Seeking God's Ways

Tally Maust • March 26, 2022

Seeking God's Ways

Lent 4:

From Exceptionalism to Inclusion


First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio March 27, 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.

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

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 TOGETEHER                                                                                                                                                             


Seeking God's Ways

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways, says the LORD."   Isaiah 55:8

Lent 4:  From Exceptionalism to Inclusion


Prelude: "Shall We Gather at the River" arr. Mary McDonald

Welcome & Announcements:

Dedication of the old Choir Robes:

Focus:  "As we seek God's way, we move from a sense that "we" and

"ours" have special standing to the knowledge that all are equally

parts of God's kingdom."


~Gathering~


Time of Meditation: "Let Us Break Bread Together" arr. Mark Hayes

*Call to Worship:

Leader:  Together we seek the way of God,

People:  rejoicing that we are new creations in Christ.

Leader:  From a human point of view, we demand what is ours.

People:  but through Jesus we learn that all share in God's inheritance.

Leader:  Let us join God's feast,

People: where all celebrate together.

All:  Let us live out God's way of inclusion.

Invocation:


Hymn of Gathering:

"Jesus, Stand Among Us" Hymnal a Worship Book #24


~Prayer & Praise~


Old Testament Reading: Psalm 32:1-5

Congregational Prayer/Sharing Our Joys and Concerns:

Lenten Prayer of Confession:

Leader:  Holy One, we seek you while you may be found.

People:  We call upon you while you are near.

Leader:  Have mercy on us, O God, for your thoughts are not our thoughts and our ways are not your ways.

People:  Forgive us for thinking we deserve special treatment.  Lead us to radical inclusion.

Leader:  As we walk with Christ on this Lenten journey, let us see your way more clearly,

All:  and follow your way more faithfully.

Prayer:


Hymn of Praise:

"All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord" Hymnal a Worship Book #21

(vs. 1, 2, 3, 4)


~Hearing God's Word~


Scripture/Hymn Medley: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

"Far, Far Away From My Loving Father" Hymnal a Worship Book #139

Message: "Lost Sons and the Father's Love"  by Mike Gehman


~Response & Sending~


Responsive Reading:

Leader:  Your ways, O God, are higher than our ways.

People:  Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts.

Mike Keim:  We seek God's ways.

All:  Lord, move us from, our tribal thinking to your radical inclusion.


Hymn of Response:

"New Earth, Heavens New" Hymnal a Worship Book #299

(the offering will be brought forward at this time)

Offering Prayer:


Sending Hymn:

"We are People of God's Peace" Hymnal a Worship Book #407

(vs. 1, 2)


Sending Words:

Postlude: "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us" arr. Mary Mc Donald

Words of Dismissal:


THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS AND PRAYS FOR                                                                                 

For God's Grace that we do not have to earn, all we have to do is to receive it.

Margaret Cheslock, Bertie Showers, Gene Miller, Suzie Armstrong, the family of Rebecca Cahill, Jason Stein, Buddy Mast

MMN: Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for Monika Neufeld, a nerse who is serving as an intern with CASAS ( a program of Serminario Anabaptista Latinoamericano, SEMILLA) in Guatemala.  Pray for her as she works with other medical staff at a rural clinic to respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prayers for Mennonite Education-Bluffton University (OH): Fall semester registration begins this week.  Please pray for Bluffton University students as they continue their studies and advance to the next chapter of their lives.


FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER                                                                                             

Next Week's Texts: Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; John 12:1-8; Philippians 3:4b-14

Harbor of Hope: 21 items of Paper Product were taken to the Harbor of Hope this past Wednesday.  Thank you for your generous contributions.  The items for April are Spaghetti Sauce & Pasta and are due on Wednesday, April 27.

Mission Projects: Harbor of Hope: Paper Products; MCC Relief Kits

Relief Kits: Some have been asking the cost of making a relief kit.  It depends on where you shop.  I would say between $30.00-80.00 for a completed kit.


WORSHIP                                                                   9:30-10:30                                                                   

Greeters:                                                                                                                  Bruce & Sue Stauffer

Minister:                                                                                                                  Mike Gehman

Worship Leader:                                                                                                   Kristy Keim

Song Leader:                                                                                                           April Shupe

Organist:                                                                                                                  Margaret Cheslock

Pianist:                                                                                                                      Suzanne Stauffer

Head Usher:                                                                                                            Leadership Team


THIS WEEK                                                                                                                                                           

March 29                 Homeless Shelter Meal 6:00 p.m.


UPCOMING EVENTS                                                                                                                                         

April   6                     Leadership Team Meeting 7:00 p.m.

April 10                     Palm Sunday

April 14                     Maundy Thursday Communal Soup/Communion 6:30 p.m.

April 17                      Easter Sonrise Service 8:00 a.m.  Breakfast  /  Main Service 10:00 a.m.

April 22-23              Ohio MCC Comforter Bash

April 27                     Harbor of Hope items due: Spaghetti Sauce & Pasta

April 29                     Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.

May   4                       Leadership Team Meeting 7:00 p.m.

May   8                       Mother's Day

May 25                       Harbor of Hope items: Laundry & Cleaning Supplies

May 27                       Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.

May 30                         Memorial Day

May 31                       Homeless Shelter Meal 6:00 p.m.


NEXT WEEK                                                                                                                                                         

Greeters:                                                                                                       April Shupe, Bertie Showers

Minister:                                                                                                       Mike Gehman

Worship Leader:                                                                                        April Shupe

Song Leader:                                                                                                April Shupe

Head Usher:                                                                                                 Herb Torgler


CHURCH LEADERSHIP                                                                                                                                   

CHURCH;

Pastor: Mike Gehman

Pastor's Hours: Wednesday 9:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.

Secretary: Tally Maust

Phone: 1-330-852-2822

Email: pastor@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com

Website: http//fmcsugarcreek.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



 




 


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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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