June 29, 2025

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

June 29, 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

“The Courage to Love” -Service of Reconciliation

Grossmunster Church, Zurich, Switzerland

May 29, 2025, 5 p.m.

Part One

“Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.”

~Gathering in the Sanctuary, Left Side~

Welcome and Announcements: Worship Leader – Suzanne Stauffer

Procession: “Holy God We Praise Thy Name”

Organ introduction

Violin Solo

Soprano Solo – Vs. 1 English

Congregation – Vs. 2 English

Vs. 1 German

Organ interlude

Congregation – Vs. 2 German

Organ conclusio

Welcome:

Martin Rusch, Pastor Gossmunster/Swiss Reformed Church

Gladys Geiser & Lukas Amstutz, co-Presidents Swiss Mennonites

Henk Stenvers, President Mennonite World Conference

Invocation (With Congregation): Rebecca Osiro, Mennonite World Conference

Leader: I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever.

People: With my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through

all generations.

Leader: I will declare that your love stands firm forever,

People: that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

Leader: Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;

People: your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones…

Leader: Praise be to the Lord forever!

All: Amen and Amen

Prayer: Sunoko Lin, Treasurer, Mennonite World Conference

Songs: “Ewe Thina” and “Cantai ao Senhor”

“Ewe Thina/We Walk His Way”

Drums, then Men, then Women

Congregation – Vs. 1 South African

Vs. 2 English

Repeat South African

“Cantai ao Senhor/We Sing to the Lord”

Violin

Congregation – Sing Spanish (3x)

Sing Portuguese

Interlude

Congregation – Sing Spanish (2x)

Sing Vs. 1 English

Sing Vs. 2 English

Sing Vs. 5 English

Solo English

Repeat last phrase 2x

CHURCH DISRUPTION BY SOME PEOPLE OF GOD: (Anabaptist forebearers interrupting worship – note the papers dropped from the balcony)

CONFESSION AND LAMENT: Danisa Ndlovu and Lisa Carr-Pries, MWC

THE LORD’S PRAYER: Congregation in all languages

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD – SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 5:1-3 – Tigist Tesfaye MWC

SERMON: “The Courage to Love” – Cesar Garcia, general secretary MWC

SONG: “May the Peace of Christ/Kirisuto no heiwa ga”

Congregation – Vs. 1 Japanese (2x)

Music Interlude

Congregation – Vs. 2 English (2x) great person next to you

Vs. 3 German (2x)

Prayer of The People

Benediction

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Worship Leader: Suzanne Stauffer

Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer

Head Usher: Mike Keim

Our On-Going Series on Anabaptist Beliefs:

In 2018 Lisa Weaver and Elizabeth Miller, as part of the Bearing Witness Stories project, wrote a book for children entitled Let the

Children Come to Me: Nurturing Anabaptist Faith within Families.

“The materials gathered together in this book beautifully

illustrate the central convictions of the Anabaptist tradition.”

-John D. Roth, Director of the Institute for the

Study of Global Anabaptism

As residents of Holmes and Tuscarawas counties, oftentimes we each have been asked, “Are Mennonites Amish?” and “What do you believe that’s different from other Protestant denominations?” It’s sometimes

hard to come up with an explanation of our faith. Hopefully this series of worship services (that will be spread out through this year of Anabaptism at 500) will enable us to answer these questions more accurately. We are basing this series on the above-mentioned book.

In conjunction with our Anabaptist at Five Hundred celebration this year, we would love to have pictures of any community, 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. You will get them back.

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

Mission Project #1 for June/July: Dress A Child

As one school year ends, this program looks forward to the new 2025-26 school year. Giving our students who attend school in Tuscarawas County a fresh new set of clothes to begin the year is a wonderful blessing. Dress A Child raises money to serve the children in our county whose families meet the federal poverty guidelines. Last year, they were able to give 980 children $85.00 worth of new clothing! Make checks payable to First Mennonite, and one check will be sent at the end of the month from our church to Dress A Child. Thank you!

“Life is good when you are happy; but much better when

others are happy because of you.” -Pope Francis

Mission Project #2 for June/July: MCC My Coins Count Relief Sale Project

Each year, spare change (and bills!) collected by families and churches adds up to more than $600,000 toward MCC’s work around the world. Your coins count! When you give to MCC, you’re sending hope to families in the form of food, water and/or education. We will collect through the last Sunday of June. Drop your coins, bills and/or checks in the bread basket on the table in the rear of the sanctuary. Make checks payable to First Mennonite, and Buce will send one check from our church to the MCC Ohio Relief Sale held in Mt. Hope on July 11^th-12^h.

THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS

Lizzie Keim: Esther Hamsher collected $200 and is giving us $100 for my coins count.

Sue Stauffer: Praises for everyone who is here with us today, Nat and Vi Miller, Jim and Bonnie Raber Wickes, and Gerlinde Schneider.

Bertie Showers: Thankful that Gerlinde had a safe trip to visit us.

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Sue Stauffer: Prayers for everyone that has been affected by the United States/ bombing of Iran.

THIS WEEK

July 3^rd Happy Anniversary, Dan & Amy Hostetler

NEXT WEEK

Text:

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Kristy Keim