Nov. 2, 2025

Anabaptism At Five Hundred

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

November 2, 2025

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

Anabaptism at 500

Belief Ten : Believers Baptism

~Gathering in the Royal Bible Classroom~

(around tables)

Welcome and Announcements

Focus Statement:

The believer’s church is a community of people who have chosen to live out the

gospel of Jesus Christ together. For Anabaptists, believers’ baptism is the practice

by which a youth or adult joins a believer’s church community. The believer’s

church is separate from the civil government. Baptism can happen in several

ways. It may include the sprinkling or pouring of water on an individual’s head;

sometimes the person is immersed completely in water.

Scripture: Luke 3:21-22

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also

had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,

and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove.

Time of Meditation: VT 555 Lord, I Am Fondly, Earnestly Longing

Call to Worship: (Ephesians 4:1-6)

Leader: Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been

called.

People: Be humble and gentle in every way. Be patient with each

other and lovingly accept each other.

Leader: Through the peace that ties you together, do your best to

maintain the unity that the Spirit gives.

People: There is one body and one Spirit. In the same way, we were

called to share one hope.

ALL: There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Creator

of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.

Invocation

Hymn of Gathering: VT 387 We Are One in the Spirit

~Scripture and Stories~

Early Anabaptist Story: Anna Manz – Bertie Showers

Early Anabaptist Story in Drama #1:

“Baptisms in Felix Manz’s House: January 21, 1525”

Background – Worship Leader, Narrator – Reno Stevanus,

Reader 1 – Kristy Keim, Reader 2 – Bob Gerber

~Praising, Praying and Responding~

Hymn of Praise: HWB 438 I Sing with Exultation

Prayers of the People

~Storytelling~

Global Story: Wencesiao Flores and his wife Anatilde – Bruce Stauffer

Drama from the Martyrs Mirror:

“I Appeal to the Scriptures: Michael Sattler,1527”

Background – Worship Leader, Narrator - Helene Torgler ,

Count – Dan Hostetler, Sattler – Mike Keim, Clerk – Tabby Murphy

Hymn: VT 576 Who Now Would Follow Christ

Scriptures: Galatians 3:26-28 – Nancy Yoder

Matthew 28:16, 18-20 – Suzanne Stauffer

~Responding~

Prayer of Confession – read by congregation:

Sky-shattering God, we confess that we have not always paid much

attention to the baptism of Jesus, but viewed it as a nice story which

begins Jesus’ ministry. We don’t always see ourselves as standing in

that long line of those marked for service; and therefore it is easy for us

to dismiss this as a nice story and nothing more. Yet you have called us

by name, knowing each of us, and loving us. We are astonished by this.

We know that we have behaved in very unloving ways and in some

behaviors which do not promote your love and peace Forgive us for our

blindness. Turn us around. Help us to be people who not only recognize

the light, but who are willing to live in that light, bringing help to

others in your name. For we pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Words of Assurance

Hymn of Response: VT 556 I Bind My Heart This Tide

Offering Prayer

~Sending~

Sending Hymn: VT 443 I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

Benediction Prayer

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: April Shupe

Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer

Head Usher: Leadership Team

Our On-Going Series on Anabaptist Beliefs:

In 2018 Lisa Weaver and Elizabeth Miller, as part of the Bearing Witness Stories project, wrote a book for children entitled Let the

Children Come to Me: Nurturing Anabaptist Faith within Families.

“The materials gathered together in this book beautifully

illustrate the central convictions of the Anabaptist tradition.”

-John D. Roth, Director of the Institute for the

Study of Global Anabaptism

As residents of Holmes and Tuscarawas counties, oftentimes we each have been asked, “Are Mennonites Amish?” and “What do you believe that’s different from other Protestant denominations?” It’s sometimes

hard to come up with an explanation of our faith. Hopefully this series of worship services (that will be spread out through this year of Anabaptism at 500) will enable us to answer these questions more accurately. We are basing this series on the above-mentioned book.

In conjunction with our Anabaptist at Five Hundred celebration this year, we would love to have pictures of any community, service and/or peace experiences our church members have experienced over the years. Please give to April or Tabby who will scan them into the computer. You will get them back.

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

Mission Project for November: Homeless Shelter of Tuscarawas County

(more info coming next week)

THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS

Bertie Showers: Thank you for all the prayers, I am feeling better.

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Sue Stauffer: Friend, Janice Stouffer has died, prayers to friends and family. Also, French pen pal’s husband, Eric Main fell and is in the hospital. Jim Cahill’s cancer is back and will be starting chemo next week. Mike Gehman is in Cleveland Clinic and is getting the care he needs. Also, Hannah is having sciatica problems and is having problems walking.

April Shupe: Kathy Smith Miller’s husband had a UTI that prevented surgery. Also, her sister, Judy fell and broke her hip, she will need a hip replacement.

Amy Hostetler: Toby Kirks died suddenly leaving behind an ill mother and young niece.

NEXT WEEK

Guest Minister: Darcy Miller

Worship Leader: Tabatha Murphy

Head Usher: Leadership Team

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Nov. 16th Church Visitation Sunday (No church at FMC)

Nov. 23rd Thanksgiving Sunday

Nov. 30th Advent Begins

LAST WEEK

Attendance: 25

Offering: $1640