• Pastor Alvis Vacation: Pastor Alvis will be away on vacation from October 11-25. During this time, the Tuesday Bible Study will not meet.

• Free Concert: On October 9 at 6:30pm, Sonnenberg Mennonite Church in Kidron, OH will host a free concert led by Seth Crissman and Greg Yoder (founders of The Soil and The Seed Project). The concert will be interactive and will feature some local musicians and students from Central Christian School.

• Encounter Invitation: All are welcome to “Encounter,” a monthly gathering led by Ted Steiner and Anita Yoder. We meet at 7pm at First Baptist Church in Shaker Heights for a time of silence, singing, and sharing. 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. 26, Nov. 23, Dec. 14
• Mennonite Action Training: Mennonite Action is coming to Lee Heights on Sunday, December 7th for a potluck and training as a stop on their “To Build Our Courage” National Training Tour. In order for this to run smoothly, we need volunteers! Some jobs include helping with the potluck, setting up, childcare, song leader, photographer, etc.  If interested in volunteering, please contact Marita Beachy-Owusu.

• MMN Prayer Request: Today, Mennonite Mission Network’s Mennonite Voluntary Service units bring closure to their five-day retreat, hosted by the Alamosa Colorado unit in Colorado. Pray that participants will return to their units renewed by this time of worship, mutual encouragement, learning and fun.

• Fall Hotdog Roast: This afternoon, join us at our retreat property for our annual Fall Hotdog Roast. Arrive at 4:00pm for games, hiking and fellowship. The hotdog roast and potluck dinner will begin around 5:00pm. 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 7pm at First Baptist Church in Shaker Heights for a time of silence, singing, and sharing. 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. 28, Oct. 26, Nov. 23, Dec. 14
• Combined Ministry: Beginning next Sunday, October 5, the usher and greeter ministries will be combined into one role for Sunday mornings.

• Pastor Alvis Vacation: Pastor Alvis will be away on vacation from October 11-25. During this time, the Tuesday Bible Study will not meet.
• Mennonite Action Training: Mennonite Action is coming to Lee Heights on Sunday, December 7th for a potluck and training as a stop on their “To Build Our Courage” National Training Tour. In order for this to run smoothly, we need volunteers! Some jobs include helping with the potluck, setting up, childcare, song leader, photographer, etc.  If interested in volunteering, please contact Marita Beachy-Owusu

• My Coins Count: Next Sunday we will have our monthly My Coins Count collection during the worship service. Please bring your cash, coins and checks to support the ministries and mission of the Mennonite Central Committee.

• Intergenerational Sunday School: Join us next Sunday, September 28, for an intergenerational Sunday school hour. All ages will be together in the fellowship hall for a sharing 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.

• Fall Hotdog Roast: Next Sunday, join us at our retreat property for our annual Fall Hotdog Roast. Arrive at 4:00pm for games, hiking and fellowship. The hotdog roast and potluck dinner will begin around 5:00pm. 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 7pm at First Baptist Church in Shaker Heights for a time of silence, singing, and sharing. 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. 28, Oct. 26, Nov. 23, Dec. 14
• Pastor Alvis Vacation: Pastor Alvis will be away on vacation from October 11-25. During this time, the Tuesday Bible Study will not meet.

• MMN Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network rejoices with members of the Bolivia Mennonite Church, as they celebrate their 50th anniversary. Pray for them as they set goals and plan for the future.

• Note from the Treasurer: The giving for August was $8,100 compared to the budget of $8,600 for the month.  Year to date, average giving has been $9,400.

• Sunday School Seminar: Next Sunday, September 21, Paul Thomas from Ferfolia Funeral Homes will lead a funeral pre-planning seminar during Sunday school.

• No Tuesday Bible Study: This Tuesday, September 16 the Tuesday Night Bible Study will not meet. Class will resume on September 23.

• Pastor Alvis Vacation: Pastor Alvis will be away on vacation from October 11-25. During this time, the Tuesday Bible Study will not meet.

• FMC Volunteer List: The 2025-2026 FMC Volunteer list has been finalized and paper copies are available at the back of the sanctuary. Please note that the Usher and Greeter ministries have been combined into one position. Scheduling for this combined position will begin in October. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Alvis or Lauren Hurley.

• MMN Prayer Request: Kate Widmer, who serves with Mennonite Mission Network, is in the middle of her two-month North American Ministry. Pray for her as she shares with supporting congregations and individuals about her work alongside members of a French Mennonite congregation that reaches out to women and children in low-income neighborhoods. May she also find rest and renewal during this time in the United States.

• Sunday School Seminars: Sunday, September 14, Darius Meraj from Everence will lead an estate planning workshop during Sunday school. Sunday, September 21, Paul Thomas from Ferfolia Funeral Homes will lead a funeral pre-planning seminar during Sunday school.  

• MMN Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for the Bokgoni Sporting Club, in Francistown, Botswana, which offers young people an alternative to life on the streets by providing a healthy environment, training in life-skills and an opportunity to play sports. The women’s netball team is planning a community day this month to strength relationships between neighbors.

• MCUSA: MC USA’s 2025 convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, July 8–12, set records for attendance and racial diversity. Of the 1,640 registrants — the highest turnout in three conventions — a record 17.2 percent (282 attendees) identified as Black, Indigenous or people of color. More importantly, BIPOC voices filled prominent leadership roles at the national convention. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/intentionality-drives-belonging 

• Potluck at Retreat: Join us this afternoon for a potluck at our retreat property. Arrive by 4:00pm for hiking, fellowship and games. The potluck will begin around 5:00pm. Please bring a dish to share, as well as your own table service. Directions can be found on our website.

• Outdoor Worship Next Sunday: Next Sunday, September 7, join us for an outdoor worship service at FMC. We will gather near the playground at 11:00am. Please consider bringing a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.

• Sunday School Kickoff: Sunday school classes resume at FMC on Sunday, September 7 at 10:00am. There will be classes for all ages, so please be sure to attend!

• Sunday School Seminars: Sunday, September 14, Darius Meraj from Everence will lead an estate planning workshop during Sunday school. Sunday, September 21, Paul Thomas from Ferfolia Funeral Homes will lead a funeral pre-planning seminar during Sunday school.  

• MMN Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for the Mennonite Christian Hospital (MCH) in Taiwan, the largest Mennonite hospital in the world, which offers diverse medical specialties and advanced technologies across multiple campuses. Pray that MCH’s commitment to serving marginalized people in remote communities will continue to offer well-being to all of Taiwan’s people.  

• MCC School Kits Update: Thank you to everyone who helped collect supplies and put together the MCC school kits this year! We are excited to report that we collected enough items to put together 62 school kits – a considerable increase from last year when we collected 35 school kits.   

• MCC’s Seeking Shalom Peace Camp: Young adults ages 18-30 are invited to explore the meaning of shalom as a wholistic sense of peace at MCC’s Seeking Shalom Peace Camp on November 1-8. The camp will begin at Camp Friedenswald in Cassopolis, Michigan, on November 1–4, diving deep into God’s word and into practical tools of peacebuilding. We will dream possibilities of shalom for our communities and gain tools for engaging conflict effectively. On November 5–8, we will transition to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and participate in the Christian Community Development Association’s (CCDA) annual conference. This is a rich opportunity to hear from leaders across the country, connect with community development organizations, experience worship and attend workshops. Learn more and register by October 5 at mcc.org/seeking-shalom

• Sunday School Seminars: Sunday, September 14, Darius Meraj from Everence will lead an estate planning workshop during Sunday school. Sunday, September 21, Paul Thomas from Ferfolia Funeral Homes will lead a funeral pre-planning seminar during Sunday school.  

• Youth Activities Invite: 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 so that he can put together a schedule to share (strictly) within the congregation.

• Sunday Worship at Retreat: Next Sunday, August 17 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. Directions to the retreat property can be found on our website.

• Sunday School Seminars: Sunday, September 14, Darius Meraj from Everence will lead an estate planning workshop during Sunday school. Sunday, September 21, Paul Thomas from Ferfolia Funeral Homes will lead a funeral pre-planning seminar during Sunday school.  

• Retreat Anniversary: This summer, our retreat property in Geauga County will celebrate its 60^th anniversary!

• FMC Conference Affiliation: FMC is now officially affiliated with Allegheny Mennonite Conference. Last weekend, their delegates affirmed our membership with overwhelming support and enthusiasm. If anyone is interested in attending next year’s Celebration weekend (always the first weekend in August), or serving as one of our 7 delegates, please contact Pastor Alvis.

• Youth Activities Invite: 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 so that he can put together a schedule to share (strictly) within the congregation.

• Isabella Hartzler Grad Party: Gabriella, Diana and Jonathan invite you to celebrate Isabella’s graduation from Solon High School and acceptance to The Ohio State University.  We will be hosting an open house on August 3, 2025 from 3:00PM to 6:00PM.  All are welcome!

• Teachers & Activity Station Leaders Needed: Fall Sunday school for children and youth starts on September 7. This year we’ll be having regular Sunday school for children, youth, and adults the first three Sundays of the month and intergenerational Sunday school on the last Sunday. Sign up to help out as a Sunday school teacher or as an intergenerational activity leader using the QR code below.

• Blessing of the Bags: Sunday, August 10 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.

• Inclusion & Accessibility Working Group:  Pastor Alvis is putting together an Inclusion and Accessibility Working Group to help us live into God’s call to be a truly welcoming community. The group’s purpose is to generate ideas and collect suggestions from the congregation about how we can improve accessibility and better embody the inclusive values we hold, in all aspects of congregational life. If you’re interested and want to know more, please contact Pastor Alvis.
• Join us in the MCC School Kit Challenge: Mennonite Central Committee has issued a challenge for churches to pack 25,000 school kits during the month of August. Notebooks and pencils are a tangible message of God’s love for families around the world who have been forced to flee their homes or struggle to afford basic school supplies. Without these items, many kids can’t get the education they desperately need.  What’s in a school kit? A school kit is a cloth bag filled with notebooks, pencils, a ruler, colored pencils, an eraser, pens and a sharpener that gets sent to children in need all over the world. Bring any of the items below by August 10 to contribute to our kits for MCC. Monetary donations are also welcome! If you can’t shop for the items below, we invite you to donated funds that can be used to purchase items. Please indicate that your donation is for “MCC school kits.” 4 Spiral or perforated pages notebooks (8.5 in x 10.5 in and 70 sheets)
  1 ruler (flat, good quality; must indicate 30 cm; inch markings optional)
  4 new black or blue ballpoint pens
  12 colored pencils
  (in packaging)
  1 large eraser
  8 new unsharpened pencils
  1 small all metal pencil sharpener (one or two holes)

• Blessing of the Bags: Sunday, August 10 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.

• Visits for Parsilla Honsaker: Pastor Alvis is putting together a roster of people to visit or accompany him on a visit to Parsilla Honsaker. If you’re interested and willing to visit her once every few months, please let Alvis know, and he can provide you with more information.

• Inclusion & Accessibility Working Group:  Pastor Alvis is putting together an Inclusion and Accessibility Working Group to help us live into God’s call to be a truly welcoming community. The group’s purpose is to generate ideas and collect suggestions from the congregation about how we can improve accessibility and better embody the inclusive values we hold, in all aspects of congregational life. If you’re interested and want to know more, please contact Pastor Alvis.
• Teachers & Activity Station Leaders Needed: Fall Sunday school for children and youth starts on September 7. This year we’ll be having regular Sunday school for children, youth, and adults the first three Sundays of the month and intergenerational Sunday school on the last Sunday. Sign up to help out as a Sunday school teacher or as an intergenerational activity leader using the QR code below.
• Isabella Hartzler Grad Party: Gabriella, Diana and Jonathan invite you to celebrate Isabella’s graduation from Solon High School and acceptance to The Ohio State University.  We will be hosting an open house on August 3, 2025 from 3:00PM to 6:00PM.  All are welcome!
• Join us in the MCC School Kit Challenge: Mennonite Central Committee has issued a challenge for churches to pack 25,000 school kits during the month of August. Notebooks and pencils are a tangible message of God’s love for families around the world who have been forced to flee their homes or struggle to afford basic school supplies. Without these items, many kids can’t get the education they desperately need.  What’s in a school kit? A school kit is a cloth bag filled with notebooks, pencils, a ruler, colored pencils, an eraser, pens and a sharpener that gets sent to children in need all over the world. Bring any of the following by August 10 to contribute to our kits for MCC: 4 Spiral or perforated pages notebooks (8.5 in x 10.5 in and 70 sheets)
  1 ruler (flat, good quality; must indicate 30 cm; inch markings optional)
  4 new black or blue ballpoint pens
  12 colored pencils
  (in packaging)
  1 large eraser
  8 new unsharpened pencils
  1 small all metal pencil sharpener (one or two holes)