Strangers No More held its first program in May of 2014, following the shootings at the Jewish Community Campus and Village Shalom.
It was to be a one-time program highlighting the similarities between Judaism and Christianity to build bridges between the two communities. The program left the women who attended eager for more, and eight years later, the group ended the current programming season with a party in the garden of Betse Gage, one of Strangers No More’s conveners.
Carol Burton, (JCRB|AJC Assistant Director) and Michelle Funk (Women’s Ministry Program Director) were honored at the party for their assistance in the success of Strangers No More.
Strangers No More programs during the year included visits to the mikvah, attendance at Jewish and Christian worship services, a study of “Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven” by Professor Amy Jill Levine, dramatic presentations by members who portrayed women of the Hebrew Bible, a speaker on lynching, Christian and Jewish holidays, and more.
Community service projects are held once a year and have included collecting birthday party supplies for Jewish Family Services’ Food Pantry, books for Operation Breakthrough and Della Lamb Community Services, and newborn supplies for the Womens’ Prison Ministry.
Coffee & Conversation meetings are held twice a month: on a Monday evening via Zoom and Thursday mid-morning at the Leawood Library.
All programming is developed and managed by conveners Betse Gage, Linda Bond Hall, Judy Hellman, Sharon Ritter and Marcia Rittmaster. Programming will begin again in September.
Membership is free. The group is open to all women of any religion or no religion. Those interested in joining can visit “Strangers No More; Women Building Bridges to Understanding” on Facebook and ask to become a member. To receive regular Strangers No More programming updates, they can email .
Strangers No More is co-sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Bureau|AJC and the United Women of Faith of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.