A Message from Brooke

Hi Lighthouse grown-ups,

If you were at church on Sunday Oct. 25, you heard Pastor Rodger share a story in his sermon about a young woman who was diagnosed with cancer. Although she had only attended the church in her new city a couple of times, the congregation rallied around her in beautiful, tangible ways: home-cooked meals, housecleaning, help with jobs around the house, and so much more.

It took me back to 2017, the year I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After two surgeries, I learned I would also need chemotherapy. It was humbling to be stripped of my usual mom duties—carpools, making dinner, playing outside with my kids. I simply didn’t have the energy.

But my friends and family rallied like rockstars. Someone accompanied me to every chemo infusion and every “day-after shot” at KU Med. Friends helped clean our house, and we received meals three days a week from April through the end of July. Yes, that was FOUR months of meals! And you should have seen them. They were creative and delicious. The Royals were in the playoffs, so one friend brought us a “ballpark dinner” to enjoy while watching the game: hot dogs, peanuts, and popcorn! It felt uncomfortable humbling to need so much help. But today, I’m even more grateful when I get to take a meal to someone else.

That’s the kind of community we want to be. Last week, I had the privilege of taking a Village Church mom to breakfast after she had lost her job. What an honor to sit with her, lament alongside her, and pray together. I was so grateful that she trusted me enough to let me into her situation.

It takes vulnerability to share our hardest moments with others. Our culture often celebrates strength and treats vulnerability as weakness. But the truth is that life moves us back and forth between needing help and being able to offer it. Sometimes we’re the ones carrying the casserole and sometimes we’re the ones who need the casserole.

So let’s be a community where we can do both. Let’s make room for the hard stories, show up in tangible ways, and allow one another the grace of giving and receiving help. We don’t have to go through the broken times alone, and we don’t have to hide them either. That’s true community. And what a beautiful thing it is to build it together.

With you in the hard times and the good,
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 the third Wednesday of the month, dinner is FREE and everyone remains together 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, classes, and more details HERE.

For our children’s programming after dinner (ages 5 years–6th grade), we’re building our curriculum around service projects. This fall, kiddos ages kindergarten–6th grade have been diving into the fruits of the Spirit through engaging activities, games, and conversations. Every week, we’ve paired 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).

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Sunday Lighthouse “Hybrid” Worship and more

On Sunday mornings, 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.

• 3rd-Grade Bible Presentation – this Sunday, Nov. 8, during the 9 a.m. worship service with a reception to follow for families of 3rd graders in Room 307. If you have a 3rd grader interested in getting their own Bible, sign up HERE.

• Diapers in December – Note that next month, we will again request donations of diapers (and baby wipes) for the Village Food Pantry. Thank you in advance for helping our neighbors in need.

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!

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.

ADVENT family WORKSHOP 2026

Mark your calendars for our annual Christmas event: Advent Family Workshop. It will be from 2-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, in Friendship Hall. Register online!

Other Upcoming Village Events

PICNIC IN THE PARK – 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10. Young adults with small children are invited to bring the whole family to Taliaferro Park (2900 W. 79th St, Prairie Village) for an evening packed with food, laughter, and fun! No cost, just SIGN UP.

VILLAGE SERVES – Join folks from Village on Thursday, Nov. 12 from 9-11:30 a.m. as we volunteer to make Kansas City a better place! This month we serve at Kanbe’s Markets helping sort food to be distributed city-wide. Learn more HERE about this and other monthly opportunities.

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! Last one of 2026 is Nov. 9.

COFFEE & CONVERSATION – 10-11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 2, Room 132 (Mission Campus). 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.

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!