Reminders April 2-5
Join us for our CMC Good Friday service at 7p, April 3, in the sanctuary. This will be a contemplative Tenebrae service with increasing darkness as we sing and read through the scriptures giving the final events of Jesus’ life. If you also wish to be part of a more public service that day, see the “Good Trouble” announcement below.
Good Trouble Friday: Stations of Love & Justice. April 3 at Noon. Meet at Trinity Episcopal on Capitol Square | 125 E. Broad St Columbus, OH. An ecumenical Stations of the Cross procession around the Ohio Statehouse. Join with leaders from across Christian denominations as we remember those who suffer in our day, and sing and pray for justice, peace and the dignity of every human being. We will gather at the front steps of Trinity before processing around the Statehouse and returning to pray our closing station again on the steps of Trinity. Rain or shine. – Rev. Jed Dearing, Rector
Flowers for Easter! Help bring the Easter service alive! In CMC tradition, we invite you to bring plants and flowers (in vases or pots) on Easter morning to be featured at the front of the sanctuary. We welcome all contributions, store-bought and right from the yard. If you do plan to bring something, please drop them off in the sanctuary a bit early (before the Breakfast Potluck is preferred!) so everything can be arranged. (And don’t forget to collect your things after the service!)
Easter Breakfast Potluck, Sunday April 5th: You are invited to the Easter Breakfast Potluck that precedes worship service, 8:15 to 9:15 am. We ask you to bring either a breakfast casserole, oatmeal, breakfast meats, fruit or something sweet (coffee cake or pastries) to share (8-10 servings). NO NUTS!! Please bring your own non disposable plate. We will furnish coffee, juice, flatware and cups. Please fill out the ingredient list at the kitchen window.
Yard waste materials to use for composting, gardening or for city yard waste pickup. Help us remove the bags of yard waste by the north side of the church building in the parking lot. We have 30+ bags to remove. Come this week and take a couple bags home with you!
General CMC Announcements
Office Update: Pastor Joel will be on vacation from April 6-13, returning to the office on Tuesday April 14. Please contact Pastor Mark or Pastor Robin during this time for pastoral care needs.
CMC Women’s Coffee Connection: Thursday, April 9, 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.
Mennonites and Iran Presentation: On Sunday April 12 from 11-12 in the sanctuary, Dannie Otto will offer his presentation about Iran once more. He will report on a 2016 trip to Iran with a delegation of U.S. and American Mennonites. He will also discuss the unique version of Shia Islam practiced in Iran and how misunderstandings of Iranian religion and culture contribute to the ongoing conflict between the U.S. government and the Iranian government. All are welcome to join, and the presentation will include a time for Q&A.
In addition to the Iran presentation, two new adult Christian Education classes begin April 12. See details in Christian Ed list below!
April showers bring the May 30th Plant Sale! No more snow please! We need all kinds of plants for our annual plant sale: perennials, shrubs, vegetable starts and even houseplants. We didn’t have many vegetables and herbs last year, so that would be a big request this year. Please start potting them up now so they’ll be happy on May 30th. If you need pots, they are available in the old furnace room in the basement. More details will follow. If you’re new to our community, we host a plant sale at our church every year which coincides with our Rummage Sale on Saturday May 30 from 8-12. Proceeds from the sale go to our Garden Group (for mulch and to replenish plants) and to Piecemakers for comforter supplies. If you have questions about your plants/plant sale, please contact Becky Waybill.
Please mark your calendar for our Spring Congregational Meeting, which will be held on Sunday April 19 in the sanctuary after worship. Additional materials will be emailed in preparation next week. A Youth Group Fundraiser Meal will follow in the fellowship hall. More details on both will be coming soon!
Membership and Baptism Information. Spring is the time when we welcome new members into Columbus Mennonite Church and together renew our Membership Commitment.. We will have a pizza lunch (provided) during the Sunday school hour, 11am start, on Sunday, April 26 that will offer more information for those considering membership. If you have not been baptized and wish to consider it, this is also a time for that. Please let Pastor Joel know of your interest, even if you can’t attend on the 26th. Membership Sunday will be May 10.
Dan Halterman is again collecting round oatmeal-type containers for the children’s craft tent at the Central Ohio Folk Festival in June. Please leave any by his mailbox and/or contact him.
Opportunities in the Wider Community
The latest edition of the Central District Conference Connector newsletter is HERE. In this Earth Day issue of the Connector you’ll hear from two congregations about their experiences with outdoor worship services (one of the congregations is CMC!). There are also articles about the recent discussion on Article 19 at the Mid-Year Gathering, a new book from Mennonite Action, and a yard sign campaign by a congregation in Virginia, along with the latest edition of Doug’s Mug.
Rooting our Stories: Reveling in 50 years of Queer and Trans Anabaptist Resilience Join the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests (BMC) for a gathering rooted in sacred story and joyful revelry, as we mark our 50th Anniversary on May 29-31 in Minneapolis! This festive weekend will include storytelling, singing, ritual/worship, workshops, artmaking, games, shared meals, and honoring this incredible 50-year legacy of LGBTQIA+ Anabaptist resistance and resilience. Find event details, safety/accessibility info, and registration on our 50th webpage.
Calendars
Sunday, April 5
8:15 am Easter Breakfast potluck
9:30 am Worship Service
No Christian Education classes this week
CMC Activities Next Week
Wednesday, April 8
12:00 Rohr Group via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89881884175
Thursday, April 9
10:00 am Women’s Coffee Connection in the fellowship hall
Friday, April 10
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/313623317
Sunday, April 12
9:30 am Worship Service
11:00 am Christian Education classes
Office Contacts and Schedules for April 5-12
Laura: office@columbusmennonite.org, 216-870-0119, Mon-Fri: 8:30a – 2:30p
Mim: mim@columbusmennonite.org, 614-745-5150, Tues: 9:30a-3:30p
Mark: mark@columbusmennonite.org, 419-392-0610, Mon-Thu: 9:00a-3:00p, Fri: Sabbath
Joel: joel@columbusmennonite.org, 614-940-7839, Mon: Sabbath, Tues-Fri: vacation
Robin: robin@columbusmennonite.org, 614-406-1766, Mon: 10am-3pm, Fri: 10am-2pm
Upcoming CMC Special Events
April 3 Good Friday Service at 7pm in the sanctuary
April 5 Easter Sunday (8:15am Breakfast Potluck, 9:30am Worship Service)
April 19 Spring Congregational Meeting and Youth Group Fundraiser Meal
April 26 Keeping CMC Safe Sunday
May 3 Fundraiser Meal for Columbia Sister Church Delegation
May 10 Membership Sunday
May 12 BREAD Nehemiah Action
May 17 Children/Youth Sunday
May 29-30 Rummage Sale (Fri-Sat) and Plant Sale (Sat)
June 7 Piecemakers Comforter Blessing during worship
June 21 Outdoor Service at Highbanks Metro Park (no service at CMC)
Last Sunday | March 29
Attendance: 221
Offerings Received (last week) $14,900.00
Offerings Received (March) $41,150.00
Offerings Needed (March) $44,795.00
Offerings Received (year to date): $113,694.00
Offerings Needed (year to date): $134,385.00
Offering Deficit (year to date): $(20,691.00)
Christian Education Classes
Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults will NOT meet this Sunday but will resume on Sunday April 12 at 11am. The descriptions of the classes for this season are below.
Unless otherwise noted, classes will meet on the following Sundays: Jan 11, 18, 25; Feb 8, 15, 22; Mar 8, 15, 22, 29; April 12, 26; May 10, 17. Due to Cookie Sundays, holidays, and other special events, most classes will not meet on Jan 4, Feb 1, Mar 1, Apr 5, Apr 19, May 3, or May 24. 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 to 1st Grade) move to Room 2, and older children (2nd to 4th grade) 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
My Soul Cries Out (Jan-May): 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 Adam Glass in Room 21.
End of Life Class (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 Room 22. Class will meet April 12, 26, May 10, 17, 31, and June 7, 14.
Prophets and Kings Bible Study (April/May): This Bible study will explore various texts that speak about the centralization and uses of political power and how the kingdom of God relates to these situations, both in their original context and our own. Facilitated by Jim Fredal and Joel Miller, this class will meet in Room 24 on April 12, 26, May 10, 17.
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!