Worship & Music
Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM.
November 24 – Grateful Sharing of the Bread
Led by Rev. George Buchanan; Karen Lapidus, Director of Religious Education; Hal Walker, Music Director; and Trish McLoughlin, Worship Associate
Please join us for our annual Thanksgiving Multigenerational Worship Service! This is a bread communion service, with several different types of bread we gratefully share with one another. This expresses the importance of “moving to the middle” in our lives with family and close friends – giving and receiving with deep gratitude as we grow together and increase the common good.
We are looking for just a few households to volunteer to bake bread for the Nov. 24 service. Please contact MaryBeth Hannan in the church office if you are willing to bake. In the Chalice Flame newsletter, we had asked that each household bring bread to share – our plans changed and this is no longer necessary. So just bring your wonderful selves, and of course anyone you know in need of our open and loving community.
A Service of Memories and Light
Sunday, December 1, 7 p.m.
Many of us look forward to the upcoming winter holidays with heavy hearts. We are missing loved ones who have died, and we know the holidays will bring our memories into sharper focus. On Sunday, December 1 at 7pm, we offer a Service of Memory and Light to acknowledge our sadness, and together honor the lives of those we miss so much. Rev. Christie Anderson and Rev. George Buchanan will lead this service of loving fellowship. We’ll have music, readings and time for contemplation, with a ritual of individual remembrances. We’ll follow the service with a dessert and snack reception. This service is open to all adult and mature teen congregants who are in need of this Service of Memories and Light.
Looking for your creativity and expertise with felt!
We are seeking individuals who are both creative and work well with felt! It is our hope to offer a felt board presentation at our earliest worship service offered on Christmas Eve. If you would are interested in assisting with this project, please contact Rev. Renee Ruchotzke, [email protected] or Karen Lapidus, [email protected].
Lifespan Learning
RadioLab and Pancakes!
Radiolab and Pancakes will meet in Fessenden Hall during second service, on Nov. 24th. This time we will take a break from Radiolab and listen to On Being with Kristina Tippet. Her guest is a young Lutheran Minister who created a church specifically for young transgender people. Seeking to avoid tradition, her church has a chocolate fountain rather than a baptismal font. The story of this inspiring church will start our monthly discussion.
Idea of the Week – the Great Turning
The Great Turning is the name for our turn towards a sustainable and just human society, and away from the current dominant consumer culture leading us to despair and destruction. David Korten, Joanna Macy and other writers have made the term “Great Turning” popular.
There are signs we, the human race, are actually making this turn. It is not clear how much will be lost before the Great Turning is complete.
Rev. George
Community Within
The Hanging of the Greens will take place after the second service on Sunday, December 8. We are soliciting volunteers for that event. We especially can use help from individuals who were involved last year. Also, we need someone who is not fearful of climbing our tall ladder to reach the top of the tree! Get in the holiday spirit by volunteering. Contact Jack Graham or Mary Ann Stephens..
SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL VOTING MEETING – QUORUM REQUIRED!
Please join us on Sunday, November 24 at 12:45 pm in Fessenden Hall for an information and voting meeting on the property acquisition. Here we grow again!
Once again the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent will host Thanksgiving dinner at the church on Thursday, November 28 beginning at 2 pm in Fessenden Hall. Our host, Bonny Graham Esparza, will be preparing a turkey for the feast.
Turkey will be provided so there will be no charge for anyone; however, we will take a free will offering to help cover the cost of a few supplies and some other treats. All who attend are asked to bring a favorite Thanksgiving dinner side dish or dessert to share. A variety of alcohol-free drinks will be provided.
If you plan to come, consider bringing your favorite game to share if you’d also like to enjoy time relaxing with others after the meal. In order to prepare, please let us know if you are coming. A sign-up sheet has been posted in Fessenden Hall. Alternatively, you can email your reply to the church office. If you do reply via email, please let us know what you will be bringing and whether you are free to help with set up or clean up.
