First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio October 23, 2022

Worship: 9:30-10:30THE

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.

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

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                                                                                                                                                 

Sacred Listening/Telling Our Stories

~Gathering~

Prelude: "We've a Story to Tell the Nations"--Lloyd Larson

Welcome & Announcements:

Focus Statement:

"You are witnesses of these things," Jesus says.  We gather still today

around the same amazing story, hearing how Jesus lived and seeing and

experiencing how Jesus lives still.  It is important to mark in worship the

significant moments of crisis and celebration in the life of the church, in our

own lives, and in that of our community.

Time of Meditation: "I Love to Tell the Story"--arr. Hugh S. Livingston Jr.

Call to Worship:

"Listen in the Silence" Voices Together #541

Opening Prayer/Invocation:

L:  Gracious and Eternal God, through Jesus Christ, you have joined us into one living body.

P:  Help us to perceive your unseen hand in the unfolding of our life together.  Working within and among us.

L:  Confront us with your tenderness and set us on fire.

P:  Enable us, by your Spirit, to walk together in unity of love and purpose, to uphold one another by word and example, to share our stories with one another, to listen carefully and with openness, and to live in faithful obedience to your will.

L:  By the mercy, justice, and respect we show one another, may we reach out to a watching and waiting world.

All:  In our work and worship may your glory be revealed and your name praised, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Gathering Hymn:

"I Owe the Lord a Morning Song" Voices Together #496

~Praying & Praising~

Old Testament Reading: I Samuel 3:1-11

Congregational Response:

"Listen in the Silence" Voices Together #541

Congregational Prayers:

Ending Prayer:

Hymn of Praise:

"There Are Many Gifts" Voices Together #374

~Hearing God's Word~

Scripture: Luke 24:35-49

Message: "Recall, Share, Repeat"--by Mike Gehman

~Response & Sending~

Hymn of Response:

"For We Are Strangers No More" Voices Together #409

(the offering will be brought forward at this time)

Offering Prayer:

L:  God of Jesus, Father of us all, with these gifts of money, of our talents, of our stories, of our sacred listening, we offer you our lives to do your work in the world.  Take our bodies and our minds,

P:  our work and our leisure.

L:  Our relationships with other people,

P:  our friendships, our family life, our church family,

L:  Our dreams and our doubts,

P:  our faith and our plans for the future.

L:  In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord,

P:  we bring them to you.  Amen.

Sending Hymn:

"The Hand of God Shall Hold You" Voices Together #671

Benediction:

Postlude:

"Here I Am, Lord"--arr. Jack Schrader

Voices Together #545

(congregation join in singing vs. 1,2 ("I have heard my people cry")

Words of Dismissal:

THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS AND PRAYS FOR                                                                                                                                 

For the opportunities to share our stories of life and faith.

Tyler and Jaden Murphy, the family of Gene Miller, Tabatha, Tyler, Jaden Murphy, Gloria, Ambrosia, Linda Snyder

MMN: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for Oscar Siwali and the SADRA (South Africa Development and Reconstruction Agency) Conflict Transformation personnel, as they do essential peacebuilding work in the South African context.  Pray that churches in the United States will also be willing to engage in the ministry of strategic peacebuilding.

Prayers for Mennonite Education-Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, IN:  Please pray for AMBS's Teaching Faculty members, who prepare their students for leadership in the church and world not only by challenging them academically but also by tending to their personal and spiritual formation as followers of Jesus and beloved children of God.  Bethel College, North Newton, KS:  Pray for the staff of Kauffman Museum at Bethel College as they host oral historian Ina Navazelski from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial in a special afternoon program, followed by one of the museum's annual major fundraising events.

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER                                                                                                                                             

Next Week's Texts: Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4; Psalm 119:137-144; Isaiah 1:10-18; Psalm 32:1-7 (7) CEB; II Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12; Luke 19:1-10

Harbor of Hope: This month's items are: Laundry and Cleaning Supplies and are due on October 26th.

Mission Projects for October: Harbor of Hope: Laundry & Cleaning Supplies

This Sunday:  We have 2 representatives from Central District Conference leading our service "Sacred Listening".  Followed by a catered meal in the Fellowship Hall.

Bertie Showers: Bertie has a new phone number: 330-852-5219

Remembrance Sunday:  The sign-up sheet in on the mailbox table, so if you would like to remember a loved one please sign the sheet.  Remembrance Sunday is November 6th.

Poinsettia Time: I know it's hard to believe but the sign-up sheet for the Christmas poinsettias is on the mailbox table.  I have to order them by Nov. 1st.  They are the same price as last year $8.50.

Game Night: We are having a time for games, fellowship, and food, on Sunday, October 30, starting at 4:00 p.m.  Bring a board/card game, snack or finger food, and invite a friend, for this time of fellowship and fun.  Drinks will be provided.

WORSHIP                                                                   9:30-10:30                                                                                                                 

Greeters:                                                                                                 Lizzie Keim, Keo Sixiengmay

Minister:                                                                                                  Mike Gehman

Worship Leader:                                                                                   Tally Maust

Song Leader:                                                                                          April Shupe

Organist:                                                                                                  Margaret Cheslock

Pianist:                                                                                                     Suzanne Stauffer

Head Usher:                                                                                           Mike Keim

THIS WEEK                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Oct. 23rd          Special Meeting with representatives from Central District Conference "Sacred Listening"

                               followed by a catered meal in the Fellowship Hall

Oct. 23rd            Vi Yoder has a Birthday today!

Oct. 26th           Harbor of Hope items due: Laundry & Cleaning Supplies

Oct. 28th           Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS                                                                                                                                                                                       

Nov.   2nd           Leadership Team Meeting 7:00 p.m.

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           1st Sunday of Advent

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

Dec.   4th            2nd 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            1st 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:                                                                                                           Bruce & Sue Stauffer

Minister:                                                                                                            Mike Gehman

Worship Leader:                                                                                           Julie Gerber 

Song Leader:                                                                                                  April Shupe

Head Usher:                                                                                                    Mike Keim

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

Trustee Contact: Dan Hostetler

Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt