Reminders June 4-8
There will be several special parts of our service this Sunday:
- Baptism: This Sunday we will be celebrating the baptism of Lawrence Needleman, and we extend a special blessing to him.
- Communion: We will also be sharing in Communion. We practice an open Communion table, and all who hunger and thirst for God are welcome to participate. Gluten free/peanut/tree nut free bread is served at the station by the organ. Those who are worshipping on Zoom may want to have Communion elements available if they wish to partake.
- Comforter Blessing: The sanctuary will also be filled with the comforters that have been lovingly crafted by the Piecemakers and friends throughout this year. We will have a special time of blessing for them before they are delivered to Mennonite Central Committee for distribution.
Sharing this Sunday: There will not be a time of open mic sharing this Sunday. If you have a joy or concern that you wish to have shared with the congregation during the service, please send it to Joel (joel@columbusmennonite.org) by 8:00 am on Sunday. If you wish to have something sent out in the prayers of the people email, please send it to Mim (mim@columbusmennonite.org) by 9:00 am on Tuesday.
Cookie Sunday: Join us after the service this Sunday June 7th for Cookie Sunday in the fellowship hall! Please bring nut-free foods to share (a list of ingredients is appreciated). Coffee and water will be provided.
Christian Education reminder: Most Christian Education classes have begun their summer recess and will not meet again until September 13. The Aging Well class still has several more meeting times, including this week. Their remaining classes are June 7, 14, 28. Topic for this Sun June 7: Housing and care in the final season of life. We will discuss the difference between Senior Living, Assisted Living and Nursing Care. We will also discuss how to age in place for as long as possible and how to get caregivers in the home. We will also talk about the difference between palliative care and hospice. This is a Cookie Sunday – if you want a cup of coffee, hurry and get it because we plan to start right at 11!
2026 May CMC Directory. If you have moved or have any new contact information for our directory, please let Mim know by this Sunday June 7. And if you have recently started attending at CMC and would like to be in our directory, send your contact information to mim@columbusmennonite.org.
Clippers game – ticket ordering deadline: Jubilee Mennonite has a group heading to the “Faith Night” Clippers game on Wednesday, June 17th. The game starts at 7:05pm. If there is any interest from CMC, I would be happy to add some tickets to our group. I apologize for the late notice, but I’ll need to get them ordered by this Monday the 8th. Anyone interested can just reach out to me via phone or email Tom Moreland at 937-407-5191 or tom@dmgtool.com.
General CMC Announcements
Two Sundays from now – June 21st – is our outdoor service and potluck which you will not want to miss. There will be no service at CMC on June 21 so please pack up your family (plus chairs, games, and blankets if you like) and bring them to the Highbanks Metro Park Northern Shelter for worship followed by a fellowship meal. Coffee will be ready at 10 with the service at 10:30 (note the later-than-regular time!) and shared meal following. We ask that you bring your mugs for coffee and all other dishes and utensils your family might need plus food to share! No nuts please and a list of ingredients is appreciated. HERE is a link to the map location for Highbanks.
CMC Office Updates: Laura Steiner (Church Administrator) will be away from the office much of the day on Friday June 5. Jeff Delcamp (Building Manager) will be out of the office through June 7, and Kevin Condon (Building Caretaker) will be out of the office June 5-8. Later this month, the CMC office will be closed on June 25-27 as office staff participate in the Central District Conference Annual Meeting in Harrisonburg, VA.
Plants available for the taking in the parking lot close to the side door and memorial garden. Remaining plants from our plant sale will be out all week. Please take the plants left for free. They will be composted Saturday. -Becky Waybill
Wanting a mailbox in the Fellowship Hall? Let Mim know and she will set one up for you. mim@columbusmennonite.org
Lost Items: Several items were found at the church after this weekend’s activities. If you are missing a pair of glasses, a push broom, or a tiny gem, please contact Laura in the church office (office@columbusmennonite.org) to claim your missing item!
Women’s Coffee Hour: Thursday, June 11 from 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. All are welcome to join us every second Thursday of the month in the fellowship hall for coffee/tea, a light snack, and conversation. Questions – contact Jhan Yoder-Wyse at jhanyw@gmail.com.
Attention Young Adults! You are invited to our house on Saturday, June 13 at 6:00 pm for an evening of food and games and possibly a hike on the nature trail across from our house if it’s not too wet that day. We hope that you can make it! Please RSVP to greiser.1984@gmail.com. – Jacob, Gwen, and Peter Reiser
Worship Commission is seeking additional Zoom hosts for our Sunday morning services. Hosts can engage this role from the church building, or virtually. Interested? Please reach out to Carmina Suter at carminasuter@gmail.com.
