March 1, 2026

Lent Two:

Obvious and Hidden

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

March 1, 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.

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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

“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 and Praising~

Prelude: “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship” -arr. Joel Raney

Welcome& Announcements

Introductory Poem:

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

“Ask the complicated questions: do not fear to be found out,

for our God makes strong our weakness, forging faith in fires of doubt.

Seek the disconcerting answers; follow where the Spirit blows,

test competing truths for wisdom, for in tension new life grows.

Knock on doors of new ideas, test assumptions long grown stale,

for Christ calls from shores of wonder, daring us to try and fail.

For in struggle, we discover truth both simple and profound:

in the knocking, asking, seeking, we are opened, answered, found.”

(from Voices Together p.440)

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 yearn for simple and obvious explanations without

dissonance. This week, we are confronted with Jesus’ approach

to important things like love, holiness, and even what we know!

Call To Worship and Praise: Legacy Christian School Choir

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.)

~Praying and Confessing~

Prayers of the People

Confession Poem:

ALL: Jesus, you don’t always act the way we expect, the way

that seems right and proper and reasonable and wise.

Nancy Yoder: We feel for Peter. In our confusion (and perhaps

feeling slightly offended), we too may say,

ALL: “I’m sorry, God. What?!”

Nancy Yoder: We may say,

ALL: “No way. Never!”

Nancy Yoder: But you are persistent. You remind us that we

don’t have to understand everything right now.

ALL: You invite us to simply take off our sandals and

experience your love, scandalous as it is.

Ending Prayer

~Hearing God’s Word~

Scripture Reading: “Jesus Washes Peter’s Feet”

--based on John 13:1-17

Jesus – Dan Hostetler; Peter – Mike Keim

Message: “Serving in Love, Showing the Way”

~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 778 Will You Let Me Be Your Servant

v1, 2

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

Offering Prayer

~Sending~

Benediction

Sending Hymn: VT 813 Heart With Loving Heart United v1,3

Postlude: “Jesus Loves Me” -arr. Joel Raney

Sending Words

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: April Shupe

Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer

Song Leader: April Shupe

Usher: Leadership Team

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.

We would like to thank our special guests, the Legacy Christian School Choir, and their director, Franklin Miller, for sharing with us today. LCS, an Anabaptist, K-12 school located in Sugarcreek, seeks to provide a high-quality, Christian education from an Anabaptist perspective. The community school is composed of over 250 students from many different families and churches. Their goal is to work alongside churches and families to equip and inspire students to impact the world for Christ.

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

Mission Project for March: MCC Hygiene Kits

Keeping clean is an important part of staying healthy. Families who have fled their homes because of disaster or war often struggle to afford the necessary supplies. Kits also go to schools or orphanages to encourage healthy habits for children. A list of items needed is on the table in the coffee and fellowship area.

THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS

Amy Stauffer McNutt: Gretta and I went to camp Friedenswald for high school winter camp and then to tour Goshen College.

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Melanie Blauch Archer: Dave went to the hospital with seizures and sleep apnea but is back home at Park Village.

Sue Stauffer: Jim had his bone marrow transplant and isn’t feeling very well. His sister has come to stay, and Sarah Beth went home.

Amy Stauffer McNutt: Heidi and Justin had their baby, Atlas, but is in the NICU.

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 8th Annual Congregational Meeting following Worship

April 2nd Maundy Thursday Supper and Communion Service, 6pm

April 5th Easter Sonrise Service, 8 am

Easter Service, 10 am

NEXT WEEK: