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Update and Resources
September 23, 2022
"Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets;
they should listen to them.’"
~ Luke 16:29
Sunday Worship at 10am
in our Sanctuary
Join us in our Sanctuary at 10am for Sunday worship service in person or watch our live stream by clicking here.  You can also view the service later on our Kent UCC Video page. Click here to print the bulletin for an order of worship for those worshipping at home.

We would like to apologize for last Sunday's inability to live stream. We had a gas leak at our meter which is outside of the Sanctuary. The gas company requested we move 300 feet away into the Chapel. This meant that all of our live-streaming equipment was then left behind in our Sanctuary with no time to move it before the service. We did our best, but with the limited resources we had on hand, we could not stream the service or record it.

The gas leak is FIXED and we will return to the Sanctuary for this Sunday's service. Thank you to everyone for being flexible and understanding.
From Bread and Cup to Faith and Giving
Ready for Launch! This Sunday will mark the beginning of the Kent United Church of Christ's stewardship campaign and will end Sunday, November 6th with Dedication Sunday.

Each week, we will focus on three primary ways we can be good stewards of the treasures God has entrusted to us. The three treasures God has entrusted to us are as follows: 1. spiritual gifts (talents); 2. time; and 3. finances – wealth. After doing some preliminary preparation for the From Bread & Cup to Faith & Giving sermon series, I have discovered that each of the primary aspects of giving is a treasure and has great value. One is not more valuable than the other and all are necessary for the local church to thrive!

Letters and pledge cards were mailed to the church family this week. Please remember to complete the pledge card in its entirety and return them in person or by using the envelope provided. This information will assist the church leadership in the 2023 budgeting process and will be formally presented to the congregation.

Thank you for your support,

Pastor Gene
A BIG Thank You!!!
The property committee would like to thank Ron, Nancy, and their son Ken Moss for all the hard work they did a couple Thursday mornings ago weeding and trimming trees on the North side of the church.
Pastor Amy’s Sabbatical Plans and Pastoral Letter
If you have not yet read Pastor Amy’s letter describing what a sabbatical is—and is not—and her own sabbatical plans, please click here. She will be unavailable via email, text, or phone while she is away. Please respect her “unplugged” sabbatical time. If you have a question or pastoral concern, please contact Leah in the church office and she will ensure the appropriate people respond.
Nursery Care
Nursery care returns! After a very long absence, nursery care has returned! But we can't operate the nursery without your help. We are looking for volunteers who can help staff the nursery each week from about 9:30-11:30am. If you have a passion for children ages birth - 3 years and wish to offer your gifts in this way, please sign up HERE or contact Diane Drewette, nursery attendant. Thank you! 
NEW Peer Program!
Two of our youth, Tracey Lohman and Grace Polcha, started an outreach to their peers called H2 (Homework Help and Mental Health). The program will run on Thursday evenings from 6-7:30 and be a place for local students to come and complete their homework while also participating in a WISE mental health practice. We need your help! We need two volunteers each Thursday to be present with youth and help with whatever questions they might have. You don't need to necessarily be a teacher to help; you just need to be willing to be present with youth in our church and community. The program is taking place in the UYF wing of our lower level. Interested? Sign up HERE.
Space For Grace Is Back!
AND YOU ARE INVITED! Space for Grace (S4G) is a small group format originally introduced at KUCC by Pastor Amy to hold sacred a space to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit and to pray together. As well as prayer, silence is an important element used to help hold focus, as we are instructed in Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. While Pastor Amy is physically absent from us during sabbatical, and will not be participating, S4G will meet via Zoom with lay leaders following a similar format. S4G meets Tuesdays from 7:30-8am. if you are interested in participating, email the church office for details. 
Suicide Prevention Training Coming to Kent UCC TOMORROW!

Question. Persuade. Refer.
These are actions we all can take to help someone who is in crisis, prevent a suicide and save a life. QPR is a 90-minute lifesaving, evidence-based, suicide prevention intervention training. Become a “Gatekeeper”: someone in a position to recognize a crisis and the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide.

What You’ll Learn
  • Recognize the warning signs and risk factors for suicide
  • Intervene and ask tough questions when someone is at risk for suicide
  • Refer someone at risk of suicide to an appropriate lifesaving resource

When? Where? How much?
  • TOMORROW Saturday, September 24th from 9:00a.m. to 10:30a.m. in our Chapel
  • Training is free thanks to the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Portage County

Register through sign-up genius here. Download flyer here.
Don Bubenzer Book Reading
Did you know Don Bubenzer published a book? He did and he's having a book reading sponsored by The W.I.C.K. Poetry Center and Kent UCC on Wednesday, September 28 from 7-9pm in our Chapel. Don's beautiful memoir celebrates the gift of a life lived with integrity, embedded within the loving relationships of family and community. These "recollections, poems, prayers, and imaginations" feed the holy with eloquence, and his grief and praise are equal expressions of his love. Filled with quiet awe, these pages keep the gift in motion and kindly extend outward to the reader so that we can feel our own lives warmed by the glow of Don's affections, held within the sightlines of his loving gaze. "We all need grandpas," Don writes. We are lucky to sit a spell with these stories, blessed by the presence of such wise and caring elders. Come join in this special event. If you would like a copy of the book ahead of time, it's available here on Amazon.
Make A Joyful Noise Sundays
While we invite all those who enjoy singing to join our Chancel Choir, we know that many people struggle with the extra time commitment. NEW for this year is "Make a Joyful Noise Sundays" where we will invite congregants to join the choir for JUST THAT DAY! Interested singers will rehearse with the Chancel Choir at 9:00 AM and will then sing the anthem during the 10:00 AM worship service... No extra time commitment! Participants can still sit out in the congregation and will simply walk up to the chancel when it is time for the anthem. Our upcoming "Make a Joyful Noise Sunday" dates will be October 2, November 13, and December 11. Please keep these dates in mind if this interests you! 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.
Neighbors in Need
Kent UCC is a 5 for 5 church. This means we collect 5 special offerings a year. One of them is Neighbors in Need. Neighbors in Need is the UCC’s annual offering to support ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States, including the Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM), justice and advocacy efforts, and direct service projects funded by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries. Our Outreach Ministry will be collecting the Neighbors in Need offering during our offering on Sunday, October 2. You can also give electronically through Engage by clicking here.
12th Annual Hope in a Handbag
When: October 21, 2022 at 7pm

Where: KSU Hotel and Conference Center, 215 S. Depeyster St., Kent, OH 44240

Please join us for a night of empowerment and an auction of designer and high-fashion purses at the 12th Annual Hope in a Handbag!

Safer Futures is Portage County’s only Domestic Violence Shelter and Resource Center. Abusive relationships make us feel like we are alone and unworthy of love. They shatter our sense of security and leave us feeling like we have nowhere safe to turn. For survivors in Portage County, Safer Futures is here to provide support, safety and security during the healing process.

This October, during national Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Safer Futures will host our 12th Annual Hope in a Handbag fundraiser. This event will be held on Friday, October 21st at the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center.

If you are interested in sponsoring, donating a purse or gift basket, or have any questions, please contact Safer Futures at 330-673-2500.

Together, we can work towards a violence-free Portage County. Together, we can inspire Hope at Home.

Buy your tickets here.
Kent Social Services
Needs Our Help
For the first time in a long time, their pantry was bare for a period of time this summer. The Kent community came together and restocked it, but the demand remains high. They really need canned soup, ramen noodles. Each month or more often if necessary, Outreach continues to take food donated by our congregation. Please bring your donations to the lower lobby. Your generosity is much appreciated. Wherever there is need, there the church will be.
ACME Cash Back Program
The Acme Cash Back Program began on August 5, 2022 and goes through December 24, 2022. Our church earns 5% cash back through this program to support our Women’s Fellowship! On the bottom of your register receipt it will tell if you purchased qualifying Acme brand products and how much you earned. Please save the complete register receipt and turn them into the church. Baskets will be on the Narthex windowsill and on the entry table near Fellowship Hall. The last day for turning in your slips will be January 15, 2023. Last year Kent UCC earned $89.86. As always, thank you for your support. 
Ukraine Relief
You are invited to prayerfully consider donating to Ukraine Relief by writing a check with “Ukraine Relief” in the memo line or by using Engage on-line. While the war rages on, we can make a difference by contributing to our denominational and ecumenical relief efforts.  
Host Family Needed
An Italian exchange student with the program Intercultura needs a host family from September through June. He is 16, and is very mature and responsible for his age. The purpose of the program is to acquire cultural skills and to understand the world better as a whole. He earned a scholarship through hard work and dedication. If you are interested, or know someone who is, please contact Sam Madden at: 330-541-7641
What is Text Giving?
  • Text Giving is another way you and your family can give to our church.  
  • Its super easy; just text the word GIVE to (330) 275-1772 and you'll immediately receive a text back with a link that takes you to our Engage page.
  • There, you can sign into your Engage account or continue as a guest.  The advantage of logging into your account is that our church staff can track your gift and include it in your quarterly giving summaries. 
  • You can from there choose to make a one time gift, or reccurring gift, and select the desired amount.  
  • You may also help our church by covering the processing fees; for example, if you give $5.00 then the processing fees are $.46 ; so your total gift for that transaction would be $5.46.
  • Once you submit your offering gift, you'll receive an email from the host company to serve as your receipt. 
  • Quick Tip: save the number as a contact in your phone as KENT UCC Text Giving and easily pull up the information while sitting in the pews on Sundays. 
Worship Volunteer Opportunities
There are many opportunities for you to serve. If you have any questions, please contact the church office.
 

Usher
Ushers welcome worshipers and escort them to open seats and receive our offering. You’ll be part of a team of ushers consisting of four ushers. Sign up HERE. 
 
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
By dedicating flowers for worship, you can remember and honor a loved one, celebrate a special occasion, lift up someone in our church family, or simply share your joy. Please sign up HERE to save a date and make your dedication. 
Prayer List
If you would like to ask the entire congregation for prayer for yourself, someone else or for our community and world, please submit it on our new website by clicking the “Prayer Request” tab here, or by letting our church office, or a Deacon, know while Pastor Amy is away on sabbatical. We will share the prayer list in our weekly updates, as you see below. 
In Our Prayers
Pastor Amy while she is on sabbatical
Rudy Capece, grandson of Debbie and Al Barber
Carol Ewers
Jane and Jack Fender, friends of the Saltzman's
Bruce Hansford
Jeff, friend of Harold Hight
Bev Feher, long-time friend of Barb Marken
Carol Horner
Danielle Ingersol, Sue Otterson’s niece
The McDonald-Fisher Family in the loss of Pastor Gene's father-in-law, Woodrow McDonald Jr. (wife: Angela McDonald-Fisher)
Bruce Moore
Billy O’Malley, nephew of Annie O’Malley
Lawrence Prichard
Jason, son of Laurie Riddle and Zoe Walsh
Rev. Pat Russell
Shelley, neighbor of Laurie Riddle and Zoe Walsh
Donna Stefanik
Student that Stacey Brown knows
Looking Ahead
  • September 24 – TOMORROW - Mental Health QPR (Suicide Prevention) Training
  • September 25 – Pastor Gene out; Rev. Michael Howard, preaching
  • September 28 - Don Bubenzer Book Reading
  • October 2 – World Communion Sunday
  • October 9 – Accessibility (A2A) Sunday
  • October 21 - 12th Annual Hope in a Handbag
  • October 30 – Dedication Sunday
  • November 6 - Pastor Gene out; Rev. Melanie Harrell Delaney preaching
  • November 20 - Hanging of the Greens/Advent Workshop
  • November 27 – First Sunday of Advent and service of baptism; Pastor Amy returns to the pulpit
  • December 18 - Lessons and Carols Service
  • December 21 - Blue Christmas Service
  • January 22, 2023 – Annual Congregational Meeting
This Week’s Sacred Text
Luke 16:19-31
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’"
Thanks be to God, who is still speaking!
Whoever you are, wherever you are on life's journey...
you're welcome here!