LofterNews: September Youth Newsletter
A New Program Year for Village Youth
Our 2026-27 program year is here, and things are looking a little different in Village Youth! We’ve completely reworked our weekly programming to bring middle and high school students together more often, while creating more opportunities for youth to be part of the larger Village community.
Our New Weekly Schedule
Sunday School | 9–10 a.m.
Middle and high school students meet together for one combined Sunday school hour.
Youth Group | Sundays, 6:30–8 p.m.
Instead of separate middle and high school youth groups, all youth in grades 7-12 will gather together on Sunday evenings for games, discussion, faith formation and community.
Wednesdays@Village | Wednesdays, beginning Sept. 16
On Wednesday evenings, youth will join the rest of the Village community for Wednesdays@Village, a 10-week series of dinners and faith programming running through Nov. 18.
The evening begins with dinner in Friendship Hall at 5:30 p.m. with build-your-own meals available without an RSVP. Programs begin at 6:10 p.m. and wrap up by 7 p.m. Youth will have their own dynamic programming planned by our staff, while still being part of the larger Wednesday evening community.
Every third Wednesday, everyone will remain together in Friendship Hall for an intergenerational activity, education opportunity or service project led by a Village pastor or staff member.
Want all the details? Our new 2026-27 Village Youth booklet has everything you need to know about the year ahead, including our weekly schedule, trips, special events, volunteer opportunities and more. You should have received a copy in the mail, but if you didn’t or would rather view it online, you can check it out below.
For complete Wednesdays@Village details, visit villagepres.org/wednesdays.
Kick-Off Week
It’s time to kick off a new year of Village Youth! Join us Sept. 13–19 as we settle into our new program year with a full week of fun, fellowship and time together.
Sunday, Sept. 13 | First Sunday Back
We’re kicking things off with our first Sunday school and youth group of the year!
Sunday School | 9–10 a.m.
Middle and high school students will gather together for our first Sunday school of the year.
Youth Group | 6:30–8 p.m.
It’s TJ’s & PJ’s Night! Come dressed in your best loungewear and get ready for a night of snacks, rest, restoration and fellowship as we settle into this new program year and season of life.
Wednesday, Sept. 16 | Wednesdays@Village
Our first Wednesdays@Village is here! Join us for dinner at 5:30 p.m., followed by youth programming at 6:10 p.m. This is the first of 10 Wednesday evenings where we’ll gather with the larger Village community to eat, learn and grow in faith together.
Saturday, Sept. 19 | Sporting KC
We’re wrapping up Kick-Off Week with a night at Sporting KC! Join us as we head to the stadium to watch Sporting KC take on Philadelphia Union at 7:30 p.m.
We’ll meet at the church and travel together. Spots are limited, so register soon to reserve your ticket!
Confirmation and Capstone Start This Month
Two of our biggest faith formation programs are getting underway this month! Whether your student is beginning their Confirmation journey or getting ready for Capstone, we’re excited for another year of learning, growing and building community together.
Capstone | Begins Sept. 20
Capstone is for 12th-grade students and is designed to help seniors reflect on their faith, their time in the church and what comes next as they prepare for life beyond high school.
Confirmation | Begins Sept. 27
Confirmation is for students in ninth grade and up. This yearlong experience gives students the opportunity to explore their faith, ask questions, build community and grow in their understanding of what it means to be part of the church.
It’s not too late to join either program. We’d love to have your student be part of the year!
September and October Program Calendars
Here’s what our next 2 months are looking like! Click on the image to download a PDF file.
