Jan. 19, 2025

Together on the Journey

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

January 19, 2025

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

Our Journey of Faith

~Gathering~

Prelude:

“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” - arr. Larry Shackley

“He Leadeth Me” -arr. Larry Shackley

Welcome & Announcements

Focus Statement:

When no one else was tuned in to God, Abraham was tuned in. When no one else was hungering and thirsting for righteousness, Abraham was. At a time when there were many idols, Abraham heard the still small voice of God calling to him. Verse 4 of Genesis 12 says it well: "So Abram went as the Lord had told him." Abraham learned to pay attention to God's call and walk out his journey of faith, building altars of worship to the One True God. These altars of worship helped to remind him of God's plan in times of weakness and doubt.

Time of Meditation: “We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight”

- arr. Rachel Trelstad Porter

Call to Worship:

Leader: The sacrifice that honours God is a thankful heart.

People: We lift up our hearts with gratitude, and our voices

with praise for all that God has done.

Leader: Wait upon the Lord who is our help and shield.

People: We trust in God’s holy name and so we come to

worship.

Invocation

Hymn of Gathering: HWB 36 God of Our Strength

~Praying & Praising~

Old Testament: Genesis 12:1-9

Prayers of the People

Hymn of Praise: HWB 79 Lord, With Devotion We Pray

~Hearing God’s Word~

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-16

Message: “Perseverance: Keeping Faith and Hope Alive”

~Responding~

Hymn of Response: HWB 565 My Faith Looks Up to Thee

(the offering will be brought forward)

Offering Prayer

~Sending~

Sending Hymn: HWB 357 O Master Let Me Walk With Thee

Benediction

Postlude: “The God of Abraham Praise” - arr. John Carter

Sending Blessing

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Brad Shupe

Song Leader: April Shupe

Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer

Usher: Monk Yoder

Our Advent Theme: Together on a Journey

Sing the Journey, one of our Mennonite songbooks, evokes

wonderful images of voices blending in praise as we travel

together on a path toward a deeper understanding of faith. The

road can be smooth for stretches, but also includes rough patches that may challenge or discourage. Its course is not set; if we are attentive, we may notice God’s guiding hand redirecting us. Each of our journeys in faith is unique but meant to be lived in community. Together, let’s join our voices as we travel the path that draws us closer to God.

Advent Altar Display: The visual display left from our Advent through Christmas theme incorporates the lighting of candles on the altar with the theme of the day. You may have noticed that the

purple cloth “path” has been moving across the altar a little

each week, and a symbol representing the theme for each

Sunday of advent has been added—

1-A rock: Our path may meander through rocky situations, but

we will hold Christ as our center as we journey together.

2-A heart: We open our hearts to receive the Spirit to become

more like our loving God.

3-A frayed cloth: Give us eyes to notice those on the fringes

and extend our boundaries, inviting all to become woven

into our communities.

4-A multi-colored cloth and hikers: With Christ as our center,

we join hands with others, walking together on the journey.

5-A mirror: Let us share our own journey—shout it aloud for

everyone to hear! Invite others on this journey as we live

out the good news of Jesus Christ!

6 - A plant and a piece of wood showing growth rings:

Like a tree, may we grow in faith and wisdom with roots

spreading deep to provide grounding, and rings of

growth showing our continued learning.

7-Wiley McDowell’s walking stick, on loan to us from Darcy

Miller: reminds us to lean on and trust God in our times of

doubt so that we can go forward in our journey of faith

with strength and confidence.

Next Sunday, January 26, we will take a special offering to be sent to

help with relief from the fires in California. Make your check out to

FMC and Bruce will send one check to MDS.

Also, next Sunday will begin our celebration of the 500^th anniversary of

Anabaptism. On Jan. 21, 1525, a small group of Christians secretly gathered in Zurich for a worship service. They renounced their baptism as infants and experienced voluntary baptism as adults. In 2025, we as an Anabaptist community, will be commemorating this anniversary through a series of worship services inviting us to look back as we strive to live wholeheartedly into God’s future. They will guide us toward a renewed groundedness in our community’s sacred stories, a renewed trust in yielding ourselves to seek and do God’s will, and a renewed sense of joy and celebration as siblings around Jesus’ table.

Note: we will be meeting in the Royal Bible Classroom instead of the

sanctuary next Sunday.

In conjunction with our Anabaptist celebration, we would love to have pictures of any service and/or peace experiences our church members have experienced over the years. Please give to April or Tabby who will scan them into the computer.

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

Mission Project for January: MCC Meat Canning---make your check out to FMC designated meat canning and Bruce will send one check.

End-of-year reports: Please submit your end-of-year summaries to Tabby in the office as soon as possible so she can prepare the Congregational Report.

Mennonite Arts Weekend: Join us at Mennonite Arts Weekend, February 7-9, 2025, in Cincinnati, Ohio. This weekend celebrates the creativity and discipline of Anabaptist Mennonite artists. Presentations by musicians, visual artists, writers, and craftspeople start on Friday evening and conclude with Sunday morning worship. Activities and workshops designed specifically for Pre-K children through high school are planned throughout the weekend. A nursery will be available. Find

the list of presenters and registration and location information at

https://mennoniteartsweekend.org.

THE CHURH GIVES THANKS

Sue Stauffer: Jim Cahill shows no sign of cancer.

Melanie Blauch Archer: New grandchild has arrived, Knox Alan.

CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Dan Hostetler: Neighbor Arlene Ray’s daughter, Kathy, has brain cancer.

Also, safe travels for the Ashville residents as they travel home.

April Shupe: Stephanie Richter’s mom, Barb Taylor, has a blocked artery and had 80% of her small intestine removed.

Sue Stauffer: Prayers for the people in California.

Melanie Blauch Archer: Dave is having surgery this week.

THIS WEEK