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 17th 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 27th, 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 17th Maundy Thursday Supper and Communion Service, 5:30
April 18th Happy Birthday, Wayne Schrock
April 20th Sonrise Service 8 am, followed by breakfast
Easter Service 10 am
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 27th Celebration of Life for Julie Gerber, 11 AM
(No regular morning service)
NEXT WEEK
Text for Easter Sunday: Luke 24: 1-12
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer
Head Usher: Herb Torgler
LAST WEEK
ATTENDANCE: 25
OFFERING: $1178
Change for a dollar: $7
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, Ohio 44681
CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM:
Chairperson: Mike Keim
Office Contact: Linda Yoder
Mission Contact: Reno Stevanus
Trustees Contact: Dan Hostetler
Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt
