Oct. 26, 2025

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

October 26, 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.

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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

~Gathering~

Prelude: “This Is My Father’s World” – arr. Lloyd Larson

“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” – arr. Lloyd Larson

Welcome& Announcements

Focus Statement:

How do we live to be in the world but not of the world? There is so much in our culture that is innocent and wonderful in and of itself and can draw us towards God. But there are many other aspects of our culture that seduce us and pull us away. How do we manage this tension?

Time of Meditation: “Bist du bei mir” – J.S. Bach,

arr. by John Carter

Call to Worship:

(adapted from Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, 2024)

Leader: We gather today as people brought together by grace

and bound together in the family of God.

People: May God draw us together in love.

Leader: We are part of the people called Anabaptists, a

movement planted in the soil of prayer, Scripture

reading, community, bearing witness, baptism of

consenting adults, worship, nonviolence, steadfast

faith, communion, service, and stewardship.

People: May we be nourished and flourish in this soil.

Leader: In our heritage we have example of extreme courage

in following Jesus.

People: We believe that Jesus is the center of our faith;

community is the center of our lives, and

reconciliation is the center of our work.

Leader: We are part of a movement warmed by the Spirit and

watered by Christ.

People: May we sink our roots deep and extend our

branches high as we drink in the food of grace.

Leader: We are part of the people called Anabaptists, yes,

but more than that, we are God’s people, connected

to every Christ follower who was, who is, and who

will be by a network of roots tangled together in

love.

ALL: May we never stop seeking to comprehend the

breadth, length, height, and depth of the love of

Christ that roots us, grounds us, and binds us

together. Amen.

Invocation

Hymn of Gathering: VT 571 O God, We Read the Holy Law

tune: A Mighty Fortress by Martin Luther, 1529;

words by Michael Schneider, 1554)

(Sue will play the rhythmic version in the hymnal as an introduction

but we will sing the standard version of the tune.)

~Praying & Praising~

Prayers of the People

Hymn of Praise: VT 797 We Are People of God’s Peace

words based on Menno Simons’, 1552;

music by Johann Horn, 1544

~Hearing God’s Word~

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2 – Amy Stauffer-McNutt;

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 – Brad Shupe; Psalm 137:1-6– Nancy Yoder

Hymn: HWB 148 By the Waters

– April Shupe and Amy Stauffer-McNutt, song leaders

Message: “Preserving, Borrowing, and our Anabaptist

Heritage” – Dr. Perry J. Bush

~Responding~

Hymn of Response: VT 583 O Christ, Impart Your Teaching

True, - words by Michael Sattler, 1527

(the offering will be brought forth at this time)

Offering Prayer

~Sending~

Sending Prayer

Sending Hymn: VT 759 Take my Life and Let It Be

Postlude: “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” – arr. Lee Dengler

Sending Words – Dr. Perry Bush

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Guest Speaker: Dr. Perry Bush

Worship Leader Bruce Stauffer

Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer

Song Leader: April Shupe

Usher: Mike Keim

Biography – Dr. Perry J. Bush

Emeritus Professor of History

Dr. Perry Bush joined the Bluffton faculty in 1994. During his 30 years, Dr. Bush has been the historian’s voice of not only Bluffton’s campus history, but also captured important stories and impact of organizations in the northwest Ohio region, and for the Mennonite church. Perry served Bluffton’s faculty in many administrative roles, served in the community with local non-profits and in 2012, was selected as a Fullbright Scholar. But most importantly, Dr. Bush provided his students with transformative learning experiences through his passionate and lively teaching of history.

The service music and hymns for this service were chosen because of their time period and source, both with the lyrics and with the tune. Hopefully, they also re-state the theme for our worship. Another hymn that elaborates on the theme is VT 585 - Faith Begins by Letting Go.

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

Please join us today for a Heritage Sunday Carry-in Dinner in the Fellowship Hall following coffee and cookie time.

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 after the church service to help us begin to write down people and events that have been a part of our church. The timeline is located in the S.S. room beside the office.

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

April Shupe: Kathy Smith Miller’s husband Mark is battling bladder cancer. Also, Mom’s pain is getting better but she is still struggling with it.

Hannah Gehman: Mike was admitted into Cleveland Clinic.

Mennonite Mission Network: JCS International’s leadership at all levels and, especially for Gerlee (many Mongolian people identify with a single name), in her role as interim executive director. May God’s Spirit guide this leadership transition and pray for more long-term workers to help with the many opportunities to serve in Mongolia.

THIS WEEK

Oct. 31st Happy Birthday, Nancy Yoder

Oct. 31st Happy Birthday, Amy Hostetler

Nov. 1st Happy Birthday, Dan Yoder Jr.

Nov. 2nd Happy Birthday, Ambrosia Snyder

UPCOMING EVENTS

Nov. 16th Church Visitation Sunday (no church at FMC)

Nov. 23rd Thanksgiving Sunday

NEXT WEEK

Note: Next Sunday we will continue our Anabaptist at 500 celebration, meeting in the SS room beside the office.

Worship Leader: April Shupe

Head Usher: Leadership Team