• Note from the Treasurer: Giving for the month of May was $7,700. The monthly church budget is $8,300.  

• My Coins Count: Next Sunday, June 30 we will have our monthly My Coins Count collection after the church offering. Please be sure to bring your change, cash, or checks! Our donations go towards supporting the mission and ministries of the Mennonite Central Committee.  

• Retreat Picnic on Saturday: Saturday, June 22 join us at our retreat property in Geauga county for a time of fellowship and fun. 5:00pm is when dinner begins. Arrive by 4:00pm to enjoy fellowship, hiking and games. Please bring your own table service and a dish to share!

• Outdoor Worship Next Sunday: Next Sunday, join us for worship outside at FMC! Please consider bringing a lawn chair or blanket to sit on, and a hat or sunglasses. The outdoor worship service will not be live-streamed.

• Church Workday: Help us beautify the front garden beds at FMC! We will have a church workday after the worship service on Sunday, June 23. Bring a packed lunch and wear (or bring) clothing that can get dirty.

• Our Graduates: Today we honor and celebrate Cara Speros and Charlotte Witmer-Rich. Congratulations to you both on your recent graduations! Cara Speros graduated from Kent State University with a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science. She is now working as Children’s Librarian at Willoughby Public Library. Charlotte Witmer-Rich graduated with honors from Kenston High School. She plans on attending Lehigh University this fall.
• MMN Prayer Request: Today, Mennonite Mission Network’s board members are worshiping in congregations in the Newton, Kansas, area, after a weekend of meetings. Pray for the board members, as they work to implement what they have discerned as the future directions for the agency.

• Menno Snapshot: Pasadena Mennonite Church helped foster Celeste Sharp’s passion for the environment. This interest has led Celeste to pursue an education in agroecology, with hopes of providing people with more sustainable food systems and practices. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/agroecology-food

• Graduation Sunday: On Sunday, June 9, 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. RSVPs to Ruth with your selection and dietary concerns are due TODAY.

• Congregational Vote Results: On Sunday, May 26 after the worship service there was a congregational meeting and vote. The vote was about adopting as our position and policy the “What Inclusion Means to Us” statement that was sent out to congregants earlier this month. The threshold for adopting the statement was 75% of votes cast, following guidance from our constitution. 40 votes were cast, with 37 in favor of adopting the statement and 3 opposed. The statement which we have adopted could potentially put us in conflict with the Ohio Mennonite Conference. In preparation for this possibility, we will begin to explore other conference affiliation options this fall. 

• MMN Prayer Request: In California, where Mennonite Mission Network’s San Francisco MVS unit is located, many people who have full-time jobs are not able to pay rent on a one-bedroom apartment. Most of the MVS participants are working with agencies that provide low-income housing. They ask that we pray and work to transform the unjust systems that cause homelessness.

• Congregational Vote: After the worship service, please join us for a short congregational meeting. During the meeting we will vote on the Inclusion Statement that was emailed out to congregants.

• FMC Retreat Today: Join us this afternoon at our retreat property in Geauga County for fellowship and a potluck dinner.Arrive at the property at 4pm for hiking and fellowship. A potluck dinner will begin at 5pm. Please bring your own table service and a dish to share.

• Graduation Sunday: On Sunday, June 9, 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 with your selection and dietary concerns before June 2nd.

• Gifts Discernment at FMC:  Gifts Discernment responses are due today! Please submit responses to Pastor Alvis.  

• Inclusion Statement Vote: A draft of the proposed FMC Inclusion Statement was emailed out to congregants. On Sunday, May 26 we will vote on the statement in a short congregational meeting after the worship service. If you have any questions or comments about the statement, please contact Pastor Alvis directly.

• Outdoor Worship & Retreat Day: Next Sunday, May 26 join us for two opportunities to worship and fellowship outdoors! Sunday morning we will gather outdoors at FMC for worship at 11:00am. Please consider bringing a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. This service will not be live-streamed. Later in the day, join us at our retreat property in Geauga County for fellowship and a potluck dinner. Arrive at the property at 4pm for hiking and fellowship. A potluck dinner will begin at 5pm. Please bring your own table service and a dish to share.

• Graduation Sunday: On Sunday, June 9, 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 with your selection and dietary concerns before June 2nd.
• We are excited to announce that “Retreat” season is upon us! We hope that you will join us at our retreat property for a time of fellowship, hiking, relaxing, and food. Below are the dates when we will gather together at our retreat property. Arrive at 4pm, potluck dinner begins at 5pm. 
• Sunday, May 26 – camping afterwards
• Saturday, June 22
• Sunday, July 14
• Sunday, August 4 – annual retreat morning worship (camping on Saturday)
• Sunday, September 1 – camping afterwards
• Sunday, September 29 – fall hot dog roast

• Today’s Order of Worship: This morning we are worshiping in a somewhat similar way to the Sunday night service that Anita and her colleague Ted Steiner developed at Notre Dame College. Thank you for participating in a somewhat different flow this morning! Thank you to the Steiner family, Kennedy Weaver, and others for providing the music!

• Inclusion Statement Vote: Earlier this week, a draft of the proposed FMC Inclusion Statement was emailed out to congregants. On Sunday, May 26 we will vote on the statement in a short congregational meeting after the worship service. If you have any questions or comments about the statement, there will be opportunities during Adult Sunday school on May 12 & 19, or you can contact Pastor Alvis directly.

• Gifts Discernment at FMC: The season of Gift Discernment is upon us! A copy of the Gifts Discernment document was emailed out earlier this week, and hard copies are available here at the church. Please take the next two weeks to prayerfully consider how you might serve at Friendship, or who might serve in the roles we need. Please submit suggestions by May 19. 
• Graduation Sunday: On Sunday, June 9, 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 with your selection and dietary concerns before June 2nd.

• Gifts Discernment at FMC: The season of Gift Discernment is upon us! A copy of the Gifts Discernment document was emailed out earlier this week, and hard copies are available here at the church. Please take the next two weeks to prayerfully consider how you might serve at Friendship, or who might serve in the roles we need. Please submit suggestions by May 19. 

• FMC Masking Policy Update: During the March Admin Team meeting, the FMC Masking Policy was reviewed. The group voted to continue the first Sunday of the month masking protocol for the months of April and May and revisit the policy again this fall. If you have any questions about the policy, please see a member of the Admin Team.
• MMN Prayer Request: Robin Gingerich, of Mennonite Mission Network, has served as an administrator and teacher at LCC International University in Lithuania since 2001. She requests prayer for wisdom, patience and kindness among faculty, staff and students, as they complete the school year. Pray also for an end to the war in neighboring Ukraine.
• Summer Sunday School Break: Our last Sunday of Sunday school classes will take place on May 19. Sunday school classes will resume again this fall.  

• My Coins Count: This morning we will collect our monthly My Coins Count collection after the regular offering. Our donations help to support the mission and ministries of Mennonite Central Committee.  

• Worship Bags Update: Pastor Alvis has been working on updating items for the worship bags that children can use during Sunday morning worship. The next step is to make new bags for the new items. If you would like to help make bags, please see Pastor Alvis for bag dimensions.

• N95 Masks: Need a mask? How about 20? The church recently received thousands of free masks from the state of Ohio. If you would like any extra masks, please let Pastor Alvis know.

• Membership & Baptism at FMC:  If you’re interested in exploring baptism and/or formally joining our community at Friendship as a member, please talk to Pastor Alvis over the next several weeks.

• MMN Prayer Request: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for Jonah and Memee Yang, who minister in Thailand from a base in Minnesota. Pray for them as they travel to Thailand twice per year to teach Hmong and Thai students in Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary’s Journey Program (Jonah) and through Mennonite Women’s Sister Care seminars (Memee).

• My Coins Count: We will have our monthly My Coins Count collection next Sunday, April 28. Please bring your change, checks etc. to help support the mission and ministries of Mennonite Central Committee.  

• Worship Bags Update: Pastor Alvis has been working on updating items for the worship bags that children can use during Sunday morning worship. The next step is to make new bags for the new items. If you would like to help make bags, please see Pastor Alvis for bag dimensions.

• N95 Masks: Need a mask? How about 20? The church recently received thousands of free masks from the state of Ohio. If you would like any extra masks, please let Pastor Alvis know.

• Mennonite Public Educators: The next Mennonite Public Educators virtual meeting will take place Thursday, April 25 at 7pm. This group is intended for all Mennonite education professionals working in public school settings. There is not cost, but registration is required. Contact info@mennoniteeducation.org for the Zoom link.

• Comedy Show Fundraiser: Friday, April 26 at 7:00pm the Open Arms Hispanic Ministry will be hosting a comedy fundraiser at Grace Church in Berlin. For more information about the event, please see the flyer posted in the foyer or go to:

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• Youth Gathering: There will be a youth gathering at the Pettker’s apartment on Saturday, April 27. This event is open to middle and high school students and their families and will be a potluck event, so please bring a dish to share. 

• Membership & Baptism at FMC:  If you’re interested in exploring baptism and/or formally joining our community at Friendship as a member, please talk to Pastor Alvis over the next several weeks.