March 29, 2026

March 22, 2026

March 20, 2026

Lent Five: Complicity and Innocence First Mennonite Church Sugarcreek, Ohio March 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 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: This week, our attention turns to the cast of characters beyond Jesus at his “trial.” Notice the roles various people play in this horrible moment. We are faced with our dissonance when we feel powerless, complicit, innocent, or accused. 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 all verses.) Call to Worship: All: Welcome Lent— WL: terrible dissonance, as we condemn the Human One. All: Welcome lament and confession WL: as the story comes undone. All: Welcome holy mystery WL: that even this can find a place in the tale of God’s salvation. All: Welcome suffering love and grace. Invocation Hymn of Gathering: HWB 37 Praise to the Lord ~Praising & Praying~ Prayers of the People Confession Poem: All: Jesus, things don’t always turn out the way we expect. Or want. And sometimes your choices (or the choices of our neighbors or family members or politicians) really don’t agree with us. Reader 1: We hate to admit it, but we feel for the angry crowd. In our fury, we too can become so consumed, so focused on who or what we are opposing, that we turn away from the things that matter most. Reader 2: “We have no king but the emperor!” we find ourselves saying. And only after we hear our voice do we realize how distorted our allegiance has become. God, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Ending Prayer Hymn of Praise: HWB 66 O Worship the King ~Hearing God’s Word~ Scripture: John 19:1-16a Message: “ Seeing Jesus, the Suffering, Tortured, Dying One” ~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 325 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded (the offering will be collected and brought forth at this time) Offering Prayer ~Sending~ Benediction Sending Hymn: HWB 259 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross Postlude Sending Words WORSHIP 9:30-10:30 Minister: Mike Gehman Worship Leader: Dan Hostetler 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. 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 tonight 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 Mike Keim: Jim Cahill continues to do well. THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR Mike Keim: Chris went into a fib yesterday and needs our prayers. April Shupe: Karissa’s mom fell and broke her shoulder. She had her shoulder replaced. Linda Yoder: Mom had blockage of 95% and had a stint put in. Dan Hostetler: Nate Miller has passed away. THIS WEEK March 23rd Happy Birthday, Craig Maurer UPCOMING EVENTS April 2nd Maundy Thursday Supper and Communion Service, 6pm April 5th Easter Sonrise Service, 8 am Easter Service, 10 am NEXT WEEK: Guest Minister: Darcy Miller Worship Leader: April Shupe Head Usher: Leadership Team LAST WEEK Attendance: 19 Offering: $140 Change for a dollar: $11 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, OH 44681 CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM: Chairperson: Mike Keim Office Contact: Linda Yoder Mission Contact: Reno Stevanus Trustees Contact: Dan Hostetler Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt