AWANA

September 14 – May 3 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Village Church of Bartlett

AWANA registration is now open! AWANA meets Monday nights during the school year to engage in large-group teaching, small-group discipleship, and game time. At Village Church, AWANA engages Cubbies (Ages 3-4), Sparks (Grades K-2), and T&T (Grades 3-6).

Awana wouldn’t be possible without an amazing team of volunteers who pour into the kids each week! As a volunteer, you can sign up to serve with one of the age groups above, join the administration or special needs team, or fill in as a sub!

Village Men: Saturday Studies

Saturdays | 7:00 – 8:30 a.m. | Village Church of Bartlett

Join the Village Men’s Saturday Studies for a weekly opportunity to study God’s Word. Dave Torres Sr. will lead us through various books of the Bible and key topics for men. We are working through our summer series, Titus – Grace in Godly Behavior, and would love for you to join us anytime! We tentatively plan to begin our fall series, 1 Peter – Hope and Holiness in a Hostile World, on September 12. Be sure to register so we know you’re coming and to stay informed about our schedule.

Village Women: Moms’ Prayer Group

August 22 | 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. | DeAnn Selvaggio’s Home

Moms of adult children, join us for monthly prayer gatherings to connect with other moms in a similar season and lift up your requests to the Lord. Our hope is to encourage mothers of children who are over the age of 18. Please register for this event, and we will send you the address.

The 5/6: Bonfire

August 23 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Village Church of Bartlett

Join us for a night around the fire as we kick off the school year! We’ll make s’mores, hang out and celebrate all that God has in store for the year ahead.

Next Gen: Leader’s Launch

August 30 | 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. | Village Church of Bartlett

Calling all the leaders and volunteers in our Next Gen ministries – Village Kids, Awana, The 5/6, and Forge – to join us for our annual Next Gen Leader’s Launch! We are so excited about the role you will play in helping us to make disciples who go, grow, and overcome. We want to equip you well and encourage you as we begin another ministry year. We will eat lunch and share our vision for our year ahead, as well as have a training specific to the ministry you serve. The training is expected to last approximately two hours after lunch. Childcare will only be available as needed.

Village Men: Pig Roast

September 1 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Village Church of Bartlett

Men, you are all invited to the First Tuesday Fall Kick-Off Pig Roast! We will enjoy some delicious BBQ and sides for dinner. Come and enjoy fellowship, worship, teaching, discussion, and prayer as we begin this season together. All men are invited, and we look forward to seeing you there.

Volunteer with Village Kids

Sundays from September 6 – June 6 | 8:00, 9:30, or 11:00 a.m. Village Church of Bartlett

We are looking for a team of people to be part of Village Kids. We aim to create an amazing atmosphere in Village Kids by having engaging, fun, connecting, and gospel-loving volunteers. Village Kids on Sunday mornings is possible because of volunteers. We think Village Kids is a pretty fun place to be, and we think you will agree!

Alpha

Weekly Beginning September 8 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | Village Church of Bartlett

Alpha is a space to explore the foundations of the Christian faith in an honest and non-judgmental environment. Alpha has 11 sessions that include food, a video, and a discussion where you can share your thoughts and ask questions; it is especially great for anyone who’s curious. The talks are designed to encourage discussion while you explore the foundations of the Christian faith in a friendly, open, and informal environment.

Invite someone: Please invite someone you know to attend Alpha! Think about those people in your circles (friends, family, neighbors, co-workers) who don’t attend church or may have big questions about life. Share vcob.org/alpha with them. 

Village Men: Fundamentals of the Faith

Weekly Beginning September 8 | 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. | Village Church of Bartlett

This Men’s Ministry offering, “Fundamentals of the Faith,” will help you grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. This class requires a workbook, lesson work beforehand, and participation. This class will go deeper into essential Christian doctrines. It will start on September 8 and run through December 15, taking off the first Tuesday of each month (October 6, November 3, and December 1). There are limited spots, so please register soon to secure your spot! 

Village Women: Fall Kick-Off

September 11 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | The Antioho Home

Our theme for the year is “in HIM: all things hold together”. We will share about that theme at the kickoff at the Antioho Home (address in confirmation email).  We’ll partake in laughter, food, bonfire, and vision. Arrive anytime after 6:00 p.m. for fellowship and activities. At 6:15, we’ll eat a light dinner, and as the night goes on, we will share our theme for the year and future ministry opportunities. If you can attend but would be arriving late, please still join us. This is an outdoor event, so please bring a picnic chair to sit on or, if you prefer, a picnic blanket.

Next Gen: Family Baptism Class

September 13 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:35 a.m. | Village Church of Bartlett

Is your child asking questions about baptism? Do you want to help your child understand what it is and how he or she can take that step? This class is offered to help answer those questions and prepare a child and his or her family to participate in the next baptism at Village Church.

Discover Village

Beginning September 13 | 9:30 – 10:35 a.m. | Village Church of Bartlett

Please join us for a four-week class to learn more about Village Church, including our vision, values, ministries, and more! Attending Discover Village is your first step toward becoming a member of Village Church of Bartlett. This class will meet on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in Classroom One.

Summer Picnic

September 13 | 5:00 p.m. | 30W393 Army Trail Rd., Wayne, IL 60184

Come to the final picnic of the summer on September 13 at Dave and Julie Antioho’s home. This is a great time to connect with others and enjoy food, games, and swim time. Join us at 4:00 for open swim, or at 5:00 p.m. for dinner. If this is your first time joining us, here are some important things you need to know:

Next Gen: Fall Kick-Off Foam Party

September 13 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. | 30W393 Army Trail Rd., Wayne, IL 60184

Next Gen students and families, come on over and celebrate our fall kick-off with a foam party at our September Summer Picnic! Next Gen (Village Kids, The 5/6, and Forge) and their leaders are invited to enjoy some extreme bubble fun starting at 6:00 p.m. This foam solution is hypoallergenic, dye-free, non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe for kids, pets, and the environment. Opaque, lightweight shorts and shirts are advisable. Swimsuits, goggles, and towels are recommended for kids who will play in it for longer periods. The foam may leave you damp after a few minutes, and you can easily dry off in the sun.

Village Women: The Names of God Book Study

Weekly Beginning the Week of September 13 | Various Times | Village Church of Bartlett

Join us for an eight week book study on The Names of God by Kristi McLelland, Caroline Saunders, Blair Linne, Jennifer Rothschild, Kelly Minter, and Elizabeth Woodson. Together, we will examine names for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and we will discover the impact each of God’s names has on our relationship with Him. Each name we encounter will inspire us to worship God for who He is and challenge us to consider how our lives can be transformed in light of His character. Groups meet throughout the week, so you can select a time that works best for your schedule!

Perennials 

September 17 | 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. | Village Church of Bartlett

Perennials is a ministry gathering for people 55 and older who can meet during the day and are committed to long-term growth as followers of Jesus Christ. Join us as we consider how to age with purpose. Each gathering includes fellowship, teaching, prayer, and fun. Our first gathering of the fall will be spent continuing in the Biblical Lives series, considering Jehoiada and his faithful service.

Replanted

The Replanted ministry provides support and connection for foster and adoptive families. Adults work through a discipleship curriculum designed by Replanted while children meet in a separate space with trained childcare mentors who understand their journey. Families and volunteers then enjoy a meal together. A chapter of Replanted meets monthly at Village Church as a part of the Open Hearts Open Homes ministry. Groups meet with the same members September to May, giving you the opportunity to develop safe, life-giving relationships with one another.

Rooted

Beginning September 20 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Village Church of Bartlett

Looking to find community? Consider joining a Rooted group for ten sessions of discipleship alongside the same small group of people. In Rooted, participants do daily personal devotion time and weekly group time, all with the purpose of being more like Jesus. The curriculum is all centered, or Rooted, in God’s Word. If you’ve been following Jesus for years OR if you are new to the church or new to the faith, this could be your next step. Cover topics like Who is God? How does He speak to us? How do I make the most of my life? How do I tell others about Jesus? – AND so many more. Find out more about Rooted.

Community Groups

Looking for a deeper sense of community? Being part of a Community Group offers you consistent opportunities to fellowship with others, engage in purposeful conversation, receive encouragement from others, and to learn from one another.  Ultimately, these experiences help us as we seek to “reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). Most Groups are made up of 8-12 men and women who meet weekly for fellowship and connection, Biblically-based discussion and a focused time of prayer.  

Legacy Grandparenting Summit

September 26 | 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Village Church of Bartlett

Grandparents, you are invited to the Legacy Grandparenting Summit 2026, the only national conference focused on Christian grandparenting. Centered on this year’s theme, “A Heart for Eternity,” the summit is designed to encourage and equip grandparents to embrace their biblical role in helping pass on faith to the next generation. This day-long summit will offer practical encouragement, nationally known speakers, and helpful tools for sharing faith with confidence and purpose. As churches continue discipling the next generation, this summit highlights the unique and often underused role grandparents can play in making an eternal impact.

Child Dedication Class

September 27 | 9:30 – 10:40 a.m. | Village Church of Bartlett

Join us if you’d like to learn more about child dedication at Village Church. This is a first step toward having your young child dedicated during a Sunday gathering. Learn about the significance and purpose of dedication and what it means for your family in the greater context of Village Church.

Serve at Village Church

If you are a member or a regular attendee of Village Church, we would love for you to jump in and serve! There are many ways that you can serve, such as with Adult Discipleship, our Next Gen ministries, Outreach and Care Ministries, and even with Communications or Facilities. You can find all of the service opportunities listed on our Serve with Village Church page. If you are looking to jump in and serve on Sunday mornings, check out our Sunday service page, which includes our most urgent needs. Whether working in a Village Kids classroom, making coffee for our guests, or setting up for ministry events, there is a place for you!