MARS MEMO

ROAST BEEF DINNER

May 6, 2007<= /p>

12:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.<= /o:p>

Your help is needed to send our high school teens to <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Jeckyl Island and the Middle School students to “The Great Escape” on the Pitt Johnstown campus. Come and en= joy a delicious full course dinner while you encourage our youth in the developme= nt of our faith. Dinner tickets = cost $8.00 for adults; Children under 10 are only $4.00. Call the church office or see a te= en at church.

SPRING BRUNCH

Saturday, May 19=

10:30 a.m.
Everyone is= welcome to come and enjoy a wonderful brunch specially prepared for you. Entertainment will be provided by = the Grove City High S= chool Show Choir, so don’t be late. Tickets are available at chu= rch for only $6 for adults; children 4-11 $3, younger children are free.
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR PASTOR

Last month I began sharing with you some of the = characteristics of a missional church= . It is a church shaped by participating in God’s mission to set things ri= ght in a broken, sinful world, to redeem it, and to restore it to what God has always intended for the world. It is a church that sees itself not s= o much sending, as being sent. A= t the end of each worship service we have what is called THE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION. It is a time whe= n as pastor, I send you out into the world to carry out God’s mission in t= he world. Often I use these word= s from Hal Halverson, former Chaplain to the US Senate, “Where ever you go, God is sending you. Wherever you are, God has put you there. He has a purpose for y= our being there. Christ, who indw= ells you, has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace a= nd love and power.” A missional church lives by this charge.&nbs= p; The members don’t separate themselves from the rest of the wor= ld in a holy huddle. Rather, the= y go out into the world to care for the brokenhearted and win others to Christ.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>

In a missional church God’s mission permeates every aspect of the congregation̵= 7;s life from its worship to its witness, to its training up others to be Christ’s disciples and even its times of fellowship. All that it does is shaped by the = desire to participate in God’s mission of reconciling the world to Himself through Christ. As we continu= e to think about the missional church, let us keep this passage from 2 Corinthia= ns 4:7 in mind, “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made cl= ear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” In other words, the only way we can accomplish God’s mission in the world is by drawing upon the treasure within us which is the very presence and power of Christ. It is not in our own strength that= we accomplish His mission, but in His strength.

A missional church is one that understands the importance of community. Its me= mbers practice mutual care, reconciliation, loving accountability, and hospitality. WOW! What a great place to be – a= place where people care for one another and help in time if need, a place where conflict is worked out before it disrupts the unity of the body, a place wh= ere people hold each other accountable to live as Christ would have us live, a place where everyone is welcoming and welcome. Lois Barrett, in the book, Treasure in Clay Jars, says, ̶= 0;A missional church is indicated by how Christians behave toward one another.” It is the pra= ctice of mutual care, reconciliation, loving accountability and hospitality that catches the interest of those outside the church and makes a church really attractive. It is this sense = of community that moves people to want to belong. Is there any wonder why missional churches are growing churches? People long for a sense of community that is characterized by mutual care, reconciliation, loving accountability, and hospitality. In one of my past churches there w= as a man who started to come to church with his wife. He didn’t grow up in the church. He had never even been baptized. Eventually he decid= ed to join the church and it was amazing to see this 55 year old baptized. When I asked him what made him dec= ide to join our church he replied, “It’s the sense of family here I love. You’re family.” A missional ch= urch is a healthy vibrant family of faith.

Another characteristic of a missional church is = the importance of worship as public wi= tness. It is the opportunity to express t= he faith that is within us. Wors= hip is the central act of the church. In worship the church celebrates with joy and thanksgiving both God’s presence and God’s promised future.&= nbsp; A missional church seeks to make its worship attractive to those out= side the church in an effort to draw them in and relate to them. It doesn’t just do the same = thing it’s always done. It se= eks new ways to communicate God’s love in Christ. “For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord.... For it is the God who said, ‘= ;Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.R= 21; (2 Cor. 4:5-6)

=

=

Rev. Jean Gomola

VOLUNTEER = SCHEDULE for May 2007:

Tarry &= ; Talk Crew: Mission & Outreach Committee – Darlene Harrison and Jack Barbour.

Muffins: May 6 – Tom and Pam Kennedy, Linda Lees

May 13 -

May 20 – Tom and Pam = Kennedy, Linda Lees

May 27 -

Greeters:<= /u> Elder Jack Barbour and Deacon Lisa= Aaron

MUP Driver= : May 6 – John Augustine

   &nbs= p;        May 13 & 20 – Derek Smith

   &nbs= p;        Ma 27 – Don Lewis

   &nbs= p;

Flowers: <= /u> May 6 – Wayne Mahaffy

   &nbs= p;        May 13 – Robert and Susan Cox

   &nbs= p;        May 20 – Don and Mary Jane Aiken

   &nbs= p;        May 27 – H. Kennedy

Crib Room:= May 6 – Kim Smith

May 13 – Mothers̵= 7; Day – Unattended Nursery

May 20 – Robyn Beckwi= th

May 27 – Jenny Ivory<= /p>

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. Col= lection for April was $201.

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.

25-YEAR MEMBERS TO BE HONORED on Sunday, May 13 at the 11:00 a.m. worship service.
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. = All are welcome!

=

Notes from= our Session:

Summary of our A= pril 12, 2007 Meeting:

Covenant Players will be here on Sunday, June 10 for one worship service at 10:= 00 a.m.

Pancake breakfast profits of $1066.20 will be split between Hosanna Industries= and The Lighthouse.

Spring Brunch will be served on Saturday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m. Grove City Show Choir perform= s.

Feasibility of sharing a youth pastor with another local church is being investiga= ted by committee.

Roast Beef Dinner fundraiser for summer youth trips will be held on May 6 following worship.

Greg Nichols (brother of Rich) international ministry will be supported wit= h a financial gift.

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.

SPRING BRUNCH – SATURDAY, MAY 19, 10:30 A.M.&n= bsp; Come one, come all and enjoy a delicious brunch and fellowship with = your friends and neighbors. Follow= ing brunch, delight in the music of the Grove City High School Show Choir. Tickets will be available soon. Adults: $6; Children 4-11: $3; children 3 and under are free.= See a member of the membership com= mittee for your tickets: Alice Leonb= erg, Karen Davidson, Paul Bhame, Barbara Gray, Ruth Wilson and Angela Guesman.

Mars United Presbyterian Church and Central Blood Bank working together to save lives. Come join us in support of the holiday weekend! Be a blood donor for our local community/hospitals on Sunday, May 27th from 8:30am – 1:30pm in Social Hall. For your life sav= ing appointment or to let us know you will be walking in, please contact Darlene Harrison at 724-776-2219. Help reach our goal of 30 donors. = Thanks for helping our local hospitals care for the health needs of others. It’s Safe. It’s Simple. It Saves Lives.

The Fifth Dimension and NHYMC

Support the North Hills Youth Ministry Counseling Center while enjoying a “groovy” night out on the town! You’re invited to attend the 4^th Annual Pittsburgh Community Partners Concert featuring The Fifth Dimension on Thursday, June 21, 2007. The Fifth Dimension is Six-time Grammy Award winners with fourteen gold records. One of the most popular singing groups in the world, their classics include such hits as “Up, Up and Away,” “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” “One Less Bell to Answer,” “Never My Love,R= 21; “Wedding Bell Blues,” “Stoned Soul Picnic,” and “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get To Sleep At All.” <= /span>

The Community Partners Conc= ert is an annual collaboration with over 40 local non-profit organizations. The program supports an innovative approach to ticket sales and fundraising. You earmark the cost of your ticket purchase to benefit a participating non-pro= fit of choice. Of course, we hope you will designate us, the North Hills You= th Ministry Counseling Center as the non-profit of choice. Tickets are available on-line at www.pittsburghsymphony.org by phone 412-392- 4900 or by mail (see brochure). Please indicate our partner (promotion) code 2359 when ordering tickets, as proceeds will benefit our low-cost or free counseling and support services. Order your tickets today!

NORTH HILLS YOUTH MINISTRY ANNU= AL BOOK SALE wil= l be held beginning June 1 – June 7 (9 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily, closed Sunday) at a new location at Memorial Park Church. Over 40,000 gently us= ed books sorted into 35 categories will be available. Nothing over $= 3.00. Special promot= ions throughout the week. B= ooks will be restocked daily, so come more than once. This is a great way to stock up fo= r your summer reading. Proceeds help= NHYM provide low-cost or free professional counseling services, tutoring and mentoring for at-risk youth, parent education and prevention programs and a variety of support groups.

IN MEMORIUM

Ethel Baumgartel

April 10, 1921 - April 23, 2007=

Edna Salem

May 20, 1915 – April 28, 2007<= o:p>

“I am the resurrection and the life,” says the Lord. John 11:25.<= /b>

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