Lent 4:

Christ Among Us, The Way of Mercy

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

March 10, 2024

Worship: 9:30-10:30

Fellowship Time: 10:30-11:00

Sunday School:  11:00-12:0

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

~Gathering~

Prelude “God of Grace and God of Glory” -arr. Mary McDonald

Welcome & Announcements

Focus Statement:

God is always shining God’s light toward us.  We can embrace it or cover it.  We all stray from the path we are on, but God is always there.  God pursues us with an everlasting love.  Let us open our hearts to the light so that God’s love can flow in and through us to all those we encounter.  To embody Christ is to be

merciful as God is merciful.

Gathering Litany

Left:  We are a covenant people, called to God by God.

Right:  We are a covenant people, called to Jesus by Jesus, losing                      one life to gain our life.

Left:  Renamed.

Right:   Reborn.

All:   Renewed.  We gather ourselves in the community of believers.

          We gather ourselves unto you.

Time of Meditation “Amazing Grace” ar. Lorie Line

     

Call To Worship:  (based on Psalm 107: 1-3, 17=22)

         One: Give thanks to God, for God is good!

      Many: God’s love endures forever.

         One: Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.

      Many: God’s love endures forever.

         One: We may make careless choices and lose our way.

      Many: God’s love endures forever.

         One: We call out to God when we are in trouble.

      Many: God’s love endures forever.

         One: God rescues us from our anxieties and fears.

      Many: God’s love endures forever.

         One: God’s word sets us free to walk in newness of life.

      Many: God’s love endures forever.

         One: God gathers us in, from the east and the west, from the

                   north and the south.

         ALL: For God’s unfailing love, we give thanks to the Creator

                   of all that is good.

             

    Invocation

    Hymn of Gathering VT 170 Wonderful Grace of Jesus

                                                  (sing verses 1-3, then refrain)

~Praising & Praying~

   

Psalm Reading:   Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

    Old Testament Reading:  Numbers 21:4-9

    Hymn of Praise  VT 162  The Love of God

    Prayers of the People

Prayer Response  VT 37  Be Still and Know 2x

~Hearing God’s Word~

Scripture Ephesians 2:1-10;  John 3:16-18

Message “I Once Was….But Now”

Time of Introspection (to be read silently)

(from the hymn “I Sought the Lord”)

I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew

he moved my soul to seek him, seeking me.

It was not I that found, O Savior true,

no, I was found of thee.

I find, I walk, I love, but, oh,

the whole of love is but my answer, Lord, to thee!

For thou wert long beforehand with my soul,

always thou lovedst me.

Piano Interlude  “Reflection” -arr. Mark Hayes

~Responding~

Prayer of Confession: 

    One:  Merciful God, we forget that you are the light of the

              world.

  Many:  Forgive us for our short memories.

     One:  Remind us that you are rich in mercy

  Many:  when we wander away from you.

      One:  Loving God, convict us of your immense love

   Many:  that shines brightly on us.

      ALL:  Merciful God, light of the world, we come seeking new

                life in you.

   

Hymn of Response VT 156 There’s A Wideness in God’s Mercy

(the offering will be brought forward)

Offering Prayer

~Sending~

   

Sending Hymn ”My Presence Will Go with You” 

                                       (printed in bulletin)  – Joungmin Kim

    Postlude “A Clare Benediction” -arr. John Rutter

(read by Jean Flinner)

    Sending Words

    Visuals:  Our journey toward God leads us on a path.  We may stray from time to time, but God is always with us, gently guiding us back. The symbols on the altar represent our journey.  The brown cloth represents our path, and the side-by-side footprints represent those we walk along side. Along with the empty bowl which reminds us of God’s never-ending love for us and how God wants to fill us,  the cross reminds us that to follow Jesus, we must take up our cross daily.  The scrolls represent the Ten Commandments and serve as a guide and reminder of God’s justice and great love for us.  This week, the candle reminds us that God is always shining God’s light toward us, covering us with mercy and grace. 

WORSHIP                                                                      9:30-10:30   

Minister        Mike Gehman   

Worship Leader:                        Jean Flinner

Song Leader:                                            April Shupe

Organist:                                                    Margaret Cheslock     

Pianist:                                                        Suzanne Stauffer

Head Usher:                                              Leadership Team         

THE CHURH GIVES THANKS

Bertie Showers: Son, Dan gets to go back to work.

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Sue Stauffer: Svetlana fell and hit her head and now is recovering in a facility.

FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

Next Week’s Text: Jeremiah 31:31-34;  Psalm 119:9-16;  John 12:20-33;Hebrews 5:5-10

Harbor of Hope for March: Paper Products 

Mission Project for March: MCC Hygiene Kits

THIS WEEK

March 12th&13th   Mennonite Action Peace School Via Zoom at 8pm

March 17th      Fifth Sunday of Lent

               Happy St. Patrick’s Day

March 17th      Happy Birthday, JoAnne Miller

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 23rd Pancake Day & Health Screening at Belden Center

March 24th Palm Sunday

March 27th Mennonite Action Week Comforter Knotting 1pm

March 28th Maundy Thursday Supper and Service 6pm

March 30th         Community Easter Egg Hunt at Garaway

                                          Football Stadium

March 31st         Easter Sonrise Service 8 am

                  Breakfast 8:30

                  Easter Service 10 am

NEXT  WEEK              

Minister:                                                                          Mike Gehman

Worship Leader:                                                               Tabatha Murphy  Head Usher:                                                                        Leadership Team

    LAST WEEK

ATTENDANCE:                                           31   

OFFERING:                                           $2333

Change for a Dollar:                          $10

2024 Lenten Theme:  Christ Among Us

Lent begins with mourning on Ash Wednesday, when we remember who we are as humans and who God is, reminding us of our brokenness and God’s grace. This is followed by passages recalling Christ’s venture into the wilderness and the 40-day journey that we are on as well.  The journey starts with this moment of God speaking to God’s Son, announcing to the world who Jesus is, reminding Jesus of his belovedness, and reminding the people of God of the prophecies and promises of the coming Messiah.

This year’s Lenten texts focus on covenants. They point to God’s history of reaching out to continue in relationship with God’s people. Covenants begin with God. God forms an agreement with God’s people. Time and time again, humanity fails to follow these covenants, yet God’s mercy and grace remain.  Christ is among us, reminding us of who we are, and even when we fail, reminding us of grace and calling us beloved.

Christ remains among us, and that is where we stand united in our Mennonite denomination. So each week, we consider a key theme among these passages: What might Christ be teaching?  What is God expecting of us?  How does this enable us to live our Christian—and Mennonite—identity more fully, bringing glimpses of the new heaven and new earth into our communities?  What is the journey showing us

as we answer God’s call?