• Choir Concert Tonight: Please join us this evening for the Goshen College “Voices on Earth” tour group!  This FREE concert will begin at 7:00pm on Sunday, February 25. During the concert there will be a freewill offering.

• ACA Prayer Request: Ohio Conference invites you to cover its upcoming Annual Conference Assembly on March 1-2 in prayer. Please pray for everyone involved, including Dan Miller, Interim Conference Minister; Ken Sims, Moderator; Paula Snyder Belousek, Assistant Moderator; Jeanne Zimmerly Jantzi, Conference Consultant; and Meghan Larissa Good, guest speaker. Pray for the Spirit to be present as delegates discern, worship, learn and fellowship together. 

• No Sunday School – Feb. 25: There will not be any Sunday school classes on Sunday, February 25. Classes will resume on Sunday, March 3.

• My Coins Count Returns!: Our next My Coins Count collection will take place on Sunday, February 25 during the worship service. This special collection goes towards the mission and ministries of the Mennonite Central Committee.

• Mennonite Women USA: Mennonite Women USA will host its next Coffee & Conversation on February 29 from 6:00-7:30pm. The topic is “Sheroes of Education.” A panel of educational professionals will lead the next Coffee & Conversation: Three Black Anabaptist women working in both higher and primary education will each take turns talking about the women from whom they learn. Then they will each talk about how those lessons apply to their work in educational settings. To RSVP for this online event, please go to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScElBEOF0l6CCDBLa2l_gnvIV3bvyvwQYyHokhU2tKmYhpCQA/viewform

• MMN Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network has launched a new fellowship and learning program, Just Peace Pilgrimages, to help participants enter more fully into God’s justice and shalom. Pray that God’s spirit will prepare the hearts and minds of all who join in the healing work of dismantling the oppressive structures in the United States.

• First Sunday Masking: Today is the first Sunday of February and per our masking policy at FMC, we strongly encourage attendees to wear a mask as an accommodation. There are extra masks in the foyer for anyone who should need one.  

• Leader Magazines Available: Lent is fast approaching! Hard copies of the Leader Magazine worship resources are available in the church office for worship and song leaders.

• MC USA: In celebration of Black History Month, Mennonite Church USA invites you to discover the people and events that have helped shape our denomination. Visit MC USA’s African American Mennonite History Timeline here: mennoniteusa.org/african-american-mennonite-history-timeline/ 

• MMN Prayer Request: Join Mennonite Mission Network in praising God for Matthew and Toni Krabill’s four years of ministry at the Paris Mennonite Center in France. Pray for them as they move to Ghana this month, where Matthew will supervise research and develop curricula at The Sanneh Institute, and Toni will discern what God is calling her to next.

• First Sunday Masking: Next Sunday is the first Sunday of February and per our masking policy at FMC, we strongly encourage attendees to wear a mask as an accommodation. There will be extra masks in the foyer for anyone who should need one.  

• Church Life Meeting: Join us after the worship service today for a potluck in the Fellowship Hall followed by our annual Church Life meeting. All are welcome!

• Leader Magazines Available: Lent is fast approaching! Hard copies of the Leader Magazine worship resources are available in the church office for worship and song leaders.

• Adult Sunday School Reminder: This Sunday and next, the Adult Sunday school class will be looking at Leviticus 18 as part of our on-going work of examining difficult scriptures related to questions of LGBTQ inclusion. Youth are invited to participate in these sessions at the discretion of their parents, because this passage and our conversation will touch on mature themes and subject matter. If people have questions or concerns, they can contact Pastor Alvis.

• Church Life Meeting: Our annual Church Life Meeting will take place on Sunday, January 28. There will be a potluck after the worship service with the Church Life Meeting following. Please plan to attend if you are able. Please see Sue Coblentz if you would like a copy of the budget to review in advance.

• Mennonite Public Educators Virtual Meeting: The next meeting of the Mennonite Public Educator group is Thursday, January 25 at 7pm EST. The conversation topic will be “CRT, Social-Emotional Learning, & book banning.” Registration is required. Email: info@MennoniteEducation.org to receive registration information.

• Ohio Conference Women in Leadership Retreat: One of our roles as ministry leaders is to notice and affirm the gifts of those in our congregations. The planning committee of this winter’s Ohio Conference Women in Leadership retreat would like you to think about women in your congregation whom you could encourage to attend. Consider sending women currently serving in pastoral or congregational roles such as MYF leaders, mentor coordinators, Sunday school teachers and superintendents, Christian education leaders, delegates, commission leaders, or those in other positions, as well as women who want to explore possibilities for using their gifts in church leadership. This year’s retreat has a special focus for women to explore what it means to claim the fullness of their identity as leaders created in God’s image. If your congregation is able, please consider offering financial support by paying at least a portion of the registration fee. They will want to register early, as spaces are limited. More information can be found on the brochure posted in the church foyer.
• Church Life Meeting: Our annual Church Life Meeting will take place on Sunday, January 28. There will be a potluck after the worship service with the Church Life Meeting following. Please plan to attend if you are able. Please see Sue Coblentz if you would like a copy of the budget to review in advance.

• Mennonite Public Educators Virtual Meeting: The next meeting of the Mennonite Public Educator group is Thursday, January 25 at 7pm EST. The conversation topic will be “CRT, Social-Emotional Learning, & book banning.” Registration is required. Email: info@MennoniteEducation.org to receive registration information.

• Guest Speaker Zach Hunt: Join us next Sunday, January 14 for a special adult Sunday school lead by author Zach Hunt. We also look forward to hearing his message during the worship service as well.

• Church Life Meeting: Our annual Church Life Meeting will take place on Sunday, January 28. There will be a potluck after the worship service with the Church Life Meeting following. Please plan to attend if you are able. Please see Sue Coblentz if you would like a copy of the budget to review in advance.

• ACA 2024: This year’s Annual Conference Assembly will take place March 1-2 at Sharon Mennonite in Plain City. This year’s conference is for everyone, not just delegates. If you are interested in attending and would like more information, please ask Lauren to send you the registration information.

Christmas Eve Service

Join us this evening for a time of fellowship (cookies & hot chocolate) at 6:30pm with a worship service beginning at 7:00pm.

Poetry Reflection Service – December 31

Calling all participants for a poetry reflection service on Sunday, December 31! Please contact Pastor Alvis if you would like to contribute. We are looking for people to read a favorite poem, part of scripture, or song, and say a bit about why it is meaningful to you. The theme of the service will be “light in the darkness – hope for the new year.” You could also suggest something for someone else to read, or volunteer to read something that is given to you. Please respond by Wednesday, December 27 with how you can help, so we can work on putting the service together. Please note, this service will NOT be livestreamed.

Year End Giving

As we near year end, please consider donating to your Church.  We have an annual church offering budget of $97,000 and as of the end of November we have received $82,000.  We don’t expect to receive all of that in December but as you consider end of year spending, please keep FMC in mind.

Sunday School Break

Sunday school classes are on pause until the New Year. Classes resume at 10:00am on Sunday, January 7.  

Women in Leadership Retreat

The biannual Ohio Conference Women in Leadership Retreat is quickly approaching on February 2-3, 2024. This year’s retreat will be held at the Lial Renewal Center in Whitehouse, Ohio. You won’t want to miss this time of learning, laughter, and fellowship. Jewel Gingerich Longenecker, Dean of Lifelong Learning at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, will lead participants in exploring what it means to claim the fullness of their identity as leaders created in God’s image. This retreat is for ALL women – those serving in pastoral or congregational roles such as MYF leaders, mentor coordinators, Sunday school teachers and superintendents, Christian education leaders, delegates, commission leaders, or other positions, as well as for women who want to explore possibilities for using their gifts in the church. The registration deadline will be here soon (Jan. 12) and spaces are limited. Visit ohiomennoniteconference.org for more information. 

Spiritual Direction

If you are interested in being more intentional in cultivating your spiritual life in the New Year, and becoming more attentive to God’s presence in your life through prayer, consider meeting with Pastor Alvis for spiritual direction.

Year End Giving

As we near year end, please consider donating to your Church.  We have an annual church offering budget of $97,000 and as of the end of November we have received $82,000.  We don’t expect to receive all of that in December but as you consider end of year spending, please keep FMC in mind.

Sunday School Break

Today is the last Sunday of 2023 that we will have Sunday school classes. There will not be any Sunday school on December 24 or 31. We will meet up again in the New Year!

Longest Night Service – December 20

FMC is partnering with Hope UMC and Southhaven UCC to offer a “Longest Night” service on Wednesday, December 20. The service will take place at Southhaven UCC and will begin at 7:00pm.

Christmas Eve Service

Join us on Sunday, December 24 for a time of fellowship (cookies & hot chocolate) at 6:30pm with a worship service beginning at 7:00pm.

Women in Leadership Retreat

The biannual Ohio Conference Women in Leadership Retreat is quickly approaching on February 2-3, 2024. This year’s retreat will be held at the Lial Renewal Center in Whitehouse, Ohio. You won’t want to miss this time of learning, laughter, and fellowship. Jewel Gingerich Longenecker, Dean of Lifelong Learning at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, will lead participants in exploring what it means to claim the fullness of their identity as leaders created in God’s image. This retreat is for ALL women – those serving in pastoral or congregational roles such as MYF leaders, mentor coordinators, Sunday school teachers and superintendents, Christian education leaders, delegates, commission leaders, or other positions, as well as for women who want to explore possibilities for using their gifts in the church. The registration deadline will be here soon (Jan. 12) and spaces are limited. Visit ohiomennoniteconference.org for more information. 

Spiritual Direction If you are interested in being more intentional in cultivating your spiritual life in the New Year, and becoming more attentive to God’s presence in your life through prayer, consider meeting with Pastor Alvis for spiritual direction.

Children’s Program – Next Sunday

If your child is interested in participating in the children’s Christmas program that will take place next Sunday, December 17 please see Maria Witmer-Rich for details.

Sunday School Break

Sunday, December 17^th will be the last Sunday of 2023 that we will have Sunday school classes. There will not be any Sunday school on December 24 or 31. We will meet up again in the New Year!

Longest Night Service – December 20

FMC is partnering with Hope UMC and Southhaven UCC to offer a “Longest Night” service on Wednesday, December 20. The service will take place at Southhaven UCC and will begin at 7:00pm.

Christmas Eve Service

Join us on Sunday, December 24 for a time of fellowship (cookies & hot chocolate) at 6:30pm with a worship service beginning at 7:00pm.

Sermon Manuscripts

If you are interested in receiving a hard or digital copy of Pastor Alvis’s sermons they are available upon request.

Spiritual Direction

If you are interested in being more intentional in cultivating your spiritual life in the New Year, and becoming more attentive to God’s presence in your life through prayer, consider meeting with Pastor Alvis for spiritual direction.