Feb. 25, 2024

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Feb. 25, 2024

Feb 23, 2024

Lent 2:

Christ Among Us, Showing Us Faith

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

February 25, 2024

Worship: 9:30-10:30

Fellowship Time: 10:30-11:00

Sunday School: 11:00-12:0

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_____________________

~Gathering~

Prelude “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go" - arr. Mark Hayes

Welcome & Announcements

Focus Statement:

Take up your cross. We each need to look within ourselves to see where we have allowed hatred and violence to enter in. Gazing at the image of the crucified Jesus will hopefully soften our hearts toward all suffering. When we can grasp God’s unending love for us, we can grow in faith and let go of the things that hinder us. By doing so, we gain compassion for ourselves and all others who suffer.

Gathering Litany

Left: We are a covenant people, called to God by God.

Right: We are a covenant people, called to Jesus by Jesus, losing one

life to gain our life.

Left: Renamed.

Right: Reborn.

All: Renewed. We gather ourselves in the community of believers.

We gather ourselves unto you.

Time of Meditation "God So Loved the World”

- John Stainer, arr. Robt. Thygerson

Call To Worship:

Leader: Come, you who seek God, proclaim God’s glory!

People: All you descendants of Jacob and Rachel,

Leader: come.

People: All who are isolated and feel alone,

Leader: come.

People: All who are hungry,

Leader: come.

People: All who wander,

Leader: come.

People: Come, from all ends of the earth.

ALL: Come, you who seek God, proclaim God’s glory and

walk in faith.

Invocation

Hymn of Gathering VT 419 Great Is Thy Faithfulness

~Praising & Praying~

Psalm Reading: Psalm 22: 23-31

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 17: 1-17

Hymn of Praise VT 420 God of the Bible

Prayers of the People

~Hearing God’s Word~

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Message “Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus”

Time of Introspection (to be read silently)

Jesus, you have known us from the beginning of time, you have

known us in the depths of our dreams and in the darkness of our

shame, you know us as your beloved. Help us to own that core

identity more and more in this season of repentance and

mercy. Give us the rock-solid assurance of your unwavering

faith in us as we seek the same in you. Amen.

Piano Interlude “Reflection” –arr. Mark Hayes

~Responding~

Prayer of Confession:

Leader: Trustworthy God, we want to live with faith, yet we

worry there will not be enough. We want to believe in

your promises, yet we lose hope. We want to follow

you, but sometimes the road is too hard.

People: We confess before you our unbelief, our worry, our

hopelessness.

Leader: Shape us into a people who live in faith. Strengthen us

so we can deny ourselves, take up your cross, and

follow you.

People: In your grace, Lord, give us faith to believe that you

will call into existence the things that do not exist.

Amen.

Hymn of Response VT 590 I Know Not Why God’s Wondrous

Offering Prayer

~Sending~

Sending Hymn ”My Presence Will Go with You”

(printed in bulletin) – Joungmin Kim

Benediction

Postlude "The Love of God" - arr. Mark Hayes

Sending Words

Visuals: Our journey toward God leads us on a path. We may stray

from time to time, but God is always with us, gently guiding us back.

The symbols on the altar represent our journey. The brown cloth

represents our path, and the side-by-side footprints represent those

we walk along side. Along with the empty bowl which reminds us of

God’s never-ending love for us and how God wants to fill us, the cross

reminds us that to follow Jesus, we must take up our cross daily.

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Minister Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Julia Gerber

Song Leader: April Shupe

Organist: Margaret Cheslock

Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer

Head Usher: Mike Keim

THE CHURH GIVES THANKS__________________

Jean Flinner: New great-grandson was born in Texas.

Bertie Showers: Dan is progressing well after his back surgery.

Sue Stauffer: Vi Miller was able to go home.

Bob Gerber: Older brother Harold is still in the hospital but is getting

better each day.

Linda Yoder: Dan, Monk went through surgery well and is healing

now.

April Shupe: Safe travel for Margaret who went to Michigan last

weekend.

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR____________________________

Tabatha Murphy: Pray for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER_________________

Next Week’s Text: Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; John 2:13-22;

I Corinthians 1:18-25

Harbor of Hope for February: Cereal

Mission Project for February: Garaway Power Pack Offering

The FMC Congregational Annual Meeting will be held today following worship. Look for your 2023 Annual Reports Booklet in your mailbox.

THIS WEEK______________________________

March 3^rd Third Sunday of Lent

UPCOMING EVENTS________________________

March 10^th Fourth Sunday of Lent

March 17^th Fifth Sunday of Lent

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

March 24^th Palm Sunday

NEXT WEEK______________________________

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Dan Hostetler

Head Usher: Mike Keim

LAST WEEK___________________________________________

ATTENDANCE: 26

OFFERING: $1100

Change for a Dollar: $35.33

Garaway Power Packs Offering $200

Vi Yoder Memorial $50

2024 Lenten Theme: Christ Among Us

Lent begins with mourning on Ash Wednesday, when we remember who we are as humans and who God is, reminding us of our brokenness and God’s grace. This is followed by passages recalling Christ’s venture into the wilderness and the 40-day journey that we are on as well. The journey starts with this moment of God speaking to God’s Son, announcing to the world who Jesus is, reminding Jesus of his belovedness, and reminding the people of God of the prophecies and promises of the coming Messiah.

