Lighthouse Letters
love God. love people. pass it on.
ENCOURAGE
You're invited!
Village families…
We just wanted to remind you about the awesome opportunities Village has for classes and fellowship this fall. Are you familiar with our “Village U” classes? These are for the church & community (you don’t need to be a church member…so pass this on to your friends!)
Here are some fun classes that might appeal to you!
Handworks and E-Works (Weekly classes available Monday, Wednesday and Friday)
Art Ministry Committee 9:30-11:30 a.m. Mondays, Sept. 19-Dec. 16 Room 127 Enjoy community and fellowship while doing those projects you want to finish but can never seem to find the time to complete. You will see everything from crocheting to recipe organizing to catching up on phone calls and emails while your children enjoy making new friends and participating in fun, creative activities in a wonderful child care setting. For more information, email artminvpc@gmail.com. Class will not meet Nov. 21. Child care reservations required. May only register for one Handworks and E-Works class per semester and must stay in building while child is in child care.
Friday Walk/Jog
Art Ministry Committee 9:30-11:30 a.m. Fridays, Sept. 23-Dec. 16, Room 127 Enjoy a child-free walk or run in the neighborhoods surrounding the church. Please stay within walking or running distance of the building. Class will still gather on days with inclement weather unless the Shawnee Mission School District cancels school. For more information, email artminvpc@gmail.com. Class will not meet Oct. 14, Oct. 21 and Nov. 25. Child care reservations required. May register for one Handworks and E-Works class, as well as Walk/Jog.
First Wednesdays Coffee & Conversation
Ginger Rothhaas, pastor, life coach and founder of Compassion Fix; facilitated by Brooke Brundige, children & family ministry director 10-11 a.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 7, Oct. 5, Nov. 2, Dec. 7, Room 309 Join us on the first Wednesday of each month as pastor, life coach and founder of Compassion Fix, Ginger Rothhaas, brings encouragement, support and tangible tools for perseverant, joyful, intentional living. Warm cups of joe will be provided as well! Child care is available. Must register for child care separately. Follow the blue child care signs from either the south or the north entrance to find your way.
Starting with Stories
Jan Bombeck and Ellie Seeman of local non-profit Starting with Stories; facilitated by Village Church children & family ministry staff Starting with Stories is dedicated to helping families raise racially aware kids. Their mission is to encourage, equip and support families with young children to rethink how they discuss race and diversity. In this class, they will help participants to: • find the best books and resources • figure out what to say • figure out what their family can do • connect like-minded families together to bond over common goals. Families will attend the Launch event and Moving Up event together: • Family Launch Event: 3:30-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, Room 309 • Moving Up Event: 3:30-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, Room 309 Additionally, parents will attend at least two parent meetings from the following available dates and times: • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, Room 309 • 4-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, Room 309 • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, Room 305 • 4-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, Room 309 • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, Room 309 The cost for the class is $75 per family and includes a tote bag full of amazing books (age appropriate for each family) with diverse characters. Child care is available. Must register for child care separately through the Village U registration site. Follow the blue child care signs from either the south or the north entrance to find your way. To register for this class, visit startingwithstories.org/join.
Reboot for Intentional Living
Ginger Rothhaas, pastor, life coach and founder of Compassion Fix; facilitated by Brooke Brundige, children & family ministry director 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 19, 26 and Nov. 2 Room 309 Are you living the dream? (The vast majority of us would answer with a resounding, “No.”) But, can we make little decisions each day that will contribute to living more intentionally? Yep. And we’ll show you how. Join us for a hands-on class designed to give you time and space to press “pause.” We’ll slow down, ask insightful questions and take thoughtful inventory in order to plot an intentional course forward. The result is a reboot of sorts - to each of our own personal “living the dream.” Child care is available. Must register for child care separately. Follow the blue child care signs from either the south or the north entrance to find your way.
*If you have child care questions or concerns, email Sandra Stephens (Child Care Director) at sandra.stephens@villagepres.org.
EQUIP
Brooke's Books
Need something to add to your reading list? Check out another one of Brooke's favorites, The Lightmaker's Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy, by Karen Walrond.
Happy reading!
Join us on Sunday mornings!
Dino O'Dell
ENGAGE
Check Out Our New Rooms!
· Special Needs Classroom – We have designed a “sensory room” on the second floor in Room 204. Our goal is to launch our Special Needs Ministry this year, and this room will be utilized for those adults and children needing a quiet, relaxing space. We are so grateful to have worked with the local non-profit S.O.A.R., an amazing organization that helps churches create thriving ministries for kids with special needs and their families.
· Family Lounge – Kids and adults are invited to Room 201 to read, learn and play – with games, comfy seats, creative projects and books.
· Lighthouse Game Room – A fun hang-out spot where kids can linger and play together after Sunday morning services in hopes of building and growing friendships and community. Located on the third floor in Room 304.
Starting with Stories: A Discussion About Racism
- finding the best books and resources
- figuring out what to say
- figuring out what your family can do
- connecting like-minded families together to bond over common goals.
This fall, they are creating a cohort of families who are interested in sharing in their mission. From September-December, families will meet periodically to join in discussion about this important topic. All meetings will take place at Village and are scheduled for the following dates/times:
Sunday, September 25 Launch Event 3:30-5 PM
Wednesday, October 5 Parent Meeting 6:30-7:30 PM
Sunday, October 16 Parent Meeting 4-5 PM
Wednesday, November 2 Parent Meeting 6:30-7:30 PM
Sunday, November 13 Parent Meeting 4-5 PM
Wednesday, November 30 Parent Meeting 6:30-7:30 PM
Sunday, December 11 Moving Up Event 3:30-5 PM
To get the most out of this time together, families are asked to:
Contribute a one-time fee of $75 to join our organization
(age-appropriate books are included with this fee)
Attend the Launch Event and Moving Up Event as a family
Attend at least two parent meetings
Other optional meet-ups and discussion groups TBD
If your family is interested in being a part of this fall cohort or would like to know more about this organization, please click the link below. We look forward to being in discussion together!
The Return of Wednesday Night Dinners
While curbside dinners were a wonderful gift for our members during the pandemic shutdown and beyond, Chef Andrea is preparing to re-open the doors to Friendship Hall for Wednesday Family Dinners starting at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 14.
Chef Andrea Bradley was hired in March of 2020. It was an unfortunate way to begin her new role as director of food services. All church events came to a halt at that time; no meals needed to be served. How does one offer hospitality at a distance? She and Cindy Wilcox, former director of connectional ministries, devised an ingenious plan for curbside pick-up meals. She and sous Chef Larry Wilcox prepared and served as many as 140 meals on their busiest Wednesdays. Our last curbside meals were offered in May 2022.
It is now time to try a new thing. It won’t look exactly like the Wednesday dinners of the past, but Chef Andrea plans to bring back self-serve, buffet-style dining. We will post dinner themes and menus in advance—fiesta, barbecue, Italian—and you will order online by Monday as you did for curbside meals. There will be a few extra dinners available for walk-ins. The price will be $9 for adults and $4 for children.
If you ate with us on Wednesdays before COVID, you may recall that Brooke Brundige’s creative ideas and big personality became a highlight for families and the 10 & under crowd. The Children & Family Ministry team plan to jump back in where they left off and set up fun activities for the kids.
Chef Andrea looks forward to meeting many more of you on Wednesday evenings. Make plans to bring your family, your friends or grab a bite to eat before a Village U class. If you’d like to help with light prep work or stocking the buffet, Chef Andrea is in need of volunteers! Email her at andrea.bradley@villagepres.org.
First Wednesdays Coffee & Conversation
Join us on the first Wednesday of each month from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in Room 309. (Follow the blue Child Care signs from either entrance to find your way!) Pastor, life coach and founder of Compassion Fix, Ginger Rothhaas, will bring encouragement, support and tangible tools for perseverant, joyful, intentional living. (Warm cups of Joe provided as well!)
September 7th, October 5th, November 2nd, December 7th, (no meet-up in January), February 1st, March 1st, April 5th, May 3rd
Free Child Care available. Click on the link below to register. Registration opens on August 22.
September
7 - Coffee & Conversation, 10 a.m., Room 309
Join us on the first Wednesday of each month from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in Room 309. (Follow the blue Child Care signs from either entrance to find your way!) Pastor, life coach and founder of Compassion Fix, Ginger Rothhaas, will bring encouragement, support and tangible tools for perseverant, joyful, intentional living. (Warm cups of Joe provided as well!). Childcare available. See link above to register.
11 - Lighthouse returns, 9-10 a.m.
Check-in locations
Babies/Toddlers/Preschoolers: 1st floor
Kindergarten-6th grade: 3rd floor
11 - Popsicles on the Playground, south playground, 10 a.m.
Join us after Lighthouse to celebrate the kick-off to our fall semester! Bring the whole family, grab a popsicle, and spend time with other Lighthouse families on the playground. We look forward to seeing you there!
14 - Wednesday Night Dinners return, 5:30 p.m., Friendship Hall
Register by the Monday prior and enjoy a night off from cooking! (registration link above)
18 - 6th Grade Scavenger Hunt, 9-11 a.m.
Calling all 6th graders! Join us for our annual scavenger hunt, where we'll end at Einstein's Bagels in The Village for bagels, schmears and drinks. Parents are invited to join us at 10:30 a.m. to learn more about 6th grade Lighthouse and how you can be involved with this fun and exciting year! Interested in leading a scavenger hunt group? Click the link below! We hope to see you there!
25 - Food Truck Festival, 5-7 p.m., VOM north parking lot
Bring your family and lawn chairs, enjoy live music and purchase food from four gourmet food trucks: Crave Truck, Smashburger, Taste of KC (BBQ) and Fairway Creamery (Homemade Ice Cream).
Give us a holler!
Email: kidsinfo@villagepres.org
Website: https://www.villagepres.org/children-families.html
Location: Prairie Village, KS, USA
Phone: (913) 262-4200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VillageChurchKids