Reminders December 26-28
Merry Christmas and Happy (almost) New Year to all! Please note staff hours in the office will be limited this week, and the office will be closed on Thursday, January 1. The bulletin for next Sunday January 4, will be emailed on Friday January 2. More details below.
Building Use this Saturday: Please note that the fellowship hall, library, and kitchen will be in use on Saturday afternoon (December 27) from 3p-9p for a Moroccan women’s gathering, which requires privacy for the women attending. If you are planning to come to the church during that time, please avoid entering those areas of the church out of respect for the cultural practices of this group. There will be signs on the room doors as a reminder! Thank you for your sensitivity – they are very grateful to be able to use our building for a safe and fun gathering time!
Reimbursement Requests Due by this Sunday, December 28. If you have made purchases for a CMC commission this calendar year, please turn in any receipts to Ellen Kreider by December 28, 2025. If they are not received by that time, reimbursement may no longer be available. If you have questions about the reimbursement process, please contact Ellen at treasurers@columbusmennonite.org. Thank you!
General CMC Announcements
Office Update and Staff Schedules: The office will be closed Thursday January 1 in observance of New Year’s Day. Please note that Pastor Joel will be out of the office today through next Thursday January 1. Pastor Mark will be out of the office Monday December 29 until Monday January 5. For pastoral care needs during this time, please contact Annie Trance (Shepherding Commission member). Church Administrator Laura Steiner will be out of the office Monday December 29 through Thursday, January 1. Please contact Administrative Assistant Mim Halterman with administrative needs during that time. Happy holidays, all!
CMC Piecemakers invite you to join us on Friday, January 2nd from 9-3 pm. Sack lunches at noon, with cookies provided. We’ll be knotting comforters, laying out scrappy comforter tops, and providing sewing lessons for children aged 10 and up, as well as adults. If you’d like to join us, please let Marlene Suter know by Dec. 31st who is coming and which activities you’re interested in (mssuter@gmail.com or text 614-893-7609).
Save the Date for an ICE Rapid Response Training and Immigrant Student & Family Support. Following Cookie Sunday, 11:30 am on January 4th in the sanctuary. Registration and more information coming soon! -Elisa Stone Leahy
Women’s Coffee Hour: Thursday, January 8 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.
Want to see the recording of the Children’s Christmas Play? The CMC Children’s Christmas Play “The Legend of the Christmas Wise One” was recorded on Saturday December 13, but will not be posted publicly on our website. If you would like to watch the recording, please email Laura at office@columbusmennonite.org to request access. It’s a delightful way to spend 35 minutes this holiday season!
Winter Seminar: Join us on Saturday, January 17, from 9:45-2:00 in the fellowship hall for a seminar facilitated by Anton Flores-Maisonet. Anton is a pastor, activist, long-time community organizer for and with immigrant communities, and author of the recently published book Welcome Friends: Stories of Hope and Hospitality with Immigrants. Lunch and childcare will be provided, but please RSVP HERE by January 10.
Events and Opportunities in the Wider Community
Camp Friedenswald Creativity Retreat: These days call for creativity…and time in the woods. Come to Camp Friedenswald April 10-12 for their first ever spring CREATIVITY RETREAT : One Retreat. Four Tracks. You pick your track! Memoir writing with Jeff Gundy, Songwriting with Sadie Gustafson-Zook, Watercolor with John Blosser, and Knitting/Crochet with Mariah Martin. See the Camp Friedenswald website for more details! Registration is open. Spaces are limited so register early!
The Mennonite Reading and Discussing Group is entering its 4th year. In 2026, the group will be offering a reading and discussion of the book, “The Writings of Pilgram Marpeck”, translated and edited by William Klassen and Walter Klaassen; Published by Herald Press, 1978, Kitchner, Ontario/Scottdale, Pennsylvania. Meetings will be virtual and will be held weekly on Wednesdays at 7:30p ET/6:30p CT/5:30p MT/4:30p PT. Meetings will begin on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 and continue through Wednesday, December 9, 2026 (with a summer break of June/July/August). We usually finish our discussion for the week in an hour. For more information including syllabus and virtual meeting information, please contact Joel Thierstein at Mennonite.joel@gmail.com.
Calendars
Sunday, December 28
9:30 am Worship Service
CMC Activities Next Week
Thursday, January 1
CMC Office closed – HAPPY NEW YEAR!
4:00 pm Set up for Piecemakers in the fellowship hall
Friday, January 2
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/313623317
9:00 am Piecemakers in the fellowship hall
Sunday, January 4
9:30 am Worship Service
Cookie Sunday following the worship service
11:30 am Rapid Response/Immigrant Support training in the sanctuary
Office Contacts and Schedules for December 28-January 4
*Please note the office will be closed on Thursday, January 1 for New Year’s Day.*
Laura: office@columbusmennonite.org, 216-870-0119, Mon-Thurs: off; Fri: 8:30a – 2:30p
Mim: mim@columbusmennonite.org, 614-745-5150, Mon-Wed: 9:00a-12:00p
Mark: mark@columbusmennonite.org, 419-392-0610, Mon-Fri: off
Joel: joel@columbusmennonite.org, 614-940-7839, Mon-Thurs: off; Fri: 9:00a – 5:00p
Upcoming CMC Special Events
January 4, 2026 Cookie Sunday and Rapid Response/Immigrant Support training
Jan 17, 2026 Winter Seminar: Welcome, Friends!
Jan 31, 2026 HEAL Palestine Fundraiser Meal and Concert
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 | December 21
Attendance: 204
Offerings Received (last week): $6,483.00
Offerings Received (December): $30,010.00
Offerings Needed (December): $42,236.00
Christian Education Classes
Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults will not meet this Sunday or next. Stay tuned for announcements about classes that will begin January 11!
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!