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In this final Church Requel talk of 2013, I talk about spiritual messiness, a "gift that leads to redemption." We talk about spiritual apathy and pretense, two results of misunderstanding spiritual messiness. Then we encourage 3 correct responses.
An Amazing Redemption from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the fill-in-the-blanks PDF Outline.
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Here's the funny story of how Mary Kay and I found out about our 7th grandbaby's arrival due in June.
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This is my year-end podcast and includes two different talks - the Christmas Eve sermon, “An Amazing Plan” and my last talk of the year, “An Amazing Redemption.” We talk about God’s purpose for our lives, how He turns our messiness into His holiness. I also share the fun story of how Mary Kay and I found out we were going to be grandparents again.
During the podcast I mention my daughters' new podcast, SisterLit. Check it out here.
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.
Music for this week's podcast is "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" by the New Glenn Miller Orchestra.
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Good morning Church Requel!
How was your Christmas? At the Pierce homestead, we've had one of the most memorable Christmas celebrations ever. After the wonderful Christmas Eve services at Church Requel, Mary Kay and I returned to a quiet home. We knew the following morning would also be a quiet one as all our children had other Christmas morning plans.
We were expecting Tim and Jillian later on Christmas day, but they called with tough news. Their car had broken down on the way from Grand Rapids, MI, and they were being towed back to Tim's home. Being Christmas Day, no auto parts stores or repair shops would be open until the next day. So Mary Kay and I - for the first time in our 34-year marriage - spent the entire Christmas day by ourselves. Fortunately, we enjoy one another's company!
As quiet as Wednesday was, Thursday was filled with people and activity. All of our children and grandchildren made it to our home. (Tim was able to repair his own car the next morning.) The photo above is an early pic of all our grandchildren... at least as far as we knew, when we took that picture.
THE EXCITEMENT OF THE DAY was when Mary Kay was opening a present from our oldest daughter, Jennifer - a personalized photo calendar. You know the kind I'm talking about, where each month has a photo above it. This has always been a great gift for Mary Kay as she loves pictures of her family. Suddenly our home was filled with shouts and shrieks and tears and hugging and jumping up and down. Sitting across the room, I had no idea what photo could have aroused such a response. Then I saw the photo for next June...
That's right! Jennifer and Mike are expecting their 3rd child, our 7th grandchild, next June. They have known since October and managed to keep the secret. What an awesome Christmas present. After such a shock Mary Kay very carefully turned each month in the calendar, wondering what each month might foretell.
This Sunday - Amazing Redemption. We are looking forward to another Sunday with all of you at Church Requel. We will wrap up our Amazing sermon series with "Amazing Redemption." (Here are the sermon notes.) Stephanie will lead our worship singing with me. Nancy will share our New Year's sermon series plans. Randy will lead our prayer time. Jana will read our Scripture reading.
New Year's Sermon Series. January 5th will be here before you know it. We are planning to spend our first 6 weekends at Church Requel asking the question: "What On Earth Am I Here For?" I would love for each of our parishioners to read the book by the same title, written by Pastor Rick Warren. If you are feeling generous, you might consider buying two books - one for yourself and another for another member in our congregation without the means to make the purchase.
Right now at Amazon.com, the hardback is selling for $14.76, the paperback (released next Tuesday) will go for $12.13, and probably the best deal for those with a Kindle or Kindle app, the Kindle version sells for only $2.99. You can also have Rick Warren read the book to you with the Audible version for $12.99.
This is the best selling, non-fiction book in the history of book selling other than the Bible itself. You will be encouraged and refocused for the new year!
I'm feeling especially blessed at this time of the year: a new year, a new grandbaby, and the best congregation any pastor could ask for. I love you all much! Hope to see you Sunday at 11am. - Pastor Mark
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Our plans don't always work out the way we thought they would. The first Christmas was a case of Mary and Joseph's plans being all messed up. When our plans are messed up God gets our attention. We discover God has a purpose for our lives that's bigger, harder and more rewarding than our own plans. Like Jesus' earthly parents, we must learn to trust God. Join me for this Christmas Eve message at Church Requel.
An Amazing Plan from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
You can follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF sermon outline.
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Our children at Church Requel put together this wonderful 6-minute video to retell the Christmas story. Many thanks to Diana Devolder, our children's ministry director. Enjoy!
The Christmas Story from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
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In this Christmas talk from December 22, 2013, we consider the greatest Christmas gift exchange ever - between us and God. We give Him our worries, our hurts, and our griefs. He, in exchange, gives us His peace, His healing, and His joy.
