June 23, 2024
We Become What We Behold
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio
June 23, 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 Provision of
the Resurrection in the Day to Day
Prelude "Day by Day" - arr. Rachel Trelstad Porter
Welcome & Announcements
Focus Statement:
Our lives are mostly filled with all things ordinary–going to work, washing dishes, weeding the garden, mowing the lawn, doing laundry, keeping appointments, cooking and cleaning, and on and on. Someone once said, “If God doesn’t rule your mundane, then he doesn’t rule you. Because that’s where you live.” Dramatic, life-altering moments come only a few times during our lifetime—the rest of our lives are lived in the common, ordinary mundane. The grind of monotonous, daily tasks around which our lives rotate is one way that God is, and always has been, teaching and shaping us. To our all-seeing God, everyday faithfulness is an act of worship! We need to be living in the resurrection everyday so we can reflect God’s glory, even in the mundane.
Time of Meditation: "Simple Gifts - arr. Douglas E. Wagner
'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
and when we find ourselves in the place just right
twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we will not be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
'till by burning, turning we come round right.
Call To Worship:
Leader: Holy One, as we gather this morning to worship you,
may we speak truth,
People: So that our words may give grace to those who
hear.
Leader: May we pray in faith,
People: So that our words may give grace to those who
hear.
Leader: May we sing with joy,
People: So that our words may give grace to those who
hear.
Leader: May we listen with open minds and receptive hearts,
People: So that Your words may give grace to us who hear.
All: Amen.
Invocation
Hymn of Gathering: HWB 17 We Gather Together
Scripture: Psalm 139:1-18 HWB 823
Prayers of the People
Hymn of Praise: HWB 124 O Worship the Lord
Becoming Holy People,
Light for the World to See
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3 : 12-18
Message: “Living in the Resurrection Everyday”
Hymn of Response: HWB 592 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
(the offering will be brought forward)
Offering Prayer
Sending Hymn: HWB 357 O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee
Benediction
Benediction Hymn: VT 671 The Hand of God Shall Hold You
Postlude "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" - arr. John Carter
Sending Words
This Week:
o Listen to worshipful music or a sermon while you work.
o Do something mundane to God’s glory
o Celebrate progress!
o Hum, whistle or sing as you face your daily tasks. ๐
WORSHIP 9:30-10:30
Guest Minister: Darcy Miller
Worship Leader: April Shupe
Song Leader: April Shupe
Organist: Margaret Cheslock
Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer
Head Usher: Mike Keim
FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER
Mission Project for June:. My Coins Count
Each year, spare change collected by children, families and churches
adds up to more than $600,000 toward MCC’s work around the world.
Your coins (and dollars) count! Our donations will be added to the
total which will be collected at the annual Relief Sale in Mt. Hope in
July.
Harbor of Hope for June: Cereal
THE CHURH GIVES THANKS
Bruce Stauffer: Grateful for dads and the children that make us dads.
Linda Yoder: Dad’s brother came for a wonderful visit.
CHURCH PRAYS FOR
Amy Stauffer-McNutt: Selena Herrera’s dad, George, fell and went to
the hospital. While there he needed to have emergency heart
surgery: he did get to come home right before son’s wedding.
Sue Stauffer: Jocele Meyer is in the hospital but is improving.
THIS WEEK
June 24th Happy Birthday, Bob Barnes
June 26th Happy Birthday, Helene Torgler
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 12-13th 59th Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale & Auction
July 18-28th Mennonite Action Walk for a ceasefire
NEXT WEEK
Text: Hebrews 12:1-3; I Corinthians 9:24-27
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Julia Gerber
Head Usher: Mike Keim
LAST WEEK
ATTENDANCE:
OFFERING: $610
Change for a dollar: $7
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.
