• Note from the Treasurer: For the month of July, giving was
  $7,950 compared to a monthly budget of $8,100.
• Blessing of the Backpacks: We will have our annual Blessing of the
  Backpacks next Sunday for students and teachers who will be
  returning to school throughout the coming weeks. Bring your
  backpacks or bags as a part of this blessing!
• Retreat Today: Join us this afternoon starting at 4:00pm at our
  retreat property for a time of fellowship, food and fun! Please
  bring your own table service and a dish to share.
• FMC Summer Reading: To get the juices flowing for our Fall
  congregational conversations around our conference affiliation
  and related questions like what our formal congregational stance
  will be regarding LGBTQ inclusion, Pastor Alvis has assigned some
  “summer homework.” This homework includes 10 reflection
  questions to help us think about some of these things before the
  Fall, and a book to read, Zack Hunt’s “God Breathed: What it Really
  Means for the Bible to be Divinely Inspired.” Questions were sent
  out through email and if you haven’t picked up a book yet, more
  are available at the church.
• Pastor Alvis Schedule Change: Past Alvis will be out of the office this
  Wednesday for an Ohio Conference pastors gathering in Sandusky,
  and on Friday for a workshop. He will be away on Vacation from
  August 21-28, if there’s an emergency, please contact the Elders

• Note from the Treasurer:  For the month of July, giving was $7,950 compared to a monthly budget of $8,100.

• First Sunday of the Month Masking: Today is the first Sunday of the month, and per our masking policy at FMC, we strongly encourage attendees to wear a mask as an accommodation. If you do not have a mask and would like one, there are extra masks in the foyer.

• Outdoor Worship Service: Next Sunday, join us as we worship outdoors! Feel free to bring your own folding/camping chair. Outdoor services will not be live-streamed.

• Retreat Next Sunday: Join us next Sunday afternoon starting at 4:00pm at our retreat property for a time of fellowship, food and fun! Please bring your own table service and a dish to share.

• FMC Summer Reading: To get the juices flowing for our Fall congregational conversations around our conference affiliation and related questions like what our formal congregational stance will  be regarding LGBTQ inclusion, Pastor Alvis has assigned some “summer homework.” This homework includes 10 reflection questions to help us think about some of these things before the Fall, and a book to read, Zack Hunt’s “God Breathed: What it Really Means for the Bible to be Divinely Inspired.” Questions were sent out through email last week, and if you haven’t picked up a book yet, more have been ordered and are on the way. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Pastor Alvis directly.

• It’s Time for the MCC School Kit Challenge!: Help MCC meet their goal of gathering 10,000 school kits in the month of August. Join this effort to share a tangible message of God’s love with children around the world. Learn more about this challenge and download a free activity resource at mcc.org/school-kit-challenge.

• FMC Turns 75!: This year we celebrate the 75^th anniversary of our congregation. There will be a few different celebrations throughout the rest of this year, but our first will take place next Sunday, July 30^th during our annual worship service at our retreat property. Join us that Sunday for a potluck following the worship service, as well as some frozen treats and fun! Part of this celebration will also include a rocket launch – we have rocket kits available for each family. Collect your kit from Pastor Alvis, put it together, and bring it ready for blast off on July 30^th!

• FMC Summer Reading: To get the juices flowing for our Fall congregational conversations around our conference affiliation and related questions like what our formal congregational stance will  be regarding LGBTQ inclusion, Pastor Alvis has assigned some “summer homework.” This homework includes 10 reflection questions to help us think about some of these things before the Fall, and a book to read, Zack Hunt’s “God Breathed: What it Really Means for the Bible to be Divinely Inspired.” Questions were sent out through email last week, and if you haven’t picked up a book yet, more have been ordered and are on the way. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Pastor Alvis directly.

• It’s Time for the MCC School Kit Challenge!: Help MCC meet their goal of gathering 10,000 school kits in the month of August. Join this effort to share a tangible message of God’s love with children around the world. Learn more about this challenge and download a free activity resource at mcc.org/school-kit-challenge.

• FMC Turns 75!: This year we celebrate the 75^th anniversary of  our congregation. There will be a few different celebrations  throughout the rest of this year, but our first will take place on  July 30^th during our annual worship service at our retreat  property. Join us that Sunday for a potluck following the worship  service, as well as some frozen treats and fun! Part of this celebration will also include a rocket launch – we have rocket kits available for each family. Collect your kit from Pastor Alvis, put it together, and bring it ready for blast off on July 30th!

• First Sunday of the Month Masking: On the first Sunday of every month, we strongly encourage FMC attendees to wear a mask as an accommodation. Next Sunday (July 2) will be the first Sunday of July, so please consider bringing a mask to church with you.
• Outdoor Worship Services: This summer, join us as we worship outdoors! The first Sunday we will worship on the FMC front lawn is July 9 (weather-permitting). Feel free to bring your own folding/camp chair. Outdoor services will not be live-streamed.

