Reminders November 26-30
Office update: Please note the CMC office will be closed this Thursday – Friday November 26-27 in observance of Thanksgiving, and staff will not be working those days. Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!
This Sunday November 30, weather permitting, Facilities Commission will be leading a brief building evacuation drill following the worship service. This will be a time to practice using safe routes to evacuate the building in case of an emergency. Please come ready to participate and learn!
General CMC Announcements
From SHARE: On Sunday, Marty mentioned our church’s extravagant generosity; thanks to all who brought food and other items for our Thanksgiving blessing table during the month of November. It was a beautiful sight to see the many bags of groceries during November!
Now, it’s time for our annual December Giving Tree! This year, the two organizations that will be recipients of our church’s generosity are Riverview International Center (The women who have lived in our refuge apartment this year came through RIC) and Clintonville Resource Center. On the Giving Tree in the foyer, you will find ornaments with an item to purchase. Both organizations said that their clients could use $25 grocery gift cards from Kroger, Aldi and Walmart, so all the cards have the same item! Feel free to remove one or more ornaments and recycle them in the basket labeled ‘ornaments.’ Gift cards may be handed to Cindy or placed in the second basket under the tree by December 14th.
Please mark your calendars for our upcoming Congregational Meeting on December 7 in the sanctuary and via Zoom, following worship. This will be a brief meeting to hear feedback from the Pastor Exploration Committee and vote on the 2026 Budget. An agenda and the budget can be viewed HERE. Please contact Phil Hart (Leadership Team Chair) or any member of Leadership Team with questions.
Special baby celebration for James Cusimano Lehman during December 7 Cookie Sunday. Everyone is invited! The celebration will be a part of our regular Cookie Sunday, and it’s a chance to visit with each other, meet visitors and get to know baby James. We will be celebrating this 6-month-old by making cards; writing notes to James, Kat, and Sam; and decorating gingerbread boys. If you like, you may bring a children’s book for James and his parents. A QR code will be available that Sunday if you want to give more.
As always for Cookie Sunday bring cookies, fruit, or snacks to share. Drop them off at the kitchen window before church and fill out a card with the ingredients. NO NUTS CAN BE SERVED. Please check the ingredient list of any packaged food. Gluten-free goodies are also welcome. Community Life Commission
Want to know how to react to injustices around you? Come for a short training class with Mennonite Action’s national tour “Building Our Courage” at Columbus Mennonite Church, Tuesday, December 9th, from 5:45 – 8:45pm. A light soup meal will be served. Info to sign up is at mennoniteaction.org. Over 30 people have already registered online! Look on the poster in the foyer to see who from CMC are coming. For questions, contact Conrad Gratz or Mary Yoder.
Women’s Coffee Hour: Thursday, December 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.
Events and Opportunities in the Wider Community
Read the fall issue of the Anabaptist Disabilities Network newsletter HERE. The focus this season is on stories of work with children with disabilities in Sierra Leone and Ukraine.
From MC USA: Jamaica Mennonite Church has been hard hit by Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that caused widespread destruction in the Caribbean. Please remember those affected in prayer, and consider making a donation to help our sister churches recover from this devastating storm. 100% of donations will go directly to Jamaica Mennonite Church. Donations can be made online through MC USA here (temporarily under Climate Justice), noting “JAMAICA” in the note field.
The latest issue of the Central District Conference Connector is available HERE. In this last issue of the year, learn about CDC’s new church safety coordinator, Gestalt pastoral care, how to age well as a congregation, and much more! Print copies will be available in the foyer soon.
Interested in ordering your own prints of the Anabaptist Community Bible artwork? MennoMedia has created an online store where you can order customized prints in a variety of formats: posters, greeting cards, and prints on canvas, wood, metal, and acrylic. Check it out HERE! These are new print options for the artwork that has been hanging in the CMC sanctuary this fall.
The latest issue of Anabaptist World magazine is a unique special issue that explores the question of how the radical ideas and courageous actions of early Anabaptists speak to followers of Jesus today. It includes diverse voices—people of color, those who didn’t grow up Mennonite, and Anabaptists from across the sea—sharing powerful stories that expand on the Anabaptism at 500 commemoration with the theme “Beyond Dirk Willems.” Additionally it includes the inaugural edition of Dangerous Faith, a new young adult ‘zine created by and for youth and young adults. CMC has multiple copies of both that will be in the foyer magazine rack for you to peruse and return.
