Sept. 28, 2025

September 24, 2025

Rise Up, Take Courage



First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

September28, 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: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” – arr. Lloyd Larson

 

Welcome& Announcements

 

Litany for Dedication of MCC School Kits: 

  Leader: Almighty and gracious God,

  People: You have so richly blessed us and we are grateful that

                we can share of our bounty amid all the world’s poverty

                and pain.

 Tabby Murphy: We pray for the courage to give generously of

                               our resources, our time and abilities,  our

                               material wealth.

        Mike Keim: We pray for the strength to reject the

                               rationalizations which lead to indifference and

                               silence in this climate of entitlement and

                               insatiable desire.

     Nancy Yoder: We pray for confident hope, in the presence of

                                such overwhelming needs, to know that each

                                offering of money and kits makes a welcome

                                difference to others, and to you. We pray with  

                                fervent hearts and hopes for those who receive  

                                these school kits.

 

 Bruce Stauffer: We pray you would bless those who labor on

                               our behalf through all the work of Mennonite

                               Central Committee and its partners throughout

                               the world, that we would uphold them with

                               our prayers, our encouragement, our gifts, our

                               willingness to learn and to invite the suppor

                               of others.

               ALL:  Lord, bless these school kits, the hands of those

                          who distribute them, and the school children who       

                          receive them.  We are grateful for the opportunity

                          to be able to help further Your kingdom “in the

                          name of Christ.”

            Leader: AMEN. 

 

Focus Statement: 

   Our new CDC theme is “Rise up! Take courage!” God’s word of

   liberation and salvation for the Hebrew children begins with an

   invitation to Moses to “rise up and go.” The Psalmist proclaims,     

   “Let your heart take courage.” How is God’s invitation to

   liberation, salvation, and courage heard today?

 

Time of Meditation: “Go Down, Moses (with “Wade in the

                                                 Water”) – arr. Larry Shackley

Call to Worship: 

            All: Come, Holy Spirit,

     Leader:  Enter our silences,

           All: Come, Holy Spirit,

     Leader:  into the depths of our longing.

         All:  Come, Holy Spirit,

     Leader: unmask our pretending. enter our trusting, enter our

                 fearing, enter our letting go, enter our holding back.

       All:  Come, Holy Spirit,

     Leader: embrace and free us.


Invocation

 

Hymn of Gathering: VT 716 God of Grace and God of Glory

 

~Praying & Praising~

 

Prayers of the People

 

Hymn of Praise: VT 437 The Lord Is My Light

 

~Hearing God’s Word~


Scripture: Exodus 3:1-12, Exodus 9:13, Psalm 27:7-14

 

Message: “Rise up! Take courage! Your Deliverance Is Near.”

                       – Doug Luginbill, Central District Conf. Minister

 

~Responding~


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

(the offering will be brought forward at this time)

 

Offering Prayer


~Blessing Service~


Blessing for The Journey:  Doug Luginbill with

                                                      Amy Stauffer-McNutt

 

Hymn: VT 581 Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song

 

~Sending~


Sending Prayer

 

Sending Hymn:  VT 832 The Lord Lift You Up


Postlude: “This Little Light of Mine” – arr. Mark Hayes

 

Sending Words

 

 

WORSHIP                                                               9:30-10:30  

Guest Minister:                                                            Doug Luginbill

Worship Leader                                                            Mike Gehman

Pianist:                                                                        Suzanne Stauffer 

Usher:                                                                                Monk Yoder

 

Doug Luginbill and his wife, Paula, live in Bluffton, OH, and have two adult children who live with their spouses in beautiful, far-off places: Colorado and Montana. Doug grew up on a farm near Pandora, OH, where he attended Grace Mennonite Church, and is a graduate of Bluffton University and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Previous places of ministry include Camp Friedenswald, three Mennonite congregations, and Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio. Doug has served as Central District conference minister since 2016.

 

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

Mission Project for September: Share-A-Christmas

Every year, many Tuscarawas County families turn to this program for assistance during the holiday season. Please make your check out to First Mennonite, and Bruce will then send one contribution at the end of the month. Thank you for helping bring joy, love and peace to our neighbors in need this Christmas season! 

Mission Project for October: MCC Meat Canning

Your help is needed to fund MCC meat canning in Kidron: We 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, we are struggling to raise the necessary funds to pay for the canning. While we were able to secure a loan from MCC that enables the canning to move forward without delay, we 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. 

 

THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS

Hanna Gehman: Mike’s treatments are working and is getting better. Also, 10-year-old Ava, who had brain swelling from a bug bite came home on Wednesday.

Sue Stauffer: Was at our son in laws concert last night, thankful for different kind of music and people enjoying it.

Mark: Pure gift of God had an event to support their mission of adoption.

Keo Sixiengmay: I am in good health.

         

THIS WEEK

Oct. 5th           Happy Birthday, Margaret Cheslock

Oct. 5th           Happy Birthday, Tanh Sixiengmay

Oct. 5th           World Communion Sunday

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Oct. 26th         Heritage Sunday

Nov. 23rd        Thanksgiving Sunday

 

NEXT WEEK

Minister:                                                                                      Mike Gehman               

Worship Leader:                                                                            Kristy Keim

Head Usher:                                                                                  Monk Yoder

 

LAST WEEK

Attendance:                                                             18

Offering:                                                                   $1271

Change for a dollar:                                               $6

Share A Christmas:                                                $30

                                               

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


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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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