May 19, 2024

Pentecost Sunday

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

May 19, 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

~Gathering~

Prelude “Holy, Holy, Holy” -arr. Lloyd Larson

Welcome & Announcements

Focus Statement:

The fire of the Holy Spirit transformed disciples from persons of

fear into disciples strengthened to witness to God’s work in the world. The Holy Spirit changes our personal, spiritual, and communal landscape in many ways. Creation and followers of Jesus are renewed with hope.

Time of Meditation “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart”

-arr. Lloyd Larson

Call To Worship:

Leader: The Spirit has gathered us from down the road

and across the city.

People: We are not quite ready to settle in and

worship.

Leader: The Spirit has arrived to strengthen us.

People: We come with questions and heavy hearts, along with

gratitude.

Leader: The Spirit is ready to kindle a flame of hope in our

hearts.

People: We will open ourselves to receive and hear again

God’s deeds of power.

All: We invite the Spirit to renew us today.

Invocation

Hymn of Gathering: VT 57 Holy Spirit, Come with Power

~Praising & Praying~

Old Testament Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Hymn of Praise: VT 550 God Who Touches Earth with Beauty

Prayers of the People

Leader: Spirit of God, we have gathered in this place to pray

as a community of faith. Thank you for …

(prayers of thanks specific to our church.)

People: Holy Spirit, come with fire, give us gladness from

above.

Leader: We pray for ourselves and those we love …

(prayers and praises)

People: Holy Spirit, come with power, breathe into our

aching night.

Leader: We pray for our community.

(prayers for our community, local organizations, etc)

People: Holy Spirit, bring your message, be with those who

care for our community.

Leader: We pray for our world.

(prayers for things happening in the world)

People: Holy Spirit, come with fire, and enflame us with your

love.

Leader: Spirit of the living God, we pray with hope for all these

requests. We thank you for bringing strength where

there is weakness, hope where there is fear, and beauty

out of devastation. We gather all these prayers, the

spoken and the unspoken, and pray the prayer you

taught us:

ALL: Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in

heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us

our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not

into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the

kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

~Hearing God’s Word~

Scripture: John 16:5-15; Acts 2:1-4

Message: “The Promise and Power of the Holy Spirit”

Prayer of Response:

Sovereign Majesty, we pray for the continued outpouring of your

Spirit upon the church so that the fires of Pentecost may anoint

us to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world. Help us to

release the anointing of the Holy Spirit which dwells within us.

Let us pour your blessing into the lives of others. Let us lift up

the name of Jesus with power from on high. Amen.

~Responding~

Hymn of Response: VT 152 God, Whose Purpose Is to Kindle

(the offering will be brought forward)

Offering Prayer

Leader: Dear Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, please accept our

gifts and offerings.

1. (Jaden Murphy) I will light a light in the name of the Maker, who lit the World and breathed the breath of life for me.

2. (Kristy Keim) I will light a light in the name of the Son, who saved the world and stretched out his hand to me.

3. (Tyler Murphy) I will light a light in the name of the Spirit, who encompasses the world and blesses my soul with yearning.

ALL: We will light three lights for the Trinity of love; God above us, God beside us, God beneath us;

The beginning, The End, The Everlasting One. Amen.

~Sending~

Sending Hymn: VT 827 Move in Our Midst

Benediction

Postlude “I’m Gonna Sing” -arr. Mark Hayes

Sending Words

Song of Promise “Every Time I Feel the Spirit”

-arr. Mary McDonald

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Dan Hostetler

Song Leader: April Shupe

Organist: Margaret Cheslock

Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer

Head Usher: Monk Yoder

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

Mission Project for May: Connections Thrift Store in Kidron needs a new building for storage; drop your marked offering in the offering plate.

Harbor of Hope for May: Laundry & Cleaning Supplies

THE CHURH GIVES THANKS

Sue Stauffer: Amy’s students competed in Parliamentary Procedure and got 2^nd in the nation! Also, thankful for the northern lights, it was a spiritual experience.

Kristy Keim: Oldest daughter is pregnant and is due in December.

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Julie Gerber: All of those who experienced the tornados this past week.

Bertie Showers: Brother Kenny was also diagnosed with congested heart failure.

THIS WEEK

May 24^th Happy Anniversary, Mike & Hannah Gehman

May 26^th Happy Birthday, Brad Shupe

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 31^st Beachy Ham and Chicken Buffet for Community Hospice

at Legacy Christian School, Sugarcreek at 4:30 – 7pm

June 7^th Fab 50’s Fling Car Show at the Sugarcreek Fire station.

June 20-22^nd CDC Conference at Goshen, IN