General Announcements
Looking for ways to volunteer, live your values, and be connected within the Columbus Mennonite community in the new year? The Opportunities to Serve Form is coming soon! Find it in your email inbox next week and plan a time to fill it out to share your gifts and interests! More details coming soon.
Everyone is invited to attend the Central District Conference Virtual Midyear Gathering, Saturday, February 1, 9:30a-Noon. Hear ministry stories from the other CDC congregations and get caught up on conference and denominational news. A Zoom link will be posted when available.
Solar panel opportunity. Appalachian Renewable Power, the company doing the solar panel work for the church, is offering complimentary solar assessments to church members for their personal homes, as well as discounts for solar systems. They will also make a donation to the church for each congregant who completes a solar assessment. If interested, contact the church office or Brent Miller BMillerRealEstate@gmail.com for more details.
Be on the hunt for a beautiful wicker basket. Roberta Gerlach’s wicker basket has gone missing. It was last placed on the coat rack by the office. If you see one around, please contact Roberta at gerlach50@gmail.com.
Mennonite Reading and Discussing Group, led by Joel Thierstein. Joel has been associated with CMC for the past 6 months and invites us to join in reading and discussing the book, “The Sources of Swiss Anabaptism”, edited by Leland Harder; Published by Herald Press, 1985. The book can be purchased from Amazon HERE. Meetings will be virtual and will be held weekly on Wednesdays at 7:30p ET, beginning on January 15, 2025 and continuing through May 21, 2025. Previous discussions have run for approximately one hour, drawing 10-30 participants from locations around the US and Canada. For the syllabus and the virtual meeting information, please contact Joel Thierstein at Mennonite.joel@gmail.com.
New Adult Christian Education Class beginning on January 19:
Listening is the Beginning of Peace
This course presents conflict as a natural and potentially healthy occurrence between people in everyday life. We will explore the dynamics of conflict and strategies for transforming conflict into a collaborative experience for all involved. Building on an understanding of communication, conflict and culture, we build skills through role play scenarios for constructive communication and problem solving in conflict. We will start with processes for structured dialogue and negotiation and move on to include skills for mediation and reconciliation. The emphasis is on nonviolent or compassionate communication to preserve and strengthen relationships. There is a text that is available in the first weeks of the class. Facilitators Julie Hart and Kerry Strayer. Meets in Rm 21 beginning January 19 – April 27, excluding Cookie Sundays and Easter, April 20.
Undoing Conquest: Rethinking Joshua and the Promised Land
The biblical book of Joshua tells of the Israelites emerging from their wilderness wanderings to destroy the Canaanites and settle the Promised Land. However, archeological findings tell a different story of Israelite origins: native Canaanites forming an alternative society to the crumbling Egyptian-controlled city states of Canaan. This class will use Dr. Kate Common’s book Undoing Conquest to explore these issues and what they mean for present day Christian identity and how we read the Bible. Led by Pastor Joel Miller. Meets in Room 22, January 19-March 16 (except Cookie Sundays). Zoom option available through the Worship Zoom link.
Hunger for Healing
This class provides a guide to the spiritual exercises known as the 12 Steps and uses J. Keith Miller’s book, A Hunger for Healing: The Twelve Steps as a Classic Model for Christian Spiritual Growth. The book and accompanying DVD’s provide a starting point for sharing, discussion, and spiritual growth and healing. No previous experience with the 12 Steps is required. Regular attendance is not required. A zoom option is available. Anyone with or without an addiction is welcome. For more information, contact Steve Rolfe. In Rm 24, January 19 – May 25 excluding Easter April 20. Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86971564275?pwd=aHZZWDVKY0F2S2gydVhNeFZITk9QUT09
