MARS MEMO

Holy Week and

Easter

at

Mars United Presbyterian Church:

APRIL 5 - MAUNDY THURSDAY

6:00 p.m. Lamb stew dinner

7:00 p.m. = Worship – Lord’s Supper served,

  &nbs= p;           and a Drama called “No Condemnation”<= /o:p>

APRIL 6 – GOOD FRIDAY

Noon      = Worship Service      =

EASTER CELEBRATIONS:

April 8    &nbs= p;     8:30 a.m. Worship Service

      = ;            &n= bsp; 9:30 a.m. Breakfast/Brunch

      = ;            &n= bsp; 11:00 a.m. Worship Service

Every Sunday

At

Mars United Presbyterian Church:

8:30 a.m.             = Early Worship

9:30 a.m.             = Junior Choir Rehearsal

9:45 a.m.             = Sunday School for all ages

11:00 a.m.            Worship

B= lessed are those to whom Easter is not a hunt but a find, not a greeting but a proclamation, not outward fashion but inward grace, not a day but an eternity.

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR PASTOR

Last month I introduced to you the concept of the R= 20;missional” church. This is a church that has rediscov= ered its purpose for existence. Lo= is Barrett, author of Treasure in Clay= Jars, says, “The church does not exist for itself, but for participation in God’s mission of reconciliation.&nbs= p; ‘Mission’ is not just an activity carried out by special people in faraway places. Mis= sion is the character of the church in whatever context it exists.”

It is clear to anyone with eyes to see and ears to hea= r that mainline churches in North America are in serious trouble. They have experienced the loss of millions of members over the last four decades. What is going on? Why isn’t God adding to their numbers daily as he did with the New Testament churches? Why are we continuing to decline r= ather than moving forward?

While I don’t claim to know all the reasons for = the decline of the mainline church, I do want to suggest one obvious reason = 211; we have simply lost our way. = We can’t even agree on what it means to move forward. We can’t agree on what it me= ans to be successful. How do we defi= ne success anyway?

For many people success means “getting my way.” For them success = is a matter of staying in power and being in control.= They do this either by making thin= gs happen or by keeping things from happening. Our denomination and its individual churches are in decline because of the power struggles that are tearing us apart. There is hope for our = church and that hope is the missional church movement.=

A missional church begins = by asking, “What does God want with us?”&= nbsp; A missional church is one that is redefi= ning “success” and “vitality” in terms of faithfulness to God’s calling and sending. It seeks to discern what God wants us to do and be, not what I want or prefer. It’s not about me! And it’s not about you! It’s about God and= what he is doing in the world and how we can get in on that – how we can be used by God to fulfill his purpose in the world.

Another characteristic of the mis= sional church is its commitment to learning what it means to be Christ’s disciples. There is a hunger = to know God and be more like Christ. The Bible is viewed as normative in this church’s life. It is = God revealing himself to us and the story of how he is redeeming the world thro= ugh Christ in us. We come togethe= r to study God’s Word and hear God speak so we can go out into the world, equipped and empowered to serve in Christ’s name.

Another characteristic of the mis= sional church is its willingness to take risks for the sake of the gospel. These congregations corporately sp= end much time in prayer. They are= a praying congregation. Perhaps because of this, these congregations are not afraid to take risks and try n= ew things. Their focus is on fol= lowing God’s lead and listening to his voice. They would rather change than be l= eft behind and have God move on without them.&= nbsp; Together they are discovering ways to reach out to a hurting world rather than sit back and expect people to come to them.

Do you think maybe God would want us to be a missional church?&nb= sp; Next month we will look at several more characteristics of a missional church.

Rev. Jean= Gomola

VOLUNTEER = SCHEDULE for April 2007:

Tarry &= ; Talk Crew: Christian Ed Committee: Mike Bocheff, Sue = Cox and John Ivory.

Muffins: April 1 –

   &nbs= p;        Easter – Brunch is served at 9:30 a.m.

