From Earning to Receiving
Seeking God's Ways
Lent 3:
From Earning to Receiving
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio March 20, 2022
Worship: 9:30-10:30
Fellowship Time: 10:30-11:00
Sunday School: 11:00-12:00
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
Seeking God's Ways
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways
my ways, says the LORD.
Isaiah 55:8
Lent 3: From Earning to Receiving
Prelude: "Lord, I Want Jesus to Walk with Me" arr. O'Hara
Welcome & Announcements:
Focus: As we seek God's way, we move from believing that we
must earn our nourishment, our privileges, even our identity as
God's children, to an understanding that abundant life is a gift
from God to all.
~Gathering~
Time of Meditation: "Abide with Me" arr. Thomas
*Call to Worship:
Leader: Together we seek the way of God,
People: whose ways are not our ways, whose thoughts are beyond our thoughts.
Leader: Today we accept God's invitation to the feast,
People: where there is water in the desert and delightful food to share.
Leader: As we worship, we receive the abundant gifts of God,
People: without money and without price.
All: So let us praise God and sing for joy.
Invocation:
Hymn of Gathering:
"God, Whose Giving" Hymnal a Worship Book #383
~Prayer & Praising~
Old Testament Reading:
Sharing Our Joys & Concerns:
Lenten Prayer of Confession: Isaiah 55 adapted
Leader: Holy One, we seek you while you may be found.
People: We call upon you while you are near.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O God, for our thoughts are not your thoughts and our ways are not your ways.
People: Forgive us for acting as if we must earn your love. Open us to receiving your love as a gift.
Leader: As we walk with Christ on this Lenten journey, let us see your way more clearly,
All: and follow your way more faithfully.
Prayer:
Hymn of Praise:
"Rain Down" Sing the Journey #49
~Hearing God's Word~
Scripture: Luke 13:1-9
Message: "From Earning to Receiving" by Ernie Hershberger
~Response & Sending~
Responsive Reading:
Leader: Your ways, O God, are higher than our ways.
People: Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts,
Leader: We seek God's ways.
All: Lord, move us from feeling we must earn your love to receive and give your grace to ourselves and others.
Hymn of Response:
" Let There Be Light, Lord God" Sing the Journey #67
(the offering will be brought forward at this time)
Offering Prayer:
Sending Hymn:
"Lord, Let Us Now Depart in Peace" Hymnal a Worship Book #428
Sending Words:
Postlude: "Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me" arr. Leatherman
Words of Dismissal:
THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS AND PRAYS FOR
For the Lent Series 2: From Fear to Compassion
Bertie Showers, Margaret Cheslock, Earl Shutt, Lydia Miller,
MMN: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for Austin Roberts, who has worked with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Northern Ireland since 2016. Pray for him as he juggles teaching locally and internationally with pursuing a mostly online doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary in California.
Prayers for Mennonite Education-Bethel College, North Newton, KS: Pray for Karen Gonzalez, immigrant advocate and author of the non-Bible text for Bethel College's senior capstone course, as she gives the Staley Lecture on campus this evening. Central Christian School, Kidron, OH: Give thanks for the many generous CCS supporters. Mennonite Early Childhood Network: On this first day of spring as the weather warms and children begin to spend more time outdoors, pray not only for their safety, but also for a curiosity (of the soul) to get to know God's world in new ways. May caring adults discover with children, the wonders of creation as they run, play, and explore the out-of-doors.
FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER
Next Week's Texts: Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32; II Corinthians 5:16-21
Harbor of Hope: This month's items are: Paper Products and are due on March 23.
Mission Projects for March: Harbor of Hope items: Paper Products; MCC Relief Kits
WORSHIP
Greeters: Herb & Helene Torgler
Guest Minister: Ernie Hershberger
Worship Leader: Julie Gerber
Song Leader: April Shupe
Organist: Margaret Cheslock
Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer
Head Usher: Leadership Team
THIS WEEK
March 20 Kristy Keim has a Birthday today!
March 20 First Day of Spring
March 23 Harbor of Hope items due: Paper Product
March 25 Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 29 Homeless Shelter Meal 6:00 p.m.
April 6 Leadership Team Meeting 7:00 p.m.
April 10 Palm Sunday
April 14 Maundy Thursday Communal Soup/Communion 6:30 p.m.
April 15 Good Friday
April 16 Holy Saturday
April 17 Easter Sonrise Service 8:00 a.m. with Breakfast Main Service at 10:00a.m.
April 22-23 Ohio MCC Comforter Bash
April 27 Harbor of Hope items due: Spaghetti Sauce & Pasta
April 29 Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.
May 4 Leadership Team Meeting 7:00 p.m.
May 8 Mother's Day
May 25 Harbor of Hope items due: Laundry & Cleaning Supplies
May 27 Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.
May 30 Memorial Day
May 31 Homeless Shelter Meal 6:00 p.m.
NEXT WEEK
Greeters: Bruce & Sue Stauffer
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Kristy Keim
Song Leader: April Shupe
Head Usher: Leadership Team
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
CHURCH:
Pastor: Mike Gehman
Pastor's Hours: Wednesday 9:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.
Secretary: Tally Maust
Phone: 1-330-852-2822
Email: pastor@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
Trustee Contact: Dan Hostetler
Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt
