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.

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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:

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