Reminders October 29-November 1
This Sunday is our annual observance of All Saints/All Souls Day and will include a time for memorial candle lighting. During the service, participants will be welcomed to come forward and light a candle on behalf of a loved one or person of concern who has died and speak their name.
There will not be a time for open mic sharing of joys and concerns this Sunday. If you have something that you wish to have shared with the congregation, please send it to Pastor Joel by 9:00 am on Sunday morning (joel@columbusmennonite.org). If you wish to have it included in the Tuesday email, please send it to Mim by Monday morning, November 2, at 9:00 am. (mim@columbusmennonite.org).
Reminder to Fall Back: Daylight Savings Time ends at 2am early this Sunday morning November 1. Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour before church on Sunday!
Fall Congregational Meeting: Our fall congregational meeting will be held after worship THIS Sunday November 1, with the Harvest Potluck to follow. The meeting will be held in the sanctuary and will also be available by Zoom (same Zoom link as worship). While only members are able to vote on ballot issues, all are welcome to join the meeting. An agenda and supporting materials, including a draft budget for 2027, were emailed this week. Please review the materials and come ready to discuss on November 1 – we look forward to your input! Thank you! -Leadership Team
Childcare during the Congregational Meeting: During the Congregational Meeting on November 1, nursery-age children may remain in the nursery, and childcare will be provided for children in PreK to 4th grade in Room 2. Older children are encouraged to attend the meeting.
Harvest Potluck! All are invited to the Harvest Potluck in the fellowship hall THIS SUNDAY, following the congregational meeting. Please bring a dish/es to share, and fill out the “ingredient list” at the kitchen window when you drop off your food. Drinks will be provided, but please bring your own plates and tableware. NO NUTS PLEASE! For the safety of folks with severe nut allergies, we cannot serve anything that contains tree nuts or peanuts. This includes packaged food that “may contain nuts.” Make sure to check the fine print on any packaged food you are planning to bring.
General CMC Announcements
Building Update for Election Day: Please note that the church building will be in use all day on Tuesday, November 3 as a polling location for Election Day. The office will remain open, but please plan accordingly if you need to stop by on Tuesday as the fellowship hall and parking lot will be in use throughout the day.
Office Updates: Joel Miller will be on vacation from November 2-7. For pastoral care needs during that time, please contact Mark Rupp or Robin Walton. Mim Halterman will not have her regular Tuesday office hours during the week of November 2-6. For Tuesday email requests, please forward prayers and announcements to her by Monday morning at 9am instead of Tuesday.
Leaf Raking: The youth groups would like to offer their services to anyone in the congregation who could use help raking leaves this Fall. Weather permitting, we will gather to do this on the afternoon of November 8. If you are interested in participating, please let Mark know (mark@columbusmennonite.org).
Young Adults Friendsgiving Potluck: The next young adult meetup will be a ‘Friendsgiving’ potluck on Sunday, Nov 15th, at 5:30 PM. Text Natasha at 352-895-8783 to RSVP or message our group on GroupMe: https://groupme.com/join_group/117353372/rV08sFZ6. Even if you can’t make this event, be sure to join our GroupMe so you know about future events!
Public Service Announcement from Robin Walton for those on a Medicare Advantage Plan: If you received a termination letter from your plan, save that letter and then do your research and respond by December 7, rather than suffer a loss of coverage on January 1. This termination letter may seem scary, but you can make a good choice. Every state is required to provide free, impartial assistance in making these decisions. The Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) | Department of Insurance is a network of advisors: OSHIIP LINK. You may have already linked up with one of these when you made Medicare decisions in the past. If you have been cancelled, it is time to go back and do it again. If you want any further assistance, Robin can provide you with more resources.
Opportunities in the Wider Community
The new issue of Connections, the Anabaptist Disabilities Network newsletter, is out this week and features CMCer Tracey Lehman interviewed by CMCer Sarah Werner! Check out that article and more at the link HERE.
Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) has requested help for a family in Delaware County. Originally, the home had wind damage, but the contractor who replaced the siding did not do it correctly and they left. The family now needs help re-installing the siding and apron skirting. If you are available to help any days over the next 3 weeks, please contact Rodney Suter (carod96@yahoo.com; 316-409-7045). Knowledge of siding is helpful but not required!
Interested in learning more about the deportation crisis facing Haitian immigrants in the US? Jim Leonard suggests a new PBS Frontline documentary “Haitian Deportation Crisis,” which premiered last week. According to PBS, it “offers a vivid, up-close look at the extent and impact of gang violence in Haiti, the efforts to combat it, and the rising fears among Haitians in the U.S. of being deported.”
Election Day Invitation from Trinity Episcopal Church on Capitol Square: As a sacred place where people from across the state gather for prayer at pivotal moments in our public life together, Trinity on Capitol Square will be open for prayer and meditation from 7am – 7pm on Election Day (November 3) as votes are cast. Services will be offered at 7:30am, Noon, and 6:30pm, with a short litany offered at the top of each hour in the chapel. See flyer HERE.
From St. Paul United Church of Christ Columbus: We invite your congregation to join us in supporting this year’s Transgender Day of Remembrance gathering. On Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 3:30, St. Paul UCC will host a sacred community gathering for the Transgender Day of Remembrance at The Ohio State University African American and African Studies Community Extension Center. We are deeply honored to welcome Rev. Dr. Elder Carmarion D. Anderson, Minister for Congregational Leadership for the UCC National Ministries, as our featured keynote speaker. We invite your congregation to join in love, affirmation, and solidarity as we honor the lives of our transgender and gender‑expansive siblings. Registration is encouraged, as space is limited. More details HERE.
Save the Date for Illuminati’s Holiday Sing-Along and Fundraiser! Illuminati, the sacred music ensemble of the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus, warmly invites you to a special Christmas Community Sing-Along and Fundraiser! Sunday, December 20 from 2-4pm at Indianola Presbyterian Church (1970 Waldeck Ave, Columbus). Admission: $10 at the door. The event includes a group sing-along of beloved sacred and secular Christmas classics, along with special performances, raffle prizes, fellowship and treats.
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, November 1
9:30 am Worship Service
Congregational Meeting in the sanctuary following worship
Harvest Potluck following the Congregational Meeting
12:15 pm Advent Choir rehearsal in the sanctuary
CMC Activities Next Week
Tuesday, November 3
Election Day – CMC building in use all day as a polling location (office will be open)
Thursday, November 5
4:00 pm Set up for Piecemakers in the fellowship hall
Friday, November 6
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/313623317
9:00 Piecemakers in the fellowship hall
Sunday, November 8
9:30 am Worship Service
Children’s Christmas play rehearsal between worship and Christian Ed
11:00 am Christian Education Classes
12:00 pm Youth Groups meet
12:15 pm Advent Choir rehearsal in the sanctuary
Office Contacts and Schedules for November 1-8
Laura: office@columbusmennonite.org, 216-870-0119, Mon-Fri: 9a-3:30p
Mim: mim@columbusmennonite.org, 614-745-5150, no office hours this week
Mark: mark@columbusmennonite.org, 419-392-0610, Mon-Thurs: 9a-2:00p, Fri: Sabbath
Joel: joel@columbusmennonite.org, 614-940-7839, on vacation this week
Robin: robin@columbusmennonite.org, 614-406-1766, Mon: 10a-1:30p, Fri: 10a-2:30p
Upcoming CMC Special Events
Nov 1 Congregational Meeting and Harvest Potluck
Nov 22 Gratitude Sunday and Bountiful Harvest Food Collection
Nov 29 Advent begins
Dec 6 Congregational Meeting (Budget Vote) and Cookie Sunday
Dec 12 Children’s Christmas Play
Dec 13 Music Sunday
Dec 24 Christmas Eve service
Jan 23, 2027 Winter Seminar: Restorative Practices for Holistic Peacemaking during times of Polarization
Mar 5-6, 2027 Piecemakers Soup-er Pie Dinner (Fri) and Knotting Party (Fri and Sat)
Last Sunday | Oct 25
Attendance: 170
Offerings Received (last week): $16,645.00
Offerings Received (October): $43,168.00
Offerings Needed (October): $44,795.00
Offerings Received (year to date): $419,196.00
Offerings Needed (year to date): $447,950.00
Offering Deficit (year to date): $(28,754.00)
—
Christian Education Classes
Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults will NOT meet this week. Come to the Congregational Meeting and Harvest Potluck instead! Child care will be provided during the meeting (see details above). Classes will resume on November 8, and descriptions are below.
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: Inquirers Class
Facilitator: Joel Miller, Pastor
Room 301
Meeting: Oct 25; Nov 1 (congregational meeting), 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!