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