Don Forsman has provided the manuscript versions of two of the lessons he has presented to the Maranatha class on the topic, “Barriers to Belief.” To download these Microsoft Word documents (which can be opening by Open Office, Pages, or other programs as well), click the links below.
The Eternal Hereafter (Manuscript)
Is Life Predestined (Manuscript)
Links to the audio recordings may be found on the Maranatha section of the Boston Avenue UMC web site.
Dear Maranatha Class,
On behalf of all of our Chapel Choir choristers and families, I would like express my sincere gratitude for your continuing and generous support of our ministry. Your gift will really help us keep costs affordable for everyone. Thanks so much!
Grace and Peace,
Joel Panciera
The items listed will be up for discussion on Sunday, 13 March.
William Meyer
———- Forwarded message ———-
From Sharon Earley
Dear Maranatha Class Members,
Your donations committee has been hard at work. We solicited donation requests and ideas, met to discuss those items and prepared the following proposal for your consideration. We took care to stay within the donation guidelines previously drafted in 2003 which focus, first, on the needs of our Church and its outreach missions and ministries and, secondly, on others in need.
An Excel spreadsheet* is available for download here (Maranatha donations 2011) which summarizes the proposal by category. Additional information is provided in the narrative below. Please take a moment to review this information and bring any questions you may have to Sunday School this Sunday, March 13. We will address your questions, make any necessary modifications and vote on the proposal.
Maranatha 2011 Donations
Within Boston Avenue:
Chapel Choir tour – $800
This is a less expensive, close to home trip, but an extra bus will need to be chartered due to the size of the choir.
Children’s Camp Scholarships – $750
Cost of all camps has risen this year. B.A. tries to pay half tuition for one camp of each child’s choice. EvaMarie has 8-12 Boston Avenue families who need full tuition in order for their children to be able to participate.
Little Disciples Library – $200
Money will purchase books and needed supplies for the children’s library.
Advent Workshop – $400
This would cover supply and food expenses not covered by the Holly Rose Endowment Fund. We will also discuss the option of adding to that endowment.
Middle School computer lab – $500
Debbie needs 3 computers and some software for the youth to use on the third floor. We think 2 computers may be donated.
Senior High furniture – $1400
This will go for group seating in an extra classroom and computer chairs for the fourth floor.
Seminary scholarship – $500
Maranatha’s own Ben Pascoe has received a nice scholarship to Perkins but still needs help with textbooks.
Quilting for Others – $300
This Boston Avenue group gives their time to make quilts for people in need; they just need help to purchase materials.
Boston Avenue Outreach Ministries:
Burroughs Elementary School – $300
These monies would provide special meals for the teachers, supplies for the students and teachers, uniform items, copy paper and any other requests
Boy Scout Troop 20 – $300
Money will be used for scholarships for the boys to attend events and camping equipment.
United Methodist Circle of Care – $500
COC has a great ministry to Oklahoma children who need nurture and care.
New Day Camp – $1250
This would provide 5 scholarships for children of incarcerated parents to attend. Camp helps them feel loved, learn to deal with their situation.
Exodus House – $500
This money will help restock our Apartment M for a new tenant.
Day Center for the Homeless – $300
Helps provide food and shelter.
Meals on Wheels – $300
Helps keep meals affordable for people who cannot get out and need this assistance.
Neighbor for Neighbor – $300
Neighbor for Neighbor offers ten basic programs that assist the uninsured, low income, unemployed, seniors, handicapped and the impoverished.
Good Samaritan Fund – $300
This fund helps people who come in asking for help. No cash is given, but we help purchase food, gas, pay rent, etc. Those being helped include Boston Avenue families.
Bolivia Medical Clinic – Backpacks and ponchos for nurses – $500
We have a covenant relationship with Bolivia UMC. Nurses ride bicycles to their various clinics and the backpacks and rain ponchos would help them carry their supplies with them.
Other Ministries:
Clarehouse – $300
This ministry helps people who are dying, and their families, through those last days – often at no charge.
Car Care Ministry – $300
This ministry repairs cars for people who can’t otherwise afford it. Clients pay for parts and this ministry provides labor.
* You will need the newest version of Microsoft Excel or comparable software to open this .xlsx file.
In Sunday’s news from William Meyer, he mentions a Sharon as coordinating meals for the Day Center, meaning Sharon Cambridge, Boston Avenue’s cook. Sharon Cambridge is coordinating entrees for those who want someone to do most of the cooking. You can contact her at the church, 583-5181.
If you are interested in having the class serve at the Day Center again for one of their open spots, please let Sharon Earley know so that she can coordinate with Paul Staat.
Friends,
David Carpenter has informed us that the Bible verse for Sunday, July 25th’s lesson is: 1 Thessalonians 1 – 2:8. Please read and bring your Bibles!! See you Sunday!
Richard Wansley
I could sure use some Maranatha ushers for BABA next weekend (July 29, 30, and 31). Ushers would need to be outside of Community Hall by 6:20 on the 29th and 30th and by 1:50 on the 31st. Need 5 per day. Can stay and watch the show if they would like (free!). E-mail me at ssmorg or call/text me at 261-5377.
