Reminders September 10-17
First Fruits Pledge Forms: DUE THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
If you haven’t yet completed your First Fruits pledge form, please do so by Sunday. HERE is the link to the form.
So far, we have received responses from only 45% of CMC households. These commitments are crucial as the Leadership Team begins building the 2027 budget. Without a response from a majority of households, it is difficult to know what resources we can responsibly plan for in the coming year.
We are asking every household to complete the form, even if your pledge for 2027 is $0. Knowing that you have responded is just as important as knowing the amount. Please take a few minutes to complete your pledge by Sunday. Thank you for your support of CMC and for helping us plan responsibly for the year ahead. If you have questions, contact Joel Copeland, Treasurer, or Ellen Kreider, Accountant, at treasurers@columbusmennonite.org.
—-
Fall Retreat Registration: ALSO DUE THIS SUNDAY
All are welcome to come to Kirkmont Center in Zanesfield from Friday evening, September 25th to Sunday, September 27th at noon for Fall Retreat. Come and enjoy the beautiful setting with fellow CMCers for all or part of the weekend. CMC covers lodging and participants pay for meals. Worship will be held at Kirkmont instead of CMC on September 27th. The registration form is HERE. Paper registration forms will be available in the lobby after church this Sunday. Contact Abbie Miller, Anita Gastaldo, David McCullough, Dan Halterman, or any member of the Community Life Commission if you have questions.
—-
Christian Education classes resume this week! Details below.
—
General CMC Announcements
Memorial Service for Charles Shenk. The memorial service for Charles Shenk will be on Sunday September 20 in the sanctuary. Visitation with the family will begin at 2p in the foyer. Guests are encouraged to arrive by 3p, when a time of centering and quieting will begin in the sanctuary, accompanied by prelude music and photos of Charlie’s life. The service will begin at 3:30p and will be followed by an ice cream reception in the fellowship hall. All are welcome. The service in the sanctuary will also be available via Zoom beginning at 3pm. Contact the church office for the Zoom link.
—
Thank you, cleaning volunteers! I wish to thank all of the people who stepped forward to say they would like to help keep the church clean during my absence. The sense of community and support I felt after my request last Sunday was immense; it is one of the things I value most at CMC. —Kevin Condon, Building Caretaker
—
Office Update: Pastor Joel will be out of the office Fri Sept 11 through Mon Sept 14.
—-
Lost and Found: Please check the lost and found table near the restrooms by the office for items you may have left behind. Take what is yours! Unclaimed items remaining after September 20 will be donated. Additionally, a few items were left behind after last week’s Sundae Sunday. Those are located in the kitchen window.
—-
Yellow delicious apples for the taking! I have lots of yellow delicious apples that have not been sprayed and continue to fall from my tree – great for making applesauce. I will have containers at the side entrance on Sunday morning. Help yourself. If you want some apples set aside for you, send me an email. -Mary Yoder
—-
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 during September 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
Wondering how to support the Haitian community in Springfield? The Haitian Support Center provides advocacy and a variety of services to help Haitians and other newcomers to the Springfield area. To learn more and to donate to their Emergency Fund, follow THIS LINK.
Flock Cameras Action Alert: Lawrence Needleman has written an action alert to help others understand and take action around the use of Flock cameras in Columbus. Follow this link to learn more.
Looking for a way to respond to the flooding in Nepal and earthquake in Colombia? Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is offering support in both locations:
- Nepal flooding: MCC is working with local partners to provide food, water purification tablets and other supplies, as well as psychosocial support, to survivors of deadly flooding and landslides. Donate to MCC’s response at mcc.org/nepal-flooding
- Colombia earthquake: MCC is also providing emergency relief in Colombia following the 7.4-magnitude earthquake. Donate to MCC’s response at mcc.org/colombia-earthquake
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/
—
Calendars
Sunday, September 13
9:30am Worship Service
11:00am Christian Education classes (details below)
11:00am Community Life Commission meeting (library)
After Christian Ed (approximately 12:30): Youth Groups – Kickoff Cookout at Abbie and Joel Miller’s home
CMC Activities Next Week
Thursday, September 17
4:00pm Setup for Piecemakers in the fellowship hall
Friday, September 18
6:30am Men’s Breakfast via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/313623317
9:00am Leadership Team Meeting via Zoom
9:00am Piecemakers in the fellowship hall
Sunday, September 20
9:30am Worship Service
11:00am Christian Education Classes
**The memorial service for Charles Shenk will be held at CMC in the afternoon on Sept 20. Visitation will be from 2-3p in the foyer, with music and photos in the sanctuary at 3pm and the service beginning at 3:30p. An ice cream reception with a time for sharing remembrances will follow the service in the fellowship hall. More details above.**
Office Contacts and Schedules for September 13-20
Laura: office@columbusmennonite.org, 216-870-0119, Mon-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 13 Christian Education classes resume, Due date for First Fruits pledge forms and Fall Retreat Registration
Sept 20 Memorial Service for Charles Shenk
Sept 25-27 CMC Fall Retreat at Kirkmont Center
Oct 4 Cookie Sunday
Nov 1 Congregational Meeting and Harvest Potluck
Nov 29 Advent begins
Dec 6 Congregational Meeting (Budget Vote)
Last Sunday | Sept 6
Attendance: 198
Offerings Received (last week): $9,585.00
Offerings Received (September): $9,585.00
Offerings Needed (September): $44,795.00
Christian Education Classes
Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults resume this week!
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.
—
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.)
—
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.
—
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!