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. ***************************************­ 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 ~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 NEXT WEEK Text: John 3:1-17 Guest Minister: Ernie Hershberger Worship Leader: April Shupe Head Usher: Monk Yoder LAST WEEK ATTENDANCE: 30 OFFERING: $1553 Change for a Dollar: $7 Anabaptist subscription: $39 Memory of Janet Maust: $550 Connections Building: $20 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

appy Mother’s Day! First Mennonite Church Sugarcreek, Ohio May 12, 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, Always ~Gathering~ Prelude “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go” -arr. Marilynn Ham Welcome & Announcements A Blessing of the Comforters for MCC Focus Statement: After his resurrection Jesus revealed that he was with his disciples in new and sometimes surprising ways. He met them walking down a road. He entered locked rooms and spoke words of peace and faith. He calmed fearful hearts and helped them grow in faith through their doubt and unbelief. Today, Jesus is still with us, ready to meet us and walk with us, through times of fear, doubt, sorrow, things unknown. He promises to be with us always, “...I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” (Matthew 28: 20b) Time of Meditation “How Can I Keep From Singing” -arr. Larry Shackley Call To Worship: One: God made the world and everyone in it. Many: Our life and breath come from God. One: God made all nations under heaven Many: We are all God’s offspring. One: Search for God in our time of worship. Many: When we search, we find God near. Amen! Invocation Hymn of Gathering: VT 182 I Sing the Mighty Power of God ~Praising & Praying~ Advice From Our Mothers Prayer: God, our Creator, we give you thanks for those who have been mothers for us. Help us inherit from them that which will make us more fully your people. Where they have offered us blessings of love, may we incorporate those gifts into our lives. Where they have hurt us or fallen short of our expectations, may we learn from them, that we might not repeat their mistakes. May the honor we convey toward our mothers reflect the honor that we feel toward you. Amen. Hymn: VT 518 Like A Mother Who Has Borne Us Prayers of the People Prayer Hymn VT 682 Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying Ending Prayer (ending with the Lord’s Prayer, together) 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. 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 14:15-21, Matthew 28:20b Hymn: VT 596 Don’t Be Afraid Message: “Always With Us” ~Responding~ Hymn of Response: VT 641 And I Will Raise You Up Refrain – All; Verses – April & Mike (the offering will be brought forward) Offering Prayer ~Sending~ Benediction Sending Hymn: VT 839 Go, My Friends, In Peace (vs. B) Postlude “Ain-a That Good News” -arr. John Carter Sending Words WORSHIP 9:30-10:30 Minister: Mike Gehman Worship Leader: Julie Gerber 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 Next Sunday (Pentecost) our prayers of the people will be expanded. We will be praying for four different things: 1) Our church, 2) Ourselves and those we love (concerns and praises like we usually do,) 3) Our community, and 4) Our world. We are asking that you ponder your concerns for these topics during the week so that you can be prepared to offer a prayer request or praise in one or more of these areas. We hope you all will participate. THE CHURH GIVES THANKS_________________________ Sue Stauffer: Susan Lingler had a hip replacement surgery and is in recovery and getting stronger. THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR____________________________ Tabatha Murphy: Friend, Laura Harris, is having problems with her mental health. Sue Stauffer: Talked to April and she has told me that Kenny Mast was in the hospital for pneumonia, he is home now but is having a hard time and needs prayer. THIS WEEK________________________________________ May 14 th Happy Birthday, Jocele Meyer May 14 th Happy Birthday, Lizzie Keim 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 NEXT WEEK Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 104:23-34, 35b; Acts 2:1-21; John 15:36-37, Minister: Mike Gehman Worship Leader: April Shupe Head Usher: Monk Yoder LAST WEEK ATTENDANCE: 18 OFFERING: $3190 Change for a Dollar: $8.38 Anabaptist subscription: $39 Memory of Janet Maust: $200 Connections Building: $800 CHURCH LEADERSHIP Pastor: Mike Gehman: 1-330-749-6746 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

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