• Sunday School Update: YOUTH: Starting Sunday, April 12, the youth will join the adults downstairs for a story-sharing project. There will be no separate youth Sunday school during Alvis’s sabbatical and through the rest of the summer.  CHILDREN: For children ages 3-grade 5, the last week for regular Sunday school will be Sunday, May 17 (the weekend before Memorial Day). On Sundays from May 24-June 28, there will be no regular Sunday school for these ages. Instead, there will be an informal time for games, playing, fellowshipping, and for fun on the playground. We need volunteers to coordinate these 10 a.m. times with our children while the youth and adults participate in a story-sharing project. If you are able to help, please sign up: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1284u2aJRMA6nwJ5SXFZ0OHECDW-DQtc7IvNqcBPuIUU/edit?gid=1365806384#gid=1365806384.
• Intergenerational Sunday School: Join us next Sunday, March 29 for an Intergenerational Sunday school hour. All ages will be together in the Fellowship Hall for the sharing of a Bible story together, talking about it in table groups, and then doing some related activities. There will be activities for children, youth, and adults.
• Easter Brunch Potluck: Sunday, April 5 at 10:00am join us for a brunch potluck in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring a dish to share. All are welcome! 
• Next Sunday – My Coins Count: Sunday, March 29 we will have our monthly My Coins Count collection during the worship service. Please bring your cash, coins, and checks to help support the mission and ministries of the Mennonite Central Committee

• Easter Brunch Potluck: Sunday, April 5 at 10:00am join us for a brunch potluck in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring a dish to share. All are welcome! 

• You are invited to Encounter!: Encounter meets once a month on Sundays at 7pm, led by Ted and Anita in a small space at First Baptist Church (3630 Fairmount Blvd, Shaker Heights). It’s an opportunity to be with one another in prayer, silence and reflection. Everyone is welcome, even if you’ve never attended before. Our upcoming meeting dates are: March 22, April 19, and May 17.
• Faithful Response Immigration Gathering: All are invited to a Faithful Response Immigration Gathering at Camp Christian March 17-19, 2026. Organizers and clergy from the UCC, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada, Church of the Brethren, and Mennonite Church USA have planned workshops and spiritual grounding for all who are interested in migrant advocacy and accompaniment, with offerings for those who are directly impacted by immigration policy and enforcement and offerings for those who seeks to be in solidarity with those directly impacted. The keynote speaker on March 18 will be Imam Ayman Soliman, who was detained in Butler County Jail for 73 days after his asylum status was revoked without cause. For more information and registration go to: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sk9X2F4SUvV6kg8ex5SI9iGZpt55tnfAnNZfc5qGLc4/edit?usp=sharing

• Note from the Treasurer: Average giving for the first two months of 2026 has been $7,900.  This is below the budgeted amount of $8,500 per month.

• Easter Brunch Potluck: Sunday, April 5 at 10:00am join us for a brunch potluck in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring a dish to share. All are welcome! 

• You are invited to Encounter!: Encounter meets once a month on Sundays at 7pm, led by Ted and Anita in a small space at First Baptist Church (3630 Fairmount Blvd, Shaker Heights). It’s an opportunity to be with one another in prayer, silence and reflection. Everyone is welcome, even if you’ve never attended before. Our upcoming meeting dates are: March 22, April 19, and May 17.
• Faithful Response Immigration Gathering: All are invited to a Faithful Response Immigration Gathering at Camp Christian March 17-19, 2026. Organizers and clergy from the UCC, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada, Church of the Brethren, and Mennonite Church USA have planned workshops and spiritual grounding for all who are interested in migrant advocacy and accompaniment, with offerings for those who are directly impacted by immigration policy and enforcement and offerings for those who seeks to be in solidarity with those directly impacted. The keynote speaker on March 18 will be Imam Ayman Soliman, who was detained in Butler County Jail for 73 days after his asylum status was revoked without cause. For more information and registration go to: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sk9X2F4SUvV6kg8ex5SI9iGZpt55tnfAnNZfc5qGLc4/edit?usp=sharing

• MCC Appalachia Build (formerly SWAP): is seeking summer staff in Kimball, West Virginia or Elkhorn City, Kentucky.These three-month positions for Job Site Coordinators and Meals Coordinators will allow you to explore new cultures, develop skills, build friendships and live out your faith. Applicants should be at least 19 years old, but the roles are not limited to young adults. An hourly wage plus room and board are provided. For more information and to apply, visit mcc.org/careers. Or contact RoxyReyes@mcc.org 

• MCUSA Announcement: This Women’s History Month, journey through the stories of Mennonite women who have shaped our faith — from the first women’s mission groups and early educators to today’s pastors, peacebuilders and organizational leaders. Explore MC USA’s Mennonite Women’s History Timeline and be inspired by their courage, leadership and enduring witness: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/mennonite-womens-history-timeline/

• MMN Prayer Request: Beginning tomorrow, the Anchorage, Alaska, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, Service Adventure units will gather in San Angelo, Texas, to serve with Mennonite Disaster Service. Pray for a great week of serving and learning together, as well as safe travels for the participants as they travel.

• You are invited to Encounter!:  Encounter meets once a month on Sundays at 7pm, led by Ted and Anita in a small space at First Baptist Church (3630 Fairmount Blvd, Shaker Heights). It’s an opportunity to be with one another in prayer, silence and reflection. Everyone is welcome, even if you’ve never attended before. Our upcoming meeting dates are: March 22, April 19, and May 17. 

• Intergenerational Sunday School: Join us next Sunday, February 22 for an Intergenerational Sunday school hour. All ages will be together in the Fellowship Hall for the sharing of a Bible story together, talking about it in table groups, and then doing some related activities. There will be activities for children, you, and adults.

• Lent at Home 2026: Lent begins on February 18 and MCUSA invites you to deepen your worship at home with the 2026 Lent at Home guide year’s theme, “Dwelling in Dissonance,” follows MennoMedia’s Leader magazine and offers weekly reflections and practices for individuals, families and households of all ages. To download the guide: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/resource-portal/resource/lent-at-home-2026/
• Encounter Invitation: You are invited to Encounter! Encounter meets once a month on Sundays at 7pm, led by Ted and Anita in a small space at First Baptist Church (3630 Fairmount Blvd, Shaker Heights). It’s an opportunity to be with one another in prayer, silence and reflection. Everyone is welcome, even if you’ve never attended before. Our upcoming meeting dates are: February 22, March 22, April 19, and May 17.
• MMN Prayer Request: Last fall, Christy Harrison, Peter Sensenig and their three children temporarily moved to Montbéliard, France, from Chad, after their Chadian visas were not renewed, due to the political relationship between the U.S. and Chad. Pray for this family as they acclimate to their new home and ministry and as they navigate how to proceed if they are unable to return to Chad in the future. 

• Encounter Invitation: You are invited to Encounter! Encounter meets once a month on Sundays at 7pm, led by Ted and Anita in a small space at First Baptist Church (3630 Fairmount Blvd, Shaker Heights). It’s an opportunity to be with one another in prayer, silence and reflection. Everyone is welcome, even if you’ve never attended before. Our upcoming meeting dates are: February 22, March 22, April 19, and May 17.

• NEOCH Donation Request: The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) just opened a brand-new seasonal shelter. It is a place for the unsheltered homeless (people living on the streets) to get in out of the cold during the winter months. It is a beautiful facility. They are looking for reusable kitchenware. They serve coffee in the evening and mornings and are in need of coffee mugs, reusable plates, bowls, silverware, and food storage containers. If anyone has items to donate, they can bring them to church over the next few weeks and Christina Stehouwer will deliver them.

• MMN Prayer Request: Last week, Julia and Thomas Meyers began their four-week SOOP placement at the Maria Skobtsova House (MSH) in Calais, France. Pray for them as they share in MSH’s ministry of hospitality with migrants who are seeking refuge while on their way to England. 

• Thank you from MCC: At Mennonite Central Committee we are so grateful for the many ways you support the work of MCC and our partners around the world. Whether it’s through gathering kits, volunteering at events and thrift shops, collecting My Coins Count, or offering prayers for this work and the people who are touched, we appreciate your partnership in this important ministry. In particular, thank you to our friends and supporters at Friendship for your generous donation of $3,444.50 during 2025. 

• Encounter Invitation: You are invited to Encounter! Encounter meets once a month on Sundays at 7pm, led by Ted and Anita in a small space at First Baptist Church (3630 Fairmount Blvd, Shaker Heights). It’s an opportunity to be with one another in prayer, silence and reflection. Everyone is welcome, even if you’ve never attended before. Our upcoming meeting dates are: February 22, March 22, April 19, and May 17.

• NEOCH Donation Request: The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) just opened a brand-new seasonal shelter. It is a place for the unsheltered homeless (people living on the streets) to get in out of the cold during the winter months. It is a beautiful facility. They are looking for reusable kitchenware. They serve coffee in the evening and mornings and are in need of coffee mugs, reusable plates, bowls, silverware, and food storage containers. If anyone has items to donate, they can bring them to church over the next few weeks and Christina Stehouwer will deliver them.

• MMN Prayer Request: Pray for the people of Venezuela, and Mennonite Mission Network’s partner Network of Mennonite Missions of Venezuela, amid the political instability caused by the forceful removal of Venezuela’s president by the U.S. last month. Pray that the new governmental leaders will reflect the will of the Venezuelan people and bring peace to the country.

• Celebrating 50 years of More-with-Less! Herald Press and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) invite you to share stories of food, joy, and resilience to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the More-with-Less cookbook. This beloved cookbook’s call to thrift, Christian compassion and abundant living is just as urgent and relevant today as it was in 1976. Go to https://bit.ly/MoreWithLess50 to learn more and to submit stories, blessings or ideas for simple approaches to sharing food and fellowship. Please share your story by Feb. 15 for a chance to be featured in the 50th anniversary edition or additional digital resources—and receive a chocolate oatmeal cake recipe as thanks!

• Encounter Invitation: You are invited to Encounter! Encounter meets once a month on Sundays at 7pm, led by Ted and Anita in a small space at First Baptist Church (3630 Fairmount Blvd, Shaker Heights). It’s an opportunity to be with one another in prayer, silence and reflection. Everyone is welcome, even if you’ve never attended before. Our upcoming meeting dates are: January 25, February 22, March 22, April 19, and May 17.

• NEOCH Donation Request: The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) just opened a brand-new seasonal shelter. It is a place for the unsheltered homeless (people living on the streets) to get in out of the cold during the winter months. It is a beautiful facility. They are looking for reusable kitchenware. They serve coffee in the evening and mornings and are in need of coffee mugs, reusable plates, bowls, silverware, and food storage containers. If anyone has items to donate, they can bring them to church over the next few weeks and Christina Stehouwer will deliver them.

• MMN Prayer Request: The Taiwan Mennonite New Dawn Educare Center brings God’s hope to people with intellectual disabilities by providing resources to help with independent living, personal development and health. Pray that the people they serve find belonging, purpose and hope.

• Celebrating 50 years of More-with-Less! Herald Press and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) invite you to share stories of food, joy, and resilience to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the More-with-Less cookbook. This beloved cookbook’s call to thrift, Christian compassion and abundant living is just as urgent and relevant today as it was in 1976. Go to https://bit.ly/MoreWithLess50 to learn more and to submit stories, blessings or ideas for simple approaches to sharing food and fellowship. Please share your story by Feb. 15 for a chance to be featured in the 50th anniversary edition or additional digital resources—and receive a chocolate oatmeal cake recipe as thanks!

• Film Screening at FMC: On January 24, 2026, at 7:00pm, Friendship Mennonite Church invites you to a film screening rooted in Anabaptist history. ‘Under the Peach Trees’ is a documentary about a massive family association celebrating their common ancestor. The film was directed and edited by FMC’s own Eric Miller and written by Cristina Jantz. After the film, there will be a Q&A with the director. Visit underthepeachtrees.vhx.tv to purchase the film.

• Church Life Meeting: Join us Sunday, January 25 after the worship service for a potluck and our annual Church Life Meeting. Please bring a dish to share. All are welcome!

• Encounter Invitation: You are invited to Encounter! Encounter meets once a month on Sundays at 7pm, led by Ted and Anita in a small space at First Baptist Church (3630 Fairmount Blvd, Shaker Heights). It’s an opportunity to be with one another in prayer, silence and reflection. Everyone is welcome, even if you’ve never attended before. Our upcoming meeting dates are: January 25, February 22, March 22, April 19, and May 17.
• Tactics That Work Training: Led by Josiah Quarles (NEOCH) and Suzanne Zilber (SURJ NEO), this training will help participants learn how to identify institutions that uphold regimes and strategies for how to make demands and then encourage cooperation or impose costs on those institutions. The emphasis is on nonviolent cooperation tactics and is interactive. The workshop will take place at Forest Hill Church (3031 Monticello Blvd, Cleveland Heights) on Saturday, January 24 from 9:30am-1:30pm. To register for the training and for more information, click this link: http://bit.ly/Jan24Info

• Film Screening at FMC: On January 24, 2026, at 7:00pm, Friendship Mennonite Church invites you to a film screening rooted in Anabaptist history. ‘Under the Peach Trees’ is a documentary about a massive family association celebrating their common ancestor. The film was directed and edited by FMC’s own Eric Miller and written by Cristina Jantz. After the film, there will be a Q&A with the director. Visit underthepeachtrees.vhx.tv to purchase the film.

• Church Life Meeting: Join us Sunday, January 25 after the worship service for a potluck and our annual Church Life Meeting. Please bring a dish to share. All are welcome!

• Encounter Invitation: You are invited to Encounter! Encounter meets once a month on Sundays at 7pm, led by Ted and Anita in a small space at First Baptist Church (3630 Fairmount Blvd, Shaker Heights). It’s an opportunity to be with one another in prayer, silence and reflection. Everyone is welcome, even if you’ve never attended before. Our upcoming meeting dates are: January 25, February 22, March 22, April 19, and May 17.
• Tactics That Work Training: Led by Josiah Quarles (NEOCH) and Suzanne Zilber (SURJ NEO), this training will help participants learn how to identify institutions that uphold regimes and strategies for how to make demands and then encourage cooperation or impose costs on those institutions. The emphasis is on nonviolent cooperation tactics and is interactive. The workshop will take place at Forest Hill Church (3031 Monticello Blvd, Cleveland Heights) on Saturday, January 24 from 9:30am-1:30pm. To register for the training and for more information, click this link: http://bit.ly/Jan24Info