Good Friday morning Church Requel!
What a wonderful day of celebration we all enjoyed last Sunday. What a delight to see Elijah, Anna and John all ready to graduate from high school and begin their adult journeys.
I enjoyed talking to our grads and finding out their future plans. Anna Scott plans to attend Ohio Northern University majoring in mechanical engineering! Wow! Smart girl! She even has already thought through her concentration: aerospace! Don't you love it!
It was also a joy to see Paul again. I almost didn't recognize him with his beard. It also reminded me to keep praying for Chris, who is following in Sara's footsteps in the Air Force.
I was blessed to sit across from John Vetter and hear all about his future plans. He will be joining the Marine Corps this October. After 3 months of boot training, he can begin attending college while still in the Marine Corps! Wow! John told me that the Marines will pay for all his education for the rest of his life. Outstanding!
Here is the best part. So what does John want to do with all that education possibility? He wants to obtain a theological education, becoming an officer and a chaplain in the Marines... and eventually perhaps become a pastor!
And it all started at Church Requel!
In case you didn't know it, John is actually one smart dude. In his Marine entrance exams, he scored in the top 3 percent of all who take the exam. He could choose literally any job in the Marines that he wants to choose! Impressive!
I don't know about you, but I would love to have John deliver a sermon at Church Requel before he heads off to the Marines. I've already asked him and his response? Just give me a date! I love it!
Best of luck Elijah, Anna and John. You will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers!
Sunday's Worship Plans. Here are our worship plans for this coming Sunday morning. We begin our worship time with 4 songs, two of which are new for our band: "Goodness of God" by Bethel; (NEW) "Live Like That" by Sidewalk Prophets; (NEW) "God Turn It Around" by Jon Reddick; and "Everyday" by Hillsong. We also plan to close our worship Sunday with a fifth song, a CR favorite: "God So Loved" by We The Kingdom.
Before the sermon, I plan to sing one last song from Grandma Wise's songbook - "Life's Railway To Heaven," an 1890 song by Charles Davis Tillman - probably the most famous of Grandma's songbook. It's been covered by Johnny Cash, The Oak Ridge Boys, Patsy Cline, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, just to name a few. But Sunday morning you will get to hear your pastor's version of the song!
The song perfectly fits the mini-sermon series we are currently in: "12 Choices to Live My Best Life." This Sunday we will talk about the final six choices. As I wrote this sermon, I imagined my own grandchildren (all 10 of them) sitting around and reading what I wrote. For that reason alone, this is truly meaningful to me. I hope you will find it helpful too. If you'd like a head start on Sunday's sermon, you can read it in your Bible app: http://bible.com/events/48895246
For those of you who live afar from Mansfield or for those who are shut in and cannot travel to the church, you can watch online LIVE as the service progresses either on our Church Requel Facebook page or on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/mUrx1jlD4jE
Sound System Fundraising Update. Many deeply felt thanks go out from me to all of you who donated to our special sound system fundraising efforts. We estimate that the cost of the improvements will be $3,543.49. So far we have raised $2,208. Both numbers are really big for the size of our church. Again - much appreciation from me to all of you. We will keep the special fund account open for two more weeks (through the end of May), so if you've been waiting to see the need you need wait no longer!
The parts for the sound system are starting to come in. The digital distributor and all the actual in-ear headsets have already arrived. We are expecting (hoping) the actual mixing boards to arrive by the middle of June. The delay in receiving the parts is part of the whole economic shipping delay experienced by everyone these days.
Not Old... Just Vintage!
I celebrated a milestone of my own yesterday, turning 65 years old! Yay! I now have joined the Medicare Club! At this age we don't count the candles... we just enjoy the glow, right?
As I reflect on this week, I really love it that I was able to celebrate with so many of you! Mary Kay and I enjoyed dinner with Chris and Leanna Wednesday. Then Thursday night I was invited to celebrate with Kailey, who also celebrates a birthday on May 19th each year. That's right! The SAME birthday! We just don't make a big deal out of the fact that I've been around the sun 65 times so far, and she only 21 times. Actually, for Kailey, 21 solar rotations is a big deal for her! Ha! But what fun! Thanks Kailey for celebrating with me this week!
On my actual birthday, I started the day with all my friends down at Paul Revere's Family Restaurant - still my favorite morning haunt. Then I came home and learned a new song on my ukulele with 4 new jazzy chords I've never played before. Finally I took in a ride on my e-bike! What a fun day!
That's going to wrap up this week's pastor's newsletter. 1,000 words is my limit! Hope you still like this Friday missive. Love you all! Hope to see you Sunday! - Pastor Mark
P.S. - Keep my Dad and Julie in your prayers. These continue to be tough days for them. Thanks!
