Feb. 25, 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.
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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_____________________
~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 3rd Third Sunday of Lent
UPCOMING EVENTS________________________
March 10th Fourth Sunday of Lent
March 17th Fifth Sunday of Lent
Happy St. Patrick’s Day
March 24th 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
