Good Friday morning Church Requel!
We have lots to tell you about this coming Sunday morning, so stay tuned. But first let me tell you about this picture on the right. At first glance it looks like it's a photo of Brandi holding a stapler. And... that's what it is - a photo of Brandi holding a stapler.
Why start off with this as our lead in this week's edition of the Church Requel newsletter? Because it's the first stapler Church Requel has purchased... EVER! I know it probably doesn't seem like a big deal to anyone else. To us, though, it means we are experiencing God's blessings. We can afford to supply our own office!
This week we're feeling all grown up. We installed our office computer and printer. We not only bought the stapler, but pens and pencils (and pencil sharpener!), paper clips and tape dispenser. We received a donation of an entire case of paper! (Thank you anonymous parishioner! The donated paper will work wonderfully in our anonymously donated printer!) Over the next week we plan to decorate our walls and make it our "home" office at church.
On Monday, Marci Crawford will continue her labor of love - publishing the weekly program from our new computer and printer. For the first time our weekly bulletin won't have to be designed on one person's computer, checked on another person's computer, emailed to a third person, who sends it to her printer, folds them and gives them to a fourth person to deliver back to the church.
We really do thank you all for your continued financial support of making this possible for us. Your staff and volunteers are grateful for a space to call their own. Yay God! Awesome!
Kids Praise Team This Sunday! Speaking of awesome, you won't want to miss this Sunday morning at Church Requel. Last night six of our children practiced the four praise songs they will sing Sunday along with KidsMin Director Tamira Barnes. I think the adjective that best describes this praise team is... energetic! Come prepared to "Put Your Hands Up" to show you're "Happy and You Know It" with "Every Move [You] Make."
I love that our children are so involved at Church Requel. We believe that children are the church of today, not just of tomorrow. We don't just believe it, but we live it out. Once a month our kiddos stay upstairs with Mom and Dad and worship together as families. During this one Sunday every month, we try to involve our kids as much as possible in the worship service.
And not just singing either! They share our announcements. They greet folks as people come in. They help set up. Wyatt, Liam and Grayden are even learning how to run the tech booth! The photo on the left is Grayden practicing our lighting cues last night.
While we are on the topic of the children and their involvement in our worship services... Did anyone else love how they came upstairs from KidsMin at the end of our teaching time last week to deliver their own version of the loaves and fishes?
Let's thank Sheri Nichols, who cooked up those sandwiches for us. How cool for Tamira and the whole KidsMin team to be able to teach the "Loaves and Fishes" miracle and then follow it up by providing that treat for the adults? On the right you can see Wyatt with a mountain of fish sandwiches. To the far right is a photo with all the kiddos making the fish sandwiches under the guidance of Jack and Sheri.
Sunday's Sermon - "Born Blind" We continue our Signs and Wonders sermon series from the Gospel of John with a focus on the miracle of the healing of the man born blind. We may not have been born blind, but we have all been born with another deadly congenital disease. We all have been born with the inward inclination toward sin. Just as Jesus healed the man born blind, he also offers to heal us of our corrupt natures. When you think about it - this is an even bigger miracle, one that leads to eternal life! This Sunday we'll learn from the once blind man on how we should respond to so great a miracle!
Christian Service. We call our worship times "services." Have you ever wondered why? Because it provides us the opportunity to serve. This isn't just the job of the minister - it belongs to each one of us. At Church Requel we are blessed with an incredibly high participation rate. Every member (and most every attender) serves at our church in one capacity or another. Setting up, tearing down, running the tech, reading, singing, cleaning, teaching, greeting, giving, cooking, constructing are all examples of ways our people serve God and one another.
If you're not on a team, there's no better time than now. We're just now putting our schedules together for the second quarter. (Team leaders take note!) If you're not officially on a team yet, talk to someone about it. Literally - anyone! The chances are good you'll find someone who is already involved doing something. Or you could fill out one of the connection cards and one of our staff members will help guide you to the right team for you.
Next Sunday - Mandisa Songs! I love working with our staff. They are so creative. About a month ago Brandi began working on an idea that will come to fruition next Sunday, March 22nd. Each of the songs in the worship service - 3 specials and 3 congregational songs - will be songs that have been made famous by the recording artist, Mandisa. On the team with Brandi will be Dinah Stanfield, Missie Miller and Trish Trubachik. This should be another great worship experience. Tell someone you know who listens to popular Christian songs on the radio. They will be so glad you told them about this special event!
In Coming Weeks... Here are some other things we have to look forward to in coming weeks!
- Feeding the hungry on Saturday, March 28th, the night before Palm Sunday. This is a great first opportunity to serve and get to know some of your fellow Church Requelers.
- Easter Celebration on April 5th. This Sunday you'll hear from Tamira about our plans for Church Requel's first ever Easter Egg hunt. Start inviting your family and friends now!
- Parenting two-week mini series after Easter, which will lead us to...
- April 19th - First Child Dedication ceremony since moving to our present location.
- April 26th - Ashland Theological Seminary Professor Dr. John Byron preaching. Do you want to know where I received my love of all things New Testament? John is a passionate and gifted teacher and writer.
- Saturday, May 2nd - Our next Belong Membership Class. This is a great way to learn all about Church Requel, whether you decide to become a member or not.
- May 3rd - Mansfield Christian School Image singing (including our own Haleigh Trubachik!)
I don't know about you, but it seems like these are some of the best days Church Requel has ever experienced. Our church is growing. People are faithful. Change seems to be happening around every corner!
I walked into the church earlier this week to discover Paul Patton hand painting these beautiful crosses on each of our eight pillars in the sanctuary. They perfectly match one of the colors in our stained glass.
When I went downstairs and sat down, I had to offer up a small prayer of thanksgiving. These developments are not the result of my planning and efforts. It's all God! It's as if He is telling me (and you): "Remain faithful, keep doing what you know to do, then watch Me work!" His work is always the best, isn't it?
Humbled with the privilege of leading you, Pastor Mark