Summer Series 3

Come to the Water: Searching

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio July 31, 2022

Worship: 9:30-10:30

Fellowship Time: 10:30-11:00

Sunday School: 11:00-12:00

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                                                                                                                                                     

Come to the Water: Searching

~Gathering~

Prelude: "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing"--arr. Michael Larkin

                           "There's a Wild Hope in the Wind"--Lora Braun

Welcome & Announcements:

Focus Statement/Comments:

"Imagine your life without water.  No kitchen faucet to fill your glass when

you are thirsty.  No shower or bathtub to clean your body;  Imagine if you

couldn't go to school because you had to spend each day walking for miles

just to get water and not even know if the water you reach will be clean.  This

is true for nearly one billion people around the world.  That's one out of

every six who doesn't have access to clean water."--taken from The Water

Princess by Susan Verde

Not only do some of us focus on finding clean water to live by, but many of us

search for the "living water" that is essential for our spiritual life.  In this

service we learn that God is always there for us if we only open our minds

and hearts to his presence and guidance.

~Thirsting~

Time of Meditation: "Go down, Moses/Wade in the Water"--arr. Larry Shackley

Call to Worship:

L:  All of you who feel dry and thirsty, come to the water.  Fill your hands.  Splash your face.  Drink deeply.  Let it run down your chin!  Creator God, our Living Water, we give thanks,

P:  for springs of water and deep wells, for the streams and rivers of our Watershed, for the rains that fall--

All:  We give thanks for the water that sustains our life.

(pour the water from the pitcher into the vase)

L:  We give thanks, O God,

P:  for water that washes and cleans, for water that refreshes and restores--

All:  we give thanks for the water that sustains our life.

(pour the water from the pitcher into the vase)

L:  We give thanks, O God,

All:  for your love and mercy, pouring into our lives, soaking into our parched places, filling us up to the brim, overflowing in us to be a blessing for all.

(pour the remaining water into the vase)

L:  Come to the water of life.

Opening Prayer:

Hymn of Gathering: 

"We Sing to You. O God" Voices Together #80

~Drinking Deeply~

Water Story: "Searching for Water"--by Bill Flinner

Hymn of Praise:

"Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" Voices Together #606

Congregational Prayers:

Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7

Message: "In the Time of Testing"--by Mike Gehman

~Satisfied~

Hymn of Response:

"Touch the Earth Lightly" voices Together #145

(the offering will be brought forward at this time)

Offering Prayer:

Sending Hymn:

"There's a Wild Hope in the Wind" Voices Together #828

Benediction:

Postlude: "I Am Bound for the Promised Land"--arr. Anna Laura Page

Words of Dismissal:

THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS AND PRAYS FOR                                                                                                                                 

For God's presence and protection during our times of danger.

Edna Neff, Tabatha Murphy, Linda Snyder

MMN:  Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for Freddy Barron and Margrit Kipher Barron, as they mentor leaders and support church plants in the Bolivia Mennonite Church.  Pray for Freddy as he pastors a congregation and Margrit as she coordinates Christian education for the denomination.

Prayers for Mennonite Education-Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, IN:  Prayer for God's spirit to guide the hiring process for several open positions at the seminary.  Dock Mennonite Academy, Lansdale, PA: Please pray for administration and staff as plans are made for the upcoming 2022-23 school year.

MC-USA: this week, please pray for Allegheny Mennonite Conference congregations as they gather for their annual Celebration of congregations and Conference on August 5-7.

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER                                                                                                                                               

Next Week's Text: II Kings 5:1-14

Harbor of Hope: 16 items were taken to the Harbor of Hope on Wednesday, thank you for your generous donations.  This month's items are Soup & Mac-N-Cheese and is due on August 24.

Mission Projects for August: Harbor of Hope: Soup & Mac-N-Cheese; Homeless Shelter Meal; MCC School Kits

WORSHIP                                                                             9:30-10:30                                                                                                           

Greeters:                                                                              April Shupe, Bertie Showers

Minister:                                                                               Mike Gehman

Worship Leader:                                                               Dan Hostetler

Water Pourer:                                                                    Herb Torgler

Song Leader:                                                                      April Shupe

Organist:                                                                              Margaret Cheslock

Pianist:                                                                                  Suzanne Stauffer

Head Usher:                                                                        Leadership Team

THIS WEEK                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Aug.   3         Leadership Team Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Aug.   5-6     Ohio MCC Mennonite Relief Sale, Wooster Fairgrounds

UPCOMING EVENTS                                                                                                                                                                                         

Aug. 24          Harbor of Hope items due: Soup & Mac-N-Cheese

Aug. 26          Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.

Aug. 30          Homeless Shelter Meal 6:00 p.m.

Sept.   5          Labor Day

Sept.   7         Leadership Tem Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Sept. 23        Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.

Sept. 29        Harbor of Hope items due: PB & Jelly

Sept. 29-Oct   1     Ohio Swiss Festival

Oct.   5           Leadership Team Meeting 7:00 .m.

Oct. 26          Harbor of Hope items due: Laundry & Cleaning Supplies

Oct. 28         Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.

NEXT WEEK                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Greeters:                                                                                                Herb & Helene Torgler

Minister:                                                                                                 Mike Gehman

Worship Leader:                                                                                 Julie Gerber

Song Leader:                                                                                        April Shupe

Head Usher:                                                                                         Herb Torgler

CHURCH LEADERSHIP                                                                                                                                                                                   

CHURCH:

Pastor: Mike Gehman

Pastor's Hours: Wednesday, 9:30am--2:30pm

Secretary: Tally Maust

Phone: 330-852-2822

Email: pastor@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

Missions Contact: Reno Stevanus

Trustees Contact: Dan Hostetler

Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt

July 31, 2022:  "Plants at the Well"

     "The first plants on Earth began life in the water.  About 450 million years ago, some were washed ashore.  At first they could live only in wet areas.  Gradually they developed root systems that allowed them to tap into water in the soil.

     "Water is essential to plants.  In fact, plants are mostly water.  It's the water in their cells that gives them their shape and form--without it, they droop and shrivel.

     "Water also helps plants make food for themselves.  Plants use the sun's energy to change water and carbon dioxide into simple sugars that feed the plant.  This process is called photosynthesis.  Water then helps carry this food throughout the plant.

     "During photosynthesis, plants also release water vapor into the air.  Roots absorb water, which is carried to the stem.  The stem acts like a water pipe in your house, moving water through the plant to the leaves.  From the leaves, water is released back into the atmosphere.  This is called transpiration.  The water that is transpired is added to the cycle of water on Earth.

     "Water is important to plants, but plants are also important to water.  Plant roots anchor soil and stop it from blowing or washing into lakes and rivers.  Leaves and branches trap rainwater, allowing it to seep slowly into the soil instead of flowing quickly away.  And trees provide shade, which helps keep moisture in the soil.

     "Plants depend on water from the well for survival, and the well depends on plants to help move wter through its cycle.  Without plants, the water cycle would be disrupted.  Without water, plants could not survive.

     "1.  How thirsty is a tree?  On a summer's day, an average-sized birch tree can draw about 300L (80 U.S. gal.) of water from the soil.  That's almost enough water to fill two large bathtubs.

     "2.  Many plants depend on water to disperse their seeds.  A coconut (the seed of a palm tree) can spend weeks, months, or even years drifting in the ocean before reaching land and sprouting.

     "3.  The plants you eat are mostly water.  Tomatoes are about 95% water.  Apples are about 85% water.  Seeds are among the driest foods--they contain only 5to 10% water."

--taken from "One Well:  the Story of Water on Earth"--Rochelle Strauss, c. 2007, pg. 10-11