Dec. 21, 2025
Advent 2025: Be Amazed!
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio
December 21, 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
Be Amazed: 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 Start to Whisper
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: (based on Isaiah 55:1-13)
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 Candlelight 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: Isaiah 55:1, 6, 9-12
Be Amazed Story: “Joy in the Chaos” -read by Nancy Yoder
Prayers of the People
Christmas Carol: VT 248 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Advent Four
Be Amazed: Love Comes Down
~Hearing God’s Word~
Focus Statement:
Imagine standing on a hill and peering through a powerful telescope at star clusters billions of light-years away. From the Creator of this mysterious vastness is gifted to you a single word—love. See it move as a baby’s hand in the light of a candle’s tiny flame. Amid the noise of violence and the dirty straw of your darkest hour, wait and look for the light—God’s gift dwelling here.
Scripture: John 1:1-5, 10, 14
Message: “Be Amazed: Love Comes Down”
~Responding~
Advent Four Candlelight Litany:
Leader: We have been wandering in the long, dark night,
looking into the vastness, looking for even a glimmer
of light, to usher in your love.
People: Come, Love of the world. Come amaze us.
All: May your love dispel the darkness and reveal your
path of grace and mercy, inviting us to journey with
you.
Hymn of Response: VT 255 Love Came Down at Christmas
(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
Guest Minister: Ernie Hershberger
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)
Inside Art: In the Beginning was the Word
ARTIST: Gwen M. Stamm (USA)
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. 21st Happy Anniversary, Wayne & Dorothy Schrock
Dec. 24th Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 6pm
Dec. 26th Happy Anniversary, Monroe & Susan Yoder
Dec. 27th Happy Anniversary, Nate & Vi Miller
NEXT WEEK
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Tabatha Murphy
Head Usher: Herb Torgler
LAST WEEK (12/7)
Attendance: 18
Offering: $2045
Change for a dollar: $34.35
Garaway Power Pack: $40
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
