Weekly Word
Our 2027 Meneilly Visiting Scholar is…
Barbara Brown Taylor!
We are thrilled to announce that the 25th Anniversary Meneilly Visiting Scholar will be Episcopal priest and New York Times bestselling author Barbara Brown Taylor. Save the dates of April 17-18, 2027. Read more about this celebrated author and speaker HERE. More details to follow.
Village Cup News
We are listening. We are excited to share that something new is in the works for the Village Cup coffee shop at the Mission Campus! After many years of significant financial loss, the Trustees made the decision to move to a self-service approach. The Cup will close for Sundays on May 25 (the last weekday is May 15) so that we can begin transitioning the space into a free, self-serve beverage station.
Commitment to Family
In worship Sunday, Pastor Rodger talked about the commitment to family as we journey toward that ‘second mountain,’ away from selfishness and toward altruism. We discussed how marriage and families are a gift that help move us from self-serving love to self-sacrificing commitment to others. If you missed a sermon in this series, find them all HERE.
Nominations Needed
We are seeking nominations for the Nominating Committee Slate for elders, deacons, the personnel committee, and the nominating committee for next year. Send any suggestions (or self-nominations) to Laura Hobbs.
Serve
Thank you to our Cross-lines and Kanbe’s volunteers! Thanks to Cross-lines Community Kitchen volunteers (and cookie bakers), we served 117 taco-salad lunches last Friday. The leftover food was graciously accepted by Hannah, the kitchen manager, who assures us that nothing goes to waste. Sixteen people also volunteered several hours Saturday sorting produce at Kanbe’s Markets. It was great to see a wide variety of folks working together and contributing to Kanbe’s mission of getting fresh produce to those who need it.
Donate A Bike! We are collecting bikes to donate to Front Porch Alliance. Someone will fix them up and then they will go to children who need them by the end of the summer. Bikes can be dropped off at the South Entrance at the Mission Campus. Email Pastor Zach with questions or for more info.
Antioch Community Garden – We will be weeding and harvesting our vegetables soon and could use your help. Get outside and make a difference! Email Lisa Kelley if you are interested.
Engage, Grow, Celebrate
Did you miss our 2026 Meneilly Visiting Scholar? Come to our Dr. Otis Moss lecture ‘watch party’ this Thursday, May 14, at 7-8:30 p.m. in the Antioch Campus library.
Trivia Night Fundraiser – 5-8 p.m. Thursday, June 4, Friendship Hall (Mission Campus). Hosted by Village for Gun Sense and Grandparents for Gun Safety. Come on your own ($30) or assemble a team of six ($175) and compete to be crowned trivia champs! All monies raised will go toward gun locks to make our community safer. Register HERE. We are also encouraging folks to wear orange to worship on May 31 and participate in the city-wide rally at 9 a.m. on June 6 at the Alvin Brooks Justice Center at Rockhurst University.
New Member Luncheon – 11 a.m. Sunday, June 7, Room 232 (Mission Campus). If you’re interested in becoming a member of Village Church, you’re invited to lunch! Childcare is available. RSVP to Carol Solenberger.
Ice Cream Social – 5-7 p.m., Friday, June 12, Mission Campus. Save the date for the 51st annual Ice Cream Social!
ADULT FAITH FORMATION
Rev. Dale Jackson visits Village Forum – 9:30 a.m. this Sunday, May 17, Room 126, Mission Campus. Come hear from Rev. Dale Jackson, Heartland’s Presbyter for Vision & Leadership, who will talk about the 227th General Assembly and some of the significant issues on the table regarding restructuring of the Denominational Staff, global mission, confronting Christian nationalism, a new Confession, and more.
Navigating Transitions: Exploring Practical Tools to Navigate Change with Courage and Grace – 6:15 p.m. Wednesdays, May 13 & 20, Room 132, Mission Campus. Drawing upon Dr. Linda Burks’ recent work, we will explore tools for clarifying what truly matters to you, embracing change, and welcoming what’s next. Register HERE.
Men’s Breakfast Gathering: Personal Bible Use – 8-9 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, Room 230 (Mission Campus). Enjoy breakfast and fellowship while we listen to a panel discussion on how the Bible is used. Donation suggestion $8. Pay in person or online when you register.
CHILDREN & FAMILIES
May 24 is a Family Worship Sunday – No Lighthouse Kids due to the Memorial Day holiday. Worship together as family.
Music & Drama Camp – 1-4:30 p.m. June 8-12 plus a performance at 7 p.m. on Friday night. Kids who have completed K-5 are invited for a fun week as we prepare “Are We There Yet?” (a musical about Moses and the journey to the promised land). Register HERE (if your child will be able to participate in the Friday night show).
Stephen ministry
Jen Wewers speaks on resilience – 5 p.m. Thursday, May 14, Room 132 (Mission Campus). Don’t miss Jen Wewers, executive director for Prairie Sky Counseling Center, who will talk about resilience and explore its spiritual, psychological, and relational roots. Sponsored by Stephen Ministry.
music ministry
2nd Thursday Recital featuring Keith Benjamin, trumpet – 12:15 p.m. Thursday, May 14, in the Mission Campus Sanctuary. Please join us for a free, noontime recital with a short reception afterward in the Welcome Center to meet the artist.
Village Brass – 2 p.m. Sunday, May 17, Mission Campus Sanctuary. Our very own, Village Brass, will give a free concert of some of your favorites from Bruckner to Bach, Renaissance to Gospel. Come hear the year‘s “greatest hits.”
Te Deum – 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, Mission Campus Sanctuary. Te Deum presents “Remembrance and Comfort.” This program honors the resilience of the human spirit and provides a space for remembrance and healing. Tickets can be bought HERE.
International Mission
All-Ages D.R. Mission Trip – Please join the Dominican Republic Medical Partnership (DRMP) for the 7th annual Givingthanks trip from Nov. 19-24 to host free medical/health education fairs in four bateyes (communities of Haitian sugarcane cutters). Cost: airfare + $500 (scholarships available). Contact Rev. Zach Walker.
Presbyterian women
Mahjong Mondays – 6:30-8 p.m., May 18 (Antioch Campus). Join other women to play Mahjong.
Summer Book Club – 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, June 9, 23, and July 7 in Room 8 (Mission Campus). We will read, “The Next Right Thing,” by Emily P. Freeman. Join us this summer to learn about simple, soulful practices for making life decisions. Sign up HERE.
YOUng Adults
Party in the Park – 5:30 p.m. this Wednesday, May 13. All young adults (individuals, couples, parents and their kids) are invited for a picnic and games at Franklin Park (8706 Roe Ave.) to celebrate a year of growth and fellowship in Young Adult Ministry! $5 per person, please register HERE.
youth ministry
Youth Week is June 1-5! We kick off summer with a fun-filled week of activities and community. This year’s lineup includes World’s of Fun, pickle ball, volunteering, hammocking, a beach day, and more! Register and learn more HERE.
green tip of the week
Maintain your AC unit. If you notice unusual noises, inconsistent or frequent cycling, or a sudden spike in utility bills, your cooling system may need attention.
Worship Times
MISSION CAMPUS: 9 and 11 a.m. (Sanctuary) and 4 p.m. for the Gathering service (Friendship Hall) Sundays
* SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE BEGINS MAY 31: 10 a.m. (Sanctuary) and 4 p.m. (Friendship Hall) Sundays
ANTIOCH CAMPUS: 10 a.m. Sundays
OUR TRUEST IDENTITY:
A Child of God
On Sunday, we baptized nine children and infants in our morning worship services. It was a poignant celebration for Mother’s Day! We take the sacrament of baptism seriously, promising to guide and nurture these children, by word and deed, with love and prayer. We vow to encourage them to know and follow Jesus Christ as they grow in faith and love as a members of our family here at Village Church. By the time many of these children reach confirmation and graduate high school, they confess that they indeed have felt the support of a loving faith community during these formative years. We thank you for living out these promises.
Let’s stay in touch.
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