Aug. 11, 2024
We Become What We Behold
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio
August 11, 2024
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
Beholding God’s View of You
Prelude “Take My Life and Let It Be”
-arr. Keith Christopher and Tommy Walker
Welcome & Announcements
Focus Statement:
“As we age, we become what we are, only more so.” Genetics determines destiny, but growth to maturity also requires active participation. The Holy Spirit empowers us to become the new creatures that we actually are. So take off those smelly old clothes and put on the clothes provided by Messiah Jesus.
Time of Meditation “Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone,” -words and music by John Newton, Chris Tomlin, and Louie
Giglio, sung by April Shupe
Call To Worship:
Leader: If you wish to be raised up with Christ, then seek the
high ground where Christ is found.
People: O give thanks to God who is so good, whose love goes
on forever!
Leader: Let the redeemed all say so together, those who have
been liberated and gathered in from many lands.
People: From the east and from the west, from the north and
from the south,
Leader: We seek the high ground where Christ is found.
People: O give thanks to God who is so good, whose love
goes on forever!
All: Let us worship our wonderful God.
Invocation
Hymn of Gathering: HWB 37 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Scripture Litany: Psalm 107:1-9, 43
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story--those he
redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from
north and south.
Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city
where they could settle.
They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he
delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his
wonderful deeds for mankind,
for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good
things.
Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and
consider the steadfast love of the LORD.
Hymn of Praise: HWB 46 I Sing the Mighty Power of God
Prayers of the People
Becoming: What’s True About You
Scripture: Colossians 3:1-11
Message: “Your Easter Outfit”
Hymn of Response: I’m Pressing on the Upward Way
(bulletin)
(the offering will be brought forward)
Offering Prayer
Sending Hymn: VT 813 Heart With Loving Heart United
Benediction
Postlude “Be Thou My Vision” -Catholic Music Initiative,
Dave Moore and Lauren Moore
Sending Words
WORSHIP 9:30-10:30
Guest Minister: Ernie Hershberger
Worship Leader: Julie Gerber
Song Leader: April Shupe
Organist: Margaret Cheslock
Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer
Usher: Herb Torgler
This Week:
o Memorize scripture.
o Stop condemning yourself.
o Choose a high view of God.
o Rehearse your identity in Christ.
FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER
Mission Project for August: MCC School Kits
Notebooks and pencils are treasures for families who struggle to
access or afford school supplies. MCC school kits are often requested
after disasters as they help bring a sense of normalcy to children
whose families have been forced to flee their homes. Last year, MCC
shipped 81,048 school kits to communities in Burundi, Chad, Ethiopia,
Malawi, South Sudan, Ukraine, the U.S. and Zambia. Pick up an item
list at the drop off table. Bags, erasers, and the metal pencil
sharpeners are provided.
Harbor of Hope for August: Soup and Mac & Cheese
THE CHURH GIVES THANKS
Bruce Stauffer: Thankful for the 2 inches of rain, also for our trip to Michigan.
Mike Gehman: The music festival went well with the new venue, young life raised $850.
CHURCH PRAYS FOR
Mike Gehman: Prayers for Hannah and myself as we continue to care for mom.
THIS WEEK
Aug. 12th Happy Birthday, Mike Keim
Aug.15th Happy Birthday, Karen Barnes
Aug. 16th Happy Birthday, Tyler Murphy
Aug. 16th Happy Anniversary, Ron & Mary Meyer
Aug. 17th Happy Anniversary, Bruce & Sue Stauffer
NEXT WEEK
Text: Psalm 35:9-10; Psalm 63:3-4; Psalm 65:4; Psalm 107:9;
Psalm 23:1; Matthew 6:25-34; I Timothy 6:6; Philippians 4:4-14
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Tabatha Murphy
Head Usher: Herb Torgler
LAST WEEK
ATTENDANCE: 16
OFFERING: $1758
Change for a Dollar: $13
School Kits $50
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
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
Summer Series: Beholding and Becoming
We are entering the longest season of the Christian Year, the Sundays after Pentecost, or what is also called Ordinary Time. For many, it feels rather ordinary, week after week of the long spring and summer and even into the early fall season. Yet, it could be argued that this season is where our faith gets put to the test, where the church takes the stage and seeks to live out all that has been learned as we show to the world what living in the kingdom looks like. We will begin with the theme, Beholding and Becoming. English poet William Blake may have been the first to say, ‘We become what we behold,’ but in 2 Corinthians, Paul describes true beholding and becoming for us who long to become like Christ:
We all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from one degree
of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the
Spirit. ---2 Corinthians 3:18
Here, in the season after Pentecost, we ascribe to God all the glory, all the wonder, all the joy that is within us. By gazing at the nature of God with unveiled minds, we can be more like Him. This is our invitation to you to be transformed this summer, one everyday moment at a time.
Note: What are you beholding this summer? Please share pictures of what you are thinking on, meditating on, and/or enjoying seeing the glory of the Lord in. Please send pictures to the church email at
office@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com, and look for them to be a part of the bulletin board display outside of the office. Please see April or Tabby if you have any questions.