HERE WE HAVE GATHERED
Who are the “WE?” Where have we GATHERED”?
The We” is you and all of us , the congregation of free thinkers that form the Unitarian Universalists, GATHERED together in Kent, Ohio.
The title of the booklet refers to a collection of essays written by current and former members about current and past events that have had an impact on our congregation. Included in this edition (vol.3) are a new prayer by Rev. Melissa; remembrances of May 4th and the active response of our church written by Gene Wenninger and Caroline Arnold; the Summer Institute experiences of the Slater family and Lori McGee; a recollection of his church religious education by Reid Parsons, recipes used for church activities donated by Olive Hobbs and Kathy Slater, plus many pictures of church groups and individuals. Each volume of “Here We Have Gathered,” represents the Library’s commitment to recording church activities that collectively form the history of our Kent Church. The sale of this booklet represents the primary, yearly fundraiser for the Library. Proceeds from the sale of this edition ($5.00/copy) will help us to purchase new books for the Library collection. We will be most grateful for you support. Copies may be purchased during coffee hour or from any committee member.
Holiday Family Movie Night
It is time to mark your calendars for our annual X-Mas movie night! Come to Fessenden Hall on Dec. 13 at 7:30 pm for the funniest Christmas movies and cartoons ever made. We will start with the classic film Santa Claus Fights the Devil. This is a pot luck affair, so bring your favorite holiday dishes. If you have any questions, contact Cheryl Spoehr.
The Patricia Pownall UU Book Group will be meeting on Tuesday, December 10 at 7 pm at the home of Kay Wind. . Please bring a snack to share. This month we are reading Gone Girl by Gillia Flynn. Flynn’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit with deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds readers at every turn. When his wife disappears on their anniversary, Nick starts having cringe-worthy daydreams and becomes oddly evasive, eschewing his golden boy past. If you have any questions you may contact Bonnie Harper. All are welcome.
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. We need a large team of people who volunteer to help greet and usher on Sunday mornings, to prepare an inviting coffee hour or 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. Sign up at: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/904054FA9A62BA57-sunday
Outreach and Social Justice
Nov. 24 Special Collection for Philippines Relief
This coming Sunday, November 24 will take a special collection to contribute to the relief efforts in the eastern Philippines. Our national Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) has a long-established presence in the Philippines focused on care for those most vulnerable – women and children, and farmers and fisherfolk in rural areas . In conjunction with the UUA, our national denomination, the UUSC has established a joint emergency fund to focus on immediate relief for these same vulnerable people. Our donations this coming Sunday will go this joint emergency fund.
Holiday Toy Collection Drive to Benefit Kent Social Services
From now until DECEMBER 8th, we will be collecting new toys to donate from our congregation to the Kent Social Services Toy Drive. Please consider adding a new and unwrapped toy OR A GIFT CARD FOR A TEEN to the
collection box in Fessenden Hall to support Kent Social Services in their goal to bring joy this holiday season to the children of our community.
The Holidays are quickly approaching and the RE Committee has received a list of Christmas wishes from a local family at Miller Community House. The family we received is a mom, dad and 2 daughters. Our tradition of providing Christmas gifts for a family in need is a very special project for our congregation. We hope you will help!
In addition to asking for your cash donations so that we may purchase special gifts for the whole family, this year we are looking for a few bigger items to help this family enjoy their new living space. These items can be new or in good used condition. The items are: a T.V., DVD player and an iPod Touch. If you have any of these more expensive items to donate (new or used), please contact Colleen Thoele or Karen Lapidus.
There will be a table for monetary donations to purchase gifts for this family during coffee hour each Sunday until the deadline of December 8th.
Income Generation
Just a reminder that we are participating in the Acme Community Cash Back Program. Please save your Acme register receipts and turn them in to the box located on the grocery card table in Fessenden Hall. The Church receives 5 % of the Community Cash Back total listed at the bottom of the receipts through this fundraiser. Thanks so much for your support, we appreciate it!