January 21, 2026 Newsletter

January 20, 2026

Welcome to the Wildermouth Church Newsletter!

I know that I am known for having some very corny Dad Jokes. Perhaps you have even heard me say that life is too short not to laugh once in a while. It is no secret that we do not have to look very far to find trouble, strife, even war-like areas in our world today. I strive to be optimistic rather than a pessimistic type of person.

That being said, I was recently reading an article which asked the question: What does it mean to be a faithful disciple of Jesus in times of war? This got me to pondering just what our response, our actions as Christians should be. Our world is certainly in uncertain times but through it all, we as representatives of Christ should have compassion through the Word of God! The weight of the world’s pain can feel crushing. Disasters, conflicts, and struggles surround us daily. In the middle of it all, God does not ask us to turn away but to walk in compassion. Throughout Scripture, we learn to see with open eyes, respond with love, and to practice mercy faithfully.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be the hands and feet of Christ, moving toward suffering rather than away from it. The question then becomes; how do we live this out when the needs around us feel so overwhelming? How do we have Compassion through the Word of God?

First, Notice – Ask God to open your eyes to someone’s need (Luke 10:25-37). The first “good” thing the Samaritan does in this parable of the Good Samaritan is to notice the need of someone who was on his path. He didn’t have to go out of his way, he just was used for good, i.e. - had compassion, for someone in his proximity.

Having Compassion then needs us to Move. To choose presence over avoidance. Others in the parable of the Good Samaritan “noticed” but avoided. Compassion should cause us to move and act. To care for the hurting. Like Jesus, we must be willing to step in - even when it’s uncomfortable.

Finally, Compassion needs to be put into Practice. Micah 6:8 tells us that Compassion is more than a single act; it is a posture of the heart. Compassion is not about fixing everything. It is about being faithful with what God has placed right in front of you. Compassion - Notice, Move, Practice – and trust God with each step!

Compassionately,
— 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 1/21

Kiwanis @ Noon

GPS – Somerset @ 7 PM

Thurs 1/22

Office by Appointment

Friday 1/23

Office by Appointment

BC Food Pantry Setup @ 6:30PM

Saturday 1/24

Pilot’s Association @ 9AM

Concert at 6PM

Sunday 1/25

Worship @ 10AM

Monday 1/26

Office by Appointment

Tuesday 1/27

Office by Appointment

Wednesday 1/28

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

This Saturday - January 24th at 6 PM - Gospel Concert featuring Kameron Waits! o We will 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. o 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. o 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.