THE VIOLET CONNECTION 1 April, 2026 / Vol. 027
March Madness for Moms and Sons!
Since the Fathers and Daughters had some special time in February, March meant special time for the Mothers and Sons! For those of you that had to miss because of power outages and damage from the crazy winds; don’t worry we will be doing this again next year!!!! We had card games and board games in Overflow, Dodgeball in the Kid’s Gym and Gaga Ball, 9 Square and Basketball in the Main Activity Center. Moms and sons got the chance to enjoy pizza, cookies, and some friendly competition. A few takeaways…. -We have some seriously polite young guys at Violet! The number of “pleases” and “thank yous” I heard in the food area made my heart happy! -9 Square is a game for everyone, and I think we may need to start a church league. -There is a particular prayer warrior, who loves Jesus with all her heart, serves and leads faithfully, who brought her grandsons. She has a killer throw in Dodgeball and I will gladly be on her team when she decides to go Pro! If you don’t know who I am talking about….you should come next year. You will know. I love the way that Violet lives, laughs, and loves with all they have! Life is better when we are together.
Chicken Noodle Soup Needed
H.O.P.E. (Hands Out Providing Encouragement) supports local students through the Weekend Food Program, providing ready-to-eat, non- perishable food bags each week for Pickerington families who have signed up for assistance. To help meet this need, we are currently collecting canned chicken noodle soup (any brand). You can also serve by helping pack bags on Friday mornings or delivering to local schools. Thank you for partnering with H.O.P.E. to care for students in our community.
In Christ alone, Jen Hunt Children’s Director jenh@violetchurch.com
One Name. One Invitation. Eternal Impact. Over the past few weeks in our Revive series, we’ve asked God to do more than just encourage us—we’ve asked Him to redirect our hearts toward people. In Matthew 9, Jesus shows us what that looks like: He went to people. He saw them with compassion. He felt urgency. And He called His followers to pray and go. That’s revival—not just something we feel, but something we live. A few weeks ago in service, many of you wrote down one name—a person in your life who needs Jesus. Here’s what’s been happening with the card you left at church: I have been praying daily over every name. And every Tuesday from 6:00–7:00 PM, we’ve been praying over those names together at Violet’s Prayer Gathering.
Three Simple Steps to Step Into the Mission: 1. Pray Daily: Ask God to soften their heart and open doors. 2. Show Intentional Kindness: A text, a coffee, a simple act of care—let them see Jesus in you. 3. Invite Them to Easter: Most people will come… if someone invites them. That someone might be you.
This Week Matters.
We’re asking God to move in ways we can’t see yet. If you haven’t joined us, come be part of it—Tuesdays from 6:00–7:00 PM in the VioletCafé.
We are stepping into one of the most important weeks of the year: Good Friday (April 3) – Remember the cross Service Times: 4:30 | 6:00 PM Easter Sunday (April 5) – Celebrate the resurrection Service Times: 8:00 | 9:30 | 11:00 AM
There are people all around us who are: One invitation away from hearing the gospel One conversation away from hope One step away from encountering Jesus
Let’s be the Church.
Revival happens when our hearts align with the heart of Jesus.
So let’s be intentional this week. Let’s be bold this week.
Let’s pray and go this week — and trust that this Easter, lives will be changed for eternity.
In Christ alone, Pastor Eric
Faith Like a Child: A Simple Invitation That Inspires Us All
This past month, our church was reminded of what bold, simple faith can look like—through the actions of a 7-year-old boy named Wyatt. After hearing the challenge to pray for someone and invite them to church, Wyatt took it to heart in a powerful way. He told his mom he wanted to invite his entire class.
He didn’t stop at the idea—he acted on it.
Wyatt carefully designed his own invitation, his mom made copies, and he personally handed one to every single classmate. With excitement and anticipation, he made plans to stay for both services, eager to see who might come.
Sunday arrived… and no one came.
Wyatt felt the disappointment that many of us know all too well. Inviting someone can feel vulnerable, and when there’s no immediate response, it can be discouraging.
But in that moment, his family reminded him of a powerful truth: he had done his part.
He was faithful to pray, to invite, and to step out in courage. The rest is in God’s hands.
And here’s what’s even more inspiring—Wyatt isn’t giving up. He’s already planning to invite his classmates again.
There is something deeply convicting and beautiful about that kind of faith.
No overthinking. No fear of rejection. Just simple obedience.
As a church family, may we be challenged by Wyatt’s example.
Who is God placing on your heart?
Let’s continue to:
Pray intentionally Love genuinely Invite boldly
Because you never know how God might use one small invitation to change a life.
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VioletGroups in Action: Serving with Love One of the beautiful ways we see God at work at Violet is through our Groups ministry—not just in gathering together, but in going out and serving together. Recently, Jenna Riekert’s VioletGroup visited residents at Abbington of Pickerington, a local retirement and assisted living facility. The group spent time connecting with residents and sharing goodie bags, bringing encouragement, smiles, and meaningful conversation to those they met. Moments like these are a powerful reminder that ministry doesn’t just happen inside the walls of the church—it happens wherever we carry the love of Christ. As Pastor Brian shared, “VioletGroups are more than just Bible studies. They are doing life together and showing and sharing the love of Christ in practical ways. I am so thankful for this group and how they served our community in such a practical way.” We’re grateful for groups like this who are living out their faith and making an impact right here in our community.
Serving as the Hands and Feet of Christ
We recently had a beautiful reminder of what it looks like to truly be the church. After a tree fell in the yard of one of our church families, members of our Disaster Relief team—along with several others from Violet—quickly stepped in to help. What could have been an overwhelming situation became an opportunity for the body of Christ to come together in a powerful and practical way. With willing hands and servant hearts, the team worked hard to clear the damage and bring relief to the family. More than just meeting a physical need, it was a meaningful expression of love, care, and unity within our church family. Moments like these reflect the heart of Galatians 6:2: “Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” We are so grateful for those who are ready to serve at a moment’s notice. This is what it looks like to love your neighbor—and to live out our faith together.
Overflow Youth Retreat The Overflow Jr. High and High School groups came together for the 2026 Youth Retreat on the first weekend of March at the Heartland Retreat Center in Marengo, Ohio. These retreats have been a highlight of our youth calendar over the years. Students and leaders alike have the opportunity to unplug from their routines and connect with God and others in a deeper way. This year’s retreat had a significant emphasis on worship. We were led by our 10-member student worship team under the guidance of Emily Hendershot. Our Jr. High students participated in a “Worship with the Senses” activity, where they rotated through four stations, each focused on engaging different senses to worship God and reflect on His character. Our high school girls focused on God’s grace and forgiveness—how He covers our sin and shame and gives us a new identity in Him. Our high school guys participated in team-building exercises and then heard biblical wisdom from our male youth leaders on “Living as a Godly Man in a Godless Culture.” Our Jr. High speaker was Pastor Ben Graham from First Light Church in Vandalia, and our High School speaker was Pastor Mark Wimbish from First Baptist Church in Grove City. Both groups were encouraged through worship, teaching, activities, and meaningful time connecting with other students and leaders. These “mountaintop” moments give us fuel for our everyday walk with God. Thank you for your prayers and support of our Overflow students—God is moving among them!
—Pastor Keith
COMMUNITY IMPACT In March, we hosted our second annual community outreach event— Easter Eggstravaganza at Sycamore Creek Park in Pickerington. We were so thankful for beautiful weather as many families joined us for a fun-filled day of hunting Easter eggs. Events like this take months of planning and preparation, and I am incredibly grateful to be part of a church and community that comes together to make it happen. Thank you to everyone who donated candy and eggs over the past couple of months. A special thank-you to our youth group for stuffing tons of eggs, and to all the volunteers who showed up on the day of the event to help with the organized chaos! Each age group had plenty of eggs and candy to enjoy, and every family received a purple Violet bag filled with an Easter book, a craft, and an invitation to join us at Violet.
We are already looking forward to next year!
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about serving opportunities, please feel free to reach out—I would love to help you get connected.
Thank you, Jamie McCleese
Community Impact Director jamiem@violetchurch.com
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