $80 each.  Contact Lois Weir to reserve your seat(s).

 

 

The planning task force for the church’s 150th anniversary celebration will be meeting on Sunday, September 29 at 12:45 in the Annex. 

 

 

Outreach and Social Justice

 

The Human Rights Social Justice Committee will meet on Thursday, September 12^th at 6:30 pm in the Annex.  All are welcome.

 

 

Income Generation

 

WHAT ARE THOSE GROCERY CARDS ABOUT ANYHOW?

Every week we sell gift cards for ACME and Giant Eagle stores during coffee hour.  This program raises a few thousand dollars for the church every year!  There is nothing special you have to do – when you buy your grocery cards from the Church, the Church receives 5% of the card’s value.  You get to spend the full value of the card; use them like a debit card at either ACME or Giant Eagle. Cards can be used for anything bought at the store: Prescriptions, other name-brand gift cards sold at the stores, and of course groceries. And there is an added bonus…you still receive the fuel rewards!  For those who don’t bring cash or checks to church, you may use your credit or debit card to purchase your Acme or Giant Eagle cards, Fair Trade Coffee and the cost of fund raising events such as the pancake breakfasts. We do pay a fee per credit card transaction, so if you have cash or a check, that would be better, but if not, we’re happy to process the payment through your credit or debit card. Stop by and visit Carol Gould or Bob Erdman or one of the many who help in this effort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worship & Music

 

Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM.

 

September 1 – Strong is What We Make Each Other

Led by the Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer  and Worship Associate John Marfy.

For many, Labor Day is the marker that connotes the end of the summer.  This morning we will return to the stories that gave rise to the Labor Day holiday and consider again the ways in which we are all lifted up by the power of union.

 

U.U.’ve Got Talent!

“We know you’ve got it, it’s time to let it out!”

On Saturday, September 28, the UU Church of Kent music committee is hosting a musical fundraiser. WE ARE IN SEARCH OF TALENT. This is your opportunity to perform solo or to invite other members of the congregation and friends to create a small ensemble. This is your chance to release that creative spark within you. Before Sunday, September 15, please contact Hal Walker with your idea. We are looking for a diverse range of 3 to 5 minute musical selections that express your unique talent. Only a limited number of spots are available, so start getting ready now!   All ages welcome!

 

SAVE THE DATE!

U.U.’ve Got Talent!  “An Evening of Musical Variety”

Please SAVE THE DATE!  On Saturday September 28^th, the UU church of Kent Music Committee is hosting a musical fundraiser. We are hoping to raise $800 to pay for the services of an accompanist for our beloved choir.  Join us at 7:30 that evening as we transform the Kent sanctuary into a venue for highlighting the remarkable talents of local UU’s and Friends!  $10 is the suggested donation, but please give what you can – hope to see you there!

 

It takes all of us to create a welcoming environment on Sunday mornings.  All the members and friends of this church are needed to extend hospitality to our visitors.  On any given Sunday, some people volunteer to be a part of our hospitality efforts in particular ways.  We have a large team of people who volunteer to help greet and usher on Sunday mornings, to prepare an inviting coffee hour and to donate flowers to add a focal point of beauty to our services.  In order to make it easier to participate, we are using a new tool that will allow you to see what Sunday morning hospitality positions are available and to decide when and how frequently you might be able to help.

If you are a member or an active friend of this congregation, we hope you will consider finding at least one time this fall and early winter when you might be able to volunteer in one of this very easy but extremely important roles.  Of course, there is no limit to the number of times you can volunteer!  Also, we want you to know that children and youth are welcome to participate in any of these roles.  Thank you for considering how you might be part of helping us practice the fragile art of hospitality every Sunday.

Sign up at:  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/904054FA9A62BA57-sunday

 

 

Lifespan Learning

 

Small Group Ministry:  Food for Thought Groups and Chalice Groups

Please keep an eye open for this year’s Small Group Ministry brochure and sign-up form  that will be attached to next week’s e-nUUs!

