Conklin Presbyterian Church
Some of the new happenings at Conklin Presbyterian are that we have started a new chapter in the churches life with our new pastor G. Carl Moore. Reverend Moore’s first Sunday was on March 2nd 2014. He is here with his wife Rhonda Moore. Carl and Rhonda has an adult son Brad who is twenty four years old who lives in Lexington Va. Carl hails from Richmond Va. Prior to coming to Conklin, Carl has served two churches Fairfield and Timber Ridge churches in Lexington Va. Among some of his avocation and interests Carl enjoys scholarly research and writing along with weight lifting, hunting, and fishing.
Conklin Presbyterian Church has some exciting Holy Week activities. We start the week with Palm Sunday Serve on Sunday, 4/13 at 11:00 AM. We serve a Seder Meal at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, April 16th, with a sit-down dinner. Please call the church office at 775-0365 if you are interested in coming to the meal because you must have a reservation. On Maundy Thursday (4/17) our Living Last Supper drama "Is It I?" is at 7:30 PM, a continuation of the service on Good Friday, with our Tenebrae service at 7:30 PM. as well.
Easter Sunday starts early at our 6:30 AM Sunrise Service with a pancake breakfast to follow. Sunday school begins at 9:30 and our worship service is at 11:00 AM.
Broad Ave/North Chapel of Conklin
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A Calendar of Prayer – like the GA Mission Yearbook – but for our Presbytery
April
6 Conklin George Carl Moore, Pastor
Broad Ave/North Chapel of Conklin
13 The Staff of the Presbytery Christine Rogalski, Administrator
James Martin, Stated Clerk Treasurer, Marcia Shaw
20 Cincinnatus United George Carruth, Commissioned Lay Pastor
27 Davenport Charlotte Valley Carol Wilson, Pastor
Birthdays and Ordination Anniversaries for the month of April
Birthdays
13 Frank Amalfitano
16 Timothy Devine
18 Martha Vink
27 Patricia Raube
Ordination Anniversaries of Ministers
6 David Robinson
13 Carol Wilson
17 Barbara Schwartz
29 Gerald Hertzog
30 Mark Montfort
Prayers
Dear Friends, there are many in our hearts and in our prayers, may we hold in prayer colleagues and their families
Condolences
Prayers of healing
The Alzheimer's Triathlon is this Sunday, April 6th at Gold's Gym in Liverpool, NY so please keep Cynthia Huling-Hummel in your prayers. She is dedicating the day to her mom,who has Advanced Alzheimer's. Claire Huling has pneumonia with other complications and is starting hospice and palliative care. So please add”Claire Huling" to yourprayer list- also, Claire's husband of 61 years,Bill Huling. He is heartbroken.
Ina Cathy, Judi Gage’s mother
Rev. Becky Kindig, Binghamton United,for ongoing health concerns
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Please contact Committee on Ministry co-chairs, Mark Montfort and Patricia Raube if you have a pastoral care concern or need.
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Mailing and phone number change for the Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley
The mailing address for the presbytery office has changed to PO Box 87, Nineveh, NY 13813. The new phone number is 607-323-4477. The presbytery staff would like to thank you all for your patience as we head forward.
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Board of Directors Elects Frank Clark Spencer as New President of Board of Pensions
The Board of Directors of The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has elected Frank Clark Spencer to succeed Robert W. Maggs Jr. as President.
The selection of Frank Clark Spencer of Charlotte, North Carolina, as the next President of the Board of Pensions was enthusiastically received at the Board of Directors meeting in Philadelphia on February 28, 2014. Mr. Spencer, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte, is a career businessman with strong, lifelong ties to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), including service on the Board of Directors of the Board of Pensions. He expects to complete work toward his Master of Divinity at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte, this year.
"What a rare honor and privilege it is to be joining such an incredible team and to be entrusted with serving those who serve our Church in proclaiming God's word," Mr. Spencer said. "I look forward to working with each of you as we continue this critical work of the Board of Pensions," he told the Directors.
Mr. Spencer will be presented to the 221st General Assembly (2014) for confirmation. Once confirmed by the Assembly, he will assume the presidency.
