A Message from Brooke

Hi Lighthouse families,

I hope you’re having a wonderful fall! It actually feels like fall now, which has brought me some new energy (and a lot less sweat). I’m writing this month’s newsletter from Denver, Colorado, where I’ve been spending the week for in-person seminary classes. I’m so grateful to Village Church for encouraging me to pursue these new studies. I’m learning a ton, meeting incredible people, and feeling very grateful for this season of growth.

I also tagged on a couple of days of PTO to spend time with my daughter who lives in Denver, and my best friend from high school, who also happens to live here. Tonight, we’re headed to a Sara Bareilles concert. If you’re not familiar with her, look her up. She’s a phenomenal singer and songwriter, and her new album, Good Grief, speaks deeply to my soul. It’s definitely worth a listen!

This week was also a big milestone for me: I preached my first sermon to my fellow seminarians in my Preaching & Spiritual Formation class. I chose a passage from 2 Corinthians where Paul prays for God to remove his “thorn in the flesh.” Instead of removing it, God responds, “My grace is sufficient for you.” That idea took me to something I’ve been fascinated by for many years: the Japanese art of kintsugi. When a piece of pottery breaks, the cracks are repaired with gold rather than hidden. The broken places become part of the story—and, in their own way, part of the beauty of the piece.

I talked about what it might mean to experience God in those cracks. Not to put a “Pollyanna” spin on suffering or pretend that brokenness is somehow good, but to recognize that even in the hardest seasons of our lives, God meets us there. And often, God’s presence comes through other people. Friends and family can become part of the gold in our cracks—the people who sit with us, love us, hold us up, and help us remember that we don’t have to walk through difficult places alone. What a gift it is to both receive that kind of love and to become it for someone else.

This will be the theme for Wednesday’s “Coffee & Conversation” from 10–11 a.m. (Wednesday, Oct. 7) in Room 132 at the Mission Campus. If you haven’t joined us before, it’s a wonderful group of folks of all ages, and we have some great conversations as we learn and grow together. I’d love to see you there if you can make it!

With gratitude, Brooke

Wednesdays@Village

On Sept. 16, Village launched programming for all ages after Wednesday dinners. We’ve hosted more than 120 people each evening so far! On third Wednesdays, dinner is free and everyone remains in Friendship Hall to participate in fun group activities or service projects led by a Village pastor or staff person (no childcare is offered on third Wednesdays). Find the menus and more details HERE.

For our children’s programming (ages 5 years–6th grade), we’re building our curriculum around service projects. This fall, kiddos ages kindergarten–6th grade will dive into the fruits of the Spirit through engaging activities, games, and conversations. Every week, we’ll pair our learning with a service project that helps us put each “fruit” into action. There is childcare for kiddos age 5 and under, except on third Wednesdays (no need to register in advance).

Reminder: Oct. 21 is an “All-In” Wednesdays@Village (third Wednesday of the month). Come for “Festi-Fall” that night. You and your children are invited to stay after dinner to join in fun, fall-themed activities, including

• Face Painting
• Photo Booth
• Pumpkin Painting
• Games
• Bounce House

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Lighthouse “Hybrid” Worship and more

Parents check kiddos in outside the Sanctuary and kids will stay with their families until the Children’s Time. After that, we will all walk up together to the Lighthouse classrooms. Parents pick up in classrooms.

• Fall Lighthouse Teacher Training – 10-10:45 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, Room 201 (Childcare available for kids through elementary school during our meeting.)

• Annual 6^th Grade Scavenger Hunt – 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25. We will start out in worship in the Sanctuary as usual and then leave from the 6^th grade classroom after “All-Sing” around 9:45. Parents, pick up at Einstein Bros in the Village Shops at 11 a.m. Feel free to join us for coffee and bagels and prize announcements at 10:30!

trunk or treat

The best indoor Trunk or Treat in south Overland Park will be Sunday, Oct. 25 from 1-3 p.m. at Village on Antioch. Bring your kids or grandkids to Fellowship Hall, rain or shine! If you can donate candy ahead of the event, it would be appreciated (before Oct. 22). Extra candy will go to our Food Pantry. People are also invited to host a “trunk” (or, in this case, a themed table). Costumes optional. This is a great opportunity for service hours for teens! We need 20 stations for a successful event. Questions? Contact Lisa Harrison.

OPEN PLAY TIME

Let’s play! 9 a.m.-noon, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Grownups and their littles are invited to come play in the kid nook in our Young Adult Room (Room 8, Mission Campus) from 9 to noon. Grab a coffee while you’re there!

Childcare news

In September, we moved our church nursery from Room 114 to Room 109 on the first floor. We use this room for our youngest friends (ages 6 weeks – 24 months). If you haven’t seen the new nursery yet, stop by to take a peek!

music for children

Jenny Hull, Rebecca Enslow, and their cadre of talented helpers cannot wait to make music with your kids! Opportunities are open to those in Kindergarten through 6th grade. Click HERE to register for “Morning Stars” children’s choir, bell choirs, and/or our annual Advent musical! This year, the musical falls on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 9 and 11 a.m.

Other Upcoming Village Events

COFFEE & CONVERSATION – 10-11 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, Room 132 (Mission Campus). As we enter our fifth year of this monthly time together, we hope this continues to be a place where folks of all ages can come exactly as they are. No perfect answers. No perfect lives. Just humans learning together. We’ll grow in our faith, share honestly, laugh often, and build friendships that last well beyond the first Wednesday of the month. Our prayer is that every time you leave, you’ll feel a little more connected to God, a little more connected to one another, and reminded that you have people in your corner whatever life brings. Childcare is available; please register by email.

BE THE CHURCH – Sunday, Oct. 11. At Antioch: stay after worship and we will gather to do projects in Fellowship Hall at 11 a.m. At Mission: Join us at 5 p.m. for pizza in Friendship Hall, followed by various service opportunities from 5:30-6:30 p.m. All ages are welcome!

MAHJONG MONDAYS – 6:30-8 p.m., 2nd Mondays, Room 230 (Mission Campus); and 3rd Mondays, Multi-Purpose Room (Antioch Campus). Do you play Mahjong? Bring tiles if you have them!

CONNECT STUDY: ”GROUNDED IN GRACE” – Learn about our Presbyterian roots, history, tenets, sacraments, and much more. This new curriculum was designed and written by Village Church pastors. Connect Groups will begin meeting this month. Contact Carol Solenberger to join a group and learn more.

VILLAGE U – Please join us for our fall semester! Explore classes for mind, body, and spirit. The catalog is available and registration for the classes that require it are open. Email Desiree Keyes with any questions.

Get to know our team!