Lent Studies for Individuals and Groups

Book Study: Let Your Life Speak by

Parker Palmer

Join Don Bubenzer at 8:45am on Sundays

(February 26 - April 2)

for discussion, prayer, and coffee in the Lounge.

To purchase the book, please click here.

Video Study: “Listen” by Darkwood Brew

This series looks at many ways the voice of God speaks to us, and explores what we can do to

strengthen that connection. 

From meditation to social action, theologians and Christian thought leaders look for the voice of the Spirit…and find it active in surprising places. If you would like to receive the videos and reflection questions

for individual study, please click here. If you would like to join a small group for this video series, click here.

Daily Devotional: Bless the Lent We Actually Have by Kate Bowler

To pre-order the book, please click here.

This devotional can be used by individuals or as a group.

For a downloadable daily Lent guide to accompany the book, click here.

If you would like to join a small group for this study, click here.

One Great Hour of Sharing

One Great Hour of Sharing is the first of our 4 special mission offerings. Money donated to this mission allows the UCC to work with international partners to provide clean water, food education, and health care,resettlement for refugees and displaced persons, and emergency relief and rehabilitation. In this time of so much need, whether it’s the war in Ukraine, the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, the massive flooding in Pakistan, or the famine in Nigeria and Somalia, the UCC provides much needed aid. Please prayerfully consider giving to this important mission. You can do so using our Engage system, using the envelopes provided in the bulletin, or sending in a check with One Great Hour of Sharing in the memo line.

March Community Meal

Hello All- The March Community Meal will be on THIS Sunday March 19th at 5:00 PM. We will be having a St. Patrick's Day Themed Meal. We will be serving Corned Beef, potatoes, carrots, and cabbage made in the slow roasters. We will also be serving applesauce, bread, and St. Patrick's Day themed desserts. We are looking for congregational members to donate Desserts and help cook in the morning before church, serve and clean up. Please click HERE to see the sign up genius. We really appreciate your help with the meal each month. Please contact Gayle Wall if you have any questions.

Outreach Opportunities

Turkey and Syria Earthquake Relief

Turkey and Syria have been devastated by a horrific earthquake. We’ve all seen the tragic images on the news and are wondering what we can do to help. The United Church of Christ is already actively involved in sending aid. Your Outreach Ministry is asking the congregation to prayerfully consider donating to this important cause. We have already set up a Turkey/Syria donation category on Engage. Members can also write checks with Turkey/Syria in the memo line and mail them to the office or drop them in the offering plate. Outreach will match all donations up to $1000. We hope to send this donation to UCC Disaster Ministries for Turkey/Syria by the end of March.

Easter Basket Donations

Kent Social Services and the Center of Hope are once again collecting Easter baskets for area children who may not receive one otherwise. Any member of the congregation who would like to contribute is encouraged to take the basket(s) directly to KSS or the Center of Hope. However, if you cannot, please bring your basket(s) to the church and put them by the grocery cart. Members of Outreach will happily deliver them. Once again, thank you for your generosity.

Habitat for Humanity Build

This year Habitat for Humanity is building a house in Ravenna for a family of seven, and Kent UCC is going to be actively involved in this fantastic project. We are not sure of our financial obligation yet, but it will most likely be between

$8-10,000. Outreach will sell baskets on Palm Sunday to raise money for the Habitat project. We are so thankful for the ministries and individuals who have stepped up to contribute to this important fundraiser. Everyone who is contributing should notify an Outreach member of the approximate cost by March 26th and have your completed basket in the Chapel kitchen by March 31. If you have any questions, contact Donna Hess (dshess@msn.com). Thank you!

Make A Joyful Noise

While we invite all those who enjoy singing to join our Chancel Choir, we know that many people struggle with the extra time commitment." Make a Joyful Noise Sundays" are back! We invite congregants to join the choir for JUST THAT DAY! Interested singers will rehearse with the Chancel Choir at 9am and will then sing the anthem during the 10am service. Our upcoming "Make a Joyful Noise Sunday" dates will be THIS SUNDAY, March 19, April 23, and May 21. The anthem selection will be easy enough for ALL to learn in a 45-minute rehearsal. Please talk to Corey Fowler, director of music, if you have any questions.

Abolish the Death Penalty

Thursday, March 30, 6:30-8pm

Kent UCC, VanMeter Hall

Sponsored by the Portage County NAACP, Akron Interfaith Advocates Against the Death Penalty, Kent UCC, and Kent Interfaith Alliance (KIFA).

UYF Talent Show 2023

The annual talent show is upon us. The UYF talent scouts are looking for you.

When:  April 15th - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Where: Kent UCC- Chapel

What:  Talent show featuring UYF and anyone else…

We will also be having refreshments, and a bake sale.

We are looking for the talented and brave among us to show their talent on April 15th.  Each talented individual and/or group is being asked to perform for 5 minutes (give or take).  

Any talent is welcomed.  

Examples of talent could be:

Singing

Impressions

Poetry

Story Telling

Rapping / Rhyming

Beat Boxing 

Comedy

Instrumental

Skits

Dancing 

Magic

Please sign up here with your talent and what you will be performing.



If you have any questions please get in touch with Dan Mothersbaugh. 

Cell:  330-338-1655

Living the Pledge to End Racism Workshop

We’ve been invited by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent to attend a two-session workshop on “The Pledge to End Racism.” Sessions are Saturdays, April 15 and 29, from 9-2 at the UU church’s Hobbs Hall. The Pledge is a commitment individuals make to work every day to end personal and institutional racism. The workshop is designed to help us develop the skills and confidence to integrate The Pledge in daily life. The April 15 program covers foundations, recognizing and confronting bias, and structural and institutional racism. The April 29 program covers speaking up against microaggressions, Black Lives Matter, and a personal commitment to end racism.

Participants are invited to bring their own brown bag lunch; beverages will be provided. They’re also asked to contribute $10 toward the cost of workbooks.  

While attendance at both sessions is strongly encouraged, you can attend just one day if your schedule doesn’t allow you to attend both days. Please register no later than Monday, April 3 at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054FA9A62BA57-living1  

Questions? Contact Barb Hanniford at bhanniford@neo.rr.com.

Pilgrimage to Pittsburgh Bus Trip

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

$125 per person

9:30 a.m. — Meet at Kent UCC for Coffee and Rolls

10:00 a.m. — Bus Departs

9:00 p.m. — Return to Kent 

The Kent UCC Fellowship Team invites you to a unique tour of the Steel City, with meaningful visits to churches of interest, games and trivia contests, and an opportunity to learn, grow and enjoy the company of your fellow travelers! For more information please download the flyer here.

More details will be given to each traveler at sign up. With only 34 spots, a reservation is completed when the $125 fee is paid. Please call Julie Wallace (330) 329-2708 or Jill Khol (330) 842-7883 to make your reservation.

Vacation Bible School 2023

Monday July 10-Thursday July 14

Our Education Ministry is excited to announce our plans for VBS this year. We will be joining First Christian Church as they host 4 congregations in an ecumenical VBS experience. The program will be in the evening and open to all children ages

Pre School – 6^th grade. Of course youth and adult volunteers will be welcomed and needed. Participating churches are Kent UCC, First Christian, Trinity Lutheran and Christ Episcopal Church. Please mark your calendars now and stay tuned for exciting details as they become available. 

Anti-Racism Book Group Resumes

The Anti-Racism Book Group resumed meeting! We meet the fourth Monday of the month at 7pm via Zoom. We’re starting off the new year by reading and working through Do the Work: An Anti-Racist Activity Book by Bell and Schatz. Please don’t hesitate to join us even if you haven’t yet obtained and/or started the book. We are welcoming several new members and would love to have others. For a Zoom link and/or more information, please contact Barb Hanniford, bhanniford@neo.rr.com. 

Worship Volunteer Opportunities

There are many opportunities for you to serve. If you have any questions, please contact the church office.

Greeter

Extend extravagant hospitality to visitors and members with a warm smile.  Sign up HERE. 

Liturgist

Liturgists participate in worship services by reading parts of the liturgy. You’ll get the readings in advance. Sign up HERE.

Flowers for Sunday Worship

Please check the flower schedule either on line or the chart to donate flowers for Sunday worship services. There might be a special day or celebration you want remembered and this is a wonderful way to do it. You can bring flowers in yourself or by ordering from Oregon Corners Florists in Stow. They will deliver to the church. Thank you for your help in making our services special. Please sign up HERE to save a date and make your dedication. 

Spiritual Care

One of the greatest joys of spiritual community is knowing others are constantly holding you in prayer and in love. Please know that you are not alone. Pastor Amy is available for spiritual care and prayer as are our lay leaders.

• For confidential help and spiritual care needs, devotional materials, prayer, or just to talk this week, contact Pastor Amy, a Deacon or a Stephen Minister.
• Contact Pastor Amy: pastoramy@kentucc.org or (330) 673-9534
• Contact a Deacon: KUCCdeacons@icloud.com
• Contact a Stephen Minister: sueotterson@gmail.com or (234) 417-2335
• For financial assistance from our Congregational and Community Assistance Fund, please let Pastor Amy or the Deacons know. Our next CCAF offering will be received this Sunday, January 29 (and on every 5^th Sunday).  

This Week’s Sacred Text

John 9:1-17  (The Message, Peterson)

Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?”

         Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world’s light.   

He said this and then spit in the dust, made a clay paste with the saliva, rubbed the paste on the blind man’s eyes and said, “Go wash at the Pool of Siloam” (Siloam means ”Sent”). The man went and washed and saw 

Soon the town was buzzing. His relatives and those who had seen him year after year had seen him as a blind man begging were saying, “Why, isn’t this the man we knew, who sat here and begged?”

Others said, “It’s him alright!” 

But others objected, “It’s not the same man at all. It just looks like him. 

He said, “It’s me, the very one.”

They said, “How did your eyes get opened?

A man named Jesus made a paste and rubbed it on my eyes and told me, ‘Go to  Siloam and wash.’  I did what he said. When I washed, I saw.” 

“So where is he?”

 “I don’t know.”

They marched the man to the Pharisees. This day when Jesus made the paste and healed his blindness was the Sabbath. The Pharisees grilled him again on how he had come to see, He said, “He put a clay paste on my eyes, and I washed, and now I see. 

Some of the Pharisees said, “Obviously this man can’t be from God. He doesn’t keep the Sabbath.”

Others countered, “How can a bad man do miraculous, God-revealing things like this?” There was a split in the ranks.

They came back at the blind man, “You’re the expert. He opened your eyes. What do you say about him?” 



He said, “He is a prophet.”