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.

***************************************­

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

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. 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        

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.