Update and Resources

June 14, 2024

Our Bicentennial Anniversary, Founders’ Day June 16, 2019

 “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow,

he does not know how."

~Mark 4:27-28

Founders' Day Sunday Worship at 10am

Gather in our sanctuary for our special 10am Founders' Day worship service in person or watch our live stream. We will celebrate our 205th year as a church and honor all 30 year or more members during our service. 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 worshiping online.

Please plan to stay after worship for our Founders' Day coffee hour and cake. Happy 205 years!!

Vacation Bible School at Kent UCC

Kent United Church of Christ

Monday, July 15 – Thursday, July18

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

The United Church of Christ, the First Christian Church, the Christ Episcopal Church, and the Trinity Lutheran Church of Kent are excited to invite all (preschool to fifth grade) children to participate in our Vacation Bible School, Seekers in Sneakers. Seekers in Sneakers is a fun-filled opportunity for children to use their investigative skills to discover Jesus. Children learn to:

• ask questions
• work with others
• shine their light in the world
• follow Jesus’ example of serving others
• trust Jesus when things go wrong 

Through Bible stories, active games, arts and crafts, and sensory explorations, children are invited to follow the example and teachings of Jesus in every place and every part of life. We invite you to grab your water bottle, and bring a FRIEND, because this is going to be a great adventure!

The registration form has been sent to our UCC families. If we missed sending it to you, or if you have grandchild who will be visiting that week, you can get a registration form by emailing kentuccvbs@gmail.com.

Next Habitat for Humanity Build

TOMORROW

Come help our Outreach Ministry build a house! The next Habitat for Humanity Apostles Build date is TOMORROW, June 15 from 9-2. 6-8 volunteers are needed to work at the build site and 3 volunteers to prepare lunch. Please sign up here to offer some of your time for a local family in need of a home.  

Community Meal

THIS Sunday, June 16

Welcome to Summer! We will be hosting the June Community Meal THIS Sunday June 16th at 5:00 PM. We will be serving sausage sandwiches, Veggies and dip, and fruit and yogurt parfaits! YUM! You can help in the following ways: We need DESSERT DONATIONS, anything summery or light. Any sweet contribution will be appreciated by our guests. You can also help by prepping food at 8:30 AM before church, cooking and serving 4:15/5:00 PM and cleaning up around 5:15 PM. CLICK HERE to access the sign up genius so we know who is helping! Thanks for your consistent support of our Monthly Community Meal. It is such a big outreach part of our ministry at Kent UCC. We touch people directly in meaningful ways. Please come and see if you have not been to a community meal before. Let Gayle Wall know if you have any questions, gayle_wall@yahoo.com

Wise Team Training 

The Wise Team is pleased to announce a special training program for all church members on June 23 at 11:15 in the chapel. This program will discuss de-escalation techniques when someone is experiencing a mental health crises so we can maintain a safe environment for all in our church, the workplace, and our community. The training will be conducted by Ashley Lock, M.S., LPCC-S, of Coleman Health Services.



Please bring your questions and be prepared to share personal stories of challenging encounters with those dealing with a mental health crises including, but not limited to severe depression, anger management, paranoia, flight of ideas, etc.  

Gazaland University - UCC Zimbabwe

Kent United Church of Christ is so very fortunate to have one of our own, Wil Mahon, serving as a missionary in Zimbabwe. His commitment to serve others and walk humbly with his God is being manifested in his work to establish the first university in the Chipinge province of Zimbabwe. The United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe is leading this project, and Wil has been hard at work on the university during his time there. Our Outreach ministry is about partnering with others to improve lives, serve others, and do justice. So to support the people of Zimbabwe and our church there, Outreach is doing a special offering for this project from June 9 to June 30th. Outreach will match donations up to 500.00. We hope you prayerfully consider contributing to this very important cause. You can do so by writing a check with Gazaland University in the memo line, putting cash in an envelope with Gazaland University on the envelope and putting it in the offering plate, or by using our Engage system, We truly appreciate your generosity. If you have any questions, see a member of Outreach.

Church World Service

School Supply Bags

This summer Outreach and our summer Sunday school classes will be collecting school supplies for Church World Services disaster relief. Church World Services is a faith-based organization whose mission is to build a world where there is enough for all. Their disaster relief program provides help to those whose lives have been impacted by natural disasters both nationally and internationally. In the past Kent UCC has sent clean up buckets and hygiene kits. Our goal this year is to send 60 school bags full of school supplies for children in need. The items on the list are very specific so please check it carefully. Any extra items collected will be taken to area schools. The drive will run from June 16- August 25 and there will be a box marked School Supplies outside the Chapel. We appreciate your generosity.

Here's what you'll need:

• One pair of blunt scissors removed from the package (rounded tip, only)
• Three 70-page count spiral bound notebooks or notebooks totaling 200-210 pages (no loose-leaf or filler paper)
• One 30-centimeter / 12” ruler
• One hand-held pencil sharpener removed from the package
• One large eraser (no pencil cap erasers)
• Six new, unsharpened pencils with erasers (removed from packing and use a rubber band to hold the pencils together).
• One box of 24 crayons (only 24)

Music and Fellowship

Our first summer concert gathering will be Thursday June 27. H & M is encouraging members of the congregation to bring a chair and meet at Kent Plaza 7-9PM to listen to the Chardon Polka Band. They are a lively group that plays fun polka music for all ages. A perfect summer night is guaranteed. On Sunday June 30 7-9PM there will be a patriotic concert with the United States Army Band. Again, this will be a great night of music for all ages on the Kent Plaza.

The Future of the Rummage Sale Special Meeting Outcome

 Thank you to everyone who stayed after church this past Sunday to participate in a discussion about the future of the all-church rummage sale. We met to address how to approach the issue of having a significant number of volunteers in the leadership and support roles being lost due to aging, moving, and or health challenges.

After significant discussion, the group decided on the following actions:

• The consensus was that we should continue the church rummage sale activity in some form.
• To proceed, an Ad Hoc Committee of interested individuals will be formed to evaluate some of the suggestions and ideas put forth at the meeting and explore additional ideas.

Several people attending the meeting have already agreed to be part of this group. Anyone who may be interested in planning the future of the rummage sale is encouraged to join us. Please contact Leah Davis in the office to give her your contact information. The goal is to have an initial meeting in mid to late June to see how to proceed.

Knitting Group

During our church service on the first Sunday of each month, we bless and pray over beautiful baby blankets and prayer shawls that are distributed by our deacons. Some are also draped on the back pews available for anyone in need of warmth and comfort. Have you ever wondered where each came from? We have a small but wonderful knitting group formed by Sandy Roeger and Sherry Gedeon, and lately joined by Karen Kaulen and Jackie Peck who meet on the 3rd Friday of every month in the lounge at 11 AM. Their needles and conversation flow freely. They invite anyone who loves to knit to meet with them.

Can't knit? They would love to teach you. But...they are also going to tie fleece blankets for those in need at Safer Futures and our community meal. Consider this an open invitation to get involved in an easy outreach mission. The blanket group will gather on June 21st (Friday) at 11AM in the lounge. Volunteers need to bring nothing but hands willing to tie knots; the blanket kits will be provided.

As the saying goes, many hands make light work. We hope you will consider joining us on the 21st. For more

information, please contact Sandy Roeger. 330-688-2331  

Kent Social Services Summer Volunteers

Kent UCC’s partnership with Kent Social Services is one of our most important commitments. We work with KSS to support those in our community who are food-deprived and are struggling with day-to-day needs. We having been helping them through our grocery cart donations, our Have a Heart campaign, our Bob Clark Turkey fund, our volunteering to serve meals, and through Outreach contributions. But this summer we have a new opportunity to support KSS’s impact on the community. Over the summer months, Kent Social Service’s regular volunteers are not always available, so Kent UCC will be helping to fill in the gaps. On the second and fourth Thursdays of June, July, and August, from 9-12, 4 volunteers from our church will help with stocking the pantry, taking clients through the food pantry, helping to prepare food, and various other tasks that the volunteers normally do during the week. Please consider helping with this important work by using the sign up genius here. Outreach thanks you, as always, for your continued support of those in need.

Kent Social Services

Grocery Cart

Outreach is continuing to collect groceries, toiletries, and diapers placed in the grocery cart and taking them to Kent Social Services. We ask that any bags you place in the cart are not too heavy. But because we are concerned about families in need throughout the area, we are also reminding people about our Blessing Box in the parking lot, which was built by Wil Mahon for his Eagle project. It can be stocked with canned foods, household items, toiletries, clothing, blankets, coats, gloves, hats. And lastly as our summer vegetable gardens grow, we are asking people to share any spare fresh vegetables with our community dinner guests. Thank you.

We Need You!

If you would like to volunteer to help us at VBS, please see Becky Dunlap or send an email to:  kentuccvbs@gmail.com.  Thank you!

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. A scholarship is awarded annually. Eligible applicants are full time college students entering their junior or senior year who are members of United Church of Christ of Kent attending any fully accredited college or university or who are International Students enrolled at Kent State University. Applicants must have demonstrated outstanding achievement, as indicated by academic honors, activities, organization involvement, or work experience, and show promise of continuing this excellence as indicated by a recommendation and a personal statement. Applications are available here or in-person in the church office and the deadline to turn them in is June 30, 2024.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Episode 4

Summer Supper

The Hospitality & Membership Committee is already planning our next summer small group dinner! We will be having Pot-Luck Parties to enjoy our summer gatherings. Please put Saturday, July 20 from 6-9pm on your calendars! We invite you to sign up either to host or to attend a dinner. A sign up board will be in the Narthex later this month. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know one another better, enjoy conversation and a meal together.  

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

We've reserved a block of 40 tickets for a Rubber Ducks game on Friday, July 26. Tickets are $12 each. Please contact Jaime Baughman at sjbaughman1@gmail.com to reserve your seats today.  A sign-up sheet will also be available at coffee hour.

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. 

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. 

Looking Ahead

• Saturday, June 15 - Habitat for Humanity Build Day, 9am-2pm
• June 15-22 - UYF Service Trip to Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, MS
• Sunday, June 16 - Founders' Day and Father's Day; Coffee Hour reception to celebrate our 205th Anniversary!
• Sunday, June 23 - De-escalation training 11:15am in the Chapel
• Sunday, June 30 - Youth Sunday (UYF leading worship in the Chapel); Associate Pastor Emily's first Sunday with us!
• Monday-Thursday, July 15-18 - Vacation Bible School, 6-8pm at Kent UCC
• Saturday, July 20 - Small Group Suppers, 6pm
• Friday, July 26 - Fellowship Outing - Rubber Ducks Game, Canal Park
• Sunday, August 4 - BBQ and Blues Fundraiser for the NAACP Hansford Scholarship
• Saturday, August 24 - Akron Pride Festival
• Wednesday, August 28 - Book discussion led by the Green Team, We Are the ARK by Mary Reynolds, 6:30pm
• Thursday, September 19 - Hope in a Handbag, Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, 4:30pm

This Week’s Sacred Text

Mark 4:26-34

He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle because the harvest has come.”

He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.