An Amazing Exchange from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
You can follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF Sermon Outline.
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Have you ever wondered exactly what a savior does? Here's 4 down-to-earth examples from my Christmas message yesterday morning. 3 minutes.
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I talk about Super Bowl week for pastors and share some of my favorite Christmas media traditions.
In the sermon, we consider the greatest Christmas gift exchange ever - between us and God. We give Him our worries, our hurts, and our griefs. He, in exchange, gives us His peace, His healing, and His joy.
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.
Music for this week's podcast is "Twas The Night Before Christmas" by Dave Koz.
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Good Friday morning Church Requel!!!
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at church these days! The banner above is now displayed beautifully right at the point where Park Avenue meets Marion. Thank Cotton Dickerson for installing the banner! Yesterday I checked out our candle supplies along with the all-important candle holders for Tuesday's Christmas Eve candle-lighting services. This past Tuesday I met together with Brandi Walker and many other CRers, who practiced singing and playing their music. Wednesday was an all-day movie editing marathon with Diana. Late Wednesday into early Thursday morning was an online program editing session with Marci, who has now completed our Dec. 22nd, 24th, and 29th bulletins. Wow! You all make an impressive bunch!
I was just telling a friend at breakfast this morning that this is Super Bowl week for pastors! It's true!
I'm sure I don't have to tell you about all the great things happening this week, but then the little angel on my shoulder reminds me: Communicate! Communicate! Communicate! (Yes, we pastors love to do things in 3s. Ha!) So here's a brief overview of what's going on at Church Requel the next few days.
Fantastic Rockin' Music Sunday Morning! Brandi and Missie are teaming up to lead our worship experience Sunday morning. They sound great together and I promise the songs Brandi has selected will help your soul touch Heaven. Then, later in the service, we're going to have a "sandwich" sermon. What's a "sandwich" sermon, you ask? It's a sermon sandwiched between two awesome songs. We've asked Dave Johnson, pictured on the right, to sing and play his guitar for us twice this Sunday. May I just say with no bias whatsoever that Dave, Ryan and Brandi will absolutely light your soul on fire Sunday! I was so pumped listening to them practice Tuesday evening. It's going to be fun!
What about the sermon? Yes, it may be a "sandwich" sermon, but I promise you the meat will be in the middle! We're going to talk about an amazing topic - the gift exchange we Christ-followers experience with God. I have been overwhelmed all week long as I've been thinking about what we give to God (our worries, hurts and griefs) and what He gives us in return (His peace, healing and joy).
Movie Premiere Christmas Eve. Our children have worked so hard AND have done such an amazing job with this year's Christmas Eve production. Grayden reads the narration with charm and his version of Caesar MUST be seen! Wyatt is shining bright as the angel Gabriel. Allie captures the heart of Mary. Cohen is just downright cute as the drummer boy. (How did the drummer boy make it into the Biblical account, you ask? We found a way!) I love the animal costumes of Sicily, Violet, Anna and Rachel. You'll never find meaner innkeepers than Phyllis and Addison. The boys, Weston, Elijah, Liam, and Grant double up on their roles as kings, shepherds and - in Weston's case - the always grinning Joseph. Little baby Hudson is spectacular in his leading role - as the baby Jesus.
Half A Dozen Ladies Singing. We won't offer the five golden rings Tuesday night, but we do have 6 lovely ladies leaping - er, I mean, singing. (Leaping would be fun too!) Brandi, Missie, Trish, Haleigh, Stephanie and Cindy will lead our Christmas carols. Dave Strong will play the pipe organ for 30 minutes before each service. And we'll light up all the candles and sing together at the end. This will be a very special Christmas Eve as we celebrate our Savior's birth AND our one-year anniversary at the Point of Grace.
Invite Your Family And Friends! We have two golden opportunities with this Sunday morning's worship service and with our Tuesday evening Christmas Eve candlelight services. People are open right now to your invitation. Let's be faithful with the ask. Let's also be faithful as good hosts. We're still looking for greeters to welcome our guests and give out programs and candles. Let me know if you can help.
I'm really looking forward to celebrating this week with you! Pastor Mark
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Christmas happened because of a world of mistakes. We are all mistake ridden. That's exactly why Jesus came as a baby in a manger. In this message from Pastor Mark Pierce, we learn 4 things Jesus wants us to know about our mistakes and how it affects our relationship with Him.
An Amazing Encounter from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
You can follow along with the online sermon notes OR download this PDF Sermon Outline.
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Here is a short, 3-minute clip from this past weekend's sermon about missing loved ones at Christmas time.
