Nov. 24, 2024

November 23, 2024

Celebrating Thanksgiving

 

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

November 24, 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.

***************************************­

We seek to be a caring and discerning community, the gathered body

of Christ, that welcomes all to join in worship, study, and service.

******************************************

We embody God’s transforming and redeeming Spirit in the world

through our prophetic witness and action.

THE CHURCH WORSHIPS TOGETHER_____________________

We Give Thanks

 

~Gathering~

Prelude:

 “Thanks Unto Thee” -G.F. Handel arr. by Helen Litz

 “Rejoice, Give Thanks, and Sing” – arr. Douglas Wagner

 

Welcome & Announcements

 

Focus Statement: 

Thanksgiving is a communal time when we express our gratitude

to God for all the blessings we enjoy because of God’s goodness to

us. It is a time when we share what gives us pleasure and makes life meaningful for us. No matter what hard times we’re going through, we can always find some good. We lift each other up by sharing our thoughts. Therefore, today we are ALL asked to participate in the service.

 

Time of Meditation: 

“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” – arr. Janet Vogt

(Offerings for Share-a-Christmas will be given to an usher.

Raise your hand to indicate that you have a contribution.)

   

Call to Worship: 

     Leader:  Creating God, we bring to you our praise.

     People:  We give thanks for the bounty of earth, sea, and sky.

     Pastor:  We hold before you our joy and entrust to you our sorrow.

     People:  We are yours and made in your image.

     Leader:  Open us to the movement of your Spirit in and among

                    us.

     Pulpit Side:  Comfort us.

     Lectern Side:  Disturb us.

     Pastor:  Enlighten us.

     Leader:  Ignite us.

         ALL: Continue your creating ways in us and through us,

                   that your glory may be comprehended and your love

                   made visible. In the name of your Son, our Savior, we

                    pray. Amen.

 

Reflective Meditation: “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name”

                                                      – arr. Jeffrey Honore

Invocation

           

Hymns of Gathering:   

HWB 94 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come v1, 2

HWB 17 We Gather Together v1, 2

 

~Praying & Praising~

   

Scriptures about Thankfulness

         

Prayers of the People

 

~Hearing God’s Word~


Message: “Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart”

 

~Responding~


Hymn of Praise: HWB 89 For the Beauty of the Earth


Expressions of Gratitude


Hymn HWB 307 Will You Let Me Be Your Servant v1-5


Congregational Response: “His faithfulness is everlasting.”

 

Hymn of Praise: HWB 96 We Plow the Fields and Scatter


Expressions of Gratitude


Congregational Response: “His faithfulness is everlasting.”

 

Hymn of Praise: HWB 98 Sing to the Lord of Harvest v1


Expressions of Gratitude


Congregational Response: “His faithfulness is everlasting.”

 

Hymn of Offering: HWB 391 God, Whose Farm Is All Creation v1, 3

(the offering is brought forward)


Offering Prayer

 

~Sending~


Reading

 

Sending Words:

    ALL: God of all grace and love, we have praised you with our

               lips for all the richness and meaning that life holds for

               us. Now send us into the world to praise you with our

               lives, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  AMEN

 

  Sending Hymn: HWB #420 Heart with Loving Heart United,

                                                        v1, 3               

  Postlude: “Praise the Lord, the Heavens Adore Him”

                                                          – arr. Mary McDonald

 

  Benediction

 

  Departing Music: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”

                                             – arr. Cindy Berry

 

WORSHIP                                                           9:30-10:30  

    Minister:                                                                     Mike Gehman         

    Worship Leader:                                                        Bruce Stauffer               

    Song Leader:                                                                  April Shupe

     Pianist:                                                                           Sue Stauffer

     Usher:                                                                   Leadership Team               

 

A note about a special offering for today:

During the Time of Meditation for our Thanksgiving worship service today, 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

 

   The Small lap-size comforters that you see on the altar and in the front of the sanctuary will be donated to T4C for their new program to recognize the elderly at Christmas time. They were pieced by Suzanne Stauffer and knotted by Tabatha Murphy, Keo Sixiengmay, and Bertie Showers. We already donated 7 that were made by JoAnne Miller and knotted by various people in the congregation, plus 90 stuffed dolphin toys that were given to Bruce and Sue by Model T friends.

 

THE CHURH GIVES THANKS

Kristy Keim: After 5 weeks in the icu, Stetson is home.

Sue Stauffer: Jim Cahill is done with transplant and is home recovering.

Mike Gehman: Thank you for all the prayers for our family during this time without Hannah.

 

CHURCH PRAYS FOR        

April Shupe: Maragret can have visitors, is still having a hard time getting use to the nursing home.

Sue Stauffer: Maragret Nagle has passed away, also, Alan Stacy is struggling with depression and has a bed sore that won’t heal.

Bob Gerber: Julia was feeling nauseous yesterday and didn’t feel well enough to come today.

Bertie Showers: Brother Ken’s nursing home has broken out with scabies, so there are no visitors allowed to come.

Mike Gehman: Friend has a tumor that will more than likely need surgery to remove it.

