WHAT'S HAPPENING AT FIRST MENNONITE?

  • a night in bethlehem

    Everyone is invited to the Family Life Center on December 14 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. for "A Night in Bethlehem." Wander through the bustling Bethlehem marketplace and discover what life was like when Jesus was born. Interact with local shopkeepers, see the animals, and be sure to visit Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in the stable.




  • christmas caroling & cookies

    Join us on December 21 for an evening of Christmas Caroling. We will meet in the Swiss Village auditorium at 6pm to divide into groups. Some will go to Envive and to homebound members. Others will stay at Swiss Village. All will return to the auditorium for cookies after! ALL ARE WELCOME! 




  • children's ministry news

    Children’s Ministries WINTER VOLUNTEERS: We have these openings this winter: Preschool Children’s Church (crafts once a month); 4th/5th grade Sunday School (once a month); and K-2 Wednesday night teacher (every week for the quarter); and NEW: Wednesday baby/toddler nursery volunteers.. Please contact Chris Hyman at chris@firstmennonite.org or call her at (260) 525-9967. You may also use the church app to let us know of your interest!

    Advent Activities: Check out the Family Resource wall for a couple of Advent activities available now! Advent begins next Sunday, November 30.



  • youth ministry

    Christmas Party: The Youth Christmas party is Wednesday, December17. Please bring a gift for the gift exchange ($10 maximum). 

    Ski Trip: Join us on Saturday, January 24, as we experience Midnight Madness at Mad River Mountain, located in central Ohio. Please sign up in the Youth room. 

    Winter Retreat: The Youth Winter Retreat is scheduled for January 30-February 1, 2026. Please sign up with the QR code in the Youth room.


  • MISSIONARY PRAYER REQUESTS

    Please continue to pray for our missionaries (prayer request sheets are on the table in the foyer). This is also a good time for each of us to send an email or card to any of our missionaries letting them know you are remembering them. This will be especially appreciated as the Christmas season approaches, and many are away from family. Prayer support is vital.



  • the week at first mennonite

    Don't miss the opportunity to fellowship and grow with our church family. Take a look at the schedule below. You will find something for everyone!


    SUNDAY - DECEMBER 7

    • 9:00 a.m. Sunday School for all ages
    • 10:00 a.m. "Peace": Pastor Jeff Linthicum
    • 3:00 p.m. Handel’s Messiah performed by the Mennonite Choral Society

    TUESDAY – DECEMBER 9

    • 6:30 p.m. Sunshine Hour (not on livestream; listen on scanner)
    WEDNESDAY – DECEMBER 10
    • 5:15 p.m. Grace Notes rehearsal (choir room) 
    • 5:45-6:30 p.m. Fellowship Meal in the patio
    • 6:10 p.m. JAM rehearsal (Room 7) and Mennonotes (choir room) 
    • 7:00 p.m. Ages 0-3: Nursery
    • 7:00 p.m. Ages 4-K: Room at the bottom of the ramp
    • 7:00 p.m. Grades 1-5: Family Life Center
    • 7:00 p.m. Youth: Youth Room (opens at 6:30 p.m.) 
    • 7:00 p.m. Chapel: Genesis 35-36 (Pastor Jim Schwartz) 
    • 7:00 p.m. Band of Brothers: “Moral Argument” (Room 13)
    • 7:00 p.m. She Shares: "Elizabeth (Room 15) 
    • 7:00 p.m. Young women’s (20s & 30s) small group (Room 14) 
    • 7:00 p.m. “Journeying through Grief”: Marcia & Jamie Cressman (Room 2)
    • 7:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry, Women’s Ministries, and Quilting
    • 8:15 p.m. Chancel Choir rehearsal (choir loft of the sanctuary)
    SUNDAY – DECEMBER 14
    • 9:00 a.m. Sunday School: for all ages
    • 10:00 a.m. “Joy”: Pastor Jeff Linthicum
    • 5:00-8:00 p.m. “Night in Bethlehem


  • Community Grief support class

    “Journeying through Grief” is a grief support class to help and encourage those on their grief journey. We will be discussing helpful ways to make it through special occasions and also the holidays that are coming up. We will also look at the four seasons of grief, as well as road blocks and detours one might experience along the way. The eight-week class will begin Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 7:00 p.m. in Room 2 in the lower level. The class will be led by Marcia & Jamie Cressman.  


  • mcc meat canner

    Mark your calendars! The MCC meat canner will be here at First Mennonite on Friday, January 23, and Saturday, January 24, 2026. Also, the Meat Canner Committee is looking for housing for two canner boys during their stay in Berne. The canner boys will be in town from Thursday, January 22, to Monday, January 26, 2026. For more information, please contact Paul Bluhm at (260) 223-2142.




  • project share

    Contribute to the needs of our community by participating in Project Share. You can place your donations on the table in the foyer or in the box inside the east entrance of the church.  Suggestions for each month are listed below, but all donations are appreciated.

    • January - Cereal & Baby Food
    • February - Monetary Donations
    • March - Vegetables
    • April - Boxed/Pouched Side Dishes
    • May - Cake, Brownie, Muffin Mixes
    • June - Paper Products
    • July - Personal Hygiene Products
    • August - Feminine Hygiene Products
    • September - Canned Meat
    • October - Soups
    • November - Pasta
    • December - Beans


  • parenting tips

    Did you know that you can receive weekly parenting tips, videos, and devotion ideas right to your phone? If you would like to sign up for this, please text the following: @fmcpare to the number 81010 and request to be part of our Biblical Parenting thread. 





  • right now media

    Do you have a Right Now Media account? This resource provides access to over 20,000 Bible study and devotional videos for youth and adults as well as a library of popular, safe kids' shows that you can view anytime, anywhere, and from any device. Activate your FREE account by clicking HERE.




  • online library catalog

    The church library catalog is now online. By visiting firstmennonite.library.site or connecting to the catalog through the the church app, you can search for materials available in the library, see what’s new, and what’s popular. Borrowing materials is the same, just sign the check-out card. If you choose to set up an account in the catalog you can also see what you have on loan, check what you have borrowed in the past, and reserve materials that are on loan to someone else. If you have questions, contact Sara Jo Sprunger, sjsprunger@gmail.com, or 260-849-3004.