August 28, 2022
Summer Series 7
Come to the Water: Crossing
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio August 28, 2022
Worship: 9:30-10:30
Fellowship Time: 10:30-11:00
Sunday School: 11:00-12:00
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
Come to the Water: Crossing
~Gathering~
Prelude: "Like a River Glorious"--arr. Bob Walters
Welcome & Announcements:
Dedication of MCC Comforters:
Julie: We have come together today to offer the comforters provided by MCC that we've knotted to send to places where disaster and wars have occurred, people are on the move, and where basic resources have grown scarce. As we dedicate these gifts, let us join in prayer.
God of earthquake, wind, flood, and fire, may those who have suffered in disasters and wars find refuge in you. Help them in their distress to trust in your mercy which never ends.
People: God of compassion, hear our prayer.
Tally: We pray for those who are afflicted by powers far beyond their control, who are grieving and afraid and who are vulnerable to further loss. May you speed to them relief, and strengthen them to face the challenges before them.
People: God of compassion, hear our prayer.
April: We urgently pray this day for families across our nation who have been injured or displaced by natural disasters. We pray for families around the world seeking to rebuild their lives. We pray for those in areas of conflict and war.
People: God of compassion, hear our prayer.
Keo: May you strengthen those who are responding to crises and are engaged in the work of disaster relief, providing food and shelter, clothing, or transportation to those in peril.
People: God of compassion, hear our prayer.
Amy: May the comforters that we offer today contribute to this sacred work and may those who receive them sense your loving kindness and find their hope renewed.
People: God of compassion, renew us in hope and service as we offer our gifts and our lives to you.
All: Amen.
Focus Statement:
Crossing a body of water. If it's a puddle, one could splash
through it, jump over it, or walk around it. If it's larger,
one might need a bridge, a boat or a tunnel. Rarely do we
find that God parts the waters for us except in a couple of
Scriptures like the passage in Joshua for today. We do often
face roadblocks and then we need to pause, to pray, to
listen for God's voice, to act, and then to express our
gratitude for God's leading.
~Thirsting~
Time of Meditation: "The Water is Wide"--arr. Howard Helvey
Call to Worship:
L: All of you who feel dry and thirsty, come to the water. Fill your hands. Splash your face. Drink deeply. Let it run down your chin! Creator God, our Living Water, we give thanks.
P: for springs of water and deep wells, for streams and rivers of our watershed, for the rains that fall--
All: We give thanks for the water that sustains our life.
(pour a stream of water into the vase)
L: We give thanks, O God,
P: for water that washes and cleans, for water that refreshes and restores--
All: We give thanks for the water that sustains our life.
(pour a stream of water into the vase)
L: We give thanks, O God,
All: for you love and mercy, pouring into our lives, soaking into our parched places, filling us up to the brim, overflowing in us to be a blessing for all.
(pour a stream of water into the vase)
L: Come to the Water of Life.
Opening Prayer:
Hymn of Gathering:
"Wade in the Water" Voices Together #454
~Drinking Deeply~
Water Story: "Crossing the Great Mississippi"--by Tally Maust
Hymn of Praise:
"On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand" Voices Together #661
Congregational Prayers:
Scripture Prequel: "Joshua Crosses the Jordan"--by Crystal Bowman read by Tally Maust
Scripture: Joshua 4:17-24
Message:
~Satisfied~
Hymn of Response:
"Lead Me Forth" Voices Together #837
Offering Prayer:
Sending Hymn:
"The Water is Ready" Voices Together #458 (vs. 1,3)
Benediction:
All: We go into a world of God's wondrous works and wisdom. May we go as stewards of land and sea and all creatures. Loving and sharing with others on the way, singing praises to the Lord.
L: May our meditations be pleasing to God and our lives rejoice in god's leading.
Postlude: "I've Got Peace Like a River"--arr. Mark Hayes
Words of Dismissal:
THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS AND PRAYS FOR
For God providing a sermon from the 1800's and April making it a modern day sermon for us.
Little Josh, Garaway's class of 1972 celebrating 50years, Amy Hostetler, Jessica Morgan and daughter Marley, Bertie Showers, Megan Stauffer-Miller's school, students and also staff, Janet Maust
MMN: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for Joseph and Rachel Givens and their sons, Elijah, 8, and Micaiah, 4, as they adapt to life in Calais, France. Pray for them as the boys prepare to begin school and as Joseph and Rachel immerse themselves in language study before settling into ministry at the Maria Skobtsova House, which offers temporary shelter to migrants from Africa and the Middle East.
