Announcements

Reminders September 11-15

Christian Education Classes resume THIS SUNDAY at 11:00 am with several new and returning class options. Check out the list below for more details!

Important forms are due by Monday! Thanks to all of those who have submitted their First Fruits Pledge Forms and Fall Retreat Registration Forms. If you have not yet done this, please take time to consider your responses and submit by Monday, September 15. Follow the link HERE for the First Fruits Pledge Form and HERE for Fall Retreat Registration.  More details below. Thank you!

General CMC Announcements

First Fruits Pledge Forms: DUE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15. These commitments are crucial for the Leadership Team as they build the budget for 2026. HERE is the link for the pledge form. So far, only 40% of households have responded. We ask that every household complete it and let us know your pledge amount for 2026, even if it is $0. Thank you in advance for taking the time to respond and for supporting CMC! If you have questions, contact Joel Copeland, Treasurer, or Ellen Kreider, Accountant, at treasurers@columbusmennonite.org.

Fall Retreat happens in 2 weeks and registration is DUE Monday September 15! All are welcome to come to Kirkmont Center in Zanesfield, from Friday evening, September 26th to Sunday, September 28th at noon. Come and enjoy the beautiful setting with fellow CMCers for all or part of the weekend. CMC covers lodging and participants pay for meals. Worship will be held at Kirkmont instead of CMC on September 28th. The registration form is available HERE. Paper registration forms will be available in the lobby after church this Sunday. Please complete registration by Monday September 15. Contact Chris McCarthy, Andrew Sitzmann, or any member of the Community Life Commission if you have questions.

Office Update: Mim Halterman will be on vacation for the remainder of this week. Pastor Joel Miller will be on vacation next Friday, September 19.

Church Garden Maintenance: You are invited to help with the last scheduled evening of garden work for this year on September 15th , 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Tasks include, weeding, deadheading etc. There are extra tools available. Snacks and chatting in the fellowship hall will end the evening. Questions? Contact Ruth Massey at ramassey53@gmail.com.

Bulb Planting: 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 on 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.

CROP Walk Fundraiser: This year the annual CROP Hunger Walk fundraiser is September 28 at 2pm at the Scioto Audubon Metro Park. Donations of support can be made at their website or you can donate through your offering to CMC. Please note CROP/CWS on the memo line. I will be walking. Please let me know if you would like to join me and carpool. – Krisann Applegate

HEAL Palestine Update:  HEAL Palestine has resumed activities after a temporary pause, and CMC will host an event on Sunday, October 5th from 1-3 pm in the fellowship hall.  Khalid Turaani, Executive Director of CAIR-Ohio (Counsel on American-Islamic Relations – Ohio), will give a 30-minute lecture on Faith, Tradition and Culture in the Levant.  Please consider attending to learn about the Levant and the status of the countries of that region today. Khalid is looking forward to the conversation being very open and interactive with lots of space to discuss similarities and differences of customs, dress, and faith traditions.  Arabic coffee, tea, and snacks will be served and you will have a chance to chat with folks concerning HEAL’s work. The event is free.

Tafsout, who lives in our CMC refuge apartment, is looking for a job. She is interested in an office job and is also available for babysitting. Do you know of an opportunity you could connect her to? She is partway through a business/marketing degree and can use Microsoft Office software. (Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint). She is fluent in Tamazight (the Berber language), Arabic, French, English and Hindi. She can be reached at 614-591-2451, or contact Cindy Fath with any suggestions. Job location on a bus route is a plus. 

Drawing Near Reflection Group: In conjunction with the fall Anabaptism at 500 worship series, Pastor Mark will be leading a small group that will read and reflect on the poetry, art, and scripture found in the book Drawing Near. We will meet on Zoom at noon on Mondays during the Anabaptism at 500 worship series, starting on September 8. Email Pastor Mark for the Zoom link to participate. Even if you can only join once or twice, all are invited when they can. Participants are not required to have their own copy of the book, but all are encouraged to buy their own if possible, details HERE.

