Remembrance Sunday

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio November 6, 2022

Worship: 9:30-10:30

Fellowship Time: 10:30-11:00

Sunday School: 11:00-12:00

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                                                                                                   

All Saints Day

~Gathering~

Prelude:

Welcome & Announcements:

Focus Statement:

As we remember those who have gone before us, our loved ones,

those who have influenced us, and those who have led us on our

journey.  Let us remember that we too have a responsibility for

those that come after us, those who are in need, those who are

victims, and those who are unknowing of God's love and mercy.

Time of Meditation:

Call to Worship:

L:  It is right and good to give you thanks, Almighty God, for you are the source of light and life.

P:  You made us in your image and called us to new life in Jesus Christ.

L:  In all times and places your people proclaim your glory in unending praise.

P:  We praise you today for saints and martyrs, faithful people in every age who have followed your son, Jesus Christ.

L:  As they witnessed to Christ's resurrection, may we be strengthened by their witness and supported by their fellowship,

P:  that we may run with perseverance the race that lies before us and with them, receive the unfading crown of glory.  We praise you, almighty God, through Christ, your Son in the Holy Spirit.  AMEN.

Gathering Hymn:

"Come, We That Love" Voices Together #31

~Prayers & Praises~

Psalm Reading: Psalm 149

Congregational Prayers/Joys:

Ending Prayer:

Hymn of Praise:

"God of Our Strength" Voices Together #47

~Hearing God's Words~

Scripture: Ephesians 1:11-23; Hebrews 12:1-3

Message: "Finishing Strong"--by Mike Gehman

~Remembering and Responding~

All Saints Day Litany:

L:  Today we remember all those saints who have gone before us.  Their faithful lives and ideas form the foundation for our

own lives of faith.  They are people such as:

Donald Maust                         Melvin Leidig                             John Gehman

Wes Keim                                 Harvey Showers                       Rebecca Cahill

Lester Hostetler                    Brandon Shupe                         Khristen Snyder

Wilbur Miller                         Monroe E. Yoder                      Mike Snyder

Jesse Smucker                       Gene Miller                                Beverly McNutt

William Stauffer                   Esther Stauffer                        Sam McNutt

Donald Nester                       Marge Buckley                         Ruth Miller

Claude Boyer                         Albert Bessey                           Jake Miller

Dick Marshall                       Dan W. Yoder                           Olga Torgler

Russell L. Mast                     Kim Gerdeman                         William Torgler

Edward Mooney                  Berdene Barnes                        Geoff Stevanus 

                                                    Jim Armstrong

We stand on the shoulders of their ideas, their faith, and their lives.

                 (silence)

P:  Today we remember those whom we cannot name:  the homeless, the abused, the refugees.  Those who have perished as a result of the wars that dominated this year's news-papers--wars waged by our own nation, and wars waged by and within other countries.

                 (silence)

L:  Our lives are a continual accumulation of memory, constantly growing, evolving, shifting, shrinking, at time slipping away entirely, at times catching us up with breathtaking force.  Today we pause to carefully and thoughtfully tend to our memory of those who have gone before us.  We remember, we pray, and we sing in order to close gaps in our own lives that will always remain open, to heal wounds that will always be tender, to tend our memories of those whose lives make each of us what we are today.

Hymn of Response:

"For All the Saints" Voices Together #672

(the offering will be brought forward at this time)

Offering Prayer:

L:  There is no scarcity.  There is no shortage.  No lack of love, compassion, of joy in the world.  There is enough.  There is more than enough.  Only fear and greed make us think otherwise.  No one need starve.

P:  There is enough land and enough food.

L:  No one need die of thirst.

P:  There is enough water.

L:  No one need live without mercy.

P:  The more we give it, the more we share it, the more we use it, the more God makes.

L:  There is no scarcity of love.  AMEN.

~Sending~

Sending Hymn:

"Be Still My Soul" Voices Together #664

Benediction:

Postlude:

Words of Dismissal:

THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS AND PRAYS FOR                                                                               

For the opportunity to go out on a limb for Jesus.

Julie Gerber: Praise for the sharing that took place last Sunday during the Sunday School hour.  Many fond memories came back to us.  Also it was nice to hear the comments from the listeners from CDC.

Bill Flinner:  Prayers for Bill's wife Jean who fell last week and is in the hospital.

MMN:  Josia Kaemper, Anna Milsap and unit leader Rachel Musselman make up Mennonite Mission Network's Service Adventure unit in Jackson, Mississippi.  Pray for them as they participate in the ministries of Open Door Mennonite Church, by working with people experiencing homelessness and an after-school program.

Prayers for Mennonite Education-Bethel College, North Newton, KS:  Please pray for Bethel's new director of choral music, Henry Waters, as he leads his first public event, Bethel Sings, on campus this afternoon.  Freeman (SD) Academy:  We pray to find the best people in key staff positions.

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER                                                                                           

Next Week's Texts:

Harbor of Hope: This month's items are Canned Fruit & Veggies and are due on November 16th.

Mission Projects for November: Harbor of Hope: Canned Fruit & Veggies; Mitten Tree: Hats, Gloves, and Scarves

WORSHIP                                              9:30-10:00                                                                                         

Greeters:                                                                       April Shupe, Bertie Showers

Minister:                                                                       Mike Gehman

Worship Leader:                                                        Dan Hostetler

Song Leader:                                                                April Shupe

Organist:                                                                       Margaret Cheslock

Pianist:                                                                           Suzanne Stauffer

Head Usher:                                                                 Leadership Team 

THIS WEEK                                                                                                                                                       

Nov. 10th                Braden Shupe has a Birthday

Nov. 12th                Amy Stauffer-McNutt has a Birthday

UPCOMING EVENTS                                                                                                                                     

Nov. 16th              Harbor of Hope items due: Canned Fruit & Veggies

Nov. 24th              Thanksgiving Day

Nov. 25th              Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.

Nov. 27th              First Sunday of Advent

Nov. 29th              Homeless Shelter Mel 6:00 p.m.

Dec.   4th               Second Sunday of Advent

Dec.   7th               Leadership Team Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 11th               Third Sunday of Advent

Dec. 18th               Fourth Sunday of Advent

Dec. 21st                Harbor of Hope items due: Spaghetti Sauce & Pasta

Dec. 23rd               Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.

Dec. 24th               Christmas Eve Service starting at 4:00 p.m.

Dec. 25th               Christmas Day: no service today enjoy family time

Dec. 31st                Year-end Reports Due

Dec. 31st                    New Year's Eve

2023

Jan.   1st                 First Sunday after Christmas

Jan.   3rd               Leadership Team Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Jan.   6th               Old Christmas (Epiphany)

Jan.   8th                Epiphany Sunday

Jan. 24th               Harbor of Hope items due: Canned Fruit & Veggies

Jan. 24-27             MCC Meat Canning at Berlin, Ohio

Jan. 26th               Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.

Jan. 30th               Homeless Shelter Meal 6:00 p.m.

NEXT WEEK                                                                                                                                                       

Greeters:                                                                    Mike & Kristy Keim

Guest Minister:                                                        Darcy Miller

Worship Leader:

Song Leader:                                                              April Shupe

Head Usher:                                                               Leadership Team

CHURCH LEADERSHIP                                                                                                                                 

CHURCH:

Pastor:  Mike Gehman

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

Secretary: Tally Maust

Phone: 1-330-852-2822

Email: pastor@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