<Last Week  Next Week>> (Update 3/31/04 7:33 PM)

Sunday, November 23, 2003

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

A)       This Week: Youth Christmas Tree Sale, Curriculum update, H and H, Budget Update, Year end giving, Birthdays, Parties, Lesson.

B)      News: :    

1)       First thing – We had a presentation from our Youth (Katie Lank and her dad, Dave) on the Christmas Tree Sale (and how the money is used – most for mission trips and Katie described a recent one she went on). Get order in this week for delivery first weekend in December.

2)       Lessons:

·   For Sunday, November 23rd:  Everyone is urged to read Acts 1 - 8 in preparation for Marie’s lesson. Notice the assignment is chapters not verses. I assume everyone has the book.

·   Marie Pearce on 11/23 starts 3 sessions on First Christians followed by Carol Douglas (11/30) and Paul Guthery (12/07).

·   Marie grew up in Texas and, even though she did lots of traveling, she did not go out of Texas until after High school and then the big Senior Trip was to Oklahoma. She graduated from Texas Tech and received a Master’s degree from Vanderbilt.  She did leave Texas for good when she and Bill married and they  spent a few years in Syracuse, then 31 in Nashville/Franklin Tennessee where she taught  school – Home Economics, Family Living, 3rd and 4th grades. Have 2 sons and 6 grandchildren - one in Asheville and one in Charlotte, Brad Pearce lawyer, Both children are church members and one is a Methodist. Bill and Marie have been in Charlotte for 6 /12 years and they moved here to be near both sons and their families.

·   Gaston (11/16) finished Beyond Belief, the Gospel of Thomas. Ace Walker 11/02 and Willard (11/09) got us off to a good start.

2)       Challenge / Budget Issue:

¨       Members continue to contribute to the 2003 budget and the last figure we have is $12,150. Skip will report 12/07.

¨       At Adults Plus! Wednesday, Dr. Howell was enthusiastic about how the 2004 campaign is going.

3)       Charge Conference – 12/02 – Open to all members.

4)       Fitness Classes good - Marilea encouraged class members to come, even if missed first few sessions. 10:30, Tu and Thursday.

5)       Emergency Winter Shelter begun and need volunteers through March beginning 11/27, 12/16, 01/22, 02/26, 03/25

6)       Room in Inn for our class estimated for March. A member noted that she brings small complimentary Bibles back from trips and gives to Carla for use with Room in the Inn.

7)       Year End Giving –

¨       A member is giving the church appreciated stock and will designate a portion of it to our Helping Hands Project Committee. The Business office can keep up with this and easily allocate by issuing a check to Ownbey. The giver wants to remind class members of this type giving and hopes it will encourage other class members to do the same.

¨       Available 11/23 was is a booklet discussing ways to give other than cash with tax advantages for the giver. Thanks to Dixon Odom, CPA’s and Consultants, for the booklets. Pick up copy on class. At end of the 11/23 Reader from our Class Handbook is a section of procedures for giving stock to MPUMC. Carol Douglas reminds us we need to get transcations done early, say middle of December .

8)        Curriculum Meeting, Thursday, November 06, 2003.

¨       A questionnaire will be given to class members for their ideas.

¨       A schedule for the first three months of 2004 is being developed and will be available soon.

9)       50th Celebration:  (more later) – Several folks are asking about tapes.  I tell you, the tape is good and you will love hearing again the Lord’s Prayer, and Sydnor’s “Reminisces.” Jim Hatfield’s routine, Victoria’s, and “On top of old Smokey” - What a hoot!  More later.

¨       Sign Banner - Sign our 50th Banner if you have not. Use permanent marker to help it last until the 75th in 2027. We want all the ministers and staff to sign as well. Come to Room 110 anytime.

¨       If you took pictures with film, have a CD made and I will pay you for it. I did not take as many pictures as I wanted. Thanks to Paul for already giving me some already – see a few above.

¨       Photos are now on line at Photo Island    ID is don@donredding.com. And Password is UNC if you need them. Look for Celebration… near top of menu.

¨       See list of attendees (will be a couple of days before current) http://donredding.com/celebration.html  or http://donredding.com/celebration.pdf

10)   Christmas Party:  We have over 40 Signed up for Friday, December 5, Christmas Party at the Hatfield’s.  Someone has signed up for ham and drinks so mark that off your choices and bring your specialty. We again invited our ministers and guests but all declined (Where is Julian when we need him?). Let us know any special person you want to invite.

11)   Sign up for Sunday, December 14, Breakfast at Thompson’s.

12)   News Flashes:

13)   11/09 Carl Hawn announced he is moving to Florida and 11/23 was his last day. He will maintain membership in Ownbey and MPUMC. New address is Frances and Carl Hawn, 100 Silver Beach Ave #814, Daytona Beach, FL 32118, 386 257-5156

14)   Health and Happiness:

¨       Carol Needy on 11/23 happily told of Chip’s progress with short term memory. Carol received a great doctor report 11/26 so we have lots to be thankful for there.

¨       Joe Hamrick had surgery 11/10. Home and doing well.

¨       Bun Collingwood passed away 11/13 and the Service was 11/15 in the Francis Chapel. Flowers were in the class room 11/16 from the Service at the request of Elaine.

¨       Please provide Reatha with other H and H news.

