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Work could be considered worship if we do it right! I give Biblical advice to employers and employees alike for how they should relate... at work. From Ephesians 6:5-9.
You can follow along with the online sermon notes or download the fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.
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Work could be considered worship if we do it right! Pastor Mark gives Biblical advice to employers and employees alike for how they should relate... at work. From Ephesians 6:5-9.
RELATE @Work 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 After Thanksgiving Church Requel!
Many call it "Black Friday," but I refuse to participate on so many levels. No day should be described in any way but wonderful and exciting! Also the whole shopping extravaganza has worn itself out in my book. It was one thing - maybe - when everyone could agree that the Thanksgiving holiday was to be kept sacred from commercial abuse (only to be followed by the most commercially abused day of the year.) But now the so-called Black Friday sales began last Monday - and far too many stores opened on Thanksgiving Day itself. My prediction? Retailers have ruined any specialness of the Friday after Thanksgiving shopping day and, as a result, will probably experience one of the worst sales day in the history of "Black Friday."
Where did that rant come from? What I really wanted to do was to wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving holiday from Mary Kay and me. We had 11 family members at our table yesterday and it was truly blessed. The womenfolk all brought something delicious to eat. My dad baked three pies for us. The menfolk watched lots of football and surrendered to the inevitable Thanksgiving afternoon nap. I hope you also enjoyed your holiday and like me are looking forward to seeing your Church Requel family again on Sunday.
Full Band Celebration Sunday! This past Tuesday night I had the fun privilege of running sound for our Praise Team rehearsal. You are in for such a treat this Sunday morning. Each member of the Barnes family will be present and singing. That's right! The stars and planets have aligned just right so that Blake and Brianna will join Jeff and Tamira.
Each member of the Barnes family selected their favorite worship song for Sunday. It's a great set: "God of Angel Armies," "I Lift My Hands," "Potter's Hand," and one of my personal, all-time favorites, "Faith," made famous by Hillsong fifteen years ago.
To go along with the great voices, we also have a full band on Sunday. Joining Tamira on the keys will be Ian on bass, Dave on guitar, and Dan on the drums. Many of you contributed financially to the purchase of a new digital soundboard earlier this year. You'll be thrilled to know that this weekend we'll use all the channels but one in our worship service! Love it! Trust me when I tell you that you will literally feel like dancing out of our doors when the worship service is finished!
Christmas Decorating Pizza Blast After Church! Maybe instead of dancing out the doors, you'll choose to dance down the steps to where we keep our Christmas decorations. Pastor Paul Lintern will also join us with his many nativity scenes. We are hoping many folks will stay for an hour or so after church to help put up all the decorations and fill our church home with Christmas cheer. I will buy enough pizza pies to satify the stomachs of all who stay. This is especially a great opportunity for families with young children to serve together. Here are three photos from last year's decorating party. (You may click on them to see a larger version of the photo.)
Belong Membership Class Results. We enjoyed an awesome membership class this past Saturday morning. Twelve people came and shared their stories, while they also heard the Church Requel story. Of the twelve who attended, nine have decided to join Church Requel, two have decided not to join, and one is still in the process of deciding. Isn't that wonderful? You might think that our goal would be to convince everyone to join up. Not so! What we really want is for God to make clear to folks whether they should be member of this body of Christ or not. Personally, I'm thrilled with the results. We will accept our new members into our church during a brief ceremony on Sunday morning, December 14th.
What's next? Here's some more of the inside scoop of what's coming up at Church Requel!
So many things are happening at this time of year. I know the schedule can be a busy one. Let's agree with one another about one thing - we won't crowd Jesus out of our lives as we prepare to celebrate his birthday. I'm excited about every good thing happening these days at Church Requel. Let's remember to keep the main thing the main thing - it's really all about Jesus!
With great affection, Pastor Mark
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Parenting children has never been more challenging. What advice does the Bible give to today's moms and dads? In this audio version of Sunday's sermon, I share 5 key recommendations for how to raise kids. Along the way I share lots of personal stories from my own parenting adventures.
Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.
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Parenting children has never been more challenging. What advice does the Bible give to today's moms and dads? This morning I shared 5 key recommendations for how to raise kids. Along the way I shared lots of personal stories from my own parenting adventures with Jennifer, Jonathan, Jessica and Jillian.
How To Be A MODEL Parent from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.
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Good Friday morning Church Requel!
Who knew that January was masquerading as November? Wow. Record cold temperatures this past week. The only thing that made it bearable were the horrendous pictures of our state neighbors to our east. I've said it before, but it remains true: "it may be cold outside, but we can be warm inside with our love for one another."
