The Messenger
New Eyes, Open Hearts, Able Hands: Grow - Connect - Serve
Message from the Co-Moderators
In this season, I feel challenged when I think about Lent as a time to prepare our hearts to welcome the resurrected Christ. My heart is not worthy to welcome Christ! More often than not, I allow my own agenda and worries to distract me from the presence and guidance of my Savior. Thankfully, God stays with me even when I have fallen asleep to my best intentions. His grace and sacrifice cleanse my heart so that I can be enveloped by His love.
It is comforting to know that God is with us in each moment. During Lent, I am working on being more conscious of staying in the present moment and in noticing God’s presence in these moments. Some ways of intentionally being in the present moment include keeping a gratitude journal, praying with a prayer journal, writing down a dialogue between ourselves and Jesus. Reading the Bible, devotionals and other Christian books, and our church’s Lenten meditations, listening to Christian music will be helpful ways to keep my mind on Jesus. I am putting visual reminders for myself to notice God is these moments, in the kitchen, my desk, by my bed, on my mirror. When I see those reminders, I will seek to communicate with God in whispers of thanksgiving, songs of praise, silent prayers for guidance, intentional prayers for others.
Through PW, we have many opportunities to connect with each other and with God. Our Circle lesson on Sabbath and Self-Care, our service project March 8 where we will work on mats for the homeless, our Celebration of Faithful Women on April 1, learning about Prayer Pods on April 24, our book groups, Mission sewing, stage group gatherings. God is present when we are gathered together and our companion when we are alone.
May you notice God’s presence in your life this Lenten season.
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.” Colossians 3:23
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalms 46:10
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3
Cindy Henderson and Susan Satterlee
Co-Moderators
Advent Celebration Donations Benefit Veronica's Voice
I am extremely happy to report that PW received $2,902 in donations to Veronica's Voice, the not-for-profit organization spotlighted at this year's Advent Celebration. In the year 2000, Kristy Childs, the Founder and President of Veronica's Voice, created this extremely important organization to empower women to exit, prevent entry into, and end all demand for prostitution-sex trafficking in the United States through survivor leadership. A simple ceremony took place in the Mission sanctuary after the 9:00 a.m. worship service on February 12, at which time a check was presented to Kristy Childs. A reception was held afterward at The Village Cup.
Patty Slentz-Howard
Moderator-Elect
Bed of Bags Service Project
Wednesday, March 8 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. at Village on Mission
Join us for an opportunity to connect with one another and serve our community as we support the Bed of Bags mission created by Sarah Stolberg to repurpose plastic grocery bags into mats for homeless individuals in the metro area.
We will make plastic yarn - aka plarn - from grocery bags, and Sarah will teach a small group to crochet the plarn into mats. To participate in the small group, sign up here or email Stephanie Morrison at stephaniemorrison132@gmail.com.
Also, we welcome donations of plastic grocery bags until Friday, March 3. Feel free to leave them in the office at Village on Antioch or in one of the designated bins at the entrances to Village on Mission.
Questions about the project? Please contact Stephanie Morrison at 913-593-8343 or Jan Zimmerman at 913-522-4643.
Register Now! Celebration of Faithful Women to be held April 1
Saturday, April 1, 10:30 a.m., Friendship Hall at Village on Mission
Join us as we honor Charlotte Davis, Desiree Reinke and Carol Solenberger as honorary life members. The guest speaker is Rev. Claudia Aguilar, and her presentation is titled, “For Such a Time as This.” The cost, including brunch, is $20. Child care is available. Register here.
Meet Charlotte Davis
Charlotte Davis has served in a variety of different ministries at Village Church – as a ruling Elder and Deacon, on the Children and Family Ministry committee, the Meneilly Visit Scholar committee, the Adult Faith Formation committee, the Worship and Music committee and the Building Beloved Community committee. Other groups that have been an important part of her faith journey include the Discover Your Calling Task Force, Village Connect, and Faxon School PAL. “Each opportunity to serve at Village Church has been a privilege, working together with other women and men who seek to honor God and do our very best to build up this community of faith,” Charlotte said. “At all times we’ve been aware that we stand on the shoulders of giants who, from the beginning, have built so well.”
Charlotte was born in the Flint Hills of Kansas, and is proud to be a fifth generation steward of a piece of that tall grass prairie. “I’m grateful for a loving family – mom and dad and two sisters,” Charlotte said. I’m the second of three: Mary, who is older, continues our family’s ranching heritage; Helen is the youngest and has enjoyed a long career as an educator. I have adult nieces and nephews whose children stay in touch and keep me entertained.”
Charlotte earned her first degree in elementary education from Kansas State University; various other colleges and universities gave her additional opportunities to learn and grow. She moved to Kansas City to teach at Prairie Elementary School in the Shawnee Mission District; after spending an extended time in mostly primary classrooms, she left the district to write curriculum for a small educational publishing company. “Both classroom experience and the publishing world have given me an informal background for responding to calls from an eclectic group of writers,” Charlotte shared. “These are folks who often lack confidence and just need encouragement and support, as they occasionally reach out for help. I enjoy helping them find their own voices.”
You can get to know Charlotte better by asking her about her hobbies – reading, learning new information and skills, connecting with friends, entertaining guests for dinner, playing bridge, and breathing fresh air in the Flint Hills. And during the COVID isolation Charlotte rediscovered that she enjoys jigsaw puzzles. Congratulations, Charlotte!
Meet Desiree Reinke
Desiree Reinke’s years of faithful service to Village Church span more than 20 years, and include serving as a ruling Elder and currently as a Deacon at VOA, ushering, a Stephen Minister and participation on the Stephen Ministry Leadership Team, Chair of the Congregational Care Committee at VOA, the Adult Education Committee, Chair of the Pastoral Care Committee, the Children’s Ministry Committee, the Youth Committee and the Mission Committee. Desiree also worked with the VOA Pop Up Food Pantry during COVID, the planning team for the 2021 PW Advent Celebration, the 2022 planning team for FEAST, the Connect Bible Study Group, Christ Care Small Group, a Disciple Bible Study Facilitator, and the Growing Together Sunday School class. And she has volunteered as a tutor at Franklin Elementary and with the Front Porch Alliance.
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Desiree moved six times by the time she was five years old. Her father’s service in the Air Force took them to Berlin and Waldorf, Germany, and Fairfield, California. Following her parents divorce, Desiree, her sister, Deborah and their mother moved to Oklahoma City to be near extended family; they later moved to Moore, Oklahoma, where Desiree graduated from high school. It was in Moore that a friend from her church youth group introduced Desiree to David – “the love of my life, who was also my first official date at the age of 16,” she says. They were married several years later in Oklahoma City.
While Desiree’s degree is in Secondary Education, her career has spanned everything from accounting and legal discovery work for major oil corporations, marketing for a hazardous waste disposal company, Christian Education Director and Preschool Director for First Presbyterian Church of Midwest City, substitute teaching, and Director of the Indian Nations Presbytery Resource Center. She currently works for Blue Valley schools at the elementary level working with Intensive Resource students.
Desiree and David have a daughter, a son, and one granddaughter. “Our daughter, Rev. Essie Koenig-Reinke and son-in-law, Rev. Eric Koenig-Reinke are both pastors at two different Presbyterian USA churches in Baltimore, and they have blessed us with an amazing and much-loved granddaughter, Lucy, who is one. Our son, Jared, is finishing his master’s degree, working full-time, and enjoys singing in the once-a-month choir at VOM,” Desiree shared.
Get to know Desiree better by inquiring about her interests – reading, gardening, traveling, scrapbooking, taking pictures, genealogy, learning new things, and growing in faith and spiritual disciplines. Congratulations, Desiree!
Meet Carol Solenberger
Carol Solenberger’s involvement with Village Church spans decades with service to multiple generations. She currently is serving her second term as a Deacon, is on the Youth committee, and is a Helping Hands Volunteer. She has served on the Children and Family Ministries committee, taught Sunday School while her children were in elementary school, and was a VBS volunteer. Carol has devoted much time to serving Presbyterian Women – as a past Women With Spirit committee member, Celebration of Faithful Women Hospitality committee member, Advent Celebration Dinner committee member, Membership Coordinator and Co-Moderator. She also served as Circle 4 leader and treasurer.