 

THIS WEEK

Nov. 25th        Happy Birthday, Suzie Armstrong

Dec. 1st           Happy Birthday, Rick Maurer

 

NEXT  WEEK

Advent One Text: Daniel 6:6-27; Luke 23:1-5

Minister:                                                                                       Mike Gehman

Worship Leader:                                                                              April Shupe   

Head Usher:                                                                                    Herb Torgler

 

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:                                                                          21

 OFFERING:                                                                                 $670

 Change for a dollar:                                                            $9

 

   

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

August 14, 2026
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
August 7, 2026
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
July 30, 2026
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
July 24, 2026
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
July 17, 2026
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
July 10, 2026
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
July 3, 2026
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
June 20, 2026
First Mennonite Church Sugarcreek, Ohio June 21, 2026 Happy Father’s Day! Worship: 9:30 am Coffee & Fellowship Time: 10:30 am We believe in Jesus and take his life, teachings, death and resurrection as the model for how we live and the message we proclaim. ***************************************­ We seek to be a caring and discerning community, the gathered body of Christ, that welcomes all to join in worship, study, and service. ****************************************** We embody God’s transforming and redeeming Spirit in the world through our prophetic witness and action. THE CHURCH WORSHIPS TOGETHER God’s Faithfulness ~Gathering~ Prelude: “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” -arr. John Carter Welcome& Announcements Focus Statement: In Psalm 100:5, the psalmist declares that the Lord is good and his love endures forever, and his faithfulness continues through all generations. We have seen the many ways said that God has shown his love and faithfulness to us through the years, as followers of Jesus Christ and as believers who worship together as First Mennonite Church. How can we live and share about God’s love and great faithfulness in our lives, as we continue to follow Christ today? Time of Meditation: “Trust and Obey” -arr. Johanna Miller Call to Worship: Leader: Let us worship the eternal God, the Source of love and Life, who creates us. People: Let us worship Jesus Christ, the risen one who lives among us. All: To the one true God be praise, in all times and places, through the grace of Jesus Christ. Invocation Hymn of Gathering : HWB 71 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee ~Praising & Praying~ Psalm Litany: Psalm 89:1-8 (NIV) Leader: I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. People: I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. Leader: You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, People: ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’ Leader: The heavens praise your wonders, LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. People: For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings? Leader: In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. People: Who is like you, LORD God Almighty? All: You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. Hymn of Praise: HWB 70 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise Prayers of the People Hymn of Praise: HWB 327 Great is Thy Faithfulness ~Hearing God’s Word~ Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1--14 Message: “God’s love and faithfulness abounds…passing it on” ~Responding~ Hymn of Response: HWB 338 I Know Not Why God’s Wondrous (the offering will be brought forward) Offering Prayer ~Sending~ Sending Hymn: HWB 420 Heart with Loving Heart United Benediction: Leader: We go now with faith, trusting God’s Spirit to guide us; People: We go now with hope, waiting for the fullness of Christ’s reign. Leader: We go now with love, resting in God’s care and the care of God’s people. All: We go out with joy: to listen and speak, to sing and suffer, to proclaim good news, and give glory to God. Postlude: “A Gaelic Blessing” -John Rutter Deep peace of the running wave to you, Deep peace of the flowing air to you, Deep peace of the quiet earth to you, Deep peace of the shining stars to you, Deep peace of the gentle night to you, Moon and stars pour their healing light on you, Deep peace of Christ, of Christ the light of the world to you, Deep peace of Christ to you. Sending Words WORSHIP 9:30-10:30 Pastor: Mike Gehman Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer Usher: Mike Keim FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER Mission Project for June: My Coins Count Each year, coins and bills collected by children, families and churches along with matches add up to more than $600,000 toward MCC’s work around the world. Your coins (and bills and checks!) count! The money collected will be sent to the MCC Relief Sale held at Mt. Hope on July 10 th -11 th and go toward MCC water, education and/or food projects. Please stay for the Congregational Meeting today following worship. Remember: No church at FMC next Sunday, June 28 th . THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS FOR Melanie Blauch Archer: We went to Panama Beach to watch my granddaughter get married. Sue Stauffer: Greta and Issac are going to high school camp at Camp Friedenswald. THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR Melanie Blauch Archer: Cousin’s wife, Tammy was diagnosed with a mass in her chest. Also, Sony has passed away, prayers for family and friends. THIS WEEK June 24 th Happy Birthday, Bob Barnes June 26 th Happy Birthday, Helene Torgler June 28 th Visitation Sunday (No church at FMC) UPCOMING EVENTS July 3 rd Happy Anniversary, Dan & Amy Hostetler July 24 th Kick-Off 100 th Anniversary Event: Ice Cream Social IN TWO WEEKS: Worship Leader (7/5): Kristy Keim Head Usher: Leadership Team LAST WEEK Attendance: 27 Offering: $1195 My Coins Count: $35.25 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, OH 44681 CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM: Chairperson: Mike Keim Office Contact: Linda Yoder Mission Contact: Reno Stevanus Trustees Contact: Dan Hostetler Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt
June 12, 2026
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
June 6, 2026
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.