Feb. 2, 2025

Anabaptism at

Five Hundred

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

February 2, 2025

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.

***************************************

We seek to be a caring and discerning community, the gathered body

of Christ, that welcomes all to join in worship, study, and service.

******************************************

We embody God’s transforming and redeeming Spirit in the world

through our prophetic witness and action.

THE CHURCH WORSHIPS TOGETHER

Anabaptism at 500:

Renewal through Story Two

“Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.”

~Gathering in the Royal Bible Classroom~

(around tables)

Opening Hymn: HWB 4 Unto Thy Temple, Lord, We Come

(vs. 1, 3, 4)

Welcome & Announcements

Focus Statement:

The focus of this and last week’s services is to review some of

the ways in which our church, First Mennonite Church in Sugarcreek OH, since its inception in 1926 has lived and embodied the three principles of Anabaptism:

Jesus is the center of our faith.

Community is the center of our life.

Reconciliation is the center of our work.

--Palmer Becker

Call to Worship:

Leader: Jesus calls us to praise and prayer, to song and

silence;

People: Jesus calls us to worship.

Leader: Jesus calls us to hearing and healing, to service and

solidarity;

People: Jesus calls us to love.

Leader: Jesus calls us to advocacy and action, to protest and

provision;

People: Jesus calls us to justice.

Leader: We hear the call of Christ We worship together with

joy.

Invocation

Hymn of Gathering: HWB 121 Holy God, We Praise Thy

Name (vs.1,2,3)

~Praying & Praising~

Stories: Youth

Scripture: I Corinthians 3:11 (Revised Standard Version)

“For no other foundation can any one lay that that

which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Stories: Reconciliation

Prayers of the People

Hymns: HWB 145 There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy (vs. 1,5)

HWB 403 The Church of Christ in Every Age

(vs. 1,2,3,5 read by Nancy Yoder)

~Hearing God’s Word~

Stories: Music

Community & Hospitality

Scripture: I Corinthians 3:11 (New English Bible)

“There can be no other foundation beyond that which is

already laid; I mean Jesus Christ himself.”

Hymn: HWB 76 Praise, I Will Praise You, Lord

Stories: Mission and Justice

Stewardship

Scripture: I Corinthians 3:11 (King James Version)

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,

Which is Jesus Christ.”

Stories: Bible Study

~Responding~

Hymn of Response: HWB 106 All Hail the Power of Jesus’

Name (vs 1,4)

(the offering will be dedicated at this time)

Offering Prayer

Litany of Church Memories

~Sending~

Sending Hymn: Mennonite Hymnary 614

The Lord Bless You and Keep You

Benediction:

Leader: We praise you, O God, for being with us in this

special time and place.

People: We reaffirm our desire to continue in and witness

to the simple and nonresistant faith,

Leader: Send us forth with courage to be witnesses of you

and your work in the world.

People: No one can lay any foundation other than the one

already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

ALL: Let us not forget your name or power; let us not

miss your glory in the mundane; let us not trample

on holy ground, for we believe that Jesus Christ is

the chief cornerstone and the one on whom we

build our lives. Amen.

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Helene Torgler

Song Leader: April Shupe

Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer

Usher: Mike Keim

This Sunday is the second installment of our celebration of the 500^th anniversary of Anabaptism. On Jan. 21, 1525, a small group of Christians secretly gathered in Zurich for a worship service. They renounced their baptism as infants and experienced voluntary baptism as adults. In 2025, we as an Anabaptist community, will be commemorating this anniversary through a series of worship services inviting us to look back as we strive to live wholeheartedly into God’s future. They will guide us toward a renewed groundedness in our community’s sacred stories, a renewed trust in yielding ourselves to seek and do God’s will, and a renewed sense of joy and celebration as siblings around Jesus’ table.

In conjunction with our Anabaptist celebration, we would love to

have pictures of any service and/or peace experiences our church members have experienced over the years. Please give to April or Tabby who will scan them into the computer.

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

Mission Project for February: Garaway Power Pack Offering

Once a month, grocery bags full of food are packed at the United Church of Christ in Sugarcreek and handed out to local families in need. Any community member in the Garaway District can sign up to be part of this program and receive one grocery bag full of non-perishable food per month, no questions asked. Please make your check out to FMC and Bruce will send one check at the end of the month.

FMC Annual Congregational Meeting will be held following the worship service on Sunday February 23^rd. Look for your Annual Report booklet in your mailbox soon.

THE CHURH GIVES THANKS

Melanie Blauch Archer: Dave had surgery and is doing well.

Amy Stauffer-McNutt: Gretta and I went to Camp Friedenswald with friend Bill and family, had an amazing time for the exception that Bill broke his ankle.

Bertie Showers: April is on her way to Casey and Karissa’s baby shower, prayers for safe travels.

CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Bruce Stauffer: Troubled by the Palestine and Israel conflict.

Sue Stauffer: Prayers for everyone affected by the wild fires in California.

Update on Barb Taylor: Barb, a friend of April Shupe and Nikki Bahler, passed away earlier this week. Please keep the Richter and Taylor families in your prayers.

THIS WEEK

Feb. 2^nd Happy Birthday, Mark Yoder

UPCOMING EVENTS

Feb. 23^rd Annual Congregational Meeting following worship

March 9^th First Sunday of Lent

NEXT WEEK

Text: Isaiah 6:1-13; Psalm 138; I Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: April Shupe

Head Usher: Mike Keim

LAST WEEK

ATTENDANCE: 19