MADISON AVENUE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
921 Madison Ave.
(At E. 73rd St.)
NY, NY 10021
T: (212) 288 8920
F: (212) 249 1466
(At E. 73rd St.)
NY, NY 10021
T: (212) 288 8920
F: (212) 249 1466
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) rejoices in the birth of Jesus Christ in many ways. One way for the church to celebrate this great Joy to the World is by supporting the causes funded by the Christmas Joy Offering. Our gifts to the offering help those who have served the church and now need financial assistance through the programs of the Board of Pensions. Our gifts also support, through the National Ministries Division, the eight Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges, where students are developing their own unique skills and talents. Christmas Joy Gift Offering will be received in services on Sunday, December 18. Special envelopes will be available at all services.
The Congregational Nurture Committee (CNC) extends a hearty thanks to all who served and participated in the Congregational Brunches this fall. While the brunches have provided a much appreciated time of fellowship, the CNC and the Session have realized that we do not have the people to provide the logistical support to sustain the brunch on a weekly basis. At its November 30 meeting, the Session approved a motion from the CNC to continue the brunch on a more limited basis. In the coming year we will have six brunches on special occasions in the life of the MAPC community, and the weekly coffee hour after the 11:15 am service will return to the Church House Lobby.
The January Families with Young Children gathering will be Saturday, January 21 on the fifth floor. Families with children ages five and under are invited to join in this time of fellowship and play. A light breakfast will be served. RSVP to Margaret Williamson at 212-288-8920 x271 or mew@mapc.com.
We have begun a prayer group for parents of teens and young adults that meets on the first and third Wednesday of the month from 8 - 8:30 am. This group provides an opportunity to pray for our children and each other and support one another as we parent our children through these challenging years. For more information, contact Beverly Bartlett at 212-288-8920.
The MAPC knitters will meet on December 20 and January 17 from 10:30 to Noon in the Hood Library. All knitters and crocheters are welcome, from novices to experts. Come work on a project of your own, scarves and hats for the Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter, or baby items for the residents of Inwood House. The knitting group meets every third Wednesday of the month. For more information, call Margaret Williamson at the church, and she will put you in touch with the group’s facilitator.
Save the Date!! MAPC Annual
January Cabaret
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For our January meeting we will welcome Annette Thies.
So you woke up this morning and said, “That was a weird dream! I wonder what that means?” At our January gathering, Annette Thies will give us some tips on discovering what our dreams–weird and not so weird–mean. Annette is a Spiritual Director with an M.A. in Theology and Spirituality from The General Theological Seminary. She has trained in dreamwork and uses the discipline in dream workshops and spiritual direction. Annette leads dream groups and workshops at her church, conducts retreats, and led dream groups at the National Summer Dream Conference. Annette emphasizes that dreamwork is not therapy–it is for lay people. In our time together Annette will give us a brief overview of what dreamwork is, tips on how we can remember our dreams and hints on how to work with them to get the meaning out of them. Do you have a dream you’ve been puzzling about– bring it with you! Please let us know if you’re coming so we will have plenty of refreshments available. RSVP to Margaret Williamson at 212-288-8920 x271, or mew@mapc.com.
The 20s/30s will meet for Bible Study on January 8 and 22 at 1pm on the fifth floor. Lunch will be available. Come engage in a lively discussion and enjoy a time of fellowship.
Parish RegisterBaptisms Emily Ann Patterson, daughter of Deaths *Gale H. Templeton New Members Tanya Crist Birth Timothy Dean Johnson, the son of WeddingStephen G. Kechulius and *Carol E. Janson (Kechulius)
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This is my annual reminder of the IRS rules concerning year-end contributions of cash and securities. In general, the delivery date determines the year in which a contribution can be claimed as a deduction. More specifically, checks mailed with a postmark of December 31, 2005 or earlier will be credited as a contribution in 2005. Hand-delivered checks, before December 31, 2005, will be credited as Year 2005 contributions; after January 1, 2006, they will be credited as Year 2006 contributions.
For gifts of securities, the date of mailing is the delivery date; if hand delivered, the date of receipt by the charity is the delivery date. When securities are delivered from a donor’s bank or broker, the delivery date is the date the securities are transferred to the charity.
The Church Business Office can assist you in making year-end gifts of securities by using its account with Merrill Lynch. Please call me for the Merrill Lynch DTC number and the Church’s account number, so the transfer of shares can be made electronically.
Please note that the Church offices will be closing at 1 pm on Friday, December 30, 2005.
Note: The above is not meant to be tax advice. It is presented so that you can complete your gift and receive a tax deduction in the year that you want it. If you have any questions about year-end gifting of securities, please consult your accountant or tax advisor.
– J. Richard Frey, MAPC Business Manager
To ensure the deductibility of your church contributions, please do not file your 2005 income tax return until you have received a written acknowledgment of your contributions from the church. Under IRS rules currently in effect, you may lose a deduction for some contributions if you file your return without the church’s written contribution acknowledgment. We will make every effort to provide you with documentation by January 31, 2006.
Year 2006 Offering Envelopes will be available in the Church House Lobby by Sunday, December 25.
KETRA, the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act, eliminates the 50% cap on certain charitable contributions donated from August 28 to December 31, 2005. Donors may claim charitable contribution deductions FOR CASH ONLY, including the use of retirement plan assets, up to 100% of adjusted gross income. Please consult your tax advisor if you have any questions.
Also, see:
December 18 - Fourth Sunday in Advent
“Be-bop, Ballads
& Bossa”