Weekly Word

Sept. 8 Session Meeting Highlights

• The Session called a congregational meeting for Sept. 28 to elect officers and leaders for the new year and to approve terms of call for Rev. Dr. Diane Janssen Hemmen. 
• The Session approved Ruling Elder Walt Grainger as commissioner to Heartland Presbytery meetings.
• The Session received the recommendation from the Adult Faith Formation Committee that the Session approve a statement on immigration. This first reading was for discussion only. The vote on the statement will take place at the October meeting.
• The Session heard a report from Capital Campaign Committee co-chair Jan Creidenberg about a recent feasibility study. Jan reported that there is high awareness about the upcoming campaign and positive initial reaction by the majority of respondents. At a high level, refreshing critical infrastructure around our four buildings was perceived as most important, followed by updating gathering spaces and sustaining God’s creation. 
• The 2024 audits (for the church and endowment) are final: Village Presbyterian Church received a clean audit for 2024. Here are the 2024 Auditor’s Letter, the 2024 Village Presbyterian Church Financial Report, and the 2024 Village Church Endowment Trust Financial Report.

September Sermon Series: “EPIC Church”

In this series, Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka will explore what author Dr. Leonard Sweet calls the E.P.I.C. Church: Experiential, Participatory, Imagistic, and Communal. See you in worship or online Sundays!

• Sept. 7 – The Church is Experiential
• Sept. 14 – The Church is Participatory
• Sept. 21 – The Church is Imagistic
• Sept. 28 – The Church is Communal

“Wonder is not a state of esthetic enjoyment. Endless wonder is endless tension, a situation in which we are shocked at the inadequacy of our awe, at the weakness of our shock. Endless wonder unlocks an innate sense of indebtedness. Within our awe there is no place for self-assertion. Within our awe we only know that all we own, we owe.”

–Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, “Thunder in the Soul” 

Serve

Help at Cross-Lines – Every other month, Village Church serves a meal to 150-250 people at the Cross-Lines Kitchen. Join us this Friday, Sept. 12, to serve lunch to our neighbors in need. Sign up HERE or contact Jim Bolton.

Food Pantry and Clothes Closet Needs – September is peanut butter month! Help us fill the shelves with plastic, 18-oz jars. A $25 donation buys a case. At the Clothes Closet, we need sheets, towels, and pillowcases. The Antioch Campus is also collecting gently used household items. Thank you!

Village Serves at Pete’s Garden – Join folks from Village this Wednesday, Sept 10 from 10 a.m. to noon as we volunteer to make Kansas City a better place! This month we serve at Pete’s Garden packing meals for food-insecure families. Learn more and sign up HERE.

Engage, Grow, and Celebrate

Wednesday Family Dinner are Back! 5:30-6:30 p.m. this Wednesday, Sept. 10. To register for dinners, click HERE. (RSVP HERE to volunteer and eat free.)

Antioch Second Sunday Social – After worship this Sunday, Sept. 14 in Fellowship Hall. The scouts and parents of Troop 222 will grill hamburgers and hotdogs. Chips and lemonade also provided.

Village Connect Groups – Deepen your faith and relationships with others. This year’s study, created by Pastor Rodger, is “Jesus’ Beatitudes: Blessings for Our Life Today.” Interested in joining a group? Stop by the Welcome Center between services, Sept. 21, or email Carol.

ADULT FAITH FORMATION

Conversation with Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka – 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, Room 132, Mission Campus. Members, non-members, visitors, believers, skeptics—all are welcome to a conversation with our senior pastor. Bring your reflections, thoughts, and questions.

The Culture Wars that Helped Create America – 6:30-8 p.m. Wedesdays, Sept. 17–Oct. 8, Room 124, Mission Campus. Dr. Lonnie H. Lee will examine the religious, cultural, and political differences in Post-Reformation Europe during the 17th century.

Find all Village U Classes in our Fall 2025 catalog.

children & family ministry

Child & Family Development Center Turns 30! Let’s celebrate from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19. Bring the whole family to enjoy live music, cake, snow cones, a garbage truck, and more.

international ministry

Hit for Haiti is Saturday, Oct. 4 – Come for the 5th annual pickleball and tennis event benefiting Higgins Brothers Surgicenter—the only functioning medical center near Fonds-Parisien, which serves about 1,500 Haitian patients each month. Learn more and sign up to play HERE.

Auction/Raffle Items Needed – The Dominican Republic Medical Partnership (DRMP) of Village Church is looking for auction and raffle items for its annual fundraiser, Celebration Dominicana, on Oct. 11. Examples include gift cards, vacation rentals, airline vouchers, sports or concert tickets, artwork, jewelry, or gardening or interior design services. If you can donate, email Lora Garrison, or call 913-671-2390. Thank you!

music ministry

2nd Thursday Recital – 12:15 p.m. Sept. 11 in the Mission Campus Sanctuary. This free series begins with Alison Borberg, soprano, and Joe Cartwright, piano presenting a mix of musical theater and cabaret.

Pastoral care & Counseling

Growing Through Grief Starts Sept. 24 – Grief is a hard journey; we’re here to help you each step of the way. This 5-week class, facilitated by Rev. Tom Soule, offers support. We meet at 10 a.m. every Wednesday, Sept. 24–Oct. 22 in Room 132. Registration is required; email Linda Alley or call 913-671-2327.

Presbyterian Women

Sunshine & Stroll – 1:30-3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 14, Mohawk Park (67th & Lamar). Soak up some sunshine, take a stroll around the park, or sit and chat with other women. Kids are welcome, too!

MOTS (Moms of Teens) – 8:30-10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 20, Young Adult Space (Room 8); Mission Campus. Interested in talking to other moms with teens? Come for coffee and conversation.

Mingle & Bingo – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23 at O’Neill’s Restaurant in Leawood. Women of all ages are invited for games and featured speaker Rev. Maggie Johnson Phillips. The cost is $15 and includes appetizers. Bingo cards are $5 with proceeds going to the Village Food Pantry. RSVP to Becky Anderson.

young adults

Y.A.M. (Young Adut Ministry) Night – All 20s and 30s are invited to join us every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. starting Sept. 10. We’ll enjoy dinner in the Young Adult Room (Room 8) followed by games, Scripture, and connection. Come as often as you can; we’d love to have you!

Royals Game – 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19. Bring your friends and join us at Kauffman Stadium for a night of fun, fellowship, and baseball! Tickets: $20. Register HERE.

Picnic in the Park – 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22. Young adults with kiddos: Bring the family to Taliaferro Park for an evening of playgrounds, popsicles, and dinner. No cost, but sign up HERE.

youth

On Sunday evening, Youth Director Angel Patterson kicked off our season with a dinner and information for families. Learn about happenings for students in grades 7-12 HERE and follow their online newsletter.

green tip of the week:

Avoid Using Screen Savers. Set your computer to hibernate or sleep mode when not in use. Screen savers consume energy when there is no need for it. *Village Presbyterian Church is a certified Earth Care Congregation.