Monthly Newsletter

Breakfast Club is a gathering for our church family and anyone else who would like to join us. We meet on Sundays twice a month at a local restaurant for breakfast, conversation, and connection. There’s no agenda or program, just time together.

Our hope is to give our young people a chance to build relationships with others while creating a welcoming, low-pressure space for people who may not be connected to the church. Sometimes walking into a restaurant for breakfast feels a little easier than walking into a church for the first time.

Our very first Breakfast Club met August  23, with eight people ranging in age from 16 to 87! That’s exactly the kind of intergenerational connection we hoped this gathering could create.

Whether you’re a longtime church member, one of our youth, a friend, a neighbor, or simply someone who wants to share a meal and conversation, you are welcome at the table.

September Breakfasts:

• Sept. 6 at 9 a.m. at Big G’s
• Sept. 20 at 9 a.m. at Five Lakes

Come join us for breakfast, fellowship, and conversation.

Everyone is welcome!

– Jamie Peppler

What if some of the most important opportunities to share God's love are already part of your daily routine?

In our new series, Closer Than You Think, we'll discover how faith often grows through everyday relationships. We'll explore what it means to notice the people we usually overlook, strengthen the relationships we already have, build connections across differences and generations, and make room for new people at the table – or wherever you gather.

Then, on October 4, immediately following worship, we'll offer an interactive, hands-on experience designed to help you put these ideas into practice. 

Together, we'll identify the places where we already spend time, learn simple ways to start meaningful conversations, and discover how small acts of presence, curiosity, and hospitality can make a lasting impact in our community. You'll leave with practical tools, a personalized action plan, and one simple next step you can begin right away.

Whether you're a student, a retiree, or anywhere in between, this experience will help you see how God can work through the ordinary rhythms of everyday life.

Join us as we learn to recognize the opportunities that may be closer than we think.

We’re so excited to welcome our CityKids Preschool students and families for another school year! As preschool gets underway, we’re grateful for the many ways our church family helps make CityKids a fun, welcoming, and Christ-centered place for our little ones.

Here are a few simple ways you can support our preschool ministry this year:

Provide Snacks
Our preschoolers go through a lot of snacks! You can help by donating individually packaged, kid-friendly snacks for our classrooms. Every snack donation helps us care for our students throughout the school day. Examples of snacks are cheese sticks, apples, healthy cereals such as Cheerios, and corn puffs.

Shop the Amazon Wishlist
Want an easy way to help from home? Check out our CityKids Preschool Amazon Wishlist and purchase items our classrooms need throughout the year. Your generosity helps provide supplies, activities, and other essentials for our teachers and students.

Become a Room Grandparent
This is a wonderful opportunity to build relationships with our preschoolers and teachers by periodically spending time in a classroom, helping with activities, offering encouragement, and simply being a familiar, loving presence.

Whether you donate snacks, purchase something from the wishlist, or volunteer your time, thank you for investing in our youngest little learners! Your support makes a difference as we love, teach, and point our preschoolers toward Jesus.

If you’d like to help with snacks, the Amazon Wishlist, or becoming a Room Grandparent, please reach out to the CityKids Preschool team by emailing: Amanda.Webber@columbiacityumc.org for more information, or click the link below.

Thank you, church family, for helping make CityKids Preschool such a special place!

Amanda Webber

FIRST FRIDAY – Join us for fun and games as we connect with local families!

We need 4 volunteers per shift:

• Set-Up & Games: 5:30–7:15 p.m.
• Games & Tear-Down: 7:15–9:00 p.m

Call the church office at  260-244-7671 to volunteer.

Whether you recognize the names in our "Meet People Where They Are" section or not, these individuals are precious members of our CCUMC church family.

Because we believe in bringing church to those who cannot attend, we regularly reach out through home visits, communion, cards, and the Oak Pointe service.

To join this beautiful ministry of connection, please contact the church office to get involved.

Oak Pointe Assisted Living: Dee Green, Harrison & Natalie Harker, Barb Gillman

The Oaks Skilled Care: Francis Bundy, Joanna Sims

Byron Health Center: April Snyder

Ossian Health & Rehabilitation: Jill Chapman

Autumn Trace: Evelyn Stemen, Karen Bucher

Homebound: Florence Linn, Louise Walter, Joyce Lawrence, Chick Harker, Marilyn Fry, Joyce Butler, Julia Hayes

Cards only: Barb Bilger and Betty Mosher

* If you know anyone that is homebound or in a care facility, PLEASE let the office know.  We want to be sure we are reaching out to all.

BIRTHDAYS

1- Mark Parker

4 - Erin Devito

10 - Karen Bucher

11 - Scott Myer

12 - Jamie Peppler

13 - Carolyn Parnell

14 - Jayne Oliver

16 - Patricia Pequignot

18 - Rhonda Myer

20 - Kim Willyard

21 - Tom Shearer

22- Rick Hodge

23 - Francis Bundy

Ellie Lambert

ANNIVERSARIES

17 - Chris & Tim Buchanan

10 - John & Reisa Snyder

12 - Jamie & Ryan Peppler

14 - Lenny & Arlene Crosby

Recently, severe storms caused widespread damage across Indiana. Please join us in supporting the recovery through these three direct actions:

• Donate Funds to UMCOR: Checks can be made payable to the church with Advance #901670 in the memo line.
• Get Trained: Register for Emergency Response Team (ERT) training to safely clean up debris and tarp roofs. Upcoming sessions run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on September 12 (Indianapolis) and October 17 (Evansville). Contact Ron Heustis at rlheustis@gmail.com to sign up.
• Pray: Continue to pray for everyone affected by the severe flooding and for the teams responding to the damage.

12 Month Goals

Goal 1 - Sunday Morning, Engaging for All

• Simplified structure
• Flow and transitions are smoother
• New sermon series August 30
• Choir returns August 30

Goal 2 – One new Ministry in the community per quarter

• Breakfast Club – 1st location McDonalds, August 23
• Brew-Ha conversations with Pastor Christi will continue on Wednesdays at 3:45
• Training opportunity on Oct 4

Pre-School Board Task Force

• 5 board members in addition to director and a parent
• Under the umbrella of CCUMC Church Council
• Council Finance chair will continue to report preschool finances monthly
• Preschool bi-laws were presented and approved.

Pastor’s Report

• Tool’s for School’s supply collection a success.
• Discussion about: facilities use, Blessing Box, First Friday finding volunteers a challenge, Christmas mission.
• Pastor Christi at a conference in September
• Stewardship Campaign begins Oct. 11

Finance Report

• July 2026
• Total Revenue: $46,385.99
• Total Expense: $46,486.51 (3 pay periods in July)
• Net Revenue: -$100.52
• YTD Net Operating Revenue: $28,129.17

Staff Parish Report

• Preschool job descriptions approved

John Snyder — Council Chair

Megan Devito — Staff Parish Chair

Jamie Peppler — Lay Person

Brenda Marty – Secretary

Carl Siler – Trustee Chair

Wendy Meyer – Finance Chair

Ron Richey – Treasurer

Nathan Lundy – Endowment Committee Chair

Chris Jones and John Kleiman – Members at Large

(260) 244-7671 • www.columbiacityumc.org
605 Forest Parkway Columbia City, IN 46725

Christi Murray, Pastor — christi.murray@columbiacityumc.org

Tammy Taylor, Director of Administration and Discipleship — tammy.taylor@columbiacityumc.org

Ashley Bailey, Communications Specialist — ashley.bailey@columbiacityumc.org

Gary Shanklin, Bookkeeper – Shanklin.gary@gmail.com