Church Requel Blog - Writings of Mark Pierce

Leadership Series Begins Sunday at Church Requel

Church Requel has big plans for this weekend!  We're starting a new Bible study.  We have a new praise team led by Christy Pierce, Dave Johnson, and Ryan Shoemaker.  We will watch several new videos sure to inspire and motivate you.  Keep reading to learn all the exciting details!

Many of you have told us how much you enjoy Christy Pierce singing when she can make it down from her home in Cleveland.  Dave Johnson agrees.  Six weeks ago he began planning a special worship set for this weekend and invited Christy and Ryan Shoemaker to join him on the Church Requel platform.  They have a opening special song planned; you may know it.  Have you heard "Awake and Alive" by Skillet?  Christy, Dave and Ryan will also lead us in singing "Incredible" and "No Sweeter Name."  (Here's a picture of the first time Christy sang at CR... Anyone remember the LOST series at Mid-Ohio?)

We will be starting a new sermon series from Nehemiah.  Over the next several weeks we'll be learning many leadership lessons.  This weekend we'll study the compassion of a leader.  To help us grasp this fully, and to help focus our prayers towards the needs of the tornado victims this past week, we'll watch an NBC News "Making a Difference" video of two ladies who have taken on the leadership of caring for those devastated by the storms this week.  We'll also watch a video of how you made a difference last week in the lives of so many by giving out 100 Easter meals. 

Sunday night promises to be a great service.  I look forward to the fellowship, the prayers, the communion and the teaching.  Share this message with someone you know who could also be inspired at Church Requel this weekend.

Pierce Family Kindle Book Club Additions

Regularly I send an email out to our family members who own a Kindle.  We share an account together.  I keep them updated on the new books available in the account.  Here is the email I sent them yesterday:

Dear Dad, Jillian, Tim, Jessica, Dave, Jennifer, and Mike
(Also Todd, Jonathan and Mary Kay!)

It's been two weeks since I last updated you on our family's Kindle Club.  Easter has been a busy time for me.  I know you all understand.

I've been enjoying several books all at the same time.  Thanks Todd and Jennifer for the recommendation of the Hunger Games trilogy.  Just finished book one (Hunger Games) and have downloaded book #2 - Catching Fire.  Good reads!  I've also been listening to The Lincoln Lawyer (thanks Dad for the recommendation) as well as In The Plex (Jonathan - I think you would enjoy this Audible book about Google.)

I just returned from Todd's house.  He asked me about the family Kindle Club and how it worked out for us.  I told him I thought it worked really well.  I update everyone on their balances and they get the money to me when they can.  (Though at the moment you are all prepaid!  Thanks!)  I love the sharing of books with one another.  I think Todd (and Amy and Bethany) are thinking about coming in with us.  That would be terrific as far as I'm concerned!

Kindle Club Numbers.  Here are a few interesting details of our club.  We currently have 636 books in our archives.  455 of these have been purchased for free.  Included in our list of books are 12 business, 7 cookbooks, 24 fantasy, 20 westerns, 20 romance, 33 mystery and thrillers, 65 science fiction, 6 children, 15 historical fiction, 46 Christian fiction, 16 textbooks and 62 classics.  In addition we now have 68 Audible titles.  We also have Bibles, theology and 90 other nonfiction books.  It's becoming a great collection!

Library Feature Coming.  Last week Amazon announced that before the end of this year they would make a new Library Lending feature available.  Soon we will be able to borrow books from over 11,000 libraries!  (Jonathan, this could be the answer to your concerns for Grayden if he somehow managed to get his own Kindle some day - He has $7 saved up so far for his own Kindle!)   If anyone want to know more about this new library feature, you can read about it in the Kindle forums:

http://www.amazon.com/tag/kindle/forum/ref=cm_cd_ecf_tft_tp?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1D7SY3BVSESG&cdThread=TxT9F0X2KP9AEY

Video Sermon: Follow Me

Jesus says, "Follow me," no matter how we have failed to follow in the past.  That's what G.R.A.C.E. is all about.  Join me in this video sermon for this Easter story of resurrection and restoration.

