Dec. 29, 2024
Christmas 2024
Together on a Journey
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio
December 29, 2024
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
Keeping Promises…Who sees it?
~Gathering~
Prelude: “O Holy Night” -arr. John S. Dwight
Welcome & Announcements
Focus Statement:
God is faithful in keeping promises on the journey but unless we are keenly attuned, we may not recognize promises fulfilled. Even as we wait, we can be assured that God is active in working out the plan of restoring and healing. May we have the eyes to see God’s active presence, and may we have a voice to share what we have seen.
Time of Meditation: “Peace, Peace”
-Legacy Christian School Women’s Choir
(The bells being played in this video were donated by our church to LCS)
Hymn of Gathering: Angels from the Realms of Glory v1, 2 (printed in bulletin)
Call to Worship:
Leader: As we worship today God, we ask this of you:
Right: Wipe pride from our hearts, that we might truly
love one another.
Left: Rinse conceit from our eyes that we might see one
another as you see.
Leader: We rest in your promises and wait for you.
People: Calm and quiet, we trust in you.
Leader: Open our hearts,
All: That we might let go of all that separates us from
you and one another.
Invocation
Carol: HWB 212 O Come, All Ye Faithful
Candle Lighting Litany:
WL: Have you heard the news? Jesus, the promised Messiah has
come! God is with us; Jesus is here!
Together: Let us shout it aloud for everyone to hear!
Come join us on the journey as we live out the
Good News of Christ!
Carol: HWB 201 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
~Praying & Praising~
Our Journey Stories:
What have you noticed about God’s faithful promises on your
journey? What is the good news you have experienced?
Carol: HWB 210 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice
Old Testament: Psalm 131
Carol: HWB 191 O Little Town of Bethlehem
Prayers of the People
Carol: HWB 197 Angels We Have Heard On High
~Hearing God’s Word~
Scripture: Luke 2:21-38
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now
dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen
your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of
all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the
glory of your people Israel.”
Message: “The Journey May be Difficult, but the Blessings are
Abundant” ~Darcy Miller
Isaiah 61:10 - 62:3 (NIV)
I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For
he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me
in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head
like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For
as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes
seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I
will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the
dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see
your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called
by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. You
will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal
diadem in the hand of your God.
Galatians 4: 4 -7 (NIV)
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born
of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the
law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you
are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the
Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a
slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has
made you also an heir.
~Responding~
Carol: HWB 215 What Child Is This
(the offering will be brought forward)
Offering Prayer
~Sending~
Carol: HWB 318 Joy to the World
Benediction
Postlude: “Yuletide Echoes” -arr. William Hodson
Sending Blessing:
Our sending words are from the poem Sometimes by Mary Oliver.
Let’s say them together--
Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
WORSHIP 9:30-10:30
Guest Minister: Darcy Miller
Worship Leader: April Shupe
Song Leader: April Shupe
Guest Pianist: Shirley Holman
Usher: Herb Torgler
Our Advent Theme: Together on a Journey
Sing the Journey, one of our Mennonite songbooks, evokes
wonderful images of voices blending in praise as we travel
together on a path toward a deeper understanding of faith. The
road can be smooth for stretches, but also includes rough patches that may challenge or discourage. Its course is not set; if we are attentive, we may notice God’s guiding hand redirecting us. Each of our journeys in faith is unique but meant to be lived in community. Together, let’s join our voices as we travel the path that draws us closer to God.
Advent Altar Display: This year’s visual display incorporates both the traditional Advent Wreath candlelighting, and the lighting of candles on the altar which corresponds to the theme of the day. The display began quite unadorned, with only candles and a purple cloth making a path to the first candle. You may have noticed that the purple cloth “path” has been moving across the altar a little each week, and a symbol representing the theme
for each Sunday of advent has been added—a rock, a heart, a frayed cloth, a multi-colored cloth, and today, a mirror, as we reflect on our own journey stories.
Christmas Fun: Can you spot the hikers? As we have celebrated Christmas, the hikers have arrived at the altar!
FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER
Next Sunday, Jan. 5, we will have our final journey story, one that you don’t want to miss! Larry Compton will be our guest speaker and share about his journey to Mt. Everest and his time in Nepal.
End-of-year reports: Please submit your end-of-year summaries to Tabby in the office as soon as possible so she can begin to prepare the Congregational Report.
Mennonite Arts Weekend: Early-bird registration is open for the 2025
Mennonite Arts Weekend in Cincinnati, Ohio, February 7-9. This
weekend celebrates the creativity and discipline of Anabaptist
Mennonite artists. Find the list of presenters, registration and location
information at https://mennoniteartsweekend.org
THE CHURH GIVES THANKS
Sue Stauffer: Jim Cahill transfusion was a success, he has over 90% donor blood.
CHURCH PRAYS FOR
Sue Stauffer: Alan Stacy is working with his wound but will need another surgery.
THIS WEEK
Dec. 31st Happy Birthday, Chris Gerber
Jan. 1st Happy Birthday, Casey Kalb
Jan 3rd Happy Birthday, Myrna Jaberg
NEXT WEEK
Epiphany Text: Psalm 121; Luke 2:41-52
Guest Speaker: Larry Compton
Worship Leader: Dan Hostetler
Head Usher: Monk Yoder
LAST WEEK
ATTENDANCE: 21
OFFERING: $945
Change for a dollar: $12
White Gift: $45
In memory of Julia Gerber: $150
Christmas Eve Service
Attendance: 37
White Gift: $146
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, Ohio 44681
CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM:
Chairperson: Mike Keim
Office Contact: Linda Yoder
Mission Contact: Reno Stevanus
Trustees Contact: Dan Hostetler
Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt
