April 6, 2025
First Mennonite Church
Sugarcreek, Ohio
April 6, 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
Lent Five:
Christ Collides With Our Blinders
~Gathering~
Prelude: "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"
- arr. Larry Shackley
Welcome& Announcements
Focus Statement:
Blinders can be a hindrance to our perception and judgment. They can restrict our view and obscure the complete picture of a
situation. In the book of Luke, we find three narratives, each depicting an encounter between Jesus and individuals or groups with blinders. These stories highlight the significance of recognizing our blinders and removing them to attain a clear understanding of truth, faith, and compassion. What do our blinders keep us from seeing?
Time of Meditation: "Open My Eyes, That I May See"
- arr. Larry Shackley
Call to Worship:
Leader: As we worship, Christ collides with our blinders.
People: We want to know you and follow you, O Christ.
Leader: Will you cry to God? Will you climb a tree?
People: We will journey, scanning the horizon for signs of
the kingdom. So much is hidden, and at times we
do not grasp what God is saying.
Leader: Jesus, show us mercy.
People: Seek and save us.
All: Jesus, show us mercy.
Invocation
Hymn of Gathering: VT 10 Here In This Place
~Praying & Praising~
Prayers of the People
Hymn of Praise: VT 411 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
~Hearing God’s Word~
Scripture: Luke 18:31-34, 35-43; 19:1-10
Readers---Mike Keim, Kristy Keim, Brad Shupe
Message: “Blinders: What prevents you from seeing Jesus?”
~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 walk through our days with blinders on, unable to
see and understand clearly.
All: We repent before each other and before you, our loving
God. Please help us open our hearts to your love. Help
us walk with open eyes and hearts so we may better
share your peace in your world, rejoicing in your
name. Amen.
Hymn of Response: VT 738 Open My Eyes That I May See
Offering Prayer
~Sending~
Sending Hymn: HWB 545 Be Thou My Vision
Benediction
Postlude: "I Want Jesus to Walk with Me" - arr. Mary McDonald
Sending Words
WORSHIP 9:30-10:30
Guest Minister: Darcy Miller
Worship Leader: April Shupe
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?
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
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.
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.
People who are willing to knot one or more pin-basted comforters in their homes are asked to contact Sue Stauffer, who will provide them with a comforter, thread, and a needle. The knots are to be square knots. The comforters will be returned to Katie Miller, who made the tops and backs, and she will pass them on to MCC, where they are greatly needed. Katie has given us 24 comforters to complete. At this point we have six doled out to people, so you can see that there are quite a few more to do. Sue is pin-basting them and finishing the bindings. Thank you.
THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS
April Shupe: We had the baby shower here and little Harvey is doing well.
THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR
Lizzie Keim: Sister-in-law, Sue has passed away.
April Shupe: Mom’s younger sister, Wanda has passed away.
Dan Hostetler: Friend’s wife passed away a week and a half ago.
Hannah Gehman: Bill Flinner will be having bladder cancer surgery on April 16 at Mercy Medical Center.
THIS WEEK
April 10th Happy Birthday, Susan Lingler
April 13th Happy Anniversary, Khammoune & Keutmy Phoutarath
April 13th Palm Sunday
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 17th Maundy Thursday Supper and Communion Service
April 20th Easter Sunday
April 27th Celebration of Life for Julie Gerber, 11 AM
NEXT WEEK
Text for Palm Sunday: Luke 19: 29-44
Minister: Mike Gehman
Worship Leader: Kristy Keim
Head Usher: Herb Torgler
LAST WEEK
ATTENDANCE: 18
OFFERING: $1215
Change for a dollar: $10
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
