Reminders May 1-4
Mulching in the Church Gardens this Saturday: Help is needed to spread compost/mulch on the garden beds. This is done to enrich the soil and slow down the weeds. Please join us between the hours of 9am and 12 noon (even for 30 min) this Saturday May 3rd. Bring your kids, large and small. A mound of soft black compost makes a delightful place to play! We have some shovels and wheelbarrows, but need more. A morning snack will be provided. More info: contact Ruth Massey.
Sundae Sunday is this week! Instead of a regular Cookie Sunday, Community Life will provide ice cream, including dairy free ice cream after worship this Sunday May 4. We ask you to bring the toppings—syrups, whipped cream, etc…OR accompaniments like pretzels, cookies, or fruit to share…use your imagination! Remember to fill out the ingredient list at the kitchen window! NO NUTS!!!
A Note from Pastor Joel
I will have a Sabbatical May 12 – August 11 – beginning soon! During this time I will not be doing church-related responsibilities. Robin Walton (pastoral care) and Bethany Davey (worship coordination) will each be serving five hours a week as interim pastors. This summer I hope to reflect on Anabaptism at 500 along with some reading about leadership and the gifts of middle age. I’m especially looking forward to a family trip to Europe the first half of June – a week in Rome, and a week in Switzerland. I also have some house projects, and rest, in mind. I’m grateful this congregation supports pastoral Sabbaticals to encourage renewal and longevity.
General Announcements
Please note that Tuesday, May 6 is a Primary/Special Election Day and CMC is a voting location. The parking lot and fellowship hall will in be use throughout the day, so please plan accordingly.
If you love the gingko tree, now is the time to appreciate it! As mentioned in Joel’s recent blog HERE, the gingko tree near the parking lot needs to be cut down and this will likely occur during the week of May 5. The tree removal company will set aside pieces of the trunk and/or branches as we direct. If you would like to have part of the tree to keep, email or text Dan Halterman (chiperodan@yahoo.com, 614-745-9727) – it’s apparently excellent carving wood. If there’s much interest, we’ll practice “conflict resolution” as necessary.
Women’s Coffee Hour. Thursday, May 8 from 10 am – 11:30 am. All are welcome to join us every second Thursday in the fellowship hall for coffee/tea, a light snack, and conversation.
Honda FR 800 walk behind rototiller is looking for a new home. Starts easily, 22” wide tilling. Many church members have borrowed over the last decade. Just make a donation of your choice to the CMC compassion fund. Tim and Chris. tckmccarthy@gmail.com
From Mennonite Central Committee: You’re invited to join MCC for the building dedication of the new MCC Material Resources Center in Kidron, OH on Sunday, May 4 from 2-4 p.m. We are grateful to all the churches and individuals who have supported this building project over the past several years. Please join us as we dedicate this building and the many kits and comforters that will pass through these doors spreading relief and hope to people around the world. Self-guided tours, activities and light refreshments will be offered from 2-4 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. We look forward to celebrating together! More information HERE.
2025 CMC Immigration Concert is Saturday May 10, 7-8:30pm in the sanctuary. Phil Hart and friends will once again bring you songs, photos, and poems covering the history of immigration in the US. The concert seeks to educate, entertain, and raise funds for our CMC Refuge Apartment and future needs of support for immigrants. We will continue our Easter theme of God’s Love Knows No Borders. The concert is open to anyone, and the recommended donation is $15 each. You are encouraged to bring kids, friends, co-workers and neighbors. For more information, contact Julie or Phil Hart.
From Lawrence Needleman (a new attender to CMC): If you’d like to opt in to a weekly action email that offers efficient opportunities to take positive action related to equity, health, human dignity, and the institutions that protect them, please contact Lawrence Needleman at needleperson@gmail.com (include “Weekly Action” in the subject line). Just a few clicks and a few minutes represent faithful steps.
The Magpie Consort (magpieconsort.org) is a local choral group that meets at CMC for their weekly rehearsals. They will be presenting their spring concert on the theme of Transformations on Saturday May 17 at 7 pm in the CMC sanctuary. Enjoy songs from Europe and the Americas about night and day, winter and spring, love and death, oceans and rivers…and evocative piano music. As always with Magpie programs, there will also be some audience participation. With Phil Brown Dupont (piano) and Fenn Ziskind-Waldermacher (percussion). All welcome. Tickets $0 – 20 at the door (pay what you are able).
Our church’s Plant Sale on Saturday May 31 is from 8am-12pm in our parking lot. Here’s a reminder that we need starts of your plants: perennials, shrubs, vegetables and houseplants. Please start potting them up now so they’ll be happy on May 31st. If you need pots to put them in, we have extra in the basement furnace room and back stairwell (off the library). Please feel free to ask for help locating them if needed! Please label your plants with their names. There are plant labels in a box on the top of the mailboxes in the Fellowship Hall. Becky Waybill will be at the church Friday May 30 from 5:30p-7:30p if you want to drop off your plants that evening. Otherwise, please be sure to have them in our church parking lot by 7am Saturday May 31. If you have questions, please ask Becky Waybill or Ruth Massey.
CPT Rummage Sale is also coming! This year’s dates are May 30 and 31. We need volunteers and your extras. We sell just about every household and yard item except adult clothing – but we do take shoes for all ages and infant/toddler clothes. Best sellers include: kitchen & decorative, recreational & sports, yard & garden, bedding and towels, toiletries & candles, books & office items, crafts & puzzles, appliances & electronics (except old computers and TV’s), furniture & rugs, games & toys plus luggage & purses. If items must be dropped off before the week of May 26, place them in the basement storage room next to the men’s restroom along the back wall or upstairs in classroom 24. If the item you are donating is valuable or antique, please label it with a suggested price. If the purpose of an item may not be easily recognized, please identify it. Check to be sure electrical items are in working order, and label as such. No old TVs or computers, please. Call Julie or Phil Hart for further information or to sign up to volunteer.
Sunday’s Events | May 4
9:30 am Worship
Sundae Sunday in the fellowship hall following worship
Activities Next Week
Tuesday May 6
Election Day (CMC is a voting location)
Wednesday May 7
6:00 pm Commission Workshop
Thursday, May 8
9:00 am Bulletin Deadline
10:00 am Women’s Coffee Time
Friday, May 9
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/313623317
Saturday, May 10
7:00 Immigration Concert with Phil Hart and Friends
Sunday, May 11 | Membership Sunday
9:30 am Worship (New Members Join)
11:00 am Christian Education Classes
Office Contacts and Schedules for May 4-11
Laura: office@columbusmennonite.org, 216-870-0119, Mon – Fri: 8:30am – 2:30pm
Mim: mim@columbusmennonite.org, 614-745-5150, Tues: 9:00am – 2:30pm
Mark: mark@columbusmennonite.org, 419-392-0610, Mon-Thu 9am-3pm; Fri: Sabbath
Joel: joel@columbusmennonite.org, 614-940-7839, Mon: Sabbath; Tues-Wed: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; Thu-Sat: CLC Conference
Upcoming CMC Special Events
May 10 CMC Immigration Concert with Phil Hart and Friends
May 11 Membership Sunday
May 13 BREAD Nehemiah Action
May 30-31 Annual Rummage Sale
May 31 Annual Plant Sale
June 8 Outdoor Service at Highbanks
Last Sunday | April 27
Attendance: 179
Offerings Received (last week) | $ | 12,679.00 |
Offerings Received (April) | $ | 36,343.00 |
Offerings Needed (April) | $ | 42,236.00 |
Offerings Received (year to date) | $ | 152,616.00 |
Offerings Needed (year to date) | $ | 168,944.00 |
Offering Deficit (year to date) | $ | (16,328.00) |
Christian Education Classes
Christian Education Classes will not meet this week. Join us instead for Sundae Sunday!
The following classes will resume next week:
Children/Youth Classes
Children’s Classes (Pre-K through 4th Grade): Children meet together for a gathering/sharing time and snack in room 2 before moving to Rooms 3 and 4 for a Bible story and creative response time.
Junior High (5th – 8th Grade): Middle grade youth meet in Room 23 for Bible study, snacks, and other activities. This class utilizes a curriculum that follows the Narrative Lectionary and will help the class explore the stories and scriptures used during worship.
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 Christian Education Classes
Listening is the Beginning of Peace
This course presents conflict as a natural and potentially healthy occurrence between people in everyday life. We will explore the dynamics of conflict and strategies for transforming conflict into a collaborative experience for all involved. Building on an understanding of communication, conflict and culture, we build skills through role play scenarios for constructive communication and problem solving in conflict. We will start with processes for structured dialogue and negotiation and move on to include skills for mediation and reconciliation. The emphasis is on nonviolent or compassionate communication to preserve and strengthen relationships. There is a text that is available in the first weeks of the class. Facilitators Julie Hart and Kerry Strayer. Meets in Rm 21 beginning January 19 through May, excluding Cookie Sundays and Easter, April 20.
Hunger for Healing
The Hunger for Healing group/meeting/class has been meeting since 2007. We use J. Keith Miller’s book, A Hunger for Healing: The Twelve Steps as a Classic Model for Christian Spiritual Growth, along with accompanying DVDs, to provide a starting point for sharing, discussion, and spiritual growth and healing. Previous experience with the 12 Steps is not required. Regular attendance is not required. The only requirement for attendance is a desire to attend. For more information, contact Steve Rolfe or Julie Hart. Class meets from January 19 – May 25 excluding Easter April 20. Currently meeting via Zoom AND in room 24 (hybrid).
The links to get into the Zoom meeting are:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86971564275?pwd=aHZZWDVKY0F2S2gydVhNeFZITk9QUT0
Mobile phone links:
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,86971564275#,,,,*243401# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,86971564275#,,,,*243401# US (Chicago)
