MARS MEMO

A Message From= The Pastor

&n= bsp; During the Christmas Season we celebrate the good news t= hat Christ has come to give us hope; hope for ourselves, for others, for the wo= rld, and for the kingdom of God. Implicit in our hoping is dissatis= faction with the present. We long for something we do not yet have. But aren’t we called to be content in all circumstances? As Christians, aren’t we sup= posed to be happy all the time? God’s presence in our daily lives can bring us peace and stren= gth to sustain us in the present, but as the people of God we should never be content with things as they are. We should always long for and hope for that which has not yet arrived and will= not fully arrive in this world.

<= /span>In a most wonderful book titled In Side Out, author Larry Crab captures in words what I am tryi= ng to say. He writes, “Ben= eath the surface of everyone’s life, especially the more mature, is an ache that will not go away. It can= be ignored, disguised, mislabeled, or submerged by a torrent of activity, but = it will not disappear. And for good reason.&= nbsp; We were designed to enjoy a better world than this. And until that better world comes = along, we will groan for what we do not have.&nbs= p; An aching soul is evidence not of neurosis or spiritual immaturity, = but of realism.”

<= /span>The Christian is called to embrace a life and worldview = that acknowledges the brokenness of this world.= Our only hope is that one-day we will be with Jesus in a perfect wor= ld and there find complete relief. Until then we either groan or pretend we don’t.

<= /span>There is no worse pain for fallen people than facing an emptiness we cannot fill. The physical and emotional capacities to feel that God has built into each human being are intended to provide pleasures, like good health and close loving relationships. When they don’t, when our head throbs with tension and our heart is broken by rejection or loss, we want relief. With deep passion, we long to experience what we were designed to en= joy.

<= /span>Into that personal emptiness and longing comes the sooth= ing message of modern Christianity that says relief is available. “Come to Jesus and all your problems will be over and you will be happy all the time!” Modern Christianity often teaches = that there is something we can do to change the reality of the brokenness of cre= ation and advance ourselves to a level of spirituality that eliminates pain and struggle as ongoing, deeply felt realities. This is heaven now kind of thinking. Biblical Christiani= ty is far more accurate as it describes the longing deep within us for that which= we do not yet have. Here is how = the apostle Paul puts it, “We know that the whole creation= has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who= have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.= 221; Romans 8:22-24

<= /span>Through the Holidays many people experience feelings of emptiness and longing more than any other time of the year. Let me illustrate this for you. At a previous church I v= isited an elderly woman in a nursing home just before Christmas. Mary Elizabeth was her name. She had suffered a stroke the prev= ious Easter and with good care and determination she had recovered many of the abilities lost through the stroke. She could sit in a chair much of the day and walk around the halls w= ith help. She could visit with friends and family, though her thoughts sometimes got jumbled. But she could no= t live independently or go out and do the things she once found so enjoyable.

<= /span>When I first arrived to visit with Mary I introduced mys= elf as Rev. Gomola from her church. She took my hand and then began to cry. As we talked it became clear that she was crying because she missed = her church and I represented that family of faith she longed to worship with but was n= ow unable to be with. As we shar= ed, each new subject seemed to bring more tears. She told me about her family and w= hat they were up to. Then she cri= ed a few more tears. She asked abo= ut my family and I described for her the thrill of putting up the Christmas tree = with our young children. She cried= a few more tears. When I mentioned = some of her friends from the church and how they were doing, she cried a few more tears.

<= /span>As we sat there, hand in hand, various staff members from the home would be walking by and when they saw Mary crying they would stop and try to comfort her. They didn’t seem to understand that it’s ok to cry when your heart is full of longing for something you do not yet have. One aide stopped and said, “Mary, it’s alright.” Mary gently replied, “No, it= s not all right when you can’t do the things you want to do.” Mary was right and it took courage= for Mary to say that. Mary longed= for something better, something that was out of her reach. Her sadness was a sign of her real= ism.

<= /span>We do not have a God who satisfies His hurting people by quickly granting them the relief they demand. Our only hope is in the coming of a nail-scared Christ who will return for His groaning but faithfully waiting people. What will enable us to weather life’s storms and grow through them is gratitude for what happened on the cross of Christ and passionate confidence in what will yet = take place at His coming again. Th= e only real stability in the present (a kind of stability that does not require the character-weakening mechanism of denial) is appreciation for the past and h= ope for the future.

