Aug. 3, 2025

Anabaptism At Five Hundred

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

August 3, 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 Six : Nonviolence

“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:

Anabaptists reject the use of violence, because Jesus rejected

violence and told his disciples to love their enemies. Because the

sword was a soldier’s weapon in the sixteenth century, the early

Anabaptists sometimes referred to nonviolence and the “rejection of

the sword.” Anabaptists seek change through prayer, faithful witness,

and peaceful actions. Christian lives reflect the ultimate peace that

comes from God.

Scripture: Isaiah 2:4b

“They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears

into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war any more.”

Time of Meditation: VT 716 God of Grace and God of Glory

Call to Worship:

Leader: In the days to come, the mountain of God’s house will be

established as the highest of the mountains and raised above

all other hills; all nations will stream toward it.

People: Many people will come and say, “Come, let us climb God’s

mountain; that we may be instructed in God’s ways and walk

in God’s paths.” For out of Zion will go forth instruction,

and the word of God from Jerusalem.

Leader: God will judge between the nations, and render decisions for

many countries;

People: They will beat their nuclear bombs into plowshare, and their

guns into gardening tools; nation will not raise weapons

against nation, and never again will they train for war.

ALL: May we be co-creators with God in making that day a reality.

May it begin today. Let us worship God!

Invocation

Hymn of Gathering: VT 573 Strong, Peaceful Man of Galilee

~Storytelling~

Early Anabaptist Story: Menno Simons –Helene Torgler

Early Anabaptist Story in Drama #1:

Peace, Peace: Menno Simons,1552

Pastor: Mike Gehman, Menno: Mike Keim

~Praising and Praying~

Hymn of Praise: VT 797 We Are People of God’s Peace

Prayers of the People

~Storytelling~

Global Story: Melvin Ira Glick –Nancy Yoder

Early Anabaptist Story in drama #2:

“Dirk Turns Back: Dirk Willems, 1569”

Reader 1 – Hannah Gehman, Reader 2 – Kristy Keim

Hymn of Response: SJ 56 Make Me a Channel of Thy Peace

(in unison with special piano accompaniment)

~Hearing God’s Word~

Scriptures:

Proverbs 3:31 –Hannah Gehman

Psalm 11:5 –Kristy Keim

Psalm 34:14 –Helene Torgler

Isaiah 2:3-4 –Nancy Yoder

Matthew 5:9 –Mike Gehman

Matthew 5:39-42, 44 –Bruce Stauffer

Matthew 26: 52 –Tyler Murphy

John 14:27 –Reno Stevanus

Romans 12: 17-21 –Mike Keim

I Peter 3:9 –Tabby Murphy

Remarks On Nonviolence –Mike Gehman

~Responding~

Hymn of Response: VT 556 I Bind My Heart This Tide

Offering Prayer

~Sending~

Sending Hymn: VT 574 We Shall Walk through the Valley

Benediction

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer

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 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

Melonie Blauch Archer: It is a joy to come to church to see people I grew up with.

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Mike Gehman: Daughter, Brianna is in her 3^rd trimester and has been diagnosed with placenta previa.

THIS WEEK

Aug. 10^th Happy Birthday, Tabatha Murphy