Before we get too far into 2020, here’s a look back at 2019 , highlighting something of CMC life from each month.
January | Winter Seminar included two different sessions with Ryan Schellenberg speaking about Paul, Prison, and the Justice of God.
Over MLK day Austin McCabe Juhnke and I traveled to The Hague in The Netherlands to participate in a vigil to support an asylum family living inside the Bethel Church. We were hosted by local Mennonites and visited Menno Simon’s home area.
February | Jr. youth helped present the story of Ruth as we celebrated their Coming of Age by presenting notebooks of blessings.
Columbus City Council passes a resolution in support of Edith and Miriam Vargas, Columbus mothers living in sanctuary.
March | Piecemakers Knotting Party draws another big crowd for knotting, soup, and pie. Completed conforters sent with Mennonite Central Committee to be distributed around the world to refugees.
April | Continued the Lent worship theme “Practicing Awareness.” Sermons throughout the season were accompanied with sketchers creating a landscape that matched the theme of the week, culminating in colors being added on Easter Sunday.
May | Celebrated Membership Sunday by using our new Membership Commitment Statement, created through broad congregational input, updated to reflect present language and values.
June | Six CMCers headed to Milwaukee for the Central District Conference annual meeting. CDC continues to grow, adding new congregations and expanding geographically.
July | The Mennonite Church USA convention is held again in Kansas City. Delegates pass a resolution supporting migrants at the US border. Adults and youth hold joint worship services, a change from past practice. New Executive Director and former member of the military Glen Guyton speaks about being a peace church.
August | We said goodbye to Andy Kauffman Kuhl who had been living with cancer before his death.
September | Fall Retreat takes place at Recreation Unlimited for the first time, built for accessibility. Very hot for the end of September.
October | Edith marks two years in Sanctuary. Later in the month Democratic Presidential candidate Julian Castro visits CMC to express his support Edith. He signs several of the kids’ excuse letters for missing part of school.
November | First Sunday of the month includes memorial candle lighting for All Saints/Souls day, a congregational meeting affirming our budget and discussing congregational growth, and Harvest Potluck yumminess.
December | Advent season brings back coloring pages, worship includes Hope is a Candle and lots of singing to end the year and begin a new one.
Peace and goodness for 2020,
Joel
