Oct. 12, 2025

October 10, 2025

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

October 12, 2025



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


~Gathering~


Prelude: “I Need Thee Every Hour” --arr. Kaiser & Colvin,  

                    Sharon Goldsberry, Pianist; John Gearhart, Organist 

 

Welcome& Announcements

 

Focus Statement: 

Jesus taught many things to his disciples and the crowds that were there listening, about God’s kingdom and what it meant to follow him. Many things he taught were difficult to hear but he wanted to clearly explain the cost involved in choosing to follow him and becoming a disciple. Priorities of family may need to be realigned and one must be willing to carry his own cross if they want to be a disciple of Jesus. How can we grow in learning to count the cost, as we live out our calling to follow Christ today?

 

Time of Meditation: Invitation Medley: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus / I Have Decided to Follow Jesus / I Surrender All 

                                                 -sung by Anthem Lights 

 

Call to Worship: 

 Leader: Loving God, you call us to turn away from our own

               selfish interests, to take up our cross, and to follow you.

     People: To find our lives, may we live them in service of your

                    mission.

      Leader: As we come before you this morning, give us open

                    hearts and open hands.

     People:  Make us eager to hear your voice and seek your

                    guidance.

     Leader:  Open our minds to your ever-present spirit that is

                     always moving within and around us.

            All:  Open our spirits to your nudging and open our lives to

                     your love.

    Invocation

 

Hymn of Gathering: HWB 17 We Gather Together

 

~Praying & Praising~

   

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 (NIV)

        ALL: You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.
      Leader: You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive

                     my thoughts from afar.
      People: You discern my going out and my lying down; you

                     are familiar with all my ways.
      Leader: Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it

                     completely.
      People: You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your

                     hand upon me.
          ALL: Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for

                    me to attain.

      Leader: For you created my inmost being; you knit me

                     together in my mother’s womb.
      

 

 

 People: I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully

                 made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
  Leader: My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in

                the secret place, when I was woven together in the 

                depths of the earth. 
   People: Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days

                 ordained for me were written in your book before one

                 of them came to be.
        ALL: How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast

                  is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would

                  outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am

                  still with you.

 

Hymn of Praise: HWB 102 To God Be the Glory

 

Prayers of the People

 

~Hearing God’s Word~


Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

 

Message: “Hearing and Answering the Call”

 

~Responding~


Hymn of Response: HWB 544 When We Walk With the Lord

 

Offering Prayer


~Sending~


Sending Hymn: HWB 418 Move In Our Midst v1, 2

 

Benediction


Postlude: “Here I Am, Lord”

                        -arr. Lloyd Larson, sung by Ben VandeVere

 

Sending Words

 

WORSHIP                                                               9:30-10:30  

Minister:                                                                         Mike Gehman

Worship Leader                                                           Tabby Murphy

Song Leader:                                                                       April Shupe

Usher:                                                                                   Mike Keim

 

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

Mission Project for October: MCC Meat Canning

Your help is needed to fund MCC meat canning in Kidron: They are grateful for the volunteers who will help can 30,000 pounds of turkey in the Gerber Building behind Central Christian School from October 20-23. However, they are struggling to raise the necessary funds to pay for the canning. While they were able to secure a loan from MCC that enables the canning to move forward without delay, they need to raise $40,000 to repay the cost of the meat and canner operationsPlease consider supporting this important project, helping people in need around the world, providing important nutrients through canned meat. Make checks payable to First Mennonite, earmarked for Meat Canning and Bruce will send one check at the end of the month. 

 

100 Year Huddle: Timeline

In preparation for our 100-year anniversary we will be making a timeline of events and people who have been part of our church. Please join us on Oct. 26th after the church service to share your stories and memories and help us to complete the timeline. Please bring a cover dish from one of the church’s cookbooks.  

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Tabatha Murphy: Uncle Bill is at Mercy Medical Center for a kidney infection.

Melonie Blauch Archer: Thursday will be 5 years sense dad passed away. He loved this church.

 

THIS WEEK

Oct. 15th         Happy Birthday, Paul McNutt

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Oct. 26th         Heritage Sunday w/ Guest Speaker Perry Bush from Bluffton College and Carry-In Meal following worship

Nov. 23rd        Thanksgiving Sunday

 

NEXT WEEK          

Worship Leader:                                                                        Helene Torgler

Head Usher:                                                                                       Mike Keim

 

LAST WEEK

Attendance:                                                             17

Offering:                                                                   $1178

Change for a Dollar:                                               $19

Meat Canning:                                                        $220

Share A Christmas:                                                $20

                                               

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


August 7, 2026
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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
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