Prayers for Mennonite Education-Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA: Please pray for our new and returning students as they transition into a new season of education, exploration, and community-building. May they enjoy rekindling friendships, find new friends, and begin to build a strong and healthy community of support for the year ahead.
FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER
Next Week's Texts: Jeremiah 18:1-11; Psalm 1; Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Philemon 1:1-21; Luke 14:25-33
Harbor of Hope: 75 items of Soup & Mac-N-Cheese were taken to the Harbor of hope this past Wednesday. Thank you for your generous donations. Next month's items are PB & Jelly and are due on September 28th.
Mission Projects for August: Harbor of Hope: Soup & Mac-N-Cheese; MCC School Kits; Homeless Shelter Meal
This Sunday: During the Sunday School hour Sue Stauffer has graciously prepared a mini "Water" recital. What a wonderful way to top off our series "Come to the Water."
Released Time: Today you will find in your mailboxes an envelope designated for a monetary collection for the Released Time Ministry. We will be collecting from now until September 18th.
WORSHIP 9:30-10:30
Greeters: April Shupe, Bertie Showers
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer
Water Pourer: Jon Gerber
Song Leader: April Shupe
Organist: Margaret Cheslock
Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer
Head Usher: Herb Torgler
THIS WEEK
Aug. 30 Homeless Shelter Meal 6:00 p.m.
Aug. 31 Bob & Karen Barnes's Wedding Anniversary
Aug. 31 Worship Committee Meeting 2:00p.m.
Sept. 2 Amy Stauffer-McNutt & Paul McNutt's Wedding Anniversary
Sept. 3 Keutmy Phoutarath has a Birthday
Sept. 4 Dan Hostetler has a Birthday
Sept. 5 Larbor Day
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sept. 7 Leadership Team Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 23 Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.
Sept. 29 Harbor of Hope items due: PB & Jelly
Sept. 30-Oct. 1 Ohio Swiss Festival
Oct. 2 World Wide Communion
Oct. 5 Leadership Team Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 26 Harbor of Hope items due: Laundry & Cleaning Supplies
Oct. 28 Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.
Oct. 30 Halloween
NEXT WEEK
Greeters: Mike & Kristy Keim
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Tally Maust
Song Leader: April Shupe
Head Usher: Monk Yoder
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
CHURH:
Pastor: Mike Gehman
Pastor's Hours: Wednesday 9:30am-2:30pm
Secretary: Tally Maust
Phone: 1-330-852-2822
Email: pastor@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
Missions Contact: Reno Stevanus
Trustees Contact: Dan Hostetler
Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt
August 28, 2022: Access to the Well
"Some families are lucky. They can turn on the tap for drinking water, to fill a bathtub, wash theri car or water the garden. But other families around the world are less fortunate. One billion people, almost 16% of Earth's population, have to walk more than fifteen minutes to get to the nearest water supply. there, they gather water for the day--just a few jugs, barley enough for drinking, cooking and cleaning. Other families don't have access to enough water to meet even these most basic needs.
"While the amount of water on Earth is always the same, the distribution of water across the world isn't. Huge differences in rainfall can happen from country to country and even within the same country. Less rainfall means less water available in lakes, rivers and aquifers. Sometimes there just isn't enough water where it's needed most.
"Because water is not evenly distributed across the globe, nearly one-fifth of the world's population does not have access to enough water. Many of these people live in Africa and Asia.
"1. North America has one-third of the population of Africa, yet North Americans use three times as much water. How is that possible? Nearly 300 million people in Africa do not have access to enough freshwater.
"2. A bucket of water weighs about 10kg. (22 lbs.) Imagine if you had to carry a bucket or two from a well to your house every day.
"3. China and India are home to over one-third of the world's population, yet they only have access to one-tenth of the world's freshwater."
"Place: Average daily water use per person (1 bucket-10 L (2.6 U.S. gal.)
North America*******************************************************55 buckets
Russia************************************************************27 1/2 buckets
Poland***************************************************************14 buckets
India******************************************************************7 buckets
Nepal*****************************************************************3 buckets
Haiti***************************************************************1 1/2 buckets
Ethiopia****************************************************************1 bucket
--taken from One Well: the Story of Water on Earth--Rochelle Strauss, c. 2007, pg. 20-21