• MCC Connections Thrift Shop in Kidron: has an opening for Intake Coordinator. This person will be the manager for the warehouse and the donation process. This is a full-time paid position (40 hours/week, including some Saturdays). The applicant should have organizational skills, problem solving skills and positive interpersonal skills with the ability to relate well with volunteers and the public. For more information contact Michael Amstutz at 330-857-7802 or michael@mccconnections.com or visit our website www.mccconnections.com.

• Discernment Positions Vote: After today’s worship service, please stick around for a short meeting during which the congregation will vote to affirm the 2023-2024 Discernment Positions slate that was emailed out earlier this week.

• Office Hours: Beginning this week, Pastor Alvis will have office hours here at the church on Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 1:00pm-3:00pm.

• Saturday Retreat: Join us this Saturday, June 24 at the retreat property for fellowship, food, and fun! Arrive at 4pm for a time of fellowship, followed by dinner at 5pm. Please bring your own table service and a dish to share.

• My Coins Count: Next Sunday we will have our monthly My Coins Count collection. Please bring your change or checkbook – this offering will go towards the mission work of the Mennonite Central Committee.

• Outdoor Worship Services: This summer, join us as we worship outdoors! The first Sunday we will worship on the FMC front lawn is July 9 (weather-permitting). Feel free to bring your own folding/camp chair. Outdoor services will not be live-streamed.

• Note from the Treasurer: For May 2023, giving was $7,800 compared to budget of $8,100.

• Congratulations!: A big congratulations to our high school graduates: Luke Coblentz, Se’Mariion Rogers, and Sophia Yoder.

• Picnic Today: Join us outside after the service as we celebrate our high school graduates with a bagged lunch picnic!

• Office Hours: Starting the week of June 18, Pastor Alvis will have office hours here at the church on Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 1:00pm-3:00pm.

• Outdoor Worship Services: This summer, join us as we worship outdoors! The first Sunday we will worship on the FMC front lawn is July 9 (weather-permitting). Feel free to bring your own folding/camp chair. Outdoor services will not be live-streamed.

• Hope UMC has an ecumenical handbell choir and they are recruiting members! No experience necessary. If you are interested, please contact Pastor Alvis.

• First Sunday of the Month Masking: On the first Sunday of every month, we strongly encourage FMC attendees to wear a mask as an accommodation. Extra masks are available on the table leading into the sanctuary if anyone should need one.  

• Graduation Sunday: Next Sunday we are having our Graduation Service in the morning followed by a lunch picnic outside. We are providing the lunches, but will need you to RSVP if you plan on attending, and what kind of wrap you would like. Bagged lunches will include a Wrap or Gluten Free Sandwich, chips, cookie and fruit. The option for wraps/gluten-free sandwiches are: Turkey Wrap: Turkey, havarti cheese, lettuce, avocado, mayo and tomato; Roast Beef Wrap: roast beef, provolone cheese, lettuce, red onion, tomato, horseradish sauce; Veggie Wrap: avocado, tomato, cucumber, bell peppers, red onion, hummus, lettuce. A freewill offering will be accepted to help cover the costs of the lunches. Please RSVP to Ruth at ruth.pettker@gmail.com with your selection and dietary concerns TODAY.

• Hope UMC has an ecumenical handbell choir and they are recruiting members! No experience necessary. If you are interested, please contact Pastor Alvis.

• Pentecost Worship Art: The current Pentecost worship art was created by Maria Witmer-Rich, but the central symbol of the painting is titled, “Breath and Fire,” was designed by Lauren Wright Pittman and used with permission from “A Sanctified Art” (https://sanctifiedart.org/). Here’s Lauren’s artist statement about “Breath and Fire:” “I was struck by the elemental nature of the imagery in the Pentecost narrative. Tongues of fire and a violent wind tear down the walls that divide, and the Spirit pours out upon all flesh. I thought of this experience as a collision of foundational symbols of our faith: fire, wind, and water.” We hope you enjoy this new piece as you experience Pentecost.

• Lauren on Vacation: our church secretary will be “out of the
  office” this week (March 19-26). Please contact Pastor Alvis
  directly if you need assistance.
• Youth Event: all Middle & High school youth and their families
  are invited to a youth gathering at the Hurley’s house in
  Lakewood on Sunday, April 2. We will meet for a time of
  fellowship at 5pm, followed by a potluck meal afterwards. If you
  need directions or a ride, please contact Ryan or Lauren.
• Easter Brunch: Easter Sunday we invite you to join us before the
  worship service for an Easter brunch potluck. The meal will take
  place in the Fellowship Hall at 10am. A signup sheet for the meal
  can be found in the foyer. If you are interested and available to
  help with setup/serving during the meal, please contact Lauren
  Hurley.
• My Coins Count: we will have our monthly “My Coins Count”
  collection during our worship service next Sunday. Please bring
  your coins, bills, or even checks to help support the ministries of
  the Mennonite Central Committee.

• Note from the Treasurer: Giving for February was $9,000
  compared to budget of $8,100.
• Easter Brunch: Easter Sunday we invite you to join us before the
  worship service for an Easter brunch potluck. The meal will take
  place in the Fellowship Hall at 10am. A sign up sheet for the
  meal can be found in the foyer. If you are interested and
  available to help with setup/serving during the meal, please
  contact Lauren Hurley.