Be the Church Service Week 2018
Mark Your Calendars for October 21-28, 2018
Volunteers
History
In 2017, seven Presbyterian Churches from across the metropolitan Kansas City area came together to collaborate on the annual Be the Church Service Day on October 22. Beginning at noon, more than 600 volunteers scattered throughout the community to provide meal service, beautify neighborhoods, renovate nonprofits, write letters, pack hygiene kits, prepare for international trips and participate in a neighborhood fiesta.
“While the work this number of people can accomplish is substantial, it’s incredible to see the awareness that comes through direct exposure to issues here in our community and the inspiration that comes through interaction with those serving at agencies addressing them,” said Jimmy Itczak-McCarty, director of missions at Second Presbyterian Church.
Claire, a teenager who served at a local transitional home for women and children, said this experience opened her eyes to the reality that families who get displaced because of domestic violence would have nowhere else to go without organizations like these.
The Rev. Kirk Perucca and the community at Covenant Presbyterian Church offered a variety of services including a trunk-or-treat for local families, painting, yard work, urban garden winterization and continued promotion of their Food Pantry and Health and Wellness Center.
Village Presbyterian Church, under the leadership of Mission Director Deborah White, offered their service opportunities Sunday evening. Village mobilized over 200 volunteers for a variety of projects, including assembling hundreds of health and hygiene kits; packing medications to be sent to a local hospital in the Dominican Republic; prepping 300 lunches for distribution at City Union Mission; and making blankets for Kenyan babies.
The activities at Second Presbyterian, Covenant Presbyterian and Village and the work completed at John Knox Kirk Presbyterian Church, Heritage Presbyterian Church and Grandview Park Presbyterian Church (along with two dozen other nonprofits) represents over 1,000 volunteer hours put into serving as a spiritual act.
The morning of Oct. 22 was a different way to worship, but as Nathan, a fourth-grader, said, “I wish every Sunday we could be the church.”
“While the work this number of people can accomplish is substantial, it’s incredible to see the awareness that comes through direct exposure to issues here in our community and the inspiration that comes through interaction with those serving at agencies addressing them,” said Jimmy Itczak-McCarty, director of missions at Second Presbyterian Church.
Claire, a teenager who served at a local transitional home for women and children, said this experience opened her eyes to the reality that families who get displaced because of domestic violence would have nowhere else to go without organizations like these.
The Rev. Kirk Perucca and the community at Covenant Presbyterian Church offered a variety of services including a trunk-or-treat for local families, painting, yard work, urban garden winterization and continued promotion of their Food Pantry and Health and Wellness Center.
Village Presbyterian Church, under the leadership of Mission Director Deborah White, offered their service opportunities Sunday evening. Village mobilized over 200 volunteers for a variety of projects, including assembling hundreds of health and hygiene kits; packing medications to be sent to a local hospital in the Dominican Republic; prepping 300 lunches for distribution at City Union Mission; and making blankets for Kenyan babies.
The activities at Second Presbyterian, Covenant Presbyterian and Village and the work completed at John Knox Kirk Presbyterian Church, Heritage Presbyterian Church and Grandview Park Presbyterian Church (along with two dozen other nonprofits) represents over 1,000 volunteer hours put into serving as a spiritual act.
The morning of Oct. 22 was a different way to worship, but as Nathan, a fourth-grader, said, “I wish every Sunday we could be the church.”
Types of Volunteer Activities
This event offers a variety of service opportunities throughout the day and evening ranging from yard work and meal preparation to hygiene kit packing. Some activities begin at noon during the day and others start at 6:30 p.m. that evening. In some locations, child care is available while you serve. In other locations, a meal is provided.
Food and Meal Service
If you have a heart for the hungry in our city, join a team that will be preparing and serving meals.
Lawn and Yard Work
If you’re ready to get your hands dirty and take on a project outdoors, grab your gloves, a rake, maybe some lawn care equipment, and join a project that will beautify one of our neighborhoods.
Friendship and Community Outreach
If you’re in for some fun, check out one of our Fall Festival locations or one of our children’s homes and help play, craft, or just have a good conversation with a new friend.
Renovations and Indoor Projects
Some locations will need painters, cleaners, and organizers. Grab a brush or a mop or come ready to lift heavy items to assist our friends in the best use of their space.
Pastoral Care
If you’re a great conversationalist or just want to send a note of encouragement to a member in one of our communities, join one of the sites for pastoral care.
Donation Management
Whether it’s packing medications or hygiene kits, come ready to pitch in and help organize resources that will be used to bless our community and mission partners.
Food and Meal Service
If you have a heart for the hungry in our city, join a team that will be preparing and serving meals.
Lawn and Yard Work
If you’re ready to get your hands dirty and take on a project outdoors, grab your gloves, a rake, maybe some lawn care equipment, and join a project that will beautify one of our neighborhoods.
Friendship and Community Outreach
If you’re in for some fun, check out one of our Fall Festival locations or one of our children’s homes and help play, craft, or just have a good conversation with a new friend.
Renovations and Indoor Projects
Some locations will need painters, cleaners, and organizers. Grab a brush or a mop or come ready to lift heavy items to assist our friends in the best use of their space.
Pastoral Care
If you’re a great conversationalist or just want to send a note of encouragement to a member in one of our communities, join one of the sites for pastoral care.
Donation Management
Whether it’s packing medications or hygiene kits, come ready to pitch in and help organize resources that will be used to bless our community and mission partners.
Participating Churches and Contact Information
If you would like to volunteer for the Service Week (October 21-28), call the Mission office where you might want to volunteer.
- Covenant Presbyterian Church | Rev. Kirk Perucca, 913-486-7010 or kirkperucca@gmail.com
- Grandview Park Presbyterian Church | Rev. Rick Behrens, 816-807-6931 or grandviewparkpc@gmail.com
- Heritage Presbyterian Church | Rev. Clare Lozano, 913-780-0255 or clare.hpc@att.net
- John Knox Presbyterian Kirk | Rev. Chad Herring, 816-942-3637 or herringc@gmail.com
- Second Presbyterian Church | Jimmy Itczak-McCarty, 816-363-1300 or jmccarty@secondpres.org
- Village Presbyterian Church | Deborah White, 913-671-2369 or deborah.white@villagepres.org