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THE WORDan edition ofThe United Methodist Reporter

Two Sections, Section A / 039880 / Vol. 159 / N0 46 / March 15, 2013

Boston Avenue United Methodist Church1301 S. Boston, Tulsa, OK 74119

(918) 583-5181 - www.bostonavenue.org

Pastor’s Study4A

Weekday School 8A

New members4A

Mission Team leaves Saturday for Bolivia

Our Senior High mission team will leave for Bolivia early this Saturday morn-ing! You can follow their mission on Face-book at “Boston Avenue UMC Spring Break Bolivia Mission.” The team of twelve youths and seven adults will travel all day, then arrive in LaPaz at 5:00 a.m. Sunday. There they will meet with eight Bolivian students and a

conference leader. They hope to attend worship services Sunday morning as well. On Monday they will drive up to El Alto, where they will work on a church construction project and lead a Vacation Bible School. “This is a relationship building mission and a partnership, so the Bolivia students will take us to visit their school one day,” says Senior

(See “Bolivia mission” on page 4A)

Concert Organist Nathan Laube to present 2013 Fred Elder Recital

“He is in a class by himself ... one of the most outstanding young artists of our time ... born for one purpose - to play the organ as God intends it to be played.” - Tampa Tribune

(See “Elder Recital” page 4A)

Easter offering helps churches reach out

Concert organist Nathan Laube, a rapidly-rising star among young musicians, will be the 2013 recitalist in the Fred Elder Recital Series. His concert begins Sunday, March 24, at 5:00 in the sanctuary. Mr. Laube has quickly earned a place among the organ world’s elite performers. His brilliant playing and gracious demeanor have thrilled audi-ences and presenters across the United States and in Europe. His creative programming of repertoire spanning five centu-ries, including his own virtuoso

Visit France this month at Another Helping! Come visit the beautiful churches and cathedrals of France! All seniors are invited to come and enjoy “travel with a camera” at the next Another Helping this Wednesday, March 20, at noon. Dr. Dwight Thomas will share pictures to visit these beautiful religious sites and talk about their history. A light lunch is available for $6.00 or participants can bring their own “brown bag” lunch. There is no cost for the program. For meal reservations, call Paula Gradney, 918-699-0129, or send an email to

(See “Another Helping” on page 4A)

Join us for an Easter Egg Hunt!Next Sunday, March 24

12:10 p.m. -immediately following

the 11:00 worship servicein the park across Cincinnati

All children - toddlers to fifth graders - are welcome!Thousands of eggs will be filled with surprises and hidden that

Sunday for the children to find!

Each year our church takes an Easter offering to help share God’s good news. The offering is divided among a number of ef-fective ministries, including our conference Volunteer in Mission (VIM) office. This ministry helps Oklahoma United Methodist churches reach out in mission. It was instrumental in our own church’s adult mission trip to Bolivia last summer and the current youth mission trip there next week. It is also very helpful to teams from smaller churches across the conference, and lives are changed. One church, Mt. Zion UMC in El Reno, recently sent a team to Kenya, where as a result of the 2007 tribal wars, many people are homeless. A small

United Methodist congregation of 50 members there is reaching out to help those who are in need of shelter, food, water, and clothing. “Knowing that the conference has a very knowledgeable VIM office, I went to talk with the director, Rev. Jeremy Basset,” writes Rev. Lamarla Cook. “He gave excellent advice.” The team was able to go to Kenya to dis-tribute flour, beans, corn, and sugar. The fami-lies they helped were overjoyed to receive the life-sustaining commodities, and the experience impacted the mission team members as well. “(We) have forever been changed,’ she adds. “This adventure took all of us way out of our comfort zones, but without a doubt we felt the presence of God!”

Page 4A March 15, 2013

B.A. family updateFrom the

Pastor’s StudyMouzon Biggs, Jr.

Barbara Rice fought a valiant battle against cancer for more than ten years. Even through those difficult times, her attendance at church and Sunday School was amazing. She loved the Lord, and she loved this church. She died last May, and I conducted her funeral here at the church. Last week our church received a check for $10,000 from her estate. She loved her children and grandchildren, and she loved yours, too. She wanted her gift to be added to our endowment with the income each year to be used in youth ministries. That will be approximately $500 every year, about $10 every week forever! Our youth are grateful. * * * * * Some of Judah’s greatest prophets warned that if her people did not live out their covenant with God in faithful obedience, God would allow Judah’s enemies to triumph over them. Ezekiel saw those warnings realized. When the dreaded Babylonians, ancestors of today’s Iraqis, destroyed Jerusalem, its Temple and its palaces, he and thousands of others were marched away to exile. In Babylon, God visited Ezekiel and inspired him to write a series of visions. One of those visions prompts this week’s Lenten sermon, “IN THE MIDDLE OF A VALLEY FULL OF BONES!”

Altar Flowers

High Youth Director Audra Fogle, the team leader. “This is the first time Americans and Bolivians have worked on a team together. “The Bolivian students will go to school in the mornings, then join us in the afternoons. They attend a United Methodist school, so our visit will give us a good chance to see how our church’s money is being spent. “On that Thursday they will take us to see significant sites in their country, including Lake Titicaca.” The team will return home Friday, March 22, at 9:55 p.m.

Bolivia mission ... (continued)

In loving memory of Jim Banfield, whose birthday was March 19, from JoAnn Banfield. To honor our father, Craig Ferris, Sr., whose birthday was March 22nd, from Jon and Linda Ferris. In honor of our daughter, Jennifer Anne Ferris, whose birthday is March 24th, from Jon and Linda Ferris. In loving memory of Dr. Clarence I. Britt, whose birthday was March 25th, from Caroline Britt and family. In loving memory of Joan Johnston, whose birthday was March 26th, from her family. In memory of Mildred Mainard Lindsay, whose birthday was March 31st, by Jon and Dee Dee Stuart, Melissa and D. J. Nuzum, and Susan, Adam, Landon and Han-nah Peterson.Deaths Gini Cunningham died February 18, 2013. Services will be held Monday, March 25, at Boston Avenue with Dr. Bill Tankersley officiat-ing. Survivors include her son, Scott and Beth Quarterman, and grandsons, Josh and Blake. Dorothy Estill died Febru-ary 28, 2013. Services were held March 2 in Fort Worth, Texas. Survivors include John and Elizabeth Estill, III. Randy Owen died March 2, 2013. Services were held at Elk City UMC. Survivors include his wife Barbara;

transcriptions of orchestral works, have earned high praise from critics and peers alike. In addition to performing, Mr. Laube is dedicated to mentor-ing the next generation of young organists. In the fall of 2013 he will join the faculty of The Eastman School of Music in Roches-ter, New York as Assistant Professor of Organ, where he will teach with distinguished Professors David Higgs and Edoardo Bellotti. Recent and upcoming performances by Mr. Laube include major venues in the United States and Europe such as Walt Dis-ney Concert Hall in Los Angeles; Washington National Cathedral; Trinity Cathedral in Portland, Oregon; Girard College Chapel in Philadelphia; Stiftskirche in Stuttgart, Germany; Notre-Dame-du-Taur in Toulouse, France; Cathédrale Saint-Alain in Lavaur, France; and the collegiate chapels of Stanford University, Harvard University, and The University of Chicago. In Europe Mr. Laube has performed five tours of the United Kingdom, with concerts at York Minster, Canterbury Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, Exeter Cathedral, and Truro Cathedral, and others. Mr. Laube has been a featured performer at three recent national conventions of the Organ Historical Society. He was also featured at the American Guild of Organists 2010 national convention in Washington DC and 2012 national convention in Nashville. Many of his live performances have been featured on American Public Media’s program, “Pipedreams.” This June Mr. Laube will receive his Master’s Degree in Organ Performance from the Musikhochschule in Stuttgart, Ger-many. As a recipient of a William Fulbright Grant, Nathan spent the 2010-2011 academic year studying at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Toulouse where he earned the two top honors. As a church musician, he currently serves as Artist-in-Resi-dence at the American Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Paris.

