May 18, 2025

Anabaptism At Five Hundred

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

May 18, 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

Belief Three: Community

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

which is Jesus Christ.”

~Gathering in the Royal Bible Classroom~

(around tables)

Welcome and Announcements

Focus Statement:

The church is a community of people linked together to one another and to God. That linking is shown in community worship and gatherings. Community members support each other in daily life, in times of both joy and sorrow.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:26

“If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member

is honored, all rejoice together with it.”

Time of Meditation: VT 813 Heart With Loving Heart United

Call to Worship:

Leader: We come together as the family of faith.

People: We assemble to honor the living God.

Leader: Through Christ, we become God’s holy household.

People: In Christ we are bonded together to be God’s people.

Leader: Our worship is united into oneness by the Holy Spirit.

People: In communion with the Holy Spirit, let us celebrate our

unity.

Invocation

Hymn of Gathering: VT 25 Brethren WE Have Met to Worship

~Storytelling~

Early Anabaptist Story (Moravia) -Dan Hostetler

Early Anabaptist Story in Drama #1:

The Christian Community of Goods: Peter Walpot, 1577

Questioner – Brad Shupe, Peter – Bob Gerber

~Praising and Praying~

Hymn of Praise: VT 722 Help Us to Help Each Other

Prayers of the People

~Storytelling~

Early Anabaptist Story in drama #2:

Economics, a Hot Topic: Menno Simons (1552)

Critic – Kristy Keim, Menno – Mike Keim, Reader 1 – Jon Gerber,

Reader 2 – Bertie Showers, Reader 3 – Amy Hostetler,

Reader 4– Bruce Stauffer, Reader 5 – Nancy Yoder

Hymn of Response: VT 778 Will You Let Me Be Your Servant

~Hearing God’s Word~

Scripture: Romans 12:4-18

Readers 1-5 above, plus Reader 6 – Helene Torgler

Remarks: Thoughts about the Church and the Importance of

Community – Dan Hostetler

~Responding~

Offering Prayer

~Sending~

Sending Hymn: VT 831 Blest Be the Tie That Binds

Benediction

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Worship Leader: Tabby Murphy

Head Usher: Monk Yoder

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.

THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS

Mike Gehman: Ken had his brain surgery and everything went well, they didn’t have to as much as they thought.

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

April Shupe: Ran into Keutmy and Khammoune in the store, they are doing well, will have a cancer follow-up appointment to check and make sure everything looks alright. Also, their grandson is having skin issues and needs our prayers.

Dan Hostetler: Continue prayers for mom, she is in rehab and will hopefully be able to go home tomorrow.

THIS WEEK

May 24^th Happy Anniversary, Mike & Hannah Gehman

NEXT WEEK

Note: Next Sunday we will be having another Anabaptist at Five Hundred worship service, meeting in the S.S. room beside the office instead of in the sanctuary. We will be meeting at our usual time.

Worship Leader: Brad Shupe

Head Usher: Monk Yoder

LAST WEEK

Attendance: 23

Offering: $740

Change for a dollar: $15

Easter Flowers: $8

Memory of Lillian Horrisberger (Joan Lingler’s sister): $100

CHURCH LEADERSHIP

Pastor: Mike Gehman: 1-330-749-674

Email: pastor@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com

Pastor’s Hours: Wednesday 9:30a.m.-2:30p.m