Feb. 23, 2025

Anabaptism 500

Belief One: Scripture Reading

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

February 23, 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.

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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

Introduction to Series on Anabaptist Beliefs:

In 2018, Lisa Weaver and Elizabeth Miller, as part of the Bearing Witness Stories project, wrote a book for children entitled, Let the Children Come to Me: Nurturing Anabaptist Faith Within Families. “The materials gathered together in this book beautifully illustrate the central convictions of the Anabaptist tradition.” (John D. Roth, Director of the Institute for the Study of Global Anabaptism)

As residents of Holmes and Tuscarawas counties, oftentimes we each have been asked, “Are Mennonites Amish?” and “What do you believe that’s different from other Protestant denominations?” It’s sometimes hard to come up with an explanation of our faith. Hopefully this series of worship services (that will be spread out through this year of Anabaptism at Five Hundred ) will enable us to answer these questions more accurately. We are basing this series on the abovementioned book.

~Gathering in the Royal Bible Classroom~

(around tables)

Welcome & Announcements

Focus Statement:

Scriptures are holy writings. For Christians, the Bible is

Scripture. The Old Testament tells the story of the people of

Israel. The New Testament continues the story by describing

the life of Jesus and the beginnings of the Christian Church.

“As followers of Jesus, we take Scripture seriously in defining

what it means to be a disciple of Christ.” --Iris de Leon-

Hartshorn

Scripture: Luke 4:16-17a

When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up,

he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his

custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah

was given to him.

Time of Meditation: HWB 567 How Firm A Foundation

v1,2

Call to Worship:

Leader: In the beginning when it was very quiet, the Word

was with God.

All: and the Word was God.

Leader: In the beginning when it was very dark, God said,

“Let there be light.”

All: and there was light.

Leader: When the time was right, God sent the Son;

All: Christ came among us and was one of us.

Invocation

Hymn of Gathering: HWB 314 The Word of God is Solid

Ground

~Storytelling~

Global Story: Samuel Kakesa, Republic of Congo

–read by Nancy Yoder

~Praying & Praising~

Hymn of Praise: VT 420 God of the Bible

Prayers of the People

Hymn of Praise: VT 57 Holy Spirit, Come With Power

~Storytelling~

Early Anabaptist Story in Drama:

“The Interrogation: Elizabeth Dirkson, 1549”

Written by Alan Kreider and Eleanor Kreider

--read by Tyler Murphy, Hannah Gehman, Bruce Stauffer,

Helene Torgler, Bob Gerber, Reno Stevanus, Mike Keim

~Responding~

Hymn of Response: VT 546 There Is A Line of Women

Scripture & Pastoral Remarks: Matthew 25:34-40

Offering Prayer

~Sending~

Sending Hymn: VT 570 When We Walk With the Lord

Benediction

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Tabby Murphy

Usher: Mike Keim

In conjunction with our Anabaptist at Five Hundred celebration this year, we would love to have pictures of any community, 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. You will get them back!

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 March 2nd. Look for your Annual Report booklet in your mailbox.

THE CHURH GIVES THANKS

Brad and April Shupe: Grandbaby Harvey Albert Wesley Kalb was born on February 17th and weighed in at 7 lbs. 11 oz. to son Casey and wife Karissa. All doing well!

CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Lizzie Keim: Sister Mary has cancer in her liver, will be seeing doctor next week.

Mike Gehman: Mom will be moving into a new home.

THIS WEEK

Feb. 25th Happy Birthday, Jackie Agler

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 2nd Annual Congregational Meeting following worship

March 9th First Sunday of Lent

Daylight Savings Time Begins

April 13th Palm Sunday

April 20th Easter Sunday

NEXT WEEK