General CMC Announcements
Congregational Accessibility Survey: The CMC Accessibility Advocates are seeking your input on ways to increase accessibility at CMC. They would love your feedback! Please complete the survey linked here to share your perspective – and note this survey is for all CMC attenders, whether or not you identify as having a disability. Please complete the survey by July 31. Thank you! Questions? Please contact Tracey Lehman, Josh Davey, Laura Myers or Megan McGowan (CMC Accessibility Advocates).
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CMC Office Update: Laura Steiner (Church Administrator) will be out of the office during the week of July 20-24. For administrative needs during this time, please contact Mim Halterman (Administrative Assistant) at mim@columbusmennonite.org.
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First Fruits Pledges. We have just passed the halfway point in our fiscal year. If you are unsure of your progress on your First Fruits pledge, Ellen Kreider (accountant) or Joel Copeland (treasurer) can help you! Email them at treasurers@columbusmennonite.org.
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It’s School Kit Collection Time! Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) needs school kits for distribution where children are emerging from areas which have been ravaged by flooding, avalanches, earthquakes, and war. CMC will be assembling kits to donate, and we will need to purchase the following items for each kit:
- 4 spiral-bound notebooks (70 sheets each)
- 1 ruler; flat, good quality, must indicate 30 cm (inches optional)
- 12 colored pencils (in original packaging)
- 1 large eraser
- 4 new black or blue ballpoint pens
Please place these items in the labeled boxes in the fellowship hall. The deadline for collecting these items is Sunday, August 2nd, and the tentative date for assembling them is August 9. Contact Fred Suter (614-832-6718 or fdsuter@gmail.com) with any questions. (Fred’s contribution to this effort will be purchasing the preferred small, metal, pencil sharpeners and pencils in bulk.)
Opportunities in the Wider Community
From Mary Yoder (and Mennonite Action): Please consider calling your legislators (both House and Senate have various versions) concerning the US-Israel military merger. This bill provides undisclosed financial support and enmeshment of military operations, data sharing and development, with little congressional oversight. Israel currently uses AI-generated tracking tools where suspects are tracked until they reach their homes, then bombed, which destroys the entire family. Billions of our taxpayer dollars will be used to develop more inhumane technologies. Data on peacemakers in the US could be at risk. Pushback is gaining momentum and Congress will vote soon. Here is an easy-to-use form for calling.
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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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ADN Statement on Community. One of the many consequences of the current administration’s cuts to Medicaid could be a change to how and where people with disabilities receive their services. Since mandated by the federal government in 1981, Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers have enabled people to leave institutions and live within their communities with the assistance of paid providers/caregivers. The Department of Justice’s recent memorandum on HCBS undermines civil rights protections for people with disabilities and could have far-reaching consequences. In addition, experts say that moving Special Education to the Department of Health and Human Services risks treating students with disabilities as patients rather than as learners with strengths, potential, and belonging. A recent decision by the Ohio Medicaid Committee regarding House Bill 795 indicates that it IS possible to change the minds of politicians, so please consider contacting your representatives if you don’t agree with these policies. Summarized by Tracey Lehman, CMC Accessibility Advocate
For more information and a full statement from Anabaptist Disabilities Network on this topic, please see this link.
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The Connector: The July issue of the Connector, the Central District Conference (CDC) newsletter, is full of photos and reflections from last month’s Annual Meeting at EMU. July Connector HERE. We also celebrate recent graduates from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, including the first DMin program graduates! -Sarah Werner, Communications Coordinator
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Curious about last month’s Central District Conference Annual Meeting? Worship services and delegate sessions were livestreamed, and the recordings are available for viewing. Those links and much more information about highlights of the Annual Meeting are available HERE. The following CMCers served as delegates: Tom Blosser, Joel Call, Katie Graber, Mim Halterman, Hannah Kelley, Karen Mareco, Joel Miller, Laura Steiner, and Robin Walton.
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Calendars
Sunday, July 19
9:30am Worship Service
CMC Activities Next Week
Monday, July 20
6:30pm Garden Group in the church gardens
Tuesday, July 21
1:00pm SHARE Commission Meeting via Zoom
Wednesday, July 22
12:00 Rohr Discussion Group via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86487158321
5:30 Vacation Bible School (family meal starts at 5:30, program begins at 6:00)
Thursday, July 23
6:30pm Community Life Commission meeting via Zoom
Friday, July 24
6:30am Men’s Breakfast via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/313623317
Sunday, July 26
9:30am Worship Service
Office Contacts and Schedules for July 19-26
Laura: office@columbusmennonite.org, 216-870-0119, on vacation
Mim: mim@columbusmennonite.org, 614-745-5150, Mon-Fri: 9:00a-12:00p
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
July 22, 29, and Aug 5 Vacation Bible School
Aug 2 Cookie Sunday
Sept 6 Cookie Sunday
Sept 13 Christian Education classes resume
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 | July 12
Attendance: 156
Offerings Received (last week): $9,910.00
Offerings Received (July): $16,805.00
Christian Education Classes
Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults are on summer recess and will resume on September 13.
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!