West Village Courier
Church Activities
8-9—HS Canoe Trip
12—-First Day of School
15—-50’s Party-3 yrs. old-5th
grade
21—5th Quarter
28—5th Quarter
30—Teacher Recognition
Looking Ahead
Sept.4-7—Labor Day Campout
Sept. 11-5th Quarter
Sept. 13-Sunday Night
Youth Kickoff
Oct. 9—5th Quarter
Oct. 17—Zoo Trip (3 yrs.-5th
grade)
August Anniversaries
1—Daniel & Kristin Rodgers
3—Luke & Marissa Turpin
6—Jeff & Roseanne Garner
7—George & Nancy Gerlach
8—Steve & Nixie Hnetkovsky
10—Nathan & Kayla Gentz
12—Shad & Merilee McKinzie
Mike & Vicki Harris
14—Ron & Janet Kinkade
15—Austin & Julia Rodgers
16—Tyler & Mackenzie Longbons
19—Steve & Rosie Greathouse
Neil & Debbie Fearn
Jack & Kathy Webb
20—Eric & Kendra Andrews
27—Todd & Wendy Coles
30—Steve & Rebecca Greathouse
Donovan & Barbara Hocking
August Greeters
The New Class will be providing greeters for August
August Sound System
Kevin Berger
Nursery
2-Whitney & Niki
9-Michelle & Debbie
16-Tonya & Rhonda
23-Emily & Mackenzie
30-Sandy & Joyce
Children's Church
2-Michaela
9-Rebecca
16-Ashley
23-Niki
30-No Children's Church
Junior Church
2-Kati
9-Shayla
16-Shad
23-Parker/Katie
30-No Junior Church
Call to Worship
Aug. 2-Rodney Michels
Aug. 9-Jesse Smith
Aug. 16-Daniel York
Aug. 23-Ben Spray
Aug. 30-Youth Sunday
Servers
Neil Fearn
Jordan Fritchley
Tyler Longbons
Tylor Etheridge
Back to School
We want to wish all students who are
going back to school this month, from preschool to college, good luck! Your church family at West Village is praying for you all to have a wonderful and successful year. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
going back to school this month, from preschool to college, good luck! Your church family at West Village is praying for you all to have a wonderful and successful year. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
50s Diner Party
All kids, ages 3 years old to 5th grade, will be having a 50’s Diner party on August 16th from 5:00-7:00. Please dress in attire from the 50’s to make the experience even better! Diner food will be served so come and have a rocking good time! Families are invited. For any questions please contact Ashley Spray or Sherry Mewes.
Fifth Quarter
Plans are in the works for 5th Quarter this fall, and the first one is a little over a month away! The dates are August 21, August 28, September 11, and October 9! The sign ups for food and helpers will be on the bulletin board very soon. Thank you for your continued support of this ministry! Last year we averaged over 200 kids for each event and we are praying for even bigger this year!
Sunday Night Youth Kickoff
An all church Sunday night Youth kickoff will be Sunday evening, Sept. 13th from 5-7 pm. It will have a carnival theme featuring shaved ice, shake-ups, fair food, and lots of games!
5th Quarter
Junior High and High School!! Get Ready!!! The first Fifth Quarter will be the week after school starts on August 21 and the second one will be August 28th! Annie’s Shaved Ice is booked for the first event, and plans are underway for the following events. There will be games, food, and maybe a dunking booth?? Invite all your friends!!
Missions Moment
Living Stones International*
Dear Praying Friends,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to share an important update in the life of Living Stones International, one that I approach with both deep humility and great gratitude.
As Dr. Pat noted in last month’s prayer letter, it is an honor for me to step into the role of Executive Director for the ministry. I do so with a profound awareness of the responsibility and privilege it is to serve the persecuted church and to steward the mission that God has entrusted to Living Stones. This is not a role I take lightly. I step into it prayerfully, knowing how much this work matters, not just for today, but for eternity.
At the same time, my heart is full of gratitude for Dr. Pat and the incredible legacy she has built. Through her faithful leadership, countless lives have been touched, strengthened, and encouraged across the Middle East and North Africa. Her vision, perseverance, and deep love for the Lord and His people have shaped this ministry into what it is today. While she is stepping into the role of Director Emeritus, her influence and example will continue to guide us in the days ahead.
As we step into this new season, I ask for your continued prayers and support. Pray for wisdom, discernment, and faithfulness. Pray that we will remain steadfast in our mission and sensitive to the Lord’s leading. And pray for the brothers and sisters we serve, that they would be strenghtened , protected, and bold in their witness for Christ.
Thank you for standing with us. Your prayers are not small; they are vital. We truly believe that what God is doing through this ministry is only possible because of faithful partners like you.
With gratitude and hope,
Brother Dave
A Servant to the Body of Christ
*Taken from the Living Stones International June 2026 newsletter
Dear Praying Friends,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to share an important update in the life of Living Stones International, one that I approach with both deep humility and great gratitude.
As Dr. Pat noted in last month’s prayer letter, it is an honor for me to step into the role of Executive Director for the ministry. I do so with a profound awareness of the responsibility and privilege it is to serve the persecuted church and to steward the mission that God has entrusted to Living Stones. This is not a role I take lightly. I step into it prayerfully, knowing how much this work matters, not just for today, but for eternity.
At the same time, my heart is full of gratitude for Dr. Pat and the incredible legacy she has built. Through her faithful leadership, countless lives have been touched, strengthened, and encouraged across the Middle East and North Africa. Her vision, perseverance, and deep love for the Lord and His people have shaped this ministry into what it is today. While she is stepping into the role of Director Emeritus, her influence and example will continue to guide us in the days ahead.
As we step into this new season, I ask for your continued prayers and support. Pray for wisdom, discernment, and faithfulness. Pray that we will remain steadfast in our mission and sensitive to the Lord’s leading. And pray for the brothers and sisters we serve, that they would be strenghtened , protected, and bold in their witness for Christ.
Thank you for standing with us. Your prayers are not small; they are vital. We truly believe that what God is doing through this ministry is only possible because of faithful partners like you.
With gratitude and hope,
Brother Dave
A Servant to the Body of Christ
*Taken from the Living Stones International June 2026 newsletter
Nolan's Corner
There is an epidemic in our world today. It is a disease that seems to be infecting people of every age, nationality and gender. It ruins relationships, limits our mental growth, keeps us on our couches and often is the precursor to more serious ailments. I am not talking about the stomach bug that has had people in their beds for the last few weeks, I am talking about distraction.
According to a recent phycology study, most people can only remain focused on a single task for about 47 seconds before losing focus. In many ways we have become Doug, the talking dog from the movie “Up” who is constantly distracted from what he was saying any time a squirrel walked by. We have too much going on in our lives, too many inputs, from our phones to our computers to the headphones in our ears with podcasts running constantly. And the result is a fractured life. I could talk about the loss of productivity at work, or the declining scores in schools for our students, or even the rise in traffic accidents because people just can’t stop distracting themselves. But the real tragedy is the loss of relationship.
Proverbs 4:25-26 tell us, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” It has crossed my mind this week that our enemy does not have to force us into some deep dark sins to ruin us. All he has to do is draw our eyes away. If he can keep us reaching for our phones so that we stop having meaningful conversations, he has won. If he can keep our eyes glued to the tv or the computer rather than interacting with our children, he has won. If he can keep us scrambling after the next best thing rather than being content in Christ, he has won. I am not saying that your salvation is in danger, but our effectiveness in sharing the gospel, in growing in Christ, in being the men and women we are called to be certainly is.
Today I want to encourage you to set your eyes on the prize of being good and faithful servants of Christ, parents, spouses, coworkers. Set the goal today to set down or ignore the distractions that have been plaguing your lives. Instead, fix your gaze, and direct your feet toward what is important.
According to a recent phycology study, most people can only remain focused on a single task for about 47 seconds before losing focus. In many ways we have become Doug, the talking dog from the movie “Up” who is constantly distracted from what he was saying any time a squirrel walked by. We have too much going on in our lives, too many inputs, from our phones to our computers to the headphones in our ears with podcasts running constantly. And the result is a fractured life. I could talk about the loss of productivity at work, or the declining scores in schools for our students, or even the rise in traffic accidents because people just can’t stop distracting themselves. But the real tragedy is the loss of relationship.
Proverbs 4:25-26 tell us, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” It has crossed my mind this week that our enemy does not have to force us into some deep dark sins to ruin us. All he has to do is draw our eyes away. If he can keep us reaching for our phones so that we stop having meaningful conversations, he has won. If he can keep our eyes glued to the tv or the computer rather than interacting with our children, he has won. If he can keep us scrambling after the next best thing rather than being content in Christ, he has won. I am not saying that your salvation is in danger, but our effectiveness in sharing the gospel, in growing in Christ, in being the men and women we are called to be certainly is.
Today I want to encourage you to set your eyes on the prize of being good and faithful servants of Christ, parents, spouses, coworkers. Set the goal today to set down or ignore the distractions that have been plaguing your lives. Instead, fix your gaze, and direct your feet toward what is important.