Good Friday morning Church Requel!
"To requel or not to requel..." That was the question we were all facing this past weekend. With a massive Saturday snowfall and plunging Sunday temps, combined with a Richland County declared Level 2 Snow Emergency, we made the call to cancel our services last Sunday.
Aren't you glad things are so much better this morning? Right! My car thermometer declared this morning's temperature to be -15 degrees during my morning jaunt to breakfast just before sunrise. For a moment my brain kicked in and asked if I was really that hungry? My stomach quickly answered with a rumble!
I hope you all are just as spiritually hungry to gather together this coming Sunday morning. Brandi, Tamira and I met this week and rescheduled our plans for the next few weekends.
This coming Sunday morning we revisit our original plans for our missed Sunday last week. Brandi, Trish and Brian will lead our worship singing with "How He Loves Us," "Everlasting God," and "You're Worthy Of My Praise." Tamira Barnes is back from her week with her mom in Florida to teach our children.
(Oh yes, Tamira was SO GLAD to be back in frigid Ohio! NOT! She did share one story with me of how her Floridian relatives and friends are suffering with the cold too. It got down to the 60s prompting one to begin wearing a winter scarf. Almost makes you feel sorry for them. Again... NOT!)
Ugly Sweater Sunday - Since it is still so cold, let's also go ahead with our original idea for last week, the "Ugly Sweater Sunday!" Bring out those relics of winters past and layer them up. Let's give the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man and the Michelin Man a run for their money. This could be a lot of fun. Above you get a hint of what your pastor plans to wear!
Bible Reader et al. From Afar. One last thing I want to tell you about this Sunday. I'm excited that my daughter, Jillian, who has been staying with us this past week, has agreed to read our Scripture Sunday morning. That also means... drum roll... that my 5-week old grandson, Titus, is planning on making his first ever appearance at Church Requel! Yay!
Melancholy Mat. In John 5 we discover a man whom Jesus healed despite the fact the man didn't ask for the healing or believe in Jesus. We will address the WHY and WHAT. Why did Jesus perform this miracle and what should we learn from it? And how should we respond when the other guy gets his miracle, but we don't? Four lessons about "Other Guy" miracles this Sunday morning. Want to start preparing your heart now? Here are your sermon notes.
We have some great plans for next week too...
Rolling Plains Praise Team Next Sunday! We are delighted to announce that we have guest worship leaders next weekend. The Rolling Plains Methodist Church Praise Team from Zanesville, Ohio will be here next Sunday morning to lead our worship experience. This contemporary praise band consists of 8-11 people including both singers and instrumentalists. They take one Sunday a month to lead worship at smaller churches. What a blessing for us! Invite family, friends and neighbors! Come expecting an awesome worship experience!
Potluck Meal Next Sunday Too! Our Praise Team guests next Sunday are not asking for any financial rewards. However, we can't send them home hungry! Let's plan on staying after the worship service to celebrate together with a huge meal. Families bring two dishes of any kind. Single folks bring one dish of any kind. Church Requel will provide paper plates, utensils, cups, coffee and lemonade to drink. Let's generously provide a feast to share with our guests.
In Coming Weeks...Your staff met for a long afternoon yesterday making some great plans for the next few months. Winter will not always be here. Spring is coming! We are preparing for the thaw! Here are some of the things you have to look forward to:
- KidsMin singers leading worship on March 15th. Start practicing your hand motions now!
- Feeding the hungry on Saturday, March 28th, the night before Palm Sunday.
- Parenting two-week mini series after Easter, which will lead us to...
- First Child Dedication ceremony since moving to our present location on April 19th.
- Ashland Theological Seminary Professor Dr. John Byron preaching on April 26th. Do you want to know where I received my love of all things New Testament? John is a passionate and gifted teacher and writer.
- Our next Belong Membership Class on Saturday, May 2nd. This is a great way to learn all about Church Requel, whether you decide to become a member or not.
- Mansfield Christian School Image singing on May 3rd (including our own Haleigh Trubachik!)
We also have a few surprises we can't tell you about. Otherwise they wouldn't be surprises.
Despite the cold we have so much to be thankful for. Our church family is right at the top of our gratefulness lists. We have one another and the continuous reminder of how much Jesus loves us. I've watched this week as you have continued to check in and pray for each other. Let's not allow the weather to keep us apart one more week. I'm looking forward to worshiping and praying together this Sunday morning.
Love you all much! Pastor Mark
