February 16, 2003 Ownbey Sunday School Class Weekly Reader

<Last Next>
To Ownbey Class Members

Ownbey Weekly Reader
Sunday, February 16, 2003.
(on web at http://donredding.com/20030216.html )

Lesson schedule is at http://donredding.com/2003.html#current

We had another big crowd Sunday 02/09/03. 47 people (down from 60 the week before), and the regular collection was $46 ($70 the week before).

Information:
(* new this time)

If you were not with us since January, remember when you come back to allow time for new parking patterns, looking around, and getting "lost." We are in room 109. Remember we like to visit and drink coffee up to 9:45, start lesson at 10, and say our benediction at 10:40. Here is a link to a location map - http://www.donredding.com/newbuilding.html
*Health and Happiness Report
*Treasurer's Report
*Neighborhood Get Together - Sunday March 30 from 2 - 4 p.m. Each SS will have a booth. Need some volunteers to work on this.
Picture Taking -

*We will have the pictures on 2/16 which you ordered 2/09. Make your check for $5 (or give cash) payable to Ownbey Sunday School Class and give to Carol Douglas.
*If you want a picture and did not order, let me know by email at don@donredding.com or tell me on 2/16. I will have extras
*Bill Pearce brought his pictures and they are good. Check them out Sunday and bring any you had developed.
You can see all the thumbnail prints of the ones Wes Bobbitt took by clicking here for Photo Island and then click on "Ownbey'30202" on the left menu. Instructions are at http://donredding.com/pi.htm

*Lessons: Last week Lou Bledsoe in fine style finished the book of Ted Loder's Haunt of Grace... (Responses to the Mystery of God's Presence) Today, 2/16, William starts Huston Smith's Why Religion Matters... (The Fate of the Human Spirit in Age of Disbelief). Next week we have the Honorable Sydnor Thompson continuing the book followed by his brother, Chick, the Sunday of 03/03/03. Lesson schedule is at http://donredding.com/2003.html#current
Happy Birthdays: 02/07 Cristina Halpern, 02/12 Bob Lumadue, 02/13 Nhora Moreno, 02/18 Sydnor Thompson, 02/18 John Rasberry, 02/29 Jean Hamrick. *(Jack Needy's birthdate was February 14, Valentine's Day.)
Room 109

Thanks to many of you who have been helping get the room ready and made suggestions.

After class last week several suggestions were made to make it easier for late - comers to be seated by

encouraging people to come on in even if late,
asking folks to sit as far away from the door side of the class to give late - comers better seat choices,
leave a larger aisle in front of the back row to make it easier to walk to scattered seats.
Move chairs a little further to front to make getting a seat late easier.

*Met with Barbara 02/14 as we are working on Shutters , Blackboards / whiteboards / Bulletin Board, Storage, noise from A/c, space if attendance stays up, surroundings, pictures, etc.

She asked that we give her a list of our "concerns."
Don R and the VP's of the Pearces will be drafting our list next week.
Please let Bill, Maria, or Don R know your concerns either by email, before class Sunday, or during class.
How is coffee? Do we need the hot water?
Remember room assignments are not permanent yet.
Barbara needs some help Tuesday 02/18 with 4,000 labels. Maybe we can help.

Chairs - As written last time, we now have 55 chairs, *thanks to 6 from Fellowship Class.
*Hymnals: We are supposed to have 40 (one is missing) and we are working on compiling a list of the dedications.
Comments / suggestions / etc. Feel free to add to the discussion

