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On the last weekend of July, one of the warmest weekends of the whole year in the Midwest, 40 members of the Sanctuary Choir departed Davenport for a long-weekend tour to the Kansas City area. This tour marked the choir’s third regional tour (following successful trips to Milwaukee in 2019 and the Twin Cities in 2023), which intersperse with the ensemble’s international tours (Germany in 2018, Ireland in 2022, Italy in 2025, and a destination to be determined in 2028). Following a busy summer season with the PAS production of Tuck Everlasting and the various Pride-related events in May and June, this trip offered a nice reprieve. 

After a stop at the West Des Moines mall for lunch en route, the choir arrived in Kansas City to overcast weather. Kansas City had just weeks prior been one of the host sites for World Cup matches, and the evidence was still apparent in the billboards and street art. After checking into the hotel, the travelers walked down the hill to the historic Country Club Plaza amid the many scenic fountains to eat a delicious dinner together at Jack Stack Barbecue, a local favorite. 

The next morning and afternoon included intentional free time. Many travelers opted to enjoy a two-hour bus tour with a passionate local guide, seeing sites that included the National WWI Memorial, Union Station, City Market, and the Steamboat Museum. In the afternoon, another small group took the bus to Independence, Missouri to tour the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum. Other travelers shopped, rested, toured separately, or avoided the heat where possible. 

Saturday evening was our full-length concert at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas, just a short bus ride away from our hotel. This concert included a freewill offering for the Covenant Network of Presbyterians (of which Village Pres was the first member congregation, and whose executive director is based in Kansas City), an organization that works for the fuller inclusion of LGBTQ+ Presbyterians throughout our denomination. First Pres is proud to be a member of the Covenant Network as well, and this cause is dear to the hearts of the Sanctuary Choir members. The choir sang beautifully during the concert (and were accompanied expertly by Alex Gilson on Village Pres’s magnificent organ) which included a wide variety of music the ensemble has sung during worship over the past year and a half. 

On Sunday morning the Sanctuary Choir descended on the historic Second Presbyterian Church in Kansas City to serve as the guest choir during their morning worship service. We were welcomed warmly at Second Pres (as we had been at Village Pres the night before) and sang four pieces during the service. We were also fortunate to have Pastor Kris along with us for both the Saturday concert and the Sunday worship service; at both, in his new capacity as Co-Moderator of the PCUSA General Assembly, he brought greetings from the denomination, spoke about the Covenant Network, and joyously shared about the ministries of First Pres-Davenport. 

After lunch at the City Market, we loaded the bus and arrived safely back in Davenport by dinner time. I am grateful to the 40 travelers who made the trip successful, worry-free, and fun; I am also grateful to Pastor Kris and the congregation for their support of all we do to have good music within our walls and to take it beyond them.