On September 13, Colonial Church officially became the United Church of Christ in Prairie Village

On September 13, Colonial Church celebrated a new moment their history – officially becoming the United Church of Christ in Prairie Village
- Rev. Michael Vollbrecht

For some time, our congregation had been discussing our name, particularly the word Colonial. As our understanding of history has deepened, especially around the painful legacy of colonialism, we began asking whether our name still reflected who we are and the values we hope to embody.

Those conversations lasted over a year and were thoughtful and grounded in a shared love for our church. Ultimately, we landed on something simple and clear: The United Church of Christ in Prairie Village. We wanted to put our UCC identity front and center.

Our new name honors our location, reflects our identity, and reminds us of our calling. And while the name on our sign has changed, our commitment to extravagant welcome, courageous love, and the belief that God is still speaking remains as strong as ever.

We were delighted to welcome Julia Gaughan, our Kansas-Oklahoma Conference Minister, to the church on October 11th to help celebrate this milestone. We shared a Blessing of Our New Name with her, and marked the occasion with cake (as it should be!)

As the church's pastor, I look forward to seeing how this name continues to bring us together and focus us on what matters most: loving and caring for our neighbors. I hope that when people see "UCC" in our name, they will know exactly what we stand for and will want to be a part of it.

Rev. Michael Vollbrecht