 

Our Religious Education is back to its regular schedule. The RE committee is very excited about the curriculum.  And we are even more excited about the amazing group of teachers who are graciously giving their talents to the awesome kids of our church!  It’s going to be a great year!

Please see the website for detailed information:  //kentuu.org/education/childrens-religious-education/

During the 9:45 service we will offer:

• Nursery
• Preschool for ages 3 + 4
• Early Elementary for grades K-2
• Upper Elementary for grades 3-5

During the 11:30 service we will offer:

• Nursery/playtime for babies through preschool
• Multi-age class for school-aged children
• Middle School Youth Group for grades 6-8
• High School Youth Group for grades 9-12

With the new RE year comes fall registration so that our information is current. Please stop by the registration table during coffee hour on 8/25 and register the children in your family. For more information on registering your family please contact RE Assistant Colleen Thoele.

 

Have you ever wanted to volunteer at church but cannot make a continued or lengthy time commitment? Do you enjoy spending time with infants and toddlers? If yes, then volunteering in the nursery is right up your alley! Every Sunday we ask that 2 adults or older teens (1 for each service) assist Michelle in the nursery. We are scheduling for nursery helpers now and we NEED you! To volunteer to be placed in the potential pool of nursery helpers, please email  Colleen Thoele.

 

Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-Being by Deepak Chopra, M.D. and Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.D.; Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology, Harvard medical School.

The group will meet from 6:00 to 7:30 at the Eldredge Annex on the following Sunday evenings:  September 8 & 22, October 6 & 20, and November 3 & 17.

Upcoming Meeting Topics

September 8:    There will be a general overview of the book as well as examination of what we each believe about our brains.  The authors present us with five myths about our brains we can work to dispel as well as three brain Super         Heroes.

September 22:  The topic will be depression.  Additional materials will be presented.

Feel free to join us as you are able for an exciting examination of who we are as humans and as individuals.

Questions? Call May Maske.

 

Community Within

 

Ministries Fair:  September 15

Please join us on Sunday, Sept. 15 when we highlight the many programs and ministries here at the Church.  Following each of the services, representatives from each team and committee will be available to help you explore varied opportunities to get involved.  We hope you’ll find something that both interests you and helps build your faith and sense of community here at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent.

 

 Art in the Sanctuary

Thoughts on the Human Brain

This year, President Obama announced a $100 million project to map the human brain. This got me thinking about exploring the relationship between what we know about the brain (anatomy) and what we still don’t yet understand (imagination). Perhaps we are more than the sum of our parts. I have cited the literary inspiration for each painting.

About the Artist

Lyndse Rae Faba studied painting and illustration at Pratt Institute, under the guidance of Charles Goslin, who she still refers to as “Goose,” despite his having rejoined the force in 2007. She eventually completed her BFA at the University of Akron where she majored in graphic design and minored in illustration and drawing with the support of Vlada Vukadinovic.

She has a long-standing love affair with jazz guitar and includes among her hobbies the study of physics: longboarding, sportmotorcycle riding and obstacle course running.

 

The Library Symposium on Faith Vs Reason, with Bill Moyers’ interview of author Mary Gordon, and philosopher Colin McGinn is coming faster than we realize. (Where did summer go?)

Please join us Wednesday evening, September 11th, at 7:15 in Fessenden Hall for a lively discussion of the arguments presented in Moyers’ program, recorded on DVD. We will view the video, then discuss the conflicting points of view. Harry Noden will be Moderator.

Reservations Not Necessary.  Come; enjoy stimulating conversation and tasty refreshments. The program should conclude by 9:00 P.M.   We look forward to seeing you.

 

The Patricia Pownall UU Book Group will be meeting on Tuesday, September 10 at 7 pm in the home of Trish Johnson-Kwartler.  This month we are offering a choice of two older novels: Main Street by Sinclair Lewis or Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser.  Main Street tells the tale of a big-city girl who marries a physician and settles in a small town in the Midwest, only to fall victim to the narrow-mindedness and unimaginative natures of the town’s residents. Sister Carrie is a novel about a young country girl who moves to the big city where she starts realizing her own American Dream, first as a mistress to men that she perceives as superior, and later becoming a famous actress. In October we will be reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.  If you have any questions you may contact Bonnie Harper.  All are welcome.

