September 07

(On line Update  at http://donredding.com/reader.html)

A)     Newer News:

1)      Lou Bledsoe (9/7) continued Jesus against Christianity  and Willard Gourley (9/14) to follow. Thanks Lou for a fine job, sorry you did not get to even half your flipcharts.

2)      Training Session for Teachers, Officers, Committee Chairs and members, and class members is Saturday 9/13/03 8:30 to 11:30. Dr. Ownbey needs you there.

3)      Congratulations to Len and Ellen Chason on their 46th Wedding Anniversary today. Way to go!

4)      Welcome Back Randy!. Good to have Randy Harris  back to class. Welcome Back!

5)      Welcome Back Harriette! – Good to have Harriette back. Hear she fell on her bike in Aspen and messed up one of her fingers, but today she played  flawlessly as far as I am concerned.

6)      Social:

·   Chair Jim Hatfield passed a survey asking for suggestions for the  50th Celebration. More to follow

·   on 08/24  Class voted for  a separate event. 

·   Signup  and pay by 9/21 for the 9/26 Bar B Que at the Copelands. $12 or check payable to  Carol Douglas soon. 33 have signed up so far.

7)      Helping Hands: 

¨       The class voted to  buy extra BBQ for the 9/26/03  party and use for the Habitat food the next day for noon meal of Habitat workers.

¨       It also voted to ask for signups for helping provide hospitality station and snacks help for our youth group in their Champion Builders Weekend 10/11 (9:30 – 2:30).

¨       Skip emphasized these activities require money and  our presence.

8)      Town Meetings – Church Talks with the Ministers

¨       Several coming up tonight, 9/10/, 9/11/, and 9/17. The one Sunday night 09/07 was attended by only 22 people and 4 from our class.

¨       You should go, if you want to get an idea of what is going to happen here and have a say in what is going on.

¨       I made my plea for the need to support Sunday Schools more and that I felt the 9:45 service announcement was the latest indication of lack of support. They said other churches do it, that previous experience at Davidson showed SS attendance actually increases as folks get accustomed to coming to church, that we need to accommodate all the crowds better, etc.

¨       We are going to move or start some Sunday School Classes at 11.

¨       They made the point we did lots of good things at MPUMC and he was complimentary. He felt that our efforts in going out in the community and helping the poor was lacking. He mentioned some of the things we do but I felt he was saying they were not much and that bothered me for I know many people who do what he is talking about already.

¨       They said they had talked to lots of people and done surveys about what they are doing. Maybe so, but the only survey I know of is the one done by Worship Committee to a controlled small group followed by a meeting where only a few of the items mentioned in the survey were discussed and SS was not one listed to be in the vote.

¨       Other subjects were discussed including the suggestion again that we should ask the poor into our homes for a meal, that preaching 4 times a day (just 15 minutes each time) was not as tiring as a day like today when he visited a Sunday School class for an hour and did a Church Talk.

¨       I noticed the session was video taped: if you want to see ask Steve James.

¨       If you went or go and want to share your thoughts with the class, let me know.

9)      Birthdays, H and H, Social, BBQ, Habitat, Thank You's, , Stephen Ministry started, Training Session, 9:45 Services, Goodness Gracious!, Air Conditioning, Calendar items, treats, Help Wanted Board, Small Group opportunities, Lesson.

 

B)     Older News:

  1. Lessons: 

·   Jesus against Christianity  is not your normal Sunday School book. I encourage you to read  some of it before class and join us for lively discussions and interesting viewpoints.

·   Durward (8/24) finished Jesus and the Land by Charles Page.  

·   Gaston Gage (8/31) began Jesus against Christianity with Lou Bledsoe (9/7)and Willard Gourley (9/14) to follow.

·   Thanks for a good job to  Durward, Gaston, and Lou.

  1. Jesus against Christianity  is not your normal Sunday School book. I encourage you to read  some of it before class and join us for some lively discussion and interesting viewpoints.
  2. Health and Happiness: Randy Harris  joined us for class. Welcome Back! Update from Reatha: Our new member, Twala Kruger, will  have some surgery followed by radiation and chemo.  Bun Collingwood received mixed news with good test results but tumor  larger.  Ruth Heintzelman waiting on test results for continuing intestine problems; spent last month in tests which only helped eliminate what it is NOT. Carol Needy and Cristina were in class Sunday and looking good. Chip mowed the lawn recently. Dottie Tobias continue s to improve. We keep these folks in our thoughts and prayers.
  3. Address Correction –Twala Kruger’s telephone number is 366-7107.  My error.  Madeline Stanford’s new address is 4001 Quail Forest Drive, Apt B, 28226. Please change both on the yellow sheets.
  4. Error Correction #2.  I wrote in a draft that Reatha would be willing to serve again as Social Chair next year. Oooops, I   should have said Health and Happiness Chair. Sorry.
  5. Habitat:

·   Willard Gourley reminded us of the need for workers and especially traffic directors for Habitat 9/13+.

·   Joyce Allen discussed the opportunity to provide meals for the workers and left a schedule. Call 553-0331.

