<Last Week Next
Week>> (Update 9/28/03
2:12 PM)
September
28 Ownbey Reader)
(On line
Update at http://donredding.com/reader.html)
A) 9/28, Sunday: Hymns, Video on Budget, and Lesson – no
announcements – Read Reader!
B) 50th Celebration changed to November 07.
Jubilee Hall
Note Change in Date for 50th
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C) Next week: 50tth Celebration discussion, H and H and H
H, Social, BBQ, Class Description, Membership activity, Membership policy,
Lesson.
D) Membership suggestion for Handbook. Let Don know if not OK.
The Ownbey Sunday School Class is a
welcoming Christian Community. Anyone who wants to be a member of the Ownbey
Sunday School Class may be. Members remain on the roll – even if they
seldom (or never) attend - unless they say they want to be removed.
E) Class Description: Suggested change:
The Ownbey Sunday School is
primarily a discussion class of singles and couples ages 40 and up. It designs
its own curriculum of Bible study, applied theology, life management issues,
and other topics. The teachers are experienced in leading discussions and
knowledgeable in the subject matter.
From
The Ownbey Sunday School Class is primarily a
discussion class which chooses its own curriculum including Bible study,
applied theology, life management issues, and a wide range of other topics.
Knowledgeable teachers. Ages 40 and up. Singles and couples
F) Class Objectives (No Change):
The Objectives of the Ownbey Sunday
School Class are to expand Christian beliefs through learning and discussion
and to provide Christian fellowship.
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G) News: :
1) Budget Issue: Sunday (
2) Grace Elkins writes: “Hi Don, .Syd and
I will be moving Oct. 1 to Aldersgate.
Our new address will be: Sydnor
and Grace Elkins
3) Name Tag Day was Sunday :
“ tables … set up at
entrances to the church this Sunday- … fill out a nametag and wear it …
tol give everyone a chance to get to know one another. “
4) Nametags
2 – We will need Nametags for our 50th celebration for
members, former members, and guests. It might be a good time to consider
permanent name tags for Ownbey for the future. Some folks do not likle
sticking pins in their dresses and some like the String one around the neck.
Let us know your reference.
5) Lessons:
·
Thanks
to Ace Walker who taught
9/14 and 9/21and finished Jesus against Christianity. With the
book, we had some rousing discussions and addressed tough issues. One
quote from a member, “the God of the old Testament is violent, was a
murderer, and a thief of property. In the New Testament God is love, is caring,
offered the Kingdom of God … with full abundance and is here now and today
... He cannot be both of those
… I am choosing the God of Love, not the God of Violence.” Ace said, “and that is what Nelson
Pallmeyer chooses, a non violent God …” Don has a tape of the
discussion if you want to borrow.
·
We move
to the International Series for two sessions with Paul Guthery (9/28)
and Barbara Barden (10/05). In
today’s session on dealing with trials (and tribulations) we heard we
should face them with
“joy” and this led to a good discussion. One class
member said
·
On 10/12
Jim Walters talks to us about our Sanctuary and its Symbolism.
·
Then
10/19 Chick Thompson starts a two class session on Speak What We
Feel followed by Ace Walker on 10/26.
6) Social:
·
50th Celebration: Date changed to Friday, November 07,
for celebration. Planning continues; let Social Chair Jim Hatfield have your ideas.
Note date is November 7. Sydnor Thompson will be our main speaker. Time tentative at
·
Thanks
to our hosts Ann and Jack Copeland for sharing there home with us for our BBQ.
Good food, fellowship, and desert!
6) Health and Happiness:
¨
The
Hatfield’s daughter, Amy, had a son Monday, September 22 and both
doing well. Congratulations. See some neat pictures at http://homepage.mac.com/marcandamy/PhotoAlbum2.html
¨
Alan
Maxwell has surgery 09/25.
Ann Maxwell called and said, “Allen came thru surgery fine and is
in ICU right now. He should get a private room tomorrow and be in the hospital
about a week. Ann asked me to announce to folks tomorrow night about Allen -- but
please DON'T send any food!”
¨
Virginia
Gourley missed last Sunday
(and the BBQ) and spent several days in the hospital this week with tests. She
is home now but will have more tests next week.
¨
It was
good to see Ruth Heintzelman at the BBQ Friday night. She is feeling
better though tests still not conclusive.
¨
Dottie Tobias and Carol Needy were at
the BBQ and looking good. Glad you are feeling better.
¨
Bill
and Marie Pearce were
missing 09/21 (and missed the BBQ) as Marie went to the Emergency Room Saturday
night with back pains. Turns out that the shingles are causing that pain. Bill
was back Sunday 9/28.
¨
Good to
see the Witherington’s are back from their
Wilmingon summer visit. Good to see Laura too.