Follow Me from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

I am making the following resources available to you to support this sermon.  Download the weekend program and fill in the blanks like the folks at the Easter service.  Or read along the sermon as I deliver it.  Pastors - you have my permission to use any of these resources to support your own ministry.  Download:

• Weekend Program without Answers (PDF - 1.2MB)
• Weekend Program with Answers (PDF - 1.2MB)
• My personal teaching notes for sermon (PDF - 135KB)
• My notes in Kindle format (AZW - 16KB)
• Sermon notes with graphics in margins (PDF - 2.2MB) - used by tech team
• Weekend Planning Sheet (PDF - 53KB) - ideas to support sermon theme

All of the Church Requel sermons are available either in the CR Video Library or the CR Audio Library or you can listen on the Church Requel Audio Blog.  Would you like to subscribe to the weekly audio podcast and receive the sermon each week?  Subscribe here for iTunes or here for all other mp3 devices.  You can also subscribe to the weekly video podcast!  Would you like to read my notes for this sermon? Just click on the "Continue reading" link below.

Post Easter Break with my Brother Todd

Last week was filled with preparations for Easter.  I wrote two sermons last week - one for Good Friday and one for Easter.  I also had the privilege of writing the weekly Viewpoint article for last Saturday's News Journal.  Then there was the delivery of 100 meals to the poor and hungry on Saturday morning.  All of this was wonderful.  I love it.  It's my calling.  It's work, but it's work I love to do.  By Sunday night, however, both Mary Kay and I needed a break.

I am most fortunate to have a brother, who understands the pastor's need for breaks.  For 27 years my brother Todd pastored several churches, Nazarene and then Vineyard.  During those years our home was a safe haven for him and Amy to be able to escape the pressures of the pastorate.  We wanted our home to be a place where they could just be themselves with no expectations.  Little did either of us know that in our later life our situations would become reversed.  Now Todd is retired from the pastorate and I am fully immersed in it!  Now Todd and Amy offer the safe haven for Mary Kay and I to enjoy from time to time.

Sunday evening after the wonderful Church Requel Easter service, we hopped in the car and drove the normally 3-hour drive to Mason, Ohio.  The people of Church Requel were wonderful.  They took care of tearing down, putting everything away, and locking up the church.  In our church we need several hours to setup and at least an hour to tear down.  Normally I'm immersed in every part of it.  Sunday night Steve Thoman told me to "get out of here.  We got it covered."  It felt good to say goodbye to everyone and just drive away.

We didn't drive far, however, until we found ourselves stuck in traffic.  Before we even got 4 miles on the highway we found ourselves creeping along at 5 miles per hour.  It took us and hour and a half to drive 5 miles.  I'm sure there must have been an accident, but we never saw it.  We didn't arrive to Todd's until 1am!

Of course we couldn't just go to bed.  We all stayed up and talked for another hour.  We finally hit the water bed - Todd and Amy love their water beds! - around 2 in the morning.  My internal alarm went off at 6:30 and I stayed in bed another hour after that.  It was no good.  I couldn't get back to sleep.  I went downstairs and found Todd and Amy working on a great breakfast for us.  Scrambled eggs with all the fixings, blueberry pancakes and bacon.  Not a breakfast one could eat every morning, but it sure hit the spot on Monday.

We talked about what we wanted to do together.  We settled on a plan to split up the girls and the guys.  Amy and Mary Kay did some shopping, while Mark and Todd went to the the gym.  Todd recommended a book to me back in January: Younger Next Year.   We both have been working out every day and being a little more careful with our diets (Monday morning's breakfast notwithstanding.)  I took the picture of Todd (top right) while we were both on the elliptical machines. 

Then we went back home and worked on my recumbent bicycle.  More accurately, Todd worked on my bike while I watched.  He tore the chain down and soaked it in gasoline.  He washed down the entire bike.  Yes, we discovered it is still red!  He found one part that was ready to come apart so we went down to the local bike shop to buy a replacement.  He adjusted my gears and my brakes.  He even sewed up a rip in my seat, which happened 9 years ago when my wheels got caught in a road rut and I fell, tearing my britches and my seat (and leaving me with some serious bruises and abrasions!) 

