Who Are We?

We at First Men­­no­nite Church are a diverse group. We are young and old, we are mar­ried and single, we work in schools, in the fields, in factories, in professional offices, in our homes.

As a body of “seek­ers,” who are diverse in our ethnic background, we welcome others who wish to journey with us. In that jour­ney, we seek to live lives that reflect the life and character of Jesus.  We know that life is some­times hard ... and unclear.

As a whole, this is a congre­ga­tion rich in in­ter­national ex­per­ience. Many in our con­­gre­gation have spent significant time in other communities and coun­tries, either in an education-related or church service assignment. As a result, there is a strong interest in the global community, the rela­tion­ship of this church with the global com­mun­ity, and in the relationship of faith and life.

We invite others to join us in worshipping God, in car­ing for one an­other in the highs and lows of life, and in trying to figure out what God is doing and wanting to do in the world (and in Bluffton) today.

Congregational Activities

Besides the various programs for children and youth described elsewhere in this folder, various adult groups in the congregation provide further opportunities for fellow­ship and service.

Mennonite Women develop awareness of and pro­vide prayer, financial, and material support for the mis­sions of the church. Activities include inspiring programs, sewing projects, and an annual mother-daughter banquet.

Senior Concerns Committee

The special needs of the elderly in our congregation are  addressed by this committee.

Small Groups

Numerous small groups meet on a regular schedule to provide friendship, personal support, and spiritual growth through Bible study.  An intergenerational group of women gather weekly in the church nursery so those with small children can attend.  Other groups focus on special topics (for example, cancer survivors). 

Other Congregational Events

Other congregational events include potlucks and the Annual Church Picnic, with fun, fellowship, and food. In the Blaurock Café Coffeehouse, all ages pool their talents for a fun evening of entertainment three or four times a year. On Christmas Eve, we enjoy our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, a cherished tradition focusing on the true meaning of Christmas.

Music Program

Music, including congregational singing, is cen­tral to the worship life of First Men­­no­­nite Church . Our Sunday morn­ing worship is filled with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, some­times sung unaccompanied in four parts, usually sung with organ, piano, guitar, or other instru­ments. We value singing together as a significant part of our heritage and of our identity as a Men­nonite congregation.

Our music program includes singing choirs for kinder­garten-age children through adults, as well as an inter­generational Bell Choir. The choirs rehearse on Wednesday evenings.  From September through early June the Chan­cel Choir sings in Sunday services three times per month and one of the other choirs sings or rings in worship once each month.

All members and friends of First Mennonite are welcome to participate in the choirs. No audition or prior exper­ience is required—only a commit­ment of time to prepare music for our worship services.

Ministry to Youth

Mentoring

Twelve year-olds are invited to a special friend­ship with an adult in the congregation. Each pair spends some time to­gether each month in ways that suit their interests and schedules.

Sunday School

The Junior High class uses our denomination’s cur­ri­cu­lum, Jubilee: God’s Good News. The Sen­ior Highs use our cur­riculum, Gen­eration Why? Both classes meet regularly dur­ing the Sunday school hour, 9:15–10:15 a.m. , in the youth rooms.

Worship

Youth are invited to participate as fully as other age groups. Opportunities to lead in worship include par­ticipating in Teen or Bell Choir, reading the day’s scrip­ture selections for the congregation, or serving as an usher.

Catechism

Each year a two-part catechism pro­gram is offered for High School youth, grades 9–12. The fall seg­ment consists of sev­eral experience-based learning ses­sions open to all. The spring segment is for those who are ready to explore their faith commitment and possible baptism and church member­ship.

Youth Groups

Junior high and senior high youth groups meet at least twice monthly, usually the first and third Sunday evenings, for good fun and issue-based learning.

Youth Summer Service Projects – Various summer ser­vice projects provide an opportunity for youth to work in such projects as soup kitchens, construction, and other projects which provide basic needs for the less fortunate.

Ministry to Children

We at First Mennonite view children as a won­derful gift to the church community. Their energy, smiles, spontaneity, and sin­cere faith are important additions to our life together. We believe that children are to be raised in the midst of the congrega­tion. We welcome them into our inter­gen­er­ational services, while providing special pro­gram­ming to meet their developmental needs. We also support the foundational role of Christian parent­ing and support the positive influence of other significant adults in a child’s life. To talk to someone about our facilities and our children’s pro­gram, contact the church office at 358–5766, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am-12:00 pm and 1:00–4:00 pm .

Nursery Care

Our infant and toddler nurseries are located in the south­west corner of the lower level. Trained volunteer care­givers are available each week. A short Sunday school class for toddlers meets there for those children who are interested and willing. You are welcome to remain with your child.

Our church parlor, located just behind the sanctuary on the “piano (west) side” is equipped with sound and a large window, as well as a sink and running water. You are welcome to take young children there with you during the service.

Sunday School

Age-grouped classes for preschool (ages 3–5) through grade six meet in class­rooms on the lower level. A greeter, usher, or church member will be happy to help you find the rooms you need or fol­low one of the maps located in this folder.

Worship for Children

We try to bring the Good News of the day’s focus to young children (approx­i­mately age four through third grade) during a “Conversation with the Children” during the worship service.  Please encourage your child(ren) to parti­cipate by coming for­ward with them until they are comfortable coming on their own.

The following programs or services are pro­vided for children, infants through grade six:

Children’s Bulletin

A children’s bulletin is available at both entrances to the sanctuary. The bulletin requires some reading and writing ability, and is meant to help children in early and middle elementary grades enter into the gospel story of the day.

Singing

Our congregation enjoys music and sings a variety of selections from Hymnal, A Wor­ship Book.  If you would like to sing the hymns as a family before Sunday, call the church office at 358–5766.

Children’s Clubs

The Venture Club (Grades 3 -6) usu­ally meet on the first and third Sunday of each month dur­ing the school year, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Trained adult volunteers lead the children in biblically-based activities that focus on self-understanding, social skills, creative expres­sion, basic living skills, spiritual aware­­ness, service, and nature aware­ness.

Children’s Choirs

The choir program at First Mennonite pro­vides opportunities for children to appre­ci­ate our musical heritage, to develop their own musical abilities, and to use those talents in the church’s worship. The Joyful Noise (K–Grade 2) and Jubilate (Grades 3-5) sing in Sunday morn­ing wor­­ship once each month and occa­sion­ally for other programs during special seasons. The choirs rehearse on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 6:45 .  The Joyful Noise rehearses in the Fellowship Hall and Jubilate Choir rehearses in the Jubilate Room on the lower level.