Aug. 31, 2025
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio
August 31, 2025
Worship: 9:30 am
Coffee & Fellowship Time: 10:30 am
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
~Gathering~
Prelude: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
-written by Martin Luther, arr. Camp Kirkland
Welcome& Announcements
Focus Statement:
As followers of Christ, we are called to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Part of this call involves showing hospitality to those in need and remembering those who are in prison, as if we ourselves were in prison. We are also called to contentment with what we have, because God will never leave or forsake us. Our world is filled with changes, but we are called to grow in faith and love to Jesus, who never changes.
Time of Meditation: O Jesus, I Have Promised -arr. Lloyd Larsen
(follow along with words printed in bulletin)
Call to Worship:
Leader: Creator God, you call us to hospitality; to give as
generously to others as you have given to us.
People: For there are angels among us.
Leader: Loving God, you call us to give you glory in the
compassion we show to one another.
People: To love without judgment, of ourselves or of others.
Leader: We gather as one Body, seeking to walk in the way
you have set for us.
All: We gather as one Body, to worship the one who is
Love.
Invocation
Hymn of Gathering: HWB 41 Come, Thou Almighty King
~Praying & Praising~
Psalm 112:1-7 (NIV)
All: Praise the Lord.
Leader: Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
People: who find great delight in his commands.
Leader: Their children will be mighty in the land;
People: the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Leader: Wealth and riches are in their houses,
People: and their righteousness endures forever.
Leader: Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
People: for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
Leader: Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
People: who conduct their affairs with justice.
Leader: Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
People: they will be remembered forever.
Leader: They will have no fear of bad news;
People: their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Hymn of Praise: HWB 71 Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
Prayers of the People
~Hearing God’s Word~
Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Message: “Secure in Jesus Christ”
~Responding~
Hymn of Response: HWB 343 My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less
(the offering will be brought forward at this time)
Offering Prayer
~Sending~
Sending Hymn: HWB 528 I Stand Amazed
Benediction
Postlude: “Here I Am, Lord” -arr. Lloyd Larsen
[follow along in HWB 395]
Sending Words
WORSHIP 9:30-10:30
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship / Song Leader: April Shupe
Usher: Herb Torgler
FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER
Mission Project for September: Share-A-Christmas
Every year, many Tuscarawas County families turn to this program for assistance during the holiday season. Please make your check out to First Mennonite, and Bruce will then send one contribution at the end of the month. Thank you for helping bring joy, love and peace to our neighbors in need this Christmas season!
THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR
Brad Shupe: Reno is going to the ER after falling on the front steps that caused a gash on his head that needed stitches.
Melanie Blauch Archer: Holmes County family that the father and 4-year-old son drowned at Atwood Lake.
Darcy Miller: Pat Edgar fell at home and broke her leg; while at the hospital they found an infection in the abdomen that caused the fall. Also, pray for the Tusky Valley student that was taken to the hospital from a football game; he injured his spine and is paralyzed.
Sue Stauffer: Janis Stoffer fell a couple of times and is fighting cancer, she is being moved to Toledo to be closer to family.
Bruce Stauffer: Carol Boltz has passed away, prayers for friends and family.
THIS WEEK
Sept. 1st Happy Birthday, Jean Stevanus
Sept. 1st Happy Birthday, John Yoder
Sept. 2nd Happy Anniversary, Amy & Paul Stauffer-McNutt
Sept. 3rd Happy Birthday, Keutmy Phoutarath
Sept. 4th Happy Birthday, Dan Hostetler
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sept. 19th-21st Women’s Retreat @ Camp Friedenswald
Sept. 26th-27th Swiss Festival
NEXT WEEK
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Helene Torgler
Head Usher: Monk Yoder
LAST WEEK
Attence: 17
Offering: $696
Change for a dollar: $19
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, OH 44681
CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM:
Chairperson: Mike Keim
Office Contact: Linda Yoder
Mission Contact: Reno Stevanus
Trustees Contact: Dan Hostetler
Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt
O Jesus, I Have Promised
O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle if Thou art by my side,
nor wander from the pathway if Thou wilt be my Guide.
O let me feel Thee near me, the world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear;
my foes are ever near me, around me and within;
but, Jesus, draw Thou nearer, and shield my soul from sin.
I need thee every hour, stay thou close by.
Temptations lose their pow’r when thou art nigh.
I need thee, oh I need thee, ev’ry hour I need thee.
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.
O Jesus, Thou hast promised to all who follow Thee
that where Thou art in glory there shall Thy servant be;
and, Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow, my Master and my Friend!