Carol was born in Birmingham, Alabama – the oldest daughter of Kent and Jeanette Lanier, who now reside in Augusta, Kansas. She has a younger sister, Paige who lives in Lawrence, and six nephews. Her dad was in sales, so growing up, Carol’s family moved about every two years – living in Alabama, North Carolina, Indiana and Tennessee before finally moving to El Dorado, Kansas her freshman year of high school. “I remember no one could understand me because of my southern accent, which I lost long ago,” Carol said! After graduating from El Dorado High School, Carol attended Kansas State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She then earned a Masters in Higher Education Administration at UMKC, after which she took a position in the Student Life Office at UMKC.
Carol worked for 11 years at the Girl Scouts of NE/KS/NW MO – coordinating activities with the teen program. When her children were born, she left the workforce to stay home with them and was blessed with a variety of opportunities to get involved at Prairie Elementary, including Room Parent, Library Volunteer, Auction Chair, and PTA President. Currently, she is teaching the 5/s class at VOM Preschool.
Carol and her husband, Dan, met on a blind date set up by mutual friends, and Carol says, “after our first official date we were a couple – I’d found ‘the one’!” Carol and Dan have two children – Reagan, a sophomore at Shawnee Mission East, and Landon, a 7th grader at Indian Hills Middle School.
Carol’s interests include travel with family and learning the history and culture of new places, reading, spending time with friends, and connecting with people and helping connect people with others. In closing, Carol says, “I reflect back on my life – I have been so blessed – with great parents and a loving family, wonderful friends, meaningful opportunities and experiences and lots of trips, fun times and forever memories! I am so thankful!” Congratulations, Carol!
Introducing "Prayer Pods"
Have you been yearning for a small group of women that you could share prayer requests with? Would you like to walk alongside others through prayer as they face the joys and sorrows of life? Have you been needing some company on this journey? Would you love to be able to do that without committing to meeting times or hosting a gathering?
We are introducing “Prayer Pods,” a new Presbyterian Women ministry for all women whether you are a member of Village Church or not. We will have one introductory meeting at the home of Susan Satterlee on April 24th at 7:00 pm to meet those interested in participating, learn the ground rules and just have some fun fellowship! Attending this gathering is not a requirement of participating in Prayer Pods but is recommended.
How will this work? You will be placed in a texting group of approximately 4-5 women who will covenant to confidentially pray for one another. When you feel the need to be lifted up in prayer, you can share that need with your group, knowing that they will pray for you. And when someone else asks for prayer, you will be there for them, lifting their needs up to God.
These groups are not to be used to send memes, videos, funny stories or other content. Just prayer requests and support. There is no expectation that groups will meet in person. This commitment is really quite simple yet extraordinarily holy. Just pray!
If you are interested or have any questions, please email Susan Satterlee at sgsatterlee@sbcglobal.net.
PW Circles - All are Welcome!!
Please come and join us in one of our 8 Circles as we gather for fellowship and discussion of the Horizons Bible Study, Celebrating Sabbath, Accepting God’s Gift of Rest and Delight.
Most Village on Mission Circles meet the second Tuesday of the month at various times of day. The Village on Antioch Circle meets at 6:00 p.m. the second Monday of the month. All are invited to attend the Circle of your choice.
For questions and information regarding meeting times and locations for the Circle meetings, please contact Sherri Robeson, PW Circle Activities Coordinator (srobeson49@gmail.com) or 913-219-9925.
"Circle of the Month" - Circle 3
Circle 3 is a great circle for those who prefer a smaller group setting. Over the years we combined circles 5, 6 and 9 into the renamed #3! Some of our members have enjoyed circles for many years and others are newer to them. We all enjoy sharing our lives and caring for each other throughout the meeting. One of our favorite traditions is to follow the Fellowship of the Least Coin with singing "Blest Be the Tie That Binds".
