eLink News

This Week:

• January 17- 9:00 AM Missional Experimentation Event, Camp Crestfield, Slippery Rock
  12:00 PM Mission, Communication, and Stewardship Committee, Presbytery Office
  1:30 PM Sudan Team, Presbytery Office
• January 18- 12:30 PM Preparation for Ministry Committee, Presbytery Office
• January 18-19- PMC Cluster Event, Westminster College
• January 21- OFFICE CLOSED, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday

Warning to Church Treasurers

The IRS disallowed a charitable contribution deduction made by a couple to their local church. The taxpayers took the case to Tax Court who sided with the IRS. Here are the facts. All churches and nonprofit organizations must provide a properly completed contemporaneous written acknowledge for aggregate annual receipts in excess of $250. In this case, the taxpayers were provided with a receipt by the church. The issue at hand was that the receipt was deficient in that it did not include any indication, as required, that no goods or services were provided in consideration of the donation. The church reissued a new receipt stating that no goods or services were provided, which was rejected by the IRS and the Tax Court. According to the Tax Code the receipt must be contemporaneous. The only acceptable contemporaneous receipt under the Tax Code is the receipt the taxpayer has when the return is filed.  If your church’s annual contribution report to your members does not include this statement or similar wording:

In order to comply with the substantiation requirements of IRS Code Sec. 170(f)(8)(B), no goods or services were provided in exchange for your contribution.

…then you are in jeopardy of causing a member’s tax deductible contribution to be disallowed!  [Thanks Bill McKnight, CPA at Trinity Church, Mercer]

Annual Reports

We have received word that the GA online statistical program is active at http://oga.pcusa.org/stats.  Clerks will use the same “user name” and “password” as last year.  Please note the the password should contain an “!” and is case-sensitive.  The deadline for entering your statistical information is February 20, 2013.    If you have forgotten your user name and password, please call or email the Presbytery office.

Presbytery annual reports are available on the “Publications & Information” page of the Presbytery website.  They are downloadable as WORD and EXCEL files and the completed forms can either be mailed to the office or emailed to Autumn at office@shenango.org.  The deadline for completing these forms is January 31, 2013.  Several churches have not been able to complete their reports by the January deadline in the past, please note that in order for your deceased elders to be included in the special service at the February presbytery meeting, your Necrology form MUST be received at the office by February 15th!

PW S.P.I.C.E. Submissions

Nancy Horn is requesting that ALL information for the upcoming edition of S.P.I.C.E. be submitted to her by the 3rd Wednesday of February.  The newsletter will be published at the end of February.  Contributions can include church events and programs (upcoming and accomplishments in 2012 and 2013) and anything pertaining to your churches.  Nancy can be reached at 724-376-4441 or nancystuff@zoominternet.net.

Spring Pastors Retreat Set

The Spring Pastors Retreat will be held on June 3 – 4 at Villa Maria.  Please mark your calendar now!  Russ Crabtree www.holycowconsulting.com  will be our leader.  More information will be provided at the February 26 Presbytery meeting.

Support Sudan Missionaries

More than 50 individuals have met Sharon Curry www.pcusa.org/sharon-curry and Leisa Wagstaff  www.pcusa.org/leisa-wagstaff  during their visits in the past month.  They will both be serving in the South Sudan and everyone has been much impressed by these women and their gifts for mission work.

We have for distribution at the Presbytery Office excellent post-card photos of each of the missionaries of the Nile Valley.  Please pass this information on to your mission committee so that your church can be involved in this important work in the world’s newest nation…South Sudan.

Winter Weekend 2013 — Friday, Feb 22nd thru Sunday, Feb 24th, 2013

Youth Groups are invited to join us once again at Seneca Hills Bible Camp for another great year of Winter Weekend.  Be challenged by our main speaker, local musician Jay Michael with worship led by Grove City based, Vince Anastasi and his family!  Be challenged by our workshop presenters and have a great time with some fun games and activities.  Check out our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/events/457817690932198/ for upcoming information and contact Jason Dunn for registration and other questions, at 724-992-3693 orjasondunn@zoominternet.net.

News From The Churches

Organist/Eventual Choir Director Wanted

Shenango Presbyterian Church is looking for an organist who would eventually lead their choir.  This is a part-time position.  They are seeking a faithful musician who is excited about music and singing and church.  Please contact Amy Na at 724-654-2322.

Choir Director Wanted

Faith Presbyterian Church is still looking for a choir director.  If you are interested, or know of a musician who might be interested, please contact the church atoffice@faithpc.net or 724-962-4155.