MARS MEMO

May Memo<= /b>

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Terry Talks

      =     There is a wonderful story of an old Scotsman who purchased a car from a friend w= hich was used as a replacement for his horse-drawn buggy. A few days after his purchase, his friend saw the old Scotsman struggling to push the car up the road leading = to town. Flabbergasted he exclaimed: “Sandy – did ye not put gasoline i= nto the tank?” “Nae,&= #8221; the exhausted Scotsman grunted. “Tis too costly!” “And, why then did ye buy the car?” The reply: “= ;to save feedin’ the horses.”

&n= bsp;          How many of us are trying to live as though we can exist on an empty or close to empty tank. We fill our spiri= tual tanks with the presence and power of Jesus Christ. He gives us the energy to not only survive, but to forge ahead in our living.= It is a very challenging and difficult thing to do. But, it defines us as who we are a= nd how we live in life.

&n= bsp;          Easter was a month ago. During Lent = and Easter, did you have the opportunity to refill your spiritual tank, or are = you still pushing yourself up the difficult hills of life? Worship is truly exciting for us.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> If you have been away from worship= for awhile, or finished your spiritual odyssey at Easter, think about attending worship as a priority. You wi= ll see that the power and presence of God is so refreshing for each of us. We don’t have to push oursel= ves up the hills of life.

&n= bsp;          In the days and weeks to come, you’ll hear that we are getting closer to conclude our search for a new pastor. Please keep our P.N.C. in your prayers. What a great time to be a part of = the kingdom at Mars United Presbyterian Church.

&n= bsp;                  =               =             &nb= sp;          Rev. Terry Stoops

SEE YOU AT CHURCH:

May Worship Services &= amp; Sermons

Su= ndays at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.

May 5, 2008        &= nbsp;         “A Second Wind”&nbs= p; Isaiah 40:28-31

Communion Celebrated a= t 8:30 a.m.

May 11, 2008       ̶= 0;A Mother Who Dared.” Exodus 2:1-10

May 18, 2008        &= nbsp;   “A very difficult word.” L= uke 4:1-13

May 25, 2008        &= nbsp;       “Known But to God” I Cor. 2:5-16

GREETIN= GS FROM YOUR PNC.

As we said in our last entry we felt that April would be a very active month in o= ur search and we were not disappointed. So far we reviewed and discussed close to 100 Pastor Information Forms from men and women throughout the country. From these 100, we reached out to around 15 to request addit= ional information. This information generally included a personal biography= and a sermon tape. After reviewing the personal information and sermon ta= pe, we would usually contact them to arrange a telephone or personal interview. If we still had interest we would either go to hear them s= peak in person, or in some cases, bring them into the area to speak at a neutral pulpit. In fact, one actually attended our 8:30 service a few weeks ago. During April we identified several individuals we consider to be very strong candidates.

We feel that God has narrowed our focus and we may have an announcement very soon.

Please continue to pray fo= r us.

&nbs= p;

Sincerely, Your Pastoral N= ominating Committee

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Lisa Barbour, Ira Baumgart= el, Bill Guesman, Don Lewis, Tom McMeekin, Bea Moore, Keith Nichols, Barbara Roos, S= arah Williams

WOMEN’S FIRST MONDAY BIBLE STUDY     The Women's Bible Study continues on May 5 at 1:30 p.m. in the Red Room. The study is “Above and Beyond” on the books of Jonah and Ruth. For more information, please call Margaret Cook at 724-625-2217. All are welcome!

=

NOTES FROM= OUR SESSION:

Summary of our A= pril 10, 2008 Meeting:

Recognition of 24, 50 and 75-year members will be on May 11, 2008.

Church Spring Cleaning day will be May 10, at 9 a.m.

Spring Blood Drive will be on May 4, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

THOSE SERVING IN THE MILITARY

Please drop them a note. Postage is only a $.41 stamp.

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

MNFI C2 CSG      &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    MTT 0721

Unit 42002      &n= bsp;            = ;            = Unit 42737

APO AE = 09342        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; FPO, AP 96426-2737

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE for May 2008:

Tarry & Talk Crew: M= ission & Outreach Committee: Dar= lene Harrison, Jack Barbour, and Lisa Foster

Greeters:

Elder: Karen Davidson, Deacon: Angela Guesman

Muffins:&= nbsp; May 4- Bakers needed!

May 11 – Tom and Pam Kennedy, Linda Lees

May 18 – Tom and Pam Kennedy, Linda Lees

May 25 - Bake= rs needed!

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Flowers: May 4- Wayne Mahaffy

May 11 – Susan and Bob Cox

May 18 –Jennifer Osburg

May 25 –Paul Bhame

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Crib Room: May 4 – Shelley Wood

            May 11 – Unattended – Mothers’ Day

May 18 – Robyn Beckwith

May 25 – Jennifer Ivory

May 80+ BIRTHDAYS:<= /u>

Elizabeth Walker      &= nbsp;   May 2

Mary Schwab      &= nbsp;        May 10

May Schwab      &= nbsp;         May 18

Compassion Corner   <= /b>

I jus= t want to make sure that all of the children have brought home and shared with you= the profile of the “Compassion Child” they helped to adopt. If you have yet to see this please contact me or your Sunday school teacher.&= nbsp; If you have a chance, take a look at the Compassion Bulletin Boar= d outside of the Kindergarten Classroom.&nbs= p; We have some profiles there, letters we have written, and letters we have received. We are hoping = to share some of these letters during church, in the near future. I would also ask that you remind y= our children to:

Pray for the Compassion Children daily & ask about them often.

Pray for everyone involved in th= is process.

Please, continue to help us supp= ort these children financially…

Pleas= e try to think of some creative ways for your children to earn money, so that they c= an donate $1 or $2 weekly to this cause. I hope that you will agree that this is a good way to help them lear= n to express compassion for others. And remember all donations must be marked clearly for COMPASSION or they will be put into the general fund.

“Remember, doing something is be= tter than nothing.”

Yours in Christ,

Angela Guesman

2008 SYNOD OF THE TRINITY SUMMER CONFERENCE<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Discover how Synod churches are meeting the challenge of changing times and changing congregations. Share in Bible= study under leadership of two inspirational and esteemed New Testament scholars.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Participate in motivational morning prayers and diverse exciting worship services. The featured speaker is The Rev. Dr. Patrick Keifert of Church Innovations Institute. Dr. Keifert partners with congrega= tions to develop lay leadership; Worship Coordinator for the conference is Rev. Dr. Judy Angleberger, Pastor of Steffen Hill Presbyterian Church in= Beaver Falls; Bible Study leader is the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Bailey, autho= r and lecturer in Middle Eastern New Testament studies; and Bible Study Leader, t= he Rev. Dr. Kany-Yup Na, Associate Professor or Religion at Westminster College. See the flyers on the bulletin board if you are interested in attending this 3-day event priced at $20 for commuters with no meals; $50 commuters with meals; and $75 with roo= m and meals.

SPRING CLEANING DAY! Is announced by= the Building and Grounds Committee on Saturday, May 10 at 9 a.m. Representatives are requested from= each Sunday School Class, as well as other volunteers to get the church ready for our new cleaning team, Innovative Cleaning Solutions, headed by Pamela M. Dazen. They will begin servic= e May 17, 2008. We look forward to = a good relationship with them.    &= nbsp;

DO YOU LOVE MUFFINS ON SUNDAY? We are looking for some new helper= s to make muffins on Sunday mornings. Tom and Pam Kennedy and Linda Lees are excited to train some additional bakers. You are just the person/group.   See them = at church to schedule your training

BOY SCOUT TROOP 400 FLOWER SALE Coupons are good for a Flat ($13.50) or Hanging Baskets ($15.00) at Quality Gardens. Please see Cody Moody, Sean Guesman or Jared Williams for coupons.

MARS APPLEFEST ANNOUNCEMENT!

The Mars Area Chamber of = Commerce will be disbanding after this year’s Applefest. We are now seeking a new coordinat= or for Applefest. A Mars-based group/individual/business and/or church to take over this event.= Interested parties should contact Dave Griffin at Mars National Bank (724)  625<= /span>-1555 x250, for information as soon as pos= sible, so that we may use the 2008 event for helpful reference.