Greetings, Maranatha, on this Palm/Passion Sunday,
Many thanks to Dr. Joel Panciera for his excellent series, “Is There a Limit to God’s Love?” After a standing ovation from the class, he spoke about “the Kingdom of God” and what that means in today’s world. For Christians, it is a triumph of love and for Jews, it is about justice, the Hebrew word for which meant “enoughness,” or where all people in the community would have enough. He also talked about barriers to the coming of that kingdom in our world today.
It was a very helpful lesson and discussion, and the audio recording will be posted later this week. You will be able to find it, as well as the entire series, at www.bostonavenue.org/maranatha.html
CLASS ANNOUNCEMENTS
We are hosting the Pilgrimage Class for brunch this Sunday. Because it is Easter, Sunday School will meet from 10:00-10:45. Karen Campbell passed around a signup sheet in class, and if you plan to attend the 9:00 service, please bring your dish to our classroom before the service so that it is in place to start promptly at 10:00. Hope you can join us.
Sarah Morice Brubaker from Phillips Theological Seminary will be our teacher the next Sunday, April 8. We will also have a report from our Maranatha Finance Committee that day.
Welcome to our visitors, Kate Staat, Steve and Nancy Campbell, and Clarkie Williams’ granddaughter Emma.
Thanks to Meredith Davison Wansley for her thoughtful prayer, and to Debra and Scott Morgan and Allene and Rex Donley for our refreshments this morning. Scott will give our opening prayer for next Sunday’s Easter brunch.
Happy birthday to Suzy Morgan on the 27th, and to Suzan Morgan on the 29th.
Rick read a thank-you note from John Harmon for our class’s support during his wife Cindy’s funeral.
Upcoming class events:
March 31 – Cooking Class (an auction item)
April 1 – Easter brunch with the Pilgrimage Class (we are hosting)
April 7 – dinner at the Carpenters’ (auction item)
April 21 – Drillers Baseball Party (auction item)
April 21 and 22 – Work team goes to the Boys’ Ranch
April 28 – Hot Diggety Dog Party (auction item)
JOYS AND CONCERNS:
Congratulations to those who served on the mission team in Houston last week. They were able to accomplish a lot and build new relationships as they shared God’s love.
Walter Berg’s biopsy was negative. He will go back in six months.
Dave and Carol Grim’s daughter Catherine’s house was broken into and she was assaulted. Please hold her in prayer as she recovers.
Allene Donley shared the Cooley family’s appreciation for the wonderful response and food after David’s funeral service on Friday.
Jeff and Julie Allen’s daughter Rebekah was in a car wreck this week. She is four months pregnant, and just found out she’s having a boy.
Bill Thomas celebrated that Congress’s new budget added $414 million more for Alzheimer’s research and treatment.
Welcome home to our prodigal dentist, Pam Low.
Please keep our public school teachers, students and Oklahoma Legislature in your prayers in the weeks ahead.
Congratulations to Jimmy Berg on his retirement.
Debra Morgan reminded us that our Sistema Tulsa’s goal is “to build community through the practice of music” – an excellent example of efforts to bring the Kingdom of God to our city.
CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Please remember the Maundy Thursday (also called Holy Thursday) Service this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary and the Good Friday Service at noon the following day in Great Hall. Both will be powerful worship experiences.
The Easter schedule next Sunday is different from years past. There will be a sunrise service at 6:30 in the park (Rose Chapel if it is raining), then worship services at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. Sunday School classes will meet from 10:00 to 10:45.
Also, the Easter Eve Service, which is led by our children, will begin Saturday, March 31, at 4:00 p.m in the sanctuary, It will be followed by an Easter egg hunt in the park.
We pray God’s richest blessings for all of you during this holiest week of the Christian year. May it be more meaningful than ever before. We’ll see you Sunday as we gather to celebrate the risen Christ.
Maranatha Class Website 