Text Box: God has led good people to us. Nathan, Sean, Jamie and Robin have been doing a great job leading our church and I can see their impact on our community. It is reassuring that I am not alone in this positive feeling. We are all seeing the impact we can have when we get involved in mission projects and church events and when we start telling our friends and neighbors about the good things that are happening at Mars UP. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put in on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” – Mat. 5:13-16 Keith Nichols Membership Committee Text Box: Soon after Nathan accepted is call to come to Mars UP Terry got wind that Nathan would be adding a “Ritual of Friendship” into our worship service. Terry, being the good interim decided to add this to our service before Nathan arrived so that it wouldn’t be such a shock to our system. Not that he felt that we were unfriendly; it was just that we didn’t customarily break during worship to greet those around us. (Being good Presbyterian’s we would rather socialize over a muffin – which we also continue.) What the Ritual of Friendship did, was insure that everyone received a greeting and no one could slip out the back with at least one “hello”. So why do I bring this up? Because as we greet those around us I think we are starting to see the impact the Text Box: Nathan and Sean are having on our church and our community. We, as a congregation, are feeling good about our church and it is showing in the new faces around the church. 2004 was RB’s final year as our pastor. At that time our average attendance was around 175 each week, with total attendance for the year of around 8,800. By 2007 our average attendance had declined to around 140 per week with total attendance of around 7,400. With Sean joining our staff in the spring of 2008 and Nathan in the late summer, our average attendance has steadily increased. During the short time Nathan has been leading our worship or average attendance has climbed to over 160, which equates to an annual attendance increase of almost 1,000. I think this is a very strong sign for our church. Text Box: “NICE TO HAVE YOU WITH US TODAY! Text Box: “Questions” – Sermon Series for Lent & Easter

Sunday Worship:
8:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

 

9:20 a.m. Jr. Choir

9:45 a.m. Sunday School

    For all ages

 

February 2009

This year’s focus for Lent will explore Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem and the cross.  Each week during worship we will explore the story of Christ as he prepared to pay the price for our sins on the cross at Calvary.  Below are the sermon titles for Lent along with Gospel reading for each Sunday:

Ash Wednesday, Feb 25th,                                                               Walk in Communion 4-7 p.m.

March 1st  – “Why this waste?”                                                       Mark 14:1-11

March 8th - “Surely, not I Lord?”                                                    Matt 26:17-30

March 15th – “Are you asleep?”                                                       Mark 14:32-42

March 22nd – “What shall I do with Jesus?”                                    Matthew 27:11-26

March 29th - “What is Truth?”                                           J            John 18:28-40

Palm Sunday, April 5th -  “Hosanna in the Highest”                       Matthew 21:1-11

Maundy Thursday, April 9th – A youth-led worship service          

Good Friday, April 10th at 1  - Community Worship Service

Easter Sunday, April 12th – “Rolling Away the Stone”                   Mark 16:1-8