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Cindy Thoman and Brandi Walker sang the song, "Let Them See You In Me," at Church Requel this past Sunday. It was really powerful. Cindy sang the first verse to her two daughters, Brandi and Trish. Then Brandi sang the second verse to her two youngest children. During the back half of the song we showed a slide show of the many generations of families represented at Church Requel. We pass our faith from one generation to the next!
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I introduce the new sermon series, Raising Amazing Kids, with some personal thoughts to why raising children today is such a challenge. The expectations for mom and dad and their family is very different than when I was a kid - and these pressures are continuing. But raising a family today is not at all impossible. Teaching godly principles is just as important to success as ever.
In this first sermon, we talk about 4 challenges of raising kids in today’s world. We consider 3 reasons why it’s so important to give our children a spiritual foundation. Finally we provide 3 suggestions for today’s parents.
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.
Music for today's podcast is The Andy Griffith Show themesong.
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This is the first of five talks I am giving on the topic of parenting. We talk about 4 challenges of raising kids in today’s world. We consider 3 reasons why it’s so important to give our children a spiritual foundation. Finally we provide 3 suggestions for today’s parents.
Raising Today's Kid's from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
You can follow along with the online sermon notes or download the fill-in-the-blanks PDF sermon outline.
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Good morning Church Requel!
I'm writing you this morning from my brother's home in Mason, Ohio, where I have spent the last two days. Every year about this time of year I drive down to Todd's house so that he can tune up my bicyle. We then ride some of the most amazing bike trails in Ohio.
I hope that whatever you're doing, this Friday finds you well and ready for a fantastic weekend with your Church Requel family and friends.
This coming Sunday we will begin our new Raising Amazing Kids sermon series. I love the way our church is growing. I especially love all the new families and young children who are now calling Church Requel their church home. This series will certainly benefit all of these young parents.
I also think this series will benefit everyone else too, even if you're not a parent of young children. As a dad of 4 adult children, I've learned that you never stop being a parent even if your children have moved out into their own homes. Even if you're not a parent now, you need children in your life to remain young at heart.
Here's the schedule for this 5-week series:
April 27th - Raising Today's Kids
May 4th - Four Jobs Of The Parent
May 11th - 8 Truths Every Child Needs
May 18th - 5 Conversations Parents Must Have
May 25th - 5 Ways To Bring Out The Best In Your Kids
Here's a brief video message from me describing this series in more detail. We're seeing a lot of buzz about this series on our Facebook page. Since we put this video up on our page yesterday, it's been played 183 times. That tells me that many of your friends are interested in this particular topic. Let's face it. Raising kids in today's world is tough. There's a reason giving birth to children is called labor. It's tough work!
So I'm asking you to do two things. First, make sure you commit to being at Church Requel each week for the next 5 weeks. This is not just a commitment to your church, but a commitment to your family. Second, invite someone you know to come with you this Sunday morning. Share this email. Or send a link to the video. Let's keep the momentum going at CR and help our city's families along the way!
Potluck Celebration After Church. Sunday afternoon we will enjoy a potluck meal together downstairs after our morning worship time. Families bring two dishes of any kind to share with others. Single folks, bring one dish to share. Paper plates, napkins, cups and silverware will be provided by the church. I've noticed that each potluck is unique from all the others, but I've never gone home hungry!
Baptism Sunday on May 18th. We're bringing up the baptism pool for our May 18th morning worship. If you or a member of your family would like to be baptized, please email me. Baptism is an act of obedience and testimony for every adult Christ-follower. It's also a time of great celebration and victory for our church family.
Continued Work On The Church. Pastor Steve remains busy as a beaver working around the church. He loves it when others pitch in and help too. We need to swap in our screen windows this week so we can let the fresh air into the sanctuary. We're also working on building a new church office in which your staff can work. Finally we want to make more improvements in our nursery for those new babies we're expecting this year. If you have some time to help, please talk to Steve or send him an email.
As I wrap up this week's newsletter to you, let me also share with you just how much last week's Easter service meant to me. We enjoyed an all-time record crowd with almost 3 of every 10 people being ten years of age or under! Let the children come to Christ! Watching all of you go up to the cross and nail your thank-you notes to Jesus was a moment I will always cherish. What a great privilege it was to lead you into communion as a church family. Good things are happening these days in the body of Christ!
With great affection, Pastor Mark
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This week on the podcast I talk about our Easter service at Church Requel and then share our Easter sermon. Jesus reenergizes our lives by filling us with Himself whenever we're empty, by sending us wherever we're needed, and by helping us to believe wherever, whenever, whatever.
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.
div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Our music for this week's podcast is "My Redeemer Lives" by Hillsong.
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This is my Easter message from last Sunday. Jesus reenergizes our lives by filling us with Himself whenever we're empty, by sending us wherever we're needed, and by helping us to believe wherever, whenever, whatever.
How Jesus Reenergizes Your Life - Part 2 from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
You can follow along with the online sermon notes or download the fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.
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Good Friday morning Church Requel!
I wish you a good Friday every week, but this week it really is a Good Friday! The Friday God stretched his arms and showed us His ultimate love. The Friday we knew for sure that we were a member of God’s very own family. I hope that you stop for a moment to say thank you to Him from Whom all things come, through Whom all things are accomplished, and for Whom we may bring glory!
If you haven't already done it this week, make a date with Jesus and remember His Presence in your life - even in those discouraging moments of despair. Let Him encourage you; if it helps, listen to some encouraging music like "Never Let Go" by Matt Redman. Read the Good Friday story found in Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, Luke 22-23, or John 18-19. Then write out a thank you note to Jesus. Tell Him in your own words what you are most thankful for today.
Then bring your thank you note with you to Church Requel Sunday morning. It will be a very special part of our worship celebration. If you didn't receive a thank you note from us last Sunday, no problem. Make a new one with any card or paper you have.
Feed The Hungry Saturday Evening. I can't think of a better way for the Christ-follower to demonstrate authentic appreciation than by doing the things Christ asked us to do. We have an opportunity to do that Saturday night by feed the hungry in our neighborhood. Show up at the church by 4pm and expect to serve until 7pm. Bring a dessert to share too. Thanks again to Sheri and Jack Nichols, who lead us in this ministry.
Awesome Worship Planned. Speaking of awesome leadership, we welcome Brandi Walker back from her vacation Sunday morning. She has assemble an amazing team of worship leaders for our Easter morning. We'll listen to and sing with Brandi, Cindy, Trish, Haleigh and Missie.
How To Raise Amazing Kids! In one week - April 27th - we'll begin a new 5-sermon series on bringing out the very best in our children. Outstanding parenting is needed in today's world more than ever. But these talks are not just for parents of young children. Even us older parents have learned we never stop being parents. And even if you don't have children now, you do need children in your life to keep you young. I've been thrilled with the way our church has been filled with children of all ages. Let's commit together to learn everything we can about how to raise these children to know our Lord!
Bring Your 3-Generations Photos. We have a special surprise we'd like to share with you on April 27th. But to do this we need as many multiple generation pictures as you can give us. I promise to take great care of them. You may give them to me and I'll return them next Sunday. Or email me a digital copy by emailing it to me.
Church Potluck Next Sunday. We love our potlucks at CR! Next weekend promises to be a really special one. Not only are we starting a brand new sermon series on raising amazing kids, but we’re going to celebrate by sharing an awesome meal together afterwards. Families, bring two dishes to share. Single folks, bring one dish to share together. This will be a great weekend to invite that special friend or family member.
Online Resources To Share. Speaking of that special friend, you might want to consider forwarding one of published resources this week. Last week’s podcast or video will get you caught up on this week’s Easter sermon. Also this short video of Jessica Johnson talking about living in the moment has been shared online more than anything we’ve done in a long time. Finally, you must see this photo album of our children performing the Last Supper. Thank you Diana Devolder!
Thanks for reading - if you've made it this far. You are each precious to me. I pray for you often and am always humbled that Christ lets me to lead as your pastor. Hope to see you in church Easter Sunday morning at 11am!
Blessings on you this Good Friday,
Pastor Mark
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No, I'm not a proud papa at all. The fact that I'm sharing this video of my daughter, Jessica Johnson, sharing this monologue Sunday at CR on being in the moment with Jesus is purely a coincidence!
Be Present - Palm Sunday from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
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Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? We all get down and disappointed sometimes. If we are Christ-followers we need to know that Jesus will reenergize us. We learn the first four ways in this Palm Sunday talk focusing on John 20:19-23.
7 Ways Jesus Reenergizes My Life - Part 1 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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Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? We all get down and disappointed sometimes. If we are Christ-followers we need to know that Jesus will reenergize us. We learn the first four ways in this week's podcast.
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.
Music for this week's podcast is "After Taxes" by Johnny Cash
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Good morning Church Requel family!
I hope this Friday finds you doing well. This will be a big weekend for the Pierce family. Tonight and tomorrow several members of our family will arrive from afar for Jennifer's baby shower tomorrow. She is expecting her first boy (her 3rd child) in June. Her pregnancy has gone well and we're so very happy for her.
Not only has this been a busy week preparing for the family party tomorrow, but it's been a pretty big week for your pastor. I've been working hard on the next sermon series coming after Easter. I'll tell you all about it in next week's email. I will tell you that this may be my very favorite series yet and will reflect more of my own life and stories than any of the others. This is probably because so much of my life has been dedicated to this particular topic. Intrigued? Stay tuned!
Speaking of sermon series, we prepared a new page on our website for this past Financial Fitness series. All the video links and sermon outlines are available to you on one page. Did you miss any of the talks? Want to see any of them again? Want to share the series with a friend? Click here for all 7 talks on one page!
It's also been a big week for Pastor Steve. Last week he finished making the new bulletin board downstairs for KidsMin. This week he has been working on a big surprise for Easter Sunday. (I've been sworn to secrecy!) He has a list of improvements he is planning, starting with a new office space for Church Requel downstairs. When he is finished, Brandi, Diana, Marci and I will have a central location for computing and printing. AWESOME! I've also heard that Dave Repp has been spending some of his new retirement life volunteering at CR as well. Lucky us!
Our Re-Energized Life In Christ. I'm really looking forward to our time together Sunday morning. For one thing Dave Johnson and Ian Jensen will be leading our worship singing together. Dave has brought his voice and guitar to the CR platform many times before, but this will be Ian's first time ever! Ian is Mari Medina's son and Aimee Medina's grandson. (Do you think they must be thrilled?) Also Jessica Johnson has prepared a special Palm Sunday monologue to share with us. Jillian and Tim Vincent will sing and play the guitar during our communion time. Should be special!
I begin a two-part sermon which I've named, "7 Ways Jesus Re-Energizes Us." There are times in life when we find ourselves running on empty. Can you identify? Have you ever felt out of gas and wondered if you could go on? Have you ever felt at the end of your rope? If you've ever felt frustrated, fatigued or fearful... If you've ever been sick and tired of being sick and tired, then these two talks will be for you.
Our focus this Sunday will be on John 20:19-23, when the disciples are gathered in a locked room feeling like everything has been lost. Suddenly the resurrected Jesus is among them - definitely a re-energizing experience! I've uploaded the sermon notes to the Bible app for you.
New Bible App 5. Speaking of the Bible app, did you know that in the last week the Bible app has been completely updated? If you have either an Android or Apple mobile device and have your apps set for automatic download, then you already have received this free update. It is definitely a great improvement on what was an already fantastic app! The biggest new benefit in my mind is the opportunity to connect with your friends through the app. I will be "friending" many of you, who have downloaded the app and have been following along during our weekly sermons.
Want to know more about the new Bible App 5? I've linked 4 recent articles from the YouVersion blog to make it easy for you to read up on what's new.
That's enough for this week. I hope you each know how much I love you and appreciate your involvement in Church Requel. You are a great encouragement to me. Blessings! Pastor Mark
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Jesus taught that we should store up for ourselves treasures in heaven. In this week's sermon video, we'll discover 5 ways to “send it on ahead” and invest into our heavenly bank accounts.
Where Best To Invest from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
You may follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks outline.
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In this 30-second video, the children of Church Requel invite us in to worship. This was shown to our church this past Sunday morning at the beginning of our worship service.
KidsCall from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
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Jesus taught that we should store up for ourselves treasures in heaven. In this podcast we'll discover 5 ways to “send it on ahead” and invest into our heavenly bank accounts. I also discuss what I've learned about preaching in series. I'm still refining and learning. Finally I share specifically what I've learned about preaching on the topic of money.
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.
Music for this week's podcast is "Something Changed" by Sara Groves.
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Good morning Church Requel family!
I can't think of any better way to start off this week's letter than to celebrate the six new members joining Church Requel. It's great that they have chosen to belong - great for them and great for us.
