Aug. 25, 2024
We Become What We Behold
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio
August 25, 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: Worship Follows Mercy
Prelude "The Church's One Foundation" - arr. Mark Hayes
Welcome & Announcements
Focus Statement:
God is at work in our lives seeking to help us grow and to become more like Christ in our love for Him and love towards others. In our worship and love to God, we are called to no longer conform to this world, but to give ourselves to him as living and holy sacrifices that are pleasing and acceptable. In this way, our minds become renewed and we learn to know God’s will in our lives.
Time of Meditation "There's a Wideness in God's Mercy"
- arr. Larry Shackley
Call To Worship:
Leader: Let us worship the eternal God, the Source of love and
life, who creates us.
People: Let us worship Jesus Christ, the risen one, who lives
among us.
Leader: Let us worship the Spirit, those Holy Fire, who
renews us.
All: To the one true God be praise in all times and places,
through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Invocation
Hymn of Gathering: HWB 17 We Gather Together
Scripture: Psalm 138:1-8 (NIV)
Hymn of Praise: HWB 26 Holy Spirit, Come With Power
Prayers of the People
Hymn of Praise: HWB 106 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
Becoming: Forming a Pattern of Transformation and Renewal
Scripture: Romans 12:1-8
Message: “Transformed and Renewed”
Hymn of Response: HWB 444 Lord, I Want to Be a Christian
(the offering will be brought forward)
Offering Prayer
Benediction (based on Romans 12:1-2)
Sending Hymn: HWB 425 Come, Come Ye Saints
Postlude "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" - arr. Cindy Berry
Sending Words
WORSHIP 9:30-10:30
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Dan Hostetler
Song Leader: April Shupe
Organist: Margaret Cheslock
Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer
Usher: Herb Torgler
This Week:
o Break an old pattern by savoring something better.
o Establish a new pattern.
o Meet with Jesus everyday for the next 30 days.
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
Tabatha Murphy: Will get my cast off on Wednesday.
CHURCH PRAYS FOR
Sue Stauffer: Will be going to have my cancer screening test.
THIS WEEK
Aug. 26th Happy Birthday, Vi Miller
Aug. 30th Happy Anniversary, Rick & Bambi Maurer
Aug. 31st Happy Anniversary, Bob & Karen Barnes
NEXT WEEK
Text: Exodus 6:5-7; Ecclesiastes 3:11-12; Psalm 84; Luke 10:38-42;
James 1:23-24; John 14:23; John 15:9-10; II Corinthians 3:18
Guest Minister: Darcy Miller
Worship Leader: April Shupe
Head Usher: Herb Torgler
LAST WEEK
ATTENDANCE: 24
OFFERING: $1060
Change for a Dollar: $7
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.
