Church Requel Blog - Writings of Mark Pierce

We Wrap Up 2019 This Sunday!

Good Friday morning Church Requel!

Wow! What a year we enjoyed together at Church Requel. For that matter, what a month!!! I'm still soaring high after our student production of Breaking News In Bethlehem, and then the potluck, and then the candlelight Christmas Eve service. I can't believe it's all behind us!

How about you? What has been the thing you liked most about this past year? I think for me, I'm loving some of the new families who are coming and participating in our worship services. I've loved the live music. I've loved watching you love on one another and caring for each other.

Sermon: Fresh Start. As we celebrate the start of a new year, many of us will make new resolutions. Did you know that Christianity is the religion of fresh starts? By definition every Christ-follower is a new creation! Yet we all have to work at it, don't we? Sunday morning I will talk about the effort we must put forth to become the men and women, boys and girls that God had in mind when He created us. Want a head start? Check out the online sermon notes.

Live Music This Sunday! The Praise Team will be back this Sunday morning playing and singing with great enthusiasm! Our praise songs will be (1) "All Things New” by KXC Worship, (2) “10,000 Reasons” by Matt Redman, (3) "Great Are You Lord” by All Sons & Daughters, and (4) “Whole Heart” by Hillsong. We LOVE LOVE LOVE having Trish and Missie singing with the Jam Band now. How about you?

Bible Study Begins Next Week. Our study on the Pentateuch will start on Saturday, January 4th at 11am in the Chome (in front of the sanctuary). This 11-week study will feature a video of master teacher, R.C. Sproul, followed by a time of discussion each week. While there are no required materials for this study, it would be beneficial to have a Bible and something to take notes.

Many thanks to Brian Betts, who has organized this excellent opportunity for us. Many have already signed up including Bethany, Amy, Joy, Brandi, Cindy, Chris, Bessica, Adam and Jordon. We have room for more! A signup sheet will be in the lobby for you on Sunday.

New Worship Plans for 2020! We have really enjoyed the live music this past year. We are hoping for even more next year! Brandi and I will be working on bringing in live musicians for three of every four-Sunday months. This will be a big step for us so prayers will be appreciated.

Another new worship plan - CHOIR!!! On the first Sunday of every month we will invite all students and adults who enjoy singing to lead our worship as a choral group! We have even purchased new, special choir microphones for this purpose! Who knows? Could choir robes arrive sometime in 2020?

Singpiration on 5th Sundays - This new worship event began last year and we have every intention of keeping it going this year. Everyone who has a special song to sing or a special instrument to play should start practicing now. Next Singspiration: March 29th!

Happy Anniversary To Us! Did you realize that this past Tuesday night's Christmas Eve service was the 8th we celebrated in our St. Lukes's location? Our very first worship service here was on December 24th, 2012!

My, how thing have changed since then! Think of all the work that has been done to this building! Think of all the sermons, all the Christmas programs, all the music, the funerals, the weddings! As the picture on the left shows, no one has changed more than moi.

I love that we are forward focused with great plans for 2020. But every now and then, it's good to look back and appreciate just how faithful God has already been to us. Thanks to all of you for sharing this journey with me.

Happy New Year! Love you much, Pastor Mark

Student Play / Potluck / Candlelight Eve

Good Friday morning Church Requel!

What a huge week we have coming up! Sunday morning we will enjoy the children's play. Who can't smile when you see all our students telling the story of Jesus' birth. The picture above is from last year's Emoji Christmas. This year our students are telling the nativity story through the lens of "Breaking News In Bethlehem." You'll be treated to a lively newscast as it might have happened if Jesus were born with today's media technology.

Here are a few things you need to know. Parents - please bring your children to the final dress rehearsal at 10am tomorrow morning. It is vital that everyone be there so that their rehearsal may go more smoothly.

Everyone - If you are able, please use the stairs and doors all the way to the front of the church (in the lobby). The Christmas set takes all the space in the front of the sanctuary. If you enter in the middle doors, you'll need to go through the set to get to your seat. We do understand that some of our congregation need to use those doors, so we have maintained space for you to get through.

Potluck Afterwards - Our most wonderful time of the year continues with a potluck meal immediately following. Please be generous with your food preparations as we usually have many guests and extended family members who may join our culinary celebration. You may want to come earlier than normal Sunday so you have time to get your food downstairs and still get upstairs in time to see the play.

Many Thanks To Tamara! Once again this year Tamara Engstrom has taken on the challenge of leading our students in the play. Make sure to let her know how much you appreciate her!

New Toilets!!! While we are on the subject of thank-you's... Let Chris and Steve Thoman know how grateful you are to them. They purchased three new toilets for the men and women's restrooms downstairs and worked almost all day Thursday to install them. HOW WE NEEDED THOSE! Ladies, I understand your two toilets went in without a hitch. Yay! Men - we will need to call in a plumber to finish the installation for you guys. Hopefully it will be done soon.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship.  On Christmas Eve Tuesday, we'll gather together at 5pm for our traditional candle-lighting worship service. We are so excited about the plans we've made to celebrate Jesus' birthday.

Juanita will light the Christ candle. The Jam Band and Ladies Trio will lead us in some Christmas Carols. Brian and Paityn have special songs prepared. Cohen will play his sax and Sicily will play her flute. We have some special videos picked out. And yours truly will talk about the "Christmas Pause."

Of course we'll all light the candles together at the end while we sing, "O Holy Night." You won't want to miss. This is an excellent opportunity to invite your family and friends to worship with you! Let's fill this old church building up!

Bible Study Filling Up! I'm happy to report some good news to you. Brian told me this week that eight of you have signed up for the new Bible Study video series by R. C. Sproul, including our good friend Jordon Baker. This is such great news! Thank you Brian for your faithfulness in this ministry!

Pray For Fred. I also need to report some sad news to you. Fred was admitted to the hospital again last night. He has many blood clots in his lungs. He is now in intensive care. Susie wants all of you to pray with boldness that Fred recovers fully.

I love you all much and can't wait to celebrate Jesus birthday with you! - Pastor Mark

Neighborhood Meal Tomorrow - Holiday Style!

Good Friday morning Church Requel,

The Christmas holidays are now in full swing here at Church Requel. This newsletter will be your official "what's happening," so keep this one close to your calendar!

We kick off our Christmas time by giving a warm, hot meal to our neighbors. This will be our opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who hungry and in need. Plan to come to help out at 4pm. We begin serving at 5pm. We are usually finished by 6pm. If you can, bring a dessert to share. Bonus points to you if you dress up in festive, holiday clothes. Like last year the ukulele player will show up and sing Christmas Carols.

Restock Our Food Pantry. While we are on the topic of food, our food pantry is running bare. Over the last several weeks quite a few within our congregation have needed some help with groceries. Each week for the rest of this year, we are asking you to bring canned goods - vegetables and meats, cereal, Raman noodles, Peanut butter and jelly, and soups. Our fridge isn't working so no cold or frozen foods please. We will have a collection box waiting for your loving donations up in the lobby.

Sunday's Worship Service - Advent Week #3 - JOY!  "Joy to the world the Lord has come!" This week we light the Advent candle of love. We are reminded to experience the JOY of the Spirit of Christ within us! It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle of the holidays, isn't it?

Which "Fear Not" Do You Need? Last Sunday and this Sunday we recall the words of the angel in each of his four appearances: "Fear not!" Last week we talked about the first two fears - the fear of disappointment and the fear of embarrassment. Sunday we talk about the last two fear nots, when the angel visits Joseph and the shepherds. Prepare to be encouraged and emboldened! Want a head start? Check out the online sermon notes.

NEXT SUNDAY - Christmas Program & Potluck!!! Not only will this be the date of the annual student Christmas program, but it will also be our annual Christmas potluck! Our students will also meet next Saturday for their dress rehearsal at 10am. 

Christmas Eve Candlelight 5pm Plan to attend the Christmas Eve candlelight service. We'll enjoy one hour of festive celebration of Christmas carols, special music and a short devotional by Pastor Mark.

Both services - Sunday morning and Tuesday evening - will be a great opportunity to invite family and friends, who are more likely to attend Christmas than any other time! Last week we passed out special invitations to you so that you might invite those close to you. We'll have more invites available for you this Sunday. 

Picture of Love - Remembering Loni. After our worship service last Sunday, I sat down and talked with Mark. Together we reminisced where Loni and Mark would sit together on the right side of the church. They sat there because Loni would be cold in our chilly sanctuary, so we rigged a space heater for her. Everyone knew it was for Loni (even without being told), and so we kept that pew available for when Loni could make it.

Mark told me something I didn't know. He told me about the first time that they sat together in the pew and how Loni showed her affection for him during the singing by curling her one finger with his while both hands were on the pew in front of them.

To always remember this special place, this special moment, and this special lady, last Sunday we hung a piece of artwork that beautifully demonstrated this wonderful love expression. (You can click on the images above left to make them larger in your browser.) Take some time to look at this new artwork in our sanctuary Sunday morning. Make sure to tell Mark how much you love him and how much you miss Loni.

Love you all much. Hope to see you all Saturday night and Sunday morning. Pastor Mark