Feb. 22, 2026

Lent One:

Love and Grief, Glory and Belief

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

February 22, 2026

Worship: 9:30 am

Coffee & Fellowship Time: 10:30 am

We believe in Jesus and take his life, teachings, death and resurrection

as the model for how we live and the message we proclaim.

***************************************

We seek to be a caring and discerning community, the gathered body

of Christ, that welcomes all to join in worship, study, and service.

******************************************

We embody God’s transforming and redeeming Spirit in the world

through our prophetic witness and action.

THE CHURCH WORSHIPS TOGETHER

“Patient Trust”

by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

We are quite naturally impatient in everything

to reach the end without delay.

We should like to skip the intermediate stages.

We are impatient of being on the way

to something unknown, something new.

And yet it is the law of all progress

that it is made by passing through some stages of instability—

and that it may take a very long time.

~Gathering~

Prelude: “What Wondrous Love” – arr. Vicki Collinsworth

Welcome& Announcements

Introductory Poem:

As we step into Lent, we say “welcome” to the dissonance.

We reserve a space for lament and grief to stay a while and do their work.

We release our nice little pictures of perfect selves,

perfect faith, perfect world, and look for God in the heartache.

We listen for God in discordant melodies and follow Jesus to the cross,

though we don’t understand and it doesn’t compute.

As we step into Lent, we say, “welcome” to the dissonance,

trusting that God is here, now, in the mystery, before it is resolved.

Focus Statement:

We often think of love and grief as very different emotions. This

week we are challenged with the dissonance of their relationship.

Pay attention to Jesus’ words and actions here, and the

dissonance they stir up in us.

Hymn of Dissonance: VT 48 Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life

(This hymn was chosen for its dissonant harmonies as well as for

the words, so it is suggested that the congregation just listens or

hums the melody and follows along as the piano plays through

the verses.)

Call to Worship:

WL: Welcome, Lent

ALL: Welcome, mystery.

WL: Welcome, dissonance.

ALL: Welcome, grief.

WL: Welcome, glory and uncertainty.

ALL: Welcome, doubt. Welcome, belief.

WL: Welcome, questions without answers.

ALL: Welcome, fullness from above.

WL: Welcome, death and resurrection.

ALL: Welcome, Jesus’ fiercest love.

Invocation

Hymn of Gathering: VT 537 Lord, You Sometimes Speak

in Wonders

~Praying & Praising~

Prayers of the People

Confession Poem:

ALL: Jesus, you don’t always show up when we expect

or in the way we expect.

Bob Gerber: We feel for Martha and Mary. In our grief we

too may say, “Lord, if you had been here…”

Suzanne Stauffer: In our bitter confusion we may say,

“God healed others. Couldn’t God have…”

Bob Gerber: We hoped you would prevent his pain.

Suzanne Stauffer: We hoped you would fix this hurt.

ALL: Instead, you weep with us. Instead, you go to the

tomb and sit with us in the horrid emptiness of

loss. Though you will surprise us again—and this

time with life—for now, your love is shown in

tears.

Ending Prayer

Hymn of Praise: VT 644 Healer of Our Every Ill

~Hearing God’s Word~

Scripture: “Voices of Grief” – an adaptation of John 11:1-44

Narrator – Reno Stevanus, Martha – Hannah Gehman,

Mary – Helene Torgler, Voice 1 – Mike Keim,

Voice 2 – Bruce Stauffer, Voice 3 –Nancy Yoder

Message: “Jesus Dwelt in Dissonance”

~Responding~

Time of Silence and Reflection:

You are invited to write your thoughts on the paper provided.

After three minutes of quiet reflection, the piano will play a

hymn during which the offering plates will be passed into

which you will place your papers.

Hymn of Response: VT 643 Come, Ye Disconsolate

(the offering will be collected and brought forth at this time)

Offering Prayer

~Sending~

Benediction

Sending Hymn: VT 586 All Will Be Well (repeat 3x)

Postlude: “Hymn of Promise” – arr. John Carter

Sending Words

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Guest Minister: Darcy Miller

Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer

Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer

Song Leader: Amy Stauffer McNutt

Usher: Mike Keim

Lent 2026 – “Dwelling in Dissonance”

This Lenten season we are choosing to stay in the uncomfortable, the unsettled or unfinished, the times that grate or jar or disturb and to try not to force those times to come to completion. Just as Jesus endured the trials of Holy Week, we too are committed to wait and to fully experience the dissonance in our lives. The worship services during this season will attempt to help us be more comfortable with the dissonances—as reflected in the altar, the music, in the book of John on which our services will focus,

and in those disturbing times in our lives.

After the sermon during Lent, there will be a three-minute period where we will be writing our thoughts about one of the questions printed on the bulletin insert. When the three minutes are over, the offering plates will be passed for you to put your paper in the plate to be taken to the altar. Please put your pen on the seat beside you so that we can continue to use them each Sunday in Lent.

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

Mission Project for February: MC USA Justice Fund

In the midst of significant social unrest in the United States, the Mennonite Church USA as launched a Justice Fund to provide a way for individuals and congregations to support MC USA churches that are actively involved in dismantling racism, addressing police brutality, reimagining policing in our society or combating poverty. The Justice Fund will use donations to provide grants for MC USA congregations that are engaging in their communities to dismantle racism and to build peace. Congregations also may use these funds for seed money to begin working in these areas.

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Dan Hostetler: Friend has passed away prayers for friends and family. Also, College roommate had a pacemaker put in, prayers for healing.

Sue Stauffer: Deb Cahill said that Sarah Beth was able to donate blood cells to Jim. Jim is not feeling well with the chemo treatments.

April Shupe: Doug Rehard (cousin) has cancer and is getting blood cell treatments. Also, baby Kayson’s brain bleed has stopped.

THIS WEEK

Feb. 25^th Happy Birthday, Jackie Agler

March 1^st Legacy Christian School Choir singing at FMC

UPCOMING EVENTS

Next Sunday March 1^st, the Legacy Christian School Choir will once again be singing at our church during the first half of our service, beginning at 9:30 A.M. (They have an engagement in Baltic at 10:30 A.M. so will be leaving around 10 A.M.) We encourage you to be present and to invite guests for this time of worship.

NEXT WEEK:

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: April Shupe

Head Usher: Mike Keim

LAST WEEK

Attendance: 22

Offering: $670

Change for a dollar: $17

Homeless Shelter: $100

CHURCH LEADERSHIP

Pastor’s Hours: Wednesday 9:30 am-2:30 pm

Church Secretary: Tabatha Murphy