Reminders June 4-8
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
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 14 and 28. Topic for this Sun June 14: Exploring Burial Options. We will briefly discuss traditional burial and cremation. The majority of our time will be devoted to our guest speaker, Samantha Bartram, Green Burial Coordinator, at Kokosing Nature Preserve. All who are interested are welcome to join us in the sanctuary after church at 11.
CMC will once again participate in Columbus’ annual Pride Freedom March, on Saturday, June 20. Your support and participation is needed!
- Stay after the worship service THIS Sunday (June 14) and help fill up the seed packets for the Pride Freedom March!
- ALSO Final sign-up to be in the march will be this Sunday, June 14 as well. If more wristbands are available, they will be on a first come first serve basis. Text Jori at 614-286-2897. There are now 35 spots for walkers or float riders! Or sign-up to cheer with a group of CMCers on the sidelines.
- Do you have a quilt to loan for the CMC float? Please drop off quilts (with your name attached) by Wednesday, June 17, on top of the coat rack outside the Fellowship Hall, across from the kitchen window.
- Can you help decorate the float on Friday, June 19 at the Knapkes’ house?
If you signed up to participate, Jori will be sending out detailed instructions early next week. Please make sure she has your email address if it is not in the current directory. Send to joricfuller@gmail.com or text questions to Jori at 614-286-2897.
General CMC Announcements
Church Garden maintenance help: You are invited to help with the maintenance of the church gardens. This coming Monday, June 15th, 6:30-8:00. Tasks include, weeding, deadheading and edging. No previous experience required!! There are extra tools available. Snacks and chatting in the fellowship hall will end the evening. Future summer dates are the third Monday of each month. Questions? Contact Ruth at ramassey53@gmail.com.
CMC Office Updates: Pastor Joel will be out of the office next week on Wed and Thurs June 17 and 18. Pastor Robin will be out of the office Tuesday June 16 through Monday June 22. If pastoral care needs arise on Wed or Thurs June 17 or 18, please contact Shepherding Team member Jerry Nussbaum (call or text 614-404-8425). Later this month, the CMC office will be closed on June 25-26 as office staff participate in the Central District Conference Annual Meeting in Harrisonburg, VA.
Sunday June 21st will be 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.
Lost Items: Several items were found at the church after the rummage and plant sales in May. 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!
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.
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
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.
North Danvers Mennonite Church (a fellow Central District Conference Church) will be celebrating their 175th anniversary and have a special weekend of events planned for September 11-13. If you are interested, a save-the-date flyer with more information can be found 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 14
9:00 am Worship Service
Seed packet prep for Pride Parade in the fellowship hall following worship
11:00 am Aging Well class in the sanctuary (no other Christian Ed classes today)
CMC Activities Next Week
Monday, June 15
6:30pm Church Garden Maintenance (details above)
Thursday, June 18
4:00pm Set up for Piecemakers in the fellowship hall
7:00pm Community Life Commission meeting via Zoom
Friday, June 19
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/313623317
9:00 am Piecemakers in the fellowship hall
Saturday, June 20
Pride Parade (details will be sent to CMC participants via email)
Sunday, June 21
***NO SERVICE IN THE CMC BUILDING!***
10:30am Outdoor Worship Service at Highbanks Metro Park, followed by potluck (details above)
Office Contacts and Schedules for June 14-21
*Upcoming date note: the CMC office will be closed on Thurs-Fri June 25-26 as staff attend the CDC annual meeting.*
Laura: office@columbusmennonite.org, 216-870-0119, Mon-Fri: 9:00a-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; Wed & Th: vacation
Robin: robin@columbusmennonite.org, 614-406-1766, Mon: 10a-3p, vacation rest of the week
Upcoming CMC Special Events
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
Sun Sept 13 Christian Education classes resume
Sept 25-27 CMC Fall Retreat at Kirkmont Center
Nov 1 Congregational Meeting and Harvest Potluck
Dec 6 Congregational Meeting (Budget Vote)
Last Sunday | June 7
Attendance: 216
Offerings Received (last week): $7,779.00
Offerings Received (May): $7,779.00
Offerings Needed (May): $44,795.00
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 14 and 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. Topic for this Sun June 14: Exploring Burial Options. 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!