July 7, 2024
We Become What We Behold
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio
July 7, 2024
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
Beholding God’s Transformation In Us
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Focus Statement:
As we seek to walk out our life of faith in following Christ, our hearts and minds are often drawn away from God’s purpose and plan for us. God wants us to seek him and his kingdom first, and the righteousness he gives us through Jesus Christ. We need to remember that God is at work in transforming us, teaching us
to store up treasures in heaven, because it keeps our hearts focused on what is eternal.
Time of Meditation: “Jesus Loves Me”
Call To Worship: (based on Psalm 146)
Leader: Praise God!
People: Praise God, O my soul!
Leader: We put our hope in God
People: who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in
them;
Leader: who keeps faith forever;
People: who brings justice for the oppressed,
Leader: gives food to the hungry,
People: sets the prisoners free,
Leader: brings insight to those who don’t understand,
People: and lifts up those who are bowed down.
All: Praise God! Praise God, O my soul!
Invocation
Hymn of Gathering: HWB 41 Come, Thou Almighty King
Scripture: Psalm 146
Hymn of Praise HWB 37 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Prayers of the People
Hymn HWB 71 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Becoming: Taking Hold of Eternal Life
Scripture: I Timothy 6:6-19; Matthew 6:19-21
Message: “Where Is Your Treasure?”
Hymn of Response: HWB 502 Spirit of God! Descend
(the offering will be brought forward)
Offering Prayer
Benediction
Sending Hymn: HWB 343 My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less
Sending Words
Postlude
WORSHIP 9:30-10:30
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Tabatha Murphy
Song Leader: Doug Winkler
Organist: Margaret Cheslock
Pianist: Bonnie Winkler
Head Usher: Leadership Team
This Week:
o Restore and refinish something discarded
o Throw out and let go of things you’ve outgrown
o Fix something without complaint, but with thanks
Thank you to Doug and Bonnie Winkler for sharing their musical gifts with us this morning. They are from the Dalton area. Bonnie is a retired elementary music teacher, and Doug served as a school treasurer before he retired.
FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER
Mission Project for July: Tuscarawas County Dress-A-Child
Dress-A-Child has been helping students begin a new school year with
new clothes for over 50 years. Over the years, their number of
children has exploded, and for many years, the donations have
increased. But it continues to get harder and harder each year. Last
year, they served a total of 2,860 children, but could only provide $31.
worth of clothing. They serve students in grades K-12 whose families
meet the federal poverty guideline and attend school in Tuscarawas
County. One hundred percent of all funds raised go to the clothing
voucher. Please make your donation out to First Mennonite Church
and designate it for “Dress A Child.” Bruce will send one check to
them at the end of the month.
Harbor of Hope for July: Paper Products
Winklepleck Grove Church Service and Picnic will be held on Sunday
July 14th with the service beginning at 10 AM under the picnic shelter.
Following the service, we will have a picnic lunch together. Please
bring your own table service and a dish or two to share. Cups,
lemonade, water and coffee will be provided.
THE CHURH GIVES THANKS
Mike Gehman: Dottie Schrock was in the hospital this past week but is
back at Walnut Hills.
Sue Stauffer: We have guests all the way from Poland visiting us
right now.
Julie Gerber: Pong Sixiengmay is coming home for a visit and will be
coming today.
CHURCH PRAYS FOR
Nancy Yoder: Roman is in Union hospital with congested heart failure.
Sue Stauffer: Jim Cahill will start chemo tomorrow, also Deann and Janice Stoner both have cancer.
Bertie Showers: I have some hip pain and will be going to the doctors soon.
Julie Gerber: Let’s keep Jean Flinner and Jocele Meyer in our prayers as they heal.
THIS WEEK
July 10th Happy Birthday, Bertie Showers
July 12th Happy Anniversary, Nikki & TJ Bahler
July 12-13th 59th Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale & Auction
July 14th Winklepleck Grove Church Service & Picnic, 10 am
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 18-28th Mennonite Action Walk for a ceasefire
July 28th Music Fest at Union Hill Church, 5pm - ?
NEXT WEEK
Text: Exodus 16:4-7; Colossians 3:15-17; John 6:30-35;
Revelation 3:19-20
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Dan Hostetler
Head Usher: Leadership Team
LAST WEEK
ATTENDANCE: 32
OFFERING: $1878
Change for a dollar: $10
My Coins Count: $650
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Pastor: Mike Gehman
Email: pastor@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com
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
Summer Series: Beholding and Becoming
We are entering the longest season of the Christian Year, the Sundays after Pentecost, or what is also called Ordinary Time. For many, it feels rather ordinary, week after week of the long spring and summer and even into the early fall season. Yet, it could be argued that this season is where our faith gets put to the test, where the church takes the stage and seeks to live out all that has been learned as we show to the world what living in the kingdom looks like. We will begin with the theme, Beholding and Becoming. English poet William Blake may have been the first to say, ‘We become what we behold,’ but in 2 Corinthians, Paul describes true beholding and becoming for us who long to become like Christ:
We all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from one degree
of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the
Spirit. ---2 Corinthians 3:18
Here, in the season after Pentecost, we ascribe to God all the glory, all the wonder, all the joy that is within us. By gazing at the nature of God with unveiled minds, we can be more like Him. This is our invitation to you to be transformed this summer, one everyday moment at a time.
Note: What are you beholding this summer? Please share pictures of what you are thinking on, meditating on, and/or enjoying seeing the glory of the Lord in. Please send pictures to the church email at
office@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com, and look for them to be a part of the bulletin board display outside of the office. Please see April or Tabby if you have any questions.
