Sunday, May 10, 2026 Silence and Sound, Movement and Stillness

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

Curious about how music, movement, and intention can center and ground us as a community? Join us for this service exploring the Dances of Universal Peace, a non-sectarian spiritual movement practice that draws from various religions, including Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, and Indigenous traditions, as a vehicle for peace and joy. No dancing required and you can participate in whatever way feels right for your body!

9:15 AM Service — meeting in the Church Sanctuary (in person only)

Led by Rev. Kristina Church with DRE Colleen Thoele and Emily Hall, Dir. of Music Ministries.

Religious Education for Children and Youth

See the latest schedule and locations.

Facilitated Drop-In Small Reflection Groups for Adults

Location: Fessenden Hall

This Week’s Wondering Questions:

  1. The Dances of Universal Peace bring together themes from world religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Are you curious to learn more about a particular religious tradition that you didn’t grow up with? What about it intrigues you and how could you discover more?
  2. What does the idea of embodied prayer mean to you? Have you ever seen or experienced dance as a sacred art form?

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

Led by Rev. Kristina Church and Worship Associate Alicia Patrice.

CLICK HERE to view or print the Order of Service.

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Sunday, May 3, 2026 The Spiral Path: Regarding Our Own Mortality

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

Our human lives are bounded and finite, no matter what we believe comes afterward. As we move along the path of life, how can we learn to accept and embrace the fact that someday we’ll be gone from here? What do we need to do to plan for the inevitable end of our story? Come join us as we honor the final turn in the Path of Life.

9:15 AM Service — meeting in the Church Sanctuary (in person only)

Led by Rev. Kristina Church with DRE Colleen Thoele and Emily Hall, Dir. of Music Ministries.

Religious Education for Children and Youth

See the latest schedule and locations.

Facilitated Drop-In Small Reflection Groups for Adults

Location: Fessenden Hall

This Week’s Wondering Questions:

  1. Have you ever walked or traveled a labyrinth, gone on a pilgrimage, or engaged in any other kind of traveling movement as meditation? If not, would you like to someday? What about this practice awakens your curiosity?
  2. If a crystal ball could reveal the time and circumstances of your death, would you want to know? How might having that knowledge transform the way you live your daily life?

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

Led by Rev. Kristina Church with Worship Associate Heidi Sumser.

CLICK HERE to view or print the Order of Service.

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Blue Boat Home: Earth Day Vespers

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

7:30 pm Wednesday, April 22nd in our Historic Sanctuary

Let’s celebrate and honor the only refuge we’ve ever known. Join us as we debut a new children’s book based on Peter Mayer’s beloved hymn of gratitude and wonder, Blue Boat Home. 

If you wish, please bring along any poetry or readings that inspire your love for our beautiful blue and green planet. We encourage everyone to bring a small token of the land or the sea (a rock, a flower, a shell, a piece of wood) to co-create an Earth Day alter. You can also just show up, and soak in the love and gratitude for our home, the Earth!

For those who would like an online option to celebrate Earth Day, please consider joining the UU Ministry for the Earth at 8 PM EST for their service. You must register in order to receive the Zoom link. CLICK HERE for more information.

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Italian Luncheon

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

Help Send Our Youth to Washington DC
UUYJ’s final fundraiser!

Sunday, April 19, 12:00-1:30
(Eat-in or Take Home)

MENU: pasta, meatballs, home-made sauce from our own Italian UUCK member Wendy McWilliams-Woods, salad, bread (gluten free and vegetarian options)

COST: The dinner is by donation only, with 100% of proceeds going to support our
high school youth group (UUYJ) traveling to Washington DC; goal = $3,000

LOCATION: Hobbs Hall – Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, 228 Gougler Ave.,
Kent

  • Can’t attend, but still want to donate? 3 easy ways: 1) hand donation to Colleen Thoele or
    Ellen McWilliams-Woods; 2) send check to church office with “UUYJ service trip” on memo line; 3)
    donate online by going to kentuu.org & click giving tab, select paypal or easytithe, click one-time,
    select other from the drop down menu for donation type, and write “UUYJ service trip” when
    prompted to describe the donation.
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Come One, Come All, to Hear Congregation Updates!

