MARS MEMO

September 2008 Mars Memo

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Notes from Pastor Nate:

Hello from Mars UP Church= ! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the excitement of the start of the school year. For parents, the start of the scho= ol year is probably a good thing. They finally get a break from having to find things for their children to do, in place of watching TV. This is always a bitter-sweet time for our youth.&= nbsp; On the one hand, I’m sure they are looking forward to seeing a= ll their friends after a long summer, but it also means – no more sleepi= ng in! With a baby in our house,= I really don’t know what it is to sleep in anymore, but I remember fond= ly the good ole days!

Along with the start of s= chool, Mars UP Church is putting together plans for an AMAZING Rally Day! On September 7^th, at 10= am, we will gather together for worship to celebrate the start of our fall Chur= ch calendar. We will commission = our Church School teachers and commit to support them and our Church in prayer throughout the year.

This is also another oppo= rtunity for us to do what we really do best – fellowshipping with each other = and sharing in the joy and friendship of our community! Following worship, lunch will be s= erved in Fellowship Hall along with opportunities for everyone to play games, WAT= CH THE STEELERS PLAY at 1pm in our NEW YOUTH SUITE (young and old), have their picture drawn by a caricature artist, and watch a slide show of pictures fr= om the summer! What a day!!

This is also a great day = to bring a guest or friend to check out what is happening at Mars UP Church. Our Church volunteers and staff ha= ve been working hard to find ways to share the story of our congregation with = the community and people searching for a Church home. The success of the recent Peach Fe= stival demonstrates these commitments and shows a real passion for our mission as = body of believers to proclaim Christ to the world.

I am so excited about wha= t God has in store for our Church! = I hope you are excited as well. You = are all in my prayers! See you on Sunday.

&nbs= p;

Pastor Na= te

Terry Talks

Thank you!

On Sunday, August 10^th, = Dr. Ira Baumgartel presented a card to me with a check in it as a “thank-you” for being your Interim Pastor. He said it was from the Congregati= on of Mars United Presbyterian Church. Jan and I were overwhelmed with your kindness and thoughtfulness. But, that is how it has been for a= ll of my time with you. You have be= en an exceptionally loving and supportive people of God. Jan and I want you to know that it= has been an honor and privilege to have walked with you on your journey of faith. For everyone and every= thing, we say “thank you” and “God Bless You”. Yours in Christ,

&n= bsp; = &nb= sp; = Jan and Terry Stoops

September 80+ BIRTHDAY:

Dorothy Meeder &= nbsp; September 8, 1925

WOMEN’S FIRST MONDAY BIBLE= STUDY The Women's Bible Study begins a new study on September 15 at 1:30 p.m. in the Red Room. The study is on L= uke. For more information, please call Margaret Cook at 724-625-2217. All are welcome!

NOTES FROM OUR SESSION:=

Summary of our July 17, 2008 Meeting:

To continue to adhere to t= he highest standards, a new Youth Protection Policy has been implemented = to ensure consistent and practical policy when serving our children.
Communion dates will be Au= gust 3, September 14, October 5, November 2 and December 7. World Communion will be celeb= rated at 8:30 and 11:00 on October 5.
Received new members: Tracy Hazlet, Barbara Miller, Colleen Morris, David Morris, Mac Purvis, Jr. and Gloria Utz.
Emmett Booker Morris will = be baptized on August 3, 2008.
The Annual Meeting of the Congregation to elect officers will be held on November 16, 2008.

Summary of our August 21, 2008 Meeting:

Ordination and Installatio= n of Nathan Esser as our pastor will be on Sunday, September 14 at 3 p.m. w= ith a dinner following. Invitations to be sent out.
The ground floor game room= and the Middler’s classroom will be combined and moved into the curr= ent Kindergarten room to function as a Youth Suite.
Peach Festival Mission (10= %) will go to Feed My Sheep. The remainder of the proceeds will benefit a new Sanctuary Carpet Fund.
Nominating Committee will begin their work.

VOLUNTEER = SCHEDULE for September 2008:

Tarry &= ; Talk Crew:

Building and Grounds Committee: Don Lewis, John Harrison, Ira Baumgartel.

Greeters:<= /u>

Elder: Volunteer Needed, Deacon: Lisa Aaron

DO YOU LOVE SPECIAL TREATS ON S= UNDAY?

We are looking for some n= ew helpers to make or purchase refreshments for Sunday mornings Tarry and Talk time. Refreshments can be as = simple as cookies, donuts, breads, or the traditional muffins – the sky is t= he limit! Sign up at church to schedule a time to serve. We encourage you to sign up for the month, but what ever time you can give is gratefully appreciated.

Goodies - September= – Mike Bocheff & John Ivory

Flowers: September 7 – Jay and R= uth Wilson

September 14 – Jennifer Osburg

September 21 – Clara Osburg

September 28 -

<= /span>

Crib Room: September 7 – Angela Guesman=

September 14 – Tracy Nichols

September 21 – Christi Augustine

September 28 – Becky Courson

MUP Van Drivers September 7 – Mike Bocheff

September 14 – John Augustine

September 21 – John Augustine

September 28 – Jay Wilson

PRAYER FOCUS FAMILY OF= THE WEEK
Each week our Church staff will be praying for two families in the Church.&= nbsp; Working through our directory, we mail letters to our focus families to let them know we are praying for them. We also ask for prayer requests and for any way the Church might help them grow in their faith. If you wo= uld like to join us in our efforts to pray for the people of the Church, please contact the Church Office to let us know and we can include you as part of = our team praying for our families.

ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION

An extraordinary opportunity is at hand! We will celebrate the gift of the Ordination and Installation of Nat= han Esser as pastor of Mars United Presbyterian Church. Please return your dinner reservat= ion card included with your invitation by September 8. There will be no room for walk-ins= as attendance is expected to be quite high.

=

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:

Tracy= Hazlet - 724-822-1855

107 Mack Lane, Valencia, PA&nbs= p; 16059

Barba= ra Miller

P.O. Box 691, Mars, PA&nbs= p; 16046

724-6= 25-3968

David= and Colleen Morris, Ruby and Emmett

P.O. Box 483= , 632 Stanton Ave., Mars, PA&nbs= p; 16046

724-6= 25-3345

Mac Purvis, Jr.

114 Sylvan Spring Lane, Valencia, PA 16059=

724-4= 43-2179

Glori= a Utz.

P.O. Box 1016, 515 Cherry Street, Mars, PA 16046=

724-5= 91-0551

=

PEACH FESTIVAL FOLLOWUP=

Thank= you to all of you who helped make this year’s Peach Festival a huge success:= peelers, bakers, ice cream makers, servers, bake sale donors, dish washers, ice cream scoopers, and of course = . . . ICE CREAM EATERS! Our profi= ts are near $3,000.00. WOW! Our mission project will be to ass= ist Feed My Sheep Ministry. A new= sanctuary carpet fund will be started with the proceeds, and a portion will go to You= th Ministry.

=

A NEW MINISTRY – LAY READERS=

Each = week, Rev. Esser will be needing some assistance with scripture reading at both services. Please consider being part of this ministry. A Sign-up sheet is available in the Tarry and Talk area.

=

Augus= t 31: 8:30 – Ira Baumgartel

        &= nbsp;   10:00 a.m. –

Septe= mber 7: 10:00 (Rally Day) –

Septe= mber 14: 8:30 – Karen Davidson

        &= nbsp;   11:00 a.m. – John Ivory

Septe= mber 21: 8:30 –

        &= nbsp;   11:00 – Mary Ann Croop

Septe= mber 28: 8:30 –

        &= nbsp;   11:00 – (Youth) –

.CAMP LAMBEC

Our girls, Chelsea and Elizabeth, recently returned from yet another week at Camp Lambec and I wanted the church you= th to know just how much they love the entire experience! This was Che= lsea’s 8^th year . . .and Elizabeth’s 5^{th . . .}T= hey cannot wait to return!

The experience is wonderful – religiously and otherwise! Some of their closest friendships have developed there…..particularly their relationship with God!

We strongly recommend this camp to other families at MUP who have n= ot tried it yet!!

-The Carpenters

MARS APPLEFEST TORCH BEING HANDED OVER TO THE MARS MINISTERIUM!

The Mars Area Chamber of Commerce wishes to thank the Mars Minister= ium for answering our plea for new festival management! MACC will be using the 2008 event as ‘training’ for the new management! Agai= n, thank you!!! We all look forward to many more Applefests!=

SOFTBALL TEAM 2009

A church softball team is a great way to build relationships and community in= the church during the summer months. I would like to field a team for next summer. If you are interested in playing i= n a league which plays once a week from May through August, or know of someone = who might want to play, please let Sean Brubaker (the Youth Director) know. We want to make sure there is enou= gh interest before joining the league. &= nbsp;

NEW CARPET FUND

A new Sanctuary Carpet Fu= nd has been established by the Session   The proceeds from the Peach Festival will= open this account ($3000.00 +/-). = We expect the project to cost under $20.000.00.   Contributions may be made to= this fund and will appear on your giving record if you so choose. It is always exciting when we impr= ove our Worship Facility. We̵= 7;ll keep you posted on the progress.