CULDEE ENDOWMENT FUND COMMITTEE NEWS

The Endowment Fund Committee held its first quarterly meeting of the New Year, on Sunday, January 21, 2018.

The Culdee investments in Vanguard through the Endowment Fund Committee continue to yield a profitable return. The Vanguard investments have a balance of $248,502.48 as of December 31, 2017 with a total gain of $7,573.74 since its start.

These funds include the Church Liquid Asset; Cemetery; Doris Moore Scholarship; Flower Garden; Mission; Youth; Building and Renovations, Paint and Wall Paper, Parking Lot Paving, and the Sarah Ann Fortune Fund. The Vanguard Funds are easily accessible, and subject to change of investment if so recommended by the Fund’s chair, and approved by the Session. All Vanguard Funds continue to be invested conservatively, and each account continues to have a separate account number. Hence, any growth accrued in a specific fund, is applied to that same account number.

The following was taken from a Presbyterian Foundation News Article. It speaks to the purpose of Culdee’s Endowment Fund:

“Endowment gifts are theological statements which demonstrate one’s belief that we are never ultimately proprietors, owners, but only stewards, lifetime guardians entrusted by God to use wisely what God has placed in our hands. When an individual creates an endowment gift for the church during or beyond their lifetime, it declares to the present and future generations the importance of our faith and trust in God. We have each drawn water from the wells we have not dug; we have sat under shades trees we did not plant and we each have a wonderful opportunity to provide the means for the church to have a strong and empowering ministry for generations to come.” Matthew 2:11b – “Opening their treasures, they offered him gifts”

We, the members of the Endowment Fund Committee express our sincere gratitude for the trust you have placed in us to manage the generous gifts we as a church have been bestowed. We welcome your input, as we eagerly seek to fulfil His purpose.

The next quarterly Endowment Fund Committee meeting will be held in April 2018.

Questions, comments, or information on opportunities for investment may be addressed by contacting any of the Endowment Fund Committee Members: Mark Cole, Tim Lea, Teresa Cole, Dannie Jackson, Ann Savage, Mark Thompson, Danny Aldridge, and Diane Aldridge.

THANK YOU!A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who supported the Blankets + program. We received a total of which will help buy many blankets and tools.

CULDEE FINANCE MINISTRY NEWS

The finance Committee met on Monday, February 19, 2018 at 6:00 pm. The meeting was conducted by our new Finance Committee Chairman, Mark Cole.

During the meeting, one of the things we did was update our Finance Ministry Duties. This is a document which list our primary responsibilities. The following is that list of responsibilities:

1. Monitor overall expenditures against the budget and keep the Session and congregation informed of the financial condition of the Church. The end of the month financial cover sheet is to be included in the bulletin preferably on the second Sunday of the month.

2. Administer the Finance Ministry Offering Policy & Procedures.

3. Assist the Church Treasurer and or Secretary in accounting for income and expenses as needed.

4. Act as resource for each Ministry with regards to any issues that arise.

5. Review insurance policies each year.

6. Prepare a budget proposal each year based on history, inputs, and requests from the various ministries, the Pastor, and the office staff.

7. Present the budget proposal for approval by the Session.

8. Present the approved budget at the annual Corporate Meeting of the Congregation each year.

9. Prepare the changes to the Pastor’s Call and present the Call to the congregation for approval at the annual Corporate Meeting, usually in December.

10. Insure that the financial records are reviewed annually and that the review is documented. Notify the Session that the review has been completed. Sandhills Accounting Services has been conducting the review for us at no cost through 2017 and providing us with the documentation that it has been done.

11. Finance Chairman and Vice-Chair assist in the preparation of the Clerk of Session’s Annual Statistical Report to Presbytery.

As you can see, the responsibilities are pretty extensive but we as a committee are honored to carry out these duties.

We welcome anyone who would like to attend one of our meetings. In the meantime, if you have any comments, questions, or concerns, please feel free to direct them to a Finance Ministry member. Finance Ministry members are as follows: Mark Cole, Chairman, Danny Aldridge, Tim Lea, Jene Bowen, Art McKenzie, Mark Thompson, Dannie Jackson, Ann Savage, and Jim Stewart.

As always, thank you for your continued support of the Finance Ministry.

MARCH BIRTHDAYS!Carson Dennis 01 Mitchell Whitesell 14 Timothy Patterson 23Lydia Craven 02 LeAnn Bailey 15 Erica Tolbert 24Carolyn Smith 03 Mary Ruth Whitaker 16 Debbie Halverstadt 24Parker McKenzie 03 Sylvia Balboni 17 Scott Bullard 28McKenzie Cox 03 Sue Black 17 Beverly Furr 28Haley Dick (Cuff) 04 Carter Cuff 18 Ralph Spatz 28Vickie Blue 05 Evelyn Caddell 19 Georgia Blue 29Amber Clayton 06 Richard Dunlop 19 Kimberly White 29Steve Cox 07 Addie Bailey 20 Payton Savage 30Carolyn McKenzie 12 Natalie Cox 21 Scotty Pate 30Debby Fields 12 Noreen Oakman 21 Jonathan Craven 31Molly Sims 12 Chad Smith 22 Riley Seawell 31Morgan Jackson 13 Greg Bohlander 23

NEWS FROM THE CULDEE CHILDREN’S MINISTRY CAMPAIGNCome join us for the Passion Play as a part of our "Eggstravaganza" on March 24 from 2-4 pm.We will have our annual egg hunt, face painting, bouncy house fun, and a passion play thattells the Easter Story performed by our church family, an ice cream party and possible pictures with the Easter Bunny! There will be flyers coming soon with more information. Please start spreading the word! This will be a day for Culdee Presbyterian Church to Shine as we open ourdoors to the community and welcome people of all ages to join us in fellowship. We are in needof many participants from our church family. Please reach out and help. There is a signup sheetin the sun room on the bulletin board; there is a place for everyone! We would love to have you join in on the fun!

CEMETERY NEWS…….As in the years past, we are asking that you remove any Christmas flowers/decorations, etc. from the graves by March 15th. Any left on the graves after that will be removed by the cleanup committee. Any questions about graves call Wade Garner at 910-295-6990. Thank you.

PRESBYTERIAN MEN’S NEWS

The next Presbyterian Men’s meeting will be on March 22 at 7:00 pm in the fellowship hall. On Easter Sunday, April 1, the men will be cooking breakfast. Everyone is invited to stay and eat following the 7:00 am Sunrise Service which takes place out at the Rose Garden.

HOLY WEEK/EASTER SCHEDULEMaundy Thursday Communion Service: Thursday, March 29 at 7:00 pm

Easter Sunrise Service: Sunday, April 1st at 7:00 am (breakfast to follow)

Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 am

Easter Worship Celebration at 11:00 am

LADIES TRIP ……If you plan to go to the Temple Theater, and out to eat on March 23rd make sure that your name is on list. If you are not sure, call Jewell at 690-6461. I must have the money by March 7th. I checked today and tickets are $22 each. If it’s okay with everyone, I will make reservations at Ms. Lacey’s for lunch. Cost of lunch is around $10.00. We will leave the church at 12:00 pm, stop and eat, show starts at 2:00. Should back by 5:00 pm.

CROPWALK UPDATEThis year’s CROPWALK will be held on Sunday, April 15 at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Southern Pines. Invite someone to join you, and let’s have the largest group of Culdee Crusaders walking…EVER!! Let June Stewart know if you plan to walk!!

FAMILY PROMISE WEEKOur next FAMILY PROMISE Week will be March 26 -29 (Monday – Thursday). We need overnight hosts and meals……. Please pray for the ministry and contact Ann Savage and June Stewart if you can volunteer in either area!! Thank You!!