Sunday’s Events | November 30
9:30 Worship Service
Building Evacuation Drill following worship
4:00 pm Adult Christmas Choir Rehearsal in the sanctuary
CMC Activities Next Week
Monday, December 1
7:15 pm Christian Education Meeting via Zoom
Wednesday, December 3
5:00 pm Shepherding Commission Meeting via Zoom
Thursday, December 4
4:00 pm Set up for Piecemakers in the fellowship hall
Friday, December 5
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/313623317
9:00 am Piecemakers in the fellowship hall
Sunday, December 7 | Advent 2
9:30 Worship Service
Congregational Meeting following worship
Cookie Sunday and Baby Celebration following the Congregational Meeting
11:30 am Children’s Christmas Program rehearsal in the sanctuary
4:00 pm Adult Christmas Choir Rehearsal in the sanctuary
Office Contacts and Schedules for November 30 – December 7
Laura: office@columbusmennonite.org, 216-870-0119, Mon-Fri: 8:30am – 2:30pm
Mim: mim@columbusmennonite.org, 614-745-5150, Tues 9:30am – 3:30pm
Mark: mark@columbusmennonite.org, 419-392-0610, Mon-Thurs: 9:00am – 3:00 pm, Fri: Sabbath
Joel: joel@columbusmennonite.org, 614-940-7839, Mon: Sabbath; Tues-Fri 9:00am – 5:00 pm
Upcoming CMC Special Events
Nov 30 Advent begins
Dec 7 Congregational Meeting and Cookie Sunday with Baby Shower for Cusimano Lehman Family
Dec 9 Mennonite Action Training “To Build Our Courage”
Dec 13 Children’s Christmas Play
Dec 14 Music Sunday
Dec 24 Christmas Eve Service
Jan 17, 2026 Winter Seminar
Feb 7, 2026 Open Mic Coffeehouse
Feb 18, 2026 Ash Wednesday, Lent begins
March 6 & 7, 2026 Knotting Party and Soup-er Pie Supper
Last Sunday | November 23
Attendance: 208
Offerings Received (last week): $5,770.00
Offerings Received (November): $29,367.00
Offerings Needed (November): $42,236.00
Christian Education Classes
Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults will NOT meet this Sunday or next. Classes will resume on December 14. See below for all class descriptions.
Unless otherwise noted, classes will meet on the following Sundays: Sept 14, 21; Oct 12, 19, 26; Nov 9, 16, 23; Dec 14, 21. Due to Cookie Sundays, holidays, and other special events, most classes will not meet on Sept 28, Oct 5, Nov 2, Nov 30, Dec 7, or Dec 28. 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 will meet in Room 1 for a gathering time, then younger children (Pre-K to 1st Grade) will move to Room 2, and older children (2nd to 4th grade) will move to Room 4.
Junior High (5th – 8th Grade): Middle grade youth meet in Room 23 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 25 for conversation around a wide variety of topics, including an exploration of the stories and scriptures used during worship.
Adult Classes
How to Have an Enemy: In How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace, Melissa Florer-Bixler looks closely at what the Bible says about enemies — who they are, what they do, and how Jesus and his followers responded to them. Join us as we read this provocative book together, learning to name and confront our enemies as an essential part to loving them. Some book copies will be provided, but participants are encouraged to purchase their own when possible. Facilitated by Adam Glass in Room 21.
Anabaptist History: This Anabaptist history course will explore the origins of the Anabaptist movement in the midst of the Protestant Reformation. We will also look at the different forms the movement took into Mennonites, Amish, and Hutterites. We will be using the book Remembering Anabaptist Reformers by Ed Bontrager. Some book copies will be provided, but participants are encouraged to purchase their own when possible. Facilitated by Kerry Strayer in Room 24.
My Soul Cries Out: This informal gathering will provide space for lament, connection and creativity in the midst of political turmoil and widespread fear. Each gathering will ground itself in a particular intention such as lament, nourishment, humor. We will offer an opening ritual, followed by moments of meditative quiet, open conversation, crafting/creating/coloring options and a closing ritual. Participants are encouraged to engage in the ways that feel most personally restorative. Join every week,or drop-in as you wish. Facilitated by Cindy Fath and Bethany Davey in the Upper Room.
Inquirers Class (meets Nov-Dec): This six-week Christian Education class 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. Led by Pastor Joel Miller in Room 22. Class dates: Nov 9, 16, 23, Dec 14, 21.
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!