Reminders November 6-9
Canned food collection continues this Sunday. We began our annual Thanksgiving food collection early this year, and any food items are appreciated. Most needed are sources of protein such as canned chicken or tuna and peanut butter along with traditional holiday items such as sweet potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie fixings. Please place items in the collection area in the foyer. Turkeys will also be accepted but due to storage space, please only bring those on November 23rd and place them in the fridge in the Fellowship Hall before the Worship service. All food donations will go to the Clintonville Community Resource Center Food Pantry. Contact Debra Martin with any questions.
Inquirers Class Begins this Sunday November 9: This five-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 on Sundays from 11a-12p. Class dates: Nov 9, 16, 23, Dec 14, 21.
The updated October CMC Directory was emailed on Monday and there will be paper copies of the directory in the foyer on Sunday. Please limit 1 per family.
We hope you can join us for Wild Church this Sunday, November 9 at Highbanks Metro Park at 4 pm (9466 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center, OH 43035). We will meet at one of the shelters on the Big Meadows Loop. Look for the yard flag with the tree on it. It will be placed in the parking area where we are meeting. Bring a chair or blanket and dress for the weather. We will have a fire for warmth. All ages and abilities are welcome: the location is accessible via a paved path with nearby parking. Email or text Sarah Werner if you have questions.
General CMC Announcements
CMC pledges and planned giving for 2025. If you are wondering about how you are doing with your pledge and planned giving as we approach the end of fiscal year 2025, please contact Treasurer Joel Copeland or Accountant Ellen Kreider at treasurers@columbusmennonite.org. We will provide you with your current giving status.
Upcoming Women’s Coffee Hour: Thursday, November 13 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.
Learn new ways to stand up for justice. Mennonite Action is coming to Columbus Mennonite with their “To Build our Courage” training tour on Tuesday, December 9th, from 5:45 pm – 8:45 pm. The evening will include a meal, along with worship, and instruction on noncooperation, grassroots organizing, and mutual aid. To sign up go to mennoniteaction.org. For questions, contact Conrad Gratz or Mary Yoder.
Drawing Near book purchases: Drawing Near books have been available for purchase at the back of the sanctuary over the last several weeks, and 5 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 remember to pay by leaving $20 cash/check in the box beside the books, sending your payment via Zelle (treasurers@columbusmennonite.org), or using the DONATE button at the bottom of this email. Please leave a note in the memo line that your payment is for “Drawing Near book purchase.” Thank you!
Events and Opportunities in the Wider Community
MCC immigration training sessions. Join MCC’s Immigration Network for a special two-hour virtual training designed to help churches understand immigration enforcement, know their legal rights as a faith community, and develop a plan of action in case immigration agents show up at or near their congregation. The training sessions will be led by Abraham Díaz Alonso, Immigration Program Coordinator with MCC Central States. Through this training, participants will:
Learn what “sensitive locations” are and how immigration enforcement policies have changed.
Explore how to create a church response plan and understand their rights under the law.
Learn how community-led Rapid Response Networks operate to support families and document ICE activity.
Reflect on how our faith calls us to respond with courage, hospitality, and solidarity.
Three sessions will be in English and two in Spanish. Each session will provide the same content.
English – November 17 & 25, December 2
Spanish – November 11 & 18
Time: 6:00–8:00 PM (Central Time)
Location: Online via Zoom
Register here: mcc.org/protecting-our-communities
Seeking artwork donations: For any CMC artists who are seeking for a useful place for your art to go, Clintonville Community Resource Center hosts an annual Holiday Fundraiser with Silent Auction on December 12th. Donations of quality artwork would be appreciated. Please speak with Debra Martin for details.
Sunday’s Events | November 9
9:30 Worship Service
11:00 Christian Education Classes
12:00 Youth Groups
4:00 pm Adult Christmas Choir Rehearsal in the sanctuary
4:00 pm Wild Church at Highbanks Metropark
CMC Activities Next Week
Wednesday, November 12
9:00 am BREAD Clergy Caucus meeting in the fellowship hall
12:00pm Worship Commission via Zoom
Thursday, November 13
9:00 am Bulletin deadline
10:00 am Women’s Coffee Time in the fellowship hall
Friday, November 14
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/313623317
Sunday, November 16
9:30 Worship Service
11:00 Christian Education Classes
12:00 Children’s Christmas Program costume fitting in Room 1
4:00 pm Adult Christmas Choir Rehearsal in the sanctuary
Office Contacts and Schedules for November 9-16
Laura: office@columbusmennonite.org, 216-870-0119, Mon-Fri: 8:30am – 2:30pm
Mim: mim@columbusmennonite.org, 614-745-5150, Tues: 9:30am – 3:30pm
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: 9:00 – 5:00pm
Upcoming CMC Special Events
Nov 23 Thanksgiving Service, Bountiful Table Offering
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
Dec 24 Christmas Eve Service
Jan 17, 2026 Winter Seminar
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 | November 2
Attendance: 187
Christian Education Classes
The adult Christian Education class “My Soul Cries Out” will not meet this Sunday. All other Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults will meet. See below for 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 (not meeting November 9, will resume November 16): 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 in the library.
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!