Joe Jencks
Internationally celebrated musician and fellow Unitarian Universalist ~ Joe Jencks leads us in a service focused on claiming patriotism on our own terms. In 2010, Jencks was honored to be selected as a Cultural Ambassador by the US State Department, and toured the Caribbean giving concerts and workshops. Blending songs and spoken word narrative, Jencks will guide us in an exploration of what it meant for him to claim the idea of being a patriot, and why it is important for all of us to proudly claim the identity of patriot 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. And yes we get to have it all. We have permission to think of ourselves as patriotic, as we seek to build a more perfect and more compassionate union.
Joe Jencks is a 22-year veteran of the international Folk circuit, an award-winning songwriter and a celebrated vocalist based in the Chicago area. 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, and serves it all up with a lyric baritone voice that has the edgy richness of a good sea-salt caramel. Joe Jencks is a dual US-Irish citizen, and draws on many cultural and artistic reference points in his concerts. Jencks has penned several #1 Folk-songs including the ever-relevant Lady of The Harbor. He has performed and preached in over 200 UU Congregations in the US, Canada, and Ireland. For more info, please visit: www.joejencks.com
Topics: Change, Communication, Democracy, Faith, Hope, Humor, Journey, Perspective