Good Friday morning Church Requel!
This has been a good week as we have made our plans for a meaningful worship experience Sunday morning. As you can see from the picture above, our theme Sunday will be "Toxic Words." This may be one of the most important weekends to attend Church Requel. You've probably heard that "stick and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me." Not true! Words are powerful. They have the power to heal or the power to hurt. Words can build us up or they can be TOXIC to us.
To help us fully grasp the power of words, many folks from CR have been working and preparing:
- Pastor Steve will have a very special children's sermon. We'll discover that words are like toothpaste - once they're out it's hard to put it back.
- Brandi and Haleigh will be leading our worship singing together. Brandi will also sing the current musical hit, "Words," and with the magic of the movies, she'll be backed up by Hank Nelson and his band.
- Speaking of videos, Toxic Man will be back Sunday. Wearing a yellow toxic suit everywhere subjects him to taunting words like "Banana Boy."
- Randy will read to us the words of Jesus about the power of words from Matthew 12:33-37.
- In our teaching time we'll hear words of wisdom about the words we hear and speak. We'll learn the importance of guarding our heart against toxic words as well as the importance of speaking life-giving words to others and to ourselves.
- We've posted an early version of the Toxic Words sermon notes on YouVersion. I love how you are bringing your mobile devices - tablets and smartphones - to CR every Sunday!
Church Requel begins at 11am Sunday at the Point of Grace, 2 Marion Avenue, at the corner of Marion and Park Avenue West in Mansfield. I hope you can come and bring your friends with you!
In Other News:
Saturday's News Journal Viewpoint. Every weekend a different pastor is asked to submit an essay for the Viewpoint column. This week was my turn. I always try to provide a Christian "viewpoint" to current and cultural events. The Boston Marathon bombing is THE topic of conversation for most of us these days. How should a pastor respond? What should be our prayer? How do we deal with our own hate (yes - hate!) that wells up within us when innocent children are murdered? You may be surprised by my response. I know I was surprised at the emotions that sprang up as I wrote. Look for the column in Saturday morning's News Journal. We'll also publish it on the Church Requel blog site on Saturday.
This Week's Podcast. Each week I take you behind the scenes at Church Requel in our Church Requel Audio Podcast. In this week's hour-length audio, you're hear about the game night last Friday evening led so marvelously by Sara, Diana, and Rachel (pictured from left to right.) You'll hear more details about our plans for this coming Sunday. You'll listen to the funny story of how Nancy came to wear the toxic suit during announcements last weekend. You'll hear an advance reading of Saturday's News Journal Viewpoint essay. And, as always, you'll be able to listen to last weekend's sermon, "Toxic Relationships." The Church Requel Audio Podcast really is the best place to go if you want to be a CR Insider! If you want to listen online, click here for the blog edition or here for the website version. My best advice for listening to the podcast, though, is for you to download a podcast app on your mobile device. Most of these apps are free. Then, once you have your podcast app, subscribe to the Church Requel Audio podcast. (It's also free!) Then you'll receive it automatically on your phone or tablet each and every week. This way you can take it with you while you are exercising or driving around town.
Church Requel on Facebook. Speaking of "behind the scenes," I'm loving all the interaction we're seeing on our Facebook page. You are posting photos and videos and writing to one another about the great things God is doing at CR. You don't have to have a Facebook account to follow, but you do need a FB account to post your own comments. So far, 168 people have "liked" our Facebook page. However our "reach" just over this past week is far higher: 718 people! This multiplication factor happens as photos and stories are copied from one person to the next. If you haven't yet "liked" our Facebook page, what are you waiting for? It really is a fun, online place to hang out.
Ladies Bible Study Wednesday. Many of you are enjoying this bi-weekly study, "Esther: It's Tough Being A Woman." Every other Wednesday at 6:30pm, our home is filled with the ladies from our church. They are listening to Beth Moore, one of the most gifted Biblical teachers of our age. If you haven't already joined up, it's not too late. Each week is self-contained. It's not only a great opportunity to learn more about the Bible, it's also a great way to get to know each other better. Want more information? Email Mary Kay. Want to take a 2-minute jaunt down Hilarious Lane and find out why Beth Moore is so well received by our ladies? Watch Beth tell this funny story.
Neighborhood Meal on May 4th. This news is so fantastic! We've had a donation that will allow us to serve Kentucky Fried chicken as the main course! Lately we've had more than 140 people showing up for this free meal to our neighbors, and when word gets out about the KFC - I'm sure we will break a new record! So we need ALL YOUR HELP too! How can you help, you wonder? (1) When you come to CR Sunday morning bring large cans of sliced carrots and sweet peas. (2) On Saturday May 4th bring lots of home made desserts. (3) SHOW UP! We'll need more volunteers than ever a week from Saturday. Volunteers should show up at 4pm. The meal begins at 5pm. We usually wrap everything up by 7pm. Thank you Sheri Nichols for your leadership of this exciting ministry to our neighbors.
Church Potluck on May 26th. Our next social gathering designed just for our own church family will be Sunday, May 26th. After our morning service, we'll gather downstairs in the kitchen for a meal provided by all of you! Single folks bring one dish of any kind to share. Families bring one main dish and one side dish. How will you remember the date? Easy... it's Memorial Day weekend! We've enjoyed many potlucks in the past, but this will be our very first potluck meal shared together at the Point of Grace! Put it on your calendar now so you don't miss it!
Every Friday when I sit down to write this newsletter I tell myself I won't be so long-winded. Obviously I can't help myself. It's so exciting to see how God is blessing our small community. Just yesterday I heard about a young fellow who gave his life to Christ. He told his grandma: "I can't wait to tell Pastor Mark!" It's news like this that makes our church such an exciting place to belong.
God bless you all! Hope to see you Sunday morning at 11! - Pastor Mark
