THE VIOLET CONNECTION 2 November, 2026 / Vol. 034
Serving Together at Violet I am so thankful for another amazing turnout at our Trunk or Treat event last month! It was wonderful to see so many people come together to serve our community and help make this event a success. A huge thank-you to all our volunteers who welcomed guests in the parking lot and at the doors, helping everyone feel right at home. Our grill team cooked around 600 hot dogs, while others handed out water and chips. The craft and game areas stayed busy from start to finish, and our trunks went through LOTS and LOTS of candy! Thank you to everyone who served, donated candy, and helped make this event possible. We couldn’t have done it without you! I love seeing our church family come together to serve others and show God’s love to our community! Looking ahead, we have several serving opportunities this month, including our Election Day Hospitality Table, Stowe Mission, serving at New Faith Ministries, and Thursday evening Pickerington Parks and Recreation classes. If you’re looking for a way to get involved, I would love to connect with you! Whether you’re ready to jump in or just have a few questions, please reach out. There is a place for everyone to serve, and I would love to help you find the right fit. Thank you for continuing to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community!
Jamie McCleese Operations Director jamiem@violetchurch.com
Dear Violet Baptist Church Family,
A new season is beginning at Violet, and my heart is filled with gratitude, humility, and excitement for the future of our church.
Violet has been an important part of my life and my family’s life for many years. This is where I came to know Jesus, where I was baptized and discipled, and where God confirmed His call on my life. It is difficult to put into words what it means to now have the privilege of serving as your senior pastor. I do not take this responsibility lightly, and I am deeply grateful for your prayers, encouragement, and trust. I am also thankful for Pastor Rick and the faithful way he has led Violet for the past 30 years. We are able to look toward the future with confidence because of the strong foundation that has been built through decades of faithful ministry. While leadership seasons change, the mission Jesus has given His church remains the same: to make disciples and help people know and follow Him. I truly believe God has an exciting new season ahead for Violet, and that season begins now. On November 1st, we kicked off a new sermon series called ALL IN: Everything We Have. Everything We Are. For Jesus.
What does it really mean to be all in with Jesus?
It means recognizing that everything we have, our time, abilities, relationships, influence, opportunities, and resources has been entrusted to us by God. Following Jesus is more than adding Him to one part of our lives. He invites us to surrender every part of who we are to Him. Throughout this series, we will look at what the Bible teaches about faithful stewardship, biblical generosity, and living with open hands. My prayer is that each of us will ask, “God, what have You placed in my hands, and how do You want to use it for Your purposes?” We will also have the opportunity to live out that message through our Christmas Missions Offering. Every gift will help take the hope of Jesus beyond the walls of Violet by supporting International Missions (IMB-Lottie Moon), Church planting and ministry across North America (NAMB-Annie Armstrong), gospel work throughout the state of Ohio (SCBO-Ray Roberts), Chanku' Waste' Ranch in South Dakota (Chanku' Waste' Ranch), and local ministry here in the Pickerington community. When we give together, we participate in something far greater than ourselves. We help missionaries go, churches begin, communities experience the love of Christ, and people hear the gospel, some for the very first time. I’m excited to see what God will do through the generosity of the Violet family. Then, in December, we will turn our attention to The Promised King: The Story of Christmas. Long before the manger, God promised that a King was coming. Throughout December, we will trace that promise through Scripture and see how it was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. In a world searching for peace, hope, and lasting joy, Christmas reminds us that God has come near and that His promises can be trusted. This will be a great season to invite friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members to join us. Many people are especially open to attending church during Christmas, and a simple invitation could become part of someone’s journey towards knowing Jesus. All of this will lead us toward a very special day in the life of our church: Vision Sunday on January 3. On that Sunday, I will share the vision I believe God has placed before us for Violet’s next season of ministry. We will celebrate the foundation God has already established, look honestly at the community He has called us to reach, and discover how we can move forward together with greater clarity, purpose, and unity. Vision Sunday will be more than an announcement or a presentation, it will be an invitation for every person who calls Violet home to see where God is leading us and find their place in what He wants to do through our church. I believe our greatest days of ministry are still ahead. There are children and students who need a strong foundation of faith, young adults and families looking for a place to belong. There are hurting and lonely people all around us in our community who do not yet know Jesus, and God has placed Violet here to reach them. Please begin praying now for January 3. Mark the date on your calendar, make plans to be here, and come ready to take this next step together. I cannot wait to share what is ahead and begin this journey with you. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving as your pastor. Kelly and I love Violet, and we are deeply grateful to walk alongside you. Let’s move forward with faith, expecting God to do more than we could accomplish on our own. The future is bright because Jesus is leading us, and we are just getting started.
With love, gratitude, and great expectation,
Pastor Eric ericf@violetchurch.com
A Beautiful Day of Worship, Prayer, and Sisterhood we shared as sisters in Christ! On Saturday, October 17, Women’s Ministry at Violet gathered for the Priscilla Shirer Live Simulcast, and what unfolded was so much more than simply a day of teaching. It was a special time of worship, heartfelt prayer, encouragement, and genuine fellowship as we experienced the presence and movement of God among us. Through Priscilla Shirer’s powerful, Scripture-filled teaching, we were challenged, encouraged, and reminded of the freedom, hope, and victory we have in Jesus Christ. But perhaps some of the most meaningful moments came as women responded to what God was stirring in their hearts. Throughout our time together, ladies came forward seeking prayer for burdens they were carrying—financial struggles, difficult family circumstances, concerns for their children, and areas of their lives where they longed to experience freedom from bondage. What a beautiful picture of the body of Christ it was to see women gathering around one another, lifting each other up in prayer, offering encouragement, and standing together in faith. There is something incredibly powerful about a room filled with women lifting their voices in praise to the Lord, praying over one another, and reminding each other that we do not have to walk through life’s struggles alone. We laughed together, shared a wonderful lunch, worshiped together, and witnessed the beauty of true Christian sisterhood. And perhaps the greatest blessing of all was celebrating as one of our guests made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior! What a wonderful reminder that God is still changing hearts, breaking chains, and drawing people to Himself! A special thank-you to Emily Hendershot for her tremendous help with decorations, leading us in praise, and assisting with audiovisual needs. Her servant’s heart helped make the day so special. We left reminded that women’s ministry is about so much more than gathering for an event. It is about building relationships rooted in Christ, bearing one another’s burdens, growing together in God’s Word, and creating a place where women feel loved, supported, and encouraged in their walk with the Lord.
What a blessing to witness God working in the hearts of His daughters. To Him be all the glory!
If you weren’t able to join us, don’t worry! We have more wonderful opportunities coming up, and we would love for you to be part of them! Saturday, December 12 – Home for the Holidays in Medina, Ohio Ladies, get ready for a festive day of Christmas shopping, fellowship, and fun! We will be traveling together on the church bus to beautiful Medina, Ohio, for their Home for the Holidays celebration. With more than 150 vendors, charming boutiques, wonderful restaurants, and a picturesque town square beautifully decorated for the Christmas season, it promises to be a delightful day! What better way to enjoy the season than spending time together with our sisters in Christ? Sunday, December 13 – Annual Women’s Ministry Christmas Luncheon Join us at Violet Baptist Church immediately following the second service for our annual Women’s Ministry Christmas Luncheon! We will gather around the table for a delicious meal, enjoy singing Christmas carols together, and create a fun Christmas craft. This is always such a special time to slow down during the busy Christmas season, share laughter and friendship, and celebrate the joy of our Savior’s birth. More information about both events will be coming soon! Be sure to watch your email and the Church Center app for details and registration information. Whether you’ve been involved in women’s ministry for years or have never attended an event, please know that there is a place for you here. Our desire is to create opportunities for women of all ages and walks of life to connect, encourage one another, grow in their faith, and experience the love of Christ through genuine friendship and fellowship. And please remember, you never have to wait for a women’s ministry event to reach out. If you need prayer, encouragement, someone to talk to, or simply want more information about our ministry, I would love to hear from you. You are always welcome to contact me directly at 614-557-3598. I am so thankful for each of you and for the beautiful community of women God continues to bring together at Violet Baptist Church. I look forward to all He has in store for us!
With love and blessings, Karen Bramlish Women’s Ministry Leader Violet Baptist Church
This month, VioletKids was so excited to change curriculum and start using the Gospel Project!