 

Outreach and Social Justice

The Human Rights Social Justice Committee will meet on Thursday, September 12^th at 6:30 pm in the Annex.  All are welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worship & Music 

 

Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM.

 

August 18 – Heirlooms, Curiosities, and Castoffs

Rev. Renee Ruchotzke with Worship Associate Justin Czekaj

Our lives are influenced by the legacy of those who preceded us.  How might we choose what to keep and what to set aside as we attempt to live lives of authenticity and purpose?

 

August 25 – The Spiritual Wisdom of Children

Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer, Director of Religious Education Karen Lapidus, and Worship Associate Sophie Smith.

Everyone is invited to join together for our annual multigenerational, ingathering service. During this special service for all ages, we will celebrate coming together again for the start of a new church year as we lift up children and youth as a source of spiritual wisdom for us all. Nursery care will be provided for our littlest ones during both services.

Please bring a small vial of water and/or a small amount of earth from a place you have been this summer which has nourished your own spirit.

 

Cuyahoga River Concert Series  presents Mignarda

Come enjoy and evening of music featuring the both voice and lute.  THIS FRIDAY, August 16 at 8:00 pm in the Sanctuary.  Admission is $10 at the door.  For more information on this duo, please visit www.mignarda.com

 

Expanding our music program!

As September approaches, we look forward to the beginning of a new season of our wonderful adult choir.  This fall, we return to an old tradition of Sunday evening rehearsals from 6:30-8:00.  If you’re interested in singing, we’d love to have you join us.  Please contact Hal Walker for a conversation about where in the choir your voice would fit best.

This year, we’re also excited about the start of our own “UU Folk Orchestra.”  A “folk orchestra” combines the unique instrumental talents of the congregation.  Music reading skills are required.  We will rehearse on Thursday evenings from 7-8:15.

Finally, we will be creating a youth choir for treble voices from 3rd grade-7th grade. The weekly one-hour rehearsals will be Wednesdays from 5-6 pm.

As a kickoff to a great year of music, Hal Walker will be hosting an open house potluck at his house for anyone with any interest in either singing in the choir or playing in the folk orchestra. The open house will be merely for fun and information… No commitment required, yet.  If you are able to, please bring a dish to share.

Singers and Musicians Open House Potluck!

Sunday, August 18 at 6 o’clock.

Hal Walker’s house

all are welcome…

 

Lifespan Learning

 

How Do You Like to Play?  

Last Sunday for Summer RE

for Children Preschool through Grade 5

It is still  not too late to participate in Summer RE!    On Sunday, August 18th, the Thiel/Smith family will be sharing the science of bounciness.  Does that sound cool, or what?   We will light the chalice promptly at 9:45 am in Fessenden Hall. Nursery care is available for our littlest ones at both the 9:45 and 11:30 services.

 

Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-Being by Deepak Chopra, M.D. and Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.D.; Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology, Harvard medical School.

The group will meet from 6:00 to 7:30 at the Eldredge Annex on the following Sunday evenings:  September 8 & 22, October 6 & 20, and November 3 & 17.

Upcoming Meeting Topics

September 8:    There will be a general overview of the book as well as examination of what we each believe about our brains.  The authors present us with five myths about our brains we can work to dispel as well as three brain Super Heroes.

September 22:  The topic will be depression.  Additional materials will be presented.

Feel free to join us as you are able for an exciting examination of who we are as humans and as individuals.

Questions? Call May Maske.

 

Community Within

 

Retirees Luncheon: August 20   12:00 PM in Fessenden Hall

We’ll meet for an hour to an hour and a half depending on the number of people who attend so everyone has an opportunity to check in with the group. All retirees are welcome to join us. Bring your own lunch, beverages will be provided.  Please remember that we have shifted our meeting time to the third Tuesday of each month.

