Weekly Word

Wisdom from our youth

We are so grateful for the fresh faces, diverse gifts, energy, and perspectives that were offered in praise of God as it was Youth Sunday in all four worship services on Aug. 30. At both campuses we got to experience worship led by our younger members and friends. You can find worship recordings on our YouTube Channel and here on our website. These young theologians helped us explore the word ”wisdom.”

This Sunday, Sept. 6, the word of the week is “doxology” and we will be hosting a Hymn Sing during all worship services. We can’t wait to hear all of your beautiful voices!

Congregational Meeting

The Village Church Session has called for a congregational meeting to be held Sunday, Sept. 20, following all worship services, for the purpose of electing officers and leaders for the new year, and presenting the 2026-2027 fiscal year budget.

Serve

Blood Drive News – Thanks to all who donated last Tuesday at our Mission Campus blood drive. The Community Blood Center collected 28 units, which represents 84 lives saved! We had one first-time donor. This Thursday, Sept. 3, the blood mobile will be in the Antioch Campus parking lot from 3-6 p.m. You can make a big impact in just one hour! The next drive at the Mission Campus will be Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Cross-Lines Volunteer Opportunity – Every month, Village Church serves a meal to 100-150 people at the Cross-Lines Kitchen. Join us on Friday, Sept. 11, to serve lunch to our neighbors in need. Learn more and sign up HERE. Questions? Contact Jim Bolton.

Engage, Grow, Celebrate

Tallgrass Creek Social – 1-2 p.m. Sept. 3. All Tallgrass Creek members and visitors to Village are invited to join us for a little social time in the Bob Allen Room at Tallgrass Creek. There will be snacks, music, fun, and fellowship!

Lunch with a Pastor – noon, Wednesday, Sept. 9, Antioch Campus. Join Pastor Anna (or occasionally other Village Church pastors) for lunch and a time of casual conversation and fellowship on the second Wednesday of each month. Lunch provided. Please RSVP by Tuesday at noon.

Sept. 11 Prayer Service – This year marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. We will offer a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 11 at the Mission Campus to help us remember and honor the 2,977 people who lost their lives, the first responders, and all those affected in the years since.

2026-2027 Connect Bible 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 in September. Contact Carol Solenberger to join a group and learn more.

Village U Community Classes – Please join us for the fall semester! Explore classes for mind, body, and spirit. The catalog is available now and registration for the classes that require them opened Aug. 30. Email Desiree Keyes with any questions.

CONGREGATIONAL CARE

Grief Support Group – 6-7 p.m. tonight Tuesday, Sept. 1, Room 232 (Mission Campus). You are not alone. Members and non-members alike are encouraged to attend our grief support group which meets the first Tuesday of each month. A Prairie Sky Counseling Center therapist facilitates.

Widowers Support Group – 9-10 a.m. Thursdays, Room 132. For men who have lost a spouse or who are caring for a spouse with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Just drop in; registration is not required.

CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Welcome, Kate Beebe! Kate is our new weekend childcare lead and will help manage childcare during our worship services on Sundays as well as some weekday hours. You can contact her here.

Family Worship until Sept. 13 – We look forward to seeing our kids at our Kickoff on Sunday, Sept. 13! Until then, children will worship with their families for the entire service. Beginning Sept. 13, we’ll return to the routine we followed in June and July: children will worship in the Sanctuary with their families through “Time with Children” and then be dismissed to Lighthouse Kids. Why? Worship attendance during childhood is one of the strongest—if not the strongest—predictors of religious participation later in life. Sunday school, youth groups, and other programs matter but none predict church attendance as powerfully as faith habits formed at home and practiced in a congregation.

international mission

Celebration Dominicana 2026 – You are invited to Celebration Dominicana on Saturday, Sept. 26 at Milburn Country Club as the Dominican Republic Medical Partnership (DRMP) celebrates more than three decades of hope and healing. Support this long-standing ministry while enjoying fine food, drink, live music, hand-picked auction items, and more! 

music ministry

Fall Music Series – Read about all fall 2026 concerts HERE. We are so excited to tell you about the wonderful music and musicians who will be performing at Village this season!

2nd Thursday Recital: Victoria Botero, soprano & Lamar Sims, piano – 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10 (Mission Campus).

women‘s ministry

Circle Bible Studies Begin – Sept. 8 (morning and afternoon options available) at the Mission Campus and Sept. 14 at Antioch. This year’s study is “United Through Christ, Bound to Each Other: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.” Interested in learning more? Contact Dee Couch, Circle coordinator.

Mahjong Mondays – 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 14 (Mission) and 21 (Antioch). Join us to play Mahjong on the second and third Mondays each month. No need to RSVP. Bring your Mahjojng card (copies will be available).

Young adults

KC Monarchs Game – 6:35 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 4. Meet us out at the ballpark for this family-friendly, young-adult event. $15/ticket, children under 2 are free. Register HERE.

Y.A.M. (Young Adult Ministry) Night – Join us for Wednesdays@Village starting Sept. 16. We’ll share a meal at 5:30 p.m. in Friendship Hall, then most weeks, at 6:15 p.m., all 20s and 30s will head to Room 8 for our programming.

green tip of the week

Reduce waste – Use less plastic cutlery and paper plates. Use reusable or compostable tableware and flatware to reduce what gets sent to the landfill.

Thanks to the hard work of several volunteer historians, this is what we have learned about last week’s photo (above):

• Most people think that it was a gathering of bell choir members, perhaps a regional one, given the “Nebraska,” “Illinois,” and “Iowa” shirts. Another person thought it could have been a youth conference at Unity Village in Missouri.  
• We regret that there was an error (thanks to my eyesight) in last week’s email: the red T-shirts read “Village Church Ding-A-Lings,” not Village Church Tag-A-Longs, which must have been the cheeky name of one of our bell choirs!  
• Mamie Carr (whose name was written on the back of the photo) was in the music department during the tenure of directors Steve Gladics and Dallas Draper. She directed Village Church bell choirs and possibly other music ensembles. Nancy Gatewood reported that, “Mamie directed the 5th and 6th grade bell choirs and at least one adult bell choir.” Cathy Dunmire wrote to say that she was a bell ringer under the direction of Ms. Carr.  
• Leslie Conrad helped us date this photo somewhere close to 1980—give or take a year. 

Look for more vintage photos, and the new historical Village Church timeline at the Mission Campus, this fall!