“Glorious,” the name of this year’s Stewardship Campaign’s theme song, conveys what our Church represents to so many of us—something wonderful, something joyful, something extraordinary!
We Want Your Story!
We know that our church is a special part of many of our lives — as a spiritual home, a place to share our gifts, a sanctuary from a troubled world, and/or a community of care.
Your Generosity Team is creating several opportunities (a stewardship video, Sunday service testimonials, a quote in our brochure) for members and friends to share an experience or tell a story where the UUCK made a difference!
If you have a story you are willing to share, you can fill out this short form, or contact Sandy Eaglen.
The song “Glorious” says that “Everyone plays a piece in their own melodies.” Please take the time in the next few days to send us your “pieces” of what UUCK means to you! We want to hear your “melody!”
Generosity Team: Chair Sandy Eaglen, Randy Ruchotzke, Kate Garner, Kat Holtz
Our Soul Matters theme of the month is Inclusion. As we’ve been made painfully aware in the past weeks, DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs and practice are being dismantled in many spheres of life across our nation. In order to live into the value of inclusivity within Unitarian Universalism, we’ll discuss how we can assist those with invisible challenges (mental health / neurodivergence / less than obvious different abilities) and not only include but understand, support and integrate them into our church and our lives.
9:15 AM: An In-Person, All-Ages Service
Led by DRE Colleen Thoele and Music Director Emily Hall.
10:00 AM: Children’s Religious Exploration
Religious exploration for our children and youth in classrooms.
11:00 AM:A Multi-Platform, Traditional Service (both in person and on Zoom)
Led by Elaine Bowen and Worship Associate Lori Mirkin-McGee, with Music Director Emily Hall.
CLICK HERE to view, download, or print the Order of Service for 11:00 AM.
11:00 AM Zoom Information:
For those joining via Zoom, our meeting room opens 15 minutes prior to the start of the service (at 10:45 AM) for weekly announcements. We request that everyone joining the service please display your first and last name. Thank you!
In our next Town Hall Session the Board will provide information about their current and future goals, in particular our desire to bring our contract minister Rev. Kristina from 3/4 time to full time.
Along with board updates, we’ll hear from our Stewardship Team about our upcoming Pledge Campaign. There will be opportunities for questions and feedback.
More details will be coming soon!
Time & Location
February 9, 2025, In person in the Sanctuary, after second service (about 12:15pm)
11:00 AM:A Multi-Platform, Traditional Service (both in person and on Zoom)
Led by Mike Hovancsek, Commissioned Lay Minister Kathy Kerns, and Music Director Emily Hall.
CLICK HERE to view, download, or print the Order of Service for 11:00 AM.
11:00 AM Zoom Information:
For those joining via Zoom, our meeting room opens 15 minutes prior to the start of the service (at 10:45 AM) for weekly announcements. We request that everyone joining the service please display your first and last name. Thank you!
After a time of difficult discernment, and in dialogue with the Hogwarts Board of Governors, the congregational leadership has decided to formally end the KentHogwarts ministry.
Started by Becky Haines and other volunteers back in the 2000’s, the program had been our UU version of Vacation Church School. Hundreds of children and youth got to experience a magical world that was steeped in UU values over the past two decades. Versions of our Hogwarts program travelled to General Assembly, Summer Institute, and were adapted by other UU Churches!
A dedicated core of volunteers kept this amazing program going for more than 20 years. Sadly, the energy to keep the program running has dwindled over recent years, it lost momentum during the pandemic (and never fully recovered), and the author–disappointingly–has made statements that are counter to UU values, distressing many of our youth and young adults.
We can celebrate that we had over twenty years of an amazing program, and are sad that it is ending, but the time to end has come.
There is going to be an opportunity for current and former Professorsand other volunteers to gather on Saturday, February 8 to share stories, etc. Contact [email protected] and they will email you details.
There are tentative plans by the Kent Hogwarts Board of Governors to have another time later in the year for participants and volunteers to share memories and celebrate the magic we created together! Please stay tuned!
We thank the current Board of Governors for their grace and care for the KentHogwarts community during this difficult transition.
With love and care for the community,
Colleen Thoele, Director of Religious Education Rev. Renee Ruchotzke, Affiliated Community Minister
As we explore Liberating Love through the Practice of Inclusion this month, let’s turn to the creation of a favorite hymn for inspiration and instruction. How can we answer the call of love, and find ways to widen the circle of belonging in our faith?
9:15 AM: An In-Person, All-Ages Service
Led by Rev. Kristina and DRE Colleen Thoele
10:00 AM: Children’s Religious Exploration
Religious exploration for our children and youth in classrooms.
10:00AM: Youth & Adult Religious Exploration: ABCs of Covenant
Part 2 of our 3-part “Skill-Up” series (in place of our Theme-based reflection circles) to explore the “A-B-Cs” of covenant: Awareness of our interpersonal dynamics, healthy Boundaries around each other and the community as a whole, and skills for better Communication to help us develop more trusting and deeper relationships. Read more…
Located in Hobbs Hall. Coffee and Tea will be available!
