Uu Church Of Kent Ohio

Sunday, January 27, 2019 Sunday is the first of at least four Town Halls to be hosted by the Board of Trustees this year. We’ll meet in the Sanctuary following our 10 AM service to discuss the Congregational Goals.  The discussion will focus on the Congregational Goals shared with you in the EnUUs on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. The included podcast is a recording of the entire meeting.

Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Colleen Thoele with Worship Associate Rev. Christie Anderson In his famous “I Have a Dream” speech Martin Luther King Jr. invoked the words of the Hebrew prophet Amos: “But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” As we begin the UUA Thirty Days of Love, this service for all ages will be an invitation to live out our faith in the next month as we work toward building a promised land where there is justice and peace. One service at 10 AM followed by a congregational town hall meeting.   Nursery care will be available during both the service and the meeting. This service, originally planned for January 20, has been moved to Sunday, January 27.   

One service at 10 AM     Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Worship Associate Kathy Kerns Parker Palmer writes: "I stand on the brink of everything.  I’m old enough to know that the world can delight me, so my expectation is not of the world but of myself: Delight in the gift of life and be grateful."  As we bid the old year farewell and we stand on the brink of a new year with its promise and possibilities, through songs, stories and rituals we will express our hopes for the new year. Nursery care will be available during the service for children Pre-school age and younger.

Christmas services will be offered on Monday, December 24 only.  Everyone is invited to attend. As we welcome Christmas once again, we will tell stories and sing songs about the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.  Together we'll share the beauty and wonder of this special time with its promise that amid the struggles, problems, and suffering of life, all is calm and all is bright.  Please note that we will not be offering nursery care on Christmas Eve this year.   Since the introduction of our Young Family Friendly Service, we have found that families  have not been using nursery care for these services. 4:30 PM -- Young Family Friendly Service Led by Director of Religious Education Coleen Thoele with Michelle Bores. This interactive service is designed especially for families with young children. 6:30 PM – All is Calm, All is Bright   A family-friendly service led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Worship Associate Carolyn Schlemmer – Candle light service created with families in mind.  The podcast is from this service.

One Service at 10:00 AM Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Worship Associate Christie Anderson Victoria Safford writes: "At this time of year, during these darkening days, every ancient story that we have ever told  from the solstice fire, to the lights of the menorah, to the advent candles -- whispers the same message: ‘The light will return, but you must go out and meet it.'"  We will gather as a community of all ages to celebrate the Winter Solstice and its promise that the light will return. Nursery care is available during the service for children preschool age and younger.

Led by Sandy Eaglen,  Director of Religious Education Colleen Thoele with Worship Associate Rev. Steven Protzman Our annual holiday family-friendly all ages service will celebrate the interdependent web of life through the magic of the Christmas season.  Join us for a morning of storytelling and singing as our community weaves tales of peace, hope and love. Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday, December 9,  2018 Led by Katie Grigg and Eric van Baars, Worship Associate  It’s the darkest time of year, and there seems to be so much despair, fear and darkness in the world.  Let’s find out how to let in the light!  Light holds great cultural and sacred significance in many of the world’s major religions,especially in the holiday season.  We’ll pay homage to traditions and welcome new ways to usher light into the dark corners of our mind, and our world. Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday, December 2, 2018 Rev.Steven Protzman with Worship Associate Lori McGee In her poem "The Feast of Lights" Emma Lazarus speaks of the mystic lights as she tells the story of Hanukkah, the story of a military victory and the miracle of a sacred lamp that burned for eight days even though there was only enough oil for one day.  As we tell this story, we celebrate the light burning in the human heart, a light that brings hope and possibility even in times of darkness and despair.  Sunday services are offered at 9:45 ans 11:30 AM with nursery care for  Pre-school age and younger available during both services.

Sunday, November 25, 2018   Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Worship Associate Carolyn Schelemmer Kermit the Frog says: Yeah, well, I've got a dream too. It's about singing and dancing and making people happy. That's the kind of dream that gets better the more people you share it with." In honor of our Treats and Talents auction with its theme of "The Lovers, the Dreamers, and UUs " this year, this service will be a romp through Muppet theology about rainbows, lovers, dreamers, life, and Unitarian Universalism. Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday, November 18, 2018 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman, Colleen Thoele and Worship Associate Elaine Bowen In his song "Amazing Gratitude" Hal Walker sings: "The heart of the thing, the song I sing, and the prayer I pray is amazing gratitude". On this Sunday together as a community of all ages, we will celebrate Thanksgiving and renew our commitment to live with amazing gratitude and build the path of love by telling stories, singing songs, and creating a gratitude tree. Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care for children Pre-school and younger is available during both services.

Sunday, November 11, 2018 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman with Worship Associate Kathy Kerns No matter how the election turns out, our country will still be a people divided by class, by race, by politics, by the idolatry of nationalism, by an "us versus them" mentality. In this post-election service, we will affirm that now more than ever our Unitarian Universalist message of love and hope, of inclusivity and diversity is needed to heal ourselves, our democracy and our world. Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday, November 3, 2018 Led by Cal Frye What is the purpose of the church? Is our task to heal ourselves, or society? How do we balance our desire for social justice with our need for the social hour between first and second service? And can we find the balance while still maintaining harmony and compassion within these walls? Courage, my friends! In the tension is our strength. Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday, October 28, 2018 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Worship Associate Lori McGee "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 services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.                       

Sunday, October 20, 2018 Led by Melissa Jeter and Worship Associate Rev. Steven Protzman The Promise and the Practice of Our Faith Campaign is our opportunity to take the lead as a faith denomination in addressing our history of upholding white supremacy. Together, we can collectively work to dismantle it and amend a long broken promise to the Black Lives within our Association.  Click here for more information on the Promise and the Practice Campaign for Black Lives Unitarian Universalist (BLUU). Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday, October 14, 2018 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Worship Associate Lori McGee Rev. Gordon McKeeman writes: "Ministry is a quality of relationship between and among human beings that beckons forth hidden possibilities."  Ministry, once thought to be the work of ordained ministers, is the way we serve one another and the world.  This service will invite us to reflect on shared ministry as a promise all of us make to live out our values as Unitarian Universalists for the benefit of the congregation and the greater community. Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday, October 7, 2018 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Worship Associate Lisa Thiel Martin Luther once said that even if he knew the world were going to end, he would still plant an apple tree.  Today as we gather as a community of all ages to celebrate apple communion, we will give thanks for life's many gifts, be reminded that apples are a symbol of spiritual gifts, including abundance, love, gratitude and generosity, and find inspiration in the way an apple tree begins as a small seed. Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday, September 30, 2018 Led by Scott Piepho and Worship Associate Lori Fatchet-McGee The conversation among Unitarian Universalists about our churches and people of color tends to center on the advantages that racial diversity offers to our congregations.  That frame tracks the general conversation in our society about issues like civil rights and immigration. The more important conversation is how we guarantee equal access to institutions, including UU churches, as a matter of fundamental justice. Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.

Sunday, September 23, 2018 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Worship Associate Kathy Kerns Unitarian Universalism is one of America's best kept secrets.  Even those who have heard of us don't know much about our religion.  After a light hearted look at some of the common images and stereotypes people have of UUism, we'll explore the "elevator speech" to discover ways we can tell people about our faith and invite them to join us. Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services. Download Rev. Steven's sermon here (includes examples of elevator speeches) Image credited to All Souls UU , Sioux Falls, SD

Sunday, September 16, 2018 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Worship Associate Eric van Baars Humankind once believed that the equator defined the end of the world.  Once this myth was proven untrue as navigators sailed beyond the equator, human progress occurred at an astonishing rate.  What is possible when we challenge our myths as human beings and a congregation and invite our vision to awaken and guide toward who we can be?  As part of the morning's worship time, we'll also commission and bless our Religious Education Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.

Ingathering Sunday, September 9, 2018 Led by Rev. Steven Protzman and Colleen Thoele with Worship Associate Elaine Bowen  As many streams come together to make a river, we come together to make a community.  As we return from our summer adventures bringing water and stories to share, this festive multi-generational service of water communion and ingathering invites us to once again blend our lives together and renew our connections with each other.  Please bring a small amount of water for the water communion ritual.  Sunday services are offered at 9:45 and 11:30 AM with nursery care available during both services.