Becoming a member of Church Requel is not like joining a social club. Our members agree to (1) protect the unity of our church, (2) share the responsibility of our church, (3) serve our church, and (4) support the reputation of our church.
This Belong Class has taken their membership agreement quite seriously. Most are already involved in ministry. We are definitely stronger as a result! Make sure you let each one know how trilled you are that they have joined.
Update on Marilyn. Speaking of the responsibilities of belonging to CR, that goes both ways - right? We have a responsibility back to our membership as well. There could be no better example of providing for one of our members than the example of how you have cared for Marilyn in the last 10 days since her home burned down. You have provided for her financially, helped her with clothing, taken her to various places in Mansfield to replace important items (like eyeglasses and phone), and moved her into a new apartment. Thanks to everyone who has stepped up. You are a great example of loving one another. Know that the world is watching. One of the good folks down at the Red Cross told Marilyn this past week that she has heard of the reputation of Church Requel and is planning on stopping by one of these Sundays!
This Weekend: Children & New Guitarist! On the first Sunday of every month we invite our elementary children to worship with their families in the sanctuary. When we say "worship with us," we don't mean sitting there bored out of their skulls driving Mommy and Daddy batty. We mean that they participate in worship with us. This Sunday is no exception. Our kiddos have prepared a special call to worship! (You won't want to miss it so come early!) Some of our children will form a praise team to sing at the end of the service with Brandi. Six of our children will perform 3 mini-skits in the middle of the kid's sermon - a talk aimed at kids of all ages. We even have a fun, kid-version of the announcements planned. We mean it when we say, "Our children are not the church of tomorrow, but the church of today!"
Dan Logan, one of our newest members, is serving the church by using his guitar talent in our worship service this weekend. YAY! I may have exaggerated his guitar collection in this photo on the left... but only slightly! I've had the privilige of watching Dan and Brandi prepare for this Sunday's worship service over the past 3 weeks. I found it amazing that Dan can make almost any sound - including a pipe organ - come out of his guitar. He will help Brandi, the children and us with our worship singing. He will also play through our greeting time, communion and prayer. I really appreciate Dan's great attitude and willingness to pitch in.
Palm Sunday Live Band. Speaking of guitarists, I'm also excited to give you a preview of our next weekend coming up. We will have a live band led by Dave Johnson, Ryan Shoemaker and Ian Jensen. I love it that we are discovering talent sitting in our pews. Dave has played for us off and on for several years - always surprising us with his abilities. But did you know that Ian Jensen played the bass guitar? For those of you who don't know him, Ian is Mari's son and Aimee's grandson. I've been inspired by this young man ever since we recorded the Thanksgiving video and heard him say, "I'm thankful to be here worshipping God."
Sunday Sermon - God's 5 Investment Funds. You've heard Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, when he said, "Do not store up for yourseves treasures on earth, ... but store up treasures in heaven." Have you ever thought about how exactly to go about doing that? We're going to consider that very question this Sunday morning, when we wrap up our Financial Fitness sermon series. I'm going to tell you about God's growth fund, mutual fund, service fund, global fund and treasury fund. We'll discover together that you can't take your money with you, but you can send it on ahead!
Vegetables Needed April 19th - Neighborhood Meal. The Saturday evening before Easter morning we are planning to feed our neighbors a free, warm meal. We usually see 150 or more good folks show up whenever Sheri Nichols and crew serve their fixins. Sheri wrote me this morning and asked me to ask you to bring in to church large cans of potatoes and green beans. She is planning on a meal of smoked sausage, green beans and potatoes with a tossed salad and fruit salad. We love that we have the opportunity to be Jesus' hands and feet on the eve of Easter this year. Thanks Sheri and Jack for your great leadership!
When I think of my Church Requel family, I definitely remember the Apostle Paul's teaching:
“You honor God through this genuine act of service in your commitment to spread the Good News of Christ through your generosity in sharing...” 2 Corinthians 9:13 NIV84
Thank you all for your encouragement, your support, your commitment, and your generosity! With great affection, Pastor Mark
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In part two of Habits for Financial Fitness, we learn about the priority of saving our money, keeping track of where our money goes, and the importance of a spending and savings plan. We study many verses from Proverbs to learn the difference between God’s plan and man’s plan for our finances.
8 Habits of Financial Fitness from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
You may follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF Sermon Outline.
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