 

Walden Information Meeting – Sunday, August 25   11:00 – 11:15 am in the Sanctuary

Come fine out what we’re all about and we’ll answer any questions you may have about Walden.  We hope you’ll consider joining us for this fall’s Walden trip.   More information about  this fall’s Walden trip can be found in the announcement below.

 

The Lost & Found is once again overflowing!

Please check the Lost and Found, located on the coat rack shelf outside of Fessenden Hall, for any items that you may have recently left at the Church.  After Sunday, August 25^th any remaining items will be donated.

 

New UU Classes in August

Our New UU classes cover everything you wanted to know about the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent in particular and Unitarian Universalism in general, but were afraid to ask.  Well, maybe not everything, but we try to give you an overview, a starting point.  Some history of both, some organizational details. Come join the conversation.  And, if you’re curious about membership, this is the place to be.

Part 2 will be on Sunday, August 18, from 9-11 am.  You may attend one or both, although attendance at both is encouraged.  Different topics will be covered in each.  We will gather at the Annex, the yellow house next to the church.

If you have any questions, contact Claudia Miller or Marion Yeagler.

 

Sacred Song Circle
Join us for another Sacred Song Circle on Thursday, August 15, at 6:30 in the Founder’s Lounge for 30 minutes of sacular stimulation and community harmony.  You don’t have to consider yourself a singer to be able to participate.  It’s free and open to all.  The more voices the better!  Bring your friends and a water bottle if you’ll need it.  Hope to see you there.  Saunis

 

Bill Moyers, one of television’s most perceptive commentators, is known for his thoughtful interviews with guests from many fields.  Many of these programs have been recorded on DVD, and we have a number of them in our Library. The Library committee is preparing two programs on Wednesdays, September 11th, and October 9th. Both programs begin at 7:15 P.M. in Fessenden Hall and should conclude by 9:00 P. M.  We will view one of Moyer’s programs, and then have a discussion of the issues presented. Refreshments will be served.

The first program on September 9th is a dialogue on faith and reason, described by Moyer’s this Way:

“One of the intriguing questions about faith and reason is how is how two finely-honed minds can examine the case for belief and come to totally different conclusions. Consider Mary Gordon and Colin McGinn. One is a novelist, the other a philosopher. Both were born into Catholic families.  One remains a believer, the other an atheist. Yet both are champions of reason.

If you enjoy discussion on questions like these, come and join us. Harry Noden will be Moderator for this program. We promise a stimulating evening of lively exchange.

 

My dear friends at UUCK,

I’ve had a handful of people ask me recently, “When are you coming back to church?!” The short answer that I know for sure is October 6, when I’ll be serving as Worship Associate when George Buchanan leads worship. The long answer is that I’ve recently become the new Director of Religious Education at SouthWest Unitarian Universalist Church in North Royalton (the church where Evin Carvill-Ziemer is currently serving as half-time Interim Minister).

I accepted the position in June and have been traveling there some Sunday mornings, when I haven’t been in Chicago for classes or preaching or doing professional development (I went to the OWL training the last weekend of August – it was excellent!).

SouthWest has a smaller congregation, and the RE program is only about 20 children right now, but they are looking forward to growth. The DRE position is quarter-time, which works really well with my studies and program requirements. I am learning all sorts of new and wonderful things, and am just in awe of the many, amazing resources we have in our denomination, as well as the amount of support.

Apart from these new adventures in ministerial formation, I’ve just finished my first year at Meadville Lombard (at this point, I’m expecting to be at it another 3 years or so), plan to start Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in the fall, still involved with the Kent Community TimeBank, and enjoying our now 4 cats and sweet puppy.

I miss being in community with all of you – it has meant so very much to me in the almost 7 years I’ve been attending services and participating in service at UUCK, but I am very thankful to have this opportunity to use and develop skills, sharing with SouthWest all I’ve learned from you. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch, and I look forward to seeing some of you in October!

In peace and with love,  Kristina Spaude

 

The Library committee is planning a fall issue of the church publication, Here We Have Gathered, about people and activities of our church.  The planning is well underway, but if you would like to submit an article (500 – 1000 words), please contact Martha Kluth or Ann Waters.

The Library Committee is also planning 2 fall Symposiums. Each event will include a one-segment viewing from the Bill Moyers Faith and Reason series, followed by a discussion and refreshments. Each program will

begin at 7:30 and should end by 9:00 P.M.  The schedule is:

Wednesday, Sept. 11, 7:30 P.M. in Fessenden Hall, “The Mirror Image”.

Moderator – Harry Noden

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7:30 P.M. in Fessenden Hall, “Richard Rodrigues”

Moderator – Carolyn Schlemmer

We hope you will be able to attend and look forward to seeing you. If you have any questions, please speak to any Library committee member.   Ann Waters

 

 

Outreach and Social Justice

 

Thank you to everyone who supported last week’s special collection.   Together we raised $362.00 along with several bags of school supplies in support of Family and Community Service’s Annual School Supply Drive.

 

Income Generation

 

Hot Dogs & Ice Cream anyone?

Your Fundraising team would like to have hot dogs and ice cream Sunday, August 18 during coffee hour and after 2nd service.  It’s more of a Thank You for all you support this past year than an actual fundraiser, but if you’d like to make a free will donation we won’t turn it down since it all goes to the church.

Hope you can come enjoy!

 

SAVE THE DATE – ANNUAL THANKS 4 GIVING AUCTION – November 2, 2013

Our annual Thanks 4 Giving Auction will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at the Kent United Church of Christ.  Stay tuned for details in the coming months as planning gets under way.

Also, if you want to get involved in a VERY fun committee, the Auction Committee is looking for a few good people to join us!  We begin meeting in August a couple times a month to plan and execute our annual auction.

Let me know if you are interested.

Meg Milko

Auction Chair

 

 

Worship & Music 

 

Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:00 AM.

 

August 11 – Lions and Tigers and Bears! Oh My!

Led by Kathy Walker and Saul Flanner

In this multimedia service, Kathy and Saul will explore the interdependent web of which we are all a part. We are not qualified to do so, but we think you’ll appreciate our attempt as we share our limited experience with the seventh principle of Unitarian Universalism and the spirit animals that keep pestering Kathy to lead this service.

As we will be enjoying the services led by Kathy and Saul, Rev. Melissa will be leading services at the Akron UU Church.  We look forward to her returning from study leave to lead services along with Director of Religious Education Karen Lapidus and Worship Associate Sophie Smith on Sunday, August 25 at our multigenerational ingathering: The Spiritual Wisdom of Children.   In the meantime, Rev. Renee Ruchotzke along with Worship Associate Justin Czekaj will lead us next week, Sunday, August 18, focusing on Heirlooms, Curiosities, and Castoffs.

 

Expanding our music program!

As September approaches, we look forward to the beginning of a new season of our wonderful adult choir.  This fall, we return to an old tradition of Sunday evening rehearsals from 6:30-8:00.  If you’re interested in singing, we’d love to have you join us.  Please contact Hal Walker for a conversation about where in the choir your voice would fit best.

This year, we’re also excited about the start of our own “UU Folk Orchestra.”  A “folk orchestra” combines the unique instrumental talents of the congregation.  Music reading skills are required.  We will rehearse on Thursday evenings from 7-8:15.

Finally, we will be creating a youth choir for treble voices from 3rd grade-7th grade. The weekly one-hour rehearsals will be Wednesdays from 5-6 pm.

As a kickoff to a great year of music, Hal Walker will be hosting an open house potluck at his house for anyone with any interest in either singing in the choir or playing in the folk orchestra. The open house will be merely for fun and information… No commitment required, yet.  If you are able to, please bring a dish to share.

Singers and Musicians Open House Potluck!

Sunday, August 18 at 6 o’clock.

Hal Walker’s house

all are welcome…

 

 

Cuyahoga River Concert Series  presents Mignarda

Come enjoy and evening of music featuring the both voice and lute.  Friday, August 16 at 8:00 pm in the Sanctuary.  Admission is $10 at the door.  For more information on this duo, please visit www.mignarda.com

 

 

 Lifespan Learning

How Do You Like to Play?  Summer RE ~ Just two more weeks of Summer Fun!

Summer RE is going so well and it is not too late to join in the good times!  The children and the various leaders have been experiencing a wide variety of fun activities.  On Sunday, August 11th, the Barzizza-Young family will be sharing the fun of science.  A nut-free treat will be served.  We will light the chalice promptly at 9:45 am in Fessenden Hall.  Nursery care is available for our littlest ones at both the 9:45 and 11:30 services.

 

Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-Being

Just a reminder that this book group will be meeting twice monthly during September, October and November in the Annex from 6:00 – 7:30 pm.  Meeting topics will be published in the September Chalice Flame.  Attendance at every meeting is not mandatory to participate; please join us as you are able or interested.  For more information please contact Mary Maske.

 

 

Community Within 

 

New UU Classes in August

Our New UU classes cover everything you wanted to know about the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent in particular and Unitarian Universalism in general, but were afraid to ask.  Well, maybe not everything, but we try to give you an overview, a starting point.  Some history of both, some organizational details. Come join the conversation.  And, if you’re curious about membership, this is the place to be.

Part 1 will be on Sunday, August 11, from 9-11 am. Part 2 will be on Sunday, August 18, from 9-11 am.  You may attend one or both, although attendance at both is encouraged.  Different topics will be covered in each.  We will gather at the Annex, the yellow house next to the church.

If you have any questions, contact Claudia Miller or Marion Yeagler.

 

 

Art in the Sanctuary

Geoff Hill Photography:  Awake in Nature

Geoff Hill is a fine art photographer and nature enthusiast. Through his work, he hopes to bring to light awareness and preservation of our natural Earth.

With roots in Kent Ohio, Geoff has expanded his travels to several areas along the eastern US, documenting wildlife and landscapes along the way. His experience in the arts has also included music, drawing & painting, and poetry. Through his time as a photographer, he has discovered his solace in nature, as well as an understanding of how precious and fragile life is.

This exhibit features Geoff’s work during his stay in Florida. Special thanks to Frederick Kluth and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent for allowing this opportunity.

Geoff will be having an artist reception Sunday, August 11, 1:00 – 4:00 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent.  He hopes you’ll come to meet him and learn more about his work.

Enjoy!

 

 

Change of plans for the Patricia Pownall UU Book Group. The book group will be meeting on Tuesday, August 13 at 7 pm in the home of Bonnie Harper. We will not be meeting at the home of Annie Brightbill.  This month we are reading Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver.  Dellarobia Turnbow is a restless farm wife who gave up her own plans when she accidentally became pregnant at seventeen. After a decade of domestic disharmony, she hikes up a mountain road behind her house toward a secret tryst, but instead encounters a shocking sight: a silent, forested valley filled with what looks like a lake of fire. She can only understand it as a miracle, but it sparks a raft of other explanations from scientists, religious leaders and the media.  In September we are offering a choice of two older novels: Main Street by Sinclair Lewis or Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser. In October we will be reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.  If you have any questions you may contact Bonnie Harper.  All are welcome.

 

 

Sacred Song Circle
Join us for another Sacred Song Circle on Thursday, August 15, at 6:30 in the Founder’s Lounge for 30 minutes of sacular stimulation and community harmony.  You don’t have to consider yourself a singer to be able to participate.  It’s free and open to all.  The more voices the better!  Bring your friends and a water bottle if you’ll need it.

Hope to see you there.    Saunis

 

 

The Library committee is planning a fall issue of the church publication, Here We Have Gathered, about people and activities of our church.  The planning is well underway, but if you would like to submit an article (500 – 1000 words), please contact Martha Kluth or Ann Waters.

The Library Committee is also planning 2 fall Symposiums. Each event will include a one-segment viewing from the Bill Moyers Faith and Reason series, followed by a discussion and refreshments. Each program will

begin at 7:30 and should end by 9:00 P.M.  The schedule is:

Wednesday, Sept. 11, 7:30 P.M. in Fessenden Hall, “The Mirror Image”.

Moderator – Harry Noden

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7:30 P.M. in Fessenden Hall, “Richard Rodrigues”

Moderator – Carolyn Schlemmer

We hope you will be able to attend and look forward to seeing you. If you have any questions, please speak to any Library committee member.

Ann Waters

 

 

Fall Walden Scheduled for October 4-6, 2013

Mark your calendars for the first weekend in October (4-6th) to participate in the annual campout and celebration of our seventh principle knows as “Walden”.

The group site reserved this year is located in the “Buckaloons Recreation Area”, which rests on the site of a former Seneca Indian village, six miles west of Warren, Pa.  Buckaloons is the only camping and recreation area within the Allegheny National Forest that is along the Allegheny River.  There are also 50 family campsites (15 with electrical hookups) for those who have Rv’s and pop-ups.

Some suggested activities include a visit to the Audubon Center and Sanctuary near Jamestown, N.Y., canoeing/kayaking the Allegheny River or the Conewango Creek (where you may spot an otter), hiking the many trails of the Allegheny National Forest or just connecting with the natural world on your own terms.

There will be an upcoming informational meeting between services in August.  Members of other U.U. congregations have expressed interest in this event also.

Questions?  Contact [email protected]

 

 

Outreach and Social Justice

 

August Special Collection

On August 11, a special collection will be taken to benefit Portage County Family and Community Services in support of the organization’s school supply drive.  This program will assist families with school age children that are in be prepared for the upcoming school year.

In response to this need, the children who attended the summer RE class last Sunday decided to hold a drive to collect school supplies for children in Portage County.  We have a quick turn-around time and will only be collecting on Sunday, August 11th.  The school supplies will be collected in Fessenden Hall before and after the services on Sunday, August 11th. Please note that the first 4 items listed in bold print are especially needed.

• Pocket folders (with prongs)
• Rulers
• Pencil sharpeners
• 1” Binders
• Wide-ruled paper
• Wide-ruled spiral note books
• Crayons
• Markers
• Glue bottles
• Glue Sticks
• Black and blue pens
• Pencils
• Pink erasers

We appreciate your consideration to support this worthwhile cause.

 

 

UU and Interfaith Connections

 

Jim Scott in Concert at the UU Congregation of Greater Canton, Friday, August 9!

“Jim’s lyrical melodies, well-crafted words, guitar mastery and humorous surprises moved Pete Seeger to call him ‘some kind of magician.’ Cultivated in his days with the Paul Winder Consort, Jim brings warmth and authenticity that turns any concert into an intimate gathering.”

Potluck dinner at 6 pm, Concert at 7 pm.

Suggested donation: $5 (“more if you can, less if you can’t”)

Print and recorded music will be available, too.

The potluck was Jim’s suggestion as an opportunity for all to talk with him about music, Sunday worship services, and anything else before the concert begins. More about Jim can be found here: http://jimscottmusic.com/ The UU Congregation of Greater Canton is located at 2585 Easton St NE, Canton, OH  44721.

 

Income Generation

 

Hot Dogs & Ice Cream anyone?

Your Fundraising team would like to have hot dogs and ice cream Sunday, August 18 during coffee hour and after 2nd service.  It’s more of a Thank You for all you support this past year than an actual fundraiser, but if you’d like to make a free will donation we won’t turn it down since it all goes to the church.

Hope you can come enjoy!

 

 

SAVE THE DATE – ANNUAL THANKS 4 GIVING AUCTION 11-2-13

Our annual Thanks 4 Giving Auction will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at the Kent United Church of Christ.  Stay tuned for details in the coming months as planning gets under way.

Also, if you want to get involved in a VERY fun committee, the Auction Committee is looking for a few good people to join us!  We begin meeting in August a couple times a month to plan and execute our annual auction.

Let me know if you are interested.

Meg Milko

Auction Chair