Strengthen the Church Offering

The Strengthen the Church offering supports the expansion of ministry and growth of UCC local congregations. Your support of this offering will help the UCC fulfill on its commitment to creating a just world for all by investing in new ministries and practices that meet the emerging needs of local communities. 

As God calls our congregations to be the church in new ways, your generosity will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches and develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults. Please turn in your envelopes or make your online gift by THIS SUNDAY! Thank you!

Bruce Hansford

Calling Hours/

Celebration of Life

Saturday, June 3

Service information for Bruce Hansford at Kent UCC:

Calling hour: 1-2pm in the Narthex

Service: 2pm in the Sanctuary

Pastor Amy will be officiating.

Habitat Apostles Build - Work Day

Saturday June 17

The Habitat build is underway and Kent UCC’s first build date is Saturday, June 17, from 9-2. The location is 4092 Summit Rd., Ravenna, Ohio. We need 20 volunteers for this; please consider helping with this important project. Please sign up here to volunteer with the build. We will be roughing in the electric. We will also need 4-5 volunteers to prepare lunch for our volunteers. These volunteers should meet in the kitchen at 9 Saturday morning to prepare sandwiches to take to out building crew around 11. Please sign up here to volunteer to make lunches. Building volunteers do not need to bring any tools but are encouraged to bring bottled water with them.

Looking ahead: the next work day will be August 5th. Work TBT. We will also be providing lunch this day as well.

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

The Anti-Racism Book Group meets 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, [email protected]. 

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: [email protected] or (330) 673-9534
• Contact a Deacon: [email protected]
• Contact a Stephen Minister: [email protected] 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

Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from

every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd

gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native

language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are

speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native

language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites,

and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia

and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors

from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we

hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed,

saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said,

“They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit,

and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’