Elder Recital . . . (continued)

paulagradney@bostonavenue.org. Dr. Thomas, a retired biolo-gist, worked at the U.S. Depart-ment of the Interior and taught sciences at Northeastern State University. He visited France last July, and has also been to China, various places in Europe, Canada and Mexico.

Another Helping(continued)

A great time at Philbrook! Boston Avenue senior adults had a great time touring Phil-brook Museum last week! Docents Janet Purinton and Dick O’Neal led the tour, then the group enjoyed snacks in one of the museum classrooms. A trip is being planned for every month. “It was great!” said one participant. “We’re so glad the youth don’t get to have all the fun!”

Madison Ropp joined Sunday. She is perfusion tech-nologist and a member of the Journey Class.

Meet our newest members

Kim Woodard joined Sunday after watching our service on television.

Have a prayer request?Call our prayer line at

699-0158

daughters, Michelle Owen and Stephanie and Travis Barber; and son, Max and Sandy Owen. Louise Turner died March 2, 2013. Services were held March 7 in Arkansas. Stephen Branch died March 3, 2013. Services are pending. Survivors include his brother, Thomas and LaVerne Branch, of Broken Arrow. Cecil Johnston died March 6, 2013. Services were held March 9 at B.A. with Dr. Bill Tankersley officiating. Sur-vivors include his daughters, Jackie and Richard Neel and Laura and Chris Taylor; grand-son, Summer and Andy Neel, and granddaughters Leigh, Katie and Maddie Taylor; great granddaughters, Claire and Ad-die Neel; sister, Sylvia Byers; and niece, Lynda Rowe. Edna Weger died March 6, 2013. Services were held March 9. Survivors include sons, James Weger of Tulsa and John and Lisa Weger of Flori-da; son-in-law, Lee Freeman of Montana; nine grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Ruth Harris died March 9, 2013. Services were held March 12 in Texas. Survivors include her sister, the Rev. Dr. Virginia Gray.Births Maxfield Jadon Foster was born March 6 to Richard and Kenianne Foster. Proud grandparents are Ken and Jan Wilmott.

(continued on page 8A)

March 15, 2013 Page 5A

Youth News!! . . .

Sunday WorshipMarch 17, 2013

The Fifth Sunday in Lent

12:10 p.m. Service of Healing

Prelude: Chanson ....................................................... Kevin Norris Dr. Susan Panciera, Organist (8:30) Offertory: Breathe on Me, Breath of God ............ arr. Edwin ChildsAnthem: Spirit of God ........................... Steve Garnaas-Holmes The Chapel Choir (8:30) Spirit Now Live In Me ......................... Bryan J. Leech The Chancel Choir (11:00)Communion Music: Gabriel’s Meditation ............ E. Morricone Diedre Wakeley, oboe (8:30 & 11:00)Benediction Response (no postlude in Lent)

By Robyn Aydelott

9:30 a.m. Communion Service9:40 a.m. Sunday School8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Worship Services Sermon: “IN THE MIDDLE OF A VALLEY FULL OF BONES!” Ezekiel 37:1-14 Dr. Mouzon Biggs, Jr.Music:

March 17, 2013Psalm 23

Ezekiel 37:1-14John 9:1-41

Ephesians 5:8-14

Lectionary Readings

Senior High news

6th, 7th and 8th Grade

Thunder ends successful season Congratulations to the Boston Avenue Thunder basketball team for winning second the church league championship! “Sports ministry is an excellent way to reach out beyond our own church walls,” says Audra Fogle. “It can be a very effective entry into the church community for both kids and adults.” “This group of young men was a team of multi-talented athletes - baseball players, football players, soccer players and a boxer - which gave us an advantage most of the time,” says coach Derek Cowan. “We may have been short of bodies to put on the floor sometimes, but we were never short of quality teamwork, fun, humor, brotherhood and camaraderie. “It was refreshing to see these players, who didn’t know one another before we began, become friends. This was my first time to coach a team at this age level and they were such a success. I hope this was as great a personal and spiritual experience for them as it was for me. I certainly look forward to the next season. “Thanks to my assistant Lance Sheehan, the players, Katie Roberts, Audra Fogle, Trey Biggs, the support staff and all the other parents who allowed us this time with their boys.”

