Dec. 14, 2025

Advent 2025: Be Amazed!

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

December 14, 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

Advent Three: Joy in the Desert

~Gathering~

Preludes: “I Wonder as I Wander” – arr. Jay Rouse

“Twas in the Moon of Wintertime” – arr. Mark Hayes

Welcome& Announcements

Opening Hymn: VT 237 Now the Heavens v3

Advent Scripture: Habakkuk 1:5

“Look at the nations and see! Be astonished! Be astounded!

For work is being done in your days that you

would not believe, even if you were told.”

Focus Statement:

Imagine wandering thirsty through a desert wasteland and happening upon a spring of clear, cold water. On this third Sunday of Advent, you are invited to lay down your cares; find rest, comfort and joy in God’s amazing provision, in the places where you least expect it.

Time of Meditation: “Silent Night”

– arr. Rachel Trelstad Porte

Call to Worship:

Leader: Come, all who hunger and thirst for more—God calls

us to the feast!

People: We are weary exiles, longing for home, caught in a

world that drains our hope.

Leader: “Listen, so that you may live! My covenant is

everlasting, my promise sure.”

People: The invitation is for all people, from the farthest

reaches on the earth.

Leader: The word of the Lord does not return empty—it

brings forth life!

People: The mountains and the hills will burst into song, the

trees of the field will clap their hands!

All: You are the source of true joy, O God. You expand

our vision, lifting our eyes beyond the moment,

beyond despair, into amazement. We stand before

you, ready to enter your story and be amazed.

Opening Prayer

Advent Candlelighting Litany (Mike Keim, candlelighter)

Leader: We have been wandering in the dark, cold desert of

grief and despair, and we feel heavy, dry and lifeless.

People: Come, Joy of the world. Come amaze us.

All: May your joy water our thirsty souls, that we may

become your fountains of joy, freely sharing your joy

with the world.

Hymn: VT 218 Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

~Praying & Praising~

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 42

Prayers of the People

Christmas Carol: VT 248 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

~Hearing God’s Word~

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1, 6, 9-12

Be Amazed Story: “Joy in the Chaos”

-read by Nancy Yoder

Message: “Come to the Lord. Receive his joy, comfort, and

peace.”

~Responding~

Hymn of Response: VT 209 We Dream of a Turning

(the offering will be brought forth at this time)

Offering Prayer:

Leader: God, we are thirsty and you call us to your waters. But

sometimes we try to slake our thirst from other sources.

People: Forgive us when we turn away from the living water

that you offer.

Leader: God, we are hungry and you offer us bread without cost.

But sometimes we pay too much for food that does not

nourish.

People: Forgive us when we do not accept your gracious

provision.

Leader: Forgive us, God, for the many ways we fail to trust you:

People: when we spend our money for that which is not

bread and our labor for that which does not satisfy.

Leader: God, we seek you; we call upon you.

ALL: Have mercy on us, for we know that you abundantly

Pardon. Accept our offerings and use them for good.

Bless them and endow us with your mercy, your grace,

and your desire to bring peace and joy to our world.

Amen.

~Sending~

Benediction

Sending Hymn: VT 847 You Shall Go Out with Joy

Sending Words: Habakkuk 3: 17-19

Postlude: “Cold December Flies Away”

– Spanish carol arr. by Anna Laura Page

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer

Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer

Song Leader: April Shupe

Usher: Herb Torgler

Please note that the music for our Advent services is carefully chosen to represent the meditative side of Advent as reflected in the night sky on the altar. Different arrangements of "Silent Night" will be used each Sunday during the Time of Meditation to emphasize the theme.

Cover Art: Visio Divina—The Clapping Trees

ARTIST: Len Rempel (Visio Divina Collection, 2023)

Advent 2025:

This year, our theme is, “Be Amazed!” Each week, we’ll be invited to notice the surprising and powerful ways in which God shows up—even when we least expect it. We invite you to immerse yourself in the visuals and explore the theme, “Be Amazed!” in several ways:

*One way is through the picture you will see each week on the big

screen as you walk into the sanctuary. Even before the service begins,

you can look at the picture and along with it, the introductory

scripture which you can read in the Bibles located in the pews, or

bring your own Bible. This way you can contemplate the story of the

scripture passage and prepare for the worship to follow.

*Another way we invite you to explore the theme is through the symbol

of a star. The stars remind us of God’s mysterious and guiding

presence—distant yet near, powerful yet gentle. Like the blazing stars

in the sky, God’s glory is sometimes hidden from view by our

distractions, expectations or the “clouds” of daily life. Yet, the light of

God is always shining—waiting for us to notice. Just as the

Magi followed the star to find Christ, we too are invited to look up,

notice, and be amazed by God’s presence. Watch as this display

becomes brighter each week to reflect the growing light and clarity

of God’s revelation, culminating in the full radiance of Christ’s birth

at Christmas. We also invite you to ponder God’s amazing stories represented by the symbols placed on the altar each Sunday.

As we wait for the fullness of Christmas, may this light call us to look up, look around, and be amazed at the God who comes close—bringing hope, peace, joy, and love, even in the places you least expect it. May you find wonder in the work God is doing in your life this Christmas!

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

Mission Project for December: White Gift Offering

During the four Sundays of Advent, we will be collecting to replenish the Deacon’s Fund, which is money available to members of our church in need. Look for the specially designated green sleigh as you enter the sanctuary. You can give cash or make a check out to FMC designated White Gift. Let’s fill the sleigh to help others on their way!

Special Thanksgiving / Christmas Project: Garaway Pirate Power Packs

The Garaway Pirate Power Pack Program, sponsored by the Sugarcreek United Church of Christ, meets monthly to pack over 350 bags full of food for local students. We will be collecting the following items over the next several weeks to help provide food for this program:

Ramen noodles cans of corn cans of green beans

cans of ravioli cans of tomato soup cans of pork and beans

cans of chicken noodle soup

THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS

April Shupe: Bruce and Sue are visiting Megan and Brent this Sunday; Bruce is doing better and will be here next Sunday.

Mennonite Mission Network: Praise God that Caleb Schrock-Hurst, who serves jointly with Mennonite Mission Network and Virginia Mennonite Missions, has successfully finished his cancer treatments and is cancer free. Now, he and his wife, Stephanie, are moving forward with their plans to respond to an invitation to go to Mennonite Christian Hospital in Taiwan. Pray for physical and spiritual health as they resume preparations that were put on hold for the past year.

THIS WEEK

Dec. 21^st Happy Anniversary, Wayne & Dorothy Schrock

NEXT WEEK

Guest Minister: Ernie Hershberger

Worship Leader: Tabatha Murphy

Head Usher: Herb Torgler

UPCOMING EVENTS

Dec. 24^th Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 6pm

LAST WEEK

Attendance: 18

Offering: $2045

Change for a dollar: $34.35