The video above includes the full service, except for the time for sharing.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained through One License with license A-727859.

Order of Worship | Easter 6

Prelude  

Welcome 

Land Acknowledgement 

We acknowledge we are gathering on land where Miami, Osage, Shawnee, and other Indigenous peoples have lived and labored, fought, and loved. We continue to work and pray for justice and conciliation.      

Call to Worship

Peace Candle 

VT 30 | Jesus Calls Us | Phil Hart, vocals and guitar; Shakita Kabicek, cello

Children’s Time 

Offering/Dedication Prayer

Offertory | VT 426 | Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth | Phil Hart, vocals and guitar

Scripture | John 15:9-17 from The Message

Sermon | “I have called you friends”      [Manuscript below]

Silent Reflection

VT 628 | What a Friend We Have in Jesus | Fred and Marlene Suter, Julie and Phil Hart, vocals

Mission Moment | BREAD

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer 

Extinguishing the Peace Candle 

Benediction 

Announcements 

Christian Education | 11:00 am

Thanks to everyone who helped lead today’s service

Sermon: Joel Miller

Worship Leader: Julie Hart

Music coordination: Phil Hart

Children’s Time: Lavonne van der Zwaag

Mission Moment: Jon Lucas

Peace Candle: Nina Graber-Nofziger

Scripture Reading: Ivan Graber-Nofziger

Zoom Host: Mike Ryan-Simkins

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Sermon Manuscript

One Sunday, way back when I was pastoring Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship, I was meeting with the youth for Sunday school.  As they were gathering their things to leave after class finished, I overheard one say to another: “You know, if it weren’t for church, we wouldn’t even be friends.”  She meant it in a kind way.  Like our youth at CMC, these youth lived all over the metro area, going to different schools.  They had some things in common, but wouldn’t necessarily be in the same social circles even if they did go to the same school.  If it weren’t for church, they likely wouldn’t know each other, let…

The video above includes the full service, except for the time for sharing.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained through One License with license A-727859.

Order of Worship | Easter 5

Welcome 

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge we are gathering on land where Miami, Osage, Shawnee, and other Indigenous peoples have lived and labored, fought, and loved. We continue to work and pray for justice and conciliation.      

Call to Worship

Peace Candle 

VT 422 | Called or Not Called | Brody Thomas, vocals and instruments

Children’s Time 

Offering/Dedication Prayer

VT 587 | In the Quiet Curve of Evening | Katie Graber, vocals and instruments

Scripture | 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-5

Sermon | Deep and Wide

Silent Reflection

VT 502 | Abide with Me | Point Grey Inter-Mennonite Fellowship

Mission Moment | BREAD

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer 

Extinguishing the Peace Candle 

Benediction 

Announcements 

Cookie Sunday | 11:00 am

Thanks to everyone who helped lead today’s service

Sermon: Mark Rupp

Worship Leader: Kelsey Ryan-Simkins

Music coordination: Katie Graber

Children’s Time: Dan Halterman

Mission Moment: Phil Hart

Peace Candle: Brent Miller, Megan Stauffer-Miller, Lydia, and Isaac 

Scripture Reading: Lavonne van der Zwaag and Joel Call

Zoom Host: Gretchen Geyer

Sermon Text:

A few years ago I sought out the sage advice of some of Columbus Mennonite’s fine gardeners.  My husband and I had decided we wanted to do more with the limited gardening spaces we have at our current apartment.  More specifically, we were hoping to find some kind of plant that would be a good fit for the north side of our garage where there is a small plot of bare earth and lots of boring gray cinder block wall as a blank canvas. …

CMC service 4-25-21 from Gwen Reiser on Vimeo.

The video above includes the full service, except for the time for sharing.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained through One License with license A-727859.

Order of Worship | Easter 4

Prelude

Welcome 

Land Acknowledgement 

We acknowledge we are gathering on land where Miami, Osage, Shawnee, and other Indigenous peoples have lived and labored, fought, and loved. We continue to work and pray for justice and conciliation.      

Call to Worship

Peace Candle 

VT 1 | Summoned by the God Who Made Us | Voices Together Launch Choir

Children’s Time 

Offering/Dedication Prayer

Offertory | La Fille aux cheveux de lin by Claude Debussy |Tom Blosser, piano

Scripture | I John 3:16-24

Sermon | “Let us love…in truth”  

Silent Reflection

Hymn | Love is a beautiful thing (Anita’s song) | Text: Anita Chapman | Vocals: Debra, Galen, Sarah and Elizabeth Martin, Tom and Mary Blosser, Rick Leonard. Violin: Elizabeth Martin

Mission Moment | Keeping CMC Safe/Dove’s Nest

Pastoral Prayer 

Extinguishing the Peace Candle 

VT 846 | The Lord Bless You and Keep You | Vocals: Debra, Galen, Sarah, and Elizabeth Martin, Tom and Mary Blosser, Rick Leonard. 

Benediction 

Announcements 

Congregational Meeting | 11:00 am

Thanks to everyone who helped lead today’s service

Sermon: Joel Miller

Worship Leader: Jen Cartmel

Music coordination: Tom Blosser

Children’s Time and Mission Moment: Jeanette Harder

Peace Candle: Kerry Strayer

Scripture Reading: Eliza Wertenberger

Zoom Host: Sarah Werner

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Sermon Manuscript | “Let us love…in truth” 
 

1 John has a lot to say about love.  The writer emphasizes the practical nature of love, urging the community over and over to love one another.  And not just in words or speech, as one of the verses from today says, but in truth and action. 

In reading through 1 John again the word love came up so much I was curious just how many times it gets mentioned.  Writing in Greek, which…

The video above includes the full service, except for the time for sharing.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained through One License with license A-727859.

Order of Worship | Easter 3

Prelude

Welcome 

Land Acknowledgement 

We acknowledge we are gathering on land where Miami, Osage, Shawnee, and other Indigenous peoples have lived and labored, fought, and loved. We continue to work and pray for justice and conciliation.      

Call to Worship

Peace Candle 

VT50 | Spirit, Working in Creation | Debra, Galen, Sarah, and Elizabeth Martin

Children’s Time 

Offering/Dedication Prayer

Offertory | Chason Sans Paroles from Pensees lyriqes OP 40 | Tom Blosser, piano

Scripture | Luke 24:36-49, 1 John 3:1-3

Sermon | Thoughts for recovering Christians regarding Earth Day and resurrection   (Manuscript below)

Silent Reflection

VT180 | This Is God’s Wondrous World | Debra, Galen, Sarah, and Elizabeth Martin

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer 

Extinguishing the Peace Candle 

Benediction 

Announcements 

Congregational Discussion | Reparations | 11:00 am

Thanks to everyone who helped lead today’s service

Sermon: Joel Miller

Worship Leader: Carolyn May

Music coordination: Debra and Galen Martin

Children’s Time: Tim Stried

Peace Candle: Larry Less

Scripture Reading: Andrew Schottleutner (Riel)

Zoom Host: Gretchen Geyer

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Sermon Manuscript | Thoughts for recovering Christians regarding Earth Day and resurrection 

This sermon is especially for those who might consider themselves “Recovering Christians.”  Those for whom the church has largely failed to provide a life-affirming spirituality or community.  Or, for those not especially interested in the title of Christian anymore. Those who are perhaps just “Recovering.”  And if you’re all good as just a Christian, I guess you can stick around too.   

Thoughts for recovering Christians regarding Earth Day and resurrection.

There are no glaring connections between today’s readings and our celebration of Earth Day.

As Luke brings his gospel to a close, the baffled disciples find themselves in the presence of Jesus, crucified and dead, yet alive.  He greets them with the words “Peace be with…

CMC Service – April 11th, 2021 from Gwen Reiser on Vimeo.

The video above includes the full service, except for the time for sharing.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained through One License with license A-727859.

Order of Worship | Easter 2

Prelude

Welcome 

Land Acknowledgement 

We acknowledge we are gathering on land where Miami, Osage, Shawnee, and other Indigenous peoples have lived and labored, fought, and loved. We continue to work and pray for justice and conciliation.      

Call to Worship (adapted from Job 12:7-9)

Peace Candle 

VT 22 | What is this place | Virginia Mennonite Assembly

Children’s Time

Offering/Dedication Prayer

VT 162 | The Love of God | Laurelville Mennonite Music and Worship Leaders Retreat

Scripture | Psalm 104:1-2, 10-23, Mark 1:9-13   

Sermon | The Holy Pigeon

Silent Reflection

VT 539 | God Speaks to Us in Bird and Song | VT recording

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer 

Extinguishing the Peace Candle 

Benediction 

Announcements 

Christian Education | 11:00 am

Thanks to everyone who helped lead today’s service

Sermon: Sarah Werner

Worship Leader: Mark Rupp

Music coordination: Phil Yoder

Children’s Time: Diane Mueller

Peace Candle: Hoke family

Scripture Reading: Shakita Kabicek, Judy Hartzler

Zoom Host: Mike Ryan-Simkins

Sermon Text:

Good morning on this the second Sunday of the Easter season. Some of you might be joining us from your back porch or near an open window as we soak in the beginning of spring. I want you to take a moment to breathe deeply and listen. Wherever you are, outside or inside, you probably heard the sound of bird song. Birds are literally all around us, part of the daily fabric of our lives whether we notice them or not. Even the most urban of neighborhoods has its share of pigeons and house sparrows.  Birds permeate our lives to the point that we often don’t even notice them; their song is the constant…