Weekly e-nUUs – August 27, 2014

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While Rev. Melissa is on vacation this week,  Rev. Christie Anderson, our Commissioned Lay Leader, will be available for emergency and time sensitive pastoral concerns.

 

Worship & Music  

We have returned to our normal schedule of two services being offered Sunday mornings at 9:45 and 11:30.  August 31 will be the last offering of Summer Religious Education at 9:45 AM only.   Nursery care is available for all services.

 

August 31 – Engaging Pluralism

Led by the Rev. Christie Anderson

As UUs, we respect religious freedom.  But, as religious diversity grows, the society around us is becoming more intolerant.  Join our exploration of the interfaith movement and learn how UUs can help counteract the fear that feeds religious prejudice.

 

From the Library

References Lori McGee used in last Sunday’s Homily G”uu”gle It,  are www.uua.org,  and Rejoice Together.

The reference used by Kat Holtz for her OWL reflection is: uua.org/re/owl/

The reference to Kent Hogwarts is: http://www.kenthogwarts.org/

The Library has received 38 books from the estate of Richard Rymer, donated by his widow, Grace Rymer.

A list of the volumes may be found on the top shelf of the main bookcase in Founder’s Lounge.

Reminder: Sept. 5th, Potluck supper at 6:15 P.M. followed by lecture and discussion at 7:00 P.M. with guest speaker, Isam  Zaiem.  Library Symposiums will be 2 lectures on Islamic Art given by Gingr Vaughan  in the Sanctuary at 730 P.M. on Wednesdays, Sept. 24th and Oct. 22nd. A 3rd presentation on Islam will be held Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7:30. Topic TBA.

 

Join us on September 7 for To Be Human is to Promise

A Multigenerational Ingathering Service and Water Communion led by Rev. Melissa Carvill Ziemer and Director of Religious Education Karen Lapidus

We are “promise-making, promise-breaking, promise-renewing” animals.  That is what the Israeli Jewish philosopher Martin Buber once said and to me it rings true.  This morning as we welcome the whole community back together after some have been away for summer work and play, we explore the promises we make to one another.  Please bring a small container of water and/or earth with you to church this Sunday to represent a place where you felt fully awake to your humanity this summer.

 

Lifespan Learning

Summer RE Coming to an End

Our last session of Summer RE happens on August 31st at 9:45.  Preschool children meet in their upstairs classroom.  School-aged and younger youth gather in the large upstairs classroom (pancakes in Fessenden ~ yum).

It has been a wonderful summer of giving simple gifts.  The gifts we will be making on Sunday are for someone in the church.  I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but school-aged children will not want to miss this Sunday!

Childcare for babies and children up to age 4 is provided in the nursery during both the 9:45 and the 11:30 services.

September 7th ~  Ingathering Sunday.  See the Chalice Flame and the e-nUUs for more information about this wonderful multigenerational worship experience.  Preschool RE starts this day @ 9:45.  The age range for our preschool is age three by 9/1/14 to those 5-year-olds who are not attending Kindergarten in the fall.  All children and youth, Grades K-12, will be in the sanctuary for the entire service.

September 14th ~  RE starts for everyone else.  At 9:45, we have classes for preschool, Grades K-2 and Grades 3-5.  At 11:30, we have our school-aged RE class, Middle School and High School Youth Group.

 

The Wi$dom Path: Money, Spirit, and Life

The UUA has developed a new program on the topic of money and spirituality that will be offered at our church this year for the first time.  As the program materials note, “Money plays a role in nearly every aspect of our lives.  Depending on how we understand it, our relationship with money can enhance or limit our ability to live our lives to the fullest.  In this program, participants join together to give this important aspect of our lives due attention in a religious community.  The heart of this program is an exploration of the relationship between money and spiritual values, specifically our Unitarian Universalist values.”

Participants will explore money and values through conversation and activities that allow them to consider their own stories and different perspectives on money, help them feel better equipped to make money decisions, and encourage them to consider whether they want to pursue changes to bring their financial choices in better alignment with their values.

The 12 sessions will be offered as 3 topical series.  Although members can drop into any session, you will get the most out of the program if you attend regularly.  The first series, on Money and Self, is an introduction to the program in which participants explore their own attitudes and experiences with money.  The 3 sessions in this series will meet on Thursday nights September 11, 18, and 25 at 7PM.

After a short break, the second series will meet every other week starting mid-October (on a Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday, depending on the preferences of those attending the first session).  This series of 5 sessions, on Money, Spirit, and Life, will guide participants toward taking actions that align with their personal values.  The last series, Money and Society (4 sessions), explores how our financial ways of being affects others.  The last series will meet in January and February.

Questions?  Want more information? Please contact Kathy Kerns.

 

ICON A WILDERNESS:  UTAH’S RED ROCK CANYONLANDS

The connection between nature, wilderness, and spirituality goes back to the very origins of humanity.  The Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent will host a program entitled “A Wilderness Icon: America’s Red Rock Canyonlands” on Wednesday, September 17 at 7:30 pm.

The speaker will be Clayton Daughenbaugh, conservation organizer with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and Chairperson of the Sierra Club’s National Wildlands and Wilderness Committee.  Daughenbaugh will address the topic of faith and the land while promoting the national campaign to protect America’s red rock wilderness.

The program includes a multi-media slideshow documenting citizen efforts to designate public lands in southern Utah’s spectacular canyon country as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. This 15-minute journey through red rock splendor, narrated by Robert Redford, invigorates and motivates viewers to participate in the movement to protect these unique lands.  Comprehensive legislation is pending in Congress and administrative decisions by the Department of Interior are ongoing.

The national campaign to protect the Red Rock Canyonlands has been endorsed by the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly and by the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for the Earth.

 

From the Library 

The Library will offer 3 Symposiums this fall titled “Art and Allah: Increasing Our Understanding of Muslim Art, History and Culture, Beginning with Art”.  A timely foundation for the Symposiums will be offered in a lecture given by Isam Zaiem on Sept. 5th at 7:00 P.M. in the Sanctuary. Mr. Zaiem’s lecture, “Islam  101 and Being Muslim Post 9/11: Challenging Islamophobia, Profiling, and Marginalization,” will be preceded by a potluck supper at 6:15, coordinated by Andrew Rome and Sevim McCutcheon. Everyone is urged to take advantage of this special opportunity. The Library committee is grateful to Sevim for bringing Mr. Zaiem to our congregation.

The Symposium dates are on Wednesdays, Sept. 24th, October 22nd, and November 19th at 7:30 P.M. in the Sanctuary. Gingr Vaughan will give the first 2 presentations on Islamic art. She will begin by showing the similarities among the belief systems of Christianity, Judaism and Islam and how they influenced one another in art. The 3rd Symposium will focus on history and literature, with the guest presenter TBA.

All presentations will be followed by a Q&A session and refreshments. We hope you can attend and look forward to seeing you.

 

Community Within

 The Patricia Pownall UU Book Group will be meeting on Tuesday, September 9 at 7 pm in the home of Trish Johnson-Kwartler, 2937 Overlook Road in Silver Lake. Carrot cake by Bill Bowen will be served. We’ll meet in the church parking at 6:30 pm to carpool. This month we are reading Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Woman’s Prison by Piper Kerman.  The author was sent to prison for a ten-year-old crime for drug trafficking. She spent thirteen months in prison, eleven of them at the federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut. This is a look into the lives of women in prison; why we lock so many away, and what happens to them when they are there. In October, it will be reader’s choice. Also at October’s gathering, we will have a book exchange. Bring books that you no longer want and trade with other group members. All left over books will be donated Empower Portage. If you have any questions you may contact Bonnie Harper.  All are welcome.

 

In Appreciation of Our Greeters

We gratefully acknowledge those who have served as greeters during the past year. It makes such a difference to be met at the door with a smile, an Order of Service, and assistance in finding a name tag and a seat; to know that guests and visitors are warmly welcomed, that the sanctuary is prepared for worship, and that the Offering is handled with care and attention. The time our greeters spend before, during, and after the service creates a warm, welcoming, and peaceful environment for the entire church community. We thank you!

Please join us for coffee hour on Sept. 7th in their honor

Deb Biggins Becky Haines Patty Miller
Lee Brooker Noreen Kumm-Gory Jan Noden
Elaine Bowen Bonnie Harper Laura Sinclair
JR Campbell Dan Hayes Cheryl Spoehr
Melissa Campbell Chris Hurlbut Mark Stephens
Andrea Case Martha Kluth Denise Snyder-Markovich
Cheryl Casper Trish Kwartler Paulette Thurman
Trudy Diehl Dianne Lenihan Sarah Verity
Don Easterling Kim Marfy Theresa Walton
Mark Eckman John Marfy Ann Waters
Kay Eckman Trish McLoughlin Gene Wenninger
Jen Fisette Meg Milko Fred Gory
Claudia Miller

Special thanks to Jennifer Gregg for donating the visitor candles.

 

Join the UUCK greeter team!

We are actively recruiting greeters for the 2014-15 church year. No experience required! It’s one of the easiest ways for new friends and members to get involved, serve the church, and learn who everyone is. It’s also a wonderful way for established members to share their enthusiasm for the community.

If you are interested in committing to this ministry as a new or returning greeter, please contact Jen Fisette or Andrea Case to get signed up!

 

News from the Building Expansion Front

‘When courage, genius and generosity hold hands, all things are possible.’   -Unknown

The Building Expansion Team (BET) of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent has been meeting for months.  Hopefully you have heard about some of our work, taken our survey, met with us to share your hopes and dreams for our new facilities.  Most recently the BET has been working with Doug Fuller, the Architect who will be helping us give shape to our dreams.  If you have any questions, or would like more information, please feel free to contact any member of the BET.

