January 14, 2026 Newsletter

January 15, 2026

Welcome to the Wildermouth Church Newsletter!

I want to begin this week’s newsletter with a quick clarification. One of the announcements I shared this past Sunday was a week early. The Bloom-Carroll Food Bank will take place next week, so please plan to join us at Shalom UMC on Friday, January 23, at 6:30 PM to help with setup for this important outreach to our community.

I am also in the final stages of organizing a New Members Class for Wildermuth Memorial Church. If you are newer to Wildermuth and feel led to take the next step toward membership, this class is for you. We will explore the rich heritage of our church, what we teach, preach, and believe, and how Wildermuth functions as a body of believers. Participation in this class will allow you to become an official member, giving you the opportunity to take part in future elections and decision-making within the church.

If you have been attending Wildermuth for some time, this class can also serve as a helpful refresher and a wonderful opportunity to connect more deeply with others in our church family. It is also a great setting to ask questions and share insights that enrich the discussion for everyone involved.

If you are interested in attending the New Members Class, please reach out to me. I know schedules can be busy, and I would like to select a date and time that allows for the greatest participation possible. Possible options include Saturday morning or afternoon, Sunday before or after worship, Sunday evening, or another time during the week. Your input will be very helpful and greatly appreciated.

Finally, I encourage you to take a moment each week to look at the flyers at the end of the newsletter highlighting upcoming events at Wildermuth. As we get closer to each event, additional details will be shared. These flyers are included so you can pass them along, invite others, and help spread the word. If you are on Facebook, please watch for posts advertising these events and consider sharing them on your page or in any groups you are part of.

Thank you for your continued involvement and support as we serve together.
— Pastor Vance

Pastor Vance's Ventures

For your convenience, below is Pastor Vance’s tentative schedule for the next few days. (It may vary depending on emergency situations, meetings, etc.)

Appointments can be made by calling/texting 614-706-3040 or email at pastorvance@wildermuthchurch.com

Wed 1/14

Kiwanis @ Noon

GPS – Somerset @ 7 PM

Thurs 1/15

Office by Appointment

Ministerial Assoc Mtg @ 6:30 PM

Friday 1/16

Local Pastor’s Breakfast @ 7:30 AM

Office by Appointment

Saturday 1/17

Meeting with WM Foundation

Sunday 1/18

Worship @ 10AM

Church Board Meeting @ 11:30 AM

Monday 1/19

Office by Appointment

Tuesday 1/20

Office by Appointment

Wednesday 1/21

Kiwanis @ Noon

GPS – Somerset @ 7PM

Meetings, events, and Worship services

God and People Stories (GPS)Ministries, an outreach ministry by Pastor Vance in our area.

GPS Ministries — Somerset

Join us Wednesday evenings at Wannabees (the sign out front says “Main Grill”) at 105 W Main St, Somerset, OH. We fellowship over a meal between 5-7 PM (arrive as you can, purchase your own meal from their great menu) and Bible study starts at 7.
Contact Pastor Vance if you would like transportation to this service.

GPS Ministries — Airport

Join us for a Fly-In (or you can drive in) Church service.

Meets on the 3rd Satuday of each month at 10 AM at Fairfield County Airport (KLHQQ) located at 3430 Old Columbus Rd NW, Carroll, OH.
Enjoy Coffee and donuts in the Terminal Building as we gather around and learn about a Pilot Story, how it relates to a God Story, and discover how we can apply it to our lives.

Small Group Opportunities

We are going to stop the Small Group Sunday night meetings for the remainder of 2025.

Will resume in January 2026

Ministry / Volunteer Opportunities

January 24th at 6 PM we will be hosting a Gospel Concert featuring Kameron Waits!
Many of you thoroughly enjoyed his songs when he joined us in November so we have asked him to come back and do an evening concert with us.
Current plans are to have a dinner after the concert
Feb 15th we will have John Cooper join us as he portrays President Lincoln and his faith journey. Come and learn about how life was in the early days of Wildermuth Church’s history.
Several Concerts are getting scheduled for 2026. Flyers will be attached to the newsletters.
One of our long-range visions for our church is to become a host church for two different youth groups.
Trail Life for boys and American Heritage Girls are Christian based Scout-like organization for youth ages 5 to 18.
We will need a minimum of 5 adult males and 5 adult women to commit to being the leadership teams in order to get these troops chartered.

Consider helping Wildermuth Church in supporting missionaries…

All money raised through this program, as well as the money donated in the cup by our offering plate, goes to mission’s support.

Looking to the Future

January 24th at 6 PM we will be hosting a Gospel Concert featuring Kameron Waits!
Many of you thoroughly enjoyed his songs when he joined us in November so we have asked him to come back and do an evening concert with us.
Current plans are to have a dinner after the concert
Several Concerts are getting scheduled for 2026. Flyers will be attached to the newsletters.
One of our long-range visions for our church is to become a host church for two different youth groups.
Trail Life for boys and American Heritage Girls are Christian based Scout-like organization for youth ages 5 to 18.
We will need a minimum of 5 adult males and 5 adult women to commit to being the leadership teams in order to get these troops chartered.

If you have any interest in learning more about these, please contact Pastor Vance.

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February 25, 2026 Newsletter

February 26, 2026

What is Lent—and why does it matter? Lent is the 40-day season (not counting Sundays) leading up to Easter. It mirrors the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness and recalls the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the desert. More than a stretch of days on the calendar, Lent is an invitation: a sacred time to slow down, reflect, repent, and prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter and the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. While Lent is most often associated with Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican traditions, many Protestant churches—including ours—have found it to be a meaningful season of spiritual renewal. Lent helps us examine our lives, turn again toward God, and make space for the Spirit to form us more fully into Christlikeness. I also want to remind you about our upcoming New Members Class , which you’ll see more details about later in this newsletter. This class is open to anyone—whether you’re considering membership or simply want to learn more about Wildermuth Church. Together we’ll explore our rich heritage, our theology and doctrine, and how our church is structured. And then comes the challenge. Each of us has THE ONE—that person God has placed on our heart. During this Lenten season, I invite you to intentionally invest in that relationship. Pray for them. Walk with them. Perhaps, as God works, that relationship will grow to the point where they join you for a New Members Class. Better yet, perhaps God is stirring something deeper—leading you, or your ONE, toward baptism. With that hope in mind, I am making arrangements for a Baptism Service on Easter morning. If you—or someone you know—are feeling led to be baptized, please reach out and let me know. I would be honored to walk with you in that step of faith. Grace and peace as we journey through this Lenten season together.