Mennonite Disaster Services is accepting donations to aid those affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. The mission of MDS is working with the uninsured and people that fall through the cracks. If you'd like to donate on-line, please visit www.mds.mennonite.net and then follow the directions. If you'd rather give by check, please mail your donation to MDS, 583 Airport Road, Lititz, PA 17543. THANK YOU.
Christian Peacekeeper Team (CPT) - Palestine - Our Pastor Brenda just returned from a Christian Peacekeeper Team delegation to Palestine and Israel. CPT enlists the whole church in an organized, nonviolent alternative to war. CPT's initial roots began with Mennonites, Church of the Brethren and Quakers and has spread into a broad ecumenical network. Pastor Brenda worked in Hebron in the West Bank, and then in Jerusalem. She has indicated that there is a lot to process and that we, here in the United States should be so grateful for what we have.
Sunday Morning Discussion Group - Since its inception in 1927 the adult discussion group has defined the character of our little church. Fairfield Mennonite was founded by several progressive thinkers who wanted to create a worship community in which it was safe to explore different ideas and ways of being church. Having felt stifled in the “mother church” they felt a strong need to question accepted doctrines and practices and to think outside of the box. To this day, our free wheeling discussions shape the character of “FMC.”
Mennonites have traditionally downplayed doctrine and creeds and have focused on living their faith. This is very true of FMC. Our focus as a faith community is on being and doing The Word, not just believing the word. The question that underlies all of our worship, study, and discussion is: “what does it mean to follow Jesus?” Faith for us is not about “believing in Jesus, but believing Jesus and taking seriously his instructions to ‘love your enemies, feed my sheep, follow me.”
The adult group just completed a study of world religions hoping to better understand ourselves, others, and the world around. Over the past months we have examined the teachings of Islam, Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism. Currently we are examining Confucius’ morality and how it’s shaped the China of today.
Everyone is welcome, believer or nonbeliever. Sunday’s discussions begin at 9:30 am. We meet in the kitchen, where most good conversations occur!
FMC Book Club - Our Wednesday evening book club has started up again. We meet at 6:30 PM at the church. We are discussing the book "What God Said, The 25 Core Messages of Conversations with God that will Change your Life and the World" by Neale Donald Walsch. If you are interested in joining this lively discussion group, you can just show up or use the "Contact Us" option on this website and send us your name, phone number and email address for additional information. The book club meets every other week. Our next meeting is November 15. Please join us. Everyone is welcome!
Project Linus (Providing Security Through Blankets) - Join us on the 3rd Friday of each month from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM as we sit together and knit, crochet or quilt blankets for children. Of course, we have a good time doing it too! Project Linus was started in 1998 and has chapters in all 50 states. The mission of Project Linus is to provide handmade blankets for children-nothing commercially made.
Past Events
International Gift Festival - This year's Gift Festival was held Tuesday, November 7 through Saturday, November 11. Once again, the Ten Thousand Villages Store in Mechanicsburg transformed Fairfield Mennonite Church into an international shopping delight. All attending got a head start on their holiday shopping. If you didn't make it this year, look for the Gift Festival next year (2018). It is always held during the first full week of November. Fairfield Mennonite Church does not profit from this event.
Hair and Care - On Saturday, October 21, we held a fundraiser for hurricane and earthquake victims, as well as a fundraiser for the Arts and Music programs at Fairfield Area Schools. The event was not well attended, but we did raise close to $400.00 for the school and received donations of blankets and quilts for the victims of Hurricane Harvey and Irma. The blankets and quilts were delivered to the Cumberland Valley Relief Center who will make sure the Mennonite Central Committee gets them.
Maria Richards, owner of Shades and Shapes in Carlisle, Pa, provided free haircuts to men, women, and children from 10 am to 4 pm in the church fellowship hall. First come, first served. Maria has been a beautician for 17 years. She studied at Toni and Guy’s Hairdressing Academy in Erie, Pa.
Those that came for their “free” haircut assisted hurricane and earthquake victims by helping knot comforters which were laid out on tables. These will then be distributed to the disaster victims by the Mennonite Central Committee. The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), the relief and material aid arm of the Mennonite Church, has sent out an urgent appeal for home made blankets, quilts, comforters, afghans as well as new sheets (preferably twin size), pillow cases and towels. They are currently working along with Mennonite Disaster Service in Florida, Texas, Mexico, and the many affected Caribbean Islands.
Several other things were organized, along with the haircuts and comforter knotting, with all tips going to the Fairfield School System. Philip Schindel provided seated massage. Several local artists displayed their wares and refreshments were provided.
Spring Arts and Crafts Show
Our second annual Spring Arts and Crafts Show was held on Saturday, May 13, 2017. While the weather was a deterrent to visitors, those of us who joined together to display our arts and crafts had a really good time. The visitor turnout was small, but we will be starting to plan our third annual event very soon. Our show had something for everyone.....stained glass, jewelry, wreaths, photography, quilts, crocheted items, drawings, houses made from natural items found in the woods, pottery and journals. We've included some pictures......
On Sunday April 9, 2017, we held a Messianic Passover Seder at our church. We started with a shortened Christian service and then moved into our Fellowship Hall for the Seder. The Seder was organized and presented by Steve and Barb Semiatin (church congregants) and Pastor Brenda Walter. This was the second year for the Seder and it was a wonderful success.
 |
| The Seder service uses unleavened bread (matza), parsley, salt water, horseradish and choroses (a mixture of apples, almonds, cinnamon and wine) |
 |
| This was the plate that was set up at the main table. Each item on the plate has a special meaning. |
 |
| Steve Semiatin was one of the leaders of the service. |
 |
| Each person attending received a "program" outlining the order of events. |