The annual Columbus Pride Parade will take place on Saturday, June 20. CMC will once again join in the celebration! We welcome your participation in one (or all!) of these ways: do you have a quilt we could borrow? Would you like to help with float preparation? Would you like to walk or ride in the parade? Would you like to join a group of CMC folks on the parade’s sidelines? Come one, come all—sign up in the foyer following Sunday’s service, or email Bethany Davey (bethanydavey@gmail.com) to communicate your interest and availability.
New Spiritual Growth Groups: Are you looking for a group for sharing, spiritual connection, prayer, and reflection? Several of us are participating in such a group and would be delighted to help start others. Each group will have its own character and process, but if you would like to hear how our group is structured, please see the Lamplighter article on page 14-15 of the Dec-Jan issue linked HERE. If you might be interested in joining a Spiritual Growth group, please contact Lawrence Needleman at needleperson@gmail.com, or reach out to Robin Walton at robin@columbusmennonite.org.
Let’s help stock the staff lounge at Camp Friedenswald! As summer camp season gears up, CMC has been invited to help support the summer staff at Camp Friedenswald. These dedicated young adults spend their days pouring energy, love, and mentorship into every camper who walks into the peaceful woods. It is rewarding work, and requires nearly endless energy! Special note that two CMC young people will be on the camp staff this summer – Graciela and Eli! A collection bin will be in the foyer beginning this Sunday. Here are some ideas (but feel free to get creative!): granola bars/protein bars; fruit snacks; cookies (homemade* or store bought); beef jerky; twizzlers, gummy bears, or other sweets; chips or pretzels; trail mix / mixed nuts; goldfish or cheese crackers; fresh fruit; soft drinks or soda water. *If bringing homemade items, please no nuts! And a list of ingredients would be appreciated. Items due by Sunday June 28.
Vacation Bible School: Our VBS this year is themed “Kids Connect” and will take place Wednesday evenings (July 15, 22, 29, and Aug. 5). A light meal will be offered from 5:30-6 and the program will run from 6-7:30. VBS is for children who have completed Preschool through 4th grade, and older youth are invited to participate as helpers. Please register both children and youth HERE no later than July 5, and for more information, contact Hannah Kelley hannahjkelley@gmail.com.
Opportunities in the Wider Community
Mark your calendars for the 2026 Central Ohio Folk Festival, June 6 & 7. Join the Columbus Folk Music Society for a two-day family friendly festival the first full weekend in June, where the magic of music comes alive across four vibrant stages. Several CMCers are involved! More details HERE and on the flyers in the foyer. Please note it will be held at a new location this year – Bank Run Metro Park.
Upcoming Pride Month Concert at CMC: Contrary Motion is a celebration of experimental chamber music by queer composers in honor of Pride Month. This year the concert will be held at CMC! June 17 & 18 at 7pm in the CMC sanctuary. Free admission! From the organizers: We play the oft overlooked music of queer ancestors in conversation with premieres of groundbreaking new works by living composers. The show features brilliant musicians investing deeply in the new music and educational fabric here in Columbus. More details HERE.
Milwaukee Mennonite Fellowship Summer Bible Study invitation on the Gospels and Acts. Chris Gooding, a member of Milwaukee Mennonite Church, is a professor in the Theology Department at Marquette University and spends a couple Sundays a year worshipping at CMC with growing up here and family remaining in Columbus.
For the past 10 years Chris has been leading a Summer Bible Study at Milwaukee Mennonite that focuses on treating books of the Bible as whole books (as opposed to chopping them up in verses or segments). Each week a different book of the Bible is read in its entirety, then conversations about its major themes happen as a group on the day they meet. “After 10 years, we’ve covered every narrative book of the Bible, and this summer, we’re focusing on the Gospels and Acts. Over the last 10 years, people from other congregations that are not located in Milwaukee have opted to join our group, and so we offer sessions in a hybrid format (in-person/Zoom). This is why I am reaching out to y’all: if anyone in the congregation wants to join us this Summer via Zoom, we have a tentative meeting time of 7pm CT/8pm ET on Wednesday evenings (starting June 10th). If you’d like to join us via Zoom, simply send me an email (cmgooding@gmail.com), and I can send you a Zoom link before our meetings.” A tentative meeting schedule for our times together is below:
June 10: Intro to the Gospels (no reading)
June 17: Matthew
June 24: Mark
July 1: Luke
July 8: John
July 15: Acts
July 22: Wrap-up (no reading)
Sessions are open to all ages (we’ve had both high schoolers and octogenarians participate). Chris usually supplies some insights about the text from biblical scholarship, but discussion is driven by the participants, and they try to make it open to people at all levels of familiarity with the biblical narrative.
Peter, Paul, and Mary Tribute Concert: Bill Cohen, Joanne Blum, and Joe Lambert will sing and strum the most beloved songs that Peter, Paul, and Mary seared into the hearts and minds of so many people for decades. Heidi White will enhance the music with her stand-up bass. The concert will also recall key parts of PP & M’s history and their linking of music and activism. Plus, we’ll test the audience’s memories with fun trivia questions about the endearing trio. WHEN: Sunday, June 14 at 4 pm, WHERE: First Unitarian Church, 93 W. Weisheimer 43214 (free parking). $15 donations are suggested at the door, but all contributions are welcomed. Half of the proceeds will go to Columbus Food Rescue. For more information: info@billcohensings.org.
June 26-28 Workshop: Nonviolence, Hope, Courage, and Strategic Defiance at the Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Join On Earth Peace for a training open to members of the Church of the Brethren and interested members of the public. Join us for a weekend of strategic nonviolence analysis, skill-building, and spiritual power. This training is meant to help Christians and people of goodwill build spiritual and practical grounding for the work ahead. RSVP USING THIS LINK. AND for more information about the workshop!
Calendars
Sunday, June 7
9:00 am Worship Service
Cookie Sunday following worship
11:00 am Aging Well class in the sanctuary (no other Christian Ed classes today)
CMC Activities Next Week
Wednesday, June 10
12:00 Rohr Group via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89881884175
Thursday, June 11
10:00 Women’s Coffee Connection in the fellowship hall
12:00 pm Shepherding Commission Meeting in Joel’s office
Friday, June 12
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/313623317
9:00 am Leadership Team via Zoom
Sunday, June 14
9:00am Worship Service – Pride Sunday
11:00 am Aging Well class in the sanctuary (no other Christian Ed classes today)
Office Contacts and Schedules for June 7-14
Laura: office@columbusmennonite.org, 216-870-0119, Mon-Fri 9:00-3:00p
Mim: mim@columbusmennonite.org, 614-745-5150, Tues 9:30a-3:30p
Mark: mark@columbusmennonite.org, on sabbatical May 18-Aug 16
Joel: joel@columbusmennonite.org, 614-940-7839, Mon Sabbath, Tues-Fri 9:00a-5:00p
Robin: robin@columbusmennonite.org, 614-406-1766, Mon 10a-3p, Fri 10a-2p
Upcoming CMC Special Events
June 7 Piecemakers Comforter Blessing and Baptism during worship and Cookie Sunday
June 14 Pride Sunday
June 20 Pride Parade
June 21 Outdoor Service at Highbanks Metro Park (no service at CMC)
June 25-27 CDC Annual Meeting in Harrisonburg, VA (CMC office closed)
July 15, 22, 29, and Aug 5 Vacation Bible School
Sept 25-27 CMC Fall Retreat at Kirkmont Center
Last Sunday | May 31
Attendance: 176
Offerings Received (last week): $19,086.00
Offerings Received (May): $49,552.00
Offerings Needed (May): $44,795.00
Offerings Received (year to date): $201,579.00
Offerings Needed (year to date): $223,975.00
Offering Deficit (year to date): $(22,396.00)
Christian Education Classes
Most Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults are on summer recess and will not meet again until September 13. The exception to this is the Aging Well class for adults, which will meet on the following remaining dates: June 7, 14, 28.
Aging Well (April/May/June): What kinds of things do we need to be thinking of in regard to the final chapter of our lives? There’s all kinds of planning to think about: medical, financial, burial, funeral, living situations, in-home care, reliance on family vs complete autonomy. How do we prepare ourselves? Let’s start talking about these issues, learn what we can, share with each other our hopes, fears and dreams. Facilitated by Verdene Thompson and Robin Walton in the sanctuary. Class meets April 12, 26, May 10, 17, 31, and June 7, 14, 28. Topic for this Sun June 7: Housing and care in the final season of life. See details above in “Reminders” section.
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!