Dec. 7, 2025
Advent 2025: Be Amazed!
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio
December 7, 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 Two: Peace in the Valley of Bones
~Gathering~
Preludes: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” -arr. Mark Hayes
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to all the earth!
Welcome& Announcements
Opening Hymn: VT 237 Now the Heavens
(listen to verse 1, sing verse 2)
Advent Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-5
“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 a valley full of dry bones, with not a breath of wind. Then a noise, a rattling sound as the bones come together, bone to bone, tendon to tendon. In this miraculous vision given to the prophet Ezekiel, God breathes life into the bones so that they may dance
again. Come, Holy Spirit! We pray on this second Sunday of
Advent for peace as a renewal of body, mind, and spirit.
Time of Meditation: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
-performed by The Piano Guys
Call to Worship:
Leader: God in our desert, you are our peace to all places.
People: Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are
cut off completely.
Leader: Thus says the LORD GOD: “Come from the four
winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that
they may live.”
People: Can these dry bones live?
Leader: The wind of God moves among these dry bones.
Stand and live!
People: We are the people of God, a vast multitude, filled
with God’s Spirit.
Leader: “I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live.
I will place you on your own soil; then you shall
Know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act,”
says the LORD.
All: You are the only source of true life, O God. You
breathe new life into our dry bones and fill us with
your peace. 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, our spirits dry
and cracked from conflict, aching for peace to pour
into the crevices to revive us.
People: Come, Peace of the world. Come amaze us.
All: May Your peace fill the cracks in our dry, brittle
bones. Bind us together, strengthen and unite us,
that we might dance!
Hymn: HWB 174 Bless’d Be the God of Israel
~Praying & Praising~
Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 130:1-8 (NIV)
Prayers of the People
Christmas Carol: HWB 191 O Little Town of Bethlehem
-accompanied by Kaleb Brasee
~Hearing God’s Word~
Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Be Amazed Story: “Peace in the Valley of Bones”
-read by Nancy Yoder
Message: “Breathe on us Spirit of God; restore life, peace,
and hope!”
~Responding~
Hymn of Response: HWB 26 Holy Spirit, Come With Power
-performed by Berlin Mennonite Church
(the offering will be brought forth at this time)
Offering Prayer
~Sending~
Benediction
Sending Hymn: HWB 356 Breathe on Me, Breath of God
-accompanied by by Sangah Noona
Sending Words: Habakkuk 3: 17-19
Postlude: Come, Gentle Peace -music by Lloyd Larsen,
Words by Joseph Martin and Jonathan Martin
Come gentle peace, sing to our pain,
Comfort the world, let the healing begin.
Bring us your goodness, show us your dream,
Teach all creation your beautiful theme.
WORSHIP 9:30-10:30
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader Helene Torgler
Song Leader: April Shupe
Usher: Herb Torgler
Cover Art: Can These Bones Live? by Josh Tiessen, is a painting representing the dry bones story in Ezekiel. He writes: I approached my painting as a modern interpretation, seeing the Monarch Butterfly as symbolic of breathing new life into lifeless human bones.
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
Lessons and Carols Service at St. Joseph Catholic Church is this evening at 6:00 p.m. (prelude beginning at 5:30). The public is invited to join in this special community Advent service. The service will include choirs from the surrounding area, a brass ensemble, hand-bell choir, the singing of carols, and readings from Sacred Scripture.
THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS
Brad Shupe: Dad is home and is doing well after hip replacement.
THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR
April Shupe: Sue had to take Bruce to the ER this morning, prayers for healing.
Mike Gehman: Friend who has brain cancer needs prayers. Also, Barb Debor, the Lutheran minister, is on life support.
THIS WEEK
Dec. 7th Lessons & Carols at St. Joseph in Dover, 5:30 pm
Dec. 11th Happy Birthday, Sue Stauffer
NEXT WEEK
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer
Head Usher: Herb Torgler
LAST WEEK
Attendance: 16
Offering: $951
Change for a dollar: $17
Food Bank: $50
White Gift: $10
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
