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MAPC UPDATE

Vol. XXXII, No. 11
December 2006

 

 

 

 

At Christmas time, when we feel especially blessed, many of us ask how we might help those who are not as fortunate as we at MAPC. The Christmas Joy Offering is a wonderful way to do that by supporting individuals in need in the Presbyterian community.

This annual offering provides assistance to two groups. Half the funds provide financial assistance to nine racial ethnic schools and colleges supported by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that provide a quality education to students in the profession of their choice. What makes these schools unique is a learning environment that supports and nurtures students' racial heritage, with special programs that help students gain the confidence and skills they need to go out into the world in leadership positions. The other half of the Christmas Joy Offering provides financial assistance and emergency grants to retired and active ministers and church workers in financial need. These resources help them to maintain independence in retirement, to meet housing needs, and to pay for medical or other needs in an emergency. Recipients say the financial assistance is important, but knowing the Church stands with them at their time of need is just as important! Please give generously to the Christmas Joy Offering on the Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 24. Offering envelopes will be available in the Narthex. Thank you!

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Congregational Nurture

January Cabaret
Friday Evening, January 26, 2007

Mark your calendars now for our annual January Cabaret evening. Once again we’ll enjoy a mid-winter evening of fellowship, feasting and entertainment. This year, singer-songwriter and guitarist Glen Roethel will perform a variety of music–from old favorites to originals. More details will be available soon! Keep your eye on the Pastors’ Letter and watch for a postcard invitation in early January. You will have an opportunity to make reservations during coffee hours in January, or by calling the church office. The cost for this year’s event will be $30.

Seniors Unlimited
January 8, 2007 at 3 pm

For our January program, Toshiko Kobayashi will be with us to present a program on the Japanese art form of Origami. We’ll have an opportunity to learn about the long history of Origami in Japan, watch a demonstration by Ms. Kobayashi and try the art of folding with our own hands! Ms. Kobayashi was born and educated in Tokyo, Japan and has been practicing and learning Origami since she was a child. She has a Master of Arts in art therapy from New York University, is a member of Origami USA and the British Origami Society, has taught at Origami conventions and uses Origami in her work as an art therapist with several institutions in New York City.

Origami is both simple and complex; it stimulates the brain and draws upon the imagination. Come join in what promises to an engaging program! A time of refreshments and fellowship will follow the program. Please let us know you are coming by contacting Margaret Williamson at the church office, 212-288-8920 x271 or by email, mew@mapc.com.

20s/30s Fellowship

All MAPC members and friends who are in their 20s and 30s are invited to join the 20s/30s fellowship, led by our seminarians, Jessica Patchett Anderson and Doug Grace. Twice a month the group meets for a meal and a discussion on some aspect of integrating our faith and our daily living. The upcoming meeting dates are:
—Sunday, December 17, 5:30 pm, supper and discussion in the Phillips Lounge, and the opportunity to attend the 7:30 pm worship service together.
—Sunday, January 7, 1 pm, lunch and discussion on the Fifth Floor after the 11:15 am worship service.
—Sunday, January 21, 5:30 pm, supper and discussion

We’re also planning an ice-skating event for Sunday afternoon, January 28. Watch the weekly Pastors’ Letter email for details. Childcare is available for the 1 pm Sunday meetings. For more information about the 20s/30s group contact Beverly Bartlett at the church 212-288-8920 x247, or bab@mapc.com.

Hood Library

The Hood Library Committee thanks you for your support at the book sale on Sunday, November 19. The proceeds from the sale will help us acquire more books for you to enjoy!

And–we need more major help from you!! It’s not an arduous task; it may be one of the easiest, most enjoyable ways in which you could support an organization: the Hood Library needs readers!!! We have several loyal, regular library patrons, but we have so many good, current books still waiting on our shelves for you to enjoy! The collection includes current fiction and non-fiction, biographies, religion and spirituality. Please come by and see us on Sunday mornings and during coffee hour after the 11:15 am service. If you’ve never found your way into the Hood Library, it’s just off the Church House Lobby, next to the elevators.

Families with Young Children
January 20; 10 am to noon

The January Families gathering will be on Saturday morning, January 20 on the Fifth Floor of the Church House. Families with children ages 5 and under (and older siblings) are invited to this time of fellowship. Come play, enjoy a bagel, coffee and conversation. It’s a wonderful way to get to know other MAPC families. Please let us know you’re coming so we can be sure we have enough food! RSVP to Margaret Williamson at the church office, 212-288-8920 x271 or email mew@mapc.com.

MAPC Knitters

MAPC has two monthly groups of knitters: The morning group meets on the third Tuesday of the month, from 10:30 to noon in the Hood Library. The evening group meets on the second Tuesday of the month, from 6:30 to 8 pm, also in the Hood Library. Bring a project of your own, or make scarves and hats for our homeless neighbors or baby items for the residents of Inwood House. All are welcome, regardless of skill level. If you’re a beginner, we have plenty of donated yarn and knitting needles to get you started.
The December and January schedule is:
Evening group: December 12 and January 9
Morning group: December 19 and January 16

Parents Prayer Group

The Parents Prayer Group will meet from 8 to 8:30 am on Wednesdays, December 13 and January 3, 17, and 24. Parents of teens and young adults are invited to join in this time of scriptural reflection, sharing of concerns and prayer.

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Word in Action

The following was offered in worship services
on November 5, 2006 by Elder Dick Iverson.

Ever since I was a kid, I have wanted to know how things work, whether mechanical objects such as motors and microscopes or natural phenomena such as meteor showers or how a cicada makes its noise. Sunday School raised a different set of questions. How do we know God exists? What was Jesus really like? What is a kingdom based on love?

My formal education broadened my understanding of these questions. Today, in this church, I am still pursuing these questions. Learning how things work is why I am interested in the maintenance and renovation of the sanctuary, Church House and Phillips Building – each important to the life and mission of this church – and why I don’t mind our weekly Building Renovation meetings. My interest in religious questions is nourished and stimulated by our adult education courses, our little group slogging through Calvin, and the Friday morning Men’s Breakfast. But the pursuit of these questions is the lesser part of what this church means to me.

I first came to this church to sing in the summer choir – and was struck by the quality of the preaching. A year later, I met Barbara Nyland at the coffee hour following the service. This December we will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. Our three daughters and granddaughter were baptized here. In Sunday School, our daughters heard the stories of our faith – and made friends. Barbara and I served on many committees, and we changed places on Trustees and Session. Our daughters were not pleased with our attending so many meetings. Sometimes when we said that we were going to church to attend a meeting, their eyes would roll. But today, Laura is Moderator of the Board of Deacons, Dena is a member of the Congregational Nurture Committee and Rebecca teaches Sunday School at her Presbyterian church in Maryland.

At the heart of our connection to this church is this worship service. A worship service
• where the Word is read and proclaimed,
• where music is lifted up in praise, and
• where we greet each other.

God’s grace has brought each of us to MAPC. In my years here I have learned that grace frees us to be useful.
Of course you can be useful anywhere. Here you can be useful
• By helping with the homeless,
• By teaching kids either here or at the LEAP program in East Harlem
• In any number of other ways – depending on your skills and interests.

But there is one way we can all be useful. We can support this church with an annual pledge. Next Sunday is Pledge Sunday. Be useful.

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MAPC’s New Facilities Manager

We are pleased to introduce Servando Mendez, Jr. as our new Facilities Manager. Mr. Mendez comes to us from the South Gate Owner Corp., a 400-unit housing complex on the east side of Manhattan where he was employed as the assistant to the operations manager. Mr. Mendez was previously employed as a media coordinator/production manager for CBS Sports. He is a graduate of St. John’s University, Queens, NY with a bachelor’s degree in communication arts and a minor in business administration.

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Year-End Contributions

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, 2006 or earlier will be credited as a contribution in 2006. Hand-delivered checks, before December 31, 2006, will be credited as Year 2006 contributions; after January 1, 2007, they will be credited as Year 2007 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 29, 2006.
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

Important Notice

To ensure the deductibility of your church contributions, please do not file your 2006 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, 2007.

Year 2007 Offering Envelopes will be available in the Church House Lobby by Sunday, December 24.

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Additional Information

Also, see:

• MAPC Home Page
• Worship Services
• Christian Education Programs
• MAPC Calendar
• St. Andrew Music Society Concerts

 

 

 

 

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