Memorial Services

The promise of our faith is that nothing—not life and not death—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Village Church wants to remind you of this promise and to be a comfort and presence when death comes. Please call the church immediately when a death occurs. The church’s main number is answered 24 hours a day: 913-262-4200.

Pastors will help you plan a memorial service or funeral for your loved one. Services can be held in the Chapel (holds 80) or in the Sanctuary (holds 900). Village Church offers a reception to follow any service. A group of volunteers, the Memorial Guild, will serve as ushers and reception hosts the day of the service. Members may also choose to have their loved ones cremains buried in the church’s Memorial Garden or Columbarium.

Take time to read through our helpful guide, The Last Acts of Love, to answer further questions, and please know that we are with you in your grief. View the Personal Records Planner here. All pastors are available.

Memorial garden

The Memorial Garden offers a final resting place outdoors. Bronze markers with name, birth and death years may be ordered through Bob Sperry at 913-671-2325.

The opportunity to select a site is open to current members of Village Church, their children, and their parents. Site selection is made at the time of need and not earlier. Burial is for ashes only, which may be buried with or without a marker. Arrangements can be made with a pastor to have a graveside service at the time of burial, or the staff can perform the service for you if you are unable to attend. Family members can be placed together and a new marker can be ordered with both names engraved.

The Memorial Garden is lovingly maintained by a team of faithful volunteers, our Village Church facilities staff and the lawn care service Earth Expressions.

Columbarium

The Columbarium is a room furnished with niches into which small urns or appropriate containers are placed. Families may reserve and select niches in advance, or at time of death. To do so, contact Bob Sperry at 913-671-2325.

There are two niche sizes available: 1) 8 inches by 12 inches by 12 inches, which accommodates the ashes of one or two persons; and 2) 12 inches by 12 inches by 12 inches, which accommodates the ashes for as many as four persons. Urns or containers are furnished by the family, not the church.

Support for family members

Request prayer

Please send your prayer requests to pastoral-care@villagepres.org or 913-671-2327 so that your church family can include you in our prayers.

Faith and Grief Support Gatherings

Each person’s grief experience is their own and yet you can’t do it alone, especially right now. We are here holding a space where you can find comfort and connection. Join us for an hour-long, drop-in grief support gathering. The support gatherings are open to all who are grieving. Typically, our in-person gatherings offer fellowship over a meal while listening to a brief reflection on the intersection of faith and grief. Participants are grouped into tables of four to six people where a facilitator guides a discussion on topics related to grieving while sharing experiences and support. See details on upcoming Faith and Grief gatherings here. For more information about the organization, please visit their website.

One-on-one confidential care through Stephen Ministry

The Village Church Stephen Ministry program pairs people who are experiencing difficulties in their lives with specially trained members of the church who are equipped to listen, care for, and provide emotional and spiritual support. This one-to-one Christian care is confidential and available to church members and the wider community at no cost. Learn more about the Stephen Ministry program here.

Widower’s Support Group

A support group for men whose spouses have died, or whose spouses are living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. This group meets at Mission Campus every Thursday morning at 9 a.m. Participants must register in advance by contacting Linda Alley. Breakfast is available for those who register by 4:30 p.m. on Mondays. Twice a month the group is facilitated by one of the Pastoral Care pastors; other meetings are facilitated by members of the group. Contact Linda Alley.

Growing Through Grief

This is a five-week series offered several times a year for those grieving the loss of a loved one. This group explores what grief looks like, shares stories and finds hope for moving forward. This group is facilitated by our pastoral staff, Rev. Melanie Hardison and Rev. Sally Wright. Contact Linda Alley.

Professional counseling

There are some challenges in life that are just too big. When those moments come, we need extra help. In addition to our pastors who are available for limited, brief counseling, Village also offers a counseling ministry with a professional, licensed psychologist, Dr. Dave Ehman. Learn more about our counseling program here.

Remembrance Service

Village Church holds a special annual Remembrance Service to honor all loved ones lost in our church family within the past year. Names are read aloud and listed in the service program.

Service of Remembrance
3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11 in the Mission Campus Sanctuary. Share gratitude for loved ones who have died at this service. If your loved one passed away during 2022 and Village Church was informed, his or her name will be included in the program. If you want to include any other name(s), contact Linda Alley at 913-671-2327 or linda.alley@villagepres.org by noon Friday, Nov. 25.

Linda Alley
Pastoral Care & Counseling Coordinator
email
913-671-2327