MARS MEMO

= June 1, 2004 &= nbsp; Volume 29 = ; Number 13

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GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN

&= nbsp; One of our most respected elders asked me if I would preach on the subject of forgiveness, and I promised him that I would. The Summer Communion meditation wi= ll be on forgiveness. My early stud= ies have been on Matthew 18 and the debts and debtors passages in the Lo= rd's Prayer.

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&= nbsp; Isn't it interesting that so many characterizations of Christians represent us as being very judgmental of others? Jesus came offering forgiveness to many and yet chastised the scribes and Pharisees rather than speak of forgiveness to them. Perhaps it is the awareness of our= sin that leads us toward the need for forgiveness that keeps on confusing the world. The Pharisees were approaching life as though they were able to avoid sin completely by a stri= ct obedience to the law. What a difference it makes in the giving and receiving of forgiveness when we see ourselves as less than perfect. So we begin our study about forgiveness as a gift that everyone needs but not everyone knows that they need the gift.

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Forgiveness of others seems to many to be a gift that we gra= nt to others at some expense to ourselves. What is the cost in offering forgiveness to others? The greater question for the Chris= tian community is the cost of not forgiving.

Spend some time this month in preparation for the Summer Communion on June 27 at = both the 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. services.&nbs= p; Reflect on your sin rather than on your righteousness and begin your reflection on forgiveness as equally sinful rather than some better than others. Some of us like to ke= ep track of things as if counting will make a difference in one area of our li= fe or another. Try counting both= how often we need forgiveness and how often you have the opportunity to offer forgiveness. If you reach 77 = times of extending forgiveness before June 27, give me a call, a note, or an e-ma= il at church. Let's explore the = power of not only acknowledging sin but also forgiving it as well.

= &nb= sp; = Pastor John

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CO-PASTORS SWITCHING OFF IN JUNE

&nbs= p; Pastor John will be out of the lineup from June 6 through the 13^th as he attends the annual School= of Religion at Pitt= sburgh Seminary and journeys to Presque Isle for a weekend wedding.

&nbs= p; R.B. is off on his annual trek to the Midwest Stud Ram Sale in Sedalia, Missouri, on the 19^th through the 27^th. As usual, Sally will remain at hom= e; but to complicate matters further, Bobby isn't going either. It means R.B.'s sole chaperone on = the outing is an extremely macho college sophomore from Theil. So parishioners might rejoice that= a thousand miles is a long distance for gossip to travel.

&nbs= p; John is the man then for the last two Sundays in June. On the 20^th we have sch= eduled our Summer Congregational Meeting and Elections to be held at 9:30 a.m. (between the two services). W= e will again use our parliamentary ploy of appointing tellers and recessing the meeting for a week after balloting. This means that the meeting could be reconvened to break a tie. But in three decades of experience= , what happens is that the results are printed in the next Sunday's bulletin and t= he meeting is adjourned with the benediction from the late service.=

&nbs= p; Our Nominating Committee has worked hard to give you a choice among qualified candidates. Be sure to be her= e to vote on the 20^th.

&nbs= p; Remember it is carved in stone that Mars Presbyterian celebrates Summer Communion on= the last Sunday of June (27^th).&nbs= p; The idea has always been that is the last service when "we're all" there before the start of the vacation free-for-all of July and August. What better time to c= ome to the table? So all can see why= this is a must for worshipers.

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CHURCH CAMP FINALE

&n= bsp; From the first of April right through last Sunday's worship, we have continued to stress the opportunity the children and youth of the church have to attend either Westminster Highlands near Emlenton or Camp Lambec on the shores of = Lake Erie. Our church pays virtual= ly the entire base rate for a child's first year at camp and then picks up half fa= re for each succeeding year.

&nbs= p; The reason we push the camping theme so hard is tied to the fact that your past= ors and Session consider this to be a real growth opportunity for kids. Many of us have some unbelievably positive images that we have retained from our own youth. Interest is such that there are a = couple of elders willing to come up with some extra funds if there is a need.

&n= bsp; Don't allow a situation where they sit at home with their thumb in their ear bore= d to death. One of the best experi= ences of summer is available if parents and kids get on the stick.

&= nbsp; Call Amy Mellor at the church office if you want to try for late replacement.

FLEA MARKET—June 11 AN= D 12

&nbs= p; This annual event has been moved forward a week. Our storage areas are bulging, and= Jim Gray is holding the reins as chairman.&nbs= p; Wally Steindorf pretty thoroughly briefed Jim on what needs to be done. But somehow Jim thinks = that people will volunteer. If you= want to shock the cynics, sign up in the Tarry and Talk Area after worship. But as the buttonholing begins, kn= ow that we need a lot of help as well as junque to= make it the traditional success. G= ive Jim Gray a call if you have any questions--724-625-0196. Also if you have any pick-ups, cal= l Mike Bocheff at 724-625-4043.

&nbs= p; Bakers are urged to remember that the bake sale adds a major chunk to what is raised. Please plan to bake, = work, visit, and be a part of the famous Flea Market. Any questions, contact Nancy Huggi= ns who is in charge of this part— 724-625-3293.

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CONFIRMATION CLASS

&n= bsp; The following class under the tutelage of Pastor John and Kim Levin was publicly accepted into membership on Sunday, May 23, at the 11:00 worship service. We welcome:

Kathryn Grace Beckwith= = --daughter of Louis & Robyn Beckwith

Kelly Ann Cesare &= nbsp; = --daughter of Domenic & Karen Cesare

Lynnea Elizabeth Charl= es = --daughter of Murray & Sandra Charles

Samantha Belle Levin &= nbsp; = --daughter of Mike and Kimberly Levin

Abby Michelle Marks = ; = --daughter of Steven & Diane Marks

<= b>Sean Michael Matthews<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> = = --son of George & Maria Matthews

<= b>Shannon Elizabeth Scha= efer= --daughter of Steven & Diana Schaefer

<= b>Jamie Rae Wonderly --daughter of James & Amy Wonderly=

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The Senior High Su= nday School Class has agreed to serve as peer advisors for this year's class.= = ;

= HIGH-SCHOOL SENIORS TO BE HONORED

The following seni= ors will be honored Sunday, June 6, at the 10:00 worship service:

&= nbsp; Meredith Barbour = Brooke Kosar

&= nbsp; Emily Cook &nb= sp; = Andrew Roos

&= nbsp; Darcee Davidson = Keira Smith

&= nbsp; Amber Kennedy = Sarah Untch

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Congratulations a= nd best wishes for your future.

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The following have graduated from college:

Matthew Cook—Carnegie Mellon University, BS in Chemical Engineering.

Laura Kaufman<= /b>—University of Pittsb= urgh, Greensburg, BA in Criminal Justice

Andrew Lubbert—Grove City, BA in History

= SUMMER VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL=

For pre-schoolers through 7^th grade

Bring a friend along!

July 6, 7, and= 8

6 p.m. to 8:30= p.m.

= St. John Lutheran Church on Beaver Street

Davey & Goliath "Camp Creation"

Registration $5.00

SUMMER WORSHIP HOURS

8:30 A.M. & 10:00 A.M.

for June, July, August, &= amp; September 5

OFFICE CLOSED ON FRIDA= YS

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