Jan. 11, 2026

Anabaptism At Five Hundred

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

January 11, 2026

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.

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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

Anabaptism at 500

Belief Eleven: Service to One Another

~Gathering in the Royal Bible Classroom~

(around tables)

Welcome and Announcements

Focus Statement:

To serve means to give your time, talents, and energy to help

another person or help in a situation. This happens in ways both

small and large. Some adults and families choose to participate in

voluntary service assignments for specific periods of time. Anabaptists

look to the life of Jesus in the New Testament as an example of a person

who served others—even those who were excluded or appeared to be

enemies.

Scripture: I Peter 4:9-10

Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God,

serve one another with whatever

gifts each of you has received.

Time of Meditation: VT 386 One Is the Body

Prayer of Preparation:

Leader: God of all creation, we enter your presence, humbly aware that

all we have and are we owe to you.

People: We come, desiring to worship together. Be our inspiration.

Leader: We come, desiring to learn together. Be our teacher.

People: We come as eager children, desiring your touch. Be our loving

parent.

Leader: Open our eyes, that we may see as you see.

People: Open our hearts, that we may love as you love.

Leader: Open our hands, that we may serve as you serve.

ALL: In the name of Christ, our Lord and our example. Amen.

Hymn of Gathering: VT 64 As Long as Jesus’ Reign Goes On

~Storytelling~

Early Anabaptist Story from Martyrs Mirror: Dirk Willems

– read by Reno Stevanus

Early Anabaptist Story in Drama:

“A Kitchen Evangelist: Margaret Hellwart, 1610”

Background – WL, Margaret – Kristy Keim, Constable – Bob Gerber

~Praising and Praying~

Hymn of Praise: VT 809 Sing a New World into Being

Prayers of the People

~Readings & Reflection~

Scriptures:

Matthew 20:28 – Mike Gehman

Philippians 2:3-4 – Bertie Showers

Romans 12:10 – Suzanne Stauffer

Matthew 25:35-40 – Hannah Gehman

Matthew 10:45 – Mike Gehman

Proverbs 19:17 – Hannah Gehman

Reading: VT 1037 - Helene Torgler

Christmas Carol: VT 245 O Little Town of Bethlehem (vs. 3)

Reading: VT 1021 – Mike Keim

Reading: from The Mood of Christmas and Other Celebrations by Howard Thurman –read by Nancy Yoder

Global Story: Mary Weaver, Bluffton, OH – read by April Shupe

Reading: VT 1035 -read by Bruce Stauffer

Hymn: VT 778 Will You Let Me Be Your Servant

~Responding~

Statement of Covenant: (Together)

We are not called to be fearful, we are called to love.

We are not called to be perfect, we are called to be faithful.

We are not called to be fearless, we are called to be obedient.

We are not called to be all-knowing, we are called to believe.

We are not called to claim, we are called to give.

We are not called to be victorious, we are called to be courageous.

We are not called to lord it over others, we are called to serve.

For it is in serving that we shall reign, it is through courage that we

shall find victory, it is in giving all that we shall gain all, it is in

believing that we shall overcome, it is in faithfulness that we shall find

perfections, it is in loving that we shall dispel fear, it is in slavery to

Christ and his justice that we shall find freedom, now and forever,

for ourselves and for the world. Amen.

Offering Prayer

Hymn of Response: VT 722 Help Us to Help Each Other, Lord

~Sending~

Benediction Prayer

Sending Hymn: VT 810 Go, My Friends, in Grace

Sending Words:

ALL: May you see the face of Christ in everyone you meet, and may

everyone you meet see the face of Christ in you.

Leader: Go in peace. Remember the poor.

ALL: Thanks be to God.

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Tabby Murphy

Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer

Head Usher: Monk Yoder

Our On-Going Series on Anabaptist Beliefs:

In 2018 Lisa Weaver and Elizabeth Miller, as part of the Bearing Witness Stories project, wrote a book for children entitled Let the

Children Come to Me: Nurturing Anabaptist Faith within Families.

“The materials gathered together in this book beautifully

illustrate the central convictions of the Anabaptist tradition.”

-John D. Roth, Director of the Institute for the

Study of Global Anabaptism

As residents of Holmes and Tuscarawas counties, oftentimes we each have been asked, “Are Mennonites Amish?” and “What do you believe that’s different from other Protestant denominations?” It’s sometimes

hard to come up with an explanation of our faith. Hopefully this series of worship services (that will be spread out through this year of Anabaptism at 500) will enable us to answer these questions more accurately. We are basing this series on the above-mentioned book.

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

Mission Project for January: Friends of the Homeless of Tuscarawas County

We will be collecting money for this organization in New Philadelphia, which is currently building a new facility called, “Jack’s House of Hope.” It will house 14 men, 13 women, and 4 family units, along with a kitchen and dining room, chapel, conference rooms, offices, and an outdoor play area and courtyard in a protected space. As of March 1st, they have raised 3.4 million dollars in cash, pledges, and in-kind donations; their goal is 5.5 million dollars. Please make your check out to First Mennonite, then Bruce will send one check at the end of the month.

Please have your year-end reports into the office by the end of January so Tabby can begin to type up the annual report. Thank you!

THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS

Amy Stauffer-McNutt: Prayers for Gretta and her friend Ethan as they travel to Camp Friedenswald for the high school winter camp.

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Sue Staffer: Prayers for Deb and Jim Cahill as the continue with 10 days of chemo treatments.

Bruce Stauffer: Tom and Elaine Weygandt, Elaine fell on ice and had injured her brain and is predicted to have a long recovery.

Linda Yoder: Rebecca from the Rebecca restaurant in Walnut Creek has died of cancer.

THIS WEEK

Jan. 12^th Happy Birthday, Joan Lingler

Jan. 14^th Happy Birthday, Monk Yoder

NEXT WEEK

Minister: Mike Gehman