Sept. 7, 2025

September 5, 2025

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

September 7, 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                   

"A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing."

 

Welcome& Announcements

 

Focus Statement: 

Jesus taught many things to his disciples and the crowds that were

there listening about God’s kingdom and what it meant to follow him. Many things he taught were difficult to hear but he wanted to clearly explain the cost involved in choosing to follow him and becoming a disciple. Priorities of family may need to be realigned and one must be willing to carry his own cross if they want to be a disciple of Jesus. How can we grow in learning to count the cost, as we live out our calling to follow Christ today?

 

Time of Meditation: "Day by Day and with Each Passing

                                             Moment" - arr. Lloyd Larson

"Day by day and with each passing moment strength

I find to meet my trials here;..."

 

 

Call to Worship: 

       Leader: Loving God, you call us to turn away from our own

                       selfish interests, to take up our cross, and to follow

                       you.

       People: To find our lives, may we live them in service of

                      your mission.

       Leader: As we come before you this morning, give us open

                      hearts and open hands.

       People: Make us eager to hear your voice and seek your

                      guidance.

       Leader: Open our minds to your ever-present spirit that is

                      always moving within and around us.

       People: Open our spirits to your nudging and open our

                       lives to your love. 

 

Invocation

 

Hymn of Gathering: HWB 349 Spirit of the Living God

 

~Praying & Praising~

   

Old Testament Scripture:  Jeremiah 18:1-11

 

Prayers of the People

 

Hymn of Praise: HWB 59 Sing praise to God who reigns

 

~Hearing God’s Word~

   

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

   

Message:  “Hearing and Answering the Call”


~Responding~

   

Instrumental: “Count Well the Cost”

     (follow along with the words in VT 577)


Prayer: (together)

           Living God,

           by the power of your Spirit,

              help us to hear your holy word,

                that we may truly understand;

                          that, understanding, we may believe;

                           and believing, we may follow 

                                  in faithfulness and obedience,

                                       seeking your honor and glory in all we

                                                   do, through Jesus Christ, Amen

 

Hymn of Response: HWB Take My Life v1, 3, 4, 6

(the offering will be brought forward at this time)

 

Offering Prayer


~Sending~


Sending Hymn:  HWB 504 Have Thine Own Way

 

Benediction

 

Postlude: "Be Not Afraid" - Robert J. Dufford,

                      arr. by Douglas Wagner

Refrain:  ":Be not afraid. I go before you always.

Come follow me and I will give you rest."

 

Sending Words:

 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.  

 Leader: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

                       and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you

                       all.   

 

 

WORSHIP                                                               9:30-10:30  

Minister:                                                                         Mike Gehman

Worship Leader                                                           Helene Torgler 

Pianist:                                                                        Suzanne Stauffer 

Usher:                                                                                Monk Yoder

 

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! 

 

Note: We will be meeting in the Royal Bible Sunday School classroom the next two Sundays.

 

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR        

Tabatha Murphy: Cousin Larry Flinner’s mom Eunice “dody” Young has passed away, prayers for friends and family.

Mike Gehman: Brianna will be having a C-section this week, prayers for a speedy delivery and recovery.

 

THIS WEEK

Sept. 8th          Happy Birthday, Michael Yoder

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sept. 19th-21st             Women’s Retreat @ Camp Friedenswald

Sept. 26th-27th            Swiss Festival

 

NEXT WEEK

Minister:                                                                                      Mike Gehman               

Worship Leader:                                                                        Dan Hostetler

Head Usher:                                                                                  Monk Yoder

 

LAST WEEK

Attendance:                                                             20

Offering:                                                                   $940

Change for a dollar:                                               $8

                                               

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


August 14, 2026
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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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June 6, 2026
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