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Update and Resources
November 17, 2023
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“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
~Colossians 3:17
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Sunday Worship at 10am
Join us in our sanctuary for worship, including a service of baptism, this Sunday at 10am. You can also watch our live stream by clicking here. You can view services on our Kent UCC Video page at any time. Click here to print the bulletin for an order of worship for those worshiping online.
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Music Appreciation Sunday
Sunday, November 26
On Sunday, November 26, our service will focus on music: its role, purpose, and power in worship. Several of our talented instrumental and vocal soloists, in addition to our Chancel Choir and Handbell Choir, will offer musical selections in celebration of music's capacity to enrich the experience meaningful and memorable liturgy. Historically, many churches have celebrated sacred music through special worship services and concerts in late November. This is because November 22 is St. Cecilia Day – St. Cecilia being the patron saint of musicians. The first report of a music festival held in her honor was in Normandy in 1570. Many composers, including Henry Purcell and Benjamin Britten who himself was fittingly born on St. Cecilia Day, have written works in St Cecilia’s honor. On November 26, we will honor the gifts, talents, and time our church musicians offer every Sunday to help the congregation more fully connect with the Word of God and the message of the liturgy. Please join us!
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Advent Workshop for Children
Our annual Advent Workshop will be held right after worship on Sunday, November 26. A light lunch will be served for our children in VanMeter Hall where there will be many arts & crafts activities for them to explore. At the same time, our congregation will be Hanging the Greens throughout the rest of the church; parents and families are welcome to join the kids in VanMeter Hall and/or help decorate the rest of the church. There will be refreshments provided for all. This is always an intergenerational, fun-filled afternoon!
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Hanging of the Greens
Right after worship on Sunday, November 26, we will hang the greens for our Advent and Christmas season! Refreshments will be provided for all who help decorate. This is always an intergenerational, fun-filled afternoon! Stay as little or as long as you like to deck the halls with us!
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Outreach Updates
Our Outreach Ministry is very grateful for our generous congregation who prayerfully shares its abundance with our community and our world. We collected $1000 for Kent Social Services Thanksgiving meals for the food-insecure through the Bob Clark Turkey Fund drive. We also collected $515 for Maui relief, and with Outreach’s match of $500, we will be sending a check of $1015 to the Wider Church’s Maui Relief Fund. Because of your generosity, Kent UCC continues its mission to change lives and walk humbly with our God.
Our Giving Tree this year will be dedicated to the support of the Mustard Seed organization of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, that is dedicated to improving the lives of those on the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation and in the surrounding area. Our youth spent a week there this summer, and Outreach is continuing to work with UYF to improve the quality of life there. Because shopping is very limited there, we are asking for gift cards in any amount from Amazon, EBay, Visa, and/or MasterCard. These gift cards will be used for winter needs such as bedding, towels, blankets, sheets, heaters, gloves, hats, etc. Our tree will be up on November 17, thanks to Linnea and Pat Ray. There will be gift card holders next to the tree. Just place your gift card(s) in the holders and hang them on the tree. An Outreach member will be collecting the gift cards right after each service on Sunday between now and December 17. If you have any questions, please see a member of Outreach or Dan Mothersbaugh. Thank you!
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Habitat Volunteers Needed
Our Habitat home is coming along quite nicely. Kent UCC has had four successful build days so far. We are scheduled for one more Saturday, December 2, from 9-2. Please click here to schedule your time to volunteer. We need 10 volunteers. We do not need lunch volunteers. Lunches are being provided by other volunteers, but our members are encouraged to bring water to hydrate throughout the day. Such a wonderful project for our church to be involved in.
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Thanksgiving Community Meal THIS SUNDAY
Our Thanksgiving Community Meal will be THIS SUNDAY, November19th, 2023. We would like to give our guests a lovely traditional Thanksgiving Meal again this year and we are planning to serve 50 -60 people. We need volunteers to cook (and carve) turkey, and make desserts in your own homes, and to donate rolls. We will be making the stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetable, and cranberries at church. If you are willing to make one of these dishes or want to come and help us cook / serve at church on that day, please click the sign- up genius here. All donated food items need to be brought to the church kitchen door between 3:45 and 4:00pm on Sunday, November 19th. Your chef skills are greatly appreciated and much needed to make this meal a success! Please feel free to call or email Gayle Wall with questions gayle_wall@ yahoo.com
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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.
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UYF Coat Drive ENDS THIS SUNDAY
Please donate new or gently used men's, children’s, and women’s fall and winter coats between now and THIS SUNDAY November 19th. Look for the big bins in the church on Sunday morning! Spread the word to neighbors and friends so that we may collect as many jackets and winter coats as possible. The jackets and winter coats will be given to people in need in our community, such as families currently homeless but sheltered at Miller House. Thank you for sharing your abundance!
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Festive Fa-la-la Fashions
(sponsored by the Hospitality and Membership committee)
Attention Kent UCC, Do you have a festive holiday outfit, fun accessories, an ugly Christmas sweater, or matching family PJs? Here is a way you can spread joy this season!
On Sunday December 17, 2023 Wear your Festive Fa-la-la Fashions to church as we celebrate Advent and light the candle of JOY! It is our hope that everyone comes dressed up in ugly sweaters, Christmas clothes and accessories. You will be given a bell when you come into the service to help us RING in THE JOY together! This is also the Childrens' Christmas Pageant Sunday - make sure you come to church for all the fun and joy!
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Save the Date
SOUP’s ON- Small Group Supper
Winter Gathering on Saturday January 27th, 2024
This will be our second Small Group Supper Group date. We need people to sign up to host and to sign up to participate. Hosts will be asked to provide a meal of “UMM, UMM, GOOD Soup” and bread! Our first Supper group was a huge success with all participants wanting to do it again. Please join us this time and you will be assigned to a Supper Group to dine together at the host’s home on 1-27-24. Save the Date now and look for an official sign up sheet very soon. Direct Questions to Eileen West or Gayle Wall- from H & M Committee.
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Anti-Racism Book Group
The Anti-Racism Book Group has chosen a new book, Dear White Christian. What every white Christian needs to know about what Black Christians see, think, and experience racism in America (Layton, 2017). We’ll discuss it over our next two meetings—October 23 and November 27. We’ll then take December off and begin a new book in January, continuing meeting the 4th Monday evening of each month. We meet from 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. The book we’ll begin then is From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the 21st Century, Second Edition (Darity and Mullen, 2022). We welcome new members! Please contact Barb Hanniford at bhanniford@neo.rr.com for more information and the Zoom link.
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Space for Grace Prayer Group
Space for Grace is a contemplative and intercessory prayer group that meets on Zoom every Tuesday from 7:30 – 8am. All are wholeheartedly welcome to join us for prayer, scripture, silence, and to be held in the loving arms of prayer partners and our loving God. If you’ve never been a part of a prayer group, give it a try! You are welcome to come when you can. Join us for a powerful experience of encountering God. If you would like to be a part of a prayer group but the Tuesday morning time does NOT work for you, please contact Pastor Amy to indicate your interest.
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ACME Cashback Program
The ACME COMMUNITY CASH BACK PROGRAM is running now 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.
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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.
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Poinsettia Orders
Please turn in your poinsettia order forms to the office by November 17. You can download the order form here.
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Flowers for Sunday Worship
Please check the flower schedule on the sign-up calendar in the Narthex to donate flowers for Sunday worship services. We have decided to go back to JUST the sign-up calendar and do away with the sign-up genius online. 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.
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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, a Deacon, or Pastor Amy know. We will share the prayer list in our weekly updates, as you see below.
Please let us know if there are changes or if you would like to remove someone from the prayer list. Contact Leah in the church office. Thank you.
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In Our Prayers
Rudy Capece, grandson of Debbie and Al Barber
Ann Carlson, and Linnea Stafford
Nilla Cheatwood, friend of Lawrence Prichard
Becky Dunlap's sister Alana
Ann Guffey
Jeff, friend of Harold Hight
Bev Feher, long-time friend of Barb Marken
Carol Horner
Danielle Ingersol, Sue Otterson’s niece
Billy O’Malley, nephew of Annie O’Malley
Cheryl Phillips
Lawrence Prichard
Patricia and John, friends of Lawrence Prichard
Jason, son of Laurie Riddle and Zoe Walsh
Noel Reeves
Rev. Pat Russell
Marilyn Skinner
Joanne Smerdon, Kathy Myers' mother
Donna Stefanik
Lakota Three Legs, friend of Dan Mothersbaugh and UYF
Ruth Wagner, friend of Muriel Breyley
Gladys Wells
Elliana White, family friend of Pam Quellhorst
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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.
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Contact Pastor Amy: pastoramy@kentucc.org or (330) 673-9534
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Contact a Deacon: KUCCdeacons@icloud.com
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Contact a Stephen Minister: sueotterson@gmail.com or (234) 417-2335
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For financial assistance from our Congregational and Community Assistance Fund, please let Pastor Amy or the Deacons know.
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Looking Ahead
- THIS Sunday, November 19 - Community Meal, 5pm
- Tuesday, November 21 - Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service, 7pm in our Sanctuary
- Sunday, November 26 - Music Appreciation Sunday; Hanging of the Greens/Advent Workshop
- Saturday, December 2 - Habitat Build Day
- Sunday, December 17 - Community Meal, 5pm; Lessons and Carols Service, 7pm
- Thursday, December 21 - Longest Night of the Year Service, 7pm
- Sunday, December 24 - Fourth Sunday of Advent at 10am and Christmas Eve service at 7pm
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This Week’s Sacred Text
Colossians 3:15-17 (NIV)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
| | Thanks be to God, who is still speaking! | | |
Whoever you are, wherever you are on life's journey...
you're welcome here!
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Kent United Church Of Christ
1400 East Main Street
Kent, OH 44240
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