Linda Gibson has provided us with many years of Bible study leadership. Circle 3 meets at 9:30am in Room 124 (VOM). Circle Leader contact: Janet Bates at 913-972-7645 or jbates@everestkc.net.
Thanks to Suzanne Willey for taking our picture (below) at the February meeting. Pictured are: Linda Breytspraak, Julie Riekhof, Janet Bates, Linda Gibson, Joyce Wann, Patti Fishel, Donna Wilson, Nancy Easton and Judy Lockett.
Women of Wisdom Welcomes you to Ya Ya's
Thursday, March 23, 12:00 p.m. at Ya Ya's
Women of Wisdom, (WOW), is one of Village PW's three stage groups. We are eagerly looking forward to the beginning of spring, by having lunch together at noon on Thursday, March 23. We'll meet at Ya Ya's Euro Bistro, 7021 West 135th in Corbin Park. Ya Ya's is easily reached; just head south on Metcalf to 137th, turn east at the light, and Ya Ya's is immediately on your right.
Ya Ya's offers sophisticated dining, with an eclectic menu inspired by a combination of American, French, Italian and Greek cuisine, with a staff "that will treat you like family." KC Magazine has listed Ya Ya's as one of Johnson County's best restaurants.
We look forward to you joining us for lovely, warm fellowship and delicious food. Every woman at Village Church is warmly invited, and we encourage you to bring a friend. Please RSVP by Tuesday, March 21, to Marvie Sneegas at sneegi@kc.rr.com or 913-209-9608. We would be delighted to have you join us and meet some new friends.
Women with Spirit Craft Night
Wednesday, March 29 from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. at Creative Culture
Join us for fellowship and choose your own craft kit, ranging from stencils, pottery painting, wood crafts, wreaths and more -- craft costs range from approximately $20 - $45 each. Yummy over-the-top milkshakes are available to purchase at Creative Culture. Please BYOB.
RSVP to Rachel Ciordas at rachelciordas@gmail.com by Wednesday 22 so we can give an accurate headcount to Creative Culture. For more information, please see their website at https://www.creativeculturebelize.com.
Amazing Graces Book Club Selections for 2023
The Amazing Graces Book Club has selected the following books to read and discuss over the next several months:
- March 1 - Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver
- April 5 - Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post, by Allison Pataki
- May 3 - Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt
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 to be added to the monthly email distribution.
Page Turners to Discuss "The Lincoln Highway"
Page Turners Book Group will meet Tuesday, March 28, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 127 at Village on Mission for fellowship and a lively exchange of ideas.
The book under discussion will be The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. For those familiar with Towles’ earlier novels, this one also takes us to new territory.
It is June, 1954. Four boys — three 18-year-olds who met on a juvenile work farm, plus a brainy 8-year-old, set out from Nebraska in an old Studebaker in pursuit of a better future. The intricately-plotted road novel/coming of age story takes place over just ten days and is a delightful joy ride.
New members and visitors are always welcome to join the discussion, having read the book or not. If you like to read there is a place for you in Page Turners.
For more information please contact Barbara Lee, lhlee@att.net, 217-891-3557, or Ann Raikula, ann.raikula@sbcglobal.net, 913-481-4730.
Presbyterian Women's 2024 Churchwide Gathering in St. Louis - August 2024
“Do Everything in Love” will be the theme of Presbyterian Women’s 2024 Churchwide Gathering. Save the date: August 8–11, 2024. Village Church women are planning to road trip to St. Louis, MO. for the event. Save these dates, share these dates and plan to join women from around the country!
The gathering's theme is based on 1 Cor. 16:13–14, with daily themes such as: What Does Love Have to Do With It?; Loving Our World; Loving Our Neighbors; Loving Ourselves; and Loving Out Loud.
Connect with Rev. Sally S. Wright at sally.wright@villagepres.org to show your interest in this once-every-three-years event!
Presbyterian Women
Email: laura.hobbs@villagepres.org
Website: villagepres.org/pw.html
Location: 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS, USA
Phone: 913-262-4200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PWofVC