*Administrative Board Meeting of 02/10/03

On Line at http://www.donredding.com/admbd.htm
Summary

The new Building has been named the Parish Life Building
For security reasons, the end doors of the Parish Life Building will be locked when there are no scheduled events. After the child care hours the Providence Road doors will be locked. At these times entrance should be through the Lobby area.
The Goodness Gracious Gift shop is being funded for 2003 by sources which will not reduce other contributions to MPUMC after their budget request was declined for economic reasons. The funding will be for one manager (of the shop and volunteers) and for inventory needs. Scheduled to open in September. 130 people have volunteered to help in the shop with 30 being specific about the time. It will include a coffee shop, gift shop and of the most importance a place to gather. We miss Betty Edwards' office area where we all learned what was happening here. MPUMC is providing the space and maintenance support but no money. After a track record is established and progress toward profits shown, MPUMC will consider budget items in future years. Any profits will go into Outreach.
Neighborhood Get Together - we are planning an event to share the new facilities with the larger community around us.
It will be from 2 p. m. until 4 p. m. in the Parish Life Building on Sunday March 30, 2003. Bring FRAN - friends, relatives, acquaintances, and neighbors on that day
Had over 80 people present, the largest number since the Playground session. Most ate as we have been encouraged to do.
The meal was super, I thought, and lots of it. Pecan pie was great.

Contributions

*On Sunday March 09, we voted to give $100 out of the class Treasury to the Tim Hayes Paramedic Fund.
*In addition, instead of a special collection, it was suggested that class members who wanted to contribute more could send individual checks to the fund.
Mr. Hayes is the EMS employee who lost both legs helping motorists during the snow storm on I85.
The address is Tim Hayes Fund, BankAmerica, Box 651658, 28265. Article at http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/5023761.htm

Volunteers Needed:

*Help Barbara put labels on 4,000 envelopes Tuesday , 02/08/03, starting at 9:30 a.m. for a training session for members of Methodist churches. Has 5 volunteers and needs 5 more. (Grogans and Lumadues usually help, I learn, but cannot Tuesday.)
*Booth for Neighborhood Get Together March 30
*Ushers needed for Church in the Round. Let Jan Nomina, Hospitality Chair, know.
New Church Member follow-up.
SS Greeters in April for 4/13, 4/20, and 4/27. Sadris have signed up for 4/06/03
Project Committee - need more names.
Room in the Inn - we are ok per Willard
HomeBound and Hospital Visitation Teams - See Rae Haney
Goodness Gracious Gift Shop - opening in September, see Linda Shull to work in Shop.

Future Dates

Defib Training - Saturday, February 15, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Room 103.. Call reservation line of 704 376-5520, ext. 5800
Al Staggs / Bonhoeffer - February 16, 2003 - 9:45 p.m. program in Jubilee Hall. open to all SS classes. Ownbey schedule is for William to start a new book on Why Religion Matters. This and next event sponsored by Singles Class.
Dinner and Comedy Night - February 16, 2003 - 6 p.m. . Al Staggs again on "Laughter for Life." Reservations required.
Adults Plus - February 19, 2003 10:30 in Jubilee Hall.

Dot and Alec Alvord, Missionaries to Africa, will speak. *Subject is "Forever Forward -Backward Never"
*There is a new sign up procedure. Before noon on Monday February 17, call the reservation line at 704 376-5520, ext. 5200.
*Cost is $4.50 and you are responsible if you sign up and do not attend.

*Hot Wednesdays - February 19, 2003, 5:30 meal of chicken, $6, call 704 376-5520 x5620by noon Monday
Defib Training - Thursday, February 20, 12:30 . - 1 p.m. Room 109 (our room). Call reservation line of 704 376-5520, ext. 5800
* Dr. Wes Jones - Sunday March 2, 2003. Dr. Jones, son of Edwin Jones of our church, talks to Luther Synder Class on experience in Bolivia with Curamericas and all SS classes are invited. Our lesson scheduled that day is our second session on the book by Huston Smith's Why Religion Matters. (The Fate of the Human Spirit in Age of Disbelief). and led by Chick Thompson.
Defib Training - Wednesday, March 12, 6 p.m. -10 p.m. Room 109. Call reservation line of 704 376-5520, ext. 5800
*Cokesbury Special Sale - March 8 + I think. Remind me Bill.
Room in the Inn - March 14 - 15, 2003 - Ownbey night.
*Neighborhood Get Together, March 30.
Greeters - April Sundays - Ownbey assigned. Need volunteers. The Sadris have signed up for 4/06/03, thanks

*new this time