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Mark talks about this past week at home and Church Requel: taking Gene to Cleveland Clinic, celebrating with Jillian, getting ready for Christmas, making a movie with the kiddos at CR. We listen to the Barnes family sing "Jesus What A Wonderful Child."
We also listen to this weekend's sermon, the 2nd in the Christmas series. Christmas happened because of a world of mistakes. We are all mistake ridden. That's exactly why Jesus came as a baby in a manger. In this message from Pastor Mark Pierce, we learn 4 things Jesus wants us to know about our mistakes and how it affects our relationship with Him.
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.
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Good Friday morning Church Requel!
How are you doing today? Making those Christmas lists and checking them twice? Has this been a year of no-naughty and all-nice? At the Pierce homestead, Mrs. Klaus (a.k.a. Mary Kay) and I have been having fun doing some online shopping, planning for the NAMI Christmas party on Monday, and preparing to celebrate Jillian's grad school graduation in Dayton this weekend. I hope this blog post finds you and your family getting into the festive spirit.
This Weekend - The Barnes Family! Speaking of festive families, have I ever got some exciting news to share with you about this weekend's worship service! The Barnes's will be leading our Christmas singing at Church Requel this weekend. Yay! And, for the first time ever at CR, all 4 members of the family will be on the platform. Brianna is home for the holidays and Blake will also be singing. They plan to lead us in singing some traditional Christmas carols. They also have one more little present for CR up their collective sleeves. I won't give it all away, but let me just say that you won't want to leave church early on Sunday. The Barnes's have planned an ending song that will have you stepping high as you leave this weekend!
Lights Camera Action! Production is in high gear at Church Requel Studios this weekend as our children continue work on their Christmas Eve nativity movie. Diana tells me that she and the children will be filming tomorrow at Church Requel. They plan to meet at 11am. Diana reminds us that the children should dress warm. Costumes are already laid out for each child to put on. Snacks are also provided for the kiddos. Sounds like fun!
All parents should bring their children into the church. Parents may then stay and watch or choose to leave their children at church. Diana will have plenty of assistant producers tomorrow. Many thanks to Lisa, Leanna, and Cindy for helping. Parents, if you are leaving your children Saturday, you should return by 12:30 pm. Any questions? Just email Diana.
Then, on Sunday after church, some of our children will be recording the audio narrative right out of the Bible. I can't tell you how proud I am of all our kids and of Diana for taking on this project.
Christmas Eve Services at 5pm and 7pm. When can you watch the world premiere of our children's movie? I'm so glad you asked! Christmas Eve at Church Requel! We plan on having two identical services. Both services will include our childrens' nativity production.
In addition, Brandi Walker has been hard at work organizing an all-girl praise team for both services. Joining Brandi will be Missie, Jana, Stephanie, Trish, Haleigh and Cindy. I'm not sure I completely understand, but apparently there is a "funk" version of "Hark The Herald Angels Sing." I think watching our ladies sing "funk" should be worth the price of admission alone!
Our children will also be singing... and signing... the tradional Christmas Eve song, "Silent Night." Brandi will be singing our favorite, "O Holy Night." And, after a short Christmas Eve message, we will all sing "Away In The Manger," while we light all our candles. I would definitely be putting this worship service on your Christmas Eve calendar. (Maybe even you'll want to invite some of your friends and family members!)
Also This Sunday. Diana tells me about all the cool things the children will be doing on Sunday at church. All our children - nursery and elementary - will practice signing and singing "Silent Night." The Nursery children will have "The Christmas Story" read to them and a cute nativity craft to do. Our Elementary children will have a lesson on "Commercialized Christmas vs. The Christ in Christmas" with Fred and Lisa helping. Diana will be video-taping the Inn Keeper, Mary, and Joseph (along with the donkey - the donkey is my granddaughter... can't forget the donkey!)
Upstairs the adults will continue with part 2 of our Amazing Christmas sermon series. The title of Sunday's talk is "An Amazing Encounter." I promise to do my best to live up to the title! Ha!
I look forward to my Friday morning newsletter writing time each week. I imagine you sitting right across my table and having a conversation with me. Isn't life exciting... especially this time of the year?
Many blessings! Pastor Mark
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Would you like to recapture the Christmas "WOW?" In this talk from December 8th, 2013, we consider the conversation between the angel and Mary. We learn how to give God a "FULL YES." God uses unlikely people for His kingdom when they give God all their small stuff and all their heart. Is there room in the inn of your heart for Jesus?
Follow along with the Bible app sermon notes or download Sunday's fill-in-the-blanks PDF handout.
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We enjoyed a Christmas concert Friday night with Jeff Anderson. Mark interviews Jeff and then replays some of Jeff's concert talk along with one song, "O Holy Night." We wrap up the podcast with Sunday's sermon, "An Amazing Announcement."
You can follow Jeff on his website, jeffandersononline.com, his Twitter feed, @jeffaofficial, or his Facebook page, facebook.com/jeffandersononline.
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.
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Good Friday morning Church Requel!
This is a HUGE weekend for us. No really. I mean it! We have the concert tonight, breakfast with the men tomorrow morning, feeding the hungry tomorrow night, and the start of our new sermon series, Amazing, on Sunday. Mary Kay and I were at CR last night getting prepped. The Point of Grace looked so beautiful I just had to take the panoramic photo above.
Christmas Concert with Jeff Anderson. Tonight is our big opportunity to reach our friends and families and invite them to CR. Jeff Anderson is a grammy nominated artist, who will help us bring in the Christmas season with his voice and guitar. The concert begins at 7pm. Our greeting and parking teams should show up at 5:45. For everyone else, I would recommend coming early. I'm guessing the front pews will get filled up pretty quickly.
Here are a few suggestions for our concert tonight. #1 - Pray. This could be a huge opportunity for people to see Christ in a new light. #2 - Invite. Even if you've already talked to your friends, call them up again and remind them. Even if you haven't called yet, do it today. Lots of people make last minute plans. #3 - Promote. This is the day to use social media to talk about the concert. This will create a buzz factor that might get someone to come to our church sometime, even if they don't come to the concert tonight. #4 - Be a host. If you are a regular Church Requeler, then tonight is your chance to be kind. Let's do all we can to make room for our guests, to show them the church in the best light possible.
There is a spiritual battle going on today and you are not watching from the sidelines. You are a vital participant for the Kingdom of God! Take advantage of your opportunity!
Men's Breakfast at 9am Saturday. Guys, we've reserved the back room at Paul Revere's in Lexington for our monthly breakfast. Jeff Anderson and his son will be joining us as well. (So this would be a great chance, dads, to bring your sons as well!) Let's fill up that back room.
Feed Our Neighbors Saturday Evening. This weekend also happens to be our church's turn to feed the hungry in downtown Mansfield. We've invited a fantastic organist to play the pipe organ upstairs as people are coming in. Voluteers should show up by 4pm. Dinner will be served at 5pm and end at 6pm. It takes another 30 - 45 minutes to clean up. If you can manage it, bring homemade desserts with you too. Our neighbors always know when CR is serving by the delicious desserts you so unselfishly provide.
Our New Christmas Sermon Series - Amazing - Sunday Morning. We start our new sermon series this weekend too! I'm really excited about this study. If you're like me, you've heard this story so often that you've lost some of your amazement of the good news. Recapture the Christmas "WOW!" This weekend we'll discover some things about the story that you either have never heard before or have long since forgotten about. (Here's the sermon notes for this weekend.)
This will be yet another opportunity to invite family and friends. Lots of folks, who don't normally go to church any other time of year, will say "yes" to your invitation during the Christmas season.
We have an AMAZING opportunity to advance the Kingdom of Christ in Mansfield, Ohio this weekend. Let's each do our very best and then trust our LORD to make our efforts matter for eternity. Privileged to be your pastor! Blessings, Mark
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God's Word teaches Christ-followers to be thankful in all circumstances - 365 days a year - in good times and in bad. In this video sermon I teach about 6 more reaasons why our thanksgiving is so important for us.
6 More Reasons To Be Thankful All Year Long from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
You can follow along with the Bible app sermon notes or download the outline PDF file.
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We often give thanks when we feel blessed. But what about when we don't feel so thankful - when we don't feel blessed? Here is a short excerpt from yesterday's CR talk.
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God's Word teaches Christ-followers to be thankful in all circumstances - 365 days a year - in good times and in bad. Sunday I taught 6 more reasons why our thanksgiving is so important for us.
I also talk about everything from this past Thanksgiving Thursday to Black Friday to Football Saturday to Decorating Sunday to Cyber Monday!
Here is the 60-Minutes video link about Amazon's futuristic Prime Air delivery service.
I mentioned these three great photo albums from this past Sunday, created by Diana.
We also talk about two different videos. The first is our home-made Thanksgiving video. The second is "The Thanksgiving Chair," which we played at the end of the sermon. You really should watch this after you've listened to the sermon.
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.
Music for this week's podcast is "Black Friday" by Steely Dan.
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