Worship & Music
Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM.
Sunday, December 1 – Not by Might
Led by Rabbi David Horowitz and Worship Associate Max Grubb
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].
Got Prayer?
On 12/29 we will be sharing some of the ways that members and friends of our congregation engage prayer and/or other spiritual practices with their families. Whether or not you have children at home or even at all, we invite your stories. Do you have any regular prayer practices or other spiritual practices you keep with your family (however you define family for yourself). If not, have you had milestone, transitional or otherwise special moments with your family life in which you have prayed or observed some other spiritual practice together that has been especially meaningful for you? If you are willing, we would love to share your story during the service. This will be a multimedia program, so any photos, recordings, or videos that illustrate your family’s spiritual traditions will be most welcome. Lois Weir and Andrew Rome will be coordinating this intergenerational service. Please contact Lois or Andrew with your contributions.
Lifespan Learning
Idea of the week: Gratitude
“Gratitude is the memory of the heart” (old French proverb)
Rev. George Buchanan
Community Within
Jump-start your holiday spirit and join us for our annual Hanging of the Greens!
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..
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; RSVP to Bonny Esparza.
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
Many, many thanks for your generous giving. Once again, our UU community has demonstrated its big heart and caring values through outreach giving. The special collection in support of UUSC/UUA Philippian Typhoon Relief raised $1029.93.
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.