Gary's Tidbits For July 17, 2008

I want to share some good news with you regarding our deal with OPAC (Orlando Performing Arts Center). This past Friday we closed on several legal documents, which will allow us to begin to earn interest on the funds from OPAC. This is a major milestone as we move closer to breaking ground on our new facility. There have been many who have helped us to get this far in our planning, including the Building Committee, the Trustees, various ministries and staff. Our thanks goes out to all of these groups. There are three members, Joe Nisbett, Vernon Swartsel and Dick Smith, who have gone beyond the call of duty and have spent hundreds of hours behind the scenes reviewing our ministry needs and making sure that they are well represented. I encourage you, as you see these dedicated members, to show your appreciation to them for using their spiritual gifts in this way for our church.

In the following statement, Vernon Swartsel, Chair of our Building Committee, shares the details of this recent agreement.

 In accord with the Church Conference resolution adopted on December 4, 2007, the Board of Trustees has continued to pursue the matter with the Orlando Performing Arts Center and the City of Orlando.  On Friday, July 11, documents were executed to be held in escrow pending, among other things, approval by the City Council for the South Street curve, approval by the City of the Church’s planned development of the Church campus and the issuance of building permits for the new buildings which as you know are still in the design phase.  The escrow closing was accompanied by a wire transfer (on Monday, July 14) of $28,127,221.40 to the trust accounts of GrayRobinson, the Church’s law firm (this was the agreed minimum figure of $28,350,000.00 less payments that have been made since December to engineers, architect, surveyors, planners, lawyers and other professionals).  The Church will receive the interest on these escrowed funds on a monthly basis for use as the Trustees and the Finance Committee direct, and payments will continue to be made from the escrow accounts to cover the costs of the on-going project prior to actual construction.  The escrow documents provide that if all of the Church’s requirements are not met, the escrow will be undone, but in themeantime the Church will benefit from the interest earned (at a blended rate of 3.475% guaranteed for four months).

See you in Church,

Gary

Journey Through the New Testament readings for next week:
1 Corinthians 13-16 - 2nd Corinthians 1

Finance Update

Last week’s financial update contained a few errors in the Debt Schedule.  Here is a revision. 

Church Career Opportunities

In August 2008, there will be an opening for a Part-time Accountant at First United Methodist Church of Orlando.  This individual will handle bank and general ledger account reconciliation, journal entries, month and year end closings and assist with budget preparation and analysis. Some familiarity with an awareness of the laws and regulations that apply to an accounting function are required to ensure compliance. The duties will also include working with the Church Accounting System (Shelby). Church software training will be provided by self-paced CDs as well as internal training. The position will require approximately 15-18 hours per week and will report to our Financial Supervisor. If you’re interested, please forward your resume to Abby Holmes, HR, at abby@fumc-orl.org. Interviews will be conducted early August. Qualifications that are helpful but not required include a degree in finance or accounting, computer skills and hands-on accounting experience.

WCDC Search Committee is seeking resumes for a Wesley Child Development Center (WCDC) Director. A job description is posted on the Children’s Ministries website www.thelighthouseforkids.org. Candidates, please forward your name and resume to Holly Eby, Director of Children’s Ministries at 142 E. Jackson St. Orlando, FL 32801 or fax 407.648.8625. Email is not preferred as the information may be deleted by our spam protection software.

Children’s News

HEY EVERYBODY!!! Looking for something free and fun to do on Saturday, August 9 from 9 a.m. until about noon? OH BOY, Do we have the ultimate in FUN planned for you! Come and join us as we “relocate” children and youth ministries from the Ledbetter Building to the second floor of the Wesley M&E Building. Meet in Fellowship Hall for instructions. If you have a dolly or a truck we can use that day please bring it.

Outreach

Back to school sales are starting. Our Sager-Brown Mission Team is collecting these items for school kits they will take to the United Methodist Depot in Louisiana in November. Children in disaster areas around the world will receive the bags.

1 pair blunt scissors (rounded tip)
3 pads (or loose leaf) of 8 1/2” x 11” ruled paper
1 30-centimeter ruler
1 hand held pencil sharpener
6 unsharpened pencils with erasers
1 eraser, 2 1/2”
1 box of 24 crayons (only 24)

Please deposit donations in the brown benches throughout the campus. Thank you.

Upcoming Church Meeting

A Church Conference will be held on August 4. Bill Chegwidden, our church’s architect, will meet with our congregation for preliminary approval on the design of our new building, as well as the preliminary cost estimate and the preliminary financial plan. This is the meeting that we discussed at the Town Hall meeting. The church’s van ministry will run to the downtown senior high rises. If you would like to have a stop made at your building, you must make a reservation no later than Friday, August 1 by calling 407.849.6080.

First United Methodist Church
142 E Jackson Street
Orlando, FL  32801
407-849-6080
http://www.fumc-orl.org/

page updated July 17, 2008
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