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
Change for a dollar: $18
Meat Canning: $125
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Pastor: Mike Gehman: 1-330-749-674
Email: pastor@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com
Pastor’s Hours: Wednesday 9:30a.m.-2:30p.m
Church Secretary: Tabatha Murphy
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
