Weekly Update - Tuesday, January 19, 2010

In This Issue:

• Helping Haiti
• Leaders meeting
• Lecture on science and religion
• Couples Conference
• Faithwalkers teachings available
• Update your information
• Follow us on Twitter and YouTube!
• Prayer Requests
• Celebrations!

Helping Haiti

As you're probably aware, the country of Haiti was struck by a massive earthquake last Tuesday, January 12, causing widespread destruction in and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince and killing anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 people. Already considered the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the disaster has created a a humanitarian disaster.

You can help relieve the suffering by giving to a relief organization. However, it is necessary to be aware of scams that are going around taking advantage of the situation. For more information on what organizations are safe to give to, click here.

Leaders meeting

There will be another house church leaders meeting at 6:30 p.m. this Wednesday, January 20, at the Creekside Sanctuary. Planning of our activities and other issues for 2010 will remain the topic.

This will take the place of the Gathering for January.

Lecture on science and religion

Professor Stephen Barr of the University of Iowa Department of Physics and Astronomy will present an argument that the conflict between science and religion is based on an outdated view of scientific history and a skewered interpretation of what science has discovered in "Modern Physics and Ancient Faith" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 26, in lecture room 1 of Van Allen Hall.

Professor Barr will discuss five discoveries of 20th-century science and how they are more compatible with traditional Jewish and Christian understanding of the cosmos rather than materialist philosophy. The lecture, presented by the Geneva Campus Ministry as part of its lecture series, could be a good opportunity to invite someone you are trying to have a spiritual conversation with.

Couples Conference

Hey all you married folks! Be sure to reserve March 27 and 28 on your calendars for this year's couples conference. More details are coming soon!

Faithwalkers teachings available

Was there that particular Faithwalkers teaching you missed because of a schedule conflict, or is there one you just want to hear again? Well, teachings from the recently Faithwalkers West conference in Omaha are now available online at the official Faithwalkers Web site. Teachings from the Faithwalkers East conference in North Carolina are coming soon. Check them out, download and listen to them 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.
• For the continued outreach efforts in India, including showings of the Jesus Film and Tom Short's trip there now through January 22.
• For leadership to be developed for effective outreach at Grace Campus Church at Purdue University.
• For fruitfulness in the El Paso, Texas, church plant.
• For the health and well-being of Samantha Wadsley (Jake and Katie Wadsley's daughter), who was recently born with some health problems.
• For the safety and well-being of the people of Haiti following the January 12 earthquake and for the love of Christ to shine in the midst of the disaster.
• For the growth of the new church plant in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, as they reach out to the community.
• For the transition plans at Glen Arbor Church in West Chicago, Illinois, as some of the leadership prepares to move to West Lafayette, Indiana.
• For God's grace, help and finances for Mike and Sue Keator, who are serving as missionaries in India.
• The health and well-being of our expectant mothers.

Celebrations!

• Joel Byron Daniel!
• John Sokoll has graduated from the University of Iowa!
• Salvations abound around the world!