Blues and BBQ

Want to spend a summer evening enjoying great food, listening to some wonderful blues music, and enjoying time with friends and family? The Social Justice

Ministry is hosting our 2nd Annual BBQ and Blues THIS Sunday, August 13 from 5-8 (food served until 7). The Back Alley Relics will play on and off the entire time. It will be held on the back parking lot or indoors in case of rain. Proceeds benefit the NAACP Nancy and Bruce Hansford Scholarship Fund.

The cost is $15 per person and $7.50 for children 5 and over. Kids under 5 are free. This will include a BBQ meal with beverages and dessert and lots of great music. The Social Justice Committee will take reservations at church on Sunday mornings.

We are going to need help with desserts, set up, serving, and cleanup. To volunteer, please use our SIGN-UP GENIUS.

If you can’t attend but wish to donate to the scholarship fund, you can donate online here and select the scholarship fund. You can also send a check payable to the church and note that it is for the Hansford NAACP Scholarship.

Let's Hike!

The Kent UCC hiking group will meet THIS Sunday, August 13 at 1:30pm at Tannery Park in Kent. ALL are welcome.

Kent Social Services

Kent Social Services needs our help stocking its food pantry. Right now their specific needs are pasta, sauce, tuna, ramen noodles, and canned fruit.

KSS Dinner Helpers

Every other month on the third Thursday, Kent UCC volunteers to serve dinner at Kent Social Services. We need 4 volunteers from 3:45 until about 5:15. We help with set up, serving, and then clean up after dinner. Our next volunteer date is Thursday, August 24th. Please sign up here. Thank you so much for your help with this. We continue to find ways to be the church.

Thank You Habitat Volunteers!

Last Saturday, 9 hard-working UCC volunteers lifted, nailed, carried, and did various other construction jobs at the Habitat build on Summit Road. The Outreach Ministry and the congregation greatly appreciates their efforts on this important project. Thank you to Al Barber, Georgeanne Hoover, Jill Kohl, Renee LaCombe, Kathryn Mahon, Linnea and Pat Ray, Kathy Robinson, and Wayne Schneider. Future build dates will be announced soon.

Celebration of Life Party For Dr. Robert Stevenson

Saturday, August 19, from 1-5, there will be a Celebration of Life Party for Dr. Robert Stevenson who passed away in 2020. There will be food and a time to share memories of Bob. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Obituary can be found here.

August Community Meal

The August community meal will be on Sunday August 20th at 5:00 PM. We will be serving pizza for dinner! We are looking for church members to donate desserts and volunteer time! Please click HERE to access the sign up sheet in order to donate your time to volunteer and/or your talent (making yummy desserts)! Any dessert you feel like making would be welcome- so be creative (pies, cupcakes, cookies, cakes, bars etc.) If you would like to help set-up, serve, or clean-up the times are specified in the sign-up genius. Our guests will LOVE this fun Pizza Party and it is so much fun to engage with them- please consider coming to help in anyway you can. If you have any questions please contact Gayle Wall at gayle_wall@yahoo.com

A Message from

Christian Education

Years before I (Becky Dunlap) first visited Kent UCC, I heard about this stalwart church. It was the reputation as a welcoming place for teens to meet together and serve the Lord as they grew in their faith.

This reputation was not earned by one or two years of exceptional strength in this area, but through decades of youth nourished in their faith at Kent UCC.



In the years since I found my church home at Kent UCC, I am continually amazed by the Sunday School teachers who have nourished your children’s hunger to learn about God and grow in their faith. These teachers view “your children” as “OUR children.” Long serving Eileen West and Sue Hetrick, joined more recently by Heather Lohman, are three exceptionally dedicated individuals who leave the church service and go downstairs week, after week, after week, to teach “our children” in an inclusive, warm environment as they learn about God through age appropriate lessons. The last thing anyone wants is for our selfless teachers to burn out because our children’s faith formation would suffer. But it needs to be MORE than those three individuals, who have given and continue to give of themselves.



The Christian Education Committee has served without a Faith Formation Pastor which has greatly increased our responsibilities. Sometimes we need help (summer Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Kick-Off Sunday, special programming, Christmas pageant, etc.) and we would like to be able to count on you. If you are willing to be on a list of people we can call on when we need extra help, please text Becky Dunlap @ (330) 592-2209 or email @ jrdunlap@neo.rr.com with your contact information.

ACME Cashback Program

Has Begun

The ACME COMMUNITY CASH BACK PROGRAM has begun for this year. It is running from August 1, 2023 through February 15, 2024. Check the bottom of your receipts to see if you have any amount earned for this program. If so, please bring your WHOLE receipt(s) to the church and place in the baskets. One basket is in the office and another one will be on the small table close to the Chapel. 

In 2023 we earned $122.65 for our Women's Fellowship. Thanks to all who participated.

Apply for a

Hungerford Scholarship!

The Hungerford Scholarship was established by the Hungerford Family to promote student excellence and achievement. This scholarship memorializes Harlan Hungerford, former Professor of English at Kent State University, and his wife, Irene, long-time members of Kent UCC. This scholarship is awarded annually.  

