The Places Hope Takes You
Beginning Sunday, Oct. 22, through Sunday, Nov. 12, Rev. Tom Are, Jr. will preach a series of sermons on "The Places Hope Takes You." When we live as a people of God's hope, we are led to new places and new ways of being faithful followers of Jesus Christ. Here are 12 opportunities for you to journey to a place of hope during the four weeks of the preaching series.
We encourage you to choose from the following locations as together we experience "the places hope takes you."
We encourage you to choose from the following locations as together we experience "the places hope takes you."
1. Finding Hope through “Be the Church Service Day” at Village on Mission
6:30-7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22 Friendship Hall, Village on Mission, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village Village Church on Mission will be sponsoring the second annual “Be the Church Service Day” along with other Presbyterian Churches in the Kansas City area. Participants will be actively engaged in several hands-on activities including packing hygiene kits to be sent to other parts of the world, assembling snack lunches for distribution through the City Union Mission, and assembling medical and education resources for Village Church’s Dominican Republic Medical Partnership. Ages 3+ welcome. Dinner and child care is provided. Friendship Hall is fully accessible. Contact Deborah White, director of mission, at 913-671-2369 or deborah.white@villagepres.org for more information. |
2. Finding Hope through Exploring the Village Church Food Pantry and Clothes Closet
9:30-10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 27 Village Church Food Pantry, Tillotson Building, 9960 Mission Road, Overland Park The Village Church Food Pantry provides food, personal care items, clothing, household items, and more to families and individuals in need from throughout the Kansas City area. Discover what happens to your donations of food and clothing and how those gifts are shared with others in an environment of kindness and hope. All ages welcome. Susan Webb, Food Pantry director, will be your host and guide, starting with a description of what, why and how hope is offered. The building is accessible to all, but floors are concrete so please wear comfortable shoes. |
3. Finding Hope through Walking the Labyrinth
1-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 Meneilly Center for Mission 9960 Mission Road, Overland Park Labyrinths are sites for discernment and contemplation. They are composed of a walking path that takes a series of turns guiding the person to a place at the center. Labyrinths predate Christianity and have been found in ancient sites in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Each person walks the labyrinth alone and in silence in a spirit of listening to God. In May, a group of Village Church members constructed our very own labyrinth at the Rev. Robert and Shirley Meneilly Center for Mission. You walk the labyrinth at your own pace listening for God’s voice. Come and go at any time in this two-hour period. The labyrinth is a path so walking is required. Some of the ground is uneven. Come and go at any time in this two-hour period. Dr. Rodger Nishioka, senior associate, will be present to orient you to the labyrinth and will be glad to pray with any persons. |
4. Finding Hope through Worshiping at Lakeview Village
1-2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1 Lakeview Village Retirement Community, 9100 Park St., Lenexa 66215 Join Village Church Pastors Rev. Tom Are, Jr., Rev. Len Carrell, and Rev. Jenny McDevitt and Village Church choir members in a worship service at the Lakeview Village Retirement Community in Lenexa. This brief service offers an opportunity to meet with Village Church members who reside in the Lakeview Village community. All are welcome. The building is accessible to all. Rev. Tom Are, senior pastor, Rev. Len Carrell, associate pastor for pastoral care, and Rev. Jenny McDevitt, associate pastor for pastoral care, are leading worship. |
5. Finding Hope through Singing and Cider Around a Campfire at Village on Antioch
7-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 Village on Antioch, 14895 Antioch Road, Overland Park Hope comes in many forms and one place of hope can be around a campfire singing hymns and drinking hot cider. You are invited to join with others at the Village on Antioch site for singing and community together around a fire pit. There will be a “s’mores bar” and plenty of cider. A fun fact: Nov. 3 is “World Community Day” and the global theme this year is “Kindling New Fires for Peace.” Come join with the whole world to sing praises to God in hope of peace. Dress is casual and persons will need to walk on grass to gather around the fire pit. There will be hay bales for seating. You are invited to bring your folding chairs as well. Led by Rev. Hallie Hottle, Village on Antioch bridge site pastor and associate pastor for young adult ministry, and Ryan Main, Village on Antioch director of music. |
6. Finding Hope through Experiencing God’s Creation
10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Nov. 4 Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, 8909 W 179th St., Overland Park Hope abounds in many places. One of the most profound places to find hope is in God’s glorious creation. We will gather at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens for a walk through the beautiful woods, flowers and sculptures. God’s creation abounds in hope as we will marvel together at God’s creativity and faithfulness. Persons may choose to share a meal together at the Garden Café there in the Botanical Gardens at their own expense. All ages are welcome. Wear comfortable shoes for walking. Some of the pathways are uneven. Cost is $3 for youth and adults and $1 for children payable at the entrance to the Arboretum. Led by Cindy Wilcox, director of connectional ministries and staff for the Single Adult Ministry Leadership Team. Led by Cindy Wilcox, director of Connectional Ministry, and staff for the Village Church Single Adult Ministry Leadership Team |
7. Finding Hope through Gathering Food for the Hungry
9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7 Gleaning location to be announced Nov. 6 The practice of gleaning is an ancient one. Following the harvest, farmers often have perfectly good produce left over that they cannot sell and do not want to throw away. After the Harvest is an organization that picks what is left in the fields and delivers it to food banks, pantries, shelters and community kitchens in the Kansas City area. Persons may be picking apples, pears, beans, kale, berries, squash, corn and more. After the Harvest depends on volunteers to provide the bulk of the labor needed to collect the produce. Site to be determined by the After the Harvest group. You will be notified by Monday, Nov. 6, about where you will be gleaning. All ages welcome. You will be walking through fields collecting produce and carrying it to crates and collection. These sites are not accessible and the work is demanding. More information will be sent to you about what to wear, etc. Led by Rev. Zach Walker, associate pastor for youth ministry, along with After the Harvest supervisors |