March 15, 2026

Lent Four:

Submission and Power

First Mennonite Church

Sugarcreek, Ohio

March 15, 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~

Prelude

Welcome& Announcements

Introductory Poem:

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

“Not by your might, no not by violence or might do you rule us,

But by your mercy, yes, by your merciful hand and compassion.

Not with a sword, no, not with fire or a sword do you force us,

But with your vision, yes, with the gaze of your love do you draw us.

Not using fear, no, not by terror or fear do you drive us,

But by your gladness, yes, by our souls filled with joy do you lead us.

Not with a threat, no, not by menace or threat do you sway us,

Urge us to seek you, filling our hearts with your hope and your longing.”

(VT 538)

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:

Jesus understood and demonstrated power so differently from

what we expect. We experience the upside-down kingdom.

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. Today we will sing along with an organ accompaniment.

Call to Worship:

WL: Welcome Lent.

ALL: Welcome Questions:

WL: Who are you? What is truth?

ALL: Welcome silence and responses that deal more with faith

than proof.

WL: Welcome humbleness in glory. Welcome peace amid the

pain.

ALL: Welcome all the upside-downness of Jesus’ kind of reign.

Invocation

Hymn of Gathering: HWB 106 All Hail the Power of Jesus’

Name

~Praising & Praying~

Prayers of the People

Confession Poem:

ALL: Jesus, your kingdom doesn’t work the way we expect.

Amy Hostetler: Power, honor—everything is backward. Are

you the king? What is the truth?

ALL: We feel for Pilate, wondering how a prisoner can be king.

Tabby Murphy: If you have power, why are you here instead of

sitting on a throne in glory? Why don’t you call

in your armies? Silence the naysayers, free

yourself, conquer the oppressors?

ALL: And you say,

WL: ” My kingdom is not of this world.”

ALL: You say,

WL: “This is how I testify to the truth.”

ALL: You say,

WL: “Listen to my voice.”

Ending Prayer

Hymn of Praise: HWB 102 To God be the Glory

~Hearing God’s Word~

Scripture Readers Theater: “Pilate’s Story”

--an adaptation from John 18:28-40

Narrator – Dan Hostetler; Pilate – April Shupe;

Jesus – Hannah Gehman

Message: “A Different King, A Different 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: HWB 530 What Wondrous Love Is

This

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

Offering Prayer

~Sending~

Benediction

Sending Hymn: HWB 116 Crown Him With Many Crowns

v1, 2, 4

Postlude

Sending Words

WORSHIP 9:30-10:30

Minister: Mike Gehman

Worship Leader: Helene Torgler

Pianist: Tim Miller

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.

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.

Fox is having a three-part Biblical event starting March 22 at 8 p.m. called The Faithful: Women of the Bible. Each episode follows the journey of five women of faith: Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel.

THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS FOR

Sue Stauffer: Jim Cahills numbers were up and was able to leave the hospital. Deb is nervous to take care of him.

Brad Shupe: We had visitors this week, Karissa, Casey, and Harvey.

THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR

Dan Hostetler: Amy’s uncle Mitch had a heart attack but is doing ok.

Linda Yoder: Mom is having a heart catheter put in on Friday.

Sue Stauffer: Prayers for the war in Iran and all the people who have lost their life.

THIS WEEK

March 17th Happy Birthday, JoAnne Miller

March 20th Happy Birthday, Kristy Keim

UPCOMING EVENTS

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