My bike is now like new.  I can't wait to get out and ride again.  (Will this rain ever stop?)  I'm even shopping for a small pannier bag that doubles as a shoulder bag, so I can carry my computer and papers with me.  I figure that a little more than one tankful of gasoline will make up for the expense of the bag.

Bottom line:  I'm back in my office now and ready to go for the week.  I enjoyed my brief stay with Todd and Amy and got my batteries recharged.  Now it's time to get back to work.  During breakfast with Todd and Amy Monday morning, I told them that I don't love the routine of the pastorate - no one likes chores, do they? - but I love, love, love the special moments of the pastorate.  Like when I have the chance to pray with someone or encourage someone in their moment of trial or despair.  I realize that for me to be prepared for those special moments, it's important to keep my own tank full.  Thanks Todd and Amy for giving us a chance to get away for a couple days and rest.  It was much appreciated!

Audio Sermon: Follow Me

Jesus says, "Follow me," no matter how we have failed to follow in the past.  That's what G.R.A.C.E. is all about.  Join me in this audio version of today's sermon... an Easter story of resurrection and restoration.

110424FollowMe

Subscribe to this audio podcast!  It's available every week on iTunes or for any other mp3 player.

Power of the Cross by Christy Anne Pierce

This weekend we at Church Requel have been greatly blessed by the singing voice of my niece Christy Anne Pierce.  Several have wanted a copy of her song.  So I'm putting it up on the blog for you to listen and download.

"The Power of the Cross," was made popular by Natalie Grant.  (You can grab a copy of Natalie Grant's version on Amazon.)

Here for your personal worship and pleasure is "The Power of the Cross" sung by Christy on Good Friday and again on Easter at Church Requel.

Play Power Of The Cross by Christy Anne Pierce.

100 Meals Given Away Makes This Easter Special

This Easter will always be remembered by me as the year Church Requel really came together as a body of Christ.  Yes, I'll remember the fact that we gave away 100 Easter meals of turkeys, potatatoes, dressing, vegetables and desserts.  More than that though, I'll recall the comraderie and sheer joy we experienced as a group of Christ-followers.

We gathered on the church steps yesterday morning.  We listened to Sheri give us instructions of where to go and what to do.  We shared a brief devotional.  We circled up and prayed together.  Then we went our separate ways.  Some went to Harmony House, completely full with the homeless.  Some of us went to the Domestic Violence Shelter.  Some went to visit Hospice patients.  Some went door to door in downtown Mansfield.

I was part of that last group, knocking on doors.  We met one woman on the street who was out looking for help.  We walked a few extra blocks to her basement apartment to deliver groceries.  Another woman was on the phone with her sister when she answered the door - probably wanting to make sure that if anyone broke in someone else would know about it.  When we told her we were delivering Easter meals, she started dancing in her house shouting into her phone: "They brought me a whole turkey!"  Another family told our group: "We were laid off and we have NO food in the house."

Today we celebrate the resurrected Jesus.  We rejoice in our personal relationship with Christ.  This morning, however, I celebrate the Christ who is alive in the hearts of my friends at Church Requel.  Because of the risen Jesus we had a chance to bring a little bit of Heaven down here to Earth.  We experienced the joy of watching the Father's will be done.  I can affirm this morning that there is just nothing better than that!

News Journal Viewpoint: From Despair to Hope

My first submission to the Mansfield News Journal was published this morning.  This link should be available for a few weeks, but I'm also publishing it here on ChurchRequel.com.

Welcome to the day between two of the biggest days on the Christian calendar.  Yesterday was Good Friday.  Tomorrow will be Easter.  We know about the tragedy of Good Friday and the miracle of Easter Sunday.  What about the Saturday-in-between?  Are there lessons from that first Saturday-in-between that could benefit us today?

For just a moment, can you freeze frame that first Saturday-in-between?  Those closest to Jesus surely had lost their hope when he died on the cross.  He had been their greatest teacher, their servant leader, and their connection to God Himself.  His followers had all vowed to defend Jesus or to die with him.  When the testing moment came, they all ran. 

Now, on this Saturday-in-between, they knew their leader had died.  And with him, their hopes died as well.  No new faith.  No freedom from Rome. No more lessons from Heaven.  No more miracles on Earth.  And yet... hadn’t Jesus also said something about the third day?  Was there still the possibility of finding hope in the midst of hopelessness?

Are you living in the Saturday-in-between?  Have you heard a death sentence?  “I’m sorry... there’s nothing we could do...”  “I’m leaving you...”  “We regret to inform you...”  “Time to call Hospice.”   Those Saturdays-in-between of your life when all hope has been lost.  Is there still the possibility of finding hope in the midst of hopelessness?

There is little written about that first Saturday-in-between.  What little we know provides us three lessons of how those first Christ-followers navigated from the hopelessness of Friday to the hope of Sunday.  No false hope here.  No miracles.  Just some hopeful advice.

Audio Sermon: It is Finished

Last night I had the privilege of speaking at the combined Good Friday service of Church Requel and Ontario Christian Fellowship.  I continued the Final Words sermon series with an examination of Jesus' last words, "It is finished."  Join me in this 18-minute audio as we talk about the finished, completed, accomplished, and perfect work of Jesus on the cross.

110422Finished

Subscribe to this audio podcast!  It's available every week on iTunes or for any other mp3 player.

Biggest Weekend Ever at Church Requel

Headlines like this one sound exaggerated, but in this case "biggest weekend ever" accurately describes the scene at Church Requel.  You won't want to miss out on any of it.  Here's a recap of what's happening this weekend.

Good Friday Service with OCF.  The weekend begins this evening at 7pm with a combined Good Friday service with Ontario Christian Fellowship.  We'll be meeting in the sanctuary - on the other side of the church facility than we normally meet in - to accommodate both our churches.  Our set decoration team's paintings of Jesus final words will decorate the sanctuary.  Our own Haleigh Trubachik will be running the computer graphics.  Their team will lead the worship music.  (The Nursery will be open but not staffed.)

We will have a video visit tonight from The Skit Guys with their presentation of The Birdcage.  This will lead perfectly into my talk tonight.  I'll continue the Final Words sermon series with a discussion of Jesus' last words before his death, "It is finished."  Only one word in the original Greek language, you'll be fascinated with all the layers of meanings... and implications for your faith... from this final word. 

Christy Anne Pierce is coming back to Church Requel tonight from her home in Cleveland to sing Natalie Grant's "Power of the Cross."  Her song will move you to worship and prepare you for communion, which will be led by Pastor Kim Mauer. 

Tonight will be the first time ever that we have shared a worship service with another church.  It demonstrates our core value of partnership in Christ's kingdom.  Pastor Maurer and the entire OCF family have been so supportive of our ministry. Tonight is just one more example of the good will that exists between our two congregations.

Saturday Morning Viewpoints.  We have been given an extraordinary opportunity to let Mansfield know about Church Requel.  The News Journal called me Monday and wondered if I would submit an article for their Viewpoints section in Saturday's paper.  I really enjoyed writing about the "Saturday-in-between" Good Friday and Easter.  All of us at one time or another find ourselves in those "Saturday-in-between" moments of life.  Pray that this article reaches many eyes and hearts for Christ and his kingdom.

Easter Donation of 100 meals! This is the Saturday we have been working toward for the last two months.   Back on March 3rd we announced our initiative to feed 100 families on Easter weekend.  Sheri Pryor has worked hard to organize this effort.  You as a congregation have been faithful, bringing groceries with you every week to church.  Local businesses have provided the potatoes and the loaves of bread.  Two local families purchased the turkeys.  Everybody has done their part.  Let's not let up now!  Tomorrow morning at 9am we'll show up at church and receive final instructions.  We'll transport all the groceries into all the vehicles.  We'll divide up into 3 teams.  Two teams will head downtown.  One team will head out to deliver to specifically designated families.  Then we'll gather back at the church to share our God-moment stories.  This promises to be a special moment in Church Requel's short life!

Easter Sunday Evening Service.  You might think that after all that we would just sit back on Sunday and relax.  Not at all!  We have a very special Easter Sunday service lined up.  We'll start off with a video that will challenge the very reason we are gathered together on Easter.  Then Nate Williams will return to the Church Requel platform with a really great band.  Jana, Stephen, Jean, Josh and Haleigh will all join Nate to lead us in an awesome praise and worship music set.  They also have an Easter special lined up in which I guarantee you will be singing with them before they're finished.  Christy Anne Pierce will be back Sunday evening to reprise her "Power of the Cross," a song which will lead us into communion.  We'll see The Skit Guys one more time too with an insightful look at how it must have been for Peter when he first talked with the resurrected Jesus.  This will segue nicely into our Easter evening talk about resurrection G.R.A.C.E., our final session of our Final Words sermon series.  You'll have one more opportunity to sing with the band and celebrate the wonderful weekend together!

Is anyone else excited besides me?  God has provided a great opportunity for our small church to do some big things this weekend.  Let's enjoy it together.  God's kingdom will grow in our community... and in our hearts.   Hope to see you many times this weekend!  Pastor Mark

Video Sermon: Unbind Him

Before you watch or read the sermon below, allow me to tell you a little of the background that went into this week's talk.  Eight days before delivering this sermon, I joined my family in one of the happiest times I can ever recall experiencing.  Every child, grandchild and great-grandchild of my dad attended his 80th birthday party.  It was fun!

For me, it was also an oasis from the reality my best friend, Roc, was experiencing.  For more than a week his father had been in the hospital and the prognisis was not good.  Several times I visited Roc and his family in the hospital in the week before my dad's party.  So I was not altogether suprised when my phone buzzed me a text message from Roc: "Dad has gone on to glory."

I sat at the table watching the festivities, the laughter and the story-telling.  In the midst of all this my brother Todd said something in that exact moment I'll never forget.  He said, "This is just like a funeral except it's all joy and no sorrow."  He could not have known how poignant his statement was for me.

Out of that experience - and in God's good providence - a scheduled sermon on John 11 was set before me.  The talk you watch (or read) here came out of my experience with life and death the week before.

One more first:  this is the first video sermon that I did not edit.  Praise God!  Dave Johnson spent all day with me on Tuesday.  Just a little guidance from me - but all the work done by him.  It's so great to have another piece of my weekly load taken on by a member of Church Requel.  If you see Dave, tell him how much you appreciate him!

We learn six lessons from the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.  Join me in this video study of John 11.

Unbind Him from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

I have provided the following resources for you to support this talk.  You can download the program and follow along as if you were in the congregation.  Pastors - you have my permission to use any of these resources to support your own efforts and ministries.

• Weekly Program without Answers (PDF - 1.5MB)
• Weekly Program with Answers (PDF - 1.5MB)
• My teaching notes from which I preached (PDF - 156KB)
• My notes in Kindle format (AZW - 20KB)
• Sermon Notes with graphics in margin (PDF - 3MB) - used by our tech team
• Weekly Planning Sheet (PDF - 49KB) - includes ideas to support the sermon topic

All of the Church Requel sermons are available either in the CR Video Library or the CR Audio Library or you can listen on the Church Requel Audio Blog.  Would you like to subscribe to the weekly audio podcast and receive the sermon each week?  Subscribe here for iTunes or here for all other mp3 devices.  You can also subscribe to the weekly video podcast!  Would you like to read my notes for this sermon? Just click on the "Continue reading" link below.

Audio Sermon: Unbind Him

We learn six lessons from the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.  Join Pastor Mark Pierce of Church Requel in this study of John 11.

110417UnbindHim

Subscribe to this audio podcast!  It's available every week on iTunes or for any other mp3 player.

Palm Sunday This Weekend at Church Requel

Hey everyone! 

We have a terrific Palm Sunday worship service planned for this weekend at Church Requel.  I have been blessed out of my chair many times today as I have prepared and listened to some of the worship elements. 

After a short Palm Sunday opening video, we'll sing some wonderful songs to celebrate the day Jesus triumphantly entered the city of Jerusalem:  "Hosanna," "Our God Saves," and "You Are My King." 

We'll talk a little about the big plans coming up for next weekend, including our very special Good Friday service with OCF, our plans to give 100 meals away next Saturday morning, and our own Easter celebration next Sunday evening.  For a young church we sure do have lots happening this week!

After prayer, Jana Edwards will read our Bible text - John 11:38-44.  We'll be studying about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.  You may think that is an unusual text for Palm Sunday, but as you'll soon see, the Lazarus event had much to do with Jesus receiving a hero's welcome on the road into Jerusalem... and also much to do with his eventual crucifixion. 

We have a highly visual and creative element this weekend to help us understand the Lazarus story.  We'll be watching a video of Lazarus telling us all about what happened.  For those of you who enjoy drama, you'll not want to miss this.

Afterward we'll celebrate the communion feast together as we have been doing the last five weeks.  One of you suggested that we sing "Open the Eyes of My Heart" sometime and this weekend, this song will be the perfect response to our teaching time together.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone this coming Sunday night.  Last weekend we hit a new attendance record at Church Requel.  I think we could do even better this weekend!  It promises to be an exciting and enriching worship experience.  See you there at 6pm!

Pastor Mark

P.S. In case you missed it, we have last week's sermon up on the web in both audio and video.  It will be a good preparation for this weekend!

Video Sermon: The Holy Spirit Will Come

Sorry that this is posted a day later than normal.  I gave myself away to my good friend Roc yesterday.  Roc's dad died last Saturday and his funeral was yesterday.  My heart continues to grieve and my prayers and thoughts are with the Marietta family today.

One of Jesus' final words was the Holy Spirit will come.  In fact, Jesus said it was to our advantage that he went away "so the Helper will come."  What are these advantages?  Join me in this video sermon from last Sunday as we study John 16:7-14.

The Holy Spirit Will Come from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

I am making the following resources available to support this sermon.  Viewers may especially want to download the program to follow the same sermon outline as those in the original audience.  Pastors - feel free to use any of my resources, if they will help your ministry.

• Weekend Program without Answers (PDF - 1MB)
• Weekend Program with Answers (PDF - 1MB)
• My personal sermon teaching notes (PDF - 164KB)
• My notes in Kindle format (AZW - 20KB)
• Notes with sermon graphics in margins (PDF - 4.7MB) - used by our tech team
• Weekend Planning Sheet (PDF - 49KB) - for worship ideas to support the sermon

All of the Church Requel sermons are available either in the CR Video Library or the CR Audio Library or you can listen on the Church Requel Audio Blog.  Would you like to subscribe to the weekly audio podcast and receive the sermon each week?  Subscribe here for iTunes or here for all other mp3 devices.  You can also subscribe to the weekly video podcast!  Would you like to read my notes for this sermon? Just click on the "Continue reading" link below.

19 New Books Added to Pierce Family Club

Each week I send an email to my family members who share a Kindle with me.  Then I post it here for my blog readers to see what we're reading. 

Dear Dad, Jillian, Tim, Jessica, Dave, Jennifer, and Mike:

What a wonderful weekend we all had at Dad's 80th birthday party.  I so enjoyed seeing each of you.  And I loved how our Kindles have become such an important part of our sharing together. 

• Two of Dad's birthday presents involved credits to his buying account in the Kindle club... which he has already taken advantage of by buying no less than 3 books!!! 
• I  also loved the drive over to Aunt Kimberly's house for the party listening to Tim and Jillian reading to one another from their shared Kindle 2. 
• While we were there Uncle Todd told me about a new book series he was reading on his Kindle upon which I immediately picked up my Kindle app on my Evo and ordered it for us (The Hunger Games). 
• Jennifer gave me fair warning she is also about to order a book. 
• And Jessica lamented that she hasn't had enough time for fun reading with her school schedule.

Total Books in Family Archives:

• 626 eBooks
• 443 of the the above total were Freebies!
• 67 Audible books in addition to the 626 eBooks!

If you'd like to read about the individual titles, click "continue reading."  I didn't include links here, but you can easily search for the titles on Amazon.

Audio Sermon: The Holy Spirit Will Come

One of Jesus' final words was the Holy Spirit will come.  In fact, Jesus said it was to our advantage that he went away "so the Helper will come."  What are these advantages?  Join me in this audio version of tonight's sermon as we study John 16:7-14.

110410HolySpirit

Subscribe to this audio podcast!  It's available every week on iTunes or for any other mp3 player.

Church Potluck This Sunday!

Hey everyone!  Hope your week has gone well.  We have a GREAT weekend lined up so take a moment to remind yourself of some GREAT Church Requel opportunities.

First off - guys... if you don't already have Saturday morning plans, join some of the other men from Church Requel tomorrow morning (Saturday) at 9am at Panera.  We'll enjoy some fellowship and make some plans for the new Men's Ministry at CR. 

Secondly - EVERYONE!  Two of the favorite words in Church Requel's vocabulary - POT LUCK!  Don't forget to come early and come hungry.  We've had so much fun with the picture above of Bryan Trubachik loading up his plate.  He has the right idea!  The food at CR Potlucks is nothing short of amazing.  Plan on showing up with your food favorites at 4:30pm.  We'll set out the food and start eating at 4:45pm.  Everyone is welcome!  Invite your friends, neighbors and family.  This is a great time of fellowship and just good fun.

At 6pm we'll have our worship service in the Ontario Christian Fellowship chapel.  We plan to continue our Easter series, "Final Words."  This weekend we'll explore Jesus' promise to send a Helper - the Holy Spirit.  We'll learn that the Spirit has specific work He does in the world as well as in the lives of Christ followers.  We'll enjoy singing together, praying together and taking communion together.  And we'll welcome new members into the Church Requel family! 

It's going to be a great weekend at Church Requel.  I'm looking forward to seeing you there!

Pastor Mark

P.S. - Here are some of the articles on the CR Blog, in case you've missed them this week:

• Audio Sermon from last weekend - "Love One Another"
• New Books in Pierce Family Kindle Club
• Video Sermon of "Love One Another
• Watch the Youth For Christ Interview
• Men's Ministry Breakfast Plans

Men's Ministry Breakfast Saturday Morning

Tomorrow morning at 9am several of the men will meet at Panera Bread in Mansfield at 9am.  Randy Craig will be leading this initial meeting with the goal of involving as many men from Church Requel as possible.

"I'd like to know other guys' stories," Randy told me recently.  "I'd like to get to know other men better... more than we can do now at the beginning or end of the church services."

Tomorrow morning will be the first of many opportunities for guys to gather together for story telling, good food, and fellowship.  Don't miss this opportunity to be in on the ground floor of this new CR ministry!

Want to know more?  Check out this initial interview with Mark Pierce and Randy Craig back on March 13th.

Youth For Christ's Rich Rader Interviewed at CR

This past weekend we had the privilege of having Rich Rader come to Church Requel.  He told us a little about his ministry with Youth for Christ and the opportunities for partnership that exist between our two ministries.  Here is the entire interview.  Enjoy!

Rich Rader Interview from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

Video Sermon: Love One Another

Jesus gave a NEW commandment: to love one another as he loved us.  What are the six credentials that show the world we are really Christ-followers?  Join me in this video version of last week's talk as we study John 15:12-17.

Love One Another from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

I am providing the following resources to support this sermon.  Parishioners will want to download a copy of the weekend program to follow the talk.  Other pastors - you have my permission to use any of these resources to support your own ministries.

• Weekly Program without Answers (PDF - 1MB)
• Weekly Program with Answers (PDF - 1MB)
• My personal teaching notes (PDF - 180KB) what I preach from
• My teaching notes in Kindle Format (AZW - 16KB) 
• My notes with graphics in the margin (PDF - 4MB) used by our tech team
• Our Weekend Planning Sheet (PDF - 53KB) for worship ideas to support theme

All of the Church Requel sermons are available either in the CR Video Library or the CR Audio Library or you can listen on the Church Requel Audio Blog.  Would you like to subscribe to the weekly audio podcast and receive the sermon each week?  Subscribe here for iTunes or here for all other mp3 devices.  You can also subscribe to the weekly video podcast!  Would you like to read my notes for this sermon? Just click on the "Continue reading" link below.