Condolences to Leeanna Logan. Before I mention all the events taking place this weekend at Church Requel, I want to extend our deepest, heartfelt sympathies to Leeanna and her entire family over the loss of her mother this past Saturday evening. Karen Gibson's memorial service will take place at noon today at First Assembly of God, 1000 McPherson Street, Mansfield. DeeDee - our thoughts and prayers are with you today.
Largest Belong Class Ever! We have more people registered for our Belong Membership Class tomorrow morning than we've ever had before. As of this morning, we are expecting 16 people to come and learn more about what it means to be a member of Church Requel. We offer our Belong Class twice each year. People who attend the Belong Class are not obligated to become a member, but they must attend a Belong Class if they wish to become a member.
We'll talk about about our salvation, our statements, our strategies, and our structure. The class begins at 8:30am (registration and breakfast will be available at 8am.) We'll include a Subway lunch and plan to wrap up around 1:30pm. Thanks to Lisa Hatfield and Steve & Cindy Thoman for helping me out with the class!
We Feed The Hungry Saturday Night. Saturday will be a big day at Church Requel. We plan to feed our neighbors a hot, hearty meal. I love serving along side of you all. I hope many of you plan to volunteer your time and energy. Volunteers who want to serve should arrive by 4pm. The meal begins at 5pm. We usually are finished - walking out the door - by 6:30 pm. Parents, this is an awesome opportunity to model servanthood with your children!
How To Be M.O.D.E.L. Parents Speaking of modeling, parents, Sunday will be an awesome opportunity for both you and your children. Let's talk about the parents' side of the opportunity first. We continue our RELATE sermon series from Ephesians Sunday morning by learning 5 Biblical principles for being MODEL parents. This is one of my all-time favorite talks. It's chock-full of personal adventures from raising my own children. I promise you two things. We'll have a lot of fun together Sunday. And you'll walk away encouraged. (Want a head start? Sermon notes here.)
Haleigh and Brandi will be leading us in some of our favorite praise songs: "How Great Thou Art," "Forever," "Cornerstone," and "Everlasting God." Nancy will bring us all up to speed on what's going on at CR. We'll watch a "Parents Pep Talk." And Brandi will send us on our way with "Because You Loved Me," by Celine Dion. (How often do you get Celine Dion at church? Hmmm? Only at CR!)
Courage In KidsMin. We celebrated another record turnout last Sunday morning. We had 25 children altogether learn about their faith in Christ during our KidsMin program. When I watched all those children leave our worship upstairs and go downstairs, I thought to myself, 'Thank you Lord for providing us such a great opportunity!' Tamira Barnes wrote me a note this week and wanted me also to say just how appreciative we are of all our childrens' volunteers in KidsMin. Tamira wrote (and I agree), "It's great to work with such loving positive and loving people."
So what will our children be learning this Sunday? The elementary children will be learning the story of Esther. Along the way they will be learning about the courage one needs to stand his or her ground for their faith. Our pre-school children will be learning about "shad tach, meshack and abebnego."
"As always," Tamira tells me, "our time together will include crazy games, video, discussion, and crafts. We love our CR kids and want to see them grow stronger in their faith each week." Amen Tamira!
What's next? One of the reasons I write this newsletter each week is to keep you all in the loop with what's coming up in the near future at Church Requel. Here's some of the inside scoop!
Another Friday morning. Another letter from my heart to yours. This past week I celebrated with Pastor Paul Lintern his move into his "chome" (church + home) two years ago this week. Can you believe it's been two years? Wow! That means that this coming Christmas Eve, it will be two years since Church Requel moved to the Point of Grace. What an adventure! Thanks for sharing it with me.
With great affection, Pastor Mark
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The Bible teaches that husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the church. How exactly can men do this? In this audio version of this morning's sermon, I teach about marriage from Ephesians 5 with lots of examples and helpful suggestions for today’s men.
Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.
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The Bible teaches that husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the church. How exactly can men do this? This morning I taught about marriage from Ephesians 5 with lots of examples and helpful suggestions for today’s men.
Marriage Talk - Husbands from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.
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Good Friday morning Church Requel!
Anyone else besides me not ready for the cold? Yuck! Last night after our staff meeting at church, I sat on Trimble Road for 30 minutes while traffic 30 cars ahead negotiated the black-iced incline. The temperature when I woke up this morning was a bone chilling 19 degrees. To add insult to injury I heard my first "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" advertising jingle. It's November 14th! Please!
As cold as it is, our family is excited to welcome my baby daughter, Jillian, and her husband, Tim, to Mansfield this weekend. Yes, they will be at church on Sunday! Tim and Jillian are home for her baby shower Saturday. Our home will be overflowing with family and friends, celebrating Jillian's baby boy due January 1st.
Angie's Mom's Funeral. Our deepest condolences go out to Angie Henke and her family. Angie was baptized back in September at CR, but we've missed her much of the time since. She's been caring for her very sick mother. Sylvia Maye Back passed away Wednesday, leaving behind her husband, John, eight children (including Angie), eighteen grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren! I had the privilege of meeting many of Angie's family members yesterday as we prepared for Sylvia's funeral on Saturday at 2pm. Friends may call on the family one hour before at 1pm at Wappner Funeral Home in Ontario. Our own Shelli Jackson is coordinating food for the family afterward, so contact Shelli if you'd like to help. Wappner's online link, obituary, and tribute wall can be found here.
Sunday, it's the husbands' turn. Last Sunday Mary Kay and I spoke together to the wives about what Ephesians 5 teaches about marriage. (You can watch that talk here.) This Sunday we'll turn our attention to the husbands with a study of Ephesians 5:25-33. Want a head start? The online sermon notes can be read here; or just open your Bible app and click the "Live" button.
Potluck Thanksgiving Feast!!! After our morning worship service, we will celebrate Thanksgiving together with a potluck meal! Yay! This is one event I know many of you look forward to each year. If you haven't been to one of our Thanksgiving potlucks (or just want a reminder), check out this short video from last year. Sheri is baking 3 hams. I hear through the grapevine that Cindy is baking turkey breasts. Families should bring two dishes of any kind. Single folks bring one dish. I've been asked if you have to cook it yourself. No! Pick up something from the store. We'll love whatever you bring. This is a great opportunity to invite your family and friends to come celebrate with you and your church family.
Membership Class on Nov. 22nd. I'm thrilled to report to you that we have 15 people signed up for our Belong Membership Class a week from Saturday. It's not too late to sign up. I'll have the sign-up list in the church lobby Sunday morning so you can either sign up or check to make sure you're on the list (wouldn't want to miss anyone!) We'll begin serving a continental breakfast at 8am. The class begins at 8:30 am and runs to 1:30 pm. We will also provide a Subway lunch. It's a great time to learn everything you want to know about Church Requel and to get all your questions answered. You do not have to become a member if you attend the class. But you cannot become a member without first attending. Looks like we're going to have one of the best Belong classes ever!
Neighborhood Meal on Nov. 22nd. Yep, a week from Saturday will be a busy day! That evening we'll serve a hot meal to anyone and everyone who shows up from our neighborhood. Sheri tells me the last time she cooked for the Neighborhood Meal, we had 225 people show up - a new record! You can help in three ways. #1 - brings large cans of vegetables with you to church. #2 - Prepare a dessert and bring it to the church by 4:30 pm on the 22nd. #3 - Volunteer. Show up on the 22nd and help serve. Volunteers should report by 4 pm. We are usually finished by 6:30 pm. It's a great way to be Jesus' hands and feet.
I met with our leadership team this past Wednesday. I was almost overwhelmed when I listed out all the ways we've served others or one another in the last 60 days. You sure are an active church! God is blessing us with many great opportunities. We've been praying for this for many years. Let's not let down our guard now. Let's not tire out now. Remain faithful. I love being your pastor. I pray often for you. Please remember to pray for me too.
Thankful even on a cold morning! Pastor Mark
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Submission is a two-way street between husbands and wives. In this first of two parts, we focus our attention on wives from Ephesians 5:21-24. Mary Kay Pierce joins me to describe the 4 ways wives support their husbands.
Marriage Talk - Wives from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.
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Submission is a two-way street between husbands and wives. In this first of two parts, we focus our attention on wives from Ephesians 5:21-24. Mary Kay Pierce joins Pastor Mark to describe the 4 ways wives submit to their husbands.
Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.
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There may be no greater privilege for a pastor than to bapize a new believer in Christ. Last Sunday after church, Kaitlynn asked me how she might be saved. After talking together for a while, Kaitlynn prayed to Christ asking Him to forgive her of her sins and promising to the best of her ability to follow Jesus for the rest of her life. Yesterday she gave public witness to this decision by being baptized. Here is her 3-minute baptism video.
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Good Friday morning Church Requel!
Is it just me or did anyone else wake up this morning thinking, 'The Browns won! The Browns won! The Browns won!' I must admit that I'm walking around with a little extra hop in my gait this morning. Nineteen years ago to the day yesterday, the Browns were removed from Cleveland in the dark of night. Nineteen years later under the lights of Thursday Night Football the Browns are back in a big way. Yay! I know this weekly letter to you, my CR family, should be about the exciting things going on in our church. But I've also always tried to make this a personal letter from my heart to yours. So occasionally you'll have to bear with my other enthusiasms.
From Survival To Revival. I'm just as equally excited for our women this weekend. The Women Of Faith conference, From Survival To Revival, begins tonight at Mansfield First Assembly of God. Many of our women have decided to go together. The meeting begins at 7:00 pm tonight, but I am sure that our ladies plan to go early.
I'm including this in today's newletter for 3 reasons. 1st - whether you're a registered attendee or not - let's all pray that our ladies will be revived in their spirits as a result of this quality time together. Know I will be praying for you often! 2nd - if you haven't already planned to go, but would like to go - it's not too late! We've had some cancellations. If you want to go and haven't registered yet, call Mary Kay, Cindy Thoman, or Tamira Barnes. Or just reply to my email. We'll make a way for you to go. Check out this short promo video. 3rd - if you are going, you should download the FREE Women of Faith app for your IOS device or Android device so that you can stay up to speed on all the things going on this weekend. (You don't have to use the links - just search for "Women Of Faith" in your respective app store.)
Sunday Morning - Marriage Advice. The weekend rolls on for Church Requel Sunday morning as we begin a short, two-week mini-series about our marriage relationships. I'm super excited about this Sunday especially, because for the first time ever - Mary Kay will join me on the CR platform! This week we focus on the wives. Next weekend we'll turn our attention to the husbands.
Mary Kay will be the first to tell you that our marriage has not been a perfect one. We have both made mistakes and have sometimes struggled to live up to the advice we'll share this weekend. It is our hope and prayer that you may benefit from some of the things we've learned - sometimes the hard way - over 36 years of marriage.
Even if you're not married we want you to come this Sunday. Many of the principles we'll talk about apply to all relationships. Also, I'm hoping that we can be transparent and improvisational in our conversation with you Sunday. Personally, I'm most appreciative to Mary Kay for helping me. I'm hoping our experience together this weekend will be one we remember (in a positive way) for a long time to come!
Baptism Sunday Too! If this weekend were not already fantastic enough, we also will have a baptism Sunday morning. Last Sunday at the close of the worship service, Kaitlynn asked me if she could be saved. (Is there any better question for a pastor to be asked?) We talked and then prayed the sinner's prayer together - the first time ever for Kaitlynn. Yes, you know there was a party going on in Heaven last Sunday! When I asked her how soon she'd like to be baptized, she asked if this Sunday would be ok. Wow! Please plan to come to celebrate with Kaitlynn and her family and friends.
Brandi Walker will be joined by Trish Trubachik and Missie Miller in leading our praise music. We'll be singing three favorite songs: "Forever Reign," "Trading My Sorrows," and "Hungry." We also have prepared a special video for Sunday that will help us remember those special moments we enjoy together. Our children will enjoy an adventurous lesson led by Tamira Barnes and Fred Wiegand. Our pre-school class, which has been packed lately, will see a new addition to the staff Sunday! Stephanie Angel will join Susie Weigand teaching our preschoolers.
We Have SO MUCH To Be Thankful For! Stop and think about it and you'll know this is true. Our church has been so blessed lately with hundreds coming to the Fall Festival. We've enjoyed so many amazing worship experiences. I know I'M SO THANKFUL for our staff additions this year of Brandi and Tamira. Our church really seems to be moving forward in such a positive way. I love all the new folks who have been coming and many of them will be coming to the Membership Class two weekends from now.
So let's celebrate together! Next Sunday plan to come and stay for a meal afterward. We'll dine together at our second annual Thanksgiving Potluck Meal. We call it a PotLUCK because we never know what food will show up. There are no sign-ups. Just bring what you want and we'll have more than enough for everyone. As a general rule, families bring two dishes and single folks bring one. As you can tell from the picture above, Bryan for sure will be taste testing everything!
The weather may be cooling down outside, but inside we can stay warm in our relationships with one another. I know that not everything is going great for everyone in our congregation. There are some very serious concerns we need to remain faithful to pray about. But no matter what the challenge we may be facing - it's better to face it with a Christian family by our side. Let's keep Hebrews 10:25 in the center of our hearts.
Hope to see you all Sunday at 11! Blessings, Pastor Mark
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Does BFF stand for Best Friend Forever or Baloney From a Fool? In this audio from Sunday's sermon I share 6 traits to look for in a friend. "Friend or Fool" uses Ephesians 5:15-20 for a Biblical text.
Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.
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Does BFF stand for Best Friend Forever or Baloney From a Fool? In this video of Sunday's sermon, I share 6 traits to look for in a friend. "Friend or Fool" uses Ephesians 5:15-20 for a Biblical text.
Friend or Fool? from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.
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