“Faith and doubt both are needed – not as antagonists, but working side by side to take us around the unknown curve”
Lillian Smith, Author
I arrived about 9:10am this morning not know who or how many people to expect for our Brunch Sunday given the weather conditions. Already, there were about a half-dozen dropping off food and helping arrange the room with tablecloths and other essentials for the morning. By 9:40, we had a room filled with Maranatha Class members and several guests including Gary and Patti Smith as well as Suzanne Hood. A prayer was given by Keith Madden before we “jumped in” on the many food dishes brought by members. It was delicious!
Two birthdays are coming up in the next week; they are for Paul Giessen (2/2) and Dave Been (2/5). No anniversaries nor any joys or concerns were shared with the group. Barbara Meehan and Karen Campbell described our new website, explaining its many functions. Over the next couple of months, we will be transitioning from regular E-mail announcements to use of the website. You should expect to be receiving only as many notices as you have in the past, but you will now have the option to go the website to view information of interest, including speakers over the next month, mission opportunities with explanations of where and what, the social calendar, and who has signed up to serve as Greeters and prepare refreshments for each Sunday. Caranatha will have its own link on the site and will be a means for you to keep in touch with the needs of fellow Class members. Thanks, Barbara, for designing the site and agreeing to serve as our webmaster. And, thanks, Karen for organizing the Caranatha link/service. If you have questions about the website, contact Barbara; if you have questions or needs associated with Caranatha, contact Karen.
Over the next four Sundays (February), we have a great lineup of speakers/teachers: Professor Brandon Scott (February 7th), Mr. Rob Reck (February 14th), Ms. Debbie Petersen (February 21st), and Reverend Marsha Petersen (February 28th). More descriptive information will be forwarded to you and available on the website.
At the late service, my mother-in-law and I (Meredith is out of town) sat next to several people visiting our Church from Catoosa. Steve and Doris Dixon along with their adult daughter, Olivia, indicated on the Registration that they were visitors and were interested in joining the Church. Immediately after the service, I ask if they were ready to join today, and they said “yes”. So, I introduced them to Reverend Crowell, and Bill took it from there. I also invited them to visit the Maranatha Class next Sunday, and will give them a call this week to reinforce my invitation to them. We hope to see you next week, and I challenge each of you to bring one or more guests to hear Professor Scott. I also ask that you keep doing the great job that we do in welcoming visitors to our class, and inviting visitors to return trips.
Have a marvelous week!
Richard Wansley (and Meredith Davison)
Presidents
Maranatha Class Website 