Mr. Spencer called himself an optimist. "I encourage each of us to be optimists, keeping our eye not only on those who have served the Church and those who are serving the Church now but on those who will serve the Church in the future." Recognizing the Board's rich, nearly 300-year history, he said: "Our role is to enhance what is already here, strive to be better. And that is what we will do. It's about the next 300 years."
To learn more about Frank Spencer and his election, read the article in the spring 2014 issue of The Board Bulletin.
Directors Grant Experience Apportionment
The Board of Directors of the Board of Pensions approved a 4.6 percent experience apportionment for the Pension Plan, effective July 1, 2014. The apportionment, the second in two years, is consistent with the Board's experience apportionment policy guidelines, which require a funded status of 110 percent or more before consideration of an apportionment. Analysis provided by Towers Watson, the Pension Plan actuary, confirmed that plan reserves are sufficient to grant the apportionment.
For more information on the experience apportionment, read the article in the spring 2014 issue of The Board Bulletin.
Board Bulletin Reports News from October Board of Directors Meeting
The spring 2014 issue of The Board Bulletin is available on pensions.org. It details key decisions made by the Board of Directors of the Board of Pensions at its February 27-March 1 meeting. In addition to news on the election of a new president of the Board of Pensions and the approval of an experience apportionment for the Pension Plan, highlights include the following:
· The Balanced Investment Portfolio returned 17.1 percent for 2013.
· A disability benefit increase of 2 percent was granted.
· New officers for the Board of Directors were elected.
The Board of Pensions publishes The Board Bulletin after each regular meeting of the Board of Directors.
New Web Module and Sample Documents Help Employers Establish a Section 125 Plan
In preparation for the change in medical dues in 2015, PC(USA) churches and other employing organizations can learn how, by establishing healthcare dues-only plans, they can enable their employees to pay any medical dues-share amounts on a pretax basis -- and so save money. View the Board's latest Web module, Increasing Employee Take-Home Pay -- Using Section 125 Healthcare Dues-Only Plans, to learn about these plans.
As promised in Your Guide to Medical Dues Planning, mailed earlier this month, a sample Section 125 healthcare dues-only plan is now available. Information about similar tax-advantaged plans will be added to Board University over the next few months.
The Board of Pensions is here to help if you have a question or need assistance. Please call 800-773-7752 (800-PRESPLAN) to speak with a member service representative, or contact your Regional Representative.
Significant Tax Savings Possible for Small Employers through Healthcare Tax Credit
For the fourth and final year since the Small Employer Healthcare Tax Credit was offered in its current form to small tax-exempt employers such as churches, the Board of Pensions is providing resources to help PC(USA) churches and other employing organizations claim the credit for the 2013 tax year.
For tax-exempt employers, the credit is refundable. Even if employers have no taxable income, they may be eligible to receive the credit as a refund as long as it does not exceed their income tax withholding and Medicare tax liability. Some churches have reported saving thousands of dollars in taxes, which means more money for mission, maintenance, and other needs.
Small employers are eligible for this tax credit if they
· have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees;
· pay an average wage of less than $50,000 a year;
· and pay at least half of their employee health insurance premiums (dues).
To learn more and to find other helpful resources, read the article on pensions.org.
Board University Personal Finance Series Available Online
Board University is pleased to present its entire personal finance series. This online education series provides information about getting control of financial situations. All lessons are available for viewing:
· Lesson 1: Taking the 30-Day Challenge
· Lesson 2: Creating a Budget
· Lesson 3: Building an Emergency Savings
· Lesson 4: The Power of Compound Interest
· Lesson 5: Debt Management
· Lesson 6: Buying a Home
· Lesson 7: Paying Off Debt
· Lesson 8: Paying for College
· Lesson 9: The Windfall Effect
· Lesson 10: Basic Estate Planning
National Colorectal Awareness Month: Know the Symptoms and Risks of Colon Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the second largest cause of cancer deaths among men and women in the United States. Since March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, now is a good time to learn the symptoms, know the risks, and get a screening.
Symptoms. The symptoms of colorectal cancer are not always obvious -- which is why screening is important. Warning signs may include blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, or persistent stomach cramps or pain.
Risks. More than half of all deaths from colorectal cancer are avoidable through screening, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The disease occurs mostly in people who are age 50 or older, although people with inflammatory bowel disease, a history of colorectal conditions, or certain genetic syndromes may be considered high risk.
Screenings. Regular screenings can find precancerous polyps before they turn into cancer and also detect cancer early, when it is more curable. For members age 50 or over, the preventive care benefit of the Medical Plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) covers the appropriate screening at no cost*:
· annual screening with fecal occult blood test (FOBT), or
· screening with flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years with or without annual FOBT, or
· double contrast barium enema every five years, or
· colonoscopy every 10 years
For those who are high risk, earlier or more frequent screenings may be covered as recommended by a doctor.
For more information about colorectal cancer and resources, visit the CDC or American Cancer Society website.
*Members enrolled in the Anthem HMO also have preventive care benefits, but coverage details differ; plan provisions provide details.
Benefits Connect Tip: Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches and Tax Guide for Ministers Are Available on Benefits Connect
Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches and Tax Guide for Ministers are available only on Benefits Connect. You can find links to each document in the Online Tools section of Benefits Connect.
The Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches for the 2014 tax year provides step-by-step wage reporting and withholding instructions and information about situations specific to filing various federal forms. Employing organizations whose billing address is in the United States and that are currently receiving a monthly invoice from the Board of Pensions can have one authorized Web representative registered for Benefits Connect.
The Tax Guide for Ministers for the 2013 tax year is available to members and employing organizations that are eligible for Benefits Connect. This guide provides recent tax information that teaching elders can review when preparing their federal income tax returns.
If you are not already taking advantage of Benefits Connect, register today!
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Mileage rate for 2014
The IRS just announced its standard mileage rates for 2014. The new rates will be a slight decrease a half cent from the 2013 rates for business, medical and moving expenses.
Effective January 1, 2014, the standard mileage rates for the use of a vehicle such as a car, van, SUV or pickup will be:
· 56 cents per mile for business miles driven
· 23.5 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
· 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations
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SAVE THE DATE!
The weekend of September 20th, the Presbytery of the Susquehanna Valley will be hosting Christopher Walker, Evangelism Coach. We're very excited to offer multiple opportunities to learn from Chris that weekend, including his preaching and teaching as part of our Assembly that Saturday. Please reserve the date on your calendars. If you'd like to check out Chris' work, go to www.evangelismcoach.org.
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Ethiopian Partnership Team
The Ethiopian Partnership Team looks forward to reporting to the Presbytery at its May 31st Assembly. In the meantime, please click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eAZpOZg9h4&feature=youtu.be
(or copy and paste in your browser) to see a 15-minute presentation of our February trip.
A full presentation, with time for question and answers, has been scheduled for Nineveh Presbyterian Church on Sunday, March 23rd, at 12:30pm. You're welcome to join us then; we also hope to schedule presentation times in congregations on the east and west ends of the Presbytery. Stay tuned!
Emrys Tyler,
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Message from Rev Carol Wilson a member of the missions team
My Lenten meditation series this year revolves around my trip to Dembi Dollo. We have discussed the dirt and grime that our souls collect on our lives’precipitous journeys while looking at pictures of the dusty, stony and treacherous roads of Dembi Dolo.
We have contemplated how God provides living water to cleanse our souls and refresh our resolve as we looked at pictures of primitive wells and the half empty buckets of water with which we cleansed ourselves in Dembi Dolo.
We have meditated on the booths that God provides for shelter on our journeys as we looked at pictures of the thatched, tin and mud stucco homes in villages around Dembi Dolo.
Tonight (Tuesday) we will be tasting and appreciating the odor of Ethiopian coffee, savoring exotic spices and sampling ‘injera’ (Ethiopian bread) as we look at pictures of the compound kitchen and the faithful cooks who prepared our food. This will remind us that God provides the nourishment and strength we need to complete our journeys.