Jan. 18, 2026

Anabaptism At Five Hundred

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

January 18, 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 Twelve: Stewardship

~Gathering in the Royal Bible Classroom~

(around tables)

Welcome and Announcements

Focus Statement:

Stewardship is the idea that our lives, our work, and our possessions

are dedicated to taking care of God’s kingdom. It identifies God as

owner and man as manager. God makes man His co-worker in

administering all aspects of our life. Starting with this concept, we are

then able to accurately view and correctly value not only our

possessions, but, more importantly, human life itself. In essence,

stewardship defines our purpose in this world as assigned to us by God

Himself. Stewardship is not God taking something from us; it is His

method of bestowing HIs richest gifts upon His people.

This understanding is reflected in how we use our resources, our time,

our talents, our possessions. For example, creation stewardship means

taking care of the earth, water, or air. During this worship service we

will be dividing the service into sections that focus on different aspects

of stewardship, following a format as suggested in a blog written by

Mike Hundley from 01/13/21, and focusing on Scriptures that give us

direction.

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-23

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and rust consume and

where thieves break in and steal;

but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust consumes

and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Hymn of Gathering: VT 776 Teach Me Thy Truth

~1. The Calling from the Lord to Be Good Stewards~

Introductory Remarks

Scriptures:

Genesis 1:28 – Bob Gerber

Psalm 24:1-7 – Nancy Yoder

Proverbs 21:20 – Tabby Murphy

Titus 1:7-8 – Reno Stevanus

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 – Helene Torgler

Hymn: VT 179 At the Dawn of Your Creation (take note of vs. 3)

~2. Stewardship of Talents~

Introductory Remarks

Scriptures:

1 Peter 4:10 - Tabby Murphy

Colossians 3:23-24 - Dan Hostetler

1 Peter 4:10-12 – Helene Torgler

Proverbs 3:9 - Hannah Gehman

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – Amy Hostetler

Hymn of Response: VT 745 God, Whose Giving (take note of vs. 2)

Prayers of the People

~3. Stewardship of Money, Wealth, and Possessions~

Introductory Remarks

Early Anabaptist Story: Maeyken van Deventer

-read by Hannah Gehman

Hymn: VT 753 Heart and Mind, Possessions, God (vs. 1)

Scriptures:

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 – Reno Stevanus

Matthew 6:21-24 – Nancy Yoder

Matthew 25:14-29 – Mike Gehman

Luke 16:11 – Amy Hostetler

I Timothy 6:7, 8, 10 – Bob Gerber

I Timothy 6:17-19 – Suzanne Stauffer

Global Story: Wounaan people in Panama –read by Mike Keim

Hymn of Response: HWB 384 We Give Thee but Thine Own (vs. 1-4)

~4. Stewardship of Time~

Introductory Remarks

Scriptures:

Genesis 1:14-16 – Brad Shupe

Ephesians 5:15-17 – Kristy Keim

Colossians 3:23 – Hannah Gehman

Galatians 6:9-10 – Kristy Keim

Romans 13:11-14 – Mike Keim

Hymn of Response: VT 756 God, We Pause This Moment

Offering Prayer

Funny Story in Drama: Is Menno in the Coach?

A Mennonite Myth, ca. 1550

WL – Background, Narrator – Dan Hostetler,

Policeman – Mike Gehman, Menno – Brad Shupe,

Passenger – Suzanne Stauffer

Thoughts and Comments (about Anabaptism @500 or …)

~Sending~

Benediction:

Leader: There is no scarcity. There is no shortage. No lack of love,

of compassion, of joy in the world. There is enough. There

is more than enough. Only fear and greed make us think

otherwise. No one need starve.

People: There is enough land and enough food.

Leader: No one need die of thirst.

People: There is enough water.

Leader: No one need live without mercy.

People: There is no end to grace.

Leader: And we are all instruments of grace.

People: The more we give it, the more we share it, the more we use it,

the more God makes.

Leader: There is no scarcity of love.

ALL: Let us go, sharing our time, our talents, our possessions,

our love, with whomever we meet.

Sending Hymn: VT 746 Grant us, God, the Grace

Sending Words: (spoken to each other)

All: May you see the face of Christ in everyone you meet,

and may everyone you meet see the face of God in you.

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer

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

Sue Stauffer: Jim Cahill was too weak to do chemo this past week, so they were able to go out and see a movie.

Bruce Stauffer: Friend Elaine Weygandt healing is coming along well, she had a good day yesterday, but they will need to put a stint in her brain to drain fluid.

Mike Gehman: Talked with Bill and Jean Flinner and they are settling in and are closer to granddaughter. Bill is having his 90th birthday on Feb. 10, family is asking for a card shower- address is 1000 Addington Dr. Apt. 129, Russell KY 41169

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Melonie Blauch Archer: Bianca’s husband Jordan is struggling with the death of his father.

Sue Stauffer: For the family and friends for the woman that was killed in Minneapolis and for all the people who are being detained and deported.

THIS WEEK

Jan. 24th Happy Birthday, JoAnne Pyle

NEXT WEEK

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Kristy Keim

Head Usher: Monk Yoder

LAST WEEK

Attendance: 23

Offering: $815