Uu Church Of Kent Ohio

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Led by Kathy Kerns and Worship Associate Camille Pavlicek-Fauser Taking care of the earth is an important and almost universally shared value.  But  taking care of the earth is also a spiritual challenge as it may require at times that we be intentional and change our behavior so that we feel our actions are in alignment with our values.  This service considers how we can consider ways of "upping our game" in environmental stewardship, especially regarding plastic pollution and the environment. Sunday morning services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 with nursery care available during both services.

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay Sunday, November 17, 2019 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Worship Associate Lori McGee Poet Mary Oliver once said: "Attention is the beginning of devotion." In her poem "Gratitude" Oliver poses eight questions that invite us to be fully present and to pay attention to the world around us. We will reflect on these eight questions as we explore November's theme of "Attention" and how attention is the heart of the spiritual life as well as an invitation to live more fully. Sunday morning services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday, November 10, 2019 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Worship Associate Elaine Bowen Poet Judyth Hill invites us to "Wage peace", to use our breath and our ears and our hands and our hearts to not only actively work for peace, but to act as if peace is already a reality. As we thank and honor our veterans for their service to our country on this Veteran's Day, we will reflect on our sixth principle, the goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all. Sunday morning services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday, November 3, 2019 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Worship Associate Jennifer May Commissioner Steven has turned on the Chalice Signal: calling all UU Superheroes! In honor of our Treats and Talents auction with its theme of "SUUperheroes" this year, this service will be an invitation to bring your UUnique superpower and join other “SUUperheroes”, including UU Woman and the Yellow Lantern of Justice, in the work of building community and creating justice and peace. Sunday morning services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday, October 27, 2019 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman with Worship Associate Camille Pavlicek-Fauser "So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are now a part of us, as we remember them."  The words of this Reformed Jewish prayer remind us that our loved ones live on in our hearts as long as we remember them.  In keeping with the many spiritual traditions of remembrance during this time of the year, we will once again remember and honor our beloved dead with rituals and songs, love and tears.  Sunday morning services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday , October 20, 2019 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Worship Associate Kathy Kerns Unitarian Universalists often use the phrase "Beloved Community", a concept which was coined by Josiah Royce, who spoke of a community of memory and hope, and then enlarged by Martin Luther King Jr.  How does this vision of the world challenge us as a community to respond to the fundamental human longing to belong and be loved?  Following the second service, there will be a theme discussion group of the month’s Soul Matters theme of “Belonging”. Sunday morning services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.

Image by Ralf Kunze from Pixabay Sunday, October 13, 2019 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman, Director of Religious Education Colleen Thoele, and Worship Associate Elena Kline The apple, a symbol of autumn, has long been associated with the body, especially healing and good health, but it also represents spiritual gifts, including abundance, love, gratitude and generosity, that help us make our life's journey more meaningful.  We will gather as a community of all ages to give thanks for life's many gifts and enjoy the taste of autumn with an apple communion.  We will also commission and bless our musicians. Sunday morning services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 with nursery care available during both services.

On Sunday, October 6 the UUCK Board of Trustees held a Town Hall Meeting to to review and discuss this years Congregational Goals.  Below is an audio recording of the meeting for those who were not able to attend. Click here to review the goals.

Sunday, October 6, 2019 Led by Lori McGee and Worship Associate Elaine Bowen Yom Kippur is the holiest of days for the Jewish people.  During Yom Kippur, Jews around the world will spend their days fasting, praying in atonement and repentance, and asking for forgiveness from God for wrong-doings over the past year.  What can Unitarian Universalists learn from this centuries long tradition of atonement and new beginnings?  This service will provide some insights to this high holy day and offer a ritual of atonement and beginning again in love.   Sunday morning services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday, September 15, 2019 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman Starhawk says: “We are all longing to go home to some place we have never been.”  If Unitarian Universalism is to truly be a spiritual home, we need to both give and receive radical hospitality, offering to one another what we need to become more fully human and creating a place we have never been.  During this service we will commission and bless our Religious Education teachers and leaders as we begin a new RE year. Sunday morning services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday, September 8, 2019 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Director of Religious Education Colleen Thoele What is it the water remembers?  What does water invite us to remember?  As we return from our summer adventures bringing water and stories to share, this festive all ages service of water communion and ingathering invites us to bring our lives, our struggles, our hopes and our dreams to this community and join our lives together once again.  Please bring a small amount of water for the water pouring ritual.    This Sunday we return to two services offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday, September 1, 2019 Led by Lori McGee and Worship Associate Kathy Kerns Based on the spiritual practice taught in "Living by Heart," a course that I will offer this church year, this service explores how poetry can be a doorway into prayer.  Unitarian Universalists don't typically have memorized prayers as many other religions do.  When I came to UUism, I missed this practice.  "Living by Heart" offers a way to use memorized poems as a meditative and soulful substitute for traditional prayers.   This Sunday, one service at 10 AM will be offered with nursery care available during the service. On September 8 we return to two Sunday services at 9:45 and 11:30 AM.

Image by Adam Clay from Pixabay Sunday, August 25, 2019 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Worship Associate Camille Pavlicek-Fauser Four hundred years after the first ships carrying slaves arrived in the American colonies, we will reflect on America's long history of white supremacy culture, honor the contributions of African-Americans to our culture, and seek to find inspiration for our continued work of racial justice. During this service we will also bless backpacks and other bags to affirm that we are with you in the spirit of love and care as a new school year begins. Summer services are offered on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM with nursery care available during the service.

Sunday, August 18, 2019 -- one service at 10 AM Led by Kathy Walker and Saul Flanner You have traveled to the UUCK in search of a new adventure. A mysterious invitation to take a road trip awaits you. Will you strike out on your own or bring along your family? How will you prepare for your journey? What will you learn about spiritual practice and family rituals along the way? Could there be other wonders to discover? You decide what happens next in this interactive service. Summer services are offered on Sunday mornings at 10 AM with nursery care available during the service.

Sunday, August 11, 2019 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman with Worship Associate Kathy Kerns This year at General Assembly, the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association, held in Spokane, Washington, attendees were invited to participate in the work of turning our denomination toward justice and greater inclusion. Rev. Steven will share highlights, experiences and learning from General Assembly, and invite us to lean into the work of helping our faith turn by being trim tabs, the small part of a very large ship that helps it turn. Summer services are offered on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM with nursery care available during the service.

Sunday, July 28, 2019 at 10:00 AM Led by Kathy Kerns, CLM Candidate and Worship Associate Rev. Christie Anderson Our Unitarian Universalist (UU) principles advocate respecting the inherent worthy and dignity of all people and showing compassion in human relations.  Ideally, our congregations are inviting places for anyone who resonates to our principles. As a denomination, how are we doing with people who do not fit the UU stereotype?  We will examine this question through the lens of social class, and consider the critique of some UU ministers that we are not welcoming to people from working class backgrounds.   Following the service, there will be an opportunity for discussion of the sermon topic. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.  Kathy Kerns will lead a conversation in the annex (light snacks provided, feel free to bring a bag lunch). Summer services are offered on Sunday mornings at 10 AM with nursery care available during the service.

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay Sunday, July 21, 2019 -- one service at 10 AM Led by Joe Donatone with Worship Associate Rev. Steven Protzman Seminarian Joe Donatone will share his reflections on the Pulse tragedy while examining how our Unitarian Universalist values can guide us through even the darkest of moments. Remaining liberal and religious in times of crisis can be challenging. Joe offers ways in which our values can sustain us, guide us, and inspire us to action. Summer services are offered on Sunday mornings at 10 AM with nursery care available during the service.

Sunday, July 14, 2019 One service at 10 AM led by Mike Hovancsek with Worship Associate Elaine Bowen. On this morning we’ll focus on seeing hope in the world by looking at the children in it. Summer services are offered on Sunday mornings at 10 AM with nursery care available during the service.

Sunday, July 7, 2019 One service at 10 AM led by Nicole Penny and Worship Associate Lori McGee The importance of prayer is discussed among many religions, but few help with how to pray. Often reading tarot cards as a practice or having the service done for a person is perceived as a way of looking towards the future. In this service we'll seek to explore prayer and how reading tarot cards can be a means to connect to the Universe and a tool for prayer for those who ask for guidance. Summer services are offered at 10 AM on Sunday mornings with nursery care available during the service.