STEWARDSHIP FOR 2018

Qualified Charitable Contributions from IRAs & New Tax Laws for 2018

If you are age 70½ or over and take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from your Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), or if you want to make other distributions from your IRA, you can take advantage of a law (for 2016 and later years) allowing you to designate part or all of your Required Minimum Distribution or other distributions (up to $100,000) each year to a qualified charity. Rather than receive a distribution check made out in your name, you would ask the administrator of your IRA to make a check out to a qualified charity. The designation to a charity reduces the income that you would normally have to report. You cannot claim the amount as a charitable donation; however, if you normally claim a standard deduction rather than itemizing deductions, you could find this to your tax advantage—especially since the standard deductions for 2018 and later years have generally been almost doubled.  Also, you may have a number of other circumstances where reducing your income would be to your tax advantage. Contact your tax advisor for further information.

PRAYER CONCERNS

If you or a loved one would like to be added to the prayer list, please contact Lorna McCullough at (336) 259-5814
*If you put a name on the list, please keep in touch as names will be removed after 3 weeks.*

During this week, please pray for:

• ALL Military personnel
• UM Missionaries
• Tracy Brinkley
• Rick & Beth Schartiger
• Dee Ellis
• Marian Baker
• Amos Fisher
• Bob Templeman
• Misty Ridge
• Peggy Finch
• Ann Worsham
• Kathy Bosley
• Joe Stone

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS!!!

5:30 PM – GRACE & ANNOUNCEMENTS
5:40 PM – DINNER
6:00 PM – PROGRAM
6:00 PM – YOUTH SMALL GROUPS
6:00 PM – KID’S CHOIR PRACTICE
6:15 PM – HANDBELL PRACTICE
6:30 PM  – KID’S KLUB
7:15 PM  – CHANCEL CHOIR PRACTICE

JOIN US for great FOOD, FELLOWSHIP, and FUN!

COST: The Wednesday Night Fellowship Dinner prices are as follows:
Adults  $8.00 (13 & older)
Children (12 & under)  Free with an adult
Families (children Over 12)  $20.00

UPCOMING PROGRAMS
BIBLE STUDY with BEN, PEGGY & KYLES
EFIRD SERIES: Gospel of Mark

PLEASE MAKE YOUR RESERVATION BY NOON ON MONDAYS.

Empty Bowls 2018 Silent Auction Information

Items which are considered new will be gladly accepted at this time for the 2018 Empty Bowls Silent Auction on March 16.  Suggested items include:

• use of a vacation home for a few days
• services related to your profession  
• gift cards ($40 or more)  
• baked items
• ACC sports memorabilia
• original paintings

Please contact Ginger Cranford (475-1887), Elaine Rabon (442-4790) or Rick Jones (476-8052) for more information.  Thank you for your support!

LENTEN LUNCHES at MEMORIAL

SUNDAYS IN LENT
FOLLOWING 11 AM WORSHIP
FELLOWSHIP HALL

Join us for lunch after church each Sunday in Lent.   Meals are by donation ONLY and donations go to support local missions projects!

Church groups sponsoring the lunches are:

Feb. 25: New Beginnings Class
Mar. 4:   ASP
Mar. 11: Fellowship Class
Mar. 18: Girl Scouts
Mar. 25, Palm Sunday: UMW

LENTEN JOURNEY: ART & SPIRITUAL DIRECTION CLASS

THURSDAYS
7 = 8 PM
3rd FLOOR ART ROOM
FOR ALL AGES!

Come explore the season of Lent creatively. No art experience needed! Classes will be held every Thursday 7-8 PM in the art room, Feb. 15th (orientation) – Mar. 29th.

Sign up with Lynda Hepler (472-9711, lhepler@mumctville.org) or on a signup sheet.

WESLEYAN FAST

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15

Join Your Pastors for a Wesley Fast and Pray for the Welfare of Our City

Fasting reminds us that we are sustained by God.

Our fasting will begin the first Thursday in Lent, February 15, and will conclude on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, March 29-30. We will share in the fast not by location, but through participation and a shared prayer focus. Look for flyers with details and weekly prayer emphases. If you choose to fast, always do so in such a way that does not compromise your health.

SPECIAL CHARGE CONFERENCE

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27
6:30 PM
SCOUT ROOM

A Special Charge Conference will be held at 6:30 PM, Tuesday, Feb. 27, in the Scout Room of the CEC, prior to a scheduled Administrative Board Meeting. Members of the Administrative Board are asked to attend. The purpose is to vote on the recommendation of the Staff-Parish Committee to recommend Michele Hill and Brian Russell as Candidates for Ministry.

Zaxby’s Night to Benefit Art Academy

MARCH 5
5 – 8 PM
ZAXBY’S at 1148 Randolph St. in THOMASVILLE

Mark March 5^th, 5-8PM, as your dinner out night. Zaxby’s on Randolph St. will donate 10% of their proceeds that evening to Memorials Art Academy. Please take the flyer found HERE or mention you’re there to support Memorial UMC Arts Alive.

Love wins. Always.

INTER-DENOMINATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Lent Worship & Lunch on Tuesdays, First Presbyterian Church
TUESDAYS (beginning Feb. 20)
12-1PM, 
Join this community worship & lunch series,

PINE NEEDLES

EVERY SATURDAY BEGINNING MARCH 2 THROUGH APRIL 14
9 AM – 3 PM

$5.00 per bale ($5.50 per bale, delivered)

NC Long-Leaf Needles

Proceeds go to the MUMC Music Department

UPCOMING EVENTS

FEBRUARY 15 – ART & SPIRITUAL DIRECTION CLASS BEGINS
FEBRUARY 18 – CONFIRMATION BEGINS
FEBRUARY 18 – LENTEN LUNCH
FEBRUARY 25 – LENTEN LUNCH
MARCH 4 – LENTEN LUNCH
MARCH 11 – LENTEN LUNCH
MARCH 16 – EMPTY BOWLS
MARCH 18 – LENTEN LUNCH
MARCH 24 – EASTER EGG HUNT
MARCH 25 – PALM SUNDAY
MARCH 25 – LENTEN LUNCH
MARCH 29 – MAUNDY THURSDAY WORSHIP SERVICE
MARCH 30 – CROSSWALK (START: Memorial UMC)  (11 AM)
MARCH 30 – TENEBRAE SERVICE
APRIL 1 – EASTER SUNDAY
MAY 13 – CONFIRMATION SUNDAY
MAY 20 – HOMECOMING

MEMORIAL MESSENGER JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2018

Click this link to download the most recent issue of the Church Newsletter:  THE MESSENGER

11 AM WORSHIP SURVEY

In our ongoing commitment to make Memorial’s Worship Programming more relevant and meaningful to your lives we ask that you take a few moments to fill out a short survey to help us best address the needs of our congregation during the 11 AM WORSHIP SERVICE.

The SURVEY can be found HERE.  Please fill it out and return to the church office.  THANKS!