  1. Helping Hands: Skip  Parts have been found to repair the wheelchair, and cost will be about $100 and ready in two weeks. Told Susan Mobley we will contribute $$ to help purchase new wheelchair.
  2. Don Redding and Bill Pearce 8/24 discussed the Training Session for officers, chairs, teachers, and leaders (and I add  “members”) of MPUMC Sunday Schools and organizations to be held Saturday, 09/13/03. We hope for Ownbey to be well represented. This led to further discussion including the possibility of deciding our 2004 chairs and officers soon:
    1. VP Pearce (in the event he is elected president) encouraged present committee members to consider serving a second year and encouraged new volunteers. He said  Don Hammer agreed to  be for 2004 Curriculum Chair, Reatha Andrew H and H chair (sorry I had said Social chair by mistake earlier), and Skip Heintzelman Helping Hands Chair.
    2. Rev Barden sent  questionnaire to SS classes for feedback.  Don R 8/31 shared  in Reader (now http://donredding.com/20030913.html) and discussed  response. Call Barbara to register, 295 4813.
  3. Barbara asked for help in the Library. The Grogans and Pearces have helped and more help needed.
  4. All Readers at http://donredding.com/reader.html.  Good class history. Send  News to Don, 527 3510..
  5. Visitors welcome to all: 8/31 Lynn Macleod, 5324 Newgate Ct, Charlotte 28226. 8/24 David Owen (son of Durward and Connie); 1582 Fawn Creek Road, Brentwood Tn 37027. 8/17: Bill Grigg,16092A Reap Rd, Albemarle NC28001; Richard and Catherine Gibbs, 2700 Dalford Court, Raleigh NC 27604; Karen Funderburk, 1120 Scaleybark Rd., 28209
  6. September Birthdays: Durward Owen (08/30), Nancy Hatfield, 09/02, Anne Buker 9/08, William Webb 09/07, Ellen Chason 09/08,  Dorothy Bridgeman 09/09, Linda Webb 09/11,Joyce Witherington 09/18, Heathy Walker 09/18, Evelyn Clark 09/27, Frank Gossett 09/28.
  7. (YELLOW) Roster and Lesson. Add Harrises if not dated 8/10/03 or later as I left that listing off when printing. Correct Twala telephone and Madeline’s address
  8. The air Extra:. See on line Reader

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C)    Ownbey Calendar+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

¨       09/07/03 Goodness Gracious! Opens, 9 a.m.

¨       09/04/03 Thursday Morning Ladies Bible Study begins again 10:30 – 11:30, room 032, Barbara Peacock 849 0599

¨       09/07/03  Church Talks 6:30 -8.

¨       09/07/03 Les Ackerman and the Brass Act Quintet, 7pm,

¨       09/08/02 Women’s Choir (UMW) 10:30 a.m. or  7p.m.

¨       09/10/03 Church Talks 12-1

¨       09/11/03 Church Talks 10-11:30

¨       09/13/03 Habitat Blitz starts

¨       09/13/03 8:30 – noon, Adult Leaders Training Event

¨       09/15 Wired for Ministry 201 and 301, call 295-4822

¨        09/15/03 for 6 Monday nights, ..Soup.. Transition.. learn to “let go,

¨        09/17/03 Adults Plus! Mile and Luralee Bailey, Experiences in ministry in Netherlands.

¨        09/17/03 Church Talks 6:30-8

¨        09/17/03 Health Care Choices 6:30-8, Library

¨        09/21/03 9:45 Services Begin

¨        09/26/03 Bar B Q at the Copeland’s 

¨        09/27/03 Ownbey Helps with noon meal for Habitat

¨        09/28/03 10/01/03 Adults Plus! Spiritual Life Retreat, Steve James, Lake Junaluska.

¨        0?/0?/03 50th Celebration 

¨        10/05/03 Dr. Howell on Prayer, 6:30 p.m. followed by optional study groups in following weeks.

¨        10/09/03 Ownbey Helps  with hospitality and snacks for Youth Champion Builders

¨        11/11/03 Adults Plus! Planning Retreat, Tree Tops for adult Teachers, officers, leaders, call Barbara

¨        11/19/03 Adults Plus!. Dr. Howell.

¨        12/05/03 Christmas Party @ Hatfield’s (Tentative)

¨        12/07/03 Adults Plus! Christmas Party with Les Ackerman

¨        12/14/03 Breakfast at Thompson’s

¨        01/21/04 Adults Plus! Bikin Mike Gordon

¨        Other Volunteers Needed: Ownbey needs in italics: 

¨        Habitat food and workers

¨        Treats

¨        Guides / Greeters Sunday Mornings

¨        Help get Library Started. See Barbara

¨        Youth need sofas, piano, keyboard

¨        Help Wanted in several Service Areas in the Church, 295-4841

¨        Urban Ministry needs towels and washcloths

¨        Family Partner needed for the Robinson’s Habitat House.

¨        CHAMP Volunteers needed -joe@mpumc.org

¨        Hospital Visitors See Rae Haney 

¨        Elementary School Buddies  343-5427 

¨        Ushers for Church in the Round. Tell Jan Nomina, Hospitality Chair. 

¨        New Church Member follow-up. Need Volunteers

¨        Home Bound and Hospital Visitation Teams - See Rae Haney

¨       Goodness Gracious Gift Shop - September 6+, see Linda Shull 366-0403  to work in Shop