Sept. 28, 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.

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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: “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 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.

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. 5^th Happy Birthday, Margaret Cheslock

Oct. 5^th Happy Birthday, Tanh Sixiengmay

Oct. 5^th World Communion Sunday

UPCOMING EVENTS

Oct. 26^th Heritage Sunday

Nov. 23^rd Thanksgiving Sunday

NEXT WEEK

Minister: Mike Gehman