MARS MEMO

A Message From= The Pastor

James Davison Hunter is the author of a disturbing book titled The Death of Character.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> In it he described how people act morally because they learn to subordinate their own opinions and desires to those of their religious communities. The social implications of Hunter’s work were clear: Weaken the “authoritative communities” within your society that produce character and it will be next to impossible to produce the kind of people necessary to sustain a self-governing society.

Recently I came across the results of a study by the Dartmouth Medical School, the YMCA, and the Institute for American Values in an article titled Hardwired to Connect: The New Scientif= ic Case for Authoritative Communities.&nb= sp; This study showed that not only do we need authoritative communities, but we were made to be a part of them.&nbs= p; The study began in search of an answer to this question: “Why,= in a period of unprecedented affluence, do large numbers of American children suffer from emotional and behavioral problems?” The answer they came up with is th= at “children are hardwired for enduring connections to others and for mo= ral and spiritual meaning.” They aren’t experiencing these connections today because the groups and communities that best provide this “connectedness” are under stress. This stress comes from outside the church and from within the walls of the church.

We live in a world that is becoming increasingly more hostile toward the church. In case you havenR= 17;t noticed, radical Islamic fascists would like to wipe Christians off the fac= e of the earth. In fact, what their authoritative writing (the Koran) tells them is to kill those who refuse to convert to Islam. They are do= ing just that and will continue their killing because they need to be subordina= te to the values and desires of their religious communities. There is no reasoning with these people. They do not want to c= ome to the table and dialogue with us to find common ground that will enable us to live along side each other. T= om Holladay, in his study titled Found= ations says, “If your belief about God is wrong, then the more devout you ar= e, the more lost you become.”

While we certainly experience a measure of stress within= the church from those outside our walls, the greater stress for American church= es comes from the lack of unity within our congregations. Christians are supposed to represe= nt Christ to the world. But rece= nt groundbreaking research from the Barna Group re= veals that 16-29 year olds are perceiving Christians not as representatives of Ch= rist but as “hypocritical,” “insensitive,” “judgmental” and … unchristian. What are young people observing ab= out our congregation? What do they think when they observe the infighting and power struggles that exist? What do they conclude when they he= ar the negative comments and complaining from members? =

It’s not just children who need “authoritati= ve communities”. We are all hardwired for enduring connections to others and for moral and spiritual meaning. What is meant by “hardwired” is that the “mechanisms by which we become and stay attached to others” have a biological basis. We are made to be part of a community. The church is the = community God has created for us to live within.&nbs= p; When that community fails to live by Scripture, the individuals who = have attached themselves to it will suffer.&nbs= p; What we are connected to is as important as being connected itsel= f. &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; = Yours in Christ,

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Rev. Jean Gomola

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

A Women's Bible Study continues on November 5 at 2:00 p.m. 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. All are welcome!

WOMEN WITH CHILDREN BIBLE ST= UDY A= Bible Study Group for= women with children is taking place on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. at the church. If you have any questions, please = call Christi Augustine (724-625-2285). All are welcome to attend!

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Notes from our Session: <= o:p>

Summary of our October 18, 2007 Meeting:

Christmas Cantata – December 23 at 11= a.m.
Proposed 2008 Budget was presented and appr= oved, as well as the Pastor’s salary package.
Nominations committee presented the candida= tes for officers, class of 2010.
Pulpit nominating committee was approved to= be formed and will present a slate for the congregation to vote on at ann= ual meeting.
Girl Scouts will host holiday babysitting s= essions during the shopping season.

VOLUNTEER = SCHEDULE for November 2007:

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

Greeters:<= /u> E= lder Mike Bocheff , Deacon Marie Matthews

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MUP Driver= : Nov. 4 & 11 – Mike Boche= ff

&nbs= p; Nov. 28 & 25 – Bill Guesman

Flowers: <= /u> Nov. 4 – Robert and Susan Cox=

&nbs= p; Nov. 11 – Ron Batykefer

&nbs= p; Tarry & Talk – Lubbert F= amily

&nbs= p; Nov. 18 – Dona Gartrell

&nbs= p; Nov. 25 – Don and Jane Aiken

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Crib Room:= Nov. 4 – Karen Moore

&nbs= p; Nov. 11 – Chelsea Carpenter

&nbs= p; Nov. 18 – Shelly Bocheff

&nbs= p; Nov. 25 – Marie Matthews

ANGER Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your= lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back – in many ways it= is a feast fit for a king. The c= hief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.<= o:p>

H= ISTORY OF THE A-TEAM The A-Team was founded by Cha= rles Boynton in the early 1980’s as an organization composed by men of the church to do repairs and maintenance around the church building. The early name of the group was “Charlie’s Angels”. However, Charlie, being a modest man changed the group’s name = to the A-Team – it’s name to the present day. There have been many fai= thful members who have enjoyed the work and the fellowship of serving their church. Please remember those members who have gone before us:

&nbs= p; Charlie Boynton = &nb= sp; Alvin Gerwick

Ronald Frit= z &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; H. Red Johnson

Melvin Ghos= t &= nbsp; &nbs= p; = Edward Weinrich

Harold (Pea= nuts) McCandless = ; Harold (Spike) Sterling

Those who have moved away:

&nbs= p; Dick= Baker &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Bill Brack

Wally Steindorf = &nb= sp; = Jim Pink

Present Members:

&nbs= p; Paul= Bhame &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Paul Smith

Howard Croop &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; John Grau

Joe Liska &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Wayne Mahaffy

Howard Meed= er &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Jay Wilson

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J= R CHOIR - Our Jr. Choir rehearsals continue on Sundays,= at 9:30 in the choir rehearsal room. All parents of children between the ages of five and nine are encouraged to bring their budding singers to rehearsal. We are planning our Christmas pageant and will continue wi= th our bell ringers. Please see Alma Staskiewicz or Miss Jamie for detai= ls.

Turn your c= locks back one hour on Sat. November 3 before you go to bed! Daylight Savings time ends Sunday, November 4.

C= ONSECRATION SUNDAY By now, everyone has been personally invited to at= tend our worship celebration on Sunday, November 4 at 11:00 a.m. to dedicate ourselves and our gifts to God. A catered luncheon will be held following the service. Reservations are required.

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C= ANTATA REHEARSAL Regular rehearsal= s for the Christmas Cantata, "Holy Night of Miracles" will begin Wednes= day, November 14th at 8:15 p.m. If you would like to sing, but cannot make= a weekly commitment to the Chancel Choir, this is the perfect opportunity for= you to join us in this annual Christmas celebration. Please consider shar= ing your talents; the gift of music is God's way of using you as His instrument= for praise and worship

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THE ANNUAL = MEETING will be held Sunday, Nov. 18 following 10 a.m. Worship. The purpose of the m= eeting will be to elect Officers, elect a Pastoral Nominating Committee and to rec= eive the 2008 planned budget. A co= py of the planned budget (approved by Session at their October meeting) is enclos= ed. Please plan on attending.

RICH-MAR ROTARY TURKEY TROT= to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation will be Saturday, November 24th at 9:00 AM at <= span class=3DSpellE>Treesdale Golf & Country Club and there will be a pancake breakfast to follow at the club. The event began as an idea from Rich-Mar Rotary nine years ago when Tom McMeekin was President and has rais= ed nearly $60,000. The cost to run or walk in the 5K run or 1 mile walk is $15= Last year's funds directly benefited children right here in the Pine & Mars = area and the funds raised enabled them to have their wishes come true. Of course many of the children have life threatening diseases so granting thei= r wish is a wonderful thing to be able to do... A past wish recipient will b= e our guest of honor at the pancake breakfast Please consider being a pa= rticipant. You can let me know by email, in-person, or by phone. Jean Gomola

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= COMPASSION KIDS Congrat= ulations! = We have met our goal of collecting $128 for the past month, enough to support 4 children, plus one additional child being supported by one family. You are awesome!=

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= THE TURKEY BASH wi= ll be hosted by the Deacons on Thursday, November = 15 at 12:30 p.m. for Senior Citizens of the Church and Community. If you have not yet signed up, ple= ase call the church office with your RSVP.
November 2007!

Sund= ay, November 4 - One Worship at 11:00 a.m.

Consecration Sunday - Congregational Dinner foll= ows

Saturday, November 10

Annual Rotary Pancake Breakfast

Thursday, November 15 - 12:30 p.m.=

TURKEY BAS= H!

Welcome Senior Citizens

Sund= ay, November 18 - Worship at 10:00 a.m.

Annual Meeting of the Congregation Follows<= /o:p>

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