May 5, 2024

May 4, 2024

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

May 5, 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.

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

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

Jesus With Us, Even in Our Doubts

 

~Gathering~


Prelude “We Are Travelers on a Journey”–arr. Mark Hayes

 

Welcome & Announcements

 

Focus Statement:

After his resurrection Jesus revealed that he was with his disciples in new and sometimes surprising ways. The disciples had doubts and difficulty believing that Jesus had risen and he came to them and allowed them to touch and see the scars on his body. Today, Jesus is still with us, ready to meet us and walk with us, through times of unbelief, doubt, uncertainty, sorrow and joy.

 

Time of Meditation  “Jesus Walked this Lonesome Valley”

                                                                                   -arr. Jack Schrader

 

Call To Worship: (based on John 20:24-29)

 Leader: Thomas said: “Unless I see the mark of the nails and put

                 my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

 People:  We are often skeptical people, driven by our senses,   

                   relying on that which we can hear, see or prove.

     Leader:  Our Lord asks us to see the invisible, to trust in the

                    spirit, to have faith. Lord, give us faith!

     People:  Sometimes we get carried away by our emotions, by

                    wishful thinking and by popular trends that pull us

                    in.

     Leader:  Lord, help us to be bold in our beliefs, but also, careful

                    as Thomas was.

     People:  Move us beyond mere trust in ordinary things and

                    open our eyes for spiritual realities.

            All:  Jesus said: “Blessed are those who have not seen and

                    yet have come to believe.”

 

   Invocation

 

   Hymn of Gathering: HWB 352 Gentle Shepherd (Margaret)

 

~Praising & Praying~


   Old Testament Reading: Psalm 20:1-9

 

   Hymn of Praise: HWB 102 To God Be the Glory     

   

   Prayers of the People

 

  Hymn of Praise: HWB 70 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

 

~Hearing God’s Word~


   Scripture:  John 20:24-31

 

   Message: “Believing…But Not Seeing”

 

 

~Responding~


Hymn of Response: HWB 544 When We Walk With the Lord

                                                                                                        (Reno)

(the offering will be brought forward)

                                   

Offering Prayer


~Sending~


Sending Hymn HWB 338 I Know Not Why God’s Wondrous

 

Benediction

 

Postlude “Be Still, My Soul”-arr. Lloyd Larson

 

Sending Words

 

WORSHIP                                                                               9:30-10:30 

Minister:                                                                        Mike Gehman

Worship Leader:                                                                Jean Flinner 

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

   Tabatha Murphy: So grateful for all the prayers and support over the   

   last few weeks.

   Sue Stauffer: Had a wonderful time at our 65th high school reunion.

   Also, took a model T trip yesterday, and had an amazing time on a

   beautiful day.     

 

    THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

   Bertie Showers: Brother Ken, who is 98 years old, went to the hospital   

   due to a high heart rate. While there they discovered he had a fall that

   made his pacemaker offbeat. Update: He is back in hospital with

   pneumonia. 

  April Shupe: Please keep my daughter-in-law Karrissa Kalb in your

   prayers as her father has passed away.

   Mike Gehman: Dorthy & Wayne needs prayers as they adjust to the

   change of living at Walnut Hills.

 

   THIS WEEK

   May 8th                  Happy Birthday, Linda Yoder

   May 11th                Happy Birthday, Herb Torgler

   May 10-11th            Sugarcreek Community Garage Sales

   May 12th                Mother’s Day

 

   UPCOMING EVENTS

   May 31st      Beachy Ham and Chicken Buffet for Community Hospice

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

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

   June 20-22nd CDC Conference at Goshen, IN

 

   NEXT  WEEK          

   Text: Psalm 1; John 17: 9-24; Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; 1 John 5:9-13

   Minister:                                                                         Mike Gehman

   Worship Leader:                                                                        Julie Gerber

   Head Usher:                                                                               Monk Yoder

LAST WEEK

ATTENDANCE:                                                                                           28

OFFERING:                                                                                         $1478

Change for a Dollar:                                                                          $13

Garaway Time Release:                                                                    $300

Memory of Janet Maust:                                                                  $80

                   

 

CHURCH LEADERSHIP

Pastor: Mike Gehman

Email: pastor@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com

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, 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 14, 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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