The Messenger
Lead With The Light
Message from the Co-Moderators
A blessed April to you all! Isn’t it a strangely interesting month? It can feel like winter, spring, or summer on any given day around Kansas City. It can rain buckets or be gloriously sunny, green, and bloom-filled. Yard work abounds once again, end-of-the-year pressures and events proliferate for students and parents, and we encounter more neighbors and strangers as we venture out more than in previous months.
April brings so much more than May flowers and often forces us to embrace changes, whether or not we are ready. Throughout the ups and downs and ins and outs, may we consistently:
- look for God’s light
- work towards God’s light
- work with God’s light
- reveal God’s light
- share God’s light
- celebrate God’s light
- let God’s light guide us in every way.
April’s verse about light is Psalm 27:1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Thoughts collected from PW Board members:
- Fear not; I am with you.
- I have no fear as God is my light. Faith – not fear!
- God will give me strength to not be fearful.
- Comforting.
- With God, we need not be afraid.
- We have no fear in the Lord when we look to the light.
- Ultimately true, but so hard to remember when scary things happen!
- God holds us in His hands.
- When I’m afraid, I can trust that I am not alone.
- The light of the Lord gives me strength.
- Need to hold onto the light and knowledge, otherwise fear starts to take a grip on me.
- Is light the same thing as salvation?
- Do NOT be afraid.
- This verse has always been such a comfort to me.
- We always have fear of some kind; let the Lord shine on me to take away the fear.
Fear is so powerful. Of what are you afraid? How easy or difficult is it for you to turn those fears over to God and trust that you do NOT need to be afraid? In what instances have you most notably experienced the Lord as your stronghold? In what ways – small and large – does He save us? So much to consider this month!
Love and Light (and maybe umbrellas!) in any circumstance,
Laura Langdon and Suzanne Willey, Co-Moderators
It's Not Too Late to RSVP ...
... for the Celebration of Faithful Women event on April 9. If your plans have changed and you can now attend the event, please register online. Knowing in advance how many will be participating is helpful to the planning committee. Thank you!
Keep Walking in the Light!
Sometimes our world seems very dark.
Jesus says, “Keep walking in the light!”
War in the Ukraine tears us apart.
Jesus says, “Keep walking in the light!”
Sometimes our personal cross seems more than we can bear.
Jesus says, “Keep walking in the light!”
Day will always follow night.
Clouds disperse; the sun shines bright!
Winter will be followed by Spring,
As we now hear the robins sing.
COVID is finally receding.
Hugs can now be our greeting.
Masks are optional, finally it’s true.
We can gather together and sing Hallelu!
Each Child of God has gifts to bear.
The need is great for us to share.
We can all make a difference when we focus our sight
on Jesus, the true source of our light.
He’s there by our side all day and all night,
Holding our hand as we walk in His light.
No matter how we feel, we’re never out of sight
of the One who says, “Keep walking in the light!”
- Marilyn Pattison
Spring is Coming, and so is the Village Church Women's Retreat!
Registration has opened for the Village Church Women’s Retreat, scheduled for April 22-23 at Heartland Presbyterian Center. This retreat is for ALL women of Village Church and their friends. Retreat events include: Friday evening dinner, plenary and time for socializing; Saturday morning breakfast, check-in for commuters, plenary; Saturday afternoon lunch and workshops. We will close our time together with closing worship and communion. Our Keynote speaker is the Rev. Dr. Suzan Hawkinson from Deerfield Presbyterian Church in Chicago, and music will be led by our own Elisa Bickers. For complete details go to www.villagepres.org/pw.
To Register:
- Online at www.villagepres.org/pw (for a small additional charge)
- Mail (download the registration form at www.villagepres.org/pw and mail the completed form along with your check to: Kim Straton, 10319 Delmar Lane, Overland Park, KS 66207)
- In person at both campus’s on Sunday mornings after worship and at the Gathering.
Costs:
- Overnight – $95 (includes all meals, program & workshops)
- Commuter - $55 (includes program, meals & workshops)
Scholarships are available – contact Rev. Sally Wright at sally.wright@villagepres.org.
Thursday Sewing: Dream Bags for Foster Children
The Village Sewists recently constructed "dream bags" for Kansas foster children.
Thursday Sewing will meet from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon on April 7, 14, 21 and 28.
Amazing Graces Book Club Meeting April 6
We’re happy to have you join us! We meet year round, usually on the first Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome (if fully vaccinated). We meet in homes, so please contact Sara Wallace, swallace01@gmail.com to be added to the monthly email distribution.
Page Turners to Meet April 26
The story spreads, and three families who have lost a young girl set out to lay claim to this one. Like the river, the story ebbs and flows in, around and through the lives of those people connected by land and folklore. One reviewer writes, "the author serves you bread and cheese, but it is very good bread and cheese -- a far more satisfying meal than fancier stuff."
Donna Hobbs will lead the discussion. As usual, our meeting is on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. in Room 127. Visitors are encouraged and always welcome. Having read the book is not a prerequisite to enjoying the discussion. For further information. please contact Barbara Lee (lhlee@att.net) or Judy Lockett (judylocket5@gmail.com).
Women with Spirit to Gather on April 28
For more information or to RSVP, contact Rachel Ciordas at 816-309-0552.
All are Welcome to PW Circles!
Come join us in one of our eight Circles as we gather for fellowship and discussion of our current Bible Study, "What My Grandmothers Taught Me." We will share stories of our grandmothers, view a video, and engage in discussion of our current month’s lesson.
PW Circle of Village on Antioch will meet at 6:00 p.m. Monday, April 11, in the church library. We’ll enjoy our “bring your own dinner." All are welcome!
Monday, April 25, “Ladies Who Dine” will meet for dinner and social time at 6:00 p.m. at Panera, 135th and Metcalf. Come get to know some new Village sisters!
Village on Mission Circles
Most PW Circles of Village on Mission meet on the second Tuesday of each month.
For more information regarding meeting times and places for the Circle meetings, please contact Sherri Robeson at 913-219-9925 or email for more information.
Presbyterian Disaster Relief Supports Ukraine Refugees
Dear Presbyterian Women,
Many of us are feeling helpless when it comes to taking action to help our sisters and brothers in Ukraine. Besides praying for their safety and for peace, we can offer financial assistance via the Presbyterian Disaster Relief — International Refugee Programs. Simply visit the Village Church website, Village Presbyterian Church | Home, and click on the button on the homepage to donate. Even small amounts can help.
As Rev. Tom always says, “Do the good that is yours to do.” If this is some good that you feel you can do, please consider taking a few moments to click on the easy-to-use link. We know how supportive and helpful Presbyterian Women can be; here’s another chance for us to lead with the light and shine on others.
Blessings of peace to each of you,
Laura Langdon and Suzanne Willey, Co-Moderators
Presbyterian Women
Email: laura.hobbs@villagepres.org
Website: https://www.villagepres.org/pw.html
Location: 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS, USA
Phone: (913) 262-4200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PWofVC