Update and Resources

January 30, 2026

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

~ Matthew 5:1-10

Sunday Worship at 10:00 AM

Join us for worship this Sunday. You can always worship online via our live stream or anytime on our Kent UCC Video page. Click here to print the bulletin for an order of worship for those worshiping online.

Annual Meeting, THIS Sunday,

February 1, 2026

Due to the inclement weather last Sunday, we have rescheduled our Annual Congregational Meeting for THIS Sunday immediately following worship.

The Annual Report can be found here and the Agenda and previous congregational meeting minutes can be found here. All voting members of the congregation are encouraged to attend but all are welcome.  

The Resilient Hearts support group that normally meets on the first Sunday of the month will meet after the Annual Meeting; see Barb or Rich Werstler with any questions.  

Interested in Joining the Church?

Due to the severe weather last Sunday, our schedule has had to change. There will be no prospective member orientation this Sunday after worship so everyone can attend the annual meeting. If you are interested in joining our church, or simply

have questions, please let Pastor Amy Gopp or Eileen West know or sign up here. We are eager to talk with you about becoming a member of our congregation. We will still receive new members in worship on Transfiguration Sunday, February 15. 

SOUP-er Bowl Fundraiser

It's that time again! The Kent UCC United Youth Force (UYF) is taking orders for Soup-in-a-Jar - just in time for Soup-er Bowl Sunday! All proceeds support UYF's upcoming service trip to Denver, CO focused on Environmental Justice.  

We will take orders after service in the lobby this Sunday, Feb. 1, and soups will be available for pick-up on Feb. 8. You may also place your order here. Each jar is 16oz (4-5 servings), and are a suggested donation of $12.  

This year, we've added a 3rd soup choice - Chicken Noodle!  

UYF - SOUP-er Bowl Fundraiser:

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

This classic soup is great for these cold winter days! Includes dried chopped onions, dried minced garlic, bay leaf, rosemary, sage, thyme, celery seed, chicken bouillon cube, and wide egg noodles.  

RED LENTIL SOUP  

A delicious Red lentil soup with 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion flakes, paprika, curry, turmeric, cumin, vegetable bullion, and joy. Soup add ons, celery, carrots, butter, coconut milk, and spinach

GREEN SPLIT PEA SOUP

A flavorful split pea soup with yellow and green split peas, onion powder, garlic powder thyme, black pepper, turmeric, vegetable bouillon, and love. If you'd like, add cooked ham at the end for classic split pea and ham soup.

Thank you for your support of UYF!  

Scout Sunday

NEXT SUNDAY

February 8

Each year on Feb. 8, the Boy Scouts of America celebrates its birthday. Also known as Scouting Anniversary Day, this is the primary date to recognize the contributions of young people and adults to Scouting. This can be particularly meaningful when the Scout unit itself is chartered by a religious organization, as is the case for Pack 3256, Troop 253 and Troop 7253 with our Chartering Organization, the Kent United Church of Christ. Troop 253, the oldest of Kent UCC's Scouting groups, is over 100 years old, having been continuously chartered through Kent UCC for its entire lifespan!

The Boy Scouts of America designates a Sunday that falls near February 8 as Scout Sunday. Scout Sunday is when Scouts honor the 12th point of the Scout Law: A Scout is Reverent, and give back to their religious communities. This year at Kent UCC Scout Sunday will be NEXT Sunday Feb 8. Stay after for a pancake luncheon immediately following the service hosted by the two Scout Troops. 

Candygrams

Join us in spreading the love this Valentine's Day! For a $3 donation, you can fill out a candygram and send a sweet treat to your loved one. All proceeds benefit UYF's 2026 Summer service trip to Denver, CO! Members of UYF will be selling the Candygrams on Feb.15.  

Social Justice Update

The Law and My Neighbor: 

Poverty in Plain Sight

Our Social Justice series continues with a timely program on Wednesday, February 11, 7 pm, Chapel, focusing on current issues affecting our financially vulnerable neighbors. Many of us know John Kennedy, former Portage County treasurer and an active NAACP member. He has recently been appointed executive director of the Community Action Council of Portage County. He’ll share his insights from his work in these roles. The Social Justice and Outreach Ministries are co-sponsoring this program.

UCC’s “Action Center”

Did you know that our denomination has an online action center through the UCC Justice & Peace Action Network?  You can learn more about pressing issues and contact your legislators easily to share your views. The current top issue is related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions.

As faith community grounded in love, we grieve the killing of Renee Nicole Good and the abuses inflicted on immigrant communities in Minnesota and beyond. That is why, we are calling on Congress to 1) prevent increased funding for ICE, 2) to hold the officer who killed Renee Good legally accountable, and 3) to demand ICE leave Minnesota immediately.  



This is one example of a number of timely issues. Learn more at https://www.ucc.org/action-center/

Roundabout Information

Please click here for a current update on the roundabout being built near our church.

Host Coffee Hour

in the New Year

It's time to think about your New Year's Resolutions and Fellowship and Fun has the perfect idea: sign-up to host coffee hour! We need one or two volunteers each week to simply brew a pot of coffee or two, prepare some pitchers of cold water and perhaps bring a few snacks. Members of Fellowship are happy to coach you through it. Sign up here!

Kent Social Services

Volunteers Needed!

Over the summer, members of our congregation volunteered to help Kent Social Services. And the need for our help was quite obvious! During the summer, they lost their cook, and they have not yet replaced her. Marquice has been doing much of the work herself, counting on volunteers to fill in the gaps. So your Outreach ministry is hoping to extend our volunteering for the next several months. There is always something we can do there to help. We will continue with the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month working from 10-1 so that we can help to serve lunch. Sign up here to indicate when you can help. Thank you so much for your willingness to work in our community, share God’s love, and help those in need. Kent UCC shares its abundance. Please note the current needs for the food pantry below.

ACME Cash Back Program

It's that time of year again to submit your receipts for the ACME Community Cash Back program. Every year, participate in this special program that gives money to local non-profits. At the end of the program, we tally up the receipts we have collected, and we receive a portion of it back. Please submit your ACME receipts from August 1, 2025 through February 15, 2026. You can drop them in the baskets that are labeled around the church and in the church office. Thank you for participating!

Sign Up to Greet

Please sign up to be a Kent UCC Greeter. This is an easy but IMPORTANT job! Just come to church before the service at 9:35am, stand by the lower doors and welcome and greet people as they come in! It is so imperative to have a friendly face to welcome everyone as they come in to church. You are coming to church anyway so just come a little early and spread our Kent UCC extravagant hospitality to all who enter our doors. Click here to access the greeter sign up sheet! If you have any questions please contact Gayle Wall. 

Looking Ahead

• Sunday, February 1 – Annual Congregational Meeting after worship; Resilient Hearts Support Group, after the congregational meeting in the Lounge

• Friday, February 6 – Cleveland Chamber Choir Concert, 7:30pm in the Sanctuary

• Sunday, February 8 – Scout Sunday and pancake breakfast after worship in VMH

• Wednesday, February 11 – “The Law and Our Neighbor: Community Action Council” Social Justice lecture series with John Kennedy, 7pm in the Chapel

• Thursday, February 12 – Dwelling in the Word Bible Study, 2pm in the Chapel

• Sunday, February 15 – Transfiguration and Have a Heart Sunday

• Wednesday, February 18 – Ash Wednesday service, 7pm in the Sanctuary 

This Week’s Sacred Text

Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 

And he began to speak and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.