Kent United Methodist Church sits on East Hill at 11010 SE 248th Street in Kent, Washington, where its sanctuary, fellowship hall, classroom wing, and solar-paneled roof have been part of the neighborhood for more than half a century. The congregation embraces a long history in the Kent Valley, an intentionally inclusive welcome, a blended style of worship that mixes organ and choir with newer musical expressions, and a remarkable web of outreach ministries that reaches into local schools, food banks, and even the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The church's motto, "Our doors are always open," shows up on its Statement of Inclusivity and in the daily work of its members.
From 1855 to the East Hill Sanctuary
The story of Kent United Methodist Church begins in 1855, when the Rev. David Blaine, the first circuit-riding Protestant missionary in the Greater Seattle area, preached the first sermon in a pioneer home here. Blaine was also the founding pastor of Seattle's First Methodist Episcopal Church. From 1860 to 1876, the small congregation was pastored from the Seattle Circuit by a long list of traveling ministers including D. L. Spaulding, Rollin Smith, D. R. McMillan, Martin Judy, George Whitworth, A. Atwood, and Samuel Green. In 1877, the Rev. B. J. Sharp was appointed as the first resident pastor.
The first church building was constructed in 1883 on First Avenue South and was later moved to the corner of Central and Meeker. In 1909, a larger building took its place at the same downtown location. By 1970, the growing congregation had outgrown that building, and the current sanctuary on East Hill was built. The fellowship hall and educational facilities followed in 1980, and the "Quad," additional classroom space, was completed in 1997. Forty-eight pastors have served the congregation over the years. The current lead pastor, the Rev. Jim Head-Corliss, has served since 2016, and the Administrative Council continues to expand staff to keep pace with ministry to people of all ages.
Alongside its sanctuary, the church owns the Saar Pioneer Cemetery on South 212th, next to WinCo Foods. The one-acre site, where valley pioneer Peter Saar buried his wife Margaret in 1873, was sold to the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Kent in 1887 for one gold dollar. Active burials ended in 1949, but the church still cares for the property and the surrounding city historical landmark, working with the South King County Genealogical Society to clear brush, restore headstones, and remember the Saar, Willis, Shinn, Guiberson, Burke, Wilson, Iddings, Liesinger, Clark, and Smith families whose names also live on as Kent streets.
Blended Worship on Sunday Morning
Worship happens at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings, in person and livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook. The service blends traditional and modern elements: a 14-rank Wick's Pipe Organ installed in 1971 anchors the hymns, while the Sanctuary Choir, the Joyful Noise children's choir, and a growing Worship Team introduce newer arrangements and contemporary songs. A weekly "Time with Young Disciples" uses storytelling to draw children into the service, after which children who wish to may head to Sunday school and the rest of the congregation continues with the sermon. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month and at special services during Advent and Lent, and, in keeping with United Methodist practice, the table is open to everyone regardless of church affiliation.
The order of worship typically gathers the congregation around a centered prayer, hymns from The United Methodist Hymnal and The Faith We We Sing, a choral or handbell anthem, scripture reading, the sermon, an "Offering Our Gifts" musical offertory, a Prayer of Dedication, and a sung blessing. Recent sermons have walked through a "Rule of Life" spiritual formation series and have asked Wesley's old small-group question, "How is it with your soul?" Each service is led by Lead Pastor Jim Head-Corliss, Director of Discipleship Ministries Richard Thomas, Director of Youth and Children's Music and the Arts Stephanie McIlwain Miller, lay readers, and choir directors. An online attendance form, the Connect bulletin, the downloadable Order of Worship, and the church app are all offered so that members and friends at home can follow along.
Music is central to the life of the church, and the music ministry intentionally bridges generations. The Sanctuary Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings and sings from September through June. The Mitchell Carillon Handbell Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings and rings periodically for worship. The children's choirs include the Angel Choir for PreK and kindergarteners, the Kids of the Kingdom for first and second graders, and the Joyful Noise for grades two through five, who rehearse after worship on Sundays and lead the congregation several times a year. Stephanie McIlwain Miller also leads the Youth Music and the Arts program for grades six through twelve, with vocal and instrumental music, dramatic arts, liturgical dance, puppetry, and graphic arts all on the menu.
Discipleship and Small Groups
The congregation's heartbeat for Christian formation runs through its Discipleship Small Groups. The congregation's life together rests on four movements: Love, Grow, Serve, and Share. Members are encouraged to love God through worship and their neighbors through everyday life, grow in faith with others through small groups, serve the church and the world through prayer, presence, gifts, service, and witness, and share their faith and their resources so that the church's mission can flourish.
Active D-Groups include Apostles in Training, meeting on the second and fourth Mondays in the Youth Room; Followers of the Way, meeting weekly on Wednesdays in Room 21; Disciples in Training, meeting on the second and fourth Wednesday evenings in Room 21; a Parent and Family D-Group; and an LGBTQ Community D-Group designed to be a safe place to learn, share, and grow in faith. A Young Adult Small Group, hosted by Pastor Jim and his wife Sandra at their home on Sunday evenings from September through June, gathers post-high-school adults for dinner, fellowship, and a study built around The Chosen, an episode-by-episode dramatization of the life of Jesus.
For adults who want to know more, periodic Journey Lunches offer a casual introduction to the congregation and the United Methodist Church, with the option to join the church on a future Sunday. The church can help with transportation for those who need it.
KidZ JAM, Children's Music, and Mom's Day Out
Children from birth through fifth grade have a full Sunday-morning life of their own. KidZ JAM Sunday School meets at 10:00 a.m., with nursery care for infants through three-year-olds and classroom time for PreK through fifth graders. The new curriculum, Big Faith, walks children through a Bible story with storytelling and video, age-appropriate hands-on activities, and a chance to share what they have learned. Third graders receive their own Bible on Bible Sunday, and three-year-olds receive a Bible storybook. Sixth graders are promoted out of KidZ JAM into the middle school youth program.
Children's choirs run from September to June: the Angel Choir sings as part of Sunday school for PreK and kindergarteners, the Kids of the Kingdom sing as part of Sunday school for first and second graders, and the Joyful Noise for grades two through five rehearses after worship on Sundays in rooms 18 and 19 and leads worship several times a year. The annual Christmas Pageant on the third Sunday of Advent gives children and youth the chance to lead most of the service, with speaking roles, reading roles, and singing parts.
Vacation Bible School fills a summer week with Bible learning, music, and hands-on games. Recent themes have included "Rainforest Falls." During the school year, Mom's Day Out offers parents of children ages six months through Pre-K a weekly kid-free break. The program runs Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to noon, September through June, with each child enrolled for one day a week, and includes drawing, painting, stories, songs, crafts, snack time, and free play. The church's comprehensive Safe Sanctuaries Policy guides every program for children, youth, and vulnerable adults.
Space for Grace Youth
Middle school and high school students are welcomed into Space for Grace Youth, the ministry for grades six through twelve. On Sundays, youth begin in worship with their families at 10:00 a.m. On the first Sunday of each month, families are encouraged to stay in worship together and receive Holy Communion; on the second, third, fourth, and fifth Sundays, youth are dismissed after the Time with Young Disciples for faith formation time in the Youth Room.
At 11:00 a.m., the Youth Room opens for lunch, followed by Youth Group from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., where youth play games, study the Bible, serve in the community, and build friendships with new and old friends. Youth Music and the Arts, led by Stephanie McIlwain Miller, runs from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. and includes vocal and instrumental music, dramatic arts, movement, puppetry, and graphic arts. Director of Youth Ministries EJ Ragual, also known as "Kuya EJ," hosts lock-ins, retreats, worship nights, Topgolf outings, and other fellowship events throughout the year. The youth ministry also participates in Christmas Institute, a Pacific Northwest Conference gathering for United Methodist youth.
Music and the Arts
The church's music ministry is built on a commitment to variety and excellence. The 14-rank Wick's Pipe Organ, the Sanctuary Choir, the Handbell Choir, and the intergenerational and children's choirs form the traditional backbone of worship, while the Worship Team introduces modern worship and praise songs that draw on the musical gifts of congregation members. As the Worship Team grows, it is designed to complement, not substitute for, the choir and organ programs, and its music is generally placed early in the service so that children can participate.
Vocalists and instrumentalists are invited to serve as part of the Worship Team, in ensembles, or as soloists. The Angel Choir, Kids of the Kingdom, and Joyful Noise give younger singers a chance to lead worship several times a year, and the Youth Music and the Arts program lets teens explore dramatic arts, liturgical dance, puppetry, graphic arts, and more. "When you sing, you pray twice," the music ministry likes to say, quoting St. Augustine.
Walking Through Grief and Other Adult Ministries
For adults walking through loss, the Walking Through Grief support group offers a nine-week video-based series that participants can start at any time. The group meets on Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Room 20 in the Quad and is facilitated by Sheila Murray and Julie Scranton. Each participant receives a workbook to use with the videos hosted by Alan Pederson and Dr. Darcie Sims.
United Methodist Men meet for breakfast on the third Saturday of each month in the fellowship hall, looking for ways to grow in Christ-likeness and serve the congregation and community. The men's ministry also runs a monthly Styrofoam recycling collection in the parking lot after worship. United Women in Faith circles gather monthly for fellowship and study: the Susanna Wesley Circle meets in person three times a year and on Zoom the rest of the year, and the Lydia Circle meets on the third Thursday of the month from September to June. The congregation's spring women's retreat at Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center draws women of all ages for a weekend of laughter, prayer, and scripture study.
Other regular gatherings bring the congregation together in more casual ways. The KUMC Adult Dinner Group meets monthly in homes and local restaurants, with a different person choosing the location each month. The Building Maintenance Crew meets on the first Monday of the month at 8:30 a.m. to keep the campus in good repair. Bunco Night draws players to the fellowship hall on the third Friday of each month, and the I Care Breakfast Group meets at Maggie's on Meeker on Wednesday mornings at 8:30 a.m. A weekly Line Dancing Class meets at the Kent YMCA next door on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. The Quilt Guild meets on the second Thursday of the month for special demonstrations, programs, and shared projects.
Shared Bread and the Network of Outreach Ministries
Outreach is the heartbeat of Kent United Methodist Church. The flagship program is Shared Bread, an emergency assistance ministry that helps residents of the Kent School District boundaries pay utility, rent, or water bills once every twelve months. Volunteers schedule appointments on Mondays, with the actual interviews by phone on Wednesdays. In 2025, Shared Bread distributed just over $95,000, served roughly 600 people, helped five members of the congregation, received three grants and two major gifts, and reached its million-dollar milestone after twenty-five years of giving.
The Kent-Meridian HUB, a food and personal hygiene program at Kent-Meridian High School, receives approximately $700 a month of support from the congregation. Church members also serve at the Kent Food Bank, deliver to the food pantry at Holy Spirit Catholic Church through Terrific Tuesday Meals, partner with Community Loaves to bake bread and energy cookies for the Kent Food Bank twice a month, and participate in the annual Kent CROP Hunger Walk. A quarterly Food Bank Sunday on the first Sunday of the month collects donations in the narthex. The Outreach: Beyond Our Walls Committee also convenes monthly meetings with other South King County assistance providers, building a network of human-services collaboration that has drawn the attention of other United Methodist churches wanting to model similar programs.
Internationally, Kent United Methodist Church sponsors orphans at Jamaa Letu, two United Methodist orphanages in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that the Pacific Northwest Conference built in 1999 and 2002. Individuals, families, and committees at KUMC have faithfully supported an orphan year after year, with the annual cost of food, clothing, medical care, and schooling running about $4,000 per child. The 2025 mission trip took twenty-eight members to the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana, where they built a wheelchair ramp, helped at Hope Floats Boutique and St. Mary's Center of Hope, served at Chez Hope family violence crisis center, and assembled more than 3,600 hygiene kits.
Creation Care: Toward an Energy Star Building by 2030
The Creation Care Commitment commits the church to decreasing its carbon footprint, as measured by the EPA Portfolio Manager, until it reaches a score of 75 and earns Energy Star building certification by 2030. The church tracks its use of electricity, gas, water, and its disposal of garbage, recycling, and compost, and posts its Energy Star score on a poster near the Youth Room. From a score of 30 in 2019, the church climbed to 43 in 2022 and 59 in 2023, after its first full year of solar power.
In 2022, the congregation received a $102,000 competitive grant from Puget Sound Energy's Green Power and Solar Choice programs and installed a solar panel system designed and installed by MAD Energy NW of Auburn. The system produces more than 41,000 kilowatt hours per year, saving the church roughly $3,000 to $3,500 a year on PSE bills. Earlier upgrades include double-paned windows, LED lights, heat pumps, a Wi-Fi thermostat for the sanctuary, and timers on electric heaters. The church also hosts recycling events for the City of Kent in its parking lot and has adopted its street for regular clean-up. Two members, Laura Osborn and Pat Gray, completed EarthKeepers training through the Pacific Northwest Conference and are designing a bioswale or rain garden to filter runoff from the east parking lot and educate visitors about indigenous plants. Sunday school children and the congregation have donated toward the planting of 2,000 trees in Kenya through Climate Action Now and EarthLungs, and the church participates in the Eden Reforestation Project.
The Creation Care Team publishes monthly tips for the congregation and the wider community, with ideas for reducing plastic, switching to LED bulbs, composting, avoiding microplastics, and supporting clean energy. Quarterly Creation Care Hero Awards recognize members who have advanced the church's environmental work, such as Gary Zink, who led the conversion of every light in the building to LED and helped install heat pumps, bike racks, and a capital repair and replacement fund.
A Welcoming and Affirming Place
The church's Statement of Inclusivity is the clearest expression of its identity. "Kent United Methodist Church joyfully embraces God's acceptance and love of all people. We affirm that all individuals are persons of sacred worth. We welcome the full participation in our church of everyone, without regard to sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, education, marital circumstances, physical and mental abilities, economic status, theological perspective, political affiliation, and any other means people use to categorize or discriminate." The statement commits the congregation to discovering how it can most faithfully include, learn from, and grow with all people in its community.
That welcome is woven into specific ministries. The LGBTQ Community D-Group provides a safe place for siblings in the LGBTQ community to dive deeper into faith, learn, share, and grow. The congregation publicly stands against racism and encourages members to use the vote as a nonviolent tool for change. The Pastoral Charge of inclusion and the practice of open communion go hand in hand: anyone is welcome at the table, and anyone is welcome in the life of the church.
What United Methodists Believe
The congregation stands in the broader United Methodist tradition, which grew out of the 18th-century ministry of John Wesley in England. Wesley's emphasis on practical divinity, living out one's faith through grace and service, his appeal to reason and experience, and his small-group question, "How is it with your soul?" continue to shape the congregation's approach to worship, study, and service. The United Methodist Church's mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, and the denomination's Social Principles give guidance on issues of justice and Christian responsibility.
At Kent UMC, the congregation's stated beliefs for children put it plainly: God is love; God created the world; every person is a beloved child of God; Jesus shows how much God loves us and calls us to share that love; God is always with us; we can trust God no matter what; and we can be peacemakers, generous, kind, and fair, knowing that we are so loved by God. Worship and praise are not just for Sunday morning, but for the way we live every day.
Plan a Visit
The sanctuary doors open at 11010 SE 248th Street, Kent, Washington 98030. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the phone (253-852-3900) and general@kentmethodist.com reach the staff during those hours. Sunday worship begins at 10:00 a.m. and is livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook, so anyone can join from home. The Kent UMC app is available by texting KentUMCApp to 77977 or by searching "Kent United Methodist Church" in the App Store, and the Connect bulletin, downloadable Order of Worship, online giving, and online attendance form make it easy to follow along even when traveling. The church follows Kent School District weather closures when severe weather hits.
For those who want to dig deeper, the Discipleship Small Groups page and the Find a Discipleship Group form help match newcomers with a D-Group. The Journey Lunch introduces visitors to the congregation and the United Methodist Church and, if they wish, opens the door to membership. Children are always welcome in worship, and the nursery, Sunday school, and children's choirs are ready to receive them every Sunday at 10:00 a.m.