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
Change for a dollar: $12
Homeless Shelter: $25
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Pastor: Mike Gehman: 1-330-749-674
Email: pastor@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com
Pastor’s Hours: Wednesday 9:30a.m.-2:30p.m
Church Secretary: Tabatha Murphy
Phone: 1-330-852-2822
Email: office@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
Trustees Contact: Dan Hostetler
Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt
