The First Presbyterian Church of Huron and its Nurture and Mission Committee maintain a poetry mission focused on the exchange of Christian and secular poetry. The poetry initiative has provided opportunities for church member poets and community area poets to share their creative talents in an audience venue.
Created by Huron Poet Laureate and author, Ronald M. Ruble, readings are offered two times a year and held in the Parlor of the church on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. Refreshments and live music are added features of these readings.
For more information contact Ron Ruble at 419-433-3820, or the church office at 419-433-5018.
Poetry Reading History
APRIL 30, 2023
TOPIC: “Poetry Rhythms”
READERS: Daniel Ryu, Casey Wittmer, Joel Rudinger (Huron Poet Laureate), Nancy Smith, Rob Smith (Huron Poet Laureate), Gerry Bauer, Sara Hodsden, Ron Ruble (Huron Poet Laureate)
MUSIC BY: Kimberly Ryu, Daniel Ryu, and Walter Baughman
DECEMBER 11, 2022
TOPIC: “Bits & Pieces of Life”
FEATURED READER: Ron Ruble (Huron Poet Laureate)
READERS: Daniel Ryu, Francesca Lendrum, Joel Rudinger (Huron Poet Laureate), Nancy Smith, Rob Smith (Huron Poet Laureate), Bill Gassett, Donna Gassett, and Sara Hodsden
MUSIC BY: Kimberly Ryu, Daniel Ryu, and Donna Gassett
APRIL 24, 2022
TOPIC: “Living Poetry”
FEATURED READER: Larry Smith (Huron Poet Laureate)
READERS: Laura Pearson, Gerry Bauer, Joel Rudinger (Huron Poet Laureate), Nancy Smith, Casey Wittmer, Francesca Lendrum, Rob Smith (Huron Poet Laureate), Ron Ruble (Huron Poet Laurate)
MUSIC BY: Kimberly Ryu and Daniel Ryu
OCTOBER 24, 2021
TOPIC: “The Magic of Poetry”
READERS: Daniel Ryu, Casey Wittmer, Gerry Bauer, Nancy Smith, Gary Harmon, Laura Pearson, Rob Smith (Huron Poet Laureate), Mike Sudsina, Sam Heffler, Eileen Darby, Joel Rudinger (Huron Poet Laureate), Francesca Lendrum, Bill Lucht, Ron Ruble (Huron Poet Laureate)
MUSIC BY: Kimberly Ryu, Daniel Ryu, & Donna Gassett
APRIL 25, 2021
FEATURED READER: Joel Rudinger (Huron Poet Laureate)
READERS: Daniel Ryu, Casey Wittmer, Gerry Bauer, Nancy Smith, Gary Harmon, Laura Pearson, Rob Smith (Huron Poet Laureate), & Ron Ruble (Huron Poet Laureate)
MUSIC BY: Kimberly Ryu, Annabelle Ryu, & Daniel Ryu
October 25, 2020
This reading is available to be enjoyed online. Please click here to watch.
April 26, 2020 – In honor of National Poetry Month
***Reading cancelled because of Corona Virus Pandemic***
October 20, 2019
TOPIC: “VOICES IN POETRY”
READERS: Huron Poets Laureate Rob Smith, Ron Ruble, Joel Rudinger, and Bob Reynolds. They were joined by Huron area poets Mary Ann Bencivengo, Nancy Smith, K. C. Wittmer, Laura Pearson, Eileen Wikel Darby, Jerry Bauer, and Gary Harmon.
MUSIC: Kimberly, Annabelle, and Daniel Ryu
April 28, 2019 – In honor of National Poetry Month
TOPIC: “Important Moments”
FEATURED POET: Poetry of Bob Reynolds, current Huron Poet Laureate
ADULT READERS: Eileen Wikel Darby, Laura Pearson, Nancy Smith, Rob Smith, KC Wittmer, Jerry Bauer, Mila Kette, Bill Lucht, and Ron Ruble
October 21, 2018
TOPIC: “Words & Images”
FEATURED POETS: Huron Poets Laureate Joel Rudinger and Ron Ruble
ADULT READERS: Jerry Bauer, Eileen Wikel Darby, Bill Gassett, Laura Pearson, and KC Wittmer.