The goal was to find a curriculum that allowed each child (from birth to 5th grade) to hear a clear Bible story and Gospel message EVERY week, being told by the teachers that love and pray for them. We exchanged simple (using video-led everything) for intentional, and it is amazing to see. Walking around and seeing teachers with their Bibles open as they pour into the VioletKids is such a blessing. I truly believe in the months to come we will see children coming to know Jesus and understand how the Bible is God’s Word and is essential for life. Lives will be changed as we lean in God’s Word and teaching our children to do the same. We cling to the promise in Isaiah 55:11, that the Word of the Lord does not return void! The Growing Family ministry is so thrilled to be….growing! This month we were so blessed to be able to add beautiful baby quilts to the baskets that were given out. These beautiful quilts were handmade and prayed over by Mimi Snyder. I love that we are a church who comes along side of families! This ministry allows each mother to have a prayer partner who prays for them throughout their waiting process, whether it is birth or adoption. Then, after they add their blessing to their family, they receive a Blessing Basket for Violet as a welcome to the Violet Family…and now they can be wrapped in prayers and warmth. If you would like to join the VioletKids as they study God’s Word or join the Growing Family ministry as a prayer partner or blanket maker, there is a place for you!
In Christ alone, Jen Hunt Children’s Director jenh@violetchurch.com 614-260-2670
Game Library We are always looking for ways to support families as they carve out intentional family time. Located behind the VioletKids' Desk is a table filled with games. Please stop by and take a game to enjoy with your family (and friends!) When you are done with the game, bring it back and grab another. If you have any games that you aren't playing that you would like to donate to the Game Library, please feel free to drop them off on the table. Enjoy your time and don't forget to grab some selfies while you play to share with us. It is a great reminder to others to take some time to slow down and enjoy the blessing of family.
Encouragement at Michaela’s Mile! As the sponsor of the Columbus Marathon, Nationwide Children’s Hospital honors current or former patients as “Mile Champions.” People are encouraged to donate to certain areas of the hospital in honor of each Mile Champion. This year’s Mile Champion for Mile 25 was Michaela Calkins. As the youngest child of Chris and Kristi Calkins and sister to Ethan and Annalisa, Michaela was diagnosed with and treated for celiac disease while in the first grade. As a Mile Champion, Michaela chose to raise awareness and funding for the Gastroenterology Department at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The Calkins family recently visited Costa Rica, so Michaela was motivated to choose a Costa Rican theme for her Mile Champion display at Mile 25 of the marathon. Inflatable animals and jungle décor set the tone for fun and encouragement as the runners passed by. A group of adults and students from Violet joined Michaela and her family to encourage the runners. It was wonderful to see the faces of the runners as our group cheered them on, using the first names printed on their race bibs. It was a special, memorable day as our church members joined the Calkins family to spread joy and encouragement at Mile 25!
Thanks, Pastor Keith Hurt Next Gen Pastor keithh@violetchurch.com (614)460-9271
Pastor Eric Visits Overflow! Pastor Eric Flynn recently spent time with our junior high youth group. He and his wife, Kelly, also came in to speak to our high school group. They shared their stories of growing up, meeting, and getting married. They talked about their children, their jobs, and their salvation stories. Pastor Eric went on to share the story of leaving the corporate world and answering the call to ministry. He shared how he felt God calling him to be a senior pastor and stepped out in faith to pursue that call. As the next pastor of Violet, Pastor Eric answered questions from the group and shared a vision for the church that includes making children’s and youth ministries a high priority. He encouraged students to serve in the church now rather than waiting until they are adults. He also shared his passion for Pickerington and the surrounding communities and encouraged our students to reach their friends with the gospel.
Our students and leaders are excited to see what God has in store for the next chapter of our church!
Thanks, Pastor Keith Hurt Next Gen Pastor keithh@violetchurch.com (614)460-9271
Exciting Ministry Opportunities at Violet We’re grateful to share that Violet Baptist Church has welcomed a Ministry Assistant, Sarah Godlewski, and a Financial Director, Clara Harris, to our team. We thank God for providing these new team members and look forward to the ways they will serve our church family. We’re still seeking people who would like to use their gifts in these roles (click on the links for more information about these positions):
Part-Time Facilities Director
Part-Time IT Director
Part-Time Children’s Administrative Director
Worship Leader
If you or someone you know may be a good fit, please send a resume or inquiry to applications@violetchurch.com.
Thank you for praying with us as we continue building a team equipped to serve our church and community.
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