The Messenger
We are all Presbyterian women.
Dear Village Church women,
On Dec. 2, at the annual Presbyterian Women’s Advent Celebration, “Advent Through the Generations,” we experienced a very special gathering. (If you missed it, you can watch it on Village’s YouTube Channel HERE.) All four of our female pastors, Rev. Dr. Diane Janssen Hemmen, Rev. Anna Owens, Rev. Maggie Johnson Phillips, and Rev. Alice Whitson—along with Dr. Elisa Bickers, our extraordinary organist—were all together in the Mission Campus Sanctuary, celebrating four brave, wise, and devout women of the Bible: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Each pastor brought the stories of Tamar (Rev. Anna Owens), Rahab (Rev. Dr. Diane Janssen Hemmen), Ruth (Rev. Alice Whitson), and Mary (Rev. Maggie Johnson Phillips) to life in their own ways, weaving these four women and the lessons we can learn from them together. By the way, we should not take for granted how fortunate we are to have these wonderful women who work so well together lead us in our spiritual life. They are learned, faithful, fun, and readily accessible to us all. What more could we ask?
Given how obscure the names Tamar and Rahab are, I was happily amazed (actually astonished) that Dr. Bickers could find songs for us to sing, celebrating not just Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Mary, but many other extraordinary women in the Bible. With Elisa’s energy, the Sanctuary’s rafters were once again raised in song.
We also announced this year’s recipients of the Honorary Life Members (also known as Faithful Women of Outstanding Service): Judy Frame, Julie O’Connor, and Louise Woodward. Our congratulations to all of them. On April 14, 2026, Judy, Julie, and Louise will be honored at the Celebration of Faithful Women.
My huge thanks to the Advent Celebration committee and the numerous other volunteers who helped make last night’s event fun and meaningful. Excellent teamwork, friends! Finally, with the author’s permission, I am sharing an email sent to Diane, Anna, Maggie, and Alice after the event. It summarizes the evening beautifully. Peace and joy to all of you.
Merry Christmas,
Patty Slentz-Howard, Presbyterian Women Board Chair
Dear wonderful pastors of Village Presbyterian,
I would be remiss if I didn’t send a thank you for the wonderful Advent celebration last night. It was deeply meaningful for Vivian and me, but I think what was most meaningful was to have my 10-year-old daughter sit in a Sanctuary filled with women who she doesn’t even know love her. For her to hear stories from the Bible that she can identify with was astounding. On our ride home, she said things like, “Mama, I can’t believe the Bible has women that are so feisty like Tamar! And Mama, do you think I could be like Ruth and Naomi to my friends, like Pastor Alice said?”
I think I cried about 1,000 times last night because I grew up in a very conservative Presbyterian Church, where I never felt loved or seen, and I certainly never had women that I could go and talk to, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that my daughter has gobs of women that she could talk to besides me if she needed them. She has women that love her and see her and appreciate her, and, as a mom, I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Thank you all for providing such a welcoming space for all of us, most importantly, the tiniest among us.
Hugs and love to you all from Vivian and me!
–Heather McCoy
2025 Advent Celebration • “Advent through the Generations”
This Month‘s Featured Circle: Circle 3
Meet the amazing ladies of Circle 3! This Circle meets the second Tuesday of each month (September–May) from 9:30–11 a.m.
Janet Bates has been the Circle leader since 2014. Linda Gibson faithfully serves as the Bible study leader. Julie Riekhof has served as treasurer for many years.
In terms of numbers, Circle 3 is one of the smaller Circles—offering a more intimate environment. During discussions, all members participate. They also enjoy times of fellowship both before and after the meetings. Several members have attended this Circle for decades, yet they love to welcome new members! In addition to attending Circle, the members are active in many areas of Village Church. They volunteer at the Food Pantry and Clothes Closet, participate in Mission Sewing, sing in the choir, attend Sunday school, and serve on the Sacristy Committee. Each year during the Christmas season, they collect money to provide dinners for Star Families.
The Circle Bible study this year is titled, “Finding Resilience, Joy and Our Identity in Jesus Christ” by Rhashell Hunter. Interested in joining a Circle? Email Dee Couch.
Weekly Bible Studies are as follows:
- Alive Now Bible Study – Wednesdays, 9-10:30 a.m., Room 230, Mission Campus
- Thursday Women’s Bible Study – Thursdays, 1:30-3 p.m., Room 136, Antioch Campus
- Especially for Women Bible Study – Fridays, 9-11 a.m., Room 126, Mission Campus
Coffee & Conversation
- The next Coffee & Conversation at Antioch Campus with Dr. Kate Unruh is at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18. (This group meets once a month on third Thursdays.)
- The next Coffee & Conversation with Ginger Rothhaas will be Wednesday, Jan. 7 in Friendship Hall, Mission Campus. This season, this group is exploring love through the lens of world religions. If you have missed a session, do not worry. Village Church’s Communications team records each discussion and uploads them to the Village YouTube Channel.
Save the Date:
- Mahjong Monday – 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, Heritage Dining Room (Mission Campus) or 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19 (Antioch Campus). Do you play Mahjong? We’re looking to start groups to play on the second or third Monday each month at both campuses. Email Carol Solenberger (Mission) or Lisa Harrison (Antioch) to RSVP to ensure adequate supplies and enough players.
- “Motherhood to Matriarch” with Ginger Rothhaas – 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, Friendship Hall (Mission Campus). This 2026 discussion will help us ponder the relationships we want to nurture with our adult children.
- Meneilly Visiting Scholar Lectures – Feb. 27 & 28. Our guest speaker will be Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III, an engaging, compelling, and passionate advocate of the Gospel, an impactful author, and the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago—a church that identifies itself as “Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian.” He was recognized by Baylor University as one of the 12 most effective preachers in the English language. Register HERE.
Book Clubs
The Amazing Graces Book Club meets year-round—usually on the first Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. We will meet Jan. 7 to choose books for 2026. Feel free to join us whenever you are able. Bring an appetizer, dessert, or a beverage to share (not required). We meet in homes so please contact Sara Wallace to be added to the email list.
Antioch Book Club – meets next at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20 in the Conference Room (Antioch Campus). The Antioch Book Club has been meeting quarterly for the past few years but in 2026, we’ve decided to challenge ourselves to meet every other month! We’re working to finalize our titles for the rest of the year, but in January, we’ll read “Lady Tan’s Circle of Women” by Lisa See. We hope you’ll join us as your schedule allows. Please put these dates on your calendars: Jan. 20, March 17, May 19, July 21, Sept. 15, and Nov. 17.
Page Turners – 4th Tuesdays. Next one? Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Mission Campus, Room 127) Bring your own lunch!
Doing the Good
Driver needed for home-delivered meals – Village has a team who deliver meals to folks who may not be able to make ones for themselves. We are in need of a person to commit about two hours one Thursday each month. Meals are picked up at Matt Ross Community Center. Email Leslie Conrad for more info or call 913-226-7245.
Decorate the Village Trees – Bring hats, mittens, and diapers (all sizes, including adults) to put on and under our Christmas trees at the north and south entrances of the Mission Campus. They will be donated to the Food Pantry & Clothes Closet.
Operation Breakthrough needs volunteers to help with year-around tutoring program one hour/week. Volunteers work one-on-one to assist the children with literacy and mathematics. Email Charlotte Davison with questions and to volunteer.
Help Host at Memorial Services – Helping families when they have lost a loved one is a gift from the heart. If you could usher or host at a memorial reception, we would appreciate it. Volunteers serve as their schedules permit—helping for about 2-4 hours at the most. Contact Linda Alley at 913-671-2327 or send Linda an email.
Look for upcoming ‘Village Serve’ dates each month HERE. Join folks from Village this Saturday, Dec. 6 from 9-11:30 a.m. as we volunteer at Kanbe’s Market sorting food to be distributed to food pantries and local markets.
2025-2026 Board members:
- Melissa Anderson, Spiritual Growth Co-Coordinator
- Barb Brown, Secretary
- Dee Couch, Circle Activities Coordinator
- Anne Darby, Spiritual Growth Co-Coordinator
- Sarah Emerson, Village on Antioch Representative
- Kay Findlay, Amazing Graces Representative
- Linda Lieffring, Christian Action Coordinator
- Lisa Mann, Treasurer
- Sharon Marsh, Treasurer-Elect
- Heather McCoy, Membership Coordinator
- Patty Slentz-Howard, Board Chair