MUSIC: Special violin performance by Alice Weiss (plays for Firelands Symphony Orchestra and the Sandusky String Quartet) accompanied by violinists Annabelle Ryu and Daniel Ryu
APRIL 29, 2018 – In honor of National Poetry Month
TOPIC: ‘The Poet’s Muse”
FEATURED READERS: Jerry Bauer, Eileen Wikel Darby, Laura Pearson, Ron Ruble, Nancy Smith, Rob Smith, and KC Wittmer
October 22, 2017
TOPIC: “The Future of Poetry-5”
FEATURED YOUTH READERS: Annabelle Ryu, Daniel Ryu,
and Kevin Zhao
ADULT READERS: Jerry Bauer, Eileen Wikel Darby,
KC Wittmer, Hugh Hanes, Ron Ruble, Joel Rudinger,
Nancy Darby Smith, and Rob Smith
MUSIC: Janis Brewer and Kimberly, Annabelle and Daniel Ryu
April 30, 2017 – In honor of National Poetry Month
TOPIC: “My World”
FEATURING Larry Smith, Rob Smith, Ron Ruble and Joel Rudinger, Huron’s Poets Laureate
ALSO READING: Eileen Wikel Darby, KC Wittmer,
Nancy Smith, & Laura Pearson
MUSIC: Janis Brewer, Joel Stevenor, Kimberly, Annabelle and Daniel Ryu
November 13, 2016
TOPIC: “THE FUTURE OF POETRY – 4”
FEATURED YOUTH READERS: Matthew Toldy, Annabelle Ryu, Daniel Ryu, Sam Toldy, Dan Toldy, Eugenie Kim, and Ji Woo Kim.
ADULT READERS: Margaret Swords, Jerry Bauer, Eileen Wikel Darby, Clair Brewer, KC Wittmer, George Toldy, and Ron Ruble
MUSIC: Janis Brewer, Kimberly, Annabelle and Daniel Ryu, Eugenie Kim, and Yeoreum Kim.
September 18, 2016
TOPIC: “Cycles”
FEATURED READER: Huron’s first Poet Laureate Larry Smith
ADULT READERS: Rob Smith, Nancy Smith, Jerry Bauer, Eileen Wikel Darby, KC Wittmer, and Ron Ruble
MUSIC: Janis Brewer, Kimberly, Annabelle and Daniel Ryu, Eugenie Kim, and Larry Smith
April 24, 2016 (in honor of National Poetry Month)
TOPIC: “The Poet’s Pen”
FEATURED READER: Huron Poet Laureate and publisher Rob Smith
ADULT READERS: Eileen Wikel Darby, Laura Pearson, Bob Reynolds, Jerry Bauer, KC Wittmer, Ron Ruble, and Nancy Smith
MUSIC: Janis Brewer, Kimberly, Annabelle, and Daniel Ryu
February 21, 2016
TOPIC: “On This Day”
FEATURED READER: Huron Poet Laureate Joel Rudinger reading from his new book, “Symphonia Judaica”
ADULT READERS: Bob Reynolds, Eileen Wikel Darby, Jerry Bauer, KC Wittmer, Ron Ruble, Laura Pearson, Rob Smith, Nancy Smith
MUSIC: Janis Brewer, Kimberly, Annabelle, and Daniel Ryu
November 15, 2015
TOPIC: “The Future of Poetry – 3”
FEATURED YOUTH READERS: Grace Moser, Matthew Toldy, Annabelle Ryu, Ava Moser, Samuel Toldy, Daniel Toldy, and Daniel Ryu
ADULT READERS: Jerry Bauer, Eileen Wikel Darby, Laura Pearson, Ron Ruble, Jane Stevenor, and KC Wittmer.
MUSIC: Janis Brewer, Kimberly Ryu, Annabelle Ryu, and Danny Ryu
September 20, 2015
TOPIC: “Memories”
FEATURED READERS: Joel Rudinger & Ron Ruble, present and past Huron Poets Laureate
ADULT READERS: Jerry Bauer, Eileen Wikel Darby, and Jane Stevenor
MUSIC: A “Down Memory Lane” sing-a-long led by Jann Graham Glann
April 26, 2015 (in honor of National Poetry Month)
TOPIC: “Changes”
FEATURED READER: Laura Pearson
READERS: Jerry Bauer, Sarah Blakeman, Alea Dahnke, Eileen Wikel Darby, Jo Homyak, Joel Rudinger, Danny Ryu, Ron Ruble, KC Wittmer
MUSIC: Kimberly, Annabelle, and Danny Ryu
SPECIAL GUESTS: The Huron Study Club
February 22, 2015
TOPIC: “Hope and Awakenings”
READERS: Jerry Bauer, Cynthia Brown, Eileen Wikel Darby,
Ron Ruble, KC Wittmer
MUSIC: Janis Brewer, Jann Graham Glann, Kimberly Ryu
November 9, 2014
TOPIC: “Future of Poetry-2”
FEATURED READER: Youth: Abigail Murray,
Mate Toldy, and Annabelle Ryu
READERS: Jerry Bauer, Laura Pearson, Ron Ruble, Eileen Wikel Darby, KC Wittmer, Ann Marie Montgomery
MUSIC: Janis Brewer, Kimberly Ryu, Annabelle Ryu,
Danny Ryu
September 21, 2014
TOPIC: “Self in Verse”
KC Wittmer, Eileen Wikel Darby,
Mary Ann Bencivengo, Jann Glann. Ron Ruble
April 27, 2014 (in honor of National Poetry Month)
TOPIC: “Potluck Poetry”
FEATURED READER: Ron Ruble (Huron Poet Laureate)
READERS: Eileen Wikel Darby, KC Wittmer,
Nancy Smith, Rob Smith, Ann Marie Montgomery
MUSIC: Janis Brewer, Carol Mason, and Kimberly Ryu
February 23, 2014
TOPIC: “On A Whim”
Nancy Smith, KC Wittmer, Eileen Wikel Darby, Ron Ruble
November 10, 2013
TOPIC: “The Future of Poetry”
Andrea Kaman, Abby Murray, Annabelle Ryu, and Danny Ryu
September 22, 2013
Topic – “Poetry and Music”
Featured Reader – Larry Smith, Huron Poet Laureate
Readers – Rob Smith, Ron Ruble, Bob Reynolds,
KC Wittmer, Jerry Bauer, Nancy Smith, Brad Blackwell
Music – Janis Brewer, Kimberly Ryu, Larry Smith
June 23, 2013
Topic – “Words Walk”
Featured Reader – Ron Ruble, Huron Poet Laureate
Book Signing – Words Walk
April 28, 2013 (in honor of National Poetry Month)
Topic – “Potpouri – A Collection of Poems”
Featured Reader – KC Wittmer
Readers – Rob Smith, Ron Ruble, Bob Reynolds,
Jerry Bauer, Eileen Wikel, Jim Brenner, and Brad Blackwell
Music – Kimberly Ryu
February 24, 2013
Topic – “Story Poetry”
Featured Reader – Eileen Wikel
Readers – Rob Smith, Ron Ruble, Brad Blackwell, Cynthia Brown,
KC Wittmer, Jim Brenner, Bob Reynolds
Music – Kimberly Ryu
October 21, 2012
Topic – “Thoughts through Poetry”
Featured Reader – Jim Brenner
Readers – Ron Ruble, Eileen Wikel, Brad Blackwell, Bob Reynolds, and KC Wittmer
Music – Jann Graham Glann
August 26, 2012
Topic – “Words of the Music”
Featured Reader – Brad Blackwell
Readers – Rob Smith, Ron Ruble, KC Wittmer, Eileen Wikel,
Jim Brenner, and Jerry Bauer
Music – Kimberly Ryu and Janis Brewer
May 27, 2012
Topic – “A Poetic Journey”
Featured Reader – Jerry Bauer
Readers – Ron Ruble, KC Wittmer, Eileen Wikel, and Bob Reynolds
April 25, 2012 (in honor of National Poetry Month)
Featured Reader – Bob Reynolds
Readers – Rob Smith, Ron Ruble, Jerry Bauer, Jim Brenner,
Eileen Wikel, and KC Wittmer
October 2, 2011
Topic – “From the Pens of Students”
7th Grade Readers from Gwen Aber and Shannon Smith’s Language Arts classes at McCormick Middle School, Words Walk Initiative.
Parker Muntz sang and played guitar for special music.
August 28, 2011
Topic – “The Great Outdoors”
Featured Reader – Ron Ruble, Huron Poet Laureate
Readers – Jerry Bauer, Rob Smith, Bob Reynolds, Gwen Aber, David Aber, John Blakeman, Jim Brenner, Wilma Daugherty, Eileen Wikel, and KC Wittmer
March 27, 2011
Topic – “Family”
Featured Reader – Rob Smith, Huron Poet Laureate
Readers – Ron Ruble, Wilma Daugherty, Eileen Wikel, Jerry Bauer, KC Wittmer, Gwen Aber, and David Aber
Music – Janis Brewer, Kimberly Ryu, and Joanna Phillips
November 8, 2010
Topic – “The Experience of Faith”
Readers – Rob Smith, Ron Ruble, Wilma Daugherty, KC Wittmer, Eileen Wikel, Gwen Aber
March 1, 2010
In honor of the 175th celebration year for the First Presbyterian Church
Readers – Ron Ruble, Eileen Wikel, KC Wittmer, Gwen Aber, and David Aber
Music – Janis Brewer, Jann Graham Glann, and Kimberly Ryu
Refreshments – Fern DeLamatre and friends