Aug. 18, 2024
We Become What We Behold
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio
August 18, 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 When Discontent Reveals God’s Mercy
Prelude “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen /All Night
All Day” – arr. Mark Hayes
Welcome & Announcements
Focus Statement:
This worship service demonstrates the tying together of two opposite concepts--discontent and content. Though we tend to think that discontent is bad, there are some times when God’s purpose for our life can be revealed through our discontent. When we behold God’s mercy and goodness, a new path may emerge.
God wants the best for each of us. The contented person, in a sense, lives in a divine sphere where all the joys and fulfillment is found in Christ. Contentment must be learned and practiced. It flows from appreciating the fellowship of love, cultivating joy, accepting with humble reasonableness whatever the circumstance you’re in, standing strong in faith on God’s promises, engaging in thankful prayer, and focusing on what is excellent and worthy of praise. When we are in sync with God, we become contented.
Time of Meditation “Open My Eyes, That I May See”
– arr. Larry Shackley
Call To Worship: (from Philippians 4:4-7 – Joanna Harader)
Leader: Dear friends,
People: rejoice
Leader: in God always. Let’s say it again:
People: rejoice.
Leader: May our gentleness be known,
People: for God is near.
Leader: Let us not worry about anything,
People: for God is near.
Leader: We will ask for what we need
People: in prayer,
Leader: and offer thanks to God
People: in prayer.
Leader: We rejoice and give thanks that
People: the peace of God
Leader: will guard our hearts;
People: the peace of God
Leader: will guard our minds;
People: the peace of God
Leader: will be with us
People: in this time of worship
ALL: and beyond.
Invocation
(A contemplative prayer from Philippians 4:8 – Joanna Harader)
God of peace: Let us think about that which is true.
Silence
Let us think about that which is honorable.
Silence
Let us think about that which is just.
Silence
Let us think about that which is pure.
Silence
Let us think about that which is pleasing.
Silence
Let us think about that which is commendable.
Silence
Let us think about that which is excellent and worthy of praise.
Silence
Guard our minds, holy One, and grant us your peace.
Amen.
Hymn of Gathering: VT 180 This Is God’s Wondrous World
Prayers of the People
Hymn of Praise VT 119 When All Thy Mercies
Becoming: Remembering Our Purpose
Scriptures:
Psalm 35:9-10 – Jaden Murphy
“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the
sons of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They are
satisfied.”
Psalm 63:3-4 – Julia Gerber
“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall
laud You. Thus will I bless You as long as I live; I will lift up
my hands in Your name. My soul is satisfied.”
Psalm 65:4 – Tyler Murphy
“We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house…O
God of our salvation.”
Psalm 107:9 - Helene Torgler
“For He satisfies the thirsty soul, and fills the hungry soul with
goodness.”
Psalm 23: 1 – Herb Torgler
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
Matthew 6:25-34 – Dan Hostetler
“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your
life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for
your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than
food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of
the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth
much more than they? And who of you by being worried can
add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about
clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not
toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in
all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so
clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and
tomorrow thrown into the furnace, will He not much more
clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying,
‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we
wear for clothing?’ The nations eagerly seek all these things;
for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these
things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and
all these things will be added to you.”
I Timothy 6:6 – Kristy Keim
“Godliness actually is a means of great gain when
accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing
into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we
have food and covering, with these we shall be content.”
Philippians 4:4-14 – Mike Keim
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your
gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near: Be anxious
for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the
peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute,
if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell
on these things. The things you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of
peace will be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that
now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you
were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I
speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever
circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means,
and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every
circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going
hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do
all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Prayer: (please read silently while WL reads aloud)
Tend to our bitterness of spirit, mighty and merciful One. Save us from hurts too long unforgiven and sufferings too deeply cherished. Save us from cynicism too quickly felt and revenge too often sought. Save us from loyalty too easily spurned and hope too soon abandoned. Surprise us with your transformation.
In all the places we gasp for air, breathe your sweet fresh Spirit. In all the places we see few options, burst our tired old categories with your endlessly inventive possibilities. In all the places we are so sure everything has died, infuse your unfailing,
irrepressible life. Neither be content with us as we are nor let us be content as we are. Instead, push us, pull us, into new worlds of your making. Amen.
Message: “Dissatisfied and Content”
Hymn of Response: VT 156 There’s A Wideness in God’s
Mercy
(the offering will be brought forward)
Offering Prayer
Sending Hymn: VT 770 God Is Working This Purpose Out
Benediction
Postlude “It Is Well with My Soul” – arr. Mark Hayes
Sending Words
Leader: Go in peace. Go be peace.
People: Thanks be to God.
WORSHIP 9:30-10:30
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Tabatha Murphy
Song Leader: April Shupe
Organist: Margaret Cheslock
Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer
Usher: Herb Torgler
This Week:
- Remember, bitterness and pride are your real enemies.
- Think on God’s mercy.
- Preach to yourself.
- Run to comfort in Christ.
- Hope in God.
- Examine yourself.
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.
Note: Harbor of Hope is in transition at this time, so we will not be
collecting anything for the month of August.
THE CHURH GIVES THANKS
Julie Gerber: I went through 5 days of depression, but God healed me.
Bob Gerber: If the sky remains clear we should see a meteor shower.
Bertie Showers: The Mast family gathering went well.
CHURCH PRAYS FOR
Julie Gerber: Keo has asked for prayers for a swollen foot.
THIS WEEK
Aug. 20th Happy Birthday, Reno Stevanus
Aug. 21st Happy Birthday, Bambi Maurer
Aug. 22nd Happy Anniversary, Brad & April Shupe
NEXT WEEK
Text: I Samuel 16:7; Romans 12:1-2
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Dan Hostetler
Head Usher: Herb Torgler
LAST WEEK
ATTENDANCE: 20
OFFERING: $1243
Change for a Dollar: $8
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.
