Nov. 10, 2024
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio
November 10, 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 "In Christ Alone" - arr. Larry Shackley
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
Welcome & Announcements
Focus Statement:
The call to follow Christ and grow in faith is a transformative journey, and a race that must be run with perseverance and patience. Sometimes we can become distracted and weary, and we need to find renewed strength and hope in Christ to carry on. Sometimes we see fellow believers that are also in need of the love, grace, and strength that Jesus Christ can give. God has called us to continue to grow in faith and love towards him and also to
encourage others in their journey of faith.
Time of Meditation: "My Faith Looks Up to Thee"
- arr. John Carter
Call to Worship:
Leader: Great is our God, and worthy of praise! God’s
goodness knows no limit;
People: God’s faithfulness toward us is boundless!
Leader: God, your majesty and glory surround us here.
People: We’ve come together to celebrate your presence,
and to offer songs of praise and worship.
Leader: We’ve come to rejoice in your mighty acts,
People: and to retell the story of your goodness
throughout history and in our own lives.
Leader: Move among us as we worship together; may your
Spirit guide and inspire our thoughts and actions
as we spend this time in your presence.
All: In the name of our Savior and Lord, Jesus
Christ. Amen.
Invocation
Hymn of Gathering: HWB 16 God Is Here Among Us
~Praying & Praising~
Psalm Litany: Psalm: 145:1-13 (NIV)
Leader: I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your
name forever and ever.
People: Every day I will praise you and extol your name for
ever and ever.
Leader: Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his
greatness no one can fathom.
People: One generation commends your works to
another; they tell of your mighty acts.
Leader: They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
People: They tell of the power of your awesome works—and I
will proclaim your great deeds.
Leader: They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully
sing of your righteousness.
People: The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to
anger and rich in love.
Leader: The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he
has made.
All: All your works praise you, LORD; your faithful people
extol you.
Leader: They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your
might, so that all people may know of your
mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your
kingdom.
People: Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your
dominion endures through all generations.
All: The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful
In all he does.
Hymn of Praise: HWB 22 Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now
Prayers of the People
Hymn of Praise: HWB 74 We Would Extol Thee
~Hearing God’s Word~
Scripture: II Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12; II Corinthians 1:3-7
Message: “Strengthened and Comforted, To Love and Serve”
~Responding~
Hymn of Response: HWB 497 Come, Ye Disconsolate
(the offering will be brought forward)
Offering Prayer
~Sending~
Sending Hymn: HWB 419 Lead On, O Cloud of Presence
Benediction
Postlude: "More Love to Thee, O Christ" - arr. Mark Hayes
Sending Words
WORSHIP 9:30-10:30
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Tabatha Murphy
Song Leader: April Shupe
Pianist: Sue Stauffer
Usher: Leadership Team
FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER
Mission Project for November: Help Us Help Them
Let’s help two local businesses, Tango Gatti and Tusc. Insurance Agency, help make the holidays brighter for families affected by the hurricanes. They are collecting:
*gently used or new toys, and for older children, gift cards
*winter coats, hats and gloves/mittens (all ages)
*cash donations to purchase above items as well as gift wrapping
kits
Please bring all toys and winter wear items to the church and put on the table the coffee/cookie area by Friday November 15th; and all cash donations and/or gift cards to April Shupe by the 15th as well. Since this is a short notice, she will be glad to come and pick up any donations this week. Call her at 330-663-4702,
Mennonite Arts Weekend: Early-bird registration is open for the 2025 Mennonite Arts Weekend in Cincinnati, Ohio, February 7-9. This weekend celebrates the creativity and discipline of Anabaptist Mennonite artists. Find the list of presenters, registration and location information at https://mennoniteartsweekend.org
Margaret Cheslock: Room 502 1525 Crater Ave. Dover OH 44622.
THE CHURH GIVES THANKS
Bertie Showers: Brother Ken can go out of the nursing home for meals and his care giver is healing nicely.
Dan Hostetler: Was able to move my mom this week and had family over for a visit.
Sue Stauffer: Thankful that Amy was able to go to the restoration retreat at camp Friedenswald.
CHURCH PRAYS FOR
April Shupe: Prayers for Margaret Cheslock as she goes into a nursing home. Also, Julie Gerber is having a hard time breathing.
Sue Stauffer: Jim and Deb Cahill will be going to the clinic this week to start the process of having the bone marrow transplant.
Julie Gerber: Brother, Dean, had a brain bleed that affected his optical nerve that has left him blind.
THIS WEEK
Nov. 10 Sonnenberg Station performing at the First Moravian Church of Dover, 7pm
Nov. 12th Happy Birthday, Amy Stauffer-McNutt
NEXT WEEK
Text: I Samuel 1:4-20; I Samuel 2:1-10; Daniel 12:1-3; Psalm 16; Hebrews 10:11-25; Mark 13:1-8
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Dan Hostetler
Head Usher: Leadership Team
UPCOMING EVENTS
Nov. 22 Zollikon Institute Choral Group performing at the First Moravian Church of Dover, 7pm
LAST WEEK
ATTENDANCE: 25
OFFERING: $1400
Change for a dollar: $10
Thanksgiving Reflections on Gratitude
For the Thanksgiving worship service on November 24th, the worship committee is hoping to involve everyone in expressing our thankfulness for the experiences, bounty, goodness that we live. Thus we would like you to ponder on these ideas for the next two weeks so that you are prepared to speak from your seat for no more than three minutes about one or more of these things. The microphone will be brought to you. We are looking
forward to your participation, as living a life of gratitude is so important to our well-being.
--You could choose a Scripture , hymn, or poem to read that
speaks of gratitude or is touching to you and then explain why.
--You could talk about some things you have been especially
grateful for, either in your life or just in this past year, things
that may have kept you going during dark times or things that
bring you joy.
--You could express things you would like to thank the church
for or that you’re grateful for about our church.
In addition, if you have a Thanksgiving hymn that you’d like to have the congregation sing, please write it down and either give it to Sue Stauffer by next Sunday (Nov. 14th) or put a note in her mailbox.
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, 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
