• Note from the Treasurer: September giving was $8,195 compared to budget of $8,526.  Year to date giving remains above budget.

• NEOCHtoberfest: The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) is hosting its annual fundraiser, NEOCHtoberfest on Saturday, October 24th from 7-10 pm. Christina Stehouwer has been serving on NEOCH’s board and would like to extend an invitation to members of the congregation who would be interested in attending and/or sponsoring the event. Please use the link to purchase tickets and/or sponsorships for the upcoming event: https://www.neoch.org/neochtoberfest. If you are interested in attending but are unable to purchase a ticket, please see Christina – she has extra tickets!

• Encounter Invitation: All are welcome to “Encounter,” a monthly gathering led by Ted Steiner and Anita Yoder. We meet at 7 pm at First Baptist Church in Shaker Heights for a time of silence, singing, and sharing, with snacks after! We think it is very important to build community with one another, listening together for God’s loving voice. Please feel free to invite any neighbors or friends who might enjoy and benefit from our gathering. Upcoming dates are: Oct. 25, Nov. 22, Dec. 13

• MMN Prayer Request: Praise God with Kate Widmer, who serves at La Prairie Church of Montbéliard, France, for a season of rest, as her life and ministry slowed down over the summer. Now that the school year has begun again, pray for stamina to keep up with the increased demands she encounters.

• Ice Cream Social Youth Fundraiser: Sunday, October 11 following the worship service there will be an ice cream social in the Fellowship Hall. This event will serve as a fundraiser for our youth. Ice cream will be provided by youth and their families, but please consider bringing a topping to share! A sign-up sheet for toppings can be found in the foyer. Questions? Contact Lauren Hurley.

• Encounter Invitation: All are welcome to “Encounter,” a monthly gathering led by Ted Steiner and Anita Yoder. We meet at 7 pm at First Baptist Church in Shaker Heights for a time of silence, singing, and sharing, with snacks after! We think it is very important to build community with one another, listening together for God’s loving voice. Please feel free to invite any neighbors or friends who might enjoy and benefit from our gathering. Upcoming dates are: Oct. 25, Nov. 22, Dec. 13

• MMN Prayer Request: On August 26, Nepal experienced a severe flood that resulted in severe damage to buildings and infrastructure, as well as the deaths of several thousand people, many of whom are still missing or unidentified. Pray for the people of Nepal who have lost their homes and loved ones.

• Retreat Gathering – Today: Join us this afternoon at our retreat property in Geauga County. We will gather at 4pm for hiking, games and fellowship and have a potluck dinner around 5pm. Please bring a dish to share as well as your own table service.  

• Encounter Invitation: All are welcome to “Encounter,” a monthly gathering led by Ted Steiner and Anita Yoder. We meet at 7 pm at First Baptist Church in Shaker Heights for a time of silence, singing, and sharing, with snacks after! We think it is very important to build community with one another, listening together for God’s loving voice. Please feel free to invite any neighbors or friends who might enjoy and benefit from our gathering. Upcoming dates are: Sept. 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 22,     Dec. 13

• Intergenerational Sunday School: Next Sunday, October 4 join us in the Fellowship Hall at 10:00am for Intergenerational Sunday school.

• Worship & Song Leader Retreat: The Worship and Song Leader Retreat will be on October 10th from 1-4pm at Anita Yoder’s, with a virtual retreat planned for afterwards, date TBD. 

• Ice Cream Social Youth Fundraiser: Sunday, October 11 following the worship service there will be an ice cream social in the Fellowship Hall. This event will serve as a fundraiser for our youth. Ice cream will be provided by youth and their families, but please consider bringing a topping to share! A sign-up sheet for toppings can be found in the foyer. Questions? Contact Lauren Hurley.

• Youth Gathering – Today: The FMC youth are invited to a potluck gathering at the Pettker’s home today at 6pm. Please bring a dish to share!

• Retreat Gathering – September 27: Join us Sunday, September 27 at our retreat property in Geauga County. We will gather at 4pm for hiking, games and fellowship and have a potluck dinner around 5pm. Please bring a dish to share as well as your own table service.  

• Worship & Song Leader Retreat: The Worship and Song Leader Retreat will be on October 10th from 1-4pm at Anita Yoder’s, with a virtual retreat planned for afterwards, date TBD. 

• MCC School Kit Update: Thank you for taking part in this year’s MCC School Kit Challenge! Thanks to the work of people like you throughout the U.S. and Canada, we went well above our goal of 30,000 school kits for the 2026 challenge. Working together, you, your community and other devoted supporters packed 46,481 school kits! Each of the 46,481 school kits you shared will be a gift and treasure for a student dreaming of a bright future — and for the loved ones, teachers and community members dreaming alongside them. Thank you for being part of this year’s School Kit Challenge. We hope you’ll join us again next year!

• October-December Worship Schedule: The 2026 October-December worship schedule has been finalized and can be accessed by scanning the QR code below. Volunteers were emailed a copy of the schedule as well.

• Sunday School is Back: Sunday school classes at FMC are back! Classes are available for all ages at FMC. Our youth, children, and nursery Sunday school classes meet upstairs. The adult Sunday school meets in the room next to Pastor Alvis’ office. All classes start at 10:00am on Sunday mornings.

• 2026-2027 Volunteer Positions Begin: Along with the Sunday school kickoff this morning, the 2026-2027 FMC Gifts Discernment Volunteer positions begin today as well. If you are not sure which ministries/committees you signed up for, please check out a printed copy of the list at the back of the sanctuary. Also, be sure to check out the volunteer worship schedule spreadsheet (scan the QR code) to see if you are scheduled to serve during the remaining Sundays of September. The October-December worship schedule will be finalized and emailed to volunteers later this month.

• Note from the Treasurer: Average giving through August was $9,500 per month versus budget of $8,500 per month.

• Worship & Song Leader Retreat: The Worship and Song Leader Retreat will be on October 10th from 1-4pm at Anita Yoder’s, with a virtual retreat planned for afterwards, date TBD. 

• Retreat Gathering: Join us this afternoon at our retreat property in Geauga County. We will gather at 4pm for hiking, games and fellowship and have a potluck dinner around 5pm. Please bring a dish to share as well as your own table service. All are welcome!

• Sunday School Kickoff: Join us next Sunday (September 13) at 10:00am for our first Sunday school gathering this fall! Our first Sunday school will be an intergenerational one led by Pastor Alvis. There will be a presentation about his time on the Camino trail as well as interactive activities.

• Worship & Song Leader Retreat: This retreat is for anyone considering, and/or already involved in helping to lead and plan Sunday morning worship. It will be a time for us to meditate together on being a worshipping community, and to think through the practical parts of planning and leading worship. We’ll discuss worship resources, copyrights, assembling a slideshow presentation, some accessibility considerations, and more. If you’re interested please complete the Google form using the QR code or talk to Pastor Alvis for more information. 

• Children & Youth Activities this Fall: It’s no secret that the youth and children of FMC are actively involved in tons of extra-curricular activities. As a way of supporting our youth and children outside of church, we invite students and their families to notify Pastor Alvis of a few of the extra-curricular events that they would like members of the congregation to be able to attend (games, concerts, plays, etc.). Families should send the dates/times/locations of a few of these events to Pastor Alvis: pastor.alvis.pettker@gmail.com 

• Retreat Gathering: Join us Sunday, September 6 at our retreat property in Geauga County. We will gather at 4pm for hiking, games and fellowship and have a potluck dinner around 5pm. Please bring a dish to share as well as your own table service. All are welcome!

• Worship & Song Leader Retreat: This retreat is for anyone considering, and/or already involved in helping to lead and plan Sunday morning worship. It will be a time for us to meditate together on being a worshipping community, and to think through the practical parts of planning and leading worship. We’ll discuss worship resources, copyrights, assembling a slideshow presentation, some accessibility considerations, and more. If you’re interested please complete the Google form using the QR code or talk to Pastor Alvis for more information. 

• Sunday School Kickoff: Sunday school will start up September 13 at 10:00am. This first Sunday will be an intergenerational Sunday school and will be led by Pastor Alvis. There will be a presentation about his time on the Camino trail as well as interactive activities.

• Children & Youth Activities this Fall: It’s no secret that the youth and children of FMC are actively involved in tons of extra-curricular activities. As a way of supporting our youth and children outside of church, we invite students and their families to notify Pastor Alvis of a few of the extra-curricular events that they would like members of the congregation to be able to attend (games, concerts, plays, etc.). Families should send the dates/times/locations of a few of these events to Pastor Alvis: pastor.alvis.pettker@gmail.com 

• Worship & Song Leader Retreat: This retreat is for anyone considering, and/or already involved in helping to lead and plan Sunday morning worship. It will be a time for us to meditate together on being a worshipping community, and to think through the practical parts of planning and leading worship. We’ll discuss worship resources, copyrights, assembling a slideshow presentation, some accessibility considerations, and more. If you’re interested please complete the Google form using the QR code or talk to Pastor Alvis for more information. 
• Waging Peace Webinar: Tuesday, August 25 7pm on Zoom. Join MC USA’s Lorraine Stutzman Amstutzon Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 4 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. ET as she hosts a panel discussion on the importance of pursuing peace in the face of war, polarization and nationalism — and provides a preview of the upcoming Waging Peace: A Militarism Summit. Panelists are keynote speaker Joy Metzler, seminar leader Hannah Rose Martin and planning committee member Iris de León-Hartshorn. Register using the QR code.
• Sunday School Kickoff: Sunday school will start up September 13 at 10:00am. This first Sunday will be an intergenerational Sunday school and will be led by Pastor Alvis. There will be a presentation about his time on the Camino trail as well as interactive activities.

• Children & Youth Activities this Fall: It’s no secret that the youth and children of FMC are actively involved in tons of extra-curricular activities. As a way of supporting our youth and children outside of church, we invite students and their families to notify Pastor Alvis of a few of the extra-curricular events that they would like members of the congregation to be able to attend (games, concerts, plays, etc.). Families should send the dates/times/locations of a few of these events to Pastor Alvis: pastor.alvis.pettker@gmail.com 

This Sunday, August 16

This Sunday, August 16, we will gather at Friendship Retreat in Geauga County (located at 17215 Old State Road, Middlefield, OH 44062) for our worship service at 11am. There will not be worship at the building or online. Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on during the service. 

We will also be assembling MCC school kits this Sunday, so please bring any supplies that you have collected. 

Following the service, we will share lunch together. You can either bring something to share for the potluck or bring your own picnic. Please be sure to bring your own plate, silverware, water bottle, etc. 

Next Sunday, August 23

Sunday, August 23 is FMC’s annual “Blessing of the Backpacks. Anyone who is going back to school (student or teacher) is welcome to bring a backpack, bag, laptop, or other item. We will have a special time during the service for people to come up with their item and receive a blessing as we transition into the new school year. 

Children & Youth Activities this Fall

It’s no secret that the youth and children of FMC are actively involved in tons of extra-curricular activities. As a way of supporting our youth and children outside of church, we invite students and their families to notify Pastor Alvis of a few of the extra-curricular events that they would like members of the congregation to be able to attend (games, concerts, plays, etc.). Families should send the dates/times/locations of a few of these events to Pastor Alvis: pastor.alvis.pettker@gmail.com 

• Sunday Worship at Retreat: Next Sunday, August 16 we will gather at Friendship Retreat in Geauga County for our worship service at 11:00am. There will not be worship in the building or online. Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on during the service. Following the service, we will share lunch together. You can either bring something to share for the potluck or bring your own picnic. Please be sure to bring your own plate, silverware, water bottle, etc.

• Blessing of the Backpacks: Sunday, August 23 will be Friendship’s annual “Blessing of the Backpacks.” Anyone who is going back to school (student or teacher) is welcome to bring a backpack, bag, laptop, or other item. We will have a special time during the service for people to come up with their item and receive a blessing as we transition into the new school year.

• MCC School Kit Challenge: This summer you can help MCC reach a new goal of collecting 30,000 kits! Together, we can share God’s love with some of our youngest global neighbors. To learn more about this challenge and to download a free activity guide, visit mcc.org/school-kit-challenge 

• Children & Youth Sunday School: We are already beginning to dream about Fall Sunday school starting up on Sunday, September 13! As always, it takes a village to make Sunday school possible at Friendship Mennonite Church. If you would like to sign up to teach, please scan the QR code.

• MCUSA “Waging Peace – a Militarism Summit”: Registration is now open for MC USA’s “Waging Peace: A Militarism Summit,” Nov. 6-7, in Leola, Pennsylvania. Rooted in Anabaptist faith values, the two-day gathering brings Christians together to explore faithful responses to war, political polarization, nationalism and violence. High school youth attend free with a youth sponsor/pastor. Learn more and register here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/militarism-summit/