ANNOUNCEMENTS

A Big Thank You:

• to everyone who “adopted” a mission for this year by agreeing to contribute at least $350. If you did not adopt a mission but would like to support them, you may designate your contribution for a specific mission project, or to be distributed among all the projects.

A Big “thank you” to Judy Pfeifer

• who has managed our church’s Memorial Fund for many years. She has received and sent acknowledgements for memorial donations that we receive, and she has kept track of how much money has been received for each individual, so that we can make proper acknowledgements when the funds are used. Judy is ready to pass along this responsibility to someone else. If you’re interested, please speak with her.

Would you like to receive:

• a once-a-week email from the presbytery, to keep connected with our 59 sister churches and with the activities of the presbytery? If so, please email [email protected] and give her your name, email address, and your leadership role (if any) in our church.

During 2026:

• we can use up to $12,500 from the Mission Endowment Fund. This money must be used for mission and cannot be used for the church’s regular expenses. If you have any idea of how we can use this money to help our community and beyond, speak with a session member

The New Wilmington Mission Conference:

• will be held July 17-22 on the campus of Westminster College. It is the longest-running Christian mission-focused event in the United States, and is less than an hour away! You can attend for the entire conference or just for a day. The conference offers programs for all generations. Learn more at nwmcmission.org.

The Pastor: 

• will be away March 11-17 to take part in the annual meeting of the committee that prepares ordination exams for those seeking to become ministers. This is his final year of service on the committee.

Pulpit Supply:

• Tori Spreng, executive director of the Lighthouse, will be our guest preacher on March 15. Come to learn more about their work!

The Session:

• is continuing to make plans to repair the lobby wall, which was damaged from a past water leak. We hope for work to begin this spring.

New Promotional Cards:

• for our church will be available soon! Please use them to help others learn about our congregation.​

The Lighthouse Events for 2026:

• March 13: Bingo Night (Highfield Community Center)
• June 5: Lighthouse Legacy Golf Outing (Cranberry Highlands)
• September 12: Lighthouse Foundation Gala (Pittsburgh Marriott North)

 MIDWEEK LENTEN SERVICES:

• Join us each Wednesday during Lent for worship services that will focus on the Beatitudes). Worship begins at 7:00 PM and will last about 30-45 minutes.
• March 4: Crestview Church
• March 11: Plains Church
• March 18: Crestview Church
• March 25: Old Union Church

LENTEN LUNCHES -The Mars community

• will hold a series of Lenten Lunches, featuring messages from area clergy. The meal begins at noon, with the message to follow.
• March 6th: St. John Lutheran Church
• March 13th: Penn Mar Plaza
• March 20th: St. John Lutheran Church
• March 27th: Penn Mar Plaza​

The Presbytery is sponsoring:

• ELATE (Equipping Leaders Annual Training Event) to be held Sunday March 15, 2:00-5:00, at Cranberry Community United Presbyterian Church. The event includes a variety of workshops to develop church leadership skills and to grow in your faith. To learn more, pick up a brochure in the church lobby or visit beaverbutler.org.​

SPECIAL OFFERINGS

• The Presbyterian Church (USA) has reorganized the special offerings that we take up during the year. In addition to One Great Hour of Sharing, we also have
• World Communion Offering to support peacemaking, justice issues, global witness and ecumenical relations
• Christmas Joy Offering to support children, youth and young adult ministries, ministries and schools for people of color, and income assistance for retired church workers.
• VOICE (Victim Outreach Intervention Center): will have a Basket Bingo on March 28 at Highfield Hall (229 Highfield Rd Butler). Lunch will be served at noon, and bingo begins at 1:00. Tickets are $25 and are available by pre-purchase only at www.voicebutlercounty.org/bingo.

St. John Lutheran Church in Mars:

• will have a blood drive on March 8, 11:00-4:00. To schedule an appointment to donate, call 877-25VITAL.

