Weekly Update - Tuesday, November 10, 2009

In This Issue:

• Operation Christmas Child
• Couples event on Nov. 18
• Faithwalkers coming up!
• New music
• Reminder to vote
• Update your information
• Follow us on Twitter and YouTube!
• Prayer Requests
• Celebrations!

Operation Christmas Child

The Christmas season will soon be upon us (and for some, it is already here) and that means it's time for Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child is a ministry project of Samaritan's Purse in which people fill up shoe boxes with items (toys, Bibles and other gifts) for a little boy or girl in need somewhere in the world. What you can do is fill up a standard size shoe box or small plastic container with gifts for a boy or girl, determine what age category they fit in (2-4, 5-9 or 10-14) and print up a label from here, then give $7 or more to help cover the costs of shipping. Then bring them to your house church THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, or bring to the River Church between then and November 23. For more information, click here or email Matt.

Couples Night

We will have a couples night on Wednesday, November 18, at Creekside Chapel. We will be discussing thoughts from the book, "Love and Respect," in large and small group settings.

Want to go to Mexico?

A mission trip to Monterrey, Mexico, is being organized for the beginning of 2010 by the Cedar Rapids college outreach team. Everyone involved would take off from Omaha on December 31 immediately following Faithwalkers and fly to Monterrey, where they will focus on evangelism on a campus and perhaps do a service project at a garbage dump where people live. Everyone would return home on January 7. The cost of the trip is $600 per person, and a passport is required. For more information, contact Ann Dunleap.

Faithwalkers coming up!

The first early bird deadline for signing up for this year's Faithwalkers has come and gone (DOH!!). But it's not too late to go and still get a discount (WOO-HOO!!!). This year's conference, taking place December 27 to 30, will be at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., and will be focusing on the theme of "Changing Lives." If you register by December 4, you can save $20! Though meals will be provided along with conference materials, everyone is responsible for their own lodging at a nearby hotel. For more information or to register, go to the Faithwalkers Web site.

New music

Speaking of Faithwalkers, in recent years, the Minneapolis Rock Worship band, As We Tremble, has been leading much of the praise and worship time at Faithwalkers and this year is no different. As part of the 2009 edition of Faithwalkers, they will be introducing 10 to 12 new songs. If you're interested in learning the new tunes before you go or if you're just interested in listening to new music, stay tuned for their first album which is being recorded and mixed as we speak. Check out their Web site, where you can preorder the CD, as well as their Facebook and Twitter sites today!

Update your information

Do we have your updated contact information? We are still in the process of updating and tweeking a lot of our communications, including our Web site. One way you can help is by updating your contact information, including putting your current address, phone number and e-mail address in our directory. You can do so by logging in on the Mars Hill Web site, and click on "manage my profile." For more information or for help, please e-mail the Web team.

Follow us on Twitter and YouTube!

Are you on Twitter? Do you like getting your info in a 140 characters or less? Then be sure to follow Mars Hill on Twitter today! How about YouTube? New videos will begin being posted at Mars Hill's own YouTube page. Subscribe to both today!

Prayer Requests

• Continued healing and grace for Jessica Darling and her family.
• Vision and zeal for the Decorah church plant.
• Continued vision and zeal for the Goerings on their mission to Germany and Europe, and for the rest of us to gain that vision and zeal with their visit last month.
• For our sister church in Pamplona, Spain, for grace and wisdom in making disciples for Christ at both universities in Pamplona.
• For the Kiev church's plant in Orguch, Ukraine.
• For the continued outreach efforts in India, including showings of the Jesus Film and Tom Short's planned trip there in January.
• For the Milan, Italy, church to be able to start a Bible study with those who are spiritually interested.
• A spiritual harvest from this year's service projects.
• For our and others' gifts to Operation Christmas Child this year. 
• For Steve Powers as he works to help his dad who has been ill and training at work.
• For our brothers and sisters in Christ worldwide who are persecuted for their faith.
• For our sister church in Guapiles, Costa Rica that their economic situation would improve to be able to pay the rent on their building, for recovery efforts following last year's earthquake, 
• The health and well-being of our expectant mothers.
• Vintage Faith Church in Manhattan, Kansas.
• For our nation at a time of bitter division that we all would look to the Lord for guidance and wisdom.
• The growth and reproduction of our house churches.
• The success of Pulse, our spiritual and emotional healing ministry.
• Our leadership training efforts - GCLI and leader's meetings.
• The gospel to ring forth from Mars Hill Church!

Celebrations!

• Gemma Sautter!
• Our sister church in Guapiles, Costa Rica has had 19 baptisms and has its first deacon!
• Our pastors were blessed during Pastors Appreciation Month!