   &nbs= p;        April 15 – Pam & Tom Kennedy, Linda Lees

   &nbs= p;        April 22 – Pan & Tom Kennedy, Linda Lees

   &nbs= p;        April 29 -

Greeters:<= /u> Elder Karen Davidson and Deacon

MUP Driver= : April 1 & 8 – Paul Lubbe= rt

   &nbs= p;        April 15 & 22 – Alice Leonberg

   &nbs= p;        April 29 – John Augustine

   &nbs= p;

Flowers: <= /u> April 1 – Ron and Barb Filipiak

   &nbs= p;        Easter –

   &nbs= p;        April 15 –

   &nbs= p;        April 22 –

   &nbs= p;        April 29 – June Stirling

Crib Room:= April 1 – Shelly McGinnis

Easter – Unattended N= ursery Available

April 15 – Karen Moor= e

April 22 – Lisa Aaron=

April 29 – Jenny Ivor= y

WHITE ENVELOPE OFFERING is a new offering that will be received the fir= st Sunday of each month to benefit the charitable works of our Deacons. Donations will be credited to your giving record if they can be identified.&n= bsp; Please use the white envelopes provided in your bulletin. Your kindness ensures the continued generosity of our Deacons.

F= LEA MARKET 2007 Save the dates = of June 7, 8, and 9. And, start = saving your “STUFF”. The success of this fund raising activity depends upon the merchandise that is donated.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY CONTINUES

A Women's Bible Study= will be held the first Monday of each month. They will be using the Horizon's study titled "In the Beginning." This study will cover the = book of Genesis. For more information, please call Margaret Cook at 724-625-2217. We will meet at the church each FIRST Monday at 2 p.m. = to carpool to our host’s home. All are welcome!

=

Notes from= our Session:

Summary of our M= arch 15, 2007 Meeting:

New members of our congregation include Dale Roos, Andy Roos, Josette Gastonguay a= nd Dennis McCandless is returned to active membership.

Per Capita payments will continue to be send to Presbytery and Synod, but General Assembly portion will continue to be withheld per Session action October 2003.

Vacation Bible School will be held July 9-13.

Our janitorial service has terminated service. Bids are being received for n= ew contractor.

White envelope offering collection for the benefit of Deacon’s charita= ble works will be held on the first Sunday of every month.

A stewardship program is being planned for implementation this fall. Look for further information = on Consecration Sunday.

The hydraulics on the elevator need to be replaced at an approximately cos= t of $1,190.

A blood drive will take place in May.

Youth riverboat cruise will be held on April 22.

A committee was formed by Christian Ed to conduct a feasibility study regarding a Youth Director.

Membership Committee will hold a Spring Brunch on Saturday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m.<= /li>
Photo directories should be delivered early April.

Summer Youth Trips Planned

FUN IN THE SON (Jekyll Island) July 14 – 21 This high school youth = conference is one of 32 events sponsored by Youth Conference Ministries (YCM), formerly known as Presbyterians for Renewal Youth Ministries (PFR YOUTH). This particular conference has bee= n in existence for 31 years. It be= gan with 300 kids and has grown to over 1,000.

Each FUN IN THE SON conference is structured to provide a setting that allows te= ens to feel comfortable in a loving and supportive environment. It is in this atmosphere that the = Gospel of Christ is presented. The speakers and musicians are unparalleled nationally, and the activities are designed to give leaders quality time with their youth. FUN IN THE SON is a life changing = event.

The youth are housed with their youth leaders in a local motel right on the bea= ch and all meetings are held at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. All meals are served at the motel and are included in the total cost= of the conference which is $349.   We have ten reservations so if you are interested in going please get your $90 deposit in to Pastor Jean as soon as possible. We will get busy with some fundrai= sers to help offset the cost of the conference as soon as we know who would like= to go. The sooner you commit to = going, the greater the likelihood you will be able to raise the remaining $259 thr= ough fundraisers.

THE GREAT ESCAPE (Pitt Campus – Johnstown, PA) July 30 – August 3    Th= is conference is designed for Middle = School youth. It is one of ten m= iddle school youth conferences sponsored by YCM over the summer. THE GREAT ESCAPE conferences were = the first and are the longest running middle school conferences in the country. The success of these conferences in encouraging kids to be followers of Christ is largely attrib= uted to those planning the camps and their unique ability to identify with kids. TGE is a wonderful, who= lesome atmosphere packed full of great recreation that any young person has the ability to participate in, as well as energetic speakers and musicians. TGE is designed for rising 6^t=
h graders – 9^th graders.&nb= sp; Total cost is $359. The sooner you commit to going by giving Pastor Jean your $90 reservation fee, = the sooner we can get started on fundraisers and the more likely you will be ab= le to raise the remaining $269. = So get your money in soon.

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING Denominational offering will be received on Eas= ter Sunday. In the last year sinc= e this offering has been collected, there have mercifully been fewer major disaste= rs than in either of the two previous years.&= nbsp; Nevertheless, it takes years to recover from the destruction of a hurricane, earthquake, or tsunami, so recovery will continue for some time,= though recovery efforts have moved more toward rebuilding. In the past year, thousands of Presbyterians have given their time and talents to help people in the Gulf Coast region rebuild their homes and lives. In the process of meeting and helping these new neighbors, many of t= hose volunteers have found their own lives profoundly changed by the experience.=

At= the same time, the ministry of One Great Hour of Sharing is continuing to help = our neighbors who have suffered from poverty, hunger= and lack of opportunity find a foothold on more solid ground. Thanks to your gifts, both the imm= ediate and long-term ministries of One Great Hour of Sharing continue to be a fait= hful witness to the love of God in Jesus Christ throughout the year and around t= he world.

NEW HYMNALS are here and will be dedicated on Palm Sunday. Thanks to everyone who made this u= pdate to our church possible through their generosity.

Roland English Louden Estate Mars United Presbyterian Church was recently gifted a portion of the estate of Roland English Louden.= The Mission and Outreach Committee was commissioned by Session on January 18 to allocate $15,000 to missions within 60 days. They met February 6. T= hose present were Darlene Harrison (chair), Jack Barbour, Shelly Wood and Rev. J= ean Gomola. Here is how they have= spent the $15,000.

Hosanna Industries      = ;            &n= bsp;                 &= nbsp;   $2,000        &= nbsp;

Lighthouse =        &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       $2,000

D.O.N.E.        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;           $1,50= 0

Brother’s Brother Foundation  &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;               &= nbsp;   $1,500                  This organization pr= ovides food, medical care, shelter, clothing and education to people around the wo= rld who are in need. www.brothrsbrother.org

Coalition for Christian Outreach                  $2,000

This organization is a ministry to college students in the tri-state area. They place well trained college graduates on college campuses to minister to students and provide a Christi= an presence and role model. www.ccojubilee.org

Pi= ttsburgh The= ological Seminary      &n= bsp;           $1,= 500

This is the Presbyter= ian seminary educating the next generation of Presbyterian pastors for our churches. www.pts.edu

Heifer Project        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &= nbsp;   $1,500

This organization pro= vides animals to those in third world countries so that they can support themselv= es and their families though the income earned through the animal’s help. www.heifer.org

Compassion International  &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;         &= nbsp;   $1,500

This organization sup= ports children in need all around the world.&nbs= p; Sponsors enable children to receive Christian based education, medic= al care, and financial assistance. www.compassion.com

Youth Conference Ministries <= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'>        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         &= nbsp;   $1,500

YCM is an outreach to= high school and middle school youth providing conferences all across the country during the summer for youth to attend with their youth leaders where they a= re encouraged to be Christ’s disciples.= www.pfryouth.org/abouty= cm

Mars United Presbyterian Church

Phone: 724-625-1365

Email: marsup@mars-up.org=

Website: www.mars-up.org

Office Hours:&n= bsp; Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Rev. Jean E. Gomola, Pastor

Email: Gomola@mars-up.org=

Cell Phone:&nbs= p; 724-699-9185

Home Phone:&nbs= p; 724-458-9292