July 31, 2022
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
