Church Requel Blog - Writings of Mark Pierce

Advent Begins Sunday!

Good Friday morning Church Requel!

Did you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day? I don't think ours could have been any better. I extended my personal annual tradition by another year by running in the annual 5-mile Turkey Trot.

When I got home I helped Mary Kay in two ways. She is the great cook on Thanksgiving. I am her loyal assistant. I assisted by setting our table for 11 - Jennifer and her entire family, Jessica and Dave, and Mary Kay's brothers Gene and John joined us. I actually have fun getting out our wedding china and setting a fancy table complete with holiday name place cards.

(I then also watch with glee the traditional re-placing of the name cards by my children. They don't know this, but I'm on to them. For example, if I want Jessica to sit next to me I no longer put her name card next to mine. I put Dave's next to mine and then, voila, at dinner time Jessica's name card has magically appeared next to mine!)

This year I have also made it my goal to learn the best way to carve the turkey. Mary Kay says I have never done it badly in the past, but I always feel more like Edward Scissorhands when it comes to carving the bird. So this year I watched a dozen YouTube videos and purchased a really good knife. (Isn't it wonderful how you can learn almost anything by watching YouTube?) The picture above shows the results.

Our Thanksgiving holiday continues today and tomorrow. We drive to Western Ohio today to spend the day with Mary Kay's family. Jillian and her family will be there too! Tomorrow we drive east to Massillon to spend the day with my sister and dad as we watch our beloved Buckeyes beat that team up north for the 6th year in a row. 

(You, of course, have heard about the infamous Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Michigan Wolverine ice-fishing contest?! On the first day the Buckeyes caught 100 fish and the team up north caught none. On the second day the Buckeyes caught 200 fish and that team up north still caught nada. So on the third day the Michigan coach, suspecting that our beloved Buckeyes were cheating, dressed up one of his players in Scarlet and Gray and sent him to the other side to act as a spy. When that player came back across the ice, his coach asked him if Ohio State was cheating. "They sure are, Coach!" the Michigan player said excitedly. "They're cutting holes in the ice!")

Advent Begins Sunday! This Sunday we begin the best holiday season of all - Advent!!! We celebrate the coming Christmas Day during the 4 Sundays beforehand. The first Advent Sunday is this weekend!

At Church Requel we have begun our own tradition of having one family light the Advent Candle during the worship service. This Sunday the Wiegand family will light the first candle.

Did you know that each candle stands for a different virtue that Jesus gives to us? Those 4 virtues are Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. They way I think about it is that these are really the gifts that Christ brings to us. These will be our sermon themes for the rest of this year. I'm excited for this change and I believe you will be too!

Brandi, Missie and Trish have also prepared a very special worship event for you this Sunday. I don't want to tell you to much about it because I don't want to spoil your enjoyment and personal worship. But I can tell you this: it's something we have never done before at Church Requel! Wow! I'm pretty excited for it. I promise you will not want to miss being at Church Requel in person or watching Facebook online Sunday at 11am.

Church Work Day - December 2nd. We have had a great response from many of you, who have volunteered to serve on our special church work day on Saturday, December 2nd from 10am until noon. This is who has signed up so far: Mark & Mary Kay, Cindy, Eddie & Brandi, Karen, Saudaie, Adam, Brett, Dan, Marci & Jenny, Tamara, Brian, Missie, Randy,  Lissa, Makayla, Aaran, Chris and the Wiegands. Yay! If you haven't signed up yet, it's sure not too late. You can sign up on the signup sheet in the foyer OR go to our Facebook Event Page.

We have added some tasks we'll be trying to accomplish that morning. In addition to moving the pews and the piano and setting up some basic Christmas decorations, we'll also be installing the storm windows and helping with the children's program set creation. So we really do need everyone to help out as much as possible.

Neighborhood Meal - December 9th. Our next opportunity to serve our neighbors a healthy, warm, free meal will be Saturday, December 9th. If you would like to serve, show up at 4pm. We begin serving at 5pm. We are usually finished serving and cleaned up by 6:30 pm. This is a great opportunity to be Jesus' hands and feet!

Children's Christmas Program - December 17th. Our children are all practicing for a "SUPER" Christmas program. You won't want to miss it. I know all you regulars will be at Church Requel that morning. Here's a pro tip: invite family members right now. You know that Grandma and Grandpa will want to come. Not to mention all the aunts, uncles and in-laws. So get on the phone and call, text, FaceTime, Snapchat, or however you communicate these days... let your whole family know!

Brandi and Leia are creating a printed  invitation that we hope to have available for you in one week. This will help everyone get the word out.

Christmas Potluck Meal - December 17th. This day is going to be so super special! Not only will we enjoy a super children's program, but we will also enjoy a super potluck meal together afterward! Start figuring out your casseroles now. Families bring two dishes. Single folks bring one.

  Christmas Eve - 5pm! The votes are in! More of you asked that we enjoy our Christmas Eve on the evening of Christmas Eve than during the morning. This means there will be no Sunday morning service on December 24th. We will have our worship at 5pm instead. We hope everyone will make the effort to come. We're already working to make this a very special worship event for our church family.

Keep praying praying praying. Good news for Jenny Repp! On Wednesday she moved! She has "graduated" to a new hospital that will focus more on physical rehabilitation - Ohio State East. She remains on the ventilator, but she has gone 6 weeks without any infection. She and Dave were happy for the change in scenery.

Jack and Sheri also had a better week. They both very much enjoyed being a part of our worship experience with the Facebook Live last Sunday. Brett - they really appreciated you taking the camera to the prayer circle at the end of the worship. Sheri said they could hear every single prayer. And speaking of that prayer circle - how terrific to see so many of you praying your prayers of thanksgiving! And how wonderful that Loni could be here in person to celebrate with us!!!

Personal Words. Allow me to close with a very personal message to all of you. Thanksgiving now comes with its own heavy baggage for Mary Kay and me. It was the weekend I lost my last pastorate job nine years ago. I preached my last sermon there on Thanksgiving Eve, knowing I was on my way out.

The days that followed were very uncertain ones for us. Had God really called us into the pastorate? All of our plans seemed to go right out the window. What followed in the weeks and years that followed was Church Requel.

When I looked around at the prayer circle in front of our church this past Sunday morning and saw each of your faces, I knew that God still had a plan for us. You are that plan. God is so good. I am so thankful for each one of you! God really does specialize in bringing good out of the bad.

Love you all more than you know!
Pastor Mark

Last Supper First Communion

Good Friday morning Church Requel!

Have you seen the news this week? Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the Salvator Mundi (Latin for Savior of the World) sold for a record $450 million in only 19 minutes. I suppose there was no hope for a better Black Friday price. With our theme Sunday and the record art sale news this week, we are raising the class of this weekly newsletter by including da Vinci's "Last Supper" painting. No extra charge!

Last Supper First Communion. Have you ever considered that Jesus' Last Supper was also his First Communion? Yeah, that one boggled my mind too when I thought about it. 

Have you ever been invited to someone’s “first communion?” In many Christian traditions a child’s family will celebrate when their child has achieved the maturity and training to be able to take the communion elements for the first time.  As we examine Luke 22:14-20 Sunday morning, we will consider the five ingredients which made that first communion celebration - and each one of ours ever since - so very special.

We plan to make our own communion service extra special this weekend. We plan to move the communion elements to the front pews. After our sermon we will take the communion elements together as a group in the front of the sanctuary. We will give you the opportunity to pray your own prayers of thanksgiving afterward. I think it will be a really special time for our church family. As Jesus said in our first study verse this week - "I have eagerly looked forward to this!"

Large Praise Team. I always love this third week of the month - the Sunday when we have our large praise team. Many of you will join Brandi up front. I would name everyone but I never know for sure who all will be in the group. Their rehearsal will be at 11am Saturday morning so if you'd like to join in just show up! The more the merrier!

Also Sunday morning Bessica and Brandi will be singing a duet together. I think thats a first! Yay Bessica! They will be singing "Clean" by Natalie Grant. 

The congregational songs we will all sing together include "Joy," "The Whole Earth," and a new one for us - "Unstoppable God."

Church Work Day - December 2nd. We have had a great response from many of you, who have volunteered to serve on our special church work day on Saturday, December 2nd from 10am until noon. This is who has signed up so far: Mark & Mary Kay, Cindy, Eddie & Brandi, Karen, Saudaie, Adam, Brett, Dan, Marci & Jenny, Tamara, Brian, Missie, Randy,  Lissa, Makayla, Aaran, Chris and the Wiegands. Yay! If you haven't signed up yet, it's sure not too late. You can sign up on the signup sheet in the foyer OR go to our Facebook Event Page.

We have added some tasks we'll be trying to accomplish that morning. In addition to moving the pews and the piano and setting up some basic Christmas decorations, we'll also be installing the storm windows and helping with the children's program set creation. So we really do need everyone to help out as much as possible.

Neighborhood Meal - December 9th. Our next opportunity to serve our neighbors a healthy, warm, free meal will be Saturday, December 9th. If you would like to serve, show up at 4pm. We begin serving at 5pm. We are usually finished serving and cleaned up by 6:30 pm. This is a great opportunity to be Jesus' hands and feet!

Children's Christmas Program - December 17th. Our children are all practicing for a "SUPER" Christmas program. You won't want to miss it. I know all you regulars will be at Church Requel that morning. Here's a pro tip: invite family members right now. You know that Grandma and Grandpa will want to come. Not to mention all the aunts, uncles and in-laws. So get on the phone and call, text, FaceTime, Snapchat, or however you communicate these days... let your whole family know!

Brandi and Leia are creating a printed  invitation that we hope to have available for you in one week. This will help everyone get the word out.

Christmas Potluck Meal - December 17th. This day is going to be so super special! Not only will we enjoy a super children's program, but we will also enjoy a super potluck meal together afterward! Start figuring out your casseroles now. Families bring two dishes. Single folks bring one.

  Christmas Eve - 5pm! The votes are in! More of you asked that we enjoy our Christmas Eve on the evening of Christmas Eve than during the morning. This means there will be no Sunday morning service on December 24th. We will have our worship at 5pm instead. We hope everyone will make the effort to come. We're already working to make this a very special worship event for our church family.

Keep praying praying praying. Mary Kay and I have been praying so much this week for Jenny, Jack, Loni, Aimee and Mari. Mary Kay and I had the opportunity to visit with Jack and Sheri last week after I sent out the newsletter. Jack is now receiving some heavy duty medications that are helping him with his symptoms, but he is pretty much house bound. I know how much he enjoys your company. We are working to install some new tech in their home just so they can worship with you all every Sunday morning! 

Last Sunday we talked about ending our prayer times not with "Amen," but with "All in!" That's what God is looking for - a people who will be all in for Jesus! I pray that includes each and everyone of you! Love you all much, Pastor Mark

Kingdom Tradecraft This Sunday

Good Friday morning Church Requel!

Kingdom Tradecraft Sunday Morning - Did you know that you are part of a subversive underground and rebellious organization committed to overthrowing the evil empire of this world? Did you know that you have access to secret and highly specialized communication equipment by which you may receive your special secret agent instructions? Open your Bible to Luke 22:7-13 and we'll decode the Transmission together! Want a head start? Click here for your code. (Will not self-destruct after 5 seconds.)

More Sunday morning goodness! Missie and Trish will be joining Brandi in leading our worship singing. Included in this weekend worship set of five songs are two new ones to us: "Different" by Micah Tyler and "The Gospel" by Ryan Stevenson. Thank you ladies for your hard work and practice to keep our worship fresh and exciting! Nancy Roop will be back with her announcements too as we have so many wonderful events coming up - you won't want to miss a single one!

Church Work Day - December 2nd. We have had a great response from many of you, who have volunteered to serve on our special church work day on Saturday, December 2nd from 10am until noon. This is who has signed up so far: Mark & Mary Kay, Cindy, Eddie & Brandi, Karen, Saudaie, Adam, Brett, Dan, Marci & Jenny, Tamara, Brian, Missie, Randy and Makayla. Yay! If you haven't signed up yet, it's sure not too late. You can sign up on the signup sheet in the foyer OR go to our Facebook Event Page.

Neighborhood Meal - December 9th. Our next opportunity to serve our neighbors a healthy, warm, free meal will be Saturday, December 9th. If you would like to serve, show up at 4pm. We begin serving at 5pm. We are usually finished serving and cleaned up by 6:30 pm. This is a great opportunity to be Jesus' hands and feet!

Children's Christmas Program - December 17th. Our children are all practicing for a "SUPER" Christmas program. You won't want to miss it. I know all you regulars will be at Church Requel that morning. Here's a pro tip: invite family members right now. You know that Grandma and Grandpa will want to come. Not to mention all the aunts, uncles and in-laws. So get on the phone and call, text, FaceTime, Snapchat, or however you communicate these days... let your whole family know!

Christmas Potluck Meal - December 17th. This day is going to be so super special! Not only will we enjoy a super children's program, but we will also enjoy a super potluck meal together afterward! Start figuring out your casseroles now. Families bring two dishes. Single folks bring one.

Christmas Eve - Will it be 11am or 5pm? The votes are in! And this writer (and Brandi - my co-counter) know which one it is. But I'm sworn to secrecy. Nancy Roop will be making the special announcement this Sunday morning - so make sure you come and be among the first to know. How much fun!

Keep praying praying praying. Mary Kay and I have been praying so much this week for Jenny, Jack, Loni, Aimee and Mari. We got the chance to visit with Dave and Jenny on Tuesday. We're heading over to Jack and Sherri this afternoon. Each one need our prayers right now! Let's remain faithful.

Sunday we'll talk a little more about our prayer lives, but let me give you an insider's "sermon in a sentence." Instead of ending our prayer time with "Amen," let's end our prayers with "All in!" That's what God is looking for - a people who will be all in for Jesus! Love you all much, Pastor Mark

Betraying Jesus

Good Friday morning Church Requel!

Who has lived a full life without feeling the sting of betrayal? If you're like me the moment you read "betrayal," you immediately think of one person in the painful past of your life. The British romanticist poet William Blake wrote, "It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend." Fast forward 250 years to our time and nothing much has changed. Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games, wrote: "For there to be betrayal, there would have to have been trust first."

Jesus knew the pain of betrayal. He was betrayed by Judas. We know the story so well that we aren't at all surprised anymore that Judas would trade in his friendship and trust with Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. But make no mistake about it - Jesus knew the hurt of betrayal. He trusted Judas. Of the hundreds who wanted to be his close disciple, Jesus picked Judas to be a close friend and follower.

We often make two mistakes when considering the story of Judas. The first is to lessen the impact of the betrayal. We just always knew Judas would do it, so how could Jesus have been surprised? Surely the omnipotent, omniscient Jesus would have figured it out. We completely discount the humanity of Jesus when we think that way. Rather we should start with our own human hurt and work backwards to think: if Jesus was fully human then he was fully hurt too - just like me.

As Hebrews 2:18 reminds us, Jesus "would have already experienced it all himself - all the pain, all the testing."

The second mistake we make when considering the story of Judas is to apply the betrayal to Judas only. Who among us reads the story of Judas and puts our own name in Judas' place? We won't even name someone else with the name Judas any more, let alone consider ourselves capable of such betrayal to the Son of God. Yet the sad truth is that if we are a Christ-follower, we have all eventually betrayed Jesus too.

Sunday we're going to take a bold step and consider Judas' story as our own potential story too. What are the tricky steps towards treachery? How can we avoid them? You might want to get out your Bible between now and Sunday and read just 6 verses - Luke 22:1-6.

Children Participate Sunday! Since it will be the first Sunday of the month, our children will participate in many parts of our worship experience Sunday morning.  As you can see from the picture on the right, Leia, Paityn and Aaliyah will join Brandi and Cindy on the praise team. Aaliyah is a neighbor and new friend to Leia. She has been attending Church Requel over the past few weeks. How cool is it that she will be singing on the praise team Sunday?!

Anna Scott will be making our announcements. Grayden and Cohen will be joining their dad in the tech booth running sound and graphics. Saudaie may be playing her violin during the offertory and we will have two of the children pass the offering baskets. I always love the first Sunday of the month, don't you?

This first Sunday will be a little different, however. All of our children will be going downstairs to practice their Christmas program during the second half of our worship time together. I've heard that they are all really enjoying their "Super Christmas" practices. Thanks so much to Tamara for taking the lead with our kiddos this Christmas! 

Save the date on your calendars - December 17th! That will be the morning of the children's Christmas program AND we will enjoy a potluck meal together afterward! Love it!

Church Work Day December  - Here's another date to put on your calendar - Saturday morning December 2nd. From 10am to noon we will do some work around the church. We have a list of things that need to be done and if enough folks show up we should be able to get it all done inside of our two-hour work window.

Here's the list of what we hope to accomplish!

1) Remove modesty rail in front, carry to basement.

2) Remove front center pew (two sections) and move to basement

3) Remove south rear pew and move to basement

4) Move altar to south rear space made by removed pew

5) Remove back two north pews and set in entranceway in back.

6) Move grand piano to space in back

7) Move the two north pews up to where piano had been.

8) Bring up pew from basement that fits in space where piano had been.

9) Remove ugly black speaker from ceiling beam in front center.

10) Replace fan that should hang form second ceiling vent.

11) Place north speaker on organ console. Or possibily come up with an even better alternative for both speakers.

12) Clean and straighten up and throw away items that have accumulated in the basement.

13) Put up the outside nativity. Put up the indoor Christmas tree. Hang the indoor wreaths. (We won't be putting up all the nativities inside the church this year as we have in years past.)

14) Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.

I'll have a sign-up sheet in the foyer for you Sunday morning. I hope many of you signup. You can also go over to our Facebook Event Page and join up there. The more the merrier!

Keep praying. Let's continue to keep Jenny, Aimee, Loni, Jack and Mari in our thoughts and prayers. Thanks to all of you who have sent a card or note letting them know they are not forgotten - even though they cannot attend services because of their illness. I believe God will do a great work in our midst and as a result we'll see all five in worship with us some day soon. That's how I'm praying!

Last but not least - remember to set your clocks back Sunday morning! I don't mind at all if you want to show up an hour early for worship, but I'm guessing you'd rather enjoy the extra hour of sleep!

Love you all much. Hope to see you Sunday morning at 11am. Pastor Mark