Feb. 2, 2025

February 1, 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 500th 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 23rd.  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. 2nd          Happy Birthday, Mark Yoder

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Feb. 23rd         Annual Congregational Meeting following worship

March 9th       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

 OFFERING:                                                                                               $780

 Change for a dollar:                                                                            $8

 California Fires:                                                                                $525

 

 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

August 14, 2026
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June 20, 2026
First Mennonite Church Sugarcreek, Ohio June 21, 2026 Happy Father’s Day! 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. ***************************************­ 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 God’s Faithfulness ~Gathering~ Prelude: “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” -arr. John Carter Welcome& Announcements Focus Statement: In Psalm 100:5, the psalmist declares that the Lord is good and his love endures forever, and his faithfulness continues through all generations. We have seen the many ways said that God has shown his love and faithfulness to us through the years, as followers of Jesus Christ and as believers who worship together as First Mennonite Church. How can we live and share about God’s love and great faithfulness in our lives, as we continue to follow Christ today? Time of Meditation: “Trust and Obey” -arr. Johanna Miller Call to Worship: Leader: Let us worship the eternal God, the Source of love and Life, who creates us. People: Let us worship Jesus Christ, the risen one who lives among us. All: To the one true God be praise, in all times and places, through the grace of Jesus Christ. Invocation Hymn of Gathering : HWB 71 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee ~Praising & Praying~ Psalm Litany: Psalm 89:1-8 (NIV) Leader: I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. People: I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. Leader: You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, People: ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’ Leader: The heavens praise your wonders, LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. People: For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings? Leader: In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. People: Who is like you, LORD God Almighty? All: You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. Hymn of Praise: HWB 70 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise Prayers of the People Hymn of Praise: HWB 327 Great is Thy Faithfulness ~Hearing God’s Word~ Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1--14 Message: “God’s love and faithfulness abounds…passing it on” ~Responding~ Hymn of Response: HWB 338 I Know Not Why God’s Wondrous (the offering will be brought forward) Offering Prayer ~Sending~ Sending Hymn: HWB 420 Heart with Loving Heart United Benediction: Leader: We go now with faith, trusting God’s Spirit to guide us; People: We go now with hope, waiting for the fullness of Christ’s reign. Leader: We go now with love, resting in God’s care and the care of God’s people. All: We go out with joy: to listen and speak, to sing and suffer, to proclaim good news, and give glory to God. Postlude: “A Gaelic Blessing” -John Rutter Deep peace of the running wave to you, Deep peace of the flowing air to you, Deep peace of the quiet earth to you, Deep peace of the shining stars to you, Deep peace of the gentle night to you, Moon and stars pour their healing light on you, Deep peace of Christ, of Christ the light of the world to you, Deep peace of Christ to you. Sending Words WORSHIP 9:30-10:30 Pastor: Mike Gehman Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer Usher: Mike Keim FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER Mission Project for June: My Coins Count Each year, coins and bills collected by children, families and churches along with matches add up to more than $600,000 toward MCC’s work around the world. Your coins (and bills and checks!) count! The money collected will be sent to the MCC Relief Sale held at Mt. Hope on July 10 th -11 th and go toward MCC water, education and/or food projects. Please stay for the Congregational Meeting today following worship. Remember: No church at FMC next Sunday, June 28 th . THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS FOR Melanie Blauch Archer: We went to Panama Beach to watch my granddaughter get married. Sue Stauffer: Greta and Issac are going to high school camp at Camp Friedenswald. THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR Melanie Blauch Archer: Cousin’s wife, Tammy was diagnosed with a mass in her chest. Also, Sony has passed away, prayers for family and friends. THIS WEEK June 24 th Happy Birthday, Bob Barnes June 26 th Happy Birthday, Helene Torgler June 28 th Visitation Sunday (No church at FMC) UPCOMING EVENTS July 3 rd Happy Anniversary, Dan & Amy Hostetler July 24 th Kick-Off 100 th Anniversary Event: Ice Cream Social IN TWO WEEKS: Worship Leader (7/5): Kristy Keim Head Usher: Leadership Team LAST WEEK Attendance: 27 Offering: $1195 My Coins Count: $35.25 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
June 12, 2026
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June 6, 2026
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