Archive for Pastors

Important Report Day Information: Please Read ASAP

First Download This Report Day File

There is a “blue box” on Line 216. This is the last line of the report and is the Signature Line. You must enter something in this blue box or it will not consider the data entry step ever completed. In the attached I suggest using “OK” but anything will work.

It reminds you that the data entry person now has an approval step required that they did not have last year.

Also, to allow Vital Signs entry to be done on year 2010 items, the default “Start” and “Stop” dates of the Vital Signs entry area are set to start with October 1, 2010 through 12/31/2011 instead of 1/1/2011 through 12/31/2011. This keeps the last 3 months of the prior year visible so the end of year can be done without having to reset the start and stop dates and reload.

I got a question about that messing up the report day carry over, but it does not cause problems. Both the Transformation survey and Report Day report pull from Vital Signs, but each report knows it’s start and stop date for it’s reporting period and uses that to pull the correct data regardless of what you have displayed in Vital Signs entry. If they want to know what is being transferred to the report, they will need to set the display of Vital Signs to be 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2010 and do the “Reload Data” to see what is actually being transferred to the reports. Right now the default covers 15 months of vital signs and the totals at the bottom are for the full 15 months but that is not what the reports receive, the reports pull the correct calendar year entries that apply to the report. If the report did not know what to pull, we would not be able to go back and display a report from an old year and show correct numbers.

If any of this leads to any questions, please call.

IRS Announces 2011 Standard Mileage Rates

IRS Announces 2011 Standard Mileage Rates

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2011 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2011, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

  • 51 cents per mile for business miles driven
  • 19 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
  • 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs as determined by the same study. Independent contractor Runzheimer International conducted the study.

A taxpayer may not use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after using any depreciation method under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) or after claiming a Section 179 deduction for that vehicle. In addition, the business standard mileage rate cannot be used for any vehicle used for hire or for more than four vehicles used simultaneously.

Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates.

Revenue Procedure 2010-51 contains additional details regarding the standard mileage rates.

Report Day Instructions

Report Day for 2010 end of year reports is Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at Ore City FUMC from 9:00-11:30 a.m.  Please download the Report Day 2011 packet to find the best way for you to submit your Report Day information.

No December Quadrant Meetings

Please remember there will be no December Quadrant meetings! Merry Christmas!

Bishop Huie Visits North District Pastors and Laity

Bishop Janice Riggle Huie met with laity and pastors from the North District on Saturday at Tennison Memorial UMC in Mt. Pleasant. She met with each group, talking about church vitality and effectiveness in our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. This was the fifth stop on this tour of all the districts in the Texas Annual Conference.

Advantages Added to TAC Group Health Plan

Pastors

If you are having a procedure please email Lydia (fay1@methodists.net) the following information.

Name of employee.

Name of the individual having the procedure.

Name of Hospital.

Date for the service.

This will help in providing ETMC the information and also our participants can get the benefits TAC and ETMC have agreed on.

Thank you,

Lydia

ETMC Participating Facilities

TAC Group Health Plan

Check Out This Link – DNA Coaching

The DNA in every cell contains the essential information that defines who we are. Vital churches, like healthy bodies, have healthy DNA in every member of the body. Unity on the core values, bedrock beliefs, vision and motivating mission creates a permission-giving spirit and a positive ministry environment. DNA Coaching exists to support your efforts to create this positive DNA – in you, your church and your denomination.

http://www.dnacoaching.com/

Sexual Ethics Training

The Sexual Ethics committee has recently added another sexual ethics training – Thursday, June 3, 2010 at The Woodlands UMC, The Woodlands, Texas, Wesley Hall. Check in is at 8:30 a.m., we begin promptly at 9:00 a.m and go to 3, ending with Holy Communion.

The cost is $15.00 per person, payable at the door. This cost covers lunch and materials. Registration is necessary. The registration form is available now attached to the Clergy e-newsletter and on the conference website at www.txcumc.org/setraining.

Clergy under appointment in the local congregation and in extension ministry are required to attend a sexual ethics training once every quadrinium.

Thank you.

Grace and peace,

Rev. Mary E. Tumulty

Table Grace

30 Rolling Stone Place

The Woodlands, TX 77381

713-302-9131

marytumulty@gmail.com

TAC Group Health Benefits ‐ Day of Wellness Information

PLEASE NOTE: The registration deadline is 2 weeks prior to the event date.

Registration for the Day of Wellness is limited to 36-40 participants.

A registration fee in the amount of $175 must be paid after registering online in order to guarantee a space for the participant. If you cancel 3 weeks before the event date your fee will be refunded.

Registration fees for TAC employee/dependent spouse participants in the Group Health Benefits program will be refunded upon their completion of the Day of Wellness.

All other registration fees are nonrefundable.

Please call Kim Winters, Administrative Assistant for Methodist Wellness Services, at 713-441-5980 to pay by phone.

Please contact Cescley Godley at clgodley@tmhs.org or 713-441-3384 if you have questions regarding the Day of Wellness.

TAC Group Health Benefits

A Day of Wellness with Methodist Hospital

(9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

2010 Houston Dates

Monday, 2-8-10 Methodist Hospital – Dunn Conference Center

Tuesday 3-9-10 St. Paul’s UMC – Gymnasium

Thursday 5-20-10 St. Paul’s UMC – Gymnasium

Thursday 6-17-10 St. Paul’s UMC – Gymnasium

Thursday 7-29-10 St. Paul’s UMC – Gymnasium

Tuesday 8-17-10 Methodist Hospital – Dunn Conference Center

Thursday 9-16-10 St. Paul’s UMC – Gymnasium

Tuesday 10-12-10 St. Paul’s UMC – Gymnasium

Tuesday 11-9-10 St. Paul’s UMC – Gymnasium

2010 East Texas Dates

Wednesday 4-28-10 Texarkana, Williams Memorial UMC – Youth Center

Thursday 4-29-10 Longview, FUMC – Family Life Center

Friday 4-30-10 Tyler, Marvin UMC – Pirtle Hall

Tuesday 8-24-10 Tyler, Marvin UMC – Pirtle Hall

Wednesday 8-25-10 Longview, FUMC – Family Life Center

Thursday 8-26-10 College Station, A&M UMC – CLC Great Hall

Native American Sunday is April 18th

Native American Sunday will be held April 18, 2010

Without help from Native American Ministries Sunday, Ray deZafra never would have found his way to the Third Sunday Native American Fellowship. For the first time in his life, the Potawatomi Indian feels that he belongs, not just to a tribe, but also to a community of Christians. The offering on this Special Sunday educates Native American seminarians, plants Native American churches and cultivates Native American outreach to seekers like Ray.

Call (888) 346-3862 today to order envelopes and other resources so your congregation can participate in this churchwide offering. They will be sent at no cost to your church! Find more at umcgiving.org/specialsundays.