This year’s Lenten texts focus on covenants. They point to God’s history of reaching out to continue in relationship with God’s people. Covenants begin with God. God forms an agreement with God’s people. Time and time again, humanity fails to follow these covenants, yet God’s mercy and grace remain. Christ is among us, reminding us of who we are, and even when we fail, reminding us of grace and calling us beloved.

Christ remains among us, and that is where we stand united in our Mennonite denomination. So each week, we consider a key theme among these passages: What might Christ be teaching? What is God expecting of us? How does this enable us to live our Christian—and Mennonite—identity more fully, bringing glimpses of the new heaven and new earth into our communities? What is the journey showing us as we answer God’s call?

CHURCH LEADERSHIP____________________________

Pastor: Mike Gehman: 1-330-749-6746

Email: pastor@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com

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

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May 12, 2024

10 May, 2024

appy Mother’s Day! First Mennonite Church Sugarcreek, Ohio May 12, 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. *************************************** 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_____________________ Jesus With Us, Always ~Gathering~ Prelude “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go” -arr. Marilynn Ham Welcome & Announcements A Blessing of the Comforters for MCC Focus Statement: After his resurrection Jesus revealed that he was with his disciples in new and sometimes surprising ways. He met them walking down a road. He entered locked rooms and spoke words of peace and faith. He calmed fearful hearts and helped them grow in faith through their doubt and unbelief. Today, Jesus is still with us, ready to meet us and walk with us, through times of fear, doubt, sorrow, things unknown. He promises to be with us always, “...I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” (Matthew 28: 20b) Time of Meditation “How Can I Keep From Singing” -arr. Larry Shackley Call To Worship: One: God made the world and everyone in it. Many: Our life and breath come from God. One: God made all nations under heaven Many: We are all God’s offspring. One: Search for God in our time of worship. Many: When we search, we find God near. Amen! Invocation Hymn of Gathering: VT 182 I Sing the Mighty Power of God ~Praising & Praying~ Advice From Our Mothers Prayer: God, our Creator, we give you thanks for those who have been mothers for us. Help us inherit from them that which will make us more fully your people. Where they have offered us blessings of love, may we incorporate those gifts into our lives. Where they have hurt us or fallen short of our expectations, may we learn from them, that we might not repeat their mistakes. May the honor we convey toward our mothers reflect the honor that we feel toward you. Amen. Hymn: VT 518 Like A Mother Who Has Borne Us Prayers of the People Prayer Hymn VT 682 Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying Ending Prayer (ending with the Lord’s Prayer, together) All: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen! ~Hearing God’s Word~ Scripture: John 14:15-21, Matthew 28:20b Hymn: VT 596 Don’t Be Afraid Message: “Always With Us” ~Responding~ Hymn of Response: VT 641 And I Will Raise You Up Refrain – All; Verses – April & Mike (the offering will be brought forward) Offering Prayer ~Sending~ Benediction Sending Hymn: VT 839 Go, My Friends, In Peace (vs. B) Postlude “Ain-a That Good News” -arr. John Carter Sending Words WORSHIP 9:30-10:30 Minister: Mike Gehman Worship Leader: Julie Gerber Song Leader: April Shupe Organist: Margaret Cheslock Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer Head Usher: Monk Yoder FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER_____________ Mission Project for May: Connections Thrift Store in Kidron needs a new building for storage; drop your marked offering in the offering plate. Harbor of Hope for May: Laundry & Cleaning Supplies Next Sunday (Pentecost) our prayers of the people will be expanded. We will be praying for four different things: 1) Our church, 2) Ourselves and those we love (concerns and praises like we usually do,) 3) Our community, and 4) Our world. We are asking that you ponder your concerns for these topics during the week so that you can be prepared to offer a prayer request or praise in one or more of these areas. We hope you all will participate. THE CHURH GIVES THANKS_________________________ Sue Stauffer: Susan Lingler had a hip replacement surgery and is in recovery and getting stronger. THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR____________________________ Tabatha Murphy: Friend, Laura Harris, is having problems with her mental health. Sue Stauffer: Talked to April and she has told me that Kenny Mast was in the hospital for pneumonia, he is home now but is having a hard time and needs prayer. THIS WEEK________________________________________ May 14 th Happy Birthday, Jocele Meyer May 14 th Happy Birthday, Lizzie Keim UPCOMING EVENTS______________________ May 31 st Beachy Ham and Chicken Buffet for Community Hospice at Legacy Christian School, Sugarcreek at 4:30 – 7pm June 7 th Fab 50’s Fling Car Show at the Sugarcreek Fire station. June 20-22 nd CDC Conference at Goshen, IN NEXT WEEK Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 104:23-34, 35b; Acts 2:1-21; John 15:36-37, Minister: Mike Gehman Worship Leader: April Shupe Head Usher: Monk Yoder LAST WEEK ATTENDANCE: 18 OFFERING: $3190 Change for a Dollar: $8.38 Anabaptist subscription: $39 Memory of Janet Maust: $200 Connections Building: $800 CHURCH LEADERSHIP Pastor: Mike Gehman: 1-330-749-6746 Email: pastor@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com 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