Living in God's Bigger

Picture: A Longer Memory

We are committed to walking with those in all the various stages of life and of the journey of faith. Our congregation includes well-seasoned retired folk, young parents, teachers, nurses, business people, and children straining to climb under the pews. Some of us have been committed believers for many years and some of us are still asking what this "Christian" thing is all about.

Education Ministry

Adults

• Topical Sunday School classes (Sundays, 10 am - 10:45 am)

• Small Groups

• Senior Fellowship (Wednesdays, 9:30 am - 11 am) - 2x/mon Bible studies, 2x/mon guest speakers and social gatherings

• Peace & Justice Lecture Series

Youth

• Sunday School (Sundays, 10 am - 10:45 am)

• Youth Fellowship - 2x/month Sunday afternoon gatherings including Bible lessons and social activities (such as scavenger hunts, ultimate frisbee, progressive dinners, or bowling

• Local service projects

• Drift Creek summer camp

• Every 2nd year, alternating trips to the National Mennonite Youth Convention and a larger regional service project

• Annual youth-led worship services

Missions

We are committed to ministry, not only within our own congregation but also within our local community and at the national and international level. We believe that God has a mission in the world that involves transforming both individual hearts and social realities by the power of Jesus Christ. We believe that all Christians are to serve in Jesus' name as "ambassadors of reconciliation" (2 Corin. 5:16-21) wherever we find ourselves. Our church has a particular passion for the alleviation of poverty and for the transformation of cycles of violence into new patterns of peace. Our members are involved in a variety of ministries, locally and far beyond. The following a non-exhaustive list of some of the ministries and organizations Albany Mennonite supports through donations and devoted volunteers:

Local:

• Neighbor to Neighbor Mediation - community mediation service

• Schantz House - a home providing round-the-clock care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

• FISH of Albany - providing emergency and crisis services to persons and families in need

• Love in the Name of Christ (Love INC) - connecting churches with individuals in need in their local communities

National/International:

• Mennonite Central Committee - a relief, service, community development, and peace agency that is active in more than 50 countries

• Sister Care International - equipping women around the world with tools for personal healing and training women to respond more effectively to the needs of others in their congregations and communities

• Mennonite Disaster Service - a volunteer network responding to those effected by disasters (tornados, hurricanes, etc) in the U.S. and Canada

• Christian Peacemaker Teams - sending teams into communities confronting situations of lethal conflict to assist local peacemakers in waging nonviolent direct action to confront systems of violence and oppression

Congregational Life

We at Albany Mennonite enjoy each other's company not just on Sunday mornings but throughout the week. In addition to our formal education programing, there are a number of others ways through the year that we week to build relationships and share life together. Here is just a sampling:

• Annual Congregation Retreat at Drift Creek Camp (fall)

• OSU tailgating party and baseball game (spring)

• Summer picnics in the park

• Hiking club

• Family movie/game nights

• Men's breakfast (2nd Wednesday of the month)

• Women's breakfast (3rd Wednesday of the month)

• Small Groups (days and times vary)

• Potlucks (have we mentioned we like those?)