Church Requel Blog - Writings of Mark Pierce

This Weekend At CR: Becoming More Like Christ

Good Friday morning Church Requel family!

Pastor Mark here with your weekly preview of our Sunday morning at Church Requel. I hope this morning finds you warming up just a little bit from our polar vortex freeze-down these past few days. The pic on the right was taken in my car on Tuesday morning. This might prompt a couple questions on your part. Question #1 - Was it really 22 degrees below zero this past Tuesday? Or this Question #2 (and the one Mary Kay was asking me): Why were you out driving when it was 22 degrees below zero?

As you know last weekend for the first time ever, we cancelled all activities down at the Point of Grace. No meals last Saturday night. No Church Requel service Sunday morning. (Check out this week's podcast to hear my story of how hard it was for me to make the decision to close.)

This week will be different. We still will have our talk on 8 ways to become more like Christ. (Click here for the Bible app sermon notes.) However we changed up much of the rest of the plans for our Sunday morning experience.  For one, we were going to be led in our worship singing by Tim and Jillian Vincent. We hope to be able to schedule them another time in March or April, but for now they have returned to their Dayton home. Brandi Walker has volunteered to step up and lead our praise music this Sunday. She also will have some words of encouragement to share with us.

Another change in our plans for Sunday is that we WILL have a KidsMin teaching for all our elementary children. Normally our kiddos stay with their parents the first weekend of the month, but since they all missed last weekend too, Diana will share her incredibly awesome lesson with them this weekend. I've seen what she has planned. I can't tell you without spoiling it for the children, but I can say it may be her best lesson yet. It's so much fun to watch Diana as she just gets better every week with the KidsMin!

Speaking of our children, Brandi and Diana are planning on an exciting partnership with our children during the first Sunday in March. Our kiddos will lead our praise team singing. Parents, make sure your children pick up their CDs and lyrics. This will be an awesome opportunity for parents to have a music month with their elementary children at home.

One last word for our regular attenders in our Church Requel family. I'd really appreciate it if you would consider setting up a recurring donation to Church Requel. More than half our our donations now come from folks in our congregation who have simply decided what they want to give and have set up an automated donation to make it happen. There are lots of advantages to both you and Church Requel. You don't have to remember to bring or write a check (or how to open our crazy envelopes that always seem already sealed!) You remain in complete control, able to stop or change your donation at any time. You can set up any cycle you want. Mary Kay and I have it set up for a weekly donation. Many others have it set up for once or twice a month. The advantage to Church Requel is that it provides a more dependable source of income we can use for our ministry. Click here for more info and directions to set up your automated donations. If you have any questions you can ask or email me or email Jonathan Pierce.

Thanks everyone for your ongoing support for Church Requel. I don't know about any of you, but I am definitely suffering from "CR family withdrawal" symptoms. I can't wait to see you all this Sunday morning at 11am! With affection, Pastor Mark

#093: Realize Your Real Hope [Podcast]

Christ followers have a real hope. But we often don't realize our hope. In this podcast we learn 3 reasons why we have hope and 4 ways to realize our real hope.

I talk about the latest SisterLit podcast by my daughters. You can listen here.

Click to Listen!

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.

Music for this week's podcast is "Looks Like A Cold Cold Winter" by Bing Crosby.

This Week at CR: Tech Booth Completed!

Good Friday morning Church Requel!

It's been a great week here at CR World headquarters. After almost a year of dedicated effort, mostly by Pastor Steve Thoman, we have finished our tech booth in the back of the sanctuary. Now it's not only beautiful, but completely functional. Jonathan Pierce and Dave Johnson joined me Tuesday night for 5 hours of the final push. Jon and Dave both have smiles on their faces in this photo on the right after a job well done. If you'd like to see more photos from Tuesday night's "high wire act," click here.

Brandi stepping up! I have even more good news to share with you. For the past two weeks, Brandi Walker has been taking on the roll of worship planning for Church Requel. Each week she meets with me for about 90 minutes. We both bring ideas for the worship services for the next month. Brandi then arranges the music team for each week and completes the worship planning sheet. I'm thrilled for both Brandi and myself. I LOVE having someone else with whom to collaborate. It also forces me to stay a month ahead in my own planning. I'm thrilled for Brandi, because she has a real gift for arranging the worship service around a theme.

Snow Threatening. As I write this letter to you all on Friday morning I'm aware that we are in for some snowfall tonight and Saturday. I'm praying that the snow will be over by the time 11am on Sunday rolls around. Our policy is that we will close whenever there is a Level 2 Snow Emergency in Richland County. You can always check in with our Facebook page or our CR Website. While we are on the subject of snow, have you ever wondered who is responsible for keeping our parking lots and sidewalks clear on Sunday mornings? That would be parishioner Fred Bohnke, who volunteers his early morning hours and snow plow on snowy Sundays. Make sure to thank him next time you see him.

Running The Race of Maturity. We continue our What On Earth Am I Here For sermon series with part 4 this Sunday, "Called To Become." We are called to become like Christ. This maturing process is a lot more like a marathon than a 50-yard dash.  We'll examine the 5 different passages in the Bible that compare our growth in Christ to running in a race. I hope you walk away from Sunday's sermon with 8 very practical ways to run your race more effectively.

Children's Praise Team - March 2nd. One of the great benefits of having both Diana Devolder and Brandi Walker on the CR team is that they are planning ahead for a children's praise team the first Sunday of March. If you are a parent, make sure your child receives a CD and lyrics. How fun!

Jillian and Tim Join Brandi on Sunday. Speaking of worship teams, we have a good one lined up for you this Sunday morning! My baby daughter, Jillian, and her guitar-playing husband, Tim, will lead worship singing along with Brandi Walker Sunday morning. It should be special for everyone - not just for admittedly proud Pastor Pappa. We'll be singing CR favorites, "Your Love Never Fails" and  "I Will Follow." We'll also sing another song new to Church Requel, but made popular by Kari Jobe, "We Are." Brandi will send us out on a high note by singing, "Live Like That," by Sidewalk Prophets. It should be a really special morning at Church Requel!

It's a boy! Before I say a final goodbye for this week, I have some personal exciting news to share. We found out this week that Jennifer and Mike are expecting a baby boy in June! We knew they were expecting a baby, but we learned that Mike will be getting a son (and Mary Kay and I will be receiving our 4th grandson!) Congrats Mike and Jennifer!

As my own dad often would tell me, stay dry and warm. Hope to see you Sunday morning. With affection, Pastor Mark

Called To Belong [Sermon Video]

You are called to belong. God created the entire universe because He wanted a family and He wants you in it! The place we discover the family of God is the church! The Bible describes the church as God’s family, as God’s temple, as Christ’s body, as God’s flock and as God’s garden. In this talk we learn 5 meanings of these 5 metaphors of how the church was designed to meet your deepest needs.

Called To Belong from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

 You can follow along with the online sermon notes or download the fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

Church Is Like A Jigsaw Puzzle [Video]

The church is like a jigsaw puzzle. All the pieces fit together perfectly. This past Sunday I related a story from my past vacations in Myrtle Beach.

 

The Church Is Like Legos [Video]

The church is a lot like Legos! Watch this 2-minute video to see how.

 

#092: Called To Belong [Podcast]

You are called to belong. God created the entire universe because He wanted a family and He wants you in it! The place we discover the family of God is the church. The Bible describes the church as God’s family, as God’s temple, as Christ’s body, as God’s flock and as God’s garden. In this podcast we learn 5 meanings of these 5 metaphors of how the church was designed to meet your deepest needs.

Click to Listen!

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.

Music on this week's podcast is "I Belong" by Kathryn Scott.

This Week at CR: Baptisms and Belonging

Jack Nichols sets up our portable baptistry!

Good morning Church Requel!

Pastor Mark here with your weekly update to what's going on at CR. It's been a big week for the tech booth in the back of the sanctuary. We're not just seeing the light at the end of the tunnel... we're almost at the end of the tunnel and ready to walk out into the sunshine!

Don Angel installed a beautiful tech gray carpeting that will absorb the sound of our tech team walking around. It's really nice. When you walk into the sanctuary you'll smell that just-installed-carpet smell!

Also Steve Thoman connected the electricity to the tech booth so we're ready now to connect all the gadgetry for sound, lighting and computer graphics. Speaking of which, Jonathan Pierce has scheduled Tuesday night at 5pm to make all the final connections and rewiring.

So this will be the last weekend you'll see the tech table when you first walk in on the left-hand side. Yay! This project has been a year in the making. Let's say again a giant "thank-you" to Steve for all the beautiful wood working that has gone into making the booth fit so perfectly.

Paul Lintern has been busy in the downstairs area of Church Requel too. We now have the two offices cleared out. One is beautifully painted with a meeting table in the middle. We also have cleared the space for an office room, where we will be able to have computer and printing capabilities for our various ministries. Thanks Paul!!!

Baptisms This Weekend. Our topic this Sunday is "Called To Belong." The Bible talks so much about our belonging to one another that we find 5 different metaphors that will help us understand the benefits of belonging.

I can't think of a better way to celebrate belonging to the body of Christ than to participate in the baptism of 3 people this Sunday morning. Baptism services are always uplifting mornings at Church Requel, so you won't want to miss. (We also thank Jack and Steve for making sure the baptism pool is up and the water nice and warm for us.)

This Sunday will be special in another way too. Jeff and Tamira Barnes will be leading our worship singing. They always do such a fabulous job. Not only do they sing beautifully together, but they really have a talent for picking out the songs which really support the morning's theme.  Our children have an excellent teaching planned for Sunday too. Fred and Sheri will be helping out Diana with the elementary children while Bethany and Susie will be teaching our toddlers.

Serving Food To Our Neighbors. This weekend we will also have the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in our neighborhood. Saturday night Sheri Nichols will lead us in making a great meal to serve to 100+ people who usually show up to eat.  You can serve in two ways. First - show up at 4pm and plan to help out until 7pm. The more hands, the easier it will be for everyone. Second - bring a dessert to share. We've gained a positive reputation with some of our sweet-tooth neighbors!

I love leading you and being your pastor. Hope to see you twice this weekend - on Saturday night and then again on Sunday morning.  With affection, Pastor Mark

Called To Be Loved [Video Sermon]

God's love for us is long enough to last forever, wide enough to be everywhere, deep enough to handle anything, and high enough to overlook my sins. Our first calling and purpose is to be loved by God! We learn 5 ways knowing God's love will change our lives. This sermon was given by me this past Sunday.

Called To Be Loved from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

 You can follow along with the online sermon notes or download the fill-in-the-blanks PDF Outline.

#091: Called To Be Loved [Podcast]

Our first calling and purpose is to be loved by God! We talk about how wide, deep, long, and high is God's love for us. We learn 5 ways knowing God's love will change our lives. This sermon was given by me at Church Requel on Sunday, January 12, 2014.

Click to Listen!

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.

The two videos that I mention in the podcast are "God Loves Us No Matter What" by Soul Refinery and "God's Love For You" by CalMarc.  The two songs used in the podcast are "Because Of Your Love" by Paul Baloche and "The Love Of God" sung by MercyMe.

Missing Eyeglasses and Finding God's Love

What does a missing pair of glasses have to do with finding the love of God? Watch this morning's opening to the sermon, "Called To Be Loved," at Church Requel. I hope to have the entire sermon ready for you by Tuesday.

 

This Week at CR: The Amazing Love of God!

Good Friday morning Church Requel!

Do you know that I look forward to my Friday mornings with you each week? As I write these weekly notes to you, I picture each one of you in my mind. I pray that God is continually drawing you to Himself and that you are experiencing His comfort and peace in both your good and tough moments of life.

This has been an especially good week for your pastor as I have been overwhelmed by the love of the Lord for us. That will be the theme of our worship on Sunday morning - that we are each called to be loved by God Himself. I hope that you have been working on your memory verse this week. If so, you've been reminded over and over again that this love of God for you is not something recent. 

"I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born."
Isaiah 44:2a (CEV)

I wrote that verse completely from memory. (I deleted the other two times, when I didn't get it right. Ha! Confession is good for the soul. Maybe that would be a good idea for you too - to try to write out from memory this week's verse. That way you'll know if you really have it or not!)

I don't know what this verse does for you, but it reaffirms that God's love for me extends beyond my own earthly existence. He loved me before I was born. He loves me despite my mistakes and failures. He will love me into eternity. I am His son.  

As much as we think we know this, we need a steady diet of being reminded. This coming weekend I intend for you to be bathed in Christ's love for you. With the songs we sing, the videos we watch, the prayers we pray, and the sermon we listen to, I intend for you and your family to walk away knowing the love of God for you!

Just a few short reminders. I'm keeping this week's letter to you short in the hopes more of you will read it. I do need to remind you of a couple things: #1 - After church we plan to take the decorations down and put them away. Your help would be greatly appreciated; #2 - A week from Saturday, January 18th, we feed the hungry in our neighborhood. I hope you can participate by volunteering at 4pm and/or by bringing a dessert. Thank you Sheri Nichols for leading the charge.

God loves you... and so do I! Pastor Mark

This Call Is For You [Video Sermon]

If you are a Christ follower, the Bible tells us that you are called according to God's purpose! We learn 8 essential things about your calling that you need to know. This talk was recorded at Church Requel on January 5, 2014.

This Call Is For You from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

You can follow along with the online sermon notes or download the fill-in-the-blanks PDF Outline.

A Calling or a Career? [Video]

In this 3-minute clip from Sunday's sermon I talk about my calling as a preacher. Most of my life was spent working as an investment broker. That may have been a great career, but it wasn't my calling. What's the difference between a calling and a career?

 

#090: This Call Is For You [Podcast]

If you are a Christ follower, the Bible tells us that you are called according to God's purpose! We learn 8 essential things about your calling that you need to know. This first podcast of 2014 also includes Mark's behind-the-scenes discussion of what it's like to work from home. We also talk about our plans for the new series, "What On Earth Am I Here For?"

Here's your link to the book, "What On Earth Am I Here For?" by Rick Warren.

Click to Listen!

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.

The music for this week's podcast is "All Things New" by Sidewalk Prophets.

This Weekend at CR: What On Earth Am I Here For?

Good Friday morning Church Requel!

For most of us the festivities of Christmas and New Year's Eve are over and now we are left with the realities of a frigid winter. Anyone else look at the -5 degree temperature outside and just want to stay in bed this morning? Ha!

Discover Your Purpose! Let's make the most of the new year together. Let's ask together, "What On Earth Am I Here For?" That's also the name of the book by Pastor Rick Warren. As a church body, we each are committing to read one short chapter every day for the first 42 days of 2014. I hope you have a copy already. If not, go get one and start reading! (The Kindle version is only $2.99. The hardcover goes for $14.76 at Amazon.)

In addition to the reading, there is also a video introduction as well as a deeper audio teaching available for you every day by Rick Warren. (Here is today's link.) The book provides you a link for each day. We are also making links available on our website and on our Facebook page.

This weekend will be our first of six sermons on this same Purpose-Driven topic. We will consider 8 things we each need to know about my life's calling. (Here's the online sermon notes.) This is a great start to 2014.

Why Do It Again? Many of us have been through the Purpose Driven Study before. (And many of us haven't yet!!!) If I've been through it before, why do it again? For one thing, I'm betting you still have a thing or two to learn. You probably didn't learn everything the first time around. Second, you're different now than before. Your situation is different. Your friends are different. Your life is different. Trust me when I tell you that this study will benefit you greatly!

Children's Sermon. The first Sunday of every month we invite our families to worship together. This weekend I've prepared a special children's talk. I would love for them to bring an alarm clock with them to show and tell. I'll be asking them how they wake up every morning.  Should be fun!

What About The Snow? Those frigid realities I talked about in the first paragraph remind me that many of you have started attending CR this year and probably don't know how we handle the dangerous snowfalls we sometimes experience in Mansfield. Our policy is simple. If we are under a Level 2 Snow Emergency, then we won't conduct our Sunday morning Church Requel worship service. We will also always post our closing on the front page of our website and on our Facebook page. We made it all the way through last winter and never had to miss. Let's hope our luck holds up this year!

Undecorating Party This Sunday. Alas, the Christmas season is over and it's time to put away the Christmas decorations. Let's all meet after church this Sunday and do the work cheerfully together. I'll buy some pizzas for everyone who sticks around. Should only take us about an hour.

Thanks everyone. It sure is a pleasure being your pastor! - Pastor Mark