UMW News

Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:26-29 On this fifth Sunday of Lent, we add grapes and wheat to remind us of Jesus’ last meal with his disciples and the deep and abiding love he offers to each of us so freely. We are called to share that love with others.

Fifth Sunday Lenten symbols added Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day. Tradition says that if you catch a leprechaun, he must take you to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and good luck comes with four leaf clovers. We know the rainbow in the Bible does not lead to gold, but does lead us to God, and it is not luck but God who brings blessings. Come Sun-day morning and enjoy some green and maybe a little “blarney.” Have some fun with Kelly Loud as your teacher and learn about this man named St. Patrick. Meeting with your friends at church is a great way to begin your spring break week. Remember - no Wednesday youth group March 20th. Our service project for March continues with collection of items for Child SHARE. Our basket is beginning to fill up! We want it overflowing so keep bringing your gifts for foster children. Special thanks to all the adults who gave up a night of sleep to chaperone our all-night Lock-Out. We lost a night, then another hour for daylight saving time, but it was worth it. We had a fan-tastic time with our mid-high group. Everywhere we go, people comment on the pleasant attitudes and graciousness of our youth. It is a joy and a delight to be in ministry with our youth and families. Have a restful, fun week during your break. If you are in town, don’t take a break from church - join us on Sunday!!!!! Joyfully yours, Debbie

MOUZON AND GAYLE BIGGS ENDOWMENTIn honor of Dr. and Mrs. Mouzon Biggs, Jr. By: Glen and Martha Berkenbile By: Barbara Constantine By: Anita Dewhurst By: Doug and Elisabeth Harrington By: Judy Haug By: Heritage Sunday School Class By: Stephen and Maret Herr By: Linda Larson By: Phyllis Scroggs By: Handy and Marlene Waychoff By: William and Carol WillisEXODUS HOUSEIn memory of Ruth Harris, sister of Virginia Gray By: Sue Brothers

The Walk to Emmaus weekend is a 72-hour short course in Christianity, comprised of fifteen talks by lay and clergy on thethemes of God’s grace, disciplines of Christian discipleship, and what it means to be the church. Two Emmaus Walks will be offered at our church in April. If you would like to know more about the Walk to Emmaus, contact Rev. Paul Staat at 918.699.0133 or pdstaat@msn.com.

Here is a new mission op-portunity for UMW circles: Some circles already sup-port Circle of Care’s ministry through Pearl’s Hope. They have opened a third cottage. Lyons Cottage will house homeless single women and their children. The new cottage offers a safe place for up to four more families. There will be an Open House tour on Tuesday, March 26, 2:00- 6:00 p.m. at Pearl’s Hope, 1616 N. Gilcrease Mu-seum Road. There is an urgent need for donations to stock the new cottage by March 22nd. Other upcoming UMW events to put on your calendar: UMW Executive Commit-tee meets Wednesday April 3rd, 9:30 a.m. in the Oxford room. Earth Day program at Centenary UMC is April 13th. Susie Ruby will be the speaker. UMW Unit Meeting is Thursday, April 25th at 6:00 p.m. in Asbury room. Rev. Meri Whitaker is guest speaker.

Gifts, Memorials

Bolivia, HERE WE COME! As you are reading this, we are making final preparations for Bolivia and beginning our altitude medication! Last Sunday, 56 gathered for a time of celebration and a reminder to be servants for Christ. We look forward to meeting our Bolivian team members and working together! You can follow us on Facebook and see the pictures of where we will be staying and working at “Boston Avenue UMC Spring Break Mission.” We are very excited to get to be part of growing a church! We will actually be laying block to expand the meeting space of this young church. During the VBS time, we expect to reach out to neighborhood children to tell God’s story! Our team has worked hard to prepare the story, crafts and games to make learning fun! We are excited to have our teen counterparts for the VBS time...the more native speakers, the better! Please keep our team in our prayers - for safe travels, for our hearts and minds to be open to God’s voice in Bolivia and that we will live as His servants in all that we do! On the home front, we are still on our Lenten journey. Last week our DTBA group stuffed over 1000 Easter eggs for Child SHARE’s Easter Egg Hunt on the 23rd. The eggs and donated clothes, socks, underwear and sippy cups have been delivered, and Candace Morton, director of Child SHARE, is already shar-ing the items with their families. We look forward to continuing to be in ministry with Child SHARE’s important ministry! We are so proud of our senior high Thunder basketball team for their outstanding season! Second place overall! They are already organizing for next year! Ultimate Frisbee, anyone?? Enjoy your break from school this week. We won’t meet for DTBA, but we will look forward to being together on Sundays! Thankful for plentiful air at lower altitudes! - Audra

Hymns: 422 Jesus, Thine All-Victorious Love 420 Breathe on Me, Breath of God

Walk to Emmaus welcomes all

Page 8A March 15, 2013

Class News . . .

Weekly Calendar

Sunday School at a glance...Adult Classes for Sunday, March 17, 2013

Visitors are welcome in all classes.Dr. Biggs’ Class - Greatest Bible Stories and PassagesCornerstone - Kevin RaleyDisciples - Adam Hamilton series, “The Way”Ephphatha - to be announcedHeritage - Dwight Thomas, “Churches and Cathedrals of France”Homebuilders - Dr. Bill CrowellHorizons - Paul StaatJourney - Judy RowellMaranatha - Karen Brownlee Campbell, Lenten seriesNew Covenant - Handy WaychoffNew Frontiers - to be announcedPilgrimage - Rev. Ken Tobler, “Learning to be Gracious”Roundtable - Dr. Don Forsman, “The Royal Law of Love”Seek & Discover - Dick MartinWesley Fellowship - Darlene Tegeler, “Jesus and Paul”

Sunday - March 17 8:30 a.m. Worship Service9:30 Communion Service9:40 Sunday School11:00 Worship Service12:10 Communion and HealingMonday - March 186:00 Men’s basketball practice6:30 Child SHARE Support Grp.7:15 Troop 20Tuesday - March 195:30 p.m. Emmaus Group7:00 China Happy Children’s Home Board

Wednesday - March 2012:00 noon Another Helping1:15 p.m. Great Decisions6:00 Yoga7:30 Chancel ChoirThursday - March 2110:00 Staff Meeting6:00 PCCT Parenting Classes7:00 “Following the Way” studyFriday - March 225:30 p.m. Gamblers Anonymous5:30 GamAnonSaturday - March 2311:00 a.m. New Frontiers party

Cornerstone Stay tuned for a spring social at the Stauffer’s house. Kevin Raley will be back this week to finish his series. Thank you to Ruth Weston for her interesting series on “Methodism 101.”Disciples We will take an offering each Sunday in March, so bring your wallets and checkbooks. We will continue our les-sons by Adam Hamilton. This week we’ll learn about sinners, outcasts, and the poor. Thanks to the Harveys for our delicious bagels. No one is bringing treats this Sunday.Heritage We will go to the Spotlight Theater on Saturday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m. The cost is $13. Make reservations with the Bertrems. Our own Judy Parks will be playing the piano. Dwight Thomas will return Sunday to talk about cathedrals in France. Thanks to Phyllis Scroggs for her lesson on the Nicaragua water well project. Thanks to the Duncans for our treats. This week the Perlingieres will bring them.Homebuilders Bill Crowell will teach this Sunday. Thanks to Brenda Reed for teaching last week. Keep Ann Gibbs in your prayers. Thanks to Martha Swezey for the delicious refreshments. Horizons The Rev. Paul Staat will be with us this Sunday. Happy birthday to Sherry McPherson, Madison Turner, Tori Goins, Kevin Raley, Mi-chael Huckaby, Ali Wonderly. Thanks to Dr. Panciera for the continuing his lessons on post-modern Christianity. Thanks to Katie for our treats. Shelly is signed up to bring them this week.Journey We will have a St. Pat-rick’s Eve dinner on March 16. Watch for an email about location and time. March 23 is the Pixar Party, and April 19-20 is the retreat to Camp Egan. Cost is $15. Judy Rowell will be our

teacher Sunday. Our brunch for this week is cancelled. We will have a brunch on Easter. Madison Ropp joined the church last Sunday. Welcome! Thanks to Rob Reck for teaching about “Happy Rocks.”Maranatha We will eat at McNellie’s together on March 24. This week Karen Campbell will teach us. Hosts will be Gary and Patti Smith and Tom and Sharon Cox. We welcomed Lauren Latchem as a new member and Anita Anthony as a visitor. Happy birthday to Jackie Ferguson, Jeannine Bezotte, and Ginger Smyrl. Happy an-niversary to the Shermans and Richard and Jeanie Payton. Thanks to Ed Payton for teaching last week and to hosts Paul and Mary Staat and David and Kendall Carpenter. Keep the Morgan family, Eric Green, the Gray family, Lynn Russell’s uncle, Meredith Davidson’s mother, Mark’s father, the Madden family, the Low family, the Cross family, Elaine, and Denny Meredith-Orr in your prayers.New Covenant Handy Waychoff will be our teacher this week George Fenn is celebrat-ing a birthday. Welcome to our visitor, Doug Smith. Keep Art McGrew, Bob Lees, and Marilyn Letterman in your prayers. Thanks to Dr. Bill Tanker-sley for teaching and Carmen Marple for our treats.New Frontiers We will have a social on Saturday, March 23, 11:00-3:00 in Jubilee Hall. Join us Sunday, March 17, to help stuff Easter eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, March 24. Thanks to Paul Staat for continuing to teach on “Did Jesus have to die?”Pilgrimage We will have dinner on the 14th at Elmer’s BBQ, 6 p.m. Ken Tobler will teach Sunday. His topic is, “Learning to be Gracious.” We thank him for our lesson last week. We welcomed Cody Jar-nagan from California and Joe

Hanning as visitors. Keep Carol Tobler, Sally Enoch, and Sally Dennison in your prayers for healing. Thanks to all who helped with meals for classmates.Roundtable Dr. Don Forsman’s third lesson in his four-part series, Seven Words to the Cross, is entitled “The Royal Law of Love.” Last week’s lesson showed Don’s exceptional talents as both teacher and preacher. Many thanks to all who made Friday’s St. Patrick’s Day party a smashing success. Welcome to our new mem-ber, Rosie Felds, and returning visitors, John & Marilyn Berry.Seek and Discover We will have dinner at the Martin’s on the 22nd at 6:00 p.m. Plan to attend. Contact Pam for information as to what other food is needed. Dick Martin will be our teacher this Sunday. Kay Flory and Mary and Randy Elliott visited our class. Continue prayers for Nancy, Sandra, and Oneida. Thanks to Rev. Jeff Jaynes for teaching us last week.Wesley Fellowship Sunday Darlene Tegeler will continue her lessons on Jesus and Paul. We thank her for teaching last week. We welcomed visitors Patti Cosler, Louise Zeliff’s daugh-ter, and Darlene Morrow, Peggy Gary’s friend. Keep John and Laura Pe-terson, Martha Berkenbile, and Dorothy Heath in your prayers.

Weekday School is now enrolling Boston Avenue Weekday School is now enrolling for summer and fall. The school meets Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and children can attend two, three or five days a week. Three summer sessions are offered for infants through third graders: Session I (June 3-21) - Oh the Places You Can Go: Space ships to circus clowns: where will you go? Come see!

Slide into summer fun at Weekday School!

Session II (July 1-26) - Treasure Island: Ahoy mateys - Pirates and buried treasure, ocean life and water days - “X” marks the spot for fun! Session III (July 29 - August 16) - Out in the Desert: Ex-plore the sights and sounds of the desert, make your own snakes, enjoy a water oasis! Fall session begins September 4 for infants for five year olds. Call Patty Banes, 918-699-0112, for availability & information.

B.A. update(continued)

Betty Margan died March 9, 2013. Services were held March 13 in Frederick, OK. Survivors include her son, Scott and Debbie Morgan, and grandchildren, Sarah, Joseph and David MorganHospitalized Last Week St. John - Joseph Becker, Jeanne Brosius-Smith, Jack Mayo, Tammy Solis St. Francis - Mark Britt, Kenianne Foster, Art McGrew, Bill Montgomery, Bill Schultz Hillcrest - Ruth Neal