Reminders October 23-26
Bulb Planting Reminder and Update – this Saturday! Since it will be a chilly morning, we will serve donuts and coffee from 9-9:30 and start planting at 9:30. Every few years, the Spring flowering bulbs need to be renewed. The last was fall of 2019. We are overdue! Marlene, the bulb specialist, has ordered 350 bulbs and we would like to plant them this Saturday, October 25th, starting at 9:00 am. We would love your help!! Suggested tools: long narrow trowel, regular trowel and small shovel. We will have extra tools and some goodies. Questions? Contact Ruth Massey at ramassey53@gmail.com.
Office Update: Mim Halterman will be on vacation through November 1. For administrative needs or to share a prayer request for the Tuesday email during this time, please call the church office or contact Laura Steiner at office@columbusmennonite.org.
Rehearsals for Christmas Program and Adult Choir: The children will be rehearsing for the Christmas program each week between worship and Sunday School in Room 1. They will be dismissed from worship during announcements to give them more time to rehearse. All children are invited to join and learn the songs regardless of whether they are participating in the program. Adult choir rehearsals are now weekly on Sundays from 4-5:30pm in the sanctuary.
This Sunday will be the eighth in our “Anabaptism at 500” worship series, which will continue through November 2. 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). Special thanks to the Transitions Class for leading this week’s service.
This Sunday is the last opportunity in 2025 to join BREAD Listening Lunch at noon in the fellowship hall. See details below.
Lamplighter deadline: This Sunday October 26 is the deadline for contributions to the November Lamplighter. Please send them to Laura at lamplighter@columbusmennonite.org. Thank you!
General CMC Announcements
Congregational Meeting: Our fall congregational meeting will be held after worship on November 2, with the Harvest Potluck to follow. 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 agenda, budget, and discussion questions from the Pastor Exploration Committee will be sent out via email by Monday, October 27. Please review and come ready to discuss. -Leadership Team
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 on the flyer posted by the restrooms.
Drawing Near book purchases: Drawing Near books have been available for purchase at the back of the sanctuary over the last several weeks, and 8 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 leave $20 cash/check in the box beside the books, send your payment via Zelle (treasurers@columbusmennonite.org), or use the DONATE button at the bottom of this page. 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 week. 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!
BREAD invites you to a Listening Lunch, Sundays in October. Please join us for lunch and discussion of challenges you see in Columbus that you would like our city to address in the next year. We just successfully completed one solution to our rental challenges in Columbus with a Rental Registry to hold Landlords more accountable. It will begin city-wide in 2026. At the lunch, we will ask you about what keeps you up at night. We will then take our responses to a gathering in November of all 44 BREAD congregations and narrow the most pressing issue down to one we believe we can succeed with this year. But to do this, we need to hear from you and what you see in your job or neighborhood that must be addressed. Please sign up for a lunch in the foyer after church or speak to Julie Hart, Melonie Buller or Shakita Kabicek to sign up or to share your issue. Thanks from the BREAD Team.
Sunday’s Events | October 26
9:30 am Worship Service
Children’s Christmas Program Rehearsal between Worship and Christian Ed
11:00 am Christian Education classes
12:00 pm BREAD Listening Lunch in the fellowship hall
4:00 pm Adult Christmas Choir Rehearsal in the sanctuary
Lamplighter deadline
CMC Activities Next Week
Monday, October 27
12:00 pm Drawing Near Reflection Group via Zoom
Tuesday, October 28
7:00 pm Shepherding Commission in Joel’s office
Thursday, October 30
9:00 am Bulletin deadline
Friday, October 31
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/313623317
Sunday, November 2
9:30 Worship Service
Congregational Meeting following worship
Children’s Christmas Program Rehearsal during the Congregational Meeting
Harvest Potluck following Congregational Meeting
4:00 pm Adult Christmas Choir Rehearsal in the sanctuary
Office Contacts and Schedules for October 26-November 1
Laura: office@columbusmennonite.org, 216-870-0119, Mon-Fri: 8:30am – 2:30pm
Mim: mim@columbusmennonite.org, 614-745-5150, vacation
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 — 5:00pm
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
Jan 17, 2026 Winter Seminar
Feb 7, 2026 Open Mic Coffeehouse
March 6 & 7, 2026 Knotting Party and Soup-er Pie Supper
Last Sunday | October 19
Attendance: 148
Offerings Received (last week): $8,033.00
Offerings Received (October): $22,572.00
Offerings Needed (October): $42,236.00
Christian Education Classes
Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults will meet this Sunday. Please note that the class “My Soul Cries Out” will return to its original meeting location in the library this week. 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. Class will return to original location in the library for October 26.
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!