Nov. 17, 2024

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

November 17, 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

My Faith Looks Up To Thee

~Gathering~

Prelude: "Come, You Thankful People, Come"

- arr. Becki Slagle Mayo

Welcome & Announcements

Focus Statement:

Hannah had a good reason to feel discouraged and bitter. But instead of giving up hope, she prayed and brought her problem honestly before God. Each of us may face times of barrenness when nothing "comes to birth" in our work, service or relationships. It is difficult to pray in faith when we feel so ineffective. But as Hannah discovered, prayer opens the way for God to work.

Time of Meditation: "We Gather Together"

- arr. Howard Helvey

Call to Worship:

Right: We are a covenant people, called to God by God,

generation through generation.

Left: We are a covenant people, called to Jesus by Jesus,

losing our life to gain our life.

Together: We are a covenant people, called to church by the

church, weaving together the strong and the weak,

the stranger and the friend.

Right: Renamed.

Left: Reborn.

Together: Renewed. We gather ourselves in the community

of believers. We gather ourselves unto you.

Invocation

Hymn of Gathering: HWB 644 When Morning Gilds the

Skies

~Praying & Praising~

Prayers of the People

Ending Prayer:

Together: Listening God, you hear our prayers before we

speak, yet welcome our praying; therefore we come

with confidence to lay our requests before you.

Leader: We pray for Christians everywhere, for our

denomination and our congregation, for

faithfulness and strength to persevere in

righteousness. We pray for the whole people

of God.

People: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: We pray for the nations of the world, for all leaders

and for those who make policy decisions. We pray for

the commonwealth of our global community.

People: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: We pray for those who are overcome by violence, for

victims of injustice or oppression, and for those in

poverty or pain. We pray for all who need healing

and peace.

People: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: We pray for those who endure trials, for those who

are dying, and for those who mourn. We pray for all

who need comfort and hope.

People: Lord, hear our prayer.

Together: You have heard the prayers of your people, O God.

We rest in the comfort of your care, as we pray in

Jesus’ name. AMEN.

Old Testament Scripture: I Samuel 2:1-10 Hannah’s Prayer

Hymn of Praise: VT 412 My Soul Cries Out

~Hearing God’s Word~

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Message: “Heartfelt Prayers…Lifted to God in Faith”

~Responding~

Hymn of Response: HWB 343 My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less

(the offering will be brought forward)

Offering Prayer

~Sending~

Sending Hymn: HWB 565 My Faith Looks Up To Thee

Benediction

Postlude: "O, God, Beyond All Praising" - arr. Lloyd Larson

Sending Words: (from Colossians 4:2)

Don’t be weary in prayer; keep at it; watch for God’s

answers and remember to be thankful when they come.

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Dan Hostetler

Song Leader: April Shupe

Pianist: Sue Stauffer

Usher: Leadership Team

A note about a special offering for next Sunday:

During the Time of Meditation for our Thanksgiving worship service next Sunday (November 24th) we are asked to give our monetary gifts for Share-a-Christmas to an usher, who will take the contributions to the altar for us as a symbol of our grateful responses to God’s goodness. You will raise your hands so that the ushers will know to come get your gift. This gift is in addition to your regular morning offering. This is a new experience for us to put money on the Thanksgiving altar, but it is fitting for this Sunday.

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

December Mission Project: Share-A-Christmas

Every year, many Tuscarawas County families turn to the Share-A-

Christmas program for assistance during the holiday season. This

year’s theme is, “Sleigh Bells Ring, Are You Listening?” Our church will

be participating by giving cash donations which will go toward clothing

voucher gift cards from Kohls. We will ONLY be collecting today and

Sunday Dec. 1^st as the money needs to be sent in time for distribution

for Christmas. Please make your check out to First Mennonite and

designate it for Share-A-Christmas. Bruce will then send in one check

from our church.

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

Mike Gehman: Hanna and Family will be going on a trip to Florida.

CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Sue Stauffer: Jim Cahill will have his last chemo treatment and should be going home.

Julie Gerber: Brother, Dean, has a brain bleed and has had two strokes.

THIS WEEK

Nov. 21^st Mennonite Action Emergency Mass Meeting at 8pm

Visit www.mennoniteaction.org for more information

Nov. 22 Zollikon Institute Choral Group performing at the First Moravian Church of Dover, 7pm

Nov. 22^nd Happy Birthday, Nikki Bahler

NEXT WEEK

Text: Psalm 7, 95 and 136; I Thessalonians 5:18; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 3:15, 4:2; II Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 5:19-20

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer

Head Usher: Leadership Team

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Dec. 1^st First Sunday of Advent

Dec. 7^th Light Up Sugarcreek 4-7pm

Dec. 8^th Advent Vespers: A Service of Lessons and Carols, at

St. Joseph Catholic Church, Dover 6pm

(music begins at 5:30, G. Randall Gibbs playing organ)

LAST WEEK

ATTENDANCE: 23

OFFERING: $1437.05

Change for a dollar: $12.05

Thanksgiving Reflections on Gratitude

For the Thanksgiving worship service on November 24^th, 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 give it to Sue today.

CHURCH LEADERSHIP

Pastor’s Hours: Wednesday 9:30 am-2:30 pm