11:00 AM:A Multi-Platform, Traditional Service (both in person and on Zoom)
Led by Rev. Kristina, and Worship Associate Randy Bish
CLICK HERE to view, download, or print the Order of Service for 11:00 AM.
11:00 AM Zoom Information:
For those joining via Zoom, our meeting room opens 15 minutes prior to the start of the service (at 10:45 AM) for weekly announcements. We request that everyone joining the service please display your first and last name. Thank you!
We are excited to introduce Alicia Patrice and welcome her to our staff team. Alicia accepted the part time position as our Campus Use Manager. Her job focus and responsibilities include oversight of the UUCK rentals program. Alicia began on January 15 and has been spending the last few weeks learning about the church and our rental program, communicating with current kitchen vendors and upcoming scheduled rentals, as well as fielding new inquiries.
Alicia has a work history of event coordination and facilitation with strong organizational skills. She has a personal passion for yoga and sound healing.
If you see Alicia at church, please introduce yourself and welcome her to our amazing community. Alicia’s contact information for rentals is [email protected]. General requests for reserving space for church committee or team meetings and events should be directed to MaryBeth at [email protected].
Let’s celebrate the legacy of our Unitarian spiritual ancestor, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, was a free Black suffragist and abolitionist who achieved fame as an orator, novelist, poet, and teacher. Throughout her life she spoke truth to power for the causes of freedom, inclusion, and dignity for all. How can her writings and life story inspire Unitarian Universalists, as we meet our current moment in history?
9:15 AM: An In-Person, All-Ages Service
Led by Rev. Kristina, DRE Colleen Thoele with Music Director Emily Hall.
10:00 AM: Children’s Religious Exploration
Religious exploration for our children and youth in classrooms.
10:00AM: Youth & Adult Religious Exploration: ABCs of Covenant
A 3-part “Skill-Up” series (in place of our Theme-based reflection circles) to explore the “A-B-Cs” of covenant: Awareness of our interpersonal dynamics, healthy Boundaries around each other and the community as a whole, and skills for better Communication to help us develop more trusting and deeper relationships. Read more…
Located in Hobbs Hall. Coffee and Tea will be available!
11:00 AM:A Multi-Platform, Traditional Service (both in person and on Zoom)
Led by Rev. Kristina, Music Director Emily Hall, and Worship Associate Heidi Sumser.
CLICK HERE to view, download, or print the Order of Service for 11:00 AM.
Our next Shared Ministries Council meeting will take place on February 23, 2025 in Hobbs Hall after the 11:00 AM service! We hope that each committee will send at least one representative to this meeting. As we look forward with Rev. Kristina, we want your voice to be heard.
We will have a potluck lunch, so please bring a dish to share if you are able.
CoSM will also gratefully accept setup/clean up help.
See you there! Lori, Jennifer, Rhonda, Shana, and Rev. Kristina
Saturday, February 8, 2025 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM Hobbs Hall
Our church is a place to learn & grow. Join us in a fun & enlightening afternoon of uncovering our individual gifts & unique styles.
Engaging self-exploration activities will be led by Ginny Horvath, Heidi Shaffer Bish, Vivien Sandlund, Don Gregg, Kathy Kerns & Rev. Elaine Strawn. Rev. Renee & Rev. Kristina will inspire us to apply our insights toward growth & transformation.
Enjoy a meal of soups & salad.
Please register for this free event by Sunday, February 2 by emailing [email protected]. A link will be provided to a brief survey. Childcare can be provided if you let us know at registration by February 2.
We talk a lot about being in covenant, but what does that actually mean in practice? Covenant means that we promise one another to be in the kind of relationship where we practice clear communication, work through our differences, and be willing to resolve misunderstandings and conflicts with grace, vulnerability, and accountability.
In February we are offering a 3-part “Skill-Up” series (in place of our Theme-based reflection circles) to explore the “A-B-Cs” of covenant: Awareness of our interpersonal dynamics, healthy Boundaries around each other and the community as a whole, and skills for better Communication to help us develop more trusting and deeper relationships.
Each 45 minute session (starting at 10:00 am in Hobbs Hall — coffee will be available!) will include a 15-minute “Skill-Up” followed by a half hour of discussion/practice in small groups. We will end promptly at 10:45 so that people can attend the 11:00am service. We encourage you to attend as many sessions as possible (as they build on one another) but we want you to attend as many as you can!
February 2: Personal Awareness, Boundaries, and Communication
This Session focuses on our personal reactions, feelings and needs when we are in difficult situations such as disagreement, disappointment and conflict. We will try out tools and practices that will give us an important foundation for setting and respecting boundaries, both our own and those of others and the community.
February 9: Awareness, Boundaries, and Communication in Relationships
This Session focuses on ways to respond when our feelings are hurt, we feel disrespected, taken for granted, or other interpersonal areas that lead to conflict.
February 16: Awareness, Boundaries, and Communication in Covenantal Community
This Session focuses on how we live in Covenant, the shared boundaries that we create and respect as a community in order to live our congregations mission and vision in the world. This session is especially important for active members who volunteer, serve on a committee, or in leadership. It is designed to give us tools to work through disagreements, disappointments, and conflicts before they get too big.