Events and Opportunities in the Wider Community

Read the latest edition of the Central District Conference newsletter HERE. This month’s Connector is a special issue focused on immigrant justice and care and includes stories from several congregations. Check out the article by Cindy Fath about CMC’s refuge housing apartment!

Local organization Make-A-Day invites CMCers to participate in their Move the Box initiative. Move the Box is a mobile expungement and record‑sealing initiative crafted to dismantle one of the most entrenched obstacles to housing, employment, and long-term stability – past criminal convictions. Move the Box brings legal support, filing assistance, and holistic navigation directly to neighborhoods where it’s needed most. Interested in volunteering? Visit their website for more information.

North Congregational Church UCC will be hosting a Feeding Families, Filling Hearts Concert to support the Southside Community Ministries Food Pantry. Musical performers will be Jesse Powers and N Soul Deep along with sharing from The Guitar House Workshop, which supports southside families through their business. September 20, 7-9pm at North Congregational UCC (2040 Henderson Rd., Columbus 43220). Doors open at 6pm for a silent auction. $25 suggested donation. More information HERE.

Grief Support Opportunities: Marty Troyer invites CMCers to participate in the following grief support opportunities provided through Luminary Hospice. For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Marty at marty.troyer@luminaryhospice.com:

Grief Support Group via Zoom
Dates: First Thursdays:  August 7, September 4, October 2, November 6, December 4
Time: 1pm-2pm
Location: Zoom (link provided upon RSVP)

Open to all who are grieving, whether your loss is recent or years past. No pressure to speak—just come as you are and invite others who may benefit. Drop in once or every time. The event is hosted by Marty Troyer through his work as hospice chaplain at Luminary Hospice. 

Mourning Mercies: A Spiritual Retreat for Those Who Grieve
Finding Comfort, Strength, and Peace Amidst Grief

Are you grieving the loss of a loved one? Join us for a peaceful, soul-nourishing retreat designed to support your heart and spirit through this tender time. The event is hosted by Marty Troyer through his work as hospice chaplain at Luminary Hospice. 

Date: Saturday Sep 13, 2025
Time: 10am-2pm
Location: Sharon Woods Metro Park (Location provided upon registration)

Sunday’s Events | September 14

9:30 am Worship Service

11:00 am Christian Education classes resume for all ages

12:00 pm Youth Group Cookout (weather-permitting)

Activities Next Week

Monday, September 15

12:00 pm Drawing Near Reflection Group via Zoom

6:30 pm Garden Group

Thursday, September 18

9:00 am Bulletin deadline

4:00 pm Set up for Piecemakers

Friday, September 19

6:30 am Men’s Breakfast via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/313623317

9:00 am Piecemakers in the fellowship hall

Sunday, September 21

9:30 am Worship Service

11:00 am Christian Education classes

Office Contacts and Schedules for September 14-21

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-Thurs: 9:00am—5:00pm, Fri: vacation

Upcoming CMC Special Events

September 14 Christian Education classes resume for all ages

September 15 Due date for First Fruits Pledge forms and Fall Retreat registration

Sept 26-28  Fall Retreat at Kirkmont Retreat Center

October 5 Cookie Sunday

Nov 2Congregational Meeting and Harvest Potluck

Nov 30 Advent begins

Dec 7 Congregational Meeting and Cookie Sunday

February 7, 2026 Open Mic Coffeehouse

Last Sunday | September 7

Attendance: 207

Offerings Received (last week): $5,461.00

Offerings Received (September): $34,480.05

Offerings Needed (September): $42,236.00

Christian Education Classes

Regular Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults resume this Sunday! See below for 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 4thGrade): 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 in the Library.

Transitions (meets Sept-Oct): We will reflect on the many transitions we undergo throughout adulthood, select a particular personal transition past or present to give attention to, and ritually mark that transition together. This is a closed group, with a newgroup forming every fall. Led by Joel Miller in room 22. Class Sundays: Sept 7, 14, 21, Oct 12, 19.

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!