The Messenger
New Eyes, Open Hearts, Able Hands: Grow—Connect—Serve
Message from the 2022-2023 Co-Moderators
New Eyes, Open Hearts, Able Hands
Grow-Connect-Serve
Isaiah 55:12
We are excited for the coming year and pray that each of you will feel the welcome that we are extending and the hope in our hearts for a year full of growth, connection and service.
As we began thinking about a theme for the coming year, there were several things that were important to us. First, our hope and prayer that women feel seen, be nourished, be recognized and appreciated, feel connected and know that they are loved by God and by others in the church. In addition, our hope to see with new eyes and deeper vision, growing in our faith and in our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. And, to serve alongside our sisters, perhaps going outside our own neighborhoods so that we can actually see differently. New eyes, open hearts, able hands. Grow-Connect-Serve.
Presbyterian Women is an organization created to serve all of the women of the church and our community. We strive to offer opportunities that are meaningful, engaging and fun, and also recognize there may be needs and desires that are not being met. We are interested in your thoughts and ideas and would love to hear from you.
Isaiah 55:12 says, “You will go out with JOY and be led forth in PEACE; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” We WILL go out with joy and be led forth with peace. As we researched some context for Isaiah 55, we came across this commentary: “God is speaking to a discouraged people in captivity whose future was uncertain and whose life was hard. These verses unfold His path for moving His people from their thirst and longings to fulfillment, peace, and joy.” It’s described as “an invitation to receive the Glory of the Lord’s Restoration.” Ahhhhh! Doesn’t that sound like just what we need?? And maybe, just maybe, if we really do go out in JOY and allow God to lead us forth in His PEACE, we really will have new eyes, more open hearts and more able hands.
We are grateful,
Susan Satterlee and Cindy Henderson
Co-Moderators
PW Nominating Committee Report
The Nominating Committee has worked diligently to put together a group of new Board members for 2022-2023 who are committed to leading Presbyterian Women on their spiritual journey. We appreciate each of these women for sharing their time and talents and their willingness to serve.
2022-2023 New Board Members
Moderator Elect: Patty Slentz-Howard
Christian Action Coordinator: Elsa Aguilar
Circle Activities Coordinator: Sherri Robeson
Messenger Editor: Sarah Thomas
Spiritual Growth Co-Coordinator: Stephanie Morrison
Village on Antioch Representative: Karen A Reimer
We wish this year’s board all the best and look forward to the energy, enthusiasm and possibilities that come with this talented group of women!
A sincere thank you to our Nominating Committee: Ann DeFeo, Laura Edgington and Kenyon Vroomann. We truly enjoyed working with each of you!
Best wishes,
Carol Solenberger and Sandra Stephens
Past PW Nominating Chairs
Mark Your Calendar Now for These PW Events in 2022-2023
September 17: Horizons Bible Study Workshop
December 6: Advent Celebration
April 1: Celebration of Faithful Women
Join us from 9:00 a.m. - Noon on Saturday, September 17, in Friendship Hall - Mission Campus, as we learn from the Bible study author, Carol Bechtel, in person. The cost is $35 per person and includes a coffee bar, continental breakfast and a boxed lunch. The registration deadline is Wednesday, September 7. Contact laura.hobbs@villagepres.org with questions.
All are Welcome to PW Circles!
Our first PW Circle meetings for this new year will be coming up in September.
Please come and join us in one of our 8 Circles as we gather for fellowship and discussion of the new Horizons Bible Study, Celebrating Sabbath, Accepting God’s Gift of Rest and Delight.
Most Village on Mission Circles meet the 2nd Tuesday of the month at various times of day. The Village on Antioch Circle meets at 6:00 p.m. the 2nd 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.
For those who would like to order a copy of the Horizons Bible Study Workbook, it can be ordered directly from Presbyterian Women USA, and the cost is $10.00 plus shipping costs.
We are looking forward to another exciting new year with PW Circles.
Women's Ministry Kick Off Event Held August 28
By the time you receive this publication of The Messenger, we will have gathered on Sunday afternoon, August 28 at the Meneilly Center to kick off the 2022-23 year of Presbyterian Women. The purpose of this event is to assist all women of Village Church to "Grow-Connect- Serve." We passed out copies of the Presbyterian Women's Directory as part of the event. If you didn't attend and would like a copy, they will be available at the Information Desk near the south entrance of the building at Village on Mission and at the Information Desk at Village on Antioch. New this year is a QR code located on the back cover that will take you directly to the Presbyterian Women's homepage on the Village Church Website. This will make it easy to access the most up-to-date information for all the programs and service opportunities for all women.
This year, Spiritual Growth hopes to coordinate with other areas of our church to offer more, what we are calling, "Pop-up" opportunities for service. If you know of a mission project (inside or outside our church walls) that could use some extra hands, please contact Stephanie Morrison (stephaniemorrison132@gmail.com) or Jan Zimmerman (janpricezim@gmail.com).
Jan Zimmerman
Co-Coordinator, Spiritual Growth
From the PW Treasurer's Corner
Changes for this year:
* You can now pay online through the Village Store for events and donations.
* Donations can be made for Celebration Giving, Thank Offering, Birthday Offering, as well as events.
* You can continue donating through Fellowship One, but all donations will go to Celebration Giving.
* You will receive a statement for tax purposes if you donate through the Village Store or Fellowship One.
* If using the Village Store, the link is https://pw.villagepres.org/village-presbyterian-women
Lisa Mann
Treasurer
Amazing Graces Book Club Selections for September - November 2022
The Amazing Graces Book Club will meet on September 7 to discuss What Happened to the Bennetts by Lisa Scottoline. Other dates and selections for the Fall include:
October 5 - Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley
November 2 - Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout
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 Meet on September 27
On September 27, the Page Turners Book Group will discuss Caste. The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson. October 25 brings us His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life, by Jonathan Alter. On November 22 (shhh, mums the word) you’ll have to come to “open” the surprise. Books are chosen by consensus and all are always welcome, whether you’ve read the book to not.
We are in the throes of choosing titles for our new year as we speak. If you’d like to come just once for an introduction to the group, you are welcome. If you’ve been looking for a book discussion group, Page Turners may be just what you are looking for. We meet every month but December, when we don’t meet at all. Meetings are always on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. in Room 127. Visitors and new members are always welcome!
For more information please contact Barbara Lee, lhlee@att.net, 217-891-3557, or Judy Lockett, judylocket5@gmail.com, 913-385-2280.
Mission Sewing Update
Mission Sewing makes and distributes items for schools, hospitals, nursing homes, local and international agencies. This productive group is open to women of all ages who enjoy machine sewing, hand sewing, knitting, crocheting and good fellowship. Non-sewers are welcome too for cutting, counting, pressing and other tasks. At-home projects are available as well. If you would like to participate, simply drop by the Sewing Room (Room 115 at Village on Mission) any Tuesday or Thursday morning. We meet 11 months of the year (we do not meet in December).
Tuesdays (9:00 a.m. - Noon)
Thursdays (10:00 a.m. - Noon)
Sallie Veenstra
Co-Coordinator, Mission Sewing
VoA Offers Course on Designing Fall Pots for Home or Garden
All Welcome to Amazing Graces Fall Event on October 20
The Amazing Graces fall event will provide an opportunity for women to gather and enjoy warm hospitality at the lovely home of Jan Howard. Join us as we learn about the newly established non-profit, Kansas Missouri Mental Health Collaborative.
As you know, Mental Health in our community is in crisis. Our speakers, co-founder and Academic Counselor Alice Carrott-Eidson and Jan Wewers, Executive Director of this new collaborative, will educate us about how mental health care is being addressed with this interfaith-based initiative.
The event will be held outdoors, plan accordingly. Cost is $15/person which is payable at the door. Space is limited, please RSVP to lexalcarr@gmail.com by October 13.
Volunteer Opportunities Abound with Lighthouse Kids
Want to learn more about Lighthouse Kids? Click on the button below to check-out our website, which includes upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and a link to our monthly newsletter. We invite those with a passion for kids to join us on Sunday mornings!
Kenyon Vrooman
Program Coordinator, Children & Family Ministry
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