Good Friday morning Church Requel!
Never say never when God is involved! He specializes in what seems impossible! Ten years ago this week I lost one job, but God opened the door to another opportunity - YOU!
This whole "Church Requel thing" seemed impossible at the time. I still had two daughters in college, two mortgages on the house and two weddings yet to finance - not to mention the seeming impossibility of finding health insurance coverage. What I needed, me thought, was a real job with real benefits, where I could "limp" into retirement. I felt defeated and abandoned.
But I couldn't shake the dream. The dream of YOU! The dream of a people who loved God and loved people. The dream of a second chance church, where people who were also defeated and abandoned by the church, could come together and find victory and family in the church. The dream of a church, where people, confident in God's love and His people's love, would risk becoming the beautiful person God had in mind before they were even a twinkle in their parents' eyes.
I don't know if I have ever shared the story with you of the final confirmation that God wanted me to start Church Requel. My twenty-year old daughter, Jessica, sealed the deal for me.
At the time, Jessica and I were working on changing our relationship from parent to child over to adult to adult. (I'll always be her daddy, but hopefully you know what I mean.) It had been a tricky couple of years. She grew up in the church and then, when I was called to become a pastor, she became a PK (preacher's kid). Any PK will tell you this is not easy in the best of circumstances. I don't think Jessica would mind me saying that at that time in her life, she did not have a great love for the church.
I lost my job Thanksgiving week. Sometime before Christmas, while I was still in the decision making mode about what I was going to do, Jessica sought me out. I will never ever forget what she told me. "Dad, whether or not you start Church Requel (she even named it!) is up to you and God. But I just want you to know that if you do decide to start Church Requel, I will never miss a Sunday if I can help it!" Wow!
It was in that moment that I realized that if Church Requel could be a second chance church for her, it could also be one for me and everyone else that would come later! Thank you Jessica for your words of wisdom and inspiration!
Guess Who's Preaching Sunday?! Here's another little surprise for us all, ten years later. Bethany Reneé Pierce will be preaching this Sunday morning!!! Even I have to admit that I didn't see that one coming! Ha! Yay God! Yay Bethany!
In case you don't know it, Bethany is an incredibly gifted person - wonderful mom, gifted singer, terrific conversationalist, with a sharp insight. She's a thinker! She's also shy and prefers with great certainty to not be up in front of people. So how is it that she is preaching this Sunday, you ask?
Never say never with God!
That's really the only way I can explain it. We could also mention that she has decided to go back to Ozark Christian College now that all four children are in school during the day. And we could even mention that one of the classes she is taking is called "Biblical Communication." But I don't think that explains it all. Just saying "God" is a much better answer I think.
During her entire class, she and I have been talking each week. She told me very early on that one of the things she had to do was to write and deliver a sermon. And she wanted some help from me. May I just say that I am not above being flattered that someone was actually interested in my weekly process of sermon writing!?
Each Monday we would talk about the sermon the day before and she would tell me little things that she was learning and that she had now noticed in my sermons. She would tell me that she was thinking about all the ways she could deliver a sermon without actually ever being in front of people. She imagined maybe Jonathan video recording her in studio. I would remind her that a sermon is an interchange between speaker and people and that there indeed was a social aspect to it in which the Holy Spirit moved. She would groan and say, "we'll see." And then another week would go by.
She would send me her written sermons - she has actually written several! And I must tell you they are very good! Bethany has a keen mind and a distinct point of view as a wife and mom raising 4 youngsters. She knows her Bible really well. Even more importantly, she knows how to come out of the Bible and apply God's Word to real life situations. Each week I would write my thoughts and suggestions over her written words and then at the end always remind her: "This would be so good if delivered at the Church Requel pulpit!"
Last week she actually wrote back: "If you really think it's good enough, I'll do it!" Yay Bethany! She's been practicing all week. I believe she's actually very excited about it. Jonathan has jumped in and provided her graphics for the slides. (You'll notice a definite improvement there this Sunday!)
Even Dave Johnson, Bethany's fellow "outlaw" to the Pierce family, has jumped in. He never thought she would do it. He has said in the past: "The day Bethany Pierce preaches is the day I will sing a special song!" Well guess what Dave Johnson is doing this Sunday? You guessed it - he'll be singing a special song! Ha!
Spiritual Bodybuilding. So what will she be talking about? She will talk to us about spiritual bodybuilding. Some people are really focused on building up their physical bodies. Bethany will remind us Sunday how much more important it should be for Christ-followers to focus on building up the Body of Christ. Using Ephesians 4:1-13 as her main biblical text (along with some help from Charlie Brown and Peter Pan), Bethany will give us three ways to build up our body.
Advent Begins This Sunday! We begin the celebration of Advent this Sunday with the lighting of the Advent candles each worship service in December leading up to Christmas. If you and/or your family would like to light one of the candles this year, please let Brandi know.
Ever wonder what each candle means? Week one (Sunday) stands for Hope. Week two (Dec. 9th) stands for Peace. Week three (Dec. 16th) stands for Joy. Week four (Dec. 23rd) stands for Love.
On Christmas Eve we light the center candle, which is the Christ candle. The circular Advent wreath upon which the candles stand represent God's infinite love and is symbolized by the evergreen leaves.
On Christmas Eve we will have our candle lighting ceremony where we light our individual candles from the center Christ candle and from all those candles we light the candles on the communion tables. Those communion candles are lit at each worship service throughout the year and remind us of the Christ candle and the entire candle lighting ceremony from the Christmas Eve before.
Christmas Decorating Sunday! You are welcome to stick around after our worship service Sunday to help decorate the church for Christmas. Afterward we will enjoy some pizza together. This has become a fun annual tradition!
Women's Bible Study. The women of Church Requel are getting together for a Bible Study on Wednesdays here at the church from 6:30pm-8pm. We are using the devotional called Stuck by Jennie Allen. The 8 sessions discuss feeling stuck, broken, mad, discontent, scared, overwhelmed, sad and how to get unstuck!
Thank you Dinah for taking the lead! Please let Dinah know if you have any questions or would like to help. The cost for the workbook will be around $10. If you’re unable to pay but still want to participate, please talk with Brandi. Come join us for fellowship and learning together.
Church Requel Hoodies / Long Sleeved T's. The sweatshirts and long sleeve T-shirts you ordered will be here one week from this Sunday! Please see Brandi to get yours.
Emoji Christmas Next Week! The final dress rehearsal will be next Saturday, December 8th at 10am. Every child participating in the play MUST be at the dress rehearsal. It will last for a few hours and then there will be pizza afterwards. So families, please be sure you plan to be here that morning, Saturday December 8th at 10am.
The actual play will be the very next day on Sunday, December 9th. The Emoji Christmas Play will be the only thing occurring during our service that morning and immediately following the program we will enjoy a potluck lunch with one another! We are asking that families bring two side dishes or desserts and single folks, bring one side dish or dessert. Church Requel will provide the meat and drinks. We'll also be singing Christmas carols together next Sunday led by yours truly on the ukulele!
Christmas Worship Schedule at CR. Christmas is on a Tuesday this year. We will enjoy our normal Sunday morning worship at 11am on December 23rd.
Then on Christmas Eve Monday, we'll gather together at 5pm for our traditional candle-lighting worship service. This is an excellent opportunity to invite your family and friends to worship with you! Let's fill this old church building up!
Not much going on is there? Ha! Can you believe all the activity? I'm loving it! I love what God is doing through each one of you! Together YOU are the church. As you each bring your unique Spiritual gifts, Hearts, Attitudes, Personalities, and Experiences to our church family, you help SHAPE our church family. I love watching you grow! Can you believe that our very first church service in this "Point of Grace" location was 6 years ago this Christmas Eve? Wow!
Hope to see you Sunday morning at 11am! Bring a friend! Share this newsletter! Love you all much, Pastor Mark
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