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

Please note the new meeting location.

There will be a short briefing on April 19 from 12:15PM to 12:45PM in the Sanctuary to provide updates on two things happening in the congregation: the second report from the Contract to Call Team, and an overview of the Visioning process we will do in the Fall.  Please grab a cup of coffee and a snack to join us in person, or use the zoom link for that Sunday’s service to join online, to hear these updates!

Rev. Kristina and Kathy Kerns

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Sunday, April 26, 2026 Embracing the Possibility of Realizing the True You

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

What if we are more than what we see when we look in a mirror? Is there more to us that is yet to be discovered? A theory exists that answers these questions in the affirmative. What is that unseen part of you? Let’s imagine the possibilities of discovering the real you.

9:15 AM Service — meeting in the Church Sanctuary (in person only)

Led by Rev. Kristina Church with DRE Colleen Thoele.

Religious Education for Children and Youth

See the latest schedule and locations.

Facilitated Drop-In Small Reflection Groups for Adults

Location: Fessenden Hall

This Week’s Wondering Questions:

  1. We’re told to live each day as if it were our last. But what if, instead, we lived each day as if it were our very first? What about life here on Earth would astonish us?
  2. What if we’re built to have many lives in this lifetime of ours? What would shift for you if you knew we only become fully human by pursuing many possible selves, rather than just one?

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

Led by Randy Bish and Worship Associate Becky Cline.

CLICK HERE to view or print the Order of Service.

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Stewardship and Your Pledge

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

If you have not had a chance to do so, a gentle reminder to turn in your pledge of financial commitment. We’ve had a good response thus far, receiving about a third of our expected pledges. Our campaign is winding up on April 19th, we need to hear from you!

Many of our members and friends are using the online pledge card, which has eased the work of our staff and volunteers. That is a great option for the church if it works for you, even if it’s to communicate that you are unable to pledge this year! (You may also send an email to [email protected].

Thank you from the Stewardship Team!

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Installation Celebration for the Rev. Kristina Church

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

Please join us Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 at 2pm In Hobbs Hall

of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent

To celebrate the formal Installation and celebration of our chosen settled minister,

the Reverend Kristina Church!

For those who would like to assist with making this a special event, there are multiple ways to help. Many hands make light work! There are two volunteer sign-up sheets: one for a private luncheon earlier in the day for Rev. Kristina and her ministerial guests; and one for the installation and celebratory reception on Saturday afternoon. You may choose to help with one or both events as your time and interest permits. Please use these links to sign up for something that fits your interests.

Sign up to volunteer to support the installation service and reception: https://volunteersignup.org/TKQRT

CLICK HERE to sign up to volunteer to support the installation service and reception.

CLICK HERE to sign up to volunteer to support the Minister’s private luncheon.

There will be a decorative gift box available at the reception to collect cards, hand-written notes, or other tokens of appreciation that you may wish to gift to Rev. Kristina.

Childcare will be available during the installation ceremony. If you will need childcare, please RSVP to [email protected] so that Colleen and staff will be informed.

If you are unable to attend in person, we hope you can join us on Zoom at this link: https://zoom.us/j/98254786333

The Installation Planning Team (Ellen Doucette, Rhonda Richardson, Susanna Smart) is available to answer any questions you may have. Contact: [email protected]

 Schedule of Events

12 PM Private Ministerial Luncheon (Fessenden Hall)

1 PM Minister’s Robing (Fessenden Hall)

2 – 3:30 PM Installation Ceremony (Hobbs Hall)

3:30 PM Celebratory Reception (Hobbs Hall)

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Spring 2026 Auction

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

Please consider donating events, dinners, outings, services, and one-of-a-kind or unique items of special interest to be auctioned live at this event. Large group events and services will also be sold at fixed prices. We request that you please save your silent auction items for our auction in November.

Visit the Auction website: http://www.togetherauction.com/kentuu

CLICK HERE to VOLUNTEER: We need volunteers for set-up, cooking, donating desserts, checking-in and check out and clean up. All help is deeply appreciated.

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April 2026 Special Collection: Camp Lilac

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

During the month of April, our special collection will support Camp Lilac.

The Mission of Camp Lilac is to provide a safe, welcoming space for transgender and gender diverse youth to be themselves in a positive, supportive, youth-focused environment.

The Camp is an overnight summer camp in Ohio for transgender and gender diverse youth. The program enables campers to emerge with an increased sense of confidence in their identities and a strong community of peers and supporters.

Click here to learn more.

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3/31/26 Ministry Spotlight: Board of Trustees

Posted on by Renee Ruchotzke

by Megan Harding

On May 31, members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent (UUCK) will elect three new people to the Board of Trustees for three-year terms that begin July 1.  

With a settled, full-time minister, an influx of new members of all ages, upgrades to campus buildings, and COVID in the rearview mirror, the church is poised to blossom. “This is a time of renewal for the church and a good time to be involved,” says Claudia Miller, one of seven current board members. 

Board service provides opportunities to deepen relationships with other church members and heighten one’s sense of spiritual connection. “Our strength as a group is we want to make sure everyone’s voices are heard. There’s no ego involved,” said Randy Ruchotzke, who was elected moderator in July 2025 (and has served on the board on and off since the 1990s). He credits the two moderators in place just prior to him, Kara Kramer and Ginny Horvath, with building a close-knit atmosphere after the church weathered some difficult transitions.  

Although Kramer had joined the church fairly recently when members of the Leadership Development Team asked her to serve, she felt her newness could be an asset, as well her perspective as a parent of two young children. “I leaned heavily into collaboration and communication to make sure the members, friends, and staff understood what we (the board) were doing and why,” says Kramer. “The board was very committed and stepped up to meeting twice a month versus the old ‘normal’ of once per month so we were taking care of everything that needed to be addressed.” Board members elect their own moderator from within their ranks at the start of each fiscal year.

“I enjoyed the internal work of practicing right relationship with my fellow board members,” says Susanna Smart, who served on the board from 2022 through 2025. “Serving on the board was a spiritual practice for me. It was a way to put the values that we hold as a UU congregation into action. I cared about listening to what was spoken as well as listening for what was unspoken,” she said. Others echoed Smart’s feeling that meetings offer an intentionally safe environment where participants allow the time, space, and willingness to explore differences of opinion. 

“I feel that courage can be contagious,” Miller said. “When someone has the courage to say the hard thing, it bolsters your courage to do the same. It makes you feel so close and loving to the group. Not only do you get to know them but you get to care about them.” She adds, “I feel joy at church now. I see people experiencing joy, not just in the service, but when they’re doing service for the church. It grows your soul.” 

When asked what tips he might have for new board members, Ruchotzke said: “If you go in with the attitude of a beginner and let the vibe of the group and the sacred duty we have to look after the church–if you let that bubble up to the surface–it can be life-altering.” 

Any UUCK member who has questions about service on the board, or who wishes to express interest, may contact Kathy Kerns, chair of the Leadership Development Team, at [email protected]. 

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Sunday, April 19, 2026 Music Sunday: Music as a Refuge

Posted on by MaryBeth Hannan

In Buddhism, the three refuges are honored and celebrated- the Buddha (the teacher), the Dhamma (the truth/wisdom), and the Sangha, which is the spiritual community. Together we will experience music as a refuge. Join us for a celebration of music and the many musicians who share their gifts and hold space in our spiritual community.

9:15 AM Service — meeting in the Church Sanctuary (in person only)

Led by Director of Music Ministries Emily Hall with Rev. Kristina Church

Religious Education for Children and Youth

See the latest schedule and locations.

Facilitated Drop-In Small Reflection Groups for Adults

Location: Fessenden Hall

This Week’s Wondering Questions:

  1. What kind of music feels most grounding and centering for you? Is there a particular instrument or musical style that feels like “home” whenever you hear or play it?
  2. Was there a time in your life when you “took refuge” in a song or a piece of music? What was it about the music or lyrics that offered you a sense of safety, calm, or peace?

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

Led by Director of Music Ministries Emily Hall

CLICK HERE to view or print the Order of Service.

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