April 21,2024
“Tree of Life,” by artist SaeJin Lee
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio
April 21, 2024
We believe in Jesus and take his life, teachings, death and resurrection
as the model for how we live and the message we proclaim.
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We seek to be a caring and discerning community, the gathered body
of Christ. that welcomes all to join in worship, study, and service.
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We embody God’s transforming and redeeming Spirit in the world
through our prophetic witness and action.
THE CHURCH WORSHIPS TOGETHER
Jesus With Us: How Shall We Live?
Earth Sunday 2024
“Touch the Earth Lightly”
~Gathering~
Prelude “For the Beauty of the Earth” -arr. John Rutter
Welcome & Announcements
Focus Statement:
The church is called to participate in God’s transformation of
creation. Congregations and individuals have found ways they can address the challenges of climate change including: turning off lights and appliances to reduce their use of electricity and energy, using products not encased in plastics, and sharing their concerns about the environment with their neighbors, leaders or industries and their legislators. But first of all, Christians are praying—praying for wisdom and strength to help restore and protect the wonderful gift of creation.
Invocation
Time of Meditation “Morning Has Broken”
-arr. Lloyd Larson
Call To Worship:
One: Morning has broken!
Many: We gather to greet the new day by praising God.
One: God created us for relationship with God, one another,
and the earth.
Many: Let us honor those relationships today and every day.
One: We seek to care for our brothers and sisters around the
World and to God’s good Creation.
Many: Let us honor those relationships today and every day.
One: May we commit to new ways of honoring your Creation
as a means of sharing Jesus’ transforming love,
Many: And let us seek God’s grace, justice, and mercy for all.
ALL: Amen.
Hymn of Gathering: VT 179 At the Dawn of Your Creation
~Praising & Praying~
Reading: (from VT 855)
Voice 1: To worship is to stand in awe under a heaven of stars,
before a flower, a leaf in sunlight, or a grain of sand.
Voice 2: To worship is to be silent, receptive, before a tree astir
with the wind, or the passing shadow of a cloud.
Voice 3: To worship is to work with dedication and with skill;
It is to pause from work and listen to a strain of music.
Voice 4: To worship is to sing with the singing beauty of the
earth; it is to listen through a storm to the still small
voice within.
Voice 5: To worship is to silence oneself before the incredible
force of the moon covering the sun and to know that
God is.
Together: Worship is the mystery within us reaching out to the
Mystery beyond.
Hymns of Praise:
VT 180 This Is God’s Wondrous World (v1-unison, v2-3 parts)
VT 181 Creation Is A Song
VT 182 I Sing the Mighty Power of God
Prayers of the People
~Hearing God’s Word~
Scripture: Genesis 2:4b-9, 15; I John 3:16-24
Remarks
Story: Trees of Peace by Jeanette Winter, read by Nancy Yoder
Congregational Response:
One: For the glory of trees in your creation and their place on
the Earth,
Many: We praise you, God.
One: For the gifts of trees with all that they contribute to our
life,
Many: We thank you, God.
One: As trees are rooted in the earth, reach for your light, and
bear abundant fruit,
Many: So may we be in our life with you, God.
One: That we as stewards may care for trees and all of your
creation,
Many: Fill us with your Spirit, God.
~Responding~
Hymns of Response: (the offering will be brought forward)
VT 788 The Garden Needs Tending Now
VT 145 Touch the Earth Lightly
Offering Prayer
Litany for Creation:
Leader: Praise to you, O God, source of all waters. For vast
oceans, flowing rivers, and gentle rains we give you
thanks.
People: Forgive our careless waste and polluting ways.
Leader: Help us to cleanse, conserve, and share; teach us to
care for the gift of water.
People: Come and heal your people. Come and heal the
waters.
Leader: Praise to you, O God, creator of the dry land. For
mighty mountains, rolling hills, and fertile prairies,
we give you thanks.
People: Forgive our wanton greed and violent ways.
Leader: Help us to sow, till, and harvest with care; teach us to
live gently on the land.
People: Come and heal your people. Come and heal the
land.
Leader: Praise to you, O God, breath of life and make of air.
For wind and wave, breath and breeze, light and life,
we give you thanks.
People: Forgive our heedless acts and selfish ways.
Leader: Help us to live justly, simply, and wisely; teach us to
care for the gift of air.
People: Come and heal your people. Come and heal the air.
Leader: Praise to you, O God, Lord and Giver of Life. Your love
sustains planet earth and by your hand all things living
are fed.
People: Forgive our neglect and abuse of your gifts.
Leader: Help us to serve, defend, and restore your creation.
People: Help us care for your people. Help us care for the
earth.
All: AMEN.
Hymn VT 209 We Dream of a Turning
Prayer of Confession:
ALL: Creator of the earth and all living things, maker of the sky
and the air and the breath of life, God of all that is:
we are your servant people, created out of the clay of the
earth itself.
Pulpit Side: We forget that we are your creatures and we play
at being gods. We neglect the work of stewardship
that you have provided for our occupation and our
joy.
Lectern Side: We have used, abused, and abandoned those things
that you have created for your delight.
Bruce and Mike: You have created a fragile world in a perfect and
delicate balance. Thinking too much of our own
importance we have upset the balance.
ALL: We ask your forgiveness, Holy and Righteous God. We
yearn to join with the mountains and valleys, the rocks
and the birds of the wild ocean waters in singing your
praises. Amen.
Declaration of Hope:
“Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for ancient paths,
where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your
souls.” –Jeremiah 6:16
Response: We are standing at a crossroads. Together let us
seek the good way and find rest for all of God’s
creation.
~Sending~
Benediction
Postlude: VT 712 Beauty for Brokenness
(v1-no refrain, v4-refrain, v5-refrain)
Sending Words
WORSHIP 9:30-10:30
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer
Song Leader: April Shupe
Organist: Margaret Cheslock
Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer
Head Usher: Leadership Team
About the Cover Art:
Lee, SaeJin. Tree of Life. 2018. Watercolor paint and colored
pencils. Lee’s statement about her artwork:
“We gather at the Tree of Life, which was in the garden, and
will be with us in restored creation. Around the tree we rest and play; under its branches we belong. It is our source of wisdom, and its leaves are for the healing of the nations. By the tree we need not fear, for the lamb rests in the bosom of the lion, and the child and the adder play together. By the tree we meet our friends—old and new, forgotten and familiar. And when we have gathered, we realize the tree has been with us all along. So come, friends, rest, play, and belong.”
[can be found in Voices Together hymnal page 12—used by permission]
THE CHURH GIVES THANKS
Bill Flinner: I’m alive and well and thankful for everyone’s prayers and positivity.
THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR
Tabatha Murphy: Janet Maust passed away on Monday also my dad had emergency surgery on his knee and is in the nursing home now.
April Shupe: Kathy Smith Miller’s sister, Judy, had an infection in her big toe and had to have it removed. She is home now but need to relearn how to walk.
Mike Gehman: Continue to pray for countries around the world that are dealing with war and turmoil.
FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER
Next Week’s Text: Psalm 22:25-31; Acts 8:26-40;
Harbor of Hope for April: Spaghetti Sauce & Pasta
Mission Project for April: Garaway Released Time Offering
THIS WEEK
April 24th Happy Birthday, Mary Meyer
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 10-11th Sugarcreek Community Garage Sales
May 31st Beachy Ham and Chicken Buffet for Community Hospice
at Legacy Christian School, Sugarcreek at 4:30 – 7pm
NEXT WEEK
Minister Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Tabatha Murphy
Head Usher: Herb Torgler
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Pastor: Mike Gehman
Email: pastor@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com
Pastor’s Hours: Wednesday 9:30 am-2:30 pm
Church Secretary: Tabatha Murphy
Church 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