¨
Please
provide Reatha with other H and H
7)
8) Habitat:
¨
(09/21)
First Saturday of Blitz was 9/20 with several Ownbey folks helping including Willard,
Jim Hatfield; Joe Hamrick, Durward Owen. (Let Don know the
others).
¨
(09/14)
Willard Gourley reported a good start with over 400 cars parked. He
reminded us of the need for workers and especially traffic directors.
9) Class Membership
¨
Reatha
and Don attended the New
Member Orientation Monday night, September 22. Next is in November. Need
Volunteers.
¨
Requirements were discussed 9/14.
¨
Don felt
our goal is to be a welcoming Christian Community and that any one who wants
to be a member of the Ownbey Sunday School Class may be. Members remain on the
roll– even if they seldom (or never) attend - unless they say they want
to be removed.
Þ
Annually
and often several times a year, data sheets are sent to and received from all
members confirming their data information and desire to remain on the roster.
Þ
Some
members who do not attend stay current with the class through emails, postal
mail, and the class web page.
Þ
Some
send Ownbey checks.
Þ
At times
members who have not attended recently return as their life situation changes.
Þ
In
discussions with Barbara about a membership policy and whether there should be
some activity or financial requirements, she mentioned the Women’s group
which had had activity requirements and even “dues” which, she
felt, contributed to its decline in membership.
¨
A class
member suggested having many members on the roll who did not attend
hurts our percentage of attendance ratio and affects the allocation of space.
Don indicated he did not think that was the case, but - remembering being wrong
about opening the windows on Hot Sunday - will doublecheck with Barbara.
¨
In recent years there has been no Ownbey Sunday School
Class Membership Committee or Chair. Individual members performed this
function.
10) Helping Hands: (
¨
The
class agreed to purchase extra BBQ from the party Friday night (using
Health and Happiness Project Funds) to use Saturday for lunch for the 15
Habitat workers. Ended up were 25 people and said the Hatfields and Soules were seem
buying bread and supplies at the last moment and making sandwiches as noon
approached Saturday, September 27. Janie Jones and the Halperns
helped with providing snacks; ask them about the reaction differences in
Presbyterians and Methodists!
¨
On
October 11 we help provide hospitality stations for our youth Champion
Builders and six members have signed up so far. Skip encouraged more to
sign to help us cover all 10 stations with two persons each. The Grogans
already brought some treats to be used then.
11) Class Talks: On the
heels of Dr Howell’s Church Talks, Ownbey has Class Talks before and
after SS class No attendance Requirement. Your call. I will be here if you
want to chat after
12) Adults Plus!
¨
Plans a
trip to the Barter Theater in
¨
Day trip
to
13) September Birthdays: Nancy Hatfield, 09/02, Anne
Buker 9/07, 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.
14) October Birthdays: Connie Owen 10/04, Tonsie Lee 10/10, Wes Soule 10/11, Ginny Soule 10/17, Tom Stinson
10/18, Anne Lumadue 10/21, Helen Hackney 10/22, Ken Buker
10/23, Allen Maxwell 10/27,
E)
Ownbey
Calendar++++++++++++++++++++
¨ 09/29/03 10/01/03 Adults Plus! Spiritual Life Retreat, Steve James,
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨ 12/03 and 4. Adults Plus! Trip to
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨ Other Volunteers Needed: Ownbey
needs in italics:
¨ New Member Orientation
¨
¨ 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
Carol
Ownbey
Sunday School Class, room 110 in
Video this
Sunday,
don
704 527
3510
--------
Original Message --------
Subject:
MPUMC Business
Date:
From: James
Young <jyoung50@earthlink.net>
To: Dear
Class Presidents:
The Finance
Committee of MPUMC solicits your help in getting a message out to the people
attending your class September 28, October 5 or 12.
The current
end of the year projections for the Church budget indicate
a deficit of about $80,000. Costs
associated with our new facilities together with reduced pledge payments have
combined to create a serious cash crunch at MPUMC. Our choices are few this late in the year and
our best efforts to conserve cash have not prevented depleting cash reserves.
Dr. Howell
has produced a five minute video message for the benefit of the Sunday School
class attendees and I have been asked to coordinate with you to have the video
shown on one or more of the dates above.
As serious
as this cash crisis may be, we are all hopeful that a short term problem does
not impede our planned progress for the future. To avoid this, we need to share
a message of concern and promise with our most devoted membership rapidly, and
have chosen to do so through the video presentation.
Thank you
for allowing us to intrude on your scheduled class lessons.
Please
respond to Carol Grinham at704-295-4818 with which dates (possibly two if your
attendance would indicate it) you can utilize the video and whether you wish to
have someone other than yourself available from the Finance Committee to introduce
the video and answer questions.
Thank you,
Jim Young