From Earning to Receiving

Tally Maust • March 23, 2022

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.

**************************************

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                                                                                                                             


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



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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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