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Anabaptism At Five Hundred  First Mennonite Church Sugarcreek, Ohio June 22, 2025 Worship: 9:30 – 10:30 Fellowship Time: 10:30 – 12:00 We believe in Jesus and take his life, teachings, death and resurrection as the model for how we live and the message we proclaim. *************************************** We seek to be a caring and discerning community, the gathered body of Christ that welcomes all to join in worship, study, and service. ********************************************* We embody God’s transforming and redeeming Spirit in the world through our prophetic witness and action. THE CHURCH WORSHIPS TOGETHER Anabaptism at 500 Belief Five: Worship “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” ~Gathering in the Royal Bible Classroom~ (around tables) Welcome and Announcements Focus Statement: Worship is a time when church members come together to pray, sing, read Scripture, share with each other, and give praise to God. It can be a time of fellowship, comfort, celebration, or a call for renewed action. It is a time to come together in God’s presence and remember why we make Jesus the center of our lives. Believers can worship in a church building, in a home, or in a boat—worship can happen anywhere. Scripture: Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them..” Time of Meditation : VT 1 Summoned by the God Who Made Us v1-4 Call to Worship: Leader: Wake up, O First Mennonite people! People: True evangelical faith cannot lie sleeping. It clothes the naked, it comforts the sorrowful, It shelters the destitute, it serves those that harm it, It binds up that which is wounded. It has become all things to all people.* (moments of silence for meditation) ALL: Let us rise up in true faith and shine the Light of Love to the world this day! * Quote from Menno Simons Invocation: Leader: We have come to worship you, O God; People: gather us in. Leader: Some of us come full of happiness; People: gather us in. Leader: Some of us come a little sore from what life brings; People: gather us in. Leader: Some of us come indifferent or confused; People: gather us in. Leader: We honor you—who forms us and calls us each by name You are our God, known yet unknown, present here yet everywhere now and forever. You have made us distinctly unique and yet part of your people world-wide. ALL: Gather us in to your fierce love, your tender care, your abundant grace. Leader: We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. Hymn of Gathering: VT 9 Come Away from Rush and Hurry ~Storytelling~ Early Anabaptist Story: Dirk Pieters and Andrew Samuel ~Praising and Praying~ Hymn of Praise: VT 5 All People That on Earth Do Dwell Prayers of the People ~Storytelling~ Global Story: Story about drums, – Suzanne Stauffer Early Anabaptist Story in Drama #1: Anabaptist Worship in the Forest: Magister Elias Schad, 1576 Background – April Shupe Reader 1 – Nancy Yoder, Reader 2 – Bob Gerber Waker – Herb Torgler Brother Peter – Tyler Murphy Sister Elisabeth – Hannah Gehman, Brother Hans – Mike Gehman Hymn of Response : VT 4 Christ Is Our Cornerstone ~Hearing God’s Word~ Scriptures: Sincere Worship: John 4:24, – Nancy Yoder Praise and Thanksgiving: Psalm 95:6, Psalm 150:6,– Bob Gerber Offering One’s Life: Romans 12:1, Reader 3 – Mike Gehman Singing and Hymns: Colossians 3:16, Reader 4 – Kristy Keim Reverence and Awe: Hebrews 12:28, Reader 5 - Tabby Murphy Living in God’s Presence: Psalm 63:1-4, Reader 6 – Reno Stevanus Worship as a Calling: Revelation 5:13, Reader 7 – Hannah Gehman Anabaptist Story in Drama #2: Multivoiced Worship: the Anabaptist Perspective, 1536 Background – April Shupe, Narrator –Helene Torgler, Matt – Bruce Stauffer, Tim – Mike Keim Remarks on Worship – April Shupe ~Responding~ Hymn of Response: VT 40 In This Holy Place We Bow v2 Offering Prayer ~Sending~ Sending Hymn: VT 638 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Benediction WORSHIP 9:30-10:30 Worship Leader: April Shupe Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer Head Usher: Mike Keim Our On-Going Series on Anabaptist Beliefs: In 2018 Lisa Weaver and Elizabeth Miller, as part of the Bearing Witness Stories project, wrote a book for children entitled Let the Children Come to Me: Nurturing Anabaptist Faith within Families. “The materials gathered together in this book beautifully illustrate the central convictions of the Anabaptist tradition.” -John D. Roth, Director of the Institute for the Study of Global Anabaptism As residents of Holmes and Tuscarawas counties, oftentimes we each have been asked, “Are Mennonites Amish?” and “What do you believe that’s different from other Protestant denominations?” It’s sometimes hard to come up with an explanation of our faith. Hopefully this series of worship services (that will be spread out through this year of Anabaptism at 500) will enable us to answer these questions more accurately. We are basing this series on the above-mentioned book. In conjunction with our Anabaptist at Five Hundred celebration this year, we would love to have pictures of any community, service and/or peace experiences our church members have experienced over the years. Please give to April or Tabby who will scan them into the computer. You will get them back. FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER Mission Project #1 for June/July: Dress A Child As one school year ends, this program looks forward to the new 2025-26 school year. Giving our students who attend school in Tuscarawas County a fresh new set of clothes to begin the year is a wonderful blessing. Dress A Child raises money to serve the children in our county whose families meet the federal poverty guidelines. Last year, they were able to give 980 children $85.00 worth of new clothing! Make checks payable to First Mennonite, and one check will be sent at the end of the month from our church to Dress A Child. Thank you! “Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.” -Pope Francis Mission Project #2 for June/July: MCC My Coins Count Relief Sale Project Each year, spare change (and bills!) collected by families and churches adds up to more than $600,000 toward MCC’s work around the world. Your coins count! When you give to MCC, you’re sending hope to families in the form of food, water and/or education. We will collect through the last Sunday of June. Drop your coins, bills and/or checks in the bread basket on the table in the rear of the sanctuary. Make checks payable to First Mennonite, and Buce will send one check from our church to the MCC Ohio Relief Sale held in Mt. Hope on July 11 th -12 h . THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS Sue Stauffer: Jim Cahill has a goal to ride his bike this week for GOBA (Great American Bicycle Adventure), His family is coming to ride with him. Prayers he will be capable to complete this challenge. Bertie Showers: Brad and April will be home today from camping. Dan Hostetler: Mom’s test results came back good from the spot on her lung. THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR Kristy Keim: Friend, Diana is having problems with a bulged disc in her back. Lizzie Keim: Sister Marry will need to have a liver transplant. THIS WEEK June 24 th Happy Birthday, Bob Barnes June 26 th Happy Birthday, Helene Torgler NEXT WEEK Text: Minister: Mike Gehman Worship Leader: Tabatha Murphy Head Usher: Mike Keim UPCOMING EVENTS: July 11 th – 12 th Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale at Mt. Hope Event Center July 13 th Winklepleck Grove Service and Picnic July 20 th Church Visitation Sunday (Visit a church of your choice—No morning service at FMC) LAST WEEK Attendance: 22 Offering: $980 Change for a dollar: $7 My Coins Count: $41.50 CHURCH LEADERSHIP Pastor: Mike Gehman: 1-330-749-674 Email: pastor@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com Pastor’s Hours: Wednesday 9:30a.m.-2:30p.m Church Secretary: Tabatha Murphy Phone: 1-330-852-2822 Email: office@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com Website: http//fmcsugarcreekoh.org Address: 113 W. Main St. P.O. Box 250 Sugarcreek, Ohio 44681 CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM: Chairperson: Mike Keim Office Contact: Linda Yoder Mission Contact: Reno Stevanus Trustees Contact: Dan Hostetler Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt

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