CONGREGATIONAL CAREUpcoming events: The Mission dinner for this year will be for Haiti and will take place on March 11th. We will be having the baked spaghetti dinner, and the recipe (for those of you who will bake one) and the signup sheets will be on the counter in the kitchen. It is also time for The Doris Moore applicants to pick up the scholarship applications. The applications will be on the table outside the church office for those interested. We offer a “big thank you” to June Stewart, for all that she has done for Congregational Care for the past 3 years. Love to all, Robin McKenzie

Music NotesDulcimer Ensemble

The ensemble now has two times to rehearse during the week. We opened a time on Wednesday mornings at 11:00 in the choir room for those that would prefer to come during the day. We also have our rehearsal time on Tuesday evening at 6:00 in the choir room. We are in the process of practicing hymns that date back as late as 1708. This group of strumming musicians have been working hard during rehearsal at church and practicing on their own at home.

The group will be hitting the road to play for residents in retirement homes during March. This will be a day trip and end with a lunch outing for the group after the concert.

We will also be going to some dulcimer festivals in the near future. More information will be forthcoming.

If you happen to have a dulcimer at your house that you are no longer interested in please contact

Beverly at culdeemusic@gmail.com. We can put it to good use.

Chancel Choir

The Chancel Choir was hit really hard through the flu season. There were only a couple of us that weren’t sick. We even sounded sick. I am pleased to say that we had a full room at rehearsal tonight, and everyone seems to be doing much better. It was a blessing to hear everyone’s voice strong again. We have started some new spring music this month and would welcome anybody who would like to make a joyful noise along side us. We have some new faces in the choir this Year. What a blessing!

HANDBELLS

The handbell choir has enjoyed their new room that they share with the children’s church. We have added some more new members through the month of February. To God Be the Glory! We are thanking God for these wonderful additions to our music ministry here at Culdee. We will be ringing Feb 25th and March 4th. We will also be ringing throughout the Lent and Easter season for the 11:00 worship. We have some exciting new music we have been working on, learning new handbell techniques, and working on our note reading.

Music Theory

Beginning at the end of April there will be a music theory class that will help anyone at any level with their desire to increase their level of music ability. We will be working with a program in the choir room that you will be able to transfer to your home computer. You will be able to work and customize this program to meet your musical needs, so that you can become a better musician. There are lessons that you can access as well as exercises that are guaranteed to help you be a better reader. I would strongly recommend this for the handbell and dulcimer choirs, and all those serving with in the music ministry. More information about this will be in the April Newsletter.

Notes from the Session Meeting of February 12A quorum of Elders was present with Rev. Rod Stone from Community Presbyterian serving as Moderator of Session.Opening devotion and prayer: Mark Seawell, Elder of the MonthThere were twelve guests present.Active Membership Roll: 280Minutes of the Stated Session Meeting of January 21 were approved.Report of the Interim Pastor Committee: Janie TaylorNew Business:The Session accepted, with regret, the resignation of Bob Beddingfield from the Session. The Elder Nominating Committee that was approved by the congregation in the fall, will be reactivated to bring a nominee to the congregation to fill the vacant seat on the Session.Johnie Marion will serve as Elder Commissioner for the Presbytery Meeting in Jacksonville, NC on March 3.Ministry Reports were presented.

….What about my “dash”?

I learned today that Billy Graham had passed away I immediately remembered listening to him with my family, at home on the television. His message never changed. He was always “Just As I Am”. I thought of how incredible of a musical sound heaven was this very morning that he met Jesus. How all of our loved ones that loved watching him, and had their lives changed by his life and ministry were celebrating. It had to have been a glorious celebration.

As I read this poem this morning in my devotion I realized that Billy Graham’s dash was an incredible, amazing journey. Every step ordered by God. It was God honoring, glorifying Him in every area. I would like to share this poem with you.

Musical Blessings, Beverly

The Dash by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning...to the end. 

He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the following date with tears,but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years. 

For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth...and now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth. 

For it matters not, how much we own; the cars....the house...the cash.What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash. 

So think about this long and hard...are there things you'd like to change?For you never know how much time is left. (You could be at "dash midrange.") 

If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real,and always try to understand the way other people feel. 

And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation moreand love the people in our lives like we've never loved before. 

If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile...remembering that this special dash might only last a little while. 

So, when your eulogy's being read with your life's actions to rehash...would you be proud of the things they say about how you spend your dash?