Thanks,
Suzy Morgan
Just a reminder that the 4th of July, will be a BRUNCH SUNDAY at Maranatha. Bring a dish to share with all, please. We will acknowledge birthdays, anniversaries, and have announcements, but in a shortened version. Also, we will not have a lesson, per se; I will be delivering a devotion on the topic of “freedom”. Bring visitors to enjoy the food, fellowship, and devotion!
Beginning July 11, at the request of many in the class, we will begin Maranatha’s own version of a “disciple’s bible study”. Our own David Carpenter, who teaches Disciple’s Study in the Church, will be our leader in a series that he refers to as “Disciple Bible: Introduction to New Testament Lite.” David will lead us for 8 weeks (in 4 week blocks), July 11th, 18th, 25th, and August 1st, then he will take a break for several weeks, leading us again for 4 Sundays in September. I’m not certain that we have done this form of teaching before in our class, but it was suggested by a number of members when we did our survey prior to setting up lessons for the year. Thank you, David, for agreeing to be our leader in this series. Spread the word to others who may wish to join us in July and then again in September for David’s program.
See you Sunday; have a safe holiday celebration!
Richard Wansley
The Report is arriving a bit later than usual due to the holiday this week, and our hosting family at our house. My apologies for the late posting.
Being the 5th Sunday, it was a Brunch Sunday, and the food was ample and delicious. We also had a great turnout especially considering that it was a holiday weekend.
Ginny Walker gave an inspired lesson, a description of her loving relationship with Jerry, her husband, who resides at Methodist Manor. Ginny and Jerry’s story served as a reminder to us that our personal world can be a fragile one, and when it breaks, we need the support of family, friends, and our Christian faith. Thank you, Ginny, for sharing your story with us! Also, our thanks to Steve Dickie, Executive Director for Methodist Manor, who joined Ginny in describing the Manor and its plans for the future.
We recognized several birthdays and anniversaries: Birthdays – Doug Justice (5/31); Deb Nihiser (5/31); Sharon Bookout (6/2); Debbie Morgan (6/2); Neal Pascoe (6/4); Diane Martin (6/5). Anniversaries – Jeff and Julie Allen (5/30); Terry and Amy Michael (5/30); Steve and Debbie Jacoby (6/4). Celebrate; you deserve it!
It was our pleasure to welcome visitors, as well, including Kay Boswell, Steve and Doris Dixon (returning visitors), Ann Walker (Ginny and Jerry’s daughter), Vicky Langston, and, of course, Steve Dickie.
Joys and concerns were expressed by members and prayers were heard for those who were raised up in need of our help.
Now, I need your help! If you recall, we had several women volunteer to speak on Mother’s Day Sunday regarding being a mother or their own mother. It was a great lesson! On that Sunday, the idea was presented that we do a similar lesson for Father’s Day Sunday, June 20th. So, I’m looking for 3 or 4 volunteers who would speak about 5 or 6 minutes each about either being a father or about your father. I would like to have 4 men, 2 for each topic. If you are interested in volunteering, please let me know as soon as possible. I will take the first volunteers that fit into the two topics.
In June, Rev. Bill Crowell, will be our teacher. He will also teach on June 20th if we don’t have enough men to volunteer for the Father’s Day lesson. Bill’s lessons will be entitled, “A People’s History of Christianity”. This Sunday, June 6th, he will teach about two people, Justin Martyr and Perpetua. See you Sunday!!
Richard Wansley and Meredith Davison
Presidents
Dear Friends,
We have finally been able to schedule a slot for Maranatha volunteers to assist with the Habitat Interfaith build. On Saturday, April 17, we have space for eight volunteers to work from 8am to 12Noon. There is also space for eight during the afternoon shift, from 1pm to 5pm. We will be working with others from Temple Israel and the Islamic Society during those times. We expect that lunch will be provided sometime between Noon and 1pm.
Please check your calendars and be ready to sign up for your preferred time this Sunday (April 11th) during class. This project is a wonderful opportunity to work with our friends from different faiths, while helping a needy family accomplish the dream of homeownership.
The BAUMC website has this information about the family who will move into the house:
"Starla Elston moved to Tulsa a few years ago, and with a good job, she volunteered for United Way, Meals on Wheels, Asthma Walk, and other charities. She has known a lot of hardship in the past three years. In 2007 she lost her mother and a stillborn child. The following year, she lost her job, then after her older sister died, a niece came to live with her.
She has found a job, and even works a second job to make ends meet while her niece attends Tulsa Community College. “By attending classes and workshops that Habitat offers, I have learned to save and plan for my future,” she writes. “Between the staff and Habitat volunteers, I’ve been blessed to meet a lot of amazing people and am excited to build more friendships and houses in the future. As an active volunteer myself, I understand how great it feels to give back.”
Thank you,
Denny and Suzy Meredith-Orr
Please see the posting below from Suzy and Denny Meredith-Orr about finalizing the date for our Maranatha Class mission work on the Interfaith House. I encourage you to join this effort. Steve Jacoby and I have been a part of this project since its wall raising a little over two weeks ago. It’s amazing to be a part of such an activity and see how the house changes shape from one week to another, and, better yet, how it changes the life of the new homeowner.
Don’t be concerned about your construction skills; there’s work enough for everyone no matter how little or how much experience (and skills) you have in building a house. Please sign up.
Richard Wansley
Maranatha Class Website 