April 13, 2025

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

April 13, 2025

Worship: 9:30 – 10:30

Fellowship Time: 10:30-12:00

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

Palm Sunday:

Christ Collides With Our Expectations

~Gathering~

Prelude: "All Glory, Laud, and Honor" - arr. Lloyd Larson

Welcome& Announcements

Focus Statement:

Christ’s reality often collides with our expectations, which are shaped by our past experiences, society, internal desires, hopes and knowledge. They influence how we see things, people and even ourselves. However, sometimes our expectations don’t match reality, which can be confusing, frustrating and disappointing. This is exactly what happened when Christ collided with the expectations of the disciples, Pharisees and the crowd in Jerusalem. How will we react when our expectations are challenged?

Time of Meditation: "The Palms" - Jean Baptiste Faure,

arr. Lawrence Grant

Call to Worship:

Leader: As we worship this Palm Sunday, Christ collides with our

expectations.

People: Have we not collided enough?

Leader: In deep compassion, our Lord sets out a mission of full

life.

People: Form us fully, Jesus.

Leader: “Blessings on the king who comes in the name of the

Lord.

People: Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens.”

All: Our Lord, it is time for you to work in and with us as

we worship you!

Invocation

Hymn of Gathering: HWB 237 All Glory, Laud and Honor

~Praying & Praising~

Prayers of the People

Hymn of Praise: HWB 68 O Come, Loud Anthems Let Us Sing

~Hearing God’s Word~

Scripture: Luke 19:29-44

Hymn: HWB 238 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

Message: “What Are Your Expectations?”

~Responding~

Prayer of Confession and Words of Assurance:

All: Loving and merciful God, we confess that we have

sinned against you.

Leader: We have not loved you with all our thoughts, words,

and actions.

People: We have sinned through what we have chosen to

do and what we have chosen to neglect.

Leader: We have not fully accepted your love for us. We

have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

People: We cling to our expectations, and we do not make space

for you to challenge them.

All: We repent before each other and before you, our loving

God. Please help us open our hearts to your love. Help

us let go of our narrow expectations so we may better

share your peace in your world, rejoicing in your

name. Amen.

Hymn of Response: HWB 405 Where Cross the Crowded Ways

Offering Prayer

~Sending~

Sending Hymn: HWB 239 Ride On, Ride On in Majesty

Benediction

Leader: Love God, you who are God’s holy people,

People: for God’s love endures forever.

Leader: Praise God, and give thanks.

People: for God’s love endures forever.

Leader: Expect God, and welcome God’s grace,

All: for God’s love endures forever.

Postlude: "Ride on, King Jesus" - arr. Lloyd Larson

Sending Words

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Kristy Keim

Usher: Herb Torgler

Lentin Theme 2025: Christ Collides

This year, we are using many of the parables that Jesus shared in his

ministry. It has been said that the origin of the word parable is two

things that collide, and if you, upon hearing a parable, do not feel the

impact of the collision, you are probably missing something. In many

parables, Jesus throws a surprise beside or in comparison with

something else. Each week’s texts offer a glimpse into how the

content of his teachings collides with us and our world. The visuals

on the altar serve as a reminder of our collisions each Sunday:

Lent 1: Bias – Optical illusion of the name, “Jesus,” which reminds us

to keep our focus on Jesus to transform our thoughts and

actions.

Lent 2: Condemnation – Fig Tree and a gavel; the fig tree is

incapable of healing itself and incapable of self-justification,

while the gavel reminds us it is not our job to condemn

others.

Lent 3: Priorities – A clock, cell phone and TV remote; how are we

spending our time? How might realigning our priorities

with Christ shape our community of faith?

Lent 4: Selfishness ---Treasure Chest filled with coins; reminds us

to loosen our grip on what we have and challenge the

selfishness of our society with open hands.

Lent 5: Blinders --- A horse collar with blinders attached, and

hanging on the cross, a sleep mask; What do our blinders

keep us from seeing? What blinders must we remove to

receive a clear understanding of truth, faith, and

compassion?

Palm Sunday: A crown --- reminds us that Christ’s reality often

collides with our expectations, as it did with the Jerusalem

crowd and even Jesus’ disciples, who expected him to

become a king who would put an end to Roman rule.

Christ’s reality will surprise us, collide with us and

transform our thinking into kingdom living.

In conjunction with our Anabaptist at Five Hundred celebration this year, we would love to have pictures of any community, service and/or peace experiences our church members have experienced over the years. Please give to April or Tabby who will scan them into the computer. You will get them back!

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

Mission Project April: Garaway Released Time Offering

The Garaway School District offers a released time program, also known as "Cabin" allowing students in grades K-12 to attend religious instruction during the school day with parental approval, a program that has been in place for 60 years.

Maundy Thursday Supper and Communion Service, Thursday April 17^th at 6 pm—Bring a quart of vegetable soup to add to the common pot and join us for a light supper, followed by a communion service in the Fellowship Hall.

Easter Sonrise Service will begin at 8 am in the Fellowship Hall, followed by breakfast. The Easter Service will begin in the sanctuary at 10 am. Invite your family and friends!

Please note that on April 27^th, we will not be having our usual church service at 9:30; instead, we will be having Julie Gerber’s Celebration of Life in the form of a worship service at 11, with music beginning at 10:45, and a lunch following, in which all are invited to stay and share more stories about Julie.

THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS

Tabatha Murphy: After 10 years the doctors have found the problem to some of my health issues and may be able to fix it.

Melanie Blauch Archer: Thankful for all the prayers for Dave, also thankful for the card from Sue and Bruce.

Sue Stauffer: All 24 comforters are done being knotted.

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Bertie Showers: Sister’s funeral service will be this Saturday at 11 am. Also, brother Ken is not doing well, he has developed pneumonia. Update: Ken passed away on Thursday. Please keep the Mast family in your prayers.

Dan Hostetler: College roommate Randy is in the hospital having surgery on his kidneys and is not doing well.

Nancy Yoder: Roman Yoder fell breaking 6 ribs and is now in rehab.

THIS WEEK

April 17^th Maundy Thursday Supper and Communion Service, 5:30

April 18^th Happy Birthday, Wayne Schrock

April 20^th Sonrise Service 8 am, followed by breakfast

Easter Service 10 am

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 27^th Celebration of Life for Julie Gerber, 11 AM

(No regular morning service)

NEXT WEEK

Text for Easter Sunday: Luke 24: 1-12