International touring musician & UU troubadour Joe Jencks was selected as a Cultural Ambassador by the U.S. State Department in 2010. He toured five Caribbean nations – giving concerts, interviews, and workshops. Blending songs and spoken word narrative, Jencks will lead us in an exploration of what it meant for him to claim the idea of being both a diplomat and a patriot. He will also consider why it was a cognitive and emotional leap, and why it is important for all of us to proudly claim the identity of both patriot and diplomat, concurrent with being prophetic voices for change in our communities. The voice of dissent rises from pride in one’s people and the indefatigable hope for a brighter and more equitable future. For a healthy democracy to thrive, we must find ways to claim patriotism without the overtones of toxic nationalism. How do we do that? Join us for a gentle consideration of these ideas on Sunday, Sept. 15th. We will also take a special offering for Kids in Need McHenry County

Joe Jencks is a 25-year veteran of the international Folk circuit, an award-winning songwriter and a celebrated vocalist based in northern Illinois. He is known for his performances of musical beauty, social consciousness and spiritual exploration. Joe delivers engaged musical narratives filled with heart, soul, groove and grit. Blending well-crafted instrumentals and vivid songwriting, Jencks serves it all up with a lyric baritone voice that has the edgy richness of a good sea-salt caramel. Jencks has penned several #1 Folk-songs including the ever-relevant Lady of The Harbor, and has become a fan favorite throughout North America and beyond. Joe has performed and preached in over 200 Unitarian Universalist congregations in the US, Canada, and Ireland, and is also a dual US-Irish citizen. He has also served as a Cultural Ambassador with the U.S. State Department. For more information, please visit: www.joejencks.com

• Speaker: Joe Jencks
• Worship Leader: Chaplain Dave Becker
• Music: Joe Jencks

Please note our service will begin at 10am on this day and we will be joined by our sibling congregation, Prairie Circle UU Congregation. Please stay after the service for coffee and conversation. There will be a Get Out the Vote postcard writing party and Inquirers for newcomers on UU History and our Common Values.

To Attend in Person

In accordance with CDC guidance, masks and vaccination are optional. We will ask you to sign in with your contact information for possible contact tracing. We ask you let us know if you find you have a COVID infection within a week of attending a service. 

To Attend Online

We conduct our services live on the Zoom platform to allow for a more interactive experience. You will need to have the free Zoom app on your device and have it updated to the latest version. www.zoom.us

Use this link to join us on Zoom.

Meeting ID: 847 0286 6562 Passcode: 929464

Topics: Music, Social Justice, Story