15)   Thank Yous – We received thank you letters for help with Habitat building and providing snacks. Listed in the 11/16 Bulletin for the Sanctuary Services were the names of Ownbey members under “Habitat 2003 Building on Faith” Willard Gourley, Joyce Allen, Joe Hamrick, Jim Hatfield, Skip Heintzelman, Durward Owen, and Don Redding.

16)   Adults Plus!

¨       Good program 11/19 with Dr. Howell. Nice discussion of how he wrote his first book and then there was a lot of time for questions. Marie presided well as Bill had Lake Junaluska duties. Don had free pictures for all.

¨       11/20 Rainmaker Matthews­

¨       12, 4 -  Trip to Barter Theater, Virginia – need 8 more

¨       New Web Page at http://www.mpumc.org/mpumc/adults or http://www.mpumc.org/adultsplus

17)   November  Birthdays –  Virginia Gourley 11, Ownbey SS Class 11/07,  Bill Pearce 11/09, Joyce Gosset 11/14, Twala Kruger 11/15, Lois Wilson, Lou Bledsoe 11/17, Linda Myers 11/19, Jim Hatfield 11/21, Ted Bryan 11/21, Eleanor Harris 11/26

18)   Visitors –  (11/16) Karen Funderburk, Lou Jones, Yvonne Witner

19)   Bill Pearce presided in Don’s absence 11/16.

F)       Ownbey Calendar++++++++++++++++++++

¨        11/27 Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service, Dr. Howell preaching.

¨        Emergency Winter Shelter begun and need volunteers through March beginning 11/27, 12/16, 01/22, 02/26, 03/25

¨        11/30 Tree Sale 12/05-06 delivery, Order during November.

¨        11/30 Messiah @MPUMC

¨        12/02 Charge Conference

¨        12,03 04 -  Adults Plus! Trip to Barter Theater, Virginia

¨        12/05 - 06 Tree Sale delivery, order during November.

¨        12/05 Christmas Party @ Hatfield’s. Sign up now

¨        12/14 Christmas Breakfast at Thompson’s. Sign up now

¨        12/14 Holiday with Hope Workshop 6 PM

¨        12/14 Service of Consolidation and Hope 7 pm

¨        12/17 Christmas Music with Les Ackerman and Adults Plus!

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

¨        Other Volunteers Needed:

¨        Hospice Thanksgiving Meals needed 335-3577

¨        Soup Kitchen Starts @ South Tryon Church, need servers

¨        Ushers

¨        Habitat food and workers

¨        Treats for Ownbey Class

¨        Guides / Greeters Sunday Mornings

¨        Help Library. See Barbara8

¨        Youth need sofas, piano, keyboard

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

¨        Urban Ministry needs towels and washcloths

¨        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 -  see Linda Shull 366-0403  to work in Shop

 Contributions to MPUMC

We pledge to support MPUMC financially when we join the Church. Gifts may be made in many ways. To give appreciated stock, contact the Business Office. If both the giver and MPUMC use the brokers, the usual procedure for stock held in a street name (at the broker) is to obtain from the Business Office the broker’s name (Quick and Reilly in 2003), account # (151-21014-19), and the DTC # (0158) for a transfer to be made. If stock is certificated, it should be taken to Business Office for assistance.

Here are Guidelines provided by Wayne Harrison in 2003 for handling stock gifts:

1.        Proceeds of Gift; Donor will be credited with the net proceeds toward their designated fund.  Net proceeds are what are left after our brokerage receives the stock and forms, sells it, takes a commission, and sends a confirmation of the remaining amount.

2.       Donor has the right to determine the value of the stock for IRS purposes themselves based on the high and low trading prices on the date the stock was gifted to the church.  The church will provide its annual tax statement showing net proceeds.

3.       If certificates are brought to the Church Business Office

a.        Donor signs a Letter of Authorization available in church office. The Church staff will add the Date, Name of Stock, and Name or Names on certificates of donors,

b.        Nancy Pryor or Janice Brady will notarize and date notarization.

c.        Donor must also sign a U.S. Clearing form.  Fill in # of shares, whether common or preferred if stated or leave blank, the name of the stock company being donated and all certificate numbers of the same company being donated.  If different stocks are being donated the process must be repeated for each stock company. 

d.        Once all paper work is complete and notarized, take stocks, Letter of Authorization and US Clearing form to Quick and Reilly Office and direct them to transfer to MPUMC account, sell immediately and notify church of completion and net proceeds.

4.        If donor wishes to give stock and uses a broker account with which the church has an account established (list in Business Office), provide the donor our account number at that brokerage and have him instruct his broker to transfer stock to MPUMC account. Donor should advise us when doing this and we will instruct broker to sell immediately and apply net proceeds to donors records as instructed (i.e. pledge, bldg., etc.).

5.        If donor does not use a brokerage that MPUMC has an account with, he can have his broker electronically transfer his stock to the MPUMC account at Quick and Reilly.  The Church Business Office will tell donor the Q&R acct. # and the DTC # along the address.  Once electronic transfer is completed, Q&R will notify MPUMC and the Church will give instructions to sell. Net proceeds will be applied per donor’s instructions.

6.        If donor has no broker and no certificates, he can be referred to one of our member’s brokerages to establish an account.