Oct. 12, 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 operations. Please 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