We are a church because God calls us together to love one another and to serve others as Jesus taught and practiced.
We take this charge of our faith seriously. Because of God’s love, The Kirk’s members find purpose in helping and serving groups throughout South Kansas City, Kansas City at large, and the world, in the name of Jesus Christ. Here is a listing of just some of the organizations and offerings that we regularly support.
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CENTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
The Kirk facility is located within the Center School District. We support the teachers and staff at Center Elementary School in a number of ways, including:
• Providing dinner during parent-teacher conferences
• Gift cards to help staff with expenses that often come from their own funds
• Notes of encouragement to students during academic testing
• Work with the school social worker to help families in particular need
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CENTER FRIENDS
The Kirk facility is located within the Center School District. The Center Friends program provides positive relationships between caring adults and students and staff from the Center School District. These relationships help students form friendships leading to greater success and connects volunteers to the school experience.
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CENTER MIDDLE SCHOOL PEACEMAKING AWARDS
Through the Presbyterian Peace & Global Witness Offering (a PCUSA special offering), The Kirk presents four Peacemaking Awards to students from Center Middle School each year. By focusing on our oneness in Christ with all, we work to make the world a more peaceful and accepting place. Students are chosen by their teachers who see their actions each day. Students are selected based on a number of criteria including the use of nonviolent language, exhibiting reconciling behavior, and having high personal standards, among others. The award consists of a medal and a monetary scholarship that are presented during a school assembly. These awards have been given out for over 25 years and have been a foundation of our interactions with the district.
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CHERITH BROOK
Cherith Brook is a residential Christian community in Kansas City, Missouri committed to sharing table fellowship with strangers and resources with one another. The Kirk contributes financially to the organization, sponsors clothing drives and volunteers on work days and helps in serving dinner.
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GRANDVIEW ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Grandview Assistance Program seeks to build a caring community by offering support and hope to neighbors facing difficult circumstances. Through practical assistance and community partnerships, they help meet both immediate needs and long-term challenges.
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COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE COUNCIL
(CAC) is a social service agency in south Kansas City. From hunger to homelessness, CAC works every day to help our neighbors move from crisis to a stable life, promoting healthier individuals, families, and community. The Kirk provides monetary support to CAC, helping our neighbors in need of food, clothing, utility or medical assistance.
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COVENANT NETWORK OF PRESBYTERIANS
This group’s mission is to strengthen the church of Jesus Christ, with the help of God’s grace. We are called to achieve this goal by working for the unity of the church, furthering the inclusion of LGBTQ persons, seeking understanding and reconciliation, and joining with others seeking a still more just and inclusive church.
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HARVESTERS COMMUNITY FOOD NETWORK
The Kirk volunteers at the Harvesters Community Food Network on the second Thursday of every month from 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm. Carpools leave The Kirk at 1:00 PM. Everyone eight years and older is welcome to participate!
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GRACE UNITED MINISTRIES
Grace United Community Ministries is a faith-based nonprofit in Kansas City dedicated to providing education, food, clothing, and community support services for local families and individuals. The Kirk supports this organization through financial contributions.
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PRESBYTERIAN DISASTER ASSISTANCE
The Kirk’s denominational home is the Presbyterian Church (USA). Churches from all over the country work together to make an impact beyond our immediate neighborhoods through efforts such as Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church (USA). It enables congregations and mission partners to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crises and catastrophic events around the world.
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) SPECIAL OFFERINGS
As part of the Presbyterian Church (USA), we participate in the collection of four Special Offerings each year as a collective witness to Jesus Christ’s love for the whole church.
One Great Hour of Sharing enables the church to share God’s love with our neighbors-in-need around the world by providing relief to those affected by natural disasters, provide food to the hungry, and helping to empower the poor and oppressed.
The Pentecost Offering helps the church encourage, develop, and support its young people, and also address the needs of at-risk children. 40% of the Pentecost offering is retained by individual congregations to make an impact in the lives of young people within their own community. The remaining 60% is used to support ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.
Peace and Global Witness Offering promotes the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of injustice, advancing peacemaking initiatives, and sharing God’s love around the world.
The Christmas Joy Offering provides emergency financial assistance to current and former church workers in the Presbyterian Church and their families. It also funds programs to develop leaders at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic colleges and schools.