Colonial Church in Prairie Village

Gratitude has the power to transform—our lives, our community, and even the world. In a time when it’s easy to focus on what divides us, choosing gratitude reminds us of the abundance we share and the strength we find together. This Sunday, we’ll turn in our pledges for the coming year, celebrating the generosity that sustains and grows our community. After the service, join us for a Thanksgiving...

We journey through life scattering seeds of gratitude that have the power to sweeten life. One of my friends once told me about the amazing discovery that if you fly over the North Atlantic Ocean and carefully observe the icebergs floating in those frigid waters, you will see some icebergs moving in one direction, while other icebergs are moving in another. The explanation for this phenomenon is t...

Generosity is paradoxical. It goes against the grain of what we assume we can only gain by keeping close at hand. Notre Dame conducted a study called, The Science of Generosity, a nationally representative survey of Americans’ practices and beliefs about generosity with hundreds of interviews around the country on generosity. Here are the results: First, the more generous Americans are, there was...

When someone passes through a Jobean season, there are no simple fixes, no miracle fixes that will reverse the tragedy one is facing. There’s no advice worth giving, no fixing one another, no setting one another straight. The only thing we can offer is kindness and love. In the communal life of the church, there are occasions when a church member has lost a loved one or they are present to watch a...

Our minds simply can’t wrap our thoughts around the size and scale of the recent storms we’ve witnessed, whether they‘re forest fires in California, tornadoes across the Midwest, or the hurricanes that percolate in the overly-warm waters of the Gulf. Perhaps we could consider these natural disasters as the type of calamity Job faced. They are mysteries. They happen and are not aimed toward the rig...

Join us this Sunday as we continue exploring the story of Job and the moments when God feels distant in our lives. In a world that often gives us more questions than answers, we’ll dive into the raw honesty of Job’s struggle and discover how even in the silence, God’s presence remains. If you've ever felt abandoned or lost in the midst of your own challenges, this message is for you. Come and find...

This Sunday you will be given a handout, Playbill: Job, that is a reminder that the enigmatic story about an ancient man named Job is understood dramatically. It’s a faith story of suffering and loss and eventual restoration so universal it could be a gothic novel. So universal, this could be placed in any historical setting … from the Deep South, to the western frontier, or even in the canyons of...

Forrester Church, the long-serving pastor of the All Souls Unitarian Church of New York City, understood human nature when he wrote: “The final war will not be a war between the children of light and the children of darkness. It will be what it’s always been: a war within the children of life between the powers of light and darkness that dwell within each of us. Until the powers of light begin to...

Words are powerful. They can build us up or tear us down. This Sunday, we'll explore the importance of our words and the invitation to use our speech to reflect God's love and wisdom. In James 3, we are reminded that the tongue, though small, has the ability to steer the direction of our lives. Whether through encouragement, truth, or even silence, how we use our words can make a lasting impact on...

There’s another world out there and we are insulated from it by our own place in the world. We are protected by our jobs, our education, our financial advantage, and we’re even protected from the other world by the provincial traditions of our faith. It’s a world of privilege and complicity! Our world shields us from the other world and everything keeps us in our place, and at the same time keeps...

There’s another world out there and we are insulated from it by our own place in the world. We are protected by our jobs, our education, our financial advantage, and we’re even protected from the other world by the provincial traditions of our faith. It’s a world of privilege and complicity! Our world shields us from the other world and everything keeps us in our place, and at the same time keeps...

John 6:56-59 Pastor Keith Herron preaching

In the book of 1st Kings, we find an extraordinary moment in Solomon's life when he ascends to the throne after his father, David. In a dream, God appears to Solomon and asks a profound question: "What do you want me to give you?" Imagine being in Solomon's place. How would you respond? Would you ask for something to ease your personal struggles—a new car, a bigger house? Or perhaps you'd think of...

John 6:35, 41-51 Pastor Keith Herron preaching

John 6:27-40 Pastor Keith Herron preaching

Many of us are familiar with the story of Jesus feeding the multitudes of people who have gathered to see and hear him by multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish into a feast for thousands. This demonstration of divine abundance in the midst of scarcity can teach us something about how God can transform the seemingly insufficient into more than enough for all. All around us we are told that...

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 Rev. Keith Herron preaching

2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 Rev. Keith Herron preaching.

On July 7, Aaron will be released from his service as senior minister at Colonial Church as he prepares for his next call as a United States Navy Chaplain. We will be joined by the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference Minister, the Rev. Lorraine Ceniceros, who will preach and help us mark this important moment as a congregation. Rev. Lorraine Ceniceros

Worship Series: I Want a Church ... At Colonial Church, we understand the importance of nurturing not just the mind but also the spirit. Join us for a transformative church service this Sunday, where we delve into the depths of the heart and explore the intersection of spirituality, mental health, and the care of our souls. Rev. Kelly Hansen

Worship Series: I Want a Church ... At Colonial Church, we believe in the power of collective action to create a better world. Join our welcoming community this Sunday as we explore how each one of us can contribute to making a difference in our local community and beyond. Pastor Michael Vollbrecht

Worship Series: I Want a Church ... Colonial Church is an Open & Affirming congregation. Several years ago, we made a public covenant to welcome people of all orientations, gender identities, and expressions. But our work isn't finished. This Pride Sunday we explore the broad spectrum of diversity God calls us to embrace, and we look at the example of the autistic community's "Autistic Pride Day"...

We've done a good job as a church of saying who we welcome and why that's important. It feels good to know that everyone is welcome here. But what if we went deeper? What if we moved from words to action? This week, we'll explore what it might mean to go from a gathering of friends to a church community we can call "family." Pastor Michael Vollbrecht

A local football player made national news recently following their divisive comments during a Benedictine College graduation speech. Benedict of Nursia, often called St. Benedict, was a 6th-century Italian monk, writer, and theologian. This week, we'll look at a few of Benedict's teachings and see if they match what we hear on social media and ESPN. And, in this time of transition as a church com...

Worship Series Les Miserables This week, we wrap up our short series on Les Miserables. A major theme of Victor Hugo's classic tale is sacrifice and the choices we make for the sake of one another. We'll examine this theme through the characters of Eponine and Marius, and other characters whose selflessness results in both tragedy and triumph. Join us this Memorial Day weekend for one more rousing...