Eligible applicants are full-time college students entering their junior or senior year who are members of Kent UCC attending any fully accredited college or university or who are international students enrolled at KSU. Applicants must have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and show promise of continuing this excellence as indicated by recommendations and a personal statement. For an application, please contact the church office. 

The deadline to apply is September 1, 2023.   

Akron Pride Festival

The Akron Pride Festival is Saturday, August 26. Kent UCC is participating once again and we would like you to be part of it. Would you like to march in the parade? Would you like to sit at our booth and represent Kent UCC for a few hours? We want as many in our congregation to be a part of this important event as possible. If you would like to march in the parade or volunteer, please sign up here.

UYF Sock Drive

While in South Dakota on our mission trip, some UYF'ers served at a site run by Mustard Seed (mustardseedeaglebutte.org). MS is a non-profit dedicated to volunteer service and assistance with basic needs, to dignify the lives of poor individuals and families on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. At Mustard Seed, they shelter homeless people in tiny houses, with common areas to cook, eat and socialize. They also provide emergency food to very low income households, delivering to those without transportation.  

In order to strengthen the relationship to Mustard Seed that we began building when we were there in June, AND in order to support the incredibly important work they are doing to serve their community members on the margins of society, UYF is holding a sock drive through the end of September. WE ARE COLLECTING NEW SOCKS FOR ADULTS (mainly) AND CHILDREN. These socks will be delivered to the Cheyenne River Reservation for distribution.  

PLEASE HELP SUPPORT THIS UYF INITIATIVE. Donation bins will be located in several spots throughout the church through the end of September.

Thanks! Let Lynn or Dan know if you have any questions.

Rummage Sale Update

 This year’s annual rummage sale is scheduled for September 15, 9-5 and 16, 9-Noon.  We will be setting up and then tearing down from Sunday, September 10 through Saturday the 16th with lots of times to volunteer. The rummage sale activity is a great time to meet church and community members while performing a significant community outreach service. Volunteering is easy and the choice of days and times are up to you and your schedule. Look at the Sign-Up Genius linked HERE to see the volunteer opportunities and sign-up, come to the sign-up table in the hall outside the choir room after worship for more information, or just show up during one of the times listed. And please say "yes" when asked!!

We are going to continue the practice we introduced last year with some early drop-off days and times starting in late August listed below. 

• Wednesday, August 23 from 5-7 PM
• Saturday, August 26 from 10-12 noon
• Wednesday, August 30 from 5-7 PM
• Saturday, September 2 from 10-12 noon
• Wednesday, September6 from 5-7 PM

During these times, deliver donations to the church via the lower door entrance in the center of the building (the exit door for Rm.114). Volunteers will be there to direct which room your donations should be placed depending on the items. Please only drop items off on these specified days and times and put items where directed by the volunteers.  The church has limited storage space, and we are attempting to pre-sort donations to save space until the sale set-up. 

Donations will continue to be collected in our traditional times from September 10-13. A complete schedule can be found at the rummage sale sign-up table. Pick up of furniture or large items can be scheduled for the week prior to the sale through the church office (330-673-9534) or Glenn Hanniford (330-687-5612).

For the sale we DO NOT ACCEPT tires, computers, printers, or CRT monitors (Flat screen Monitors are ok if in working condition), propane tanks, magazines, encyclopedias, broken toys, items containing gas and/or oil, large appliances, or standard televisions. We also request that donations be clean and in good condition. Thanks for your cooperation.

Hope In A Handbag

Benefiting Safer Futures, Portage County's only domestic

violence shelter and resource center

Please join us for a night of purse bingo, a 50/50 and basket raffle, and small plates and spirits, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent as we raise funds to ensure that survivors and their children have

somewhere to turn to for help.

When: September 28, 2023 at 5:30pm

Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent,

228 Gougler Ave, Kent, OH 44240

For more information click here.

Save the date for this upcoming Creation Care 1-day Retreat!

Contact Hank Stonerook for questions at hankstonerook@gmail.com

In collaboration with the Christian Church in Ohio (Disciples of Christ), we are searching for 10 Next Generation Leaders to represent the Heartland Conference for the 2024 International Affairs Seminar for Youth. Participants will explore the issues of Faith and Justice with "Immigration, Immigrants, and Refugees" while traveling to New York City and Washington, D.C. New York City highlights include a United Nations tour, visiting the World Trade Center, sitting in on a taping of the Today Show, Broadway shows, and worship at Park Ave. Christian Church. In Washington D.C. we will be touring the National Cathedral, and meeting with Congressional Representatives while touring the Capitol Building and sitting in on House and Senate sessions. The trip will conclude with a mission project to help those in need in the D.C. area. These are just some of the events and activities packed into a very exciting week!

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. 

This Week’s Sacred Text

1 Corinthians 15:1-9

Now I want you to understand, brothers and sisters, the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures and that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.      

"Laughter is carbonated holiness." ~Anne Lamott