Happy Father's Day

Keep Your Hand on the Plow

And Hold On!

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, June 19, 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                                                                                                                                                         

Father's Day

Keep Your Hand on the Plow And Hold On!

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

Welcome & Announcements:

Focus:  Just as you belong to your father, you belong to Christ.

As a child, we learned a great deal form our earthly fathers, things

that stick with us to this day.  Some things were easy to learn,

others not so much.  In today's lesson, we remember that it is not

always easy or comfortable to follow Jesus' words either.

Sometimes we just have to keep our hand on the plow, look ahead

and hold on.  If you want your world to stay the same, focus on

your problems.  But if you want your world to drastically

change--focus on Jesus!

~Gathering~ 

Time of Meditation: "Joshua 'Fit' the Battle of Jericho"--arr. Kurt Kaiser

Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 103)

L:  Come, bless the Lord with me!

P:  For the Lord is like a father to his children compassionate and merciful, filled with endless love.

L:  He forgives our sins, and heals the sickness inside us.

P:  He surrounds us with love and mercy and fills our lives with good things!

All:  Let's worship God together!

Invocation:

Special Music: "Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying"--arr. Jack Schrader

Hymn of Gathering:

"We Praise You, O God, Our Redeemer" Voices Together #34

~Prayer & Praising~

Old Testament Reading: I Kings 19:7-15

Congregational Prayers/Praises:

Ending Prayer:

Hymn of Praise:

"Holy, Holy, Holy" Voices Together #76

~Hearing God's Word~

Scripture: Luke 9:51-62

Message: "Staying the Course"--by Mike Gehman

~Response & Sending~

Hymn of Response:

"Lord, I Am Fondly, Earnestly Longing" Voices Together #555

(the offering will be brought forward at this time)

Offering Prayer:

Sending Hymn:

"Move in Our Midst" Voices Together #827

Sending Prayer:

Postlude: "Precious Lord, Take My Hand"--arr. Jack Schrader

Words of Dismissal:

THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS AND PRAYS FOR                                                                                                                                     

For the hymnals "Sing the Journey" and Sing the Story", and the impact they have made on our congregation.

Keo Sixiengmay, Tyler Murphy, Hannah Gehman, Mike Gehman, Mike's mother, Joan Lingler, Margaret Cheslock, Tahn Sixiengmay, April Shupe

MMN: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for the members of Mennonite Churches in Venezuela, as they extend the love of Jesus to their neighbors during a time when more than 90% of the population is living in poverty, and more than 75% are experiencing extreme poverty.  Pray for the churches as they address both food insecurity and spiritual hunger.

Prayers for Mennonite Education-Dock Mennonite Academy, Lansdale PA: Please join us in praying for wisdom and direction for 2022-23 preparations for both Dock campuses.

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER                                                                                                                                                   

Next Week's Texts: II Kings 2:1-2, 6-14; Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20; I Kings 19:15-16, 19-21; Psalm 16 (11); Galatians 5:1, 13-35; Luke 9:51-62

Harbor of Hope: This month's item is Cereal and is due on June 22nd.

June Mission Projects: Harbor of Hope: Cereal; MCC's My Coins Count

Comforter Knotting Party: A comforter--knotting party for MCC (to finish comforters not completed during the Comforter Bash in April) will be held at the church on Wednesday evening, June 22, at 6:30 p.m.  Men, women, and children are invited.  Feel free to bring guests (and your own scissors.)

Summer Series "Come to the Water":  The worship committee is looking for people to share water stories.  The categories are: River, Danger, Searching, Healing, Storms, Living Water, and Crossing.  Please see a member of the Worship Committee if you are willing to share your water experiences.

WORSHIP                                                                                              9:30-10:30                                                                                         

Greeters:                                                                                               Mike & Kristy Keim

Minister:                                                                                                Mike Gehman

Worship Leader:                                                                                 Bruce Stauffer

Song Leader:                                                                                        April Shupe

Organist:                                                                                               Margaret Cheslock

Pianist:                                                                                                   Suzanne Stauffer

Head Usher:                                                                                         Mike Keim

THIS WEEK                                                                                                                                                                                                           

June 22       Harbor of Hope item due: Cereal

June 22       Comforter Knotting Party 6:30 p.m. at the church

June 24        Bob Barnes has a Birthday

June 24        Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.

June 26         Helene Torgler has a Birthday

UPCOMING EVENTS                                                                                                                                                                                         

July   6          Leadership Team Meeting 7:00 p.m.

July 10          Worship at Winklepleck Grove starting at 10:00 a.m. with "The Lovedays"

July 10          Sugarcreek Ministerial Association Music Fest behind the Fire Station 4:30 p.m.

July 27         Harbor of Hope items due: Paper Products

July 29         Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.

NEXT WEEK                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Greeters:                                                                         Herb & Helene Torgler

Guest Minister:                                                             Ernie Hershberger

Worship Leader:                                                          Bruce Stauffer

Song Leader:                                                                 April is on vacation

Head Usher:                                                                  Mike Keim

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@firstmennonitesugarcree.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