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. 1st 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. 21st 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. 22nd 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. 1st First Sunday of Advent
Dec. 7th Light Up Sugarcreek 4-7pm
Dec. 8th 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 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 give it to Sue today.
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
