Urantia Book Society of Oklahoma

Period covered in this history:

November 10, 2001 through March 7, 2003, from annual meeting to annual meeting.

November 10, 2001 - Our annual meeting was held at Charlene & Veldon’s home. The weather was so nice that the meeting was held in their backyard.

December 1, 2001 - Early Winter Retreat – a spiritual retreat hosted by April Morgan and held at Harry McMullan’s country home. Thank you, April for the work you did at putting on this special meeting.

December 14, 2001 - Our annual Christmas party was held at Harry and Stacy McMullan’s home at 6912 NW Grand in Oklahoma City. There was good food and fellowship. Santa made a visit to the children, also.

December 30, 2001 - A potluck dinner was held at the Challises’ home before Sunday night class. Susan Cook and David Johnson were here from out of town and we had the dinner to spend extra time with them.

December 31, 2001 - Our New Year’s Eve party was held at the Challises’ home on the following night, so we had another evening of fun and fellowship. Poetry reading was planned, but we had too good a time talking to stop for it.

January 2002 - At our monthly kid class, Karen Allen shared with us a poem that Jeremy, 9, had written at Thanksgiving when he was feeling especially thankful. His poem is included here.

February 14, 2002 - Faye Brown, one of our founding members, died at her home in North Carolina. Faye had moved to North Carolina in the early 1990’s to be closer to her children.

Late February, 2002 - Before Sunday night class, a pot luck dinner was held at Tom and Karen’s home to honor Janet and Joseph Morgan, John Rob Owen, and Barry and Brenda Hester. They were all here from out of town for the weekend. Janet and Barry are long time Oklahoma Society members.

February 23, 2002 - Peggy Johnson, the mother of Karen Allen and a long time Urantia student from Phoenix Arizona, died after a short illness. She was mourned by members of our society because of her dedication and work for the Urantia movement and because she was Karen’s mom.

March 17, 2002 - We enjoyed a Passover Celebration at the home of Michael and Beth Challis. Pegi McMahon, our social chairman, convinced Rachel Lawrence-Mor and her daughter, Hanah, to share their Jewish Passover traditions with us. It was a very interesting experience for us and thanks to Pegi, Rachel and Hanah for the work they did putting this on for us.

On the same day and at the same time, Tom and Karen Allen and boys were out in Arizona. Dick Johnson held Peggy’s memorial service at their home. Our society called their society to convey in our good wishes and prayers for Peggy on the day of her graduation celebration to the mansion worlds.

March 31, 2002 - On this Easter morning at sunrise, we again observed Easter Urantia fashion at the point at Lake Hefner. Thanks again to Waldine for putting together this inspiring program for us. It is a spiritual experience to be there on the lake as the sun rose and the birds began to take to the air. Teri Blood played “Morning Has Broken” on her violin for us. Johnnie Owens gave us a talk on what Easter has come to mean for him since he found the Urantia Book. Afterwards, we went to the Challises’ for a potluck breakfast and an Easter Egg Hunt for the children.

April 11, 2002 - Ted Campbell, a long time member of our society from Norman, passed away.

April 20, 2002 - Waldine Stump’s mother Mary Nichols passed away. She was in her late nineties.

April 21, 2002 - We held our monthly kid class at Waldine’s home. This month, Susan Mogilka was in charge of our children’s class. She taught us through a musical lesson. She played a song that we all sang and that was a great hit with the children. The title escaped me, but it had many verses and you jumped up and said,”Whee!”

May 19, 2002 - During this family worship session at Susan Mogilka’s home, Waldine taught the children the parable of sower of seeds. Our children illustrated the good seeds that fall on fertile soil and become flowers.

June 7, 2002 - Cookie Cook died. He was an early member of our society.

June 30 – July 06, 2002 - The International Conference of the Fellowship was held in Estes Park, Colorado. Some of our society’s members were able to attend the big triennial event.

July 14, 2002 - We held our children’s class in Hafer Park in Edmond, where John Laakman and his family shared his balloon with us. As John was inflating the balloon, he lead the children inside for a lesson. He said that the view from inside the balloon was like the Thought Adjuster’s view of you. He’s always trying to communicate with you from the inside, but there are distractions going on, kind of like the fan that was noisily blowing up the balloon. After the lesson, we all had a tethered ride in the balloon.

August 21, 2002 - We held our annual Jesus Birthday Celebration at Coles Garden. It is a beautiful place for such a special occasion. Paul Snider was our guest speaker. Paul gave us his thoughts on how we might “Use the Mind of Jesus.” Paul and his wife Mary drove down from Chicago for the event. We were very honored to have them.

September 15, 2002- -For our children’s class, Charlene gave a lesson on forgiveness. Susan Mogilka wrote a song for the occasion and the words are included here.

November 2, 2002 - Dr. Goldia B. Young, an early member of our Society, died on this day.

December 14, 2002 - The Christmas Party was held at the home of Michael and Beth Challis. Santa Claus came to give the children (and one or two adults) gifts! The children knew to expect something from Santa, but the adults were surprised!

December 31, 2002 - Tom and Karen Allen hosted the New Year’s Party at their home this year. We were happy to greet Tom’s family, who were in town for the holidays. Pegi, our indefatigable social chairman, amused us all with the funny little games that she had us play. No poetry was read this year, but a good time was had by all!

January 17, 2003 - Laliah Cook, an early member of our society died on this day. She was a past president of our Society and the wife of Cookie Cook who died earlier this year.

February 23, 2003 - The monthly children’s class was held in the home of Michael and Beth Challis. Charlene taught the children about music and its place in the universe. (The adults read about the celestial musicians in the Celestial Artisans paper.) On the spur of the moment, since no one could remember the words, Karen Allen wrote new lyrics to the tune of “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing in Perfect Harmony.” The lyrics are included here.

March 8, 2003 - We have our business meeting and another “year” has come to a close.

Officers for the Period

November 10, 2001 through March7, 2003

President – Michael Challis

Vice-president – Charlene Morrow

Treasurer – Harry McMullan

Secretary – Karen Allen

Historian – Beth Challis

Social Chairman – Pegi McMahon

Membership Chairman – Stacy McMullan

Financial Chairman – Tom Allen

Librarian – Helen Butler