Building Expansion Team members are:

Matt Slater, Co-Chair
Lois Weir, Co-Chair
Mary Lou Holly
Larry Johnson
Randy Leeson

 

Church Campout

It’s time once again for the “Where’s Walden” fall camp-out.   We’ll be gathering the week-end of October 3-5th at the Loleta Recreation Area in the Alleghany National Forest in Pennsylvania.  The campground is about two hours from Kent.   This is a family friendly event and everyone is welcome, but there is a limit on the group size, so sign up soon on the form posted downstairs in Fessenden Hall.   We’re staying at the group site which can accommodate tents.  If you wish to bring a camper you’re welcome to reserve a site in the adjoining campground.    Dinners are pot luck style, everyone brings their own table ware and food and drink to share.  The theme Friday night is American cookout, Saturday’s theme is comfort food.   Randy Leeson cooks pancakes, bacon and eggs for all on Saturday and Sunday morning.   Everyone furnishes their own lunches and snacks.  Activities to choose from include: hiking; canoeing; kayaking;  exploring the stream; and relaxing around the campfire.  The cost for the weekend is $5 per person with a maximum of $15 per family.  This fee covers the cost of the campground and firewood,  there is an additional cost if you wish to rent a canoe or kayak.

 

Book Review by Martha Kluth

Being Both: Embracing Two Religions in One Interfaith Family, Susan Katz Miller, New Beacon Press, 2013.

Ms. Miller has been a reporter for Newsweek, and New Scientist. Her work has appeared in the New York Times and the Christian Science Monitor, and on National Public Radio. She is former co-chair of the Interfaith Families Project of Greater Washington(D.C.)

Ms. Miller grew up with a Jewish father and a Christian mother, and she is currently in an interfaith marriage herself. Essentially, the book declares the benefits of celebrating two religions in one family and provides a blueprint for interfaith families who are seeking guidance and community support. It will be available in the Church Library next month under “Family Life.”

 

Outreach and Social Justice

These are exciting times at the  UU Church of Akron!

Saturday, September 13 from 9:30AM to 3:30PM, the UUCA congregation will host a very important conference on the immigration crisis in Ohio. What makes this news especially exciting is that the conference will be attended by the Rev. Peter Morales, who is the President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). President Morales will preach the sermon at the opening worship service and participate in the rest of the program, which will include panel discussions and presentations coordinated by our partner organization, the Immigrant Worker Project (IWP). Jeff Stewart from IWP will bring several guests from the immigrant community who will share powerful stories about their experience, including first-hand testimony about the recent migration of children from Central America. In addition to President Morales, the General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ (UCC), the Rev. Geoffrey Black, will also be in attendance.  Everyone is welcome to attend the morning worship service and the conference.  Register at:  https://ohiomeadville.wufoo.com/forms/qhte9sr150dkmz/

 

The Human Rights Task Force is pleased to have a schedule in place to tutor at the Skeels-Matthews Community Center in Ravenna, on Thursday afternoons from 4:00 to 6:00 through October.  It’s an after-school program; most of the students are grade-school level, and most are low-income.  We would like more volunteers to round out the schedule, possibly adding Tuesdays.   Please contact Lee Brooker.

 

UU and Interfaith Connections

You are Invited to an Evening to Aid in Developing Awareness of Cultural and Religious Diversity

Presented by:  Isam Zaiem, President Emeritus (CAIR-Ohio – Cleveland Chapter)

Topic:   Islam 101 and Being Muslim Post 9/11

Challenging Islamophobia, Profiling, and Marginalization

When:  Friday September 5, 2014

Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent

228 Gougler Ave., Kent, OH 44240

kentuu.org

Time:  6:15-7:00 PM   Potluck Dinner  (Please, NO Pork or Alcohol)

7:00-8:30 PM   Discussion, Questions and Answers

 

Income Generation

Still looking for some back-to-school bargains? Well, this is your lucky day! We’d love to sell you some Sheetz Fundraiser coupon books–for just $10.00, you’ll get $20.00 worth of coupons good for free parfaits, sandwiches, fries, drinks, etc.! Treat yourself and help the church at the same time. The coupons are good until December 31, 2015. You can buy as many books as you need at Sunday’s pancake breakfast table (we’d love to see them sell “like hotcakes”!) during coffee hour or after second service, or contact Meg Milko or Sandy Eaglen to make other purchase arrangements.

 

Looking for a great way to support the Church?  Use GoodSearch and GoodShop!  

GoodSearch is an internet search engine powered through Yahoo! and the site donates about a penny for each search made.  Simply go to www.GoodSearch.com  and choose the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent as your charity to support.  The pennies will add up quickly if many people use this free tool.  While on the site check out www.GoodShop.com and www.goodsearch.com also.  If you’re an online shopper or like to eat out, many stores and vendors will donate a percentage of your purchase back to the Church and the Good Dining participating restaurants will donate a percentage of your tab to the Church.  This is truly fundraising made easy!  Last year, the Church received $213.00 from Good Search and GoodShop based on the use of a few of our members and friends.  Thank you!
Starting today through September 1st, every purchase your supporters make via Goodshop enters Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent for a chance to win one of five $400 prizes in our $2,000 Giveaway! What’s more, up to 20% of their purchases will be donated to your cause. 

 

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