Reminders March 19-22
Church Garden Cleanup: Are you looking forward to the blooms of spring? Last fall, several hundred new bulbs were planted in the church garden. Now we need to clean out the excess leaves and old growth to let them emerge. You are invited to join the Garden Group and friends to do spring cleanup in the church garden. Tasks are to cut back old growth and rake the excess leaves out of the garden beds. Work is scheduled for THIS Saturday, March 21st, 9AM -12PM. Rain date, Saturday, March 28th. Needed tools: Hand pruners and rake. We will also have extra tools. Contact Ruth Massey, ramassey53@gmail.com for questions.
Garden cleanup generates bags of leaves, if you would like some of these to compost in your garden, please let Ruth know.
—–
1st GAME NIGHT at CMC! THIS SATURDAY March 21, 6-9 pm in the fellowship hall. Shuffle the deck! Throw the dice! Clear the table and set up your favorite board game! All ages bring your favorite games and invite your friends. March Madness fans, don’t worry. We have you covered. TV and comfy couch and chairs ready in the back of the fellowship hall. Bring snacks. No nuts, please. Punch and decaf coffee provided. – Community Life Commission, Chris McCarthy
——
Young Adult Dinner Group: Katie Graber and Jon Nofziger will be hosting the next Young Adult Dinner group THIS Saturday, March 21st at 6:00pm at their home (14875 State Road, Ostrander, OH 43061). Anyone who identifies as a young adult is welcome. Please let Katie know if you would like to join (katiejg@hotmail.com).
——
Claim your Lost and Found Item! Check the Lost and Found table by the office and bathrooms off the foyer through Sunday March 29. At that time, all remaining items will be donated.
General CMC Announcements
Mennonite Action Columbus’ Witness at No Kings Demonstration: Join members of Mennonite Action Columbus and other like minded faith groups to stand against ICE terror, the war in Iran, the genocide in Gaza, and rising authoritarianism as part of the nationwide No Kings Day demonstrations on Saturday, March 28th. We will gather in the church parking lot at 11:45 a.m. and walk-sing to the demonstration together. We will have a banner and plenty of signs, but feel free to bring your own signs. The preliminary plan is to stay close to the corner of High Street and E.North Broadway from 12:00-1:00, and possibly walk along High Street. If Indivisible holds a large rally at the State House later in the afternoon, those so inclined may migrate there. Questions? Contact Jeff or Teresa at daniels.island8@gmail.com
——
CMC has received an invitation to a Solidarity Vigil and Community Meal hosted by Abubakar Asiddiq Islamic Center and Faith in Public Life and Ohio Interfaith Collective. Ramadan and Lent started close together this year which makes this a perfect opportunity for us to join with our Somali neighbors who have suffered threats and other cruelties. We can stand with them on Sunday March 29th from 3-6pm. A contingent from CMC would be a joyful addition to this event. Please RSVP HERE if you plan to attend. Contact Robin Walton for more information.
—-
Membership and Baptism Information. Spring is the time when we welcome new members into Columbus Mennonite Church. 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.
——
Mark your calendars for the Annual CMC Easter Egg Hunt! It will begin at 12:30 PM Sunday, March 29th, at Clinton-Como Park. Children pre-K through 4th grade should bring a basket or bag. Middle-schoolers will walk with their Sunday School group to the park to hide the eggs. All are welcome to attend. Donuts will be provided but feel free to bring any picnic lunch items you would like for your family as well. Play shoes and clothes are recommended in case the park is muddy. If there is inclement weather, the egg hunt will take place in the Fellowship Hall and/or the sanctuary. Email Andy Minard with any questions at minard.OH@gmail.com.
——
Holy Week Activities: In addition to the Easter Egg Hunt, we also will be having several other special events during Holy Week. During our Palm Sunday service (March 29), children will be invited to join in a palm parade during the service. A contemplative Good Friday service will begin at 7p in the sanctuary on Friday April 3. On Easter Sunday morning (April 5), please join us in the fellowship hall at 8:15a for a breakfast potluck before our celebratory Easter service at 9:30a. More details coming soon!
——
Tafsout, the young lady from Northern Africa who has been living in our refuge apartment since July, is approaching the end of her expected time at CMC. She is looking for a room or studio apartment to rent. Would anyone have an extra room you’d consider renting to her, or know of an economical rental? She works near OSU and relies on COTA, so that is a consideration. -Cindy Fath, SHARE committee
—-
Sing, Pray, Act (Lent Small Group): Everyone is invited to join this small group that will meet on Wednesdays during Lent from 5:30 to 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary, followed by a simple soup and bread meal in the Fellowship Hall. We will use this time together to continue to reflect on the Lenten themes through singing, praying, and listening to prose or poetry. Afterwards, over a simple meal, we can share ideas and offer support to each other, working together to turn our contemplation into action. This is an open group and anyone is invited to join as many weeks as they are able. Reach out to Debra Martin if you have questions or are interested (debrakmartin77@gmail.com). Feel free to bring a poem or reading to share, a hymn to request, or information to share on actions you have taken or want to take to make a positive contribution to anything going on in the world right now.
—-
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
Check out the latest issue of the Connector (Central District Conference newsletter) HERE. Included are articles reflecting on partnerships near and far, including a respite housing apartment in Cincinnati and a bi-national companion congregation relationship. A few print copies will be available in the foyer within the next couple weeks.
—
Central District Conference has added Israel Palestine resources to their website. These include the Kairos II document and a study guide to go with it. You can find the resources at https://mcusacdc.org/resources/missional-resources/israel-palestine/
—
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, March 22
9:30 am Worship Service
11:00 am Christian Education Classes
CMC Activities Next Week
Monday, March 23
7:15pm Christian Education Commission Meeting
Wednesday, March 25
5:30 pm Sing, Pray, Act Lent Small Group in the sanctuary/fellowship hall
Thursday, March 26
7:30 pm Community Life Commission meeting via Zoom
Friday, March 27
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/313623317
9:00 am Piecemakers in the fellowship hall
Saturday, March 28
11:45 am Mennonite Action meetup at CMC to join No Kings Day demonstrations
Sunday, March 29
9:30 am Worship Service
11:00 am Christian Education Classes
12:30 pm Easter Egg Hunt at Como Park (or in the sanctuary/fellowship hall if inclement weather)
Office Contacts and Schedules for March 22-29
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: 9:00am-5:00p
Robin: robin@columbusmennonite.org, 614-406-1766, Mon: 10am-3pm, Fri: 10am-2pm
Upcoming CMC Special Events
March 21 Garden Clean Up, Game Night, and Young Adult Dinner Group
March 29 Palm Sunday Service (9:30a), Easter Egg Hunt (12:30p)
April 3 Good Friday Service at 7pm
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 15
Attendance: 210
Offerings Received (last week) $12,980.00
Offerings Received (March) $21,325.00
Offerings Needed (March) $44,795.00
Christian Education Classes
Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults will meet meet this Sunday 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.
Composting Faith for Lent (Feb-Mar). We will explore the weekly scriptures and daily devotions of the Lent season. What does reading these texts, and our lives, through the theme of compost have to teach us? No prior reading necessary. Facilitated by Joel Miller and Sarah Zwickle in Room 22 and over Zoom. Meets Feb 22-Mar 29 (no class Mar 1).
End of Life Class (Spring): 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. Class will meet April 12, 19, 26; May 10, 17, 31; and June 7, 14.
Additional classes may be added as the season progresses. More details to come!
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!