<= /span>But it is difficult for us to rest in a hope for the future. We want relief right = now! We have a deeply ingrained passion= for independence, a legacy left to us by our first parents, Adam and Eve. They have given us a hunger to enj= oy the perfect relationships for which we were created to have. This makes us eager to respond to = a hope that heaven’s joys are available now – on demand. This is a lie and is responsible f= or leading hundreds of thousands of seeking people into either a powerless lifestyle of denial and fabricated joy, or a turning away from Christianity= in disillusionment and disgust. It’s a lie that blocks the path to the deep transformation of character that is available to us now.&nbs= p; We can enter into a rich awareness of being alive in Christ; we can taste His goodness in a way that whets our appetite for more. But to demand that our groaning end before heaven keeps us from all that’s available to us now. God = wants to change us into people who are truly noble, people who reflect an unswerv= ing confidence in who He is that equips us to face all of life and still remain faithful. Spirituality built = on pretense is not spirituality at all. God wants us to be courageous people who are deeply bothered by the horrors of living as part of a fallen race, people who look honestly at eve= ry struggle, who feel overwhelmed by what we see, yet emerge prepared to live.

<= /span>Larry Crab says, “When the fact is faced that life= is profoundly disappointing, the only way to make it is to learn to love. And only those who are no longer consumed with finding satisfaction now are able to love. Only when we commit our yearnings = for perfect joy to a perfect Father we have learned to deeply trust are we free= to live for others despite the reality of a perpetual ache.” May God grant you His hope to susta= in you in this coming New Year.

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Yours in Christ,

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

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY A NEW TIME AND A NEW STUDY! The Women's Bible Study continues on December 3 at 1:30 p.m. = in the Red Room. The new s= tudy will be “Above and Beyond” on the books of Jonah and Ruth. For more information, please call Margaret Cook at 724-625-2217. All are welcome!

<= /span>

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY A Bible Study Group for women is held on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. at the church.&nbs= p; If you have any questions, please call Christi Augustine (724-625-2285). All are welco= me to attend!

Notes from= our Session:

Summary of our N= ovember 15, 2007 Meeting:

Reaffirmation of our position to withhold General Assembly portion of Per Capita for 2008
Approval for Building & Grounds to proceed with office window replacement.<= /li>
Heifer Project and Living Gift Market approval for the Christmas Season
Pastoral Nominating Committee Nominations

= ANNUAL MEETING Officers Election Results:=

Elders, Class= of 2010: &n= bsp; Deac= ons, Class of 2010:

Keith Nichols &nb= sp; = Jennifer Ivory

Christi Augustine = ; &n= bsp; Pat Auld

Alma Staskiewicz &n= bsp; = ; Karen Purvis

Lisa Foster = ; &n= bsp; = ; Becky Courson

Ira Baumgartel &n= bsp; Paul Lubbert

Tom McMeekin &nbs= p; &= nbsp;

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Deacon, Class of 2008:

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Paula Kennedy

Pastoral Nomi= nating Committee:

Don Lewis &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Ira Baumgartel

Tom McMeekin &nbs= p; Barbara Roos

Lisa Barbour &nbs= p; &= nbsp; William Guesman

Beatrice Moore &n= bsp; Keith Nichols

Sarah Williams

VOLUNTEER = SCHEDULE for December 2007:

Tarry &= ; Talk Crew: Membership Committee: Alice Leonburg, Ka= ren Davidson, and Paul Bhame

Greeters: Elder Susan Cox and Deacon Angela Guesman

<= /span>

MUP Driver= : Dec. 2 & 9 – Steve Schae= fer

&nbs= p; Dec. 16 & 23 – Chuck Moore

&nbs= p; Dec. 30 – Jay Wilson

Flowers: <= /u> Dec. 2 – Karen Purvis

&nbs= p; Dec. 9 – Pat Jackson

&nbs= p; Dec. 16 – Dale and Barb Roos

&nbs= p; Dec. 23 – Dennis McCandless

&nbs= p; Tarry and = Talk – Lib Walker=

&nbs= p; Dec. 30 -

<= /span>

Crib Room:= Dec. 2 – Shelly McGinnis

&nbs= p; Dec. 9 – Shelly Bocheff

&nbs= p; Dec. 16 – Darcee/Brooke Davidson

&nbs= p; Dec. 23 –

&nbs= p; Dec. 30 -

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= Muffins: Dec. 2 –

&n= bsp; Dec. 9 – Tom and Pam Kennedy, Linda Lees

&n= bsp; Dec. 16 –

&n= bsp; Dec. 23 –

&n= bsp; Dec. 30 – Tom and Pam Kennedy, Linda Lees

COMPASSION KIDS Congratulations! Through your generosity, we have c= ollected $300.44 for the month of November, enough to support 4 children, plus one additional child being supported by one family. You are awesome!

THOSE SERVING IN THE MILITARY

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; NEW ADDRESS:

Marcy Cranmer = &nb= sp; Lt. Andrew Lubbert

MNFI C2 CSG &n= bsp; = ; H & S Co. (MTT)

Unit 42002 &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; Unit 41515

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; FPO, AP 96426-1515

Looking for a great gift idea....or a way to teach a chi= ld the power of giving? Stop by The Living Gift Market where you can purchase an animal or a share of an animal in someone's name. Gifts r= ange from bees to heifers and from $10 to $10,000, so there is something for everyone. The Living Gift Market is part of our church Christmas miss= ion project, Heifer International. Since 1944, Heifer has helped 8.5 mill= ion families in more than 125 countries move toward self reliance through the g= ift of livestock and training in environmentally sound agriculture. The impact of each initial gift is multiplied as recipients agree to "pass= on the gift" by giving one or more of their animal's<= /span> offspring or the equivalent, to another in need. The Living Gift Market will be set up in the Tarry & Talk area during the Christmas sea= son, or see Jack Barbour or Darlene Harrison for more information. Small b= anks will be distributed to the children in the Sunday Schoo= l classes which they will bring forward during the children’s sermon.&n= bsp; Also, during the children’s sermon on the first four Sundays of December and on Christmas Eve, a special collection will be taken. He= ifer envelopes will be provided in the pews.

BLOOD DRIVE Along w= ith the busiest time of the year, comes the most urgent need for blood donations.&n= bsp; The Missions and Outreach Committee has decided to have a Christmas Blood D= rive on December 9th from 8:30 a.m. until 1:15 p.m.

The Christmas season and the summer season are the busiest times of = the year when blood is most needed. Please consider taking time out of yo= ur day to give the gift of life to help save other lives.

Giving blood is a "Community Responsibility." It can= not be manufactured and there is no substitute. Blood can only come from volunteers like you and everyone who is eligible to donate should try at le= ast once. Would you please try to donate blood to save a life this holiday season?

The Central Blood Bank will be bringing their Donor Coach for this b= lood drive. It will be parked outside in the lower parking lot. = ;We look forward to seeing you there.

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS are available= for purchase to decorate our Sanctuary for Christmas Worship. Envelopes are provided in the bull= etins for the next few weeks. If yo= u are not able to come to Worship, please call the church office and make arrange= ments to purchase your poinsettia to honor or remember a loved one.

GIVING FROM THE HEART Decem= ber is here. Things are new and exciting at our house. The ba= by can walk and talk and take all the beautiful ornaments off of the tree. She can distract me so I burn the Christmas turkey, and oh, lets not forget all the lovely wrapped presents .= . . she can rip those to shreds. = When the wrapping paper settles we will have some great family memories.

<= /o:p>

This year pa= rt of our shopping will be for the Heifer Project. It is nice to know our church can = give a gift that will last for generations. When we provide an animal for a family, that animal gives birth to another and the offspring is sent to another family. Only God knows how many families one cow or chicken can touch. Someday, when Daisy goes on a miss= ion trip, she may receive milk or an egg from a Heifer Project animal. With God, what goes around comes around.

<= /o:p>

Another thing to get for this year . . . FAMILY PHOTOS. What better place than at church.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> We are already dressed up and toge= ther, plus the money we spend goes to the Compassion International Adoption project. Our church members w= ill be supporting children for the next ten years or so. It is cool to know Addam’s m= om’s portrait of us from Christmas 2007 helped brighten some little children thousands of miles away.

<= /o:p>

Dale Roos, a professional photographer, and Jan Osburg, a = new member who also has a talent for the “flash”, will be taking individual and family portraits during Tarry and Talk time each Sunday lead= ing into Christmas. It will be a = real treat for Mom and Dad to get some great pictures of the family and little o= nes.

<= /o:p>

So, December= is here. It is a new and exciting time. May all your houses be blessed with joy this Christmas season. = &nb= sp; = Mary Snow

<= /o:p>

THE MESSIAH IN SPACE will be presented by the Bach Choir= of Pittsburgh; Thomas W. Douglas, Artistic Director and Conductor at The Hunt Armory, Shadyside on Saturday, December 8 at 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday, Decem= ber 9 at 4:00 p.m. Ample parking = is available. For ti= ckets and more information, see Mezzo Soprano Jamie Daugherty.

<= /o:p>

IN MEMORIUM
Colleen P. Caylor

March 1, 19= 27 to November 12, 2007

Nancy L. Disher<= /i>

September 1= 3, 1943 – November 14, 2007

“I am the resurrection and t= he life,” says the Lord. J= ohn 11:25

Mars United Presbyterian Church<= /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=

= &nb= sp; Cell Phone: 724-699-91= 85 &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Da