High Hopes Children’s Class

Our children’s class meets during the 9 AM worship service. It serves children ages 3-12 and always has 2 qualified adults present. They are following the Celebrate Wonder program. They have recently chosen the class name of High Hopes.

Our Child/Youth Abuse Prevention & Protection Policy demonstrates our absolute and unwavering commitment to the physical safety and spiritual growth of all our children and youth.

“We pledge to conduct the ministry of the gospel to assure the safety and spiritual growth of all our children and youth as well as all of the workers with children and youth. We follow reasonable safety measures in the selection of recruitment of workers; we have prudent operational procedures in all programs and events; we educate all of our workers with children and youth regarding the use of all appropriate polices and methods (including first aid and methods of discipline); we report suspected incidents of abuse in accordance with Tennessee law; and we respond to media inquiries if an incident occurs.”

In all of our ministries with children and youth, this congregation demonstrates the love of Jesus Christ so that each child is “surrounded by steadfast love…established in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal.

Good News class

The Good News class at Malesus UMC is our newest adult Sunday School class.  Interestingly, we do not have a class leader so sometimes during our class time we can and do get pretty side-tracked.  We laugh a lot! But as our class name suggests, we use our class time and class projects to ensure that we live according to classic Biblical principles.

Generally speaking, the class as a group picks a book for intensive study, typically chapter by chapter.  Usually we can finish one chapter each Sunday but, if necessary, we will continue with that chapter the following Sunday; if that means the completion of the book study is delayed, well, that’s not important to our class.  Some of the books that we have covered over the past year include “Parables from the Back Side”, “The 13 Apostles”, and “The Grumbler’s Guide to Giving Thanks”.

Our class is heavily involved with mission work and each class member is welcome to get as much involved or as little involved as their talents and daily schedules permit.

As of January 2024, the class has sponsored ten projects through KIVA in Columbia, Puerto Rico, El Salvador and Kenya and other countries.  KIVA is a 501(c)3 U.S. nonprofit fueled by passionate people.  The class loans money to micro business owners in undeveloped countries.   We chose from a long list of well-deserving people the specific project to be funded.  As the money is repaid, we loan out that money again for a new project.  As an example we loaned money to Chilet in Haiti for him to expand his poultry business; Chilet expanded his business and repaid the loan and we then loaned that money out again to someone else.

The Good News class also provides Manna Bags to our church family for further distribution to the homeless and needy that we all come in contact with during our daily lives.  We select, purchase, and pack the items.  Each Manna Bag contains a protein source, a vegetable source, a fruit source, a dessert source, and a bottle of water.

The group also comes together for special projects.  For instance, at the 2021 Christmas dinner we put on a very-well-received humorous skit titled “The Most Important Person at Christmas”. For the 2022 Christmas dinner, we put together the Good News Jug Band (also known as the Malesus UMC Praise Band) and played to excellent reviews that evening. The Jug Band played at the church’s Talent Show on Wednesday, September 17, 2023. A lot of fun was had by all!

In 2023, we discussed in depth the book “The Grumbler’s Guide to Giving Thanks“. Author & Pastor Dustin Crowe identified gratitude as actually necessary to knowing the hope of our gracious God.  Dustin examined the biblical foundations of thankfulness and traces how it can reshape every-day Christian living. When we express gratitude in all things, we not only praise our Creator, we also get to know Him better. With The Grumbler’s Guide, we learned how to practice thanksgiving in both simple and extraordinary ways, even when we’re tempted to dwell on the negative. And in doing so, we found greater, more joy-filled reasons to continue expressing thanks to our good and generous God.

In 2023, we also discussed in depth the book “Aggressively Happy: A Realist’s Guide to Believing in the Goodness of Life” by Joy Marie Clarkson. With an Introduction, 9 Chapters, and an Epilogue, our discussions took us into the holiday season.

In January 2024 we started a serious in-depth discussion of the study guide titled “The Book of Revelation: Visions for the Church in Crisis” by James A. Walther, Sr. Visitors can join the discussion at any time because the many chapters do not really build on one another.

If you are still searching for a Sunday School class that can make a difference in your life and the life of your church family, please consider joining us. We even have free coffee most Sunday mornings!

Lamplighters

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”   Psalm 119:105

Like Jesus each individual Christian is an integral part of the living body called the Church.  This adult Lamplighters class is one of the cornerstones of Malesus UMC.  Our purpose is to grow in the Word, offer support and help one another grow in our faith.

On Wednesday nights after our church meal, Travis was using “The Chosen”.  As we finished season 2, the Lamplighters Sunday School Class started to study and learn more about each individual disciple. We started with Matthew. We used the video by Brandon Robbins, reading Matthew, group discussion and prayer. We have no set time or weeks to complete.  November and December has brought us to the book of Mark, still using Brandon Robbins?  We go where the Spirit leads.  We invite you to join us to learn more about those chosen to follow Christ and how you can accept Christ’s invitation to come and follow. This Sunday School Class meets in the Lamplighters Sunday School Room in the education building. We have an attendance of nine (9) each Sunday morning at 10:15 am, after our worship service. Please come and join the Lamplighters Class!

The Fellowship Class is a class of older adults that meet in the room to the left behind sanctuary close to restrooms. There are no steps to go up or down to classroom. We also meet at 10:15 following service.  We are reading the book of Mark using Life Lessons with Max Lucado.

Transition/Seekers Class

This is the largest in number class.  We meet in the sanctuary immediately following the worship service at 10:15.  We study the International Bible Lessons published by Cokesbury with a video.  We have questions and discussion.  We stay very involved in all facets of our church. You will see us on Wednesday night for Fellowship Dinners and bible study, missions, choir, and just working around the church.  We love our fellowship together while we study God’s Word.  We would love to have you in our adult class right after the service.