Church Requel Blog - Writings of Mark Pierce

Never More Connected To One Another!

Good Wednesday morning Church Requel!

I love Wednesdays. It's my favorite right up there with Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays! Every day of the week now is a new adventure in being connected with YOU!

This morning's devotional. Today we have two great opportunities. Join me this morning at 11am on Facebook. We'll sings songs of praise. We'll pray. We'll look at what Scripture has to say about God working bad things to good things for those who love Him. One more special thing about this morning - we'll sing the brand new song, "Graves Into Gardens," by Elevation Worship. Oh my! What a powerful, positive song for these days! Just go to the Church Requel Facebook page at 11 this morning.

Speaking of the daily devotionals, did you know that Brandi is now sharing in these daily worship gatherings? She leads them with such freshness and introspection. Her Bible studies are challenging to us. The music she chooses supports whatever her theme of the day is. She led yesterday morning. Wow! I'm so glad I saved it on our page. If you haven't seen it yet, get over there and get yourself filled up with God's encouraging Word! Brandi will be back again this Friday morning at 11am.

Speaking of Brandi (and also speaking of God turning bad things into good), Brandi's video yesterday has reached 1,021 people with what Facebook calls 409 engagements. Wow! God is taking our obedience to Him in these Coronavirus days at home and turning them into something powerful that He is using! To God be the glory!!!

Fred's Memorial Service. Our heart's compassion and condolences extend to Susie and the entire Wiegand family over the loss of Fred. He played such a huge role in the life of Church Requel back in 2012 - a time that our church desperately needed a physical place to meet on Sunday mornings.

At that same time, unknown to us, Fred was helping to guide the small remnant of what was left of St. Luke's Lutheran Church towards a closing of the church, but a desired continuation of ministry in some format.

Out of those days, through God's good graces, Church Requel came to St. Luke's. Fred and Susie stayed on to see what would happen. I don't think they ever missed a service, if they were in town.

Sunday it was my distinct privilege to lead a memorial service for Fred over Zoom. More than 60 computers, with an estimated 150 people, joined in from all over the country - even the world! Yes, we had one join in from Germany! Talk about God turning bad into good! If it wouldn't have been for the Coronavirus, those distant friends may never have been given the chance to participate. What good! What a God!

Prayer Meeting Tonight on Zoom! Folks, God has been meeting with us every Wednesday night at 7pm. The first week of the stay-at-home order, we decided to gather together for prayer each Wednesday night. What a powerful time. Now that I think about it, God has answered every one of our prayers! Maybe we shouldn't call it a "prayer" meeting. It really should be called a "connection" meeting because we connect with one another AND we connect with God!

Check in with me via Messenger, FB or email if you want the Zoom details.

Godsfield and Pastor Mark Thursdays at 7pm. I include this because some people from our church have asked. The March of Prayer continues on the Godsfield Facebook page each night at 6pm and again at 7pm. A different pastor or worship leader takes each hour. Several weeks ago Pastor Paul Lintern invited me to take the Thursday night at 7pm slot. So you are most welcome to join me tomorrow night at 7pm too. If you have been unable to watch the daily devotionals at 11am during the day, this is your chance to tune in!

Godsfield's plans are to continue this right up to the National Day of Prayer on May 7th. Here are the exciting plans for that final day. Godsfield Page will host a 26-hour prayerathon / worship time beginning at 6 p.m. Wednedsday, May 6 and continuing without stopping for 26 hours all the way through the last 7pm time slot on Thursday, May 7th. And guess who will be closing out the 26 hours? Yours truly. What a privilege!

Give To Church Requel. Thank you for continuing your financial support of Church Requel. If you would like to make a donation, you can easily do so with this link.

give.ChurchRequel.org

We continue to feel greatly blessed at all the Lord is doing through our small church. Keep checking in with one another. Keep loving on one another. Keep up your prayers and your study of Scripture. Even when we cannot meet in person, we are a community loving God and loving people!

I will write you again Saturday morning! Love you all much! Pastor Mark

Two Church Services Sunday Without A Building

Good Saturday morning Church Requel!

Tomorrow will be a new double first for our Church. The first first is that we will have two church services tomorrow. The second first is that both church services will take place without a church building.

Our Worship Service Sunday at 11am. We will meet together at 11am tomorrow morning for our worship service. Brandi, Dave and Yours Truly will sing. Brian will lead our prayer time. Brandi will lead our communion. I will bring our teaching from the Word. Our sermon is called, "Peace In The Pandemic." If you'd like a head start, you can read my sermon notes here: http://bible.com/events/7198264

You may attend our worship experience in one of two ways - through Zoom or through Facebook Live. We prefer that you set up a Zoom account because we have experienced some difficulties with the Facebook feed. Last week it took eight attempts to get it to work. The Zoom meeting ID is 609-489-055. If you need the password, email or private message me.

Fred Wiegand's Memorial Service at 2pm. When our worship experience is over, we will take a short break to refresh ourselves and then host Fred's memorial service at 2pm. This will be done entirely on Zoom. Right now we have 66 different devices reserved for this memorial service by Fred's family and friends. What a wonderful opportunity to be the host church family for all of Fred's family and friends! I've been working with Susie all week long to make this possible. Please pray for us that everything goes smoothly.

If you would like to attend this memorial service, you must do so via Zoom. This service will not be on Facebook Live. The Zoom meeting ID is 925-5647-8614. If you need the password, email or private message me.

Our Daily Devotionals at 11am. For three weeks now we have continued our daily habit of worship and devotionals on our Facebook page. Usually this is led by yours truly. However twice now Brandi has led and done a wonderful job. She is planning to up her contribution to leading twice next week! Yay! If you've been working during the day during the week and haven't been able to check it out, click on our Facebook page this morning at 11am to see what you've been missing!

Weekly Bible Study Saturdays at 11am. Brian continues to do a marvelous job leading our Saturday morning Bible studies. We are working our way through the Old Testament in broad strokes. Our study is taught by Dr. Sproul. This study is also only available through Zoom. Our meeting ID is 115 939 113. If you need the password, email or private message me.

Thank you for continuing to support Church Requel with your tithes and offerings. You are such a giving people! We are doing well with our finances despite not meeting in the building. We are so thankful for online donations and we pray for your blessings as a result! For those who would like to give to Church Requel, including those who wish to contribute to Fred's memorial fund, click here:

give.ChurchRequel.org

This Coronavirus may be keeping us in our homes, but it is definitely NOT slowing us down here at Church Requel. I feel as if we are meeting and loving on one another more than ever! You are the epitome example of Hebrews 10:24 & 25 -

"Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (ESV)

Keep on keeping on! We will come out of this on the other end stronger than ever!

Love you all much! Pastor Mark

The Passing of Fred

Good Wednesday morning Church Requel family.

It is with deepest sorrow that I tell you of the passing of one of our own. Fred Wiegand went home to be with His Lord this past Monday morning. Within the shadow of the empty Easter cross, we learned of Fred's death. Within the glow of the empty tomb, we hold onto the hope of Fred's resurrection.

I want to tell you how very much Fred meant to me personally. On multiple occasions we would stick around together out in the church parking lot and talk about the difficult decisions he and other leaders were forced to make in the closing of St. Lukes Lutheran Church. Then we would marvel together at how God made it possible for Church Requel to pick up the baton and continue the ministry that was so dear to him and to me.

Fred made it to every Saturday Neighborhood meal until his deteriorating health ultimately slowed him down. In my mind's eye I can still picture him in the back corner of the kitchen washing the pots and pans and silverware, sweat pouring from his forehead. Yet whenever he would turn around, he would wear that mischievous little grin that let me know he was enjoying the Lord's service.

I loved telling jokes with Fred. First off because he always laughed! Secondly because, like me, he shared a love for what has now become known as "Dad Jokes." Fred was the ultimate teller of Dad Jokes!

We will hold a memorial service for Fred Wiegand via Zoom this coming Sunday at 2pm. You are most welcome to attend. The Zoom meeting ID is 925 5647 8614. Check with Pastor Mark or Brandi for the password and the link to the Memorial Service. 

Fred's closest family will hold a small, private funeral on Monday afternoon. Because of the COVID-19 precautions, there will be no funeral meal following. Of course, you are free to drop off food, if you'd like, on the front porch of the Wiegand's home. Please continue to respect our current social distancing practices.

If you would like to leave a message of condolence for Susie and her family, you may do so at the Wappner web page with Fred's obituary.

https://www.wappner.com/obituary/frederick-gilbert-wiegand/

Susie has asked for donations in the place of flowers go either to The Little Buckeye Children's Museum or to Church Requel Neighborhood Meals. For the latter, if you click on the downlink, "designation," you'll find "Fred's Memorial - Meals." You can use the link below to make a donation.

give.ChurchRequel.org

Daily Devotional This Morning at 11am. You are also welcome to join our daily devotionals every morning at 11am on Facebook on the Church Requel page. We pray, read Scriptures, and sing songs of comfort and praise. Susie has continued to be present at almost every one - so this is another chance to worship "alongside" her if you wish. Usually I lead these devotionals, but Brandi will be leading this coming Friday morning. Here is the link for going to Church Requel's Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/ChurchRequel/

Tonight's Midweek Prayer Meeting at 7pm. When the Covid-19 crisis began, we began praying together each Wednesday night. We use the Zoom software to gather together virtually. This is a great way to remain connected to one another and to our Lord Jesus. We usually spend some time reading Scripture and then we share prayer praises and requests. We respect those who would prefer not to share but just want to listen and pray for others. The Zoom meeting ID for tonight is 172 942 523. Check with Pastor Mark or Brandi for the password and link to the prayer meeting.

These are the most unusual times. We shelter in place and stay at home. Yet life goes on. And sadly as we have learned this week, death goes on. We have done all that we know to do to make it possible to remain connected to one another. Please continue calling and checking in with one another. Nothing says "I love you" more right now than a simple text or phone call saying, "How are you doing?"

I love you all much! Pastor Mark

Easter From Home and Around The World

Good Saturday morning Church Requel!

Covid-19 has changed our lives in so many ways! Whoever woulda thunk it even a short five weeks ago that we would not be meeting together in the church building on Marion Avenue for Easter Sunday morning? Do you remember when we thought we were closing down just for two weekends in March? Oh the hubris of our thinking!

It doesn't seem all that long ago when I would worry about having to close down for a Sunday in the winter because of snow. How would we weather the finances of being closed for a week? Ha! Oh the hubris of my thinking!

So here we are now, facing our fourth weekend of not gathering together in a church building. And you know what? We are stronger than ever! We meet MORE often! We pray together MORE often! We love on one another MORE! We gather to love God MORE! What a miracle! To God be the glory!

There was a time when I would ask, 'When will things get back to the way they were?' Now I pray earnestly that they never do go back to the way things were. I want to keep praying and loving you all and feeling your love and prayers back as we have been experiencing them these last four weeks. God has been SO GOOD to us! To God be the glory!

Easter Worship Sunday at 11am. Tomorrow morning we are going to experience Easter worship like we've never experienced it before. And I don't mean just that we will all be in our homes as we worship. I mean that our worship will expand drastically tomorrow morning! On the one hand we are limited by being forced to be homebound. But on the other hand we no longer have geographic limitations! So we will have several from our church family, who normally watch online, be able to join in our praise and worship. Also we will have some within our church that have never participated in worship elements before, go beyond their own comfort zone to praise our risen Lord!

How can you join in? Two ways: Zoom or Facebook. The preferable way is through Zoom.

Meeting ID: 609 489 055
Password: (Contact Pastor Mark or Brandi)

You can also watch on Facebook. We will do our very best to publish from Zoom to Facebook. But just so you know, this doesn't always work perfectly. So many churches are now using Facebook Sundays at 11am. Easter Sunday will be the greatest challenge to Facebook yet because a record number of people are expected to try to watch their church Easter services. So please please work today to get your Zoom account up and running if you haven't already done so. Text or call me or Brandi if you need help.

Even though you will be at home, I challenge you to prepare your heart for a worship experience - especially so for Resurrection Morning! Turn off your other technologies. Eliminate distractions. Gather the family around. Have your bread and wine/juice prepared for communion. Have your Bibles out. Begin your morning with prayers. Focus all your attention upon praising and worshiping the One Who was resurrected!

Three final opportunities:

1. Please continue to support Church Requel with your tithes and offerings. Remember this is your worship too. It is especially important to demonstrate faith during this difficult financial time. Use this website link to make a one-time donation.

give.ChurchRequel.org

2. We are experiencing worship together with daily devotions every morning at 11am on our Church Requel Facebook account. (No problems Monday through Saturday!) So far our daily devotions have included both Brandi and myself. These are wonderful times together of faith, hope and love. We sing. We pray. We read our Scriptures.

3. We are experiencing powerful prayer together every Wednesday night at 7pm. This is on Zoom. Look for meeting details in the Wednesday newsletter. Yep, for the duration we are now publishing our newsletters twice a week - on Wednesday mornings and Saturday mornings.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!! Love you all much! Pastor Mark

Daily Devotional at 11am EST / Prayer Meeting Tonight at 7pm

Good Wednesday morning Church Requel!

For the duration of this Coronavirus Pandemic, we are changing up our email distribution from once a week on Fridays to twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Hopefully this will keep you posted on all the things happening within our church.

We don't know if you've noticed or not, but we are actually gathering MORE and praying MORE and worshipping MORE than we ever did before. And the blessings have been MORE too! Yesterday morning Brandi led our devotional time together. For me, that 40 minutes was the highlight of my worship experience this year! Wow! If you haven't experienced it, I highly recommend you check it out on Facebook. Brandi was so transparent as she shared her own personal spiritual journey. At one point she told us that she was having a hard time seeing her music because her eyes were so watery! We loved it Brandi! Thank you for being our worship leader!

This morning at 11am, we are back to yours truly - Pastor Mark - leading the devotional. So make sure to tune in at 11am EST on Facebook.

Tonight will be our 4th Wednesday night prayer meeting via Zoom. These have been powerful times as we have prayed for our world, our nation, our state, our church and for one another. Don't miss it! Because of this we are seeing more of one another (not less) in these days of stay-at-home isolation!

We have emailed everyone the details for tonight's Zoom meeting. If you need the meeting ID or the password, email me here: [email protected].

Pastor Mark

Sunday Morning Worship Plans - Zoom and Facebook

Good Friday morning Church Requel!

We are going to give it another go this Sunday morning. After much consideration we will try once more to gather together for Worship Sunday at 11am on Zoom and broadcast it on our Facebook Church Requel page.

Governor DeWine and Dr. Amy Acton have extended their stay at home order through the end of April and we as a church family will do our best to honor their order for the safety of all of us.

Last week we attempted the Zoom to Facebook combo with disappointing results. Those who were watching on Facebook had a very difficult time keeping the stream going. So we have made adjustments on our end and we hope this will improve the result.

First, we are making a push for all of you to download the Zoom app to your computer or smart phone and choose to worship with us with Zoom rather than on Facebook. We have used Zoom very successfully for the last 3 Wednesday nights as we have gathered together for prayer. We know it works well. Last week, those who started on Facebook and then switched over to watch on Zoom had no further connection problems.

The second thing we are doing to improve the worship experience is technical on our end. We will not be screen sharing from Pastor Mark's computer. Some told us that they thought the stream was interrupted most when we switched Pastor Mark's screen to share the song words or to show the sermon outline. Also on our end, Mary Kay and Pastor Mark will be using only one computer reducing the load on our own router.

We are sharing all these details to demonstrate the length we are going to bring us together for worship Sunday. It is a priority for us and we hope it is a priority for you too. So please do all you can to plan and prepare to gather together with us on Zoom. Our meeting ID is 609-489-055. Just click on this link and you'll be well on your way!

https://zoom.us/j/609489055

This works on your computers, your tablets and your smart phones.

Daily Devotionals with Pastor Mark

Each morning at 11am, you can find encouragement for your day by joining Pastor Mark on our Church Requel Facebook Page. We began this on Monday and it's grown every day since. We sings songs with the ukulele, read Scripture and we pray together for one another and for our world.

This presents two great opportunities for you. First, you can be encouraged in your own faith. Second, you can share these daily streams with your family and friends. People all over the world are joining in. The boundaries of geographic location are now removed. Even the boundary of different churches are removed because we do this every day, not just on Sundays.

If you have a favorite song you'd like to hear, or a prayer request you'd like us to pray for, let us know!

Wednesday Night 7pm Bible Study and Prayer Meeting. We are using Zoom to gather together to pray and study the Bible. This past Wednesday was our third meeting. These are going very well. Each person in our meeting is given the opportunity to let us know how they are doing and what they would like us to pray about. The meeting ID for Wednesday nights is 172-942-523. Here is the link for our Midweek service.

https://zoom.us/j/172942523

Saturday Morning Bible Study. We are also using Zoom to gather together for Bible Study with Dr. Sproul. His insights into the Old Testament and the meaning for our Christian faith is nothing short of amazing. Thank you Brian for organizing these study times. The Zoom meeting ID for our Saturday morning 11am study is 726-173-256 Here is the link for our Saturday morning Bible Study.

https://zoom.us/j/726173256

Meeting More Than Ever!!! Our bodies are required to stay at home. But not our minds. Not our souls! Consider that your computer or smart phone is the new transportation device. A hundred years ago it would have been impossible for most of us to gather at 2 Marion Avenue because of the physical distance required to walk or ride a horse to get to church. Today we don't even think about hopping in the car to go to church. The car is simply a technological transportation device that has changed the way we think about gathering together.

Now, because of the Coronavirus Pandemic and the stay at home orders that have resulted, we cannot physically go to a church building. But that DOESN'T MEAN we can't go to church. We just have to change our transportation from car to computer or phone. We just have to change our perspective from physical to mental and spiritual. 

So get your computer / phone oiled up! Download that Zoom app. Figure out Facebook. If you don't know how to do it yourself, there are plenty of others who would be happy to help. Ask for that help! Don't miss out on church.

For the duration of this terrible time in our country, we will gather and encourage all the more! At least every day! Sometimes twice a day! Don't be discouraged. Decide to join these gathering and allow the Holy Spirit to fill you up!

Think of it this way - our spiritual enemy, the devil, would like nothing more than to keep us separated, alone and divided. Don't let him win. Find a way to get together with your church family.

Think of it this way - you may feel that you don't need this. That you are doing fine. Well maybe it's not about how you're doing. Maybe we need you! Maybe your positivity could encourage someone else. Maybe it's selfish to stay home by yourself and not connect with anyone else, when your connection could make all the difference in someone's life.

Think of it this way - you may feel like you just can't lift yourself up enough to join in with your church family online. Well maybe, just maybe, when you can't lift yourself up, your church family can encourage you and give you the strength to face another day. Maybe just maybe your Lord has "provided a way out so you can endure it" as promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13.

My Personal Commitment To You. So far I've written this weekly newsletter to you in third person. Let me switch to the more personal. I am committing to you to be the very best stay at home pastor I can be. Stay at home for me means more engagement not less! I'm doing everything I know to do to protect our flock during these struggling times. 

Will you help me? I can't do it alone. Let's not leave anyone behind because of a lack of knowledge or a lack of technology. The simplest solutions still work. I know Juanita is never going to be able to join our Wednesday night prayer meetings because she doesn't have the tech to do it. So I've taken to calling her on my phone, putting the phone on speaker and setting it next to my computer. You could do the same for someone you know.

I am committing to getting us to the other side of this thing stronger and better than we were before. As tragic as this pandemic is, for us it represents a great opportunity. Maybe you've heard this somewhere before - our opportunity as a community to love God and love people! Yep, that's our mission. And it doesn't stop because the building is closed down.

The church is us together! Together on our phones. Together on our computers. 

Hope to "see" you soon! Love you much! Pastor Mark

Two Opportunities to Pray and Worship From Home Today

Good Wednesday everyone!

We have two opportunities to pray and worship today.

This morning at 11am, go to our Facebook Page for the daily devotional with your pastor. These are unrehearsed times of singing, praying and looking at the Scriptures for a daily dose of encouragement.

Here is our Facebook Page address: https://www.facebook.com/ChurchRequel/

Then tonight at 7pm join our Midweek Prayer service via the Zoom video conference service. The meeting ID is 172-942-523. 

Here is the link to our Zoom meeting: https://zoom.us/j/172942523

Hope to "see" you later today!

Love, Pastor Mark