Religion News
Services and studies
St. Paul Lutheran — Pastor Doug Bauman will present the message ”Loyalty” based on II Timothy 3:14-4:5 Sunday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 6045 E. State St., Columbus, at the 8 and 10:45 a.m. worship services. Christian Education classes for all ages begin at 9:30 a.m.
Vicar Daniel Fickenscher will lead worship at the 2:30 p.m. Spanish Service, with Spanish/English Sunday School following at 3:30 p.m.
The Aurora Circuit Reformation service will be at 4 p.m. Oct. 26 at St. John Lutheran Church, Farmers Retreat, 7291 State Road 62 in Dillsboro, Indiana, with Indiana District President Pastor Dr. Daniel J. Brege preaching. Offerings from the service and the dinner afterward will benefit the Aurora Circuit Church Workers Scholarship Fund.
Mount Pleasant Christian Union — October is Visitor Appreciation Month at the church at 4960 W. Goeller Boulevard in Columbus. Pastor Kevin Metz leads the 10:30 a.m. service.
Information: 812-344-0478.
Grace Lutheran — Pastor John Armstrong will bring the message at the 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday services at the church at 3201 Central Ave. in Columbus, with Sunday School for all ages at 9:30 a.m.
The Alpha class, an introduction to the Bible, continues from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday with the topic “How does God guide us?”
The Searching Scripture class continues from 6 to 8 p.m. with the topic “The Apostles Creed.”
Men’s Bible Study will meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Eckankar of Southern Indiana — A spiritual discussion meeting, “The Principles of Eckankar” is scheduled from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation building at 7850 W. Goeller Blvd. in Columbus. The topic of discussion will be “ What is Spiritual Freedom? Part 2.”
The meetings focus on an aspect of Eckankar and will feature readings from the books of Eckankar with group discussions of the spiritual principles at work in our lives. Please join others to bring more spiritual insight and divine love into our daily lives.
The Spiritual Discussion group meets the third Sunday of each month at 1:30 p.m. Fellowship and light refreshments will follow. The meeting is at 7850 W. Goeller Blvd. in Columbus, located in the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus building.
Information: 812-418-8392.
First United Methodist — The Rev. Howard Boles will deliver the message, “The Generous Heart” at the 9 a.m. traditional service and the 11 a.m. celebration service at the church, 618 Eighth St. in Columbus. The scripture will be Luke 19:1-10. Sunday School for all ages begins at 10:10 a.m. Childcare is available during both services.
Petersville United Methodist — The Rev. Stormy Scherer-Berry will present her sermon, “Sin,” at the 9 a.m. worship service Sunday at the church at 2781 N. County Road 500E in Petersville. Scriptures from Genesis 4 will be shared by the liturgist. The theme for the service will be “We master sin through confession and repentance.”
Teresa Covert will give the children’s sermon, and special music will be shared by the choir. Fellowship will follow the service and a 60th wedding anniversary will be celebrated with refreshments provided by the Harris family.
The Monday night Bible Study classes meet at 6:30 p.m.; Baker’s Dozen meets at the home of Larry and Connie Nolting; and Journey meets at the home of Chris Kimerling.
The Sit and Stitch group will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Nolting home.
The Administrative Council will convene at 5:30 p.m. at the church on Wednesday, and choir practice will follow at 6:30 p.m.
Prayer Time, led by Barb Hedrick, will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church.
Preparations are being for the annual Turkey Supper on Nov. 1-2. Tickets are available from church members or at the door.
Information: 812-546-4438 or 574-780-2379.
Old Union United Church of Christ — Pastor Kirby Rupp will preside over the 10 a.m. Sunday service at the church at 12703 N. County Road 50W near Edinburgh. Sunday School is at 9 a.m. and fellowship follows at 9:40. Readings are from Genesis 32:22-31, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 and Luke 18:1-8 as part of the message “Until You Beat a Path.”
Westport Christian — Guest speaker Terry Peer of Cincinnati will lead revival services with the theme “Intentional” beginning with the 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday services at the church, 102 W. Mulberry St. in Westport. Services then will continue at 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.
Two worship times will begin Oct. 27, at 8 and 11 a.m., with a Bible education class at 9:45 a.m. The Sunday evening Bible study and Sunday Funday (kindergarten through eighth grade) will continue at 6 p.m. Sundays.
Information: 812-591-3807.
Mount Olive United Methodist — Homecoming will be celebrated beginning with the 9 a.m. Sunday service at the church at 10530 W. Georgetown Road in Columbus. Pastor John Tingle will deliver the message. A pitch-in meal will be shared at noon. Meat and drinks will be provided. The afternoon program begins at 1:30 p.m. with Tingle as the speaker. The Out of the Box Gospel Group will provide music.
Information: 812-342-4557.
Music
First United Methodist concert — The Columbus Brass Quintet will be in concert at 7 p.m. Friday as part of the church’s Fridays@First Concert Series at the church at Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.
Information: 812-372-2851 or fumccolumbus.org.
Events
Life Matters: A Prayer Response to the Death Penalty — Three local churches are partnering for this free event and prayer service from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 1306 27th St. in Columbus. First Presbyterian Church and North Christian Church also are part of the gathering.
Speakers will respond to five planned federal executions of death-row inmates by January at the Terre Haute federal penitentiary. Karen Burkhart will discuss traditional reasons for using the death penalty and how the Catholic position has changed over the years. Abraham Bonowitz will talk about his conversion from death penalty proponent to abolitionist.
In July, 2019, the federal government ordered re-institution of federal executions of death row inmates.
Church safety seminar at Community Church of Columbus — Sheepdog Seminars specializing in training church personnel in protective and safety measures in today’s sometimes violent society will lead a seminar for any interested faith or other personnel from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at Community Church of Columbus, 3850 N. Marr Road. At the event, Sheepdog leaders will speak in part “about the escalation of violence occurring at houses of worship and faith-based property, and you will hear what you must start doing to protect your flock when gathered at a house of worship,” according to its website at sheepdogsafetytraining.com.
Retired police officer and current minister Jimmy Meeks, safety expert Carl Chinn and retired police officer Greg Stevens will make presentations. Snacks will be served throughout the day. Sheepdog has done such training nationwide for a number of years.
Cost is $40 per person.
Information and registration: sheepdogsafetytraining.com/columbus-indiana-november-9-saturday.
Grace Lutheran fall festival — Grace will be hosting the first Fall Festival from noon to 3 p.m. with food, games, prizes, a chili cook off and baking contests for the whole family at the church, 3201 Central Ave. in Columbus. All are welcome.
American Baptist Women’s Ministries of Brownstown fall conference — The American Baptist Women’s Ministries of the Brownstown Association’s annual fall conference will begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Hayden Baptist Church at 135 S. County Road 700W of North Vernon, across from Hayden Elementary School. Missionaries the Rev. Kyle and Debbie Witmer and family will speak.
Organizers are collecting non-perishable items and manual can openers as our project to help our mission of helping the Martindale-Brightwood area in Indianapolis for the Edna Martin Christian Center. Anyone wanting to donate are invited to drop off items during this time, or call Carol at 812-202-5189.
Eat and Learn Night at White Creek United Methodist — Eat and Learn Night will be conducted with a dinner at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28 and a presentation at 7 p.m. from veteran WCSI radio personality and newsman John Foster at the church at 6730 W. County Road 930S. His theme will be “Living Your Faith While Doing Your Job.” Information: Jerry Roberts 812-521-1902.
South Central Indiana Christian Men’s Fellowship — The meeting is Oct. 23 at Hartsville Church of Christ, 160 N. Washington St. in Hartsville. The speaker will be Paul Bunting. The meal starts at 6:30 p.m. and is followed by the program at 7:15. The menu includes chili, hot dogs and coney dogs. Information: 812-521-9365.
