Missions
Making a difference
Christ’s Love In Action
Mission work invites us to carry God’s love beyond the walls of our building by caring for our neighbors. Whether around the corner or across the globe, there are many opportunities to serve with Boston Avenue! Our core value of “develops mission partnerships as Christ’s love in action” means that we are often working with established organizations and nonprofits who are on the ground providing services so that we can be the most efficient and effective at responding to needs in our community and beyond.
At Boston Avenue, we have mission opportunities for all ages and stages, utilizing all sorts of gifts and talents individuals may have!
On-going Local Missions
Blessing Box (Free Little Pantry)
Located at the Boston Avenue entrance to our North Parking lot, the Blessing Box is a free pantry for our downtown neighbors. People are invited to “take what you need, leave what you can, and above all, be blessed.” The Blessing Box also includes a pet section to provide food, leashes, and other pet essentials to those who need them.
Consider bringing an item to place in the Blessing Box or drop off at the Information Desk the next time you visit the church! We’ve learned that many of the folks who visit the Blessing Box are unhoused, so we recommend items that are portable, high in protein, and don’t require a stove or can opener to eat. Some suggested items are found in the downloadable pdf below, or you can make a financial donation to the Blessing Box fund.
Burroughs Elementary
Boston Avenue United Methodist Church has been “Partners in Education” with Tulsa’s John Burroughs Elementary School since 1999. There are many ways to support our teachers and students, including:
- Volunteer to be Reading Partner through Tulsa’s Reading Partners program
- Be a mentor through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters school-based program
- Pick an “apple” from the Burroughs Apple Tree (offered in September at Boston Avenue) and fill the request to help support the direct classroom needs of teachers
- Provide funding for special projects through our Boston Avenue and Burroughs Together account.
- Provide any of the following items that are needed on an ongoing basis – copy paper, Kleenex, hand sanitizer, Box Tops for Education, child-size socks, gloves, belts, laundry detergent, dish soap, children’s uniform pants and shirts in all sizes – khakis or navy pants, collared shirts in red, yellow, or white
Quilting for Others
Since 2002, our quilters have provided quilts for Stork’s Nest, Trinity Woods, Exodus House, and Circle of Care. Donated quilts have been auctioned off at the Boys’ Ranch Rodeo and the Maranatha Sunday School Class Christmas auction to raise money for missions.
The group has great fun working together and always encourages visitors, including anyone who is interested but has never quilted before.
Donations of material or money to purchase supplies are always appreciated. The group meets the first Friday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and you are welcome to join us!
Good Samaritan Fund
Our Good Samaritan Fund helps our church provide emergency assistance to individuals and families on a case-by-case basis.
On communion Sundays (the first Sunday of the month), the monies left on the altar are designated for the Good Samaritan Fund; the fund is also sustained through additional donations from generous church members.
If you would like to contribute to the Good Samaritan Fund to help those in need, please contact Andrea Rizer at 918.699.0136.
Your gifts are deeply appreciated!
Other Mission Opportunities at Boston Avenue
Annual Chili Cook-Off and Auction
Chili, fellowship, and fundraising come together in this annual event held each February. All funds raised go directly to supporting the mission work we do in the world and the local community.
Diaper & Formula Drives
On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Sundays, Boston Avenue supports mothers and fathers in need by collecting formula and baby diapers for our partners at Emergency Infant Services.
Blood drives at boston avenue
Boston Avenue partners with American Red Cross several times a year in hosting a blood drive at the church. Help save lives! Click here to see the next blood drive date at Boston Avenue!
Volunteering