May 18, 2025

May 17, 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.

***************************************

We seek to be a caring and discerning community,  the gathered body of Christ that welcomes all to join in worship, study, and service.

*********************************************

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 24th          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

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

August 7, 2026
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June 20, 2026
First Mennonite Church Sugarcreek, Ohio June 21, 2026 Happy Father’s Day! Worship: 9:30 am Coffee & Fellowship Time: 10:30 am We believe in Jesus and take his life, teachings, death and resurrection as the model for how we live and the message we proclaim. ***************************************­ We seek to be a caring and discerning community, the gathered body of Christ, that welcomes all to join in worship, study, and service. ****************************************** We embody God’s transforming and redeeming Spirit in the world through our prophetic witness and action. THE CHURCH WORSHIPS TOGETHER God’s Faithfulness ~Gathering~ Prelude: “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” -arr. John Carter Welcome& Announcements Focus Statement: In Psalm 100:5, the psalmist declares that the Lord is good and his love endures forever, and his faithfulness continues through all generations. We have seen the many ways said that God has shown his love and faithfulness to us through the years, as followers of Jesus Christ and as believers who worship together as First Mennonite Church. How can we live and share about God’s love and great faithfulness in our lives, as we continue to follow Christ today? Time of Meditation: “Trust and Obey” -arr. Johanna Miller Call to Worship: Leader: Let us worship the eternal God, the Source of love and Life, who creates us. People: Let us worship Jesus Christ, the risen one who lives among us. All: To the one true God be praise, in all times and places, through the grace of Jesus Christ. Invocation Hymn of Gathering : HWB 71 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee ~Praising & Praying~ Psalm Litany: Psalm 89:1-8 (NIV) Leader: I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. People: I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. Leader: You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, People: ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’ Leader: The heavens praise your wonders, LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. People: For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings? Leader: In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. People: Who is like you, LORD God Almighty? All: You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. Hymn of Praise: HWB 70 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise Prayers of the People Hymn of Praise: HWB 327 Great is Thy Faithfulness ~Hearing God’s Word~ Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1--14 Message: “God’s love and faithfulness abounds…passing it on” ~Responding~ Hymn of Response: HWB 338 I Know Not Why God’s Wondrous (the offering will be brought forward) Offering Prayer ~Sending~ Sending Hymn: HWB 420 Heart with Loving Heart United Benediction: Leader: We go now with faith, trusting God’s Spirit to guide us; People: We go now with hope, waiting for the fullness of Christ’s reign. Leader: We go now with love, resting in God’s care and the care of God’s people. All: We go out with joy: to listen and speak, to sing and suffer, to proclaim good news, and give glory to God. Postlude: “A Gaelic Blessing” -John Rutter Deep peace of the running wave to you, Deep peace of the flowing air to you, Deep peace of the quiet earth to you, Deep peace of the shining stars to you, Deep peace of the gentle night to you, Moon and stars pour their healing light on you, Deep peace of Christ, of Christ the light of the world to you, Deep peace of Christ to you. Sending Words WORSHIP 9:30-10:30 Pastor: Mike Gehman Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer Usher: Mike Keim FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER Mission Project for June: My Coins Count Each year, coins and bills collected by children, families and churches along with matches add up to more than $600,000 toward MCC’s work around the world. Your coins (and bills and checks!) count! The money collected will be sent to the MCC Relief Sale held at Mt. Hope on July 10 th -11 th and go toward MCC water, education and/or food projects. Please stay for the Congregational Meeting today following worship. Remember: No church at FMC next Sunday, June 28 th . THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS FOR Melanie Blauch Archer: We went to Panama Beach to watch my granddaughter get married. Sue Stauffer: Greta and Issac are going to high school camp at Camp Friedenswald. THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR Melanie Blauch Archer: Cousin’s wife, Tammy was diagnosed with a mass in her chest. Also, Sony has passed away, prayers for family and friends. THIS WEEK June 24 th Happy Birthday, Bob Barnes June 26 th Happy Birthday, Helene Torgler June 28 th Visitation Sunday (No church at FMC) UPCOMING EVENTS July 3 rd Happy Anniversary, Dan & Amy Hostetler July 24 th Kick-Off 100 th Anniversary Event: Ice Cream Social IN TWO WEEKS: Worship Leader (7/5): Kristy Keim Head Usher: Leadership Team LAST WEEK Attendance: 27 Offering: $1195 My Coins Count: $35.25 CHURCH LEADERSHIP 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, OH 44681 CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM: Chairperson: Mike Keim Office Contact: Linda Yoder Mission Contact: Reno Stevanus Trustees Contact: Dan Hostetler Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt
June 12, 2026
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June 6, 2026
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