Aug. 10, 2025

Anabaptism At Five Hundred

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

August 10, 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.

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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

Anabaptism at 500

Belief Seven : Steadfast Faith

“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:

A steadfast faith endures through both joyful and difficult times.

Anabaptists practice their faith within a community, celebrating joys

together and offering courage and strength to each other in times of

difficulty. Anabaptists in the sixteenth century often faced severe

persecution—including arrest, imprisonment, torture, and death;

many Anabaptist communities around the world today face similar

hardships.

Scripture: Matthew 28:20b

“And remember, I am with your always, to the end of the age.”

Time of Meditation: VT 421 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God v.1,2

Call to Worship: (from I Corinthians 15: 58)

Leader: Sisters and brothers, be steadfast, immovable, because you

know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

People: We wait for God and the strength and courage God offers.

Leader: Let us worship God, who is worthy of our praise.

Invocation

Hymn of Gathering: VT 80 We Sing to You, O God

~Storytelling~

Early Anabaptist Story: Hadewijk

Early Anabaptist Story in Drama #1:

“An Anabaptist Preacher on the Road: Hans Nadler, 1529”

Narrator – Hannah Gehman Questioner 1 – Tabby Murphy

Nadler – Reno Stevanus Questioner 2 – Nancy Yoder

Councilor 1 – Bertie Showers Councilor 2 – Tyler Murphy

~Praising and Praying~

Hymn of Praise: VT 421 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (vs.3)

Prayers of the People

~Storytelling~

Global Story: Ethiopia –Bruce Stauffer

Early Anabaptist Story in Drama #2:

“An Anabaptist Artist: Jan Wouters Van Kuyk, 1572”

Narrator – Mike Gehman Bailiff – Helene Torgler

Jan – Bruce Stauffer Priest – Bob Gerber

Torturer – Dan Hostetler

Hymn of Response: VT 575 Faith of the Martyrs

~Hearing God’s Word~

Scriptures:

1 Peter 5:9 – Hannah Gehman

1 Corinthians 15:58 – Tyler Murphy

2 Thessalonians 2:15 – Nancy Yoder

James 1:12 – Mike Gehman

Hebrews 12:1 – Suzanne Stauffer

Remarks On Steadfast Faith – Mike Gehman

~Responding~

Hymn of Response: VT A Mighty Fortress Is Our God v.4

Offering Prayer

~Sending~

Sending Hymn: VT 585 Faith Begins by Letting Go

Benediction

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: April Shupe

Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer

Head Usher: Herb Torgler

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 for August: The MCC School Kit Challenge

With the first stroke of a new pencil on a crisp notebook page, a child has the potential to write an amazing story of resilience. This year, MCC has come up with a fun challenge and a goal of sending 25,000 kits to some of our youngest global neighbors. So whether it’s one or one hundred, let’s share God’s love and help kids learn and grow around the world. Pick up a list on the table by the cookies, and lay school items on the same table by the end of August. Bags, erasers and pencil sharpeners will be provided.

The Annual Young Life Prayer Vigil is coming up soon, a wonderful way to begin a new school year. Here are the details for the 24 hour vigil on August 16^th:

1. You pick a one-hour block of time on Aug. 16 (like 3-4am, 1-2pm, 8-9pm, etc)

2. We hand deliver or mail you a prayer booklet filled with prayer requests and

praises for our local students, volunteers, and the YL ministry here in Tusc &

Holmes counties

3. On August 16th you pray from wherever you are for the hour you selected.

All the above information and sign-up sheet is by the mailboxes.

THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS

Mennonite Mission Network: Seth and Stephany Rudeen hope to begin ministry with Mennonite Mission Network in Guatemala this month. Pray for them as they spend their first months there perfecting their Spanish, before moving on to the Q’eqchi’ (Kekchi) Bezaleel Mennonite Educational Center, where they will assist students in learning English and provide tutoring in other core subjects.

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Sue Stauffer: Joe Misser has pancreatic cancer and will be having surgery in two weeks.

Tyler Murphy: Sarah’s mom has an aggressive cancer in her abdomen.

Linda Yoder: Spent two days with mom in the hospital, she is in Afib.

Keo Sixiengmay is needing our prayers—she recently had her appendix removed, but is also having thyroid issues. She will be seeing both her surgeon and a thyroid specialist in the coming week.

THIS WEEK

Aug. 12^th Happy Birthday, Mike Keim

Aug. 15^th Happy Birthday, Karen Barnes

Aug. 16^th Happy Birthday, Tyler Murphy

Aug. 16^th Happy Anniversary, Ron & Mary Meyer

Aug. 17^th Happy Anniversary, Bruce & Sue Stauffer

NEXT WEEK

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Tabby Murphy

Head Usher: Herb Torgler

UPCOMING EVENTS:

August 16^th Young Life Prayer Vigil