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 11th-12h.
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 3rd Happy Anniversary, Dan & Amy Hostetler
NEXT WEEK
Text:
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Kristy Keim
Head Usher: Mike Keim
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 11th – 12th Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale at Mt. Hope Event Center
July 13th Winklepleck Grove Service and Picnic
July 20th Church Visitation Sunday
(Visit a church of your choice—No morning service at FMC)
LAST WEEK
Attendance: 23
Offering: $786
Change for a dollar: $14
My Coins Count: $100
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Pastor: Mike Gehman: 1-330-749-674
Email: pastor@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com
Pastor’s Hours: Wednesday 9:30a.m.-2:30p.m
Church Secretary: Tabatha Murphy
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