     

                      ANNOUNCEMENTS

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING:

• For nearly eighty years, Presbyterians have collected the One Great Hour of Sharing during Lent to support people in need. The contributions you make between now and Easter will assist efforts to address disaster relief, hunger, poverty, climate change, and immigration. Giving calendars and “fish” boxes are available in the lobby if you’d like to use them.

Old Union - Livestream:

• We only have one person who is able to run our livestream worship services.  When Heather can't be in church, all of our internet-based worshipers aren't able to join us.  Please speak with Heather if you would like to learn how to run the livestream when she is gone.

​Old Union is collecting used shoes: 

• of any condition or type, to help support CHOSEN, our mission project that provides healthcare equipment locally and globally. Please drop off your shoe donations in the church lobby.

​Plans are underway:

• to assemble and distribute “blessing bags” to local homeless people. Watch for ways that you can help with this outreach project. Speak with Marcy Eichenauer if you’d like to help.

The Lighthouse Foundation:

• The Lighthouse Foundation will hold a Bingo Night on Friday March 13 at Highfield Hall (229 Highfield Rd Butler) beginning at 6:00. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Contact Erin at the Lighthouse to buy tickets or learn more: 724-903-0015 or [email protected]. 

Mark your calendar: ​​

• Wednesdays in Lent: Midweek Lenten Worship Services, 7 PM
• April 2: Maundy Thursday Service/Communion, 7:30 PM
• April 5: Easter Sunrise Service/ Breakfast, 7:30 AM - Communion, 11 AM Worship
• April 18: Spaghetti Dinner, 4:00-7:00
• May 16: Car Show
• May 24: Pentecost Sunday/Communion
• Summer Worship begins, 10 AM
• August 23: Communion
• September :6 Last Sunday for Summer Worship
• "Worship as You Work"
• October 4: World Communion
• November 22: Thank Offering Sunday
• November 29: First Sunday of Advent
• December 6: Christmas Party
• December 20: Choir Cantata
• December 24: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service/Communion, 7:30 PM
• January 3, 2027: Installation & Ordination of Elders & Deacons
• January 10, 2027: Communion

Nearly a year ago:

• our denomination ended a 200 year practice of sending international missionaries (also known as mission co-workers). As we seek revival for the church, please pray for the following issues:
• For Mission Networks as they seek to strengthen relationships with their partner churches
• For presbyteries to take a more active role encouraging and urging congregations to be engaged globally
• That Presbyterian-related mission organizations (such as New Wilmington Mission Conference, The Outreach Foundation, Frontier Fellowship, The Antioch Partners, Medical Benevolence Foundation, and The Fellowship Community) might be used to ignite a passion for global mission throughout the PC(USA)
• For missionaries everywhere who are persecuted for the sake of the Gospel (such as Kevin R, who was kidnapped from Niger)

Trivia Night:

• Join us on Saturday March 21! A light meal of hot dogs, sloppy joes, chips, and cookies will begin at 4:00, with the trivia competition starting at 5:00. Sign up in the church lobby to participate. The Teachers at Longmore Academy:
• are looking for snacks to offer during class time. Drop off your donations in the lobby.

Ruth Jones:

• is stepping down as our communion bread baker after many years of faithful service. If you would like to be our next baker, please speak with Lorene Winner for more information.

Thanks to Your Generosity:

• Old Union provided $2,340.00 for Church World Service clean-up buckets. Our donation will provide 30 buckets full of supplies for people rebuilding after disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Thank you
  

​LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION EVENTS FOR 2026:

• June 5: Lighthouse Legacy Golf Outing (Cranberry Highlands)
• September 12: Lighthouse Foundation Gala (Pittsburgh Marriott North)

​Old Union:

• will host a church volleyball league, running from February 1 to March 22. ​

Church Magnets:

• We are ordering new.  You get to vote for your favorite design! See the sample and record your vote in the church lobby.

​

Old Union Presbyterian Church | 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046
​724-538-8672 | [email protected]