Weekly Word

Sustainable, affordable housing in the Lykins neighborhood

Last week, Jerusalem Farm celebrated the ground-breaking of their first ever land-grant housing project being built from the ground up. Jerusalem Farm will build a single-family home on this site; this model helps ensure affordable housing in historic Northeast Kansas City. Village partnered with Jerusalem Farm in this endeavor by contributing the funds for this project through the Village Church Endowment’s Signature Mission initiative. Rev. Zach Walker, director of mission, (left) joined in the festivities. See more photos HERE.

New sermon series • Holy Spirit: The Liberator (May 11-June 8)

The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of the Trinity, along with God, our father and mother, and Jesus, the son. Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit was present at creation, descended upon Jesus at his baptism, called the church into being at Pentecost, and is present among us now. Yet many of us find it challenging to understand who the Holy Spirit is and how the Spirit relates to our lives. Leonardo Boff, a Brazilian liberation theologian, called the Holy Spirit the “liberator” who frees us from the oppressions of sin and gifts us freedom. In this sermon series leading up to Pentecost, Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka will explore four ways the Holy Spirit liberates and frees us.

• May 11 Holy Spirit: Liberator from Chaos

• May 18 Holy Spirit: Liberator from Meaninglessness

• May 25 Holy Spirit: Liberator from Dependence on Self

• June 1 Holy Spirit: Liberator from Uselessness

• June 8 Pentecost: The Birthday of the Church

Serve

Cross-Lines Volunteer Opportunity – We need a a few more helpers Friday, May 9 to serve lunch to our neighbors in need at the Cross-Lines Kitchen. Sign up online or email Jim Bolton.

Food Pantry & Clothes Closet – May is fruit month at the food pantry. Please consider a donation of any kind of fruit in cans or plastic, standard-sized containers. Dried fruits are great, too! And for the Clothes Closet, do you have some summer footwear you’re not using? Sandals, tennis shoes, etc., are welcome.

Engage, Grow, and Celebrate

40s & 50s Social Event – If you are in your 40s or 50s, you are invited to O’Neill’s (9417 Mission Road) from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, May 17. We want to share some new opportunities for this age group as well as hear your thoughts. Event is free; no RSVP needed. Contact Pastor Zach with questions.

adult faith formation

Are These the Last Days? Christians and the End Times – Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka is teaching this Village U series in partnership with William Jewell College’s Center for Faith & Culture: 6:30-7:45 p.m. Wednesdays, May 7, 14, 21, Room 132 (Mission Campus). Eschatology is the study of the end of the world or the end times. We will explore the numerous scriptures that tell us what to look for and how to prepare for the end times and the various eschatologies around the end times. (Note: If Jesus comes again before May 7, this class will not be held.) Register HERE and enter the coupon code “Village.” 

Village U: Christian/Jewish Relations Through the Centuries – 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays, April 28-May 19, Heritage Dining Room (230). Biagio Mazza explores the historical conflict between Jews and Christians, starting with the first century split over Jesus as Messiah. Register HERE.

international mission

Thwake Village Partnership – Seventeen people, including Revs. David Nzioka and Maggie Johnson Phillips, will be returning to Thwake, Kenya in June—where we have partnered with residents to support a clinic, birthing center, girls’ home, secondary school, and church. We will host a three-day medical clinic for about 1,500 people who have little or no access to health care. If you’d like to support this effort, donate HERE. We have also created an Amazon wish list for needed supplies. Asante (“thank you”) in Swahili!

music ministry

2nd Thursday Recital featuring St. Petersburg String Quartet – 12:15 p.m. Thursday, May 8, in the Mission Campus Chapel. Please join us for a noontime recital with a short reception afterward in the Welcome Center to meet the artists. Free admission.

Kansas City Chorale presents “The Lost Birds” – 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 16, in the Mission Campus Sanctuary. Tickets can be bought HERE.

Pastoral care & Counseling

Would a Meal Help? Let Helping Hands ministry bring you a meal if you‘ve had a baby or are home from the hospital. Village has many great cooks who would love to help out. At the Prairie Village (Mission) Campus, contact Linda Alley or 913-671-2327 to set things up. If you live “out south,” contact Lisa Harrison at the Overland Park (Antioch) Campus.

Presbyterian women

Last Circle Gatherings in May until September – Thank you to all the women that have participated in this year’s Horizons Bible Study “Let Justice Roll Down.” Next season’s study is ”Finding Resilence, Joy, and our Identity in Jesus Christ” by Rhashell D. Hunter. Email Carol Solenberger for more info on Bible studies.

young adults

Party in the Park – 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 14. All young adults—individuals, couples, parents (and their kids)—are invited for a picnic at Franklin Park (8706 Roe Ave.) to celebrate a year of growth and fellowship in Young Adult Ministry! No cost, but sign up HERE to let us know you’re coming.

YOUTH Ministry

Summer Trips and Youth Week – Check out all that’s planned for middle- and high-school kids this summer on our site. And congratulations to Angel Patterson (pictured above), who was called by Session Monday evening as the new director of youth ministry at the Mission Campus! The search committee unanimously recommended that she be appointed.

Confirmation Sunday – We will celebrate this year’s Confirmation class during the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, May 19.

green tip of the week:

It’s true: New refrigerators use about 50% less energy than those made 10-15 years ago. Buy appliances with the Energy Star label. *Village Presbyterian Church is a certified Earth Care Congregation.