Jan. 26, 2024

January 25, 2025

Anabaptism at

Five Hundred

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

January 26, 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.

***************************************

We seek to be a caring and discerning community, the gathered body

of Christ, that welcomes all to join in worship, study, and service.

******************************************

We embody God’s transforming and redeeming Spirit in the world

through our prophetic witness and action.

THE CHURCH WORSHIPS TOGETHER

Anabaptism at 500:

Renewal through Story

“Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.”

Jesus is the center of our faith.

Community is the center of our life.

Reconciliation is the center of our work.

--Palmer Becker

~Gathering in the Royal Bible Classroom~

(around tables)

Opening Hymn: HWB 311 The Church’s One Foundation

Welcome & Announcements

Focus Statement:

Throughout the Bible, we see many examples of how people used

storytelling to shape a collective identity. Understanding our story

and acknowledging how we have been formed helps us understand

where and who we are. Poet, author, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou

said in an interview with the Academy of Achievement,

“You can’t really know where you are going until

you know where you have been.” How do we hold our stories?

How do we share our stories as a community in meaningful

ways? Where have we been as an Anabaptist tradition? And

how does a deeper awareness of our past help us understand

where we are and where we are going?

Call to Worship:

(Group 1 – Kitchenette side, Group 2 – Clock side)

Group 1: We are a covenant people, called to God by God,

generation through generation.

Group 2: We are a covenant people, called to Jesus by

Jesus, losing our life to gain our life.

Together: We are a covenant people, called to church by the

church, weaving together the strong and the

weak, the stranger and the friend.

Group 1: Renamed.

Group 2: Reborn.

Together: Renewed. We gather ourselves in the community

of believers. We gather ourselves unto you.

Invocation: (Congregation reading together)

You who open doors and dismantle barriers, open our hearts to

praise you, that we might live the full truth of who we are, no

longer strangers and enemies; open our hearts to the

transforming power of your life, that we might forgive and

reconcile, making peace and learning war no more, that we

might be your people, one body in one Spirit, to tell your grace

to all the world. We pray in the name of the One who walked

among us as brother and friend. Amen.

Hymn of Gathering: HWB 407 We Are People of God’s Peace

~Praying & Praising~

Stories: Non-Violence / Service

Scripture: I Corinthians 3:11 (The Living Bible)

“And no one can ever lay any other real foundation than

that one we already have—Jesus Christ.”

Stories: Reconciliation

Prayers of the People

Hymn: HWB 43 Christ Is Our Cornerstone

~Hearing God’s Word~

Stories: Service

Stories: Music

Scripture: I Corinthians 3:11 (The Voice)

“There is, in fact, only one foundation, and no one can lay

any foundation other than Jesus the Anointed.”

Hymn: HWB 89 For the Beauty of the Earth

Stories: Youth

Stories: Mission and Justice

Scripture: I Corinthians 3:11

(Common English Bible/Anabaptist Community Bible)

No one can lay any other foundation besides the one

that is already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Stories: Community and Hospitality

Stories: Bible Study

Story: Stewardship

~Responding~

Hymn of Response: HWB 120 Holy, Holy, Holy

(both the regular offering and the special offering for the

wildfires in California will be dedicated at this time)

Offering Prayer

Litany of Church Memories

~Sending~

Sending Hymn: HWB 581 Take Thou My Hand, O Father

Benediction

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer

Song Leader: Amy Stauffer

Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer

Usher: Mike Keim

Today, we are collecting a special offering for aid to those suffering

from the wildfires in California. Make your check out to FMC and

designate “wildfires”, and one check will be sent to MDS from FMC.

Please drop in the regular offering plate. MDS has released the following statement concerning the wildfires:

“Several wildfires actively burned in the Los Angeles area on January 9, Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) was in close contact with its local partners. MDS is monitoring the unfolding disaster and will offer support, in cooperation with other faith-based and voluntary organizations, where it may be needed.

The fires have scorched more than 37,000 acres and more than 100,000 people are under evacuation order or warning. At least 24 people have died and more than 10,000 structures have burned. The threat continues as strong winds continue to fuel the fires.

“We urge you to pray for the fire survivors and their families as they continue to navigate the future,” said MDS Executive Director Kevin King. King noted that wildfire cleanup work, compared with other disasters, often requires special toxic debris removal for longer periods before volunteers can arrive on the scene to help residents repair and rebuild.

“Long-term recovery and rebuilding after wildfires can take years,” said King. MDS began working in Paradise, California two-and-a-half years after the Camp Fire caused 85 fatalities, displaced more than 50,000 people, and destroyed more than 18,000 structures.”

This Sunday begins 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.

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.

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.

From Central District Conference: Join us for the 2025 Mid-year

Gathering on February 1, 2025, 9:30a – 12:30p Eastern Time via Zoom

Video Conference.

THE CHURH GIVES THANKS

Sue Stauffer: We were able to go to Lydia’s first gymnastics meet after

being injured.

CHURCH PRAYS FOR

April Shupe: Continue to keep Barb Taylor in your prayers, she had to

have 80% of her intestines removed and was just taken off ventilator.

THIS WEEK

Feb. 1^st Happy Birthday, Bob Gerber

Feb. 2^nd Happy Birthday, Mark Yoder

NEXT WEEK

Text:

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Helene Torgler

Head Usher: Mike Keim

LAST WEEK

ATTENDANCE: 20

OFFERING: $788

Change for a dollar: $19

Memory of Julia Gerber: $100

CHURCH LEADERSHIP

Pastor’s Hours: Wednesday 9:30 am-2:30 pm

Church Secretary: Tabatha Murphy

Church 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

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June 21, 2026

June 20, 2026

First Mennonite Church Sugarcreek, Ohio June 21, 2026 Happy Father’s Day! Worship: 9:30 am Coffee & Fellowship Time: 10:30 am We believe in Jesus and take his life, teachings, death and resurrection as the model for how we live and the message we proclaim. *************************************** We seek to be a caring and discerning community, the gathered body of Christ, that welcomes all to join in worship, study, and service. ****************************************** We embody God’s transforming and redeeming Spirit in the world through our prophetic witness and action. THE CHURCH WORSHIPS TOGETHER God’s Faithfulness ~Gathering~ Prelude: “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” -arr. John Carter Welcome& Announcements Focus Statement: In Psalm 100:5, the psalmist declares that the Lord is good and his love endures forever, and his faithfulness continues through all generations. We have seen the many ways said that God has shown his love and faithfulness to us through the years, as followers of Jesus Christ and as believers who worship together as First Mennonite Church. How can we live and share about God’s love and great faithfulness in our lives, as we continue to follow Christ today? Time of Meditation: “Trust and Obey” -arr. Johanna Miller Call to Worship: Leader: Let us worship the eternal God, the Source of love and Life, who creates us. People: Let us worship Jesus Christ, the risen one who lives among us. All: To the one true God be praise, in all times and places, through the grace of Jesus Christ. Invocation Hymn of Gathering : HWB 71 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee ~Praising & Praying~ Psalm Litany: Psalm 89:1-8 (NIV) Leader: I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. People: I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. Leader: You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, People: ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’ Leader: The heavens praise your wonders, LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. People: For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings? Leader: In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. People: Who is like you, LORD God Almighty? All: You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. Hymn of Praise: HWB 70 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise Prayers of the People Hymn of Praise: HWB 327 Great is Thy Faithfulness ~Hearing God’s Word~ Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1--14 Message: “God’s love and faithfulness abounds…passing it on” ~Responding~ Hymn of Response: HWB 338 I Know Not Why God’s Wondrous (the offering will be brought forward) Offering Prayer ~Sending~ Sending Hymn: HWB 420 Heart with Loving Heart United Benediction: Leader: We go now with faith, trusting God’s Spirit to guide us; People: We go now with hope, waiting for the fullness of Christ’s reign. Leader: We go now with love, resting in God’s care and the care of God’s people. All: We go out with joy: to listen and speak, to sing and suffer, to proclaim good news, and give glory to God. Postlude: “A Gaelic Blessing” -John Rutter Deep peace of the running wave to you, Deep peace of the flowing air to you, Deep peace of the quiet earth to you, Deep peace of the shining stars to you, Deep peace of the gentle night to you, Moon and stars pour their healing light on you, Deep peace of Christ, of Christ the light of the world to you, Deep peace of Christ to you. Sending Words WORSHIP 9:30-10:30 Pastor: Mike Gehman Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer Usher: Mike Keim FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER Mission Project for June: My Coins Count Each year, coins and bills collected by children, families and churches along with matches add up to more than $600,000 toward MCC’s work around the world. Your coins (and bills and checks!) count! The money collected will be sent to the MCC Relief Sale held at Mt. Hope on July 10 th -11 th and go toward MCC water, education and/or food projects. Please stay for the Congregational Meeting today following worship. Remember: No church at FMC next Sunday, June 28 th . THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS FOR Melanie Blauch Archer: We went to Panama Beach to watch my granddaughter get married. Sue Stauffer: Greta and Issac are going to high school camp at Camp Friedenswald. THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR Melanie Blauch Archer: Cousin’s wife, Tammy was diagnosed with a mass in her chest. Also, Sony has passed away, prayers for family and friends. THIS WEEK June 24 th Happy Birthday, Bob Barnes June 26 th Happy Birthday, Helene Torgler June 28 th Visitation Sunday (No church at FMC) UPCOMING EVENTS July 3 rd Happy Anniversary, Dan & Amy Hostetler July 24 th Kick-Off 100 th Anniversary Event: Ice Cream Social IN TWO WEEKS: Worship Leader (7/5): Kristy Keim Head Usher: Leadership Team LAST WEEK Attendance: 27 Offering: $1195 My Coins Count: $35.25 CHURCH LEADERSHIP Pastor’s Hours: Wednesday 9:30 am-2:30 pm Church Secretary: Tabatha Murphy Church Phone: 1-330-852-2822 Email: office@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com Website: http//fmcsugarcreekoh.org Address: 113 W. Main St. P.O. Box 250 Sugarcreek, OH 44681 CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM: Chairperson: Mike Keim Office Contact: Linda Yoder Mission Contact: Reno Stevanus Trustees Contact: Dan Hostetler Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt