Reminders September 24-27
This week’s worship service is at Fall Retreat! Our worship service this week will be held at 10:30am at Kirkmont Center in the outdoor pavilion (weather-permitting), as a part of our Annual Fall Retreat (6946 Co Rd 10, Zanesfield, OH 43360). Everyone is welcome to attend the service, even if you are not otherwise participating in Fall Retreat (note the later start time!). The outdoor pavilion is located off the main driveway to the left at the top of the hill. Parking is available right off the gravel drive by the pavilion. There will be no printed bulletin or Zoom access this week, and the CMC building in Columbus will be closed.
More Fall Retreat Details: If you registered to participate, please check your inbox for an email sent Tuesday with details about the schedule, lodging, and more! If you registered but haven’t received the email, please reach out to Abbie Miller. Also if you did not register but would still like to attend, you are welcome to come and bring your own food.
General CMC Announcements
Church Garden Maintenance date change: We will meet next Monday, Sept 28 (rescheduled from Mon Sept 21 due to weather). You are invited to help with the last scheduled evening of work for this season in the church gardens. September 28, 6:30-8:00p. Tasks include, weeding, deadheading and edging. We also plan to add several new shrubs and some sedges, so would love some extra hands. There are extra tools available. Snacks and chatting in the fellowship hall will end the evening. Questions? Check with ramassey53@gmail.com
Office Update: Kevin Condon (Building Caretaker) is off through Sunday October 4. Please contact Jeff Delcamp (Building Manager) or Laura Steiner (Church Administrator) for building-related questions during this time.
BREAD Listening Lunches: CMC’s BREAD team invites you to a listening lunch on Sundays at noon in October in the fellowship hall. Join us for a light lunch and our annual effort to gather testimonials and identify issues facing Central Ohio that BREAD, our faith-based social justice coalition partner, will address this year. Sign up on the flip chart in the foyer for one of the lunches so we know how many to prepare for. BREAD is one of the concrete ways that CMC practices our commitment to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God locally. For more information contact Julie Hart, Melonie Buller or Tim Conder.
Opportunities in the Wider Community
Election Protection Volunteer Opportunity (from Lawrence Needleman): This is an unusually consequential moment for nonpartisan election protection. As the 2026 midterms approach, election officials around the country are preparing for heightened security concerns, misinformation, legal disputes, and possible disruptions surrounding voting; some jurisdictions are strengthening physical security and contingency planning in response. At the same time, the national nonpartisan Election Protection coalition is actively recruiting volunteers to help voters obtain accurate information, document problems, and connect people with appropriate assistance when difficulties arise. Well-trained volunteers can be especially valuable at moments like this — not by taking sides or interfering with election officials, but by helping make sure eligible voters can exercise their rights in a safe, orderly, and accessible process. If you are looking for a concrete, nonpartisan way to serve our neighbors and strengthen the voting process, please consider one of these trainings.
The nonpartisan Ohio Voter Rights Coalition is recruiting and training volunteers to help support an orderly, accessible voting process during the 2026 election.
Poll Monitor Training. Volunteer poll monitors learn how to identify voting difficulties, provide voters with accurate information and appropriate assistance, and document potential problems. Multiple virtual training dates are available, so you can select a session that fits your schedule. View Poll Monitor training dates and register
Peacekeeper and De-escalation Training. These trainings teach practical skills for responding calmly and constructively if tensions arise around polling places. Multiple training dates are available, including virtual options. View Peacekeeper and De-escalation training dates and register
Additional information and registration QR codes are available on the flyers in the church foyer.
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OSU Music Event Invitation: The Ohio State Center for the Study of Religion invites you to an evening of religious sound and music, including a group of Columbus Mennonite songleaders. Other performances will include Byzantine chant, Sikh kirtan, classical Indian dancing, contemporary Jewish liturgy, Tibetan Buddhist chanting, Cuban orisha dance and Persian traditional music. October 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. The event is free, and RSVP is requested. See Music and Sounds Across Traditions: An Evening of Listening for more details.
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You are invited to Restoration Retreat October 23-25 at Camp Friedenswald (full weekend, commuter, and Saturday only options available)
Come to the peaceful woods to connect to yourself, others, and the more-than-human world. Restoration Retreat is focused navigating the ecological and social crises of our time. Discover the unique community that comes together for this inspiring weekend of engaging speakers and conversations, delicious locally focused plant forward meals, and activities connecting you to the more-than-human creatures at Camp. City of Goshen Forester, Aaron Sawatsky-Kingsley, and Traditional Knowledge Holder, Cortney Collia, will be sharing stories and wisdom with us.
If you see the need for restoration in our world and desire connection with others interested in the same, please consider participating in this weekend retreat. You will leave feeling more connected, inspired, and empowered to work for positive change in your community and the world beyond. This retreat is open to all ages. Interested individuals, families, youth groups, green teams, repair network teams, and small groups are all welcome. More info and registration at https://friedenswald.org/retreats/#restoration-retreat
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Waging Peace: A Militarism Summit: Registration is now open for MC USA’s “Waging Peace: A Militarism Summit,” Nov. 6-7, in Leola, Pennsylvania. Rooted in Anabaptist faith values, the two-day gathering brings Christians together to explore faithful responses to war, political polarization, nationalism and violence. Best-selling author Shane Claiborne is the opening keynote speaker. High school youth attend free with a youth sponsor/pastor. Learn more and register here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/militarism-summit/
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Calendars
Sunday, September 27
10:30 am Worship Service at Kirkmont Retreat Center (no service in Columbus on September 27, and note the later start time!)
Lamplighter deadline
CMC Activities Next Week
Monday, September 28
6:30 pm Garden Group
Thursday, October 1
4:00 pm Set up for Piecemakers in the fellowship hall
Friday, October 2
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/313623317
9:00 am Piecemakers in the fellowship hall
Sunday, October 4
9:30 am Worship Service
Cookie Sunday following worship
12:00 pm BREAD Listening Lunch
Office Contacts and Schedules for September 27 – October 4
Laura: office@columbusmennonite.org, 216-870-0119, Mon: work from home, Tues-Fri: 9a-3:30p
Mim: mim@columbusmennonite.org, 614-745-5150, Tues: 9:30a-3:30p
Mark: mark@columbusmennonite.org, 419-392-0610, Mon-Thurs: 9a-2:00p, Fri: Sabbath
Joel: joel@columbusmennonite.org, 614-940-7839, Mon: Sabbath, Tues-Fri: 8:00a-4:00p
Robin: robin@columbusmennonite.org, 614-406-1766, Mon:10a-1:30p, Fri: 10a-2:30p
Upcoming CMC Special Events
Sept 25-27 CMC Fall Retreat at Kirkmont Center
**No service at 35 Oakland Park on Sunday Sept 27. Join us instead at Kirkmont Retreat Center!**
Oct 4 Cookie Sunday
Nov 1 Congregational Meeting and Harvest Potluck
Nov 29 Advent begins
Dec 6 Congregational Meeting (Budget Vote)
Dec 12 Children’s Christmas Play
Dec 13 Music Sunday
Jan 23 Winter Seminar: Restorative Practices for Holistic Peacemaking during times of Polarization
Last Sunday | Sept 20
Attendance: 216
Offerings Received (last week): $14,095.00
Offerings Received (September): $30,255.00
Offerings Needed (September): $44,795.00
Christian Education Classes
Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults will not meet this week. Join us instead at Fall Retreat! Classes also will not meet on Sunday Oct 4 due to Cookie Sunday. Classes will resume on Oct 11.
Unless otherwise noted, classes will meet on the following Sundays: Sept 13 and 20, Oct 11, 18, and 25, Nov 8, 15, and 22, Dec 13 and 20. Due to Cookie Sundays, holidays, and other special events, most classes will not meet on Sept 27, Oct 4, Nov 1, Nov 29, Dec 6, or Dec 27. Contact the class leaders for schedule updates as the season progresses.
Children/Youth Classes
Children’s Classes (Pre-K through 4th Grade): Children meet together for a snack, story time, and a self-directed creative response time. All children gather in Room 1, then younger children (Pre-K and K) move to Room 2, and older children (1st to 4th grade) move to Room 4.
Junior High (5th – 8th Grade): Middle grade youth meet in Room 303 for Bible study, snacks, and other activities. This class will explore stories and scriptures that connect to topics relevant to young people’s lives.
High School (9th – 12th Grade): High school youth meet in Room 305 for conversation around a wide variety of topics, including an exploration of the stories and scriptures used during worship.
Adult Classes
Title: Cultivating a Courageous Peace Witness
Facilitators: Julie and Phil Hart
Room 302
Meeting: Sept 13, 20; Oct 11, 18, 25; Nov 8, 15, 22; Dec 13, 20
Description: Hear a variety of local in-person and international online peacemakers share their stories of peace and justice action and how these folks were cultivated and impacted by those who came before them. We will have time for conversation with the peacemaker and sermon discussion.
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Title: Exploring Our Headcanons
Facilitators: Sarah Martin and Tim Jaquet
Room 304
Meeting: Sept 13, 20; Oct 11, 18, 25; Nov 8, 15, 22; Dec 13, 20
Description: Our Bible contains only a portion of humanity’s religious/spiritual/supernatural ideas and stories. Yet it is strewn throughout not just with words of beauty and wisdom, but also strange and macabre stories. How do we make sense of what has landed in/out of our holy book, especially when it comes to its most absurd tales? In this class we’ll discuss Bible stories and characters that are strange, confusing, or dissonant with typical Christian ideas/values. Our goal will be not to fully explain or reconcile these conflicts, but to explore how we think about them in relation to our overall faith frameworks, and perhaps also learn at least some new stuff about these stories from academic sources. Come if you’re intrigued by these stories and enjoy talking about the peculiar and puzzling. (Or if you don’t know what a headcanon is and can’t find anyone under 30-ish to ask.)
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Title: Transitions and Ritual (closed group)
Facilitator: Joel Miller, Pastor
Room 301
Meeting: Aug 30; Sept 6, 20; Oct 4, 11
Description: We will reflect on the many transitions we undergo throughout adulthood, select a particular personal transition past or present to give attention to, and ritually mark that transition together. This is a closed group, with a new group forming every fall.
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Title: Inquirers Class – Starts October 25
Facilitator: Joel Miller, Pastor
Room 301
Meeting: Oct 25; Nov 8, 15, 22; Dec 13, 20
Description: We will explore the basics of Christian faith in an Anabaptist/Mennonite perspective, as well as provide an overview of the story and life of Columbus Mennonite Church. The class is open to anyone, with a special invitation to new attenders and those considering membership at CMC.
Donations and Giving
Interested in giving financially to Columbus Mennonite? Follow THIS LINK to donate online. Donations are also accepted by cash, check or Zelle. Contact the church office or financial team if you need assistance with setting up Zelle or any of the payment options. Thank you for your gift!