September 25, 2022
Introduction to Voices Together II
"God's Call"
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio September 25, 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.
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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
Introduction to Voices Together II
"God's Call"
(*hymns new to FMC-please follow along with your hymnal as
the Prelude and Time of Meditation are being played.)
Prelude: *VT 543 "There Is a Line of Women" (--A new hymn we'll be singing later in the service. You are invited
to follow along in Voices Together)
Welcome & Announcements:
Focus Statement:
"God's call-something we listen for every day. For many people of
faith, that question is alternately a source of mystery, frustration,
confusion, an hope. Does God have a fine-tuned plan for each of
us, or is God's call more general, with the details left up to us?
There is work that God calls of us to do, and it's laid out for us
in the Bible. God makes it clear again and again that we're to love
others, care for the poor, and live our lives in such a way that we
point to the power of the gospel!" (World Vision.) Our hymnal,
Voices Together, also has a variety of rich hymns and readings
addressing many aspects of how we can hear God speaking to us
and we will explore some of those today.
Time of Meditation: *VT 542 "Christ Calls to Me" (--A new hymn we'll be singing later in the service. You are
invited to follow along in Voices Together)
Call to Worship: VT 851
Leader: Jesus calls us to praise and prayer, to song and silence;
People: Jesus calls us to worship.
Leader: Jesus calls us to hearing and healing, to service and solidarity;
People: Jesus calls us to love.
Leader: Jesus call us to advocacy and action, to protest and provision;
People: Jesus calls us to justice.
Leader: We hear the call of Christ.
All: We worship together with joy.
Opening Prayer: VT 1029
Instrumental Response: VT 541 "Listen in the Silence"
Hymn of Gathering:
"Will You Come and Follow Me" Voices Together #540 (all vs.)
Scripture 1: Proverbs 31:8-9
1 Nancy Yoder. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and
judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Congregational Prayers:
Ending Prayer:
Scriptures 2,3,4: Isaiah 1:17, Isaiah 58:6-7; Micah 6:8
2. Wayne Schrock. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the
case of the widow.
3. Dotti Schrock. Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the
yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to
provide the poor wanderer with shelter--when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not turn away from
your own flesh and blood?
4. Bertie Showers. He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to
love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Instrumental Response: *VT "Listen in the Silence"
Hymns of God's Calling, Group 1:
"I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" Voices Together #536 (vs. 1)
"Lord, You Sometimes Speak" Voices Together #537 (all vs.)
*"God Speaks to Us in Bird and Song" Voices Together #539
(vs. 1-3 read by Jean Flinner, vs. 4-sung in unison)
Instrumental Response: *"Listen in the Silence" Voices Together #541
Scriptures 5, 6, 7, 8: Matthew 6:33-34; Mark 16:41; I Corinthians 7:17; Ephesians 4:1-6
5. Jaden Murphy. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things well be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough
troubles of its own.
6. Lizzie Keim. He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
7. Kristy Keim. Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them,
just as God has called them. this is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
8. Mike Gehman. As a prisoner for the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be
completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one god and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Hymns of God's Call Group 2:
*"Christ Calls to Me" Voices Together #542 (all vs.)
"Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling" Voices Together #544 (vs. 1)
*"There is a Line of Women" Voices Together #546 (all vs. repeat last line)
Scriptures 9, 10: Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 12:1-2
9. Margaret Cheslock. Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus,
whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.
10. Linda Yoder. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us thrown off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out
for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he
endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Reading: Voices Together #922
Hymn of Response:
"Listen in the Silence" Voices Together #541
Hymns of God's Call Group 3:
*"By Night, We Hasten" Voices Together #543 (3X, the last time humming)
"How Clear Is Our Vocation" Voices Together #547 (vs. 1)
Scripture 11: I Peter 4:10-11
11. Helene Torgler. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's
grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things god may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of Benediction: Voices Together #1068
Postlude: "Here I Am Lord" voices Together #545 vs. 1,2
(with piano accompainiment-April will lead)
Words of Dismissal:
THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS AND PRAYS FOR
For the peace that God gives to us to give to the world.
Julie's sister Phyllis, Gene Miller, Herb and Helene Torgler, Linda Yoder, Vivian Miller
MMN: Praise god for the new partnership program created by Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS), Meserete Kristos Seminary and Mennonite Mission Network, which offers a master's level curriculum in theology to Ethiopian student. Pray for the students, as well as for Henok Mekonin and Joe Sawatzky, who are jointly supported by AMBS and Mission Network, as they provide leadership.
Prayers for Mennonite Education-Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, IN: Give thanks for God's work in the lives of AMBS students (in both graduated and Lifelong Learning programs)-calling them to ministry and theological study and providing a community in which they can learn, grow, and be mentored. The City School, Philadelphia, PA: Please pray for increased enrollment at each of our campuses.
MC-USA: The Mennonite Church USA Executive Board will be meeting Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in San Antonio, Texas. Pray for God's guidance, wisdom and support in their discussions and decision making.
FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER
Next Week's Texts: Lamentations 1:1-6, 3:19-26; Psalm 137; Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4; Psalm 34:1-9; II Timothy 1:1-14 (5);
Luke 17:5-10
Harbor of Hope: This month's items are PB & Jelly, and they are due on September 28th.
Mission Projects for September: Harbor of Hope: PB & Jelly; Share-A-Christmas/Tuff Bags: underwear and socks
WORSHIP 9:30-10:30
Greeters: Bruce & Sue Stauffer
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer
Song Leader: April Shupe
Organist: Margaret Cheslock
Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer
Head Usher: Monk Yoder
THIS WEEK
Sept. 27th Janet Maust has a Birthday
Sept. 27th Worship Committee Meeting 10:30a.m.
Sept. 28th Harbor of Hope items due: PB & Jelly
Sept. 29-Oct. 1 Ohio Swiss Festival
Oct. 2nd World Wide Communion
UPCOMING EVENTS
Oct. 5th Leadership Team Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 26th Harbor of Hope items due: Laundry & Cleaning Supplies
Oct. 28th Senior Breakfast @ Dutch Valley 9:00 a.m.
Oct. 31st Halloween
NEXT WEEK
Greeters: April Shupe, Bertie Showers
Worship Leader: April Shupe
Song Leader: April Shupe
Head Usher: Mike Keim
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
CHURCH:
Pastor: Mike Gehman
Pastor's Hours: Wednesday 9:30a.m.-2:30p.m.
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
Missions Contact: Reno Stevanus
Trustees Contact: Dan Hostetler
Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt
