CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE - Updated 10:40 a.m. Sunday, April 5, 2020
• Do You Have Personal Protective Medical Equipment to Donate? A group of Kansas City medical students, doctors, health care providers and volunteers have organized a drive to collect personal protective equipment for local hospitals. If you have any of the following that you can donate, please fill out the form at www.kcppedrive.org:
• Gloves: Includes nitrile, latex, rubber
• Masks: Includes N-95 and surgical
• PAPR (powered air-purifying respirators)
• Goggles
• Face shields
• Head covers
• Gowns
• Hand sanitizer
• Disinfectant wipes
The group has organized drop off sites or if you are unable to get out, you can arrange for them to pick up your donations and get them to local hospitals. If you have any questions, email kcppedrive@gmail.com.
• April 3 - Village Church Mission Sewing Ramps Up Production of Cloth Face Masks - Village Church Tuesday Mission Sewing group has prepared 50 face masks for KU Medical Center clinic staff. The Thursday Mission Sewing group has donated 20 masks to a Saint Luke’s office doctor and are working jointly with two other groups to make 60 masks for KVC Health Systems.
Kansas City fiber artists in our community now have a coordinated effort and a website set up for folks who want to make masks. Go to https://sandlotgoods.com.
Want to Make Face Masks But Don’t Know Where to Start? In addition to the efforts underway by Kansas City fiber artists, below is more information about making face masks:
Olathe Medical Center and Saint Luke's Hospital are in desperate need of mask makers. Each hospital has SPECIFIC requirements, but the masks are easy to make.
1) Olathe Medical Center will accept masks made to their specifications at the front entry M-F from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Directions are on this PDF.
2) Saint Luke's Hospital will drop off all the supplies needed to make Covid-19 masks and then pick them up when you finish. Sign up on the SLHS website https://www.saintlukeskc.org/covidsupport#support. The specifications and directions for the masks are on this PDF.
• April 1 - Village Church Tuesday-Thursday Habitat for Humanity Team Activities Suspended - Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City has closed all construction sites to volunteers until further notice which includes our dedicated Tuesday-Thursday Crew with Village Church. Does this mean that Habitat will stop building safe, affordable housing during this time? No, Habitat will continue their construction projects using regular employees and construction staff only. As Pat Turner, president of Habitat for Humanity, shared, “during this challenging time, we must remember that we’re all in this together. We’re all home together and in a time like this, home makes all the difference.”
• March 31 - The Village Church Food Pantry Distributes Food to Low Income Senior High Rises and Pantry Partners - Over the past several weeks the Village Church Food Pantry has had to respond to a food delivery landscape that has been changing on a daily basis. As a result, the pantry has been continually modifying distribution processes to try to keep food flowing to the community.
During the week of March 25, the pantry delivered 108 over-sized bags of nonperishable food to three low-income senior high-rise apartments that we regularly serve. Residents in these building received 2,376 pounds of food. The pantry also delivered two pallets or 1,172 pounds of nonperishable food to our pantry partner Shawnee Community Services. The pantry also delivered 511 pounds of canned food to another partner, the Renewed Hope Pantry in Overland Park. In addition, we delivered 775 pounds of food to be repackaged to Village on Antioch to be delivered to low income students in the Olathe School district. During the week of March 16, 1,051 pounds were delivered to Covenant Church in Kansas City, Missouri.
The pantry will continue to distribute food to these and other locations around the area while protecting the health of pantry staff, clients and volunteers and maintaining safe social distancing.
• March 23 - The Village Church on Mission Preschool will be closed indefinitely following the decision of our local school districts and recommendations from local leaders. The Village Church on Antioch Preschool is closed until Monday, April 27. Preschool staff will reevaluate as we near April 27 to decide whether to reopen for the remaining three weeks of school.
• March 21- The Village Food Pantry and Clothes Closet are closed until further notice. We recommend you call Harvesters Food Bank at 1-877-353-6639 or check out their website at https://www.harvesters.org/Get-Help/Service-Locator for available food distribution sites.
• March 19 - Summer (Camps, VBS and KDO) Registrations postponed at Village on Mission
We are still looking forward to seeing you this summer! We have awesome plans and opportunities for your kids and we can’t wait to hang out with them!
But in this time of uncertainty, we feel it’s necessary to postpone sign-ups.
New summer registration schedule:
8 a.m. Monday, May 4, for church members, current preschool, Kids Day Out and daycare families
8 a.m. Friday, May 8, for the community
CLICK HERE for more information.
• March 17 - The Village Church Food Pantry is closed until further notice. On Tuesday, March 24, the Shawnee Mission School District is starting a “pick up and go” breakfast and lunch program for children ages 1-18 at four school sites. Students must be present to receive breakfast and lunch. CLICK HERE for details.
• March 15 - The Village Church Child & Family Development Center is closed until further notice.
• March 13 - Village Presbyterian Church has suspended on-site worship services at Village on Mission and Village on Antioch and all ministry activities and events effective immediately until further notice.
• We invite you to watch the March 22 worship service by CLICKING HERE. We invite you to join us for the next live stream of worship at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday at www.villagepres.org/online.
For an explanation of COVID-19 Virus, CLICK HERE
• Gloves: Includes nitrile, latex, rubber
• Masks: Includes N-95 and surgical
• PAPR (powered air-purifying respirators)
• Goggles
• Face shields
• Head covers
• Gowns
• Hand sanitizer
• Disinfectant wipes
The group has organized drop off sites or if you are unable to get out, you can arrange for them to pick up your donations and get them to local hospitals. If you have any questions, email kcppedrive@gmail.com.
• April 3 - Village Church Mission Sewing Ramps Up Production of Cloth Face Masks - Village Church Tuesday Mission Sewing group has prepared 50 face masks for KU Medical Center clinic staff. The Thursday Mission Sewing group has donated 20 masks to a Saint Luke’s office doctor and are working jointly with two other groups to make 60 masks for KVC Health Systems.
Kansas City fiber artists in our community now have a coordinated effort and a website set up for folks who want to make masks. Go to https://sandlotgoods.com.
Want to Make Face Masks But Don’t Know Where to Start? In addition to the efforts underway by Kansas City fiber artists, below is more information about making face masks:
Olathe Medical Center and Saint Luke's Hospital are in desperate need of mask makers. Each hospital has SPECIFIC requirements, but the masks are easy to make.
1) Olathe Medical Center will accept masks made to their specifications at the front entry M-F from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Directions are on this PDF.
2) Saint Luke's Hospital will drop off all the supplies needed to make Covid-19 masks and then pick them up when you finish. Sign up on the SLHS website https://www.saintlukeskc.org/covidsupport#support. The specifications and directions for the masks are on this PDF.
• April 1 - Village Church Tuesday-Thursday Habitat for Humanity Team Activities Suspended - Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City has closed all construction sites to volunteers until further notice which includes our dedicated Tuesday-Thursday Crew with Village Church. Does this mean that Habitat will stop building safe, affordable housing during this time? No, Habitat will continue their construction projects using regular employees and construction staff only. As Pat Turner, president of Habitat for Humanity, shared, “during this challenging time, we must remember that we’re all in this together. We’re all home together and in a time like this, home makes all the difference.”
• March 31 - The Village Church Food Pantry Distributes Food to Low Income Senior High Rises and Pantry Partners - Over the past several weeks the Village Church Food Pantry has had to respond to a food delivery landscape that has been changing on a daily basis. As a result, the pantry has been continually modifying distribution processes to try to keep food flowing to the community.
During the week of March 25, the pantry delivered 108 over-sized bags of nonperishable food to three low-income senior high-rise apartments that we regularly serve. Residents in these building received 2,376 pounds of food. The pantry also delivered two pallets or 1,172 pounds of nonperishable food to our pantry partner Shawnee Community Services. The pantry also delivered 511 pounds of canned food to another partner, the Renewed Hope Pantry in Overland Park. In addition, we delivered 775 pounds of food to be repackaged to Village on Antioch to be delivered to low income students in the Olathe School district. During the week of March 16, 1,051 pounds were delivered to Covenant Church in Kansas City, Missouri.
The pantry will continue to distribute food to these and other locations around the area while protecting the health of pantry staff, clients and volunteers and maintaining safe social distancing.
• March 23 - The Village Church on Mission Preschool will be closed indefinitely following the decision of our local school districts and recommendations from local leaders. The Village Church on Antioch Preschool is closed until Monday, April 27. Preschool staff will reevaluate as we near April 27 to decide whether to reopen for the remaining three weeks of school.
• March 21- The Village Food Pantry and Clothes Closet are closed until further notice. We recommend you call Harvesters Food Bank at 1-877-353-6639 or check out their website at https://www.harvesters.org/Get-Help/Service-Locator for available food distribution sites.
• March 19 - Summer (Camps, VBS and KDO) Registrations postponed at Village on Mission
We are still looking forward to seeing you this summer! We have awesome plans and opportunities for your kids and we can’t wait to hang out with them!
But in this time of uncertainty, we feel it’s necessary to postpone sign-ups.
New summer registration schedule:
8 a.m. Monday, May 4, for church members, current preschool, Kids Day Out and daycare families
8 a.m. Friday, May 8, for the community
CLICK HERE for more information.
• March 17 - The Village Church Food Pantry is closed until further notice. On Tuesday, March 24, the Shawnee Mission School District is starting a “pick up and go” breakfast and lunch program for children ages 1-18 at four school sites. Students must be present to receive breakfast and lunch. CLICK HERE for details.
• March 15 - The Village Church Child & Family Development Center is closed until further notice.
• March 13 - Village Presbyterian Church has suspended on-site worship services at Village on Mission and Village on Antioch and all ministry activities and events effective immediately until further notice.
• We invite you to watch the March 22 worship service by CLICKING HERE. We invite you to join us for the next live stream of worship at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday at www.villagepres.org/online.
For an explanation of COVID-19 Virus, CLICK HERE
CURRENT RESPONSE
The response to the current situation involves both personal and collective decisions, each of which potentially impact the other.
Prevent the Spread of the Virus
All of us should recognize that prevention remains the number one strategy for keeping ourselves and our community healthy.
Minimize your presence in public areas to essential encounters
Into your elbow if tissue is unavailable
After using the bathroom
After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
Before, during and after preparing foods
Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if you cannot wash your hands
CLICK HERE for a handwashing video
Prevent the Spread of the Virus
All of us should recognize that prevention remains the number one strategy for keeping ourselves and our community healthy.
- When you are sick, particularly with a fever, reduce your personal contact with others
Minimize your presence in public areas to essential encounters
- Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing
Into your elbow if tissue is unavailable
- Wash your hands frequently and always
After using the bathroom
After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
Before, during and after preparing foods
Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if you cannot wash your hands
CLICK HERE for a handwashing video
VILLAGE RESPONSE
Caring for Self and Others
TELECARE - Village Church is an extraordinary community in extraordinary times. Pastoral Care & Counseling has a goal of reaching each of Village Church’s 3,860 households by phone in the next few weeks. Would you be willing to assist us in this effort by making some phone calls? We will provide a sample script and a simple mechanism for reporting back to us any needs that you uncover.
Please let Linda Alley know if you are able to help at linda.alley@villagepres.org.
SELF CARE - In these uncertain days, many of us are experiencing heightened uncertainty, fear and stress amidst the changing landscape of the Covid-19 pandemic. In times like this, it can be easy to neglect our basic self-care, to forget how connected we are, or to feel distant from God and each other. And yet now is exactly the time we need to step up our wellness practices, in physical, spiritual, emotional and mental ways.
One good resource for tending to our spiritual self-care in these times is Caring for Self and Others in Times of Trouble: Some Spiritual Tools and Tips, by Alexander Levering Kearns, director of the Center for Spirituality, Dialogue, and Service at Northeastern University.
Perhaps you have additional ideas and practices of your own. Be gentle with yourself and others in these days. Above all, remember that God loves you and you are not alone.
Please let Linda Alley know if you are able to help at linda.alley@villagepres.org.
SELF CARE - In these uncertain days, many of us are experiencing heightened uncertainty, fear and stress amidst the changing landscape of the Covid-19 pandemic. In times like this, it can be easy to neglect our basic self-care, to forget how connected we are, or to feel distant from God and each other. And yet now is exactly the time we need to step up our wellness practices, in physical, spiritual, emotional and mental ways.
One good resource for tending to our spiritual self-care in these times is Caring for Self and Others in Times of Trouble: Some Spiritual Tools and Tips, by Alexander Levering Kearns, director of the Center for Spirituality, Dialogue, and Service at Northeastern University.
Perhaps you have additional ideas and practices of your own. Be gentle with yourself and others in these days. Above all, remember that God loves you and you are not alone.
Our COVID-19 task force is continuously monitoring this quickly changing situation and constantly discussing how we, as Village Church, need to adapt to those changes.
ENHANCED CLEANING - Since early March, George Darrington and his custodial staff have been doing enhanced cleaning efforts at all our campuses. Those efforts include:
WORSHIP - Worship with us online 9:30 a.m. this Sunday at www.villagepres.org/online. There you will also find our sermon videos and links to our sermon podcasts.
OTHER VILLAGE SERVICES - Food Pantry, Village Church Child & Family Development Center, Village on Antioch Preschool and Village on Mission Preschool and Child Care
The Village Food Pantry and Child & Family Development Center are closed. The Village Church on Mission Preschool will be closed indefinitely following the decision of our local school districts and recommendations from local leaders.
ENHANCED CLEANING - Since early March, George Darrington and his custodial staff have been doing enhanced cleaning efforts at all our campuses. Those efforts include:
- Using disinfecting cleaners on handrails, doorknobs, light switches, tables and other surfaces
- Locating bottles of hand sanitizer throughout the buildings
WORSHIP - Worship with us online 9:30 a.m. this Sunday at www.villagepres.org/online. There you will also find our sermon videos and links to our sermon podcasts.
OTHER VILLAGE SERVICES - Food Pantry, Village Church Child & Family Development Center, Village on Antioch Preschool and Village on Mission Preschool and Child Care
The Village Food Pantry and Child & Family Development Center are closed. The Village Church on Mission Preschool will be closed indefinitely following the decision of our local school districts and recommendations from local leaders.
STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR CHURCH
Daily Video Devotionals - Speaking of God
During these extraordinary days, your Village Church pastors are providing for you a daily video devotional. In this series, "Speaking of God," we'll have a chance to speak of God with one another together. You will find these video devotionals posted Monday through Saturday on our Village Church website, Facebook page @VillagePres and Village YouTube Channel.
Village Church Kids
In light of all that’s going on…and our need for “social distancing”…we are hoping to connect virtually during this difficult season! We know this is all so hard and we are continuing to pray for you. Also, we just miss hanging out. So will you join us…via technological gadgets???!!!
Join us on Instagram @villagepreskids or Facebook @villagechurchkids
Join us on Instagram @villagepreskids or Facebook @villagechurchkids
Young Adult Ministry
Young Adult Ministry online connection opportunities are all online at VillagePresYA.org/online.
RESOURCES
COVID-19 Resources for Job Seekers - If you have been laid off or lost your job due to COVID-19, there are employers in our community who are hiring immediately. Workforce Partnership has a number of resources and positions listed on their website at http://www.workforcepartnership.com/covid-resources-for-job-seekers-and-businesses/. You can also check out Catholic Charities Employment Resources at https://catholiccharitiesks.org/employment-resources/ .
CDC - Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Kansas Dept. of Health & Environment COVID-19 Resource Center
Missouri Dept. of Health & Senior Services COVID-19 Outbreak
KCMO Health Dept. Coronavirus Updates
Stuck At Home Resources
Corona Virus – An Explanation for Kids
Click here to worship online.
CDC - Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Kansas Dept. of Health & Environment COVID-19 Resource Center
Missouri Dept. of Health & Senior Services COVID-19 Outbreak
KCMO Health Dept. Coronavirus Updates
Stuck At Home Resources
Corona Virus – An Explanation for Kids
Click here to worship online.
