Reminders October 30-November 2
Daylight savings time ends at 2:00 am on Sunday, November 2 – remember to fall back an hour!
Congregational Meeting: Our fall congregational meeting will be held after worship this Sunday November 2, 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). Our meeting agenda will have two main items: reviewing the 2026 proposed budget and giving input on a potential new part time pastoral position. An updated agenda, budget, and discussion questions from the Pastor Exploration Committee were sent via email on Thursday October 30. Please note there has been a slight adjustment in the agenda since it was sent out last week, as it has been determined the poll on sanctuary temperature and sound is no longer necessary. Please review the materials and come ready to discuss. -Leadership Team
Childcare during the Congregational Meeting: During the Congregational Meeting, 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. Those children participating in the Christmas Program will also have a brief rehearsal in Room 1 during this time and will join the other children in the childcare room after they have finished.
It is HARVEST POTLUCK time this Sunday November 2nd right after the congregational meeting. Please bring extra food to share with any guests. Drinks will be provided, but bring your own plates and tableware. Please fill out an allergy list at the kitchen window when you drop off your food. 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.
Canned food collection begins this Sunday. We are beginning our annual Thanksgiving food collection early this year in light of the possible loss of SNAP food benefits for many of our neighbors during the government shutdown. Any food items are appreciated but most needed are sources of protein such as canned chicken or tuna and peanut butter along with traditional holiday items such as sweet potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie fixings. Please place items in the collection area in the foyer. Turkeys will also be accepted but due to storage space, please only bring those on November 23rd and place them in the fridge in the Fellowship Hall before the Worship service. All food donations will go to the Clintonville Community Resource Center Food Pantry. The need is particularly high this year – thank you for your generous donations! Contact Debra Martin with any questions.
Office Update: Mim Halterman will be on vacation through November 1. For administrative needs during this time, please call the church office or contact Laura Steiner at office@columbusmennonite.org.
This Sunday will be the ninth and final week in our “Anabaptism at 500” worship series. Throughout these weeks, we are exploring how we continue the Anabaptist witness in our time. Our worship services are following the outline of the book Drawing Near: A Devotional Journey with Art, Poetry, & Reflection and include poetry and artwork created by contemporary Anabaptists in response to biblical texts and their own lived experiences (used with permission).
General CMC Announcements
Building Update: Please note that the church building will be in use all day on Tuesday, November 4 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.
Inquirers Class Begins Sunday November 9: This five-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 on Sundays from 11a-12p. Class dates: Nov 9, 16, 23, Dec 14, 21.
Upcoming Women’s Coffee Hour: Thursday, November 13 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.
Seeking volunteer CMC painters! Facilities Commission and the Building Staff need help with painting the walls of the preschoolers’ restroom and also an exterior door. If you are able to help with either of these tasks, please contact Building Caretaker Kevin Condon at 614-557-3031 or kcondon7984@gmail. More details on each task are in THIS FLYER.
Drawing Near book purchases: Drawing Near books have been available for purchase at the back of the sanctuary over the last several weeks, and 6 copies remain. They make a wonderful gift or tool for contemplation! If you would like one or if you have taken one but not yet paid, please remember to pay by leaving $20 cash/check in the box beside the books, sending your payment via Zelle (treasurers@columbusmennonite.org), or using the DONATE button at the bottom of this email. Please leave a note in the memo line that your payment is for “Drawing Near book purchase.” Thank you!
CMC Directory Update for October 2025. From Mim Halterman: Please let me know if you have any changes for the directory sent by email earlier this month. If you are not in the directory and would like to be, please contact mim@columbusmennonite.org. I’d love to add you to the directory!
Events and Opportunities in the Wider Community
You are invited to hear two key church leaders from the Meserete Kristos Church in Ethiopia, November 6 at 7 pm share stories of growth, persecution, and need. Meserete Kristos Church is the largest single national denomination in Mennonite World Conference. Rosedale Bible College is hosting these guests and welcomes you to this open meeting at Sharon Mennonite Church, 7675 Amity Pike in Plain City. Come enjoy Ethiopian snacks and time for Q&A with key leaders from the Global South. Please contact Jewel Showalter, 740-956-7635, if you would like to schedule time personally to meet with them. They will be in this area Nov. 4-7.
Seeking artwork donations: For any of CMC artists who are seeking for a useful place for your art to go, Clintonville Community Resource Center hosts an annual Holiday Fundraiser with Silent Auction on December 12th. Donations of quality artwork would be appreciated. Please speak with Debra Martin for details.
Free music opportunity: Joe Mueller (son of Ted and Diane Mueller) will be performing with the Capital City Quartet at a concert on Tuesday, November 4th from 7-8pm at Huntington Recital Hall at Capital University. The quartet will be performing works by Mozart, Beethoven, Borodin, and more. All are welcome for an evening of beautiful music! Contact Diane or Ted for more information.
Sunday’s Events | November 2
9:30 Worship Service
Congregational Meeting following worship
Childcare and Children’s Christmas Program Rehearsal during the Congregational Meeting
Harvest Potluck following Congregational Meeting
4:00 pm Adult Christmas Choir Rehearsal in the sanctuary
CMC Activities Next Week
Tuesday, November 4
Church building in use all day as a polling location
Thursday, November 6
9:00 am Bulletin deadline
4:00 pm Set up for Piecemakers
Friday, November 7
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/313623317
9:00 am Piecemakers
Sunday, November 9
9:30 Worship Service
11:00 Christian Education Classes
12:00 Youth Groups
4:00 pm Adult Christmas Choir Rehearsal in the sanctuary
Office Contacts and Schedules for November 2-9
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-Thurs: 9:00 – 5:00pm; Fri-Sat: CDC Meetings at Camp Friedenswald
Upcoming CMC Special Events
October 26 BREAD Listening Lunch
Nov 2Congregational Meeting and Harvest Potluck
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 | October 26
Attendance: 176
Offerings Received (last week): $15,254.00
Offerings Received (October): $37,916.00
Offerings Needed (October): $42,236.00
Offerings Received (year to date): $410,526.61
Offerings Needed (year to date): $422,360.00
Offering Deficit (year to date): $(11,833.39)
Christian Education Classes
Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults will NOT meet this Sunday. Join us instead at the Congregational Meeting and Harvest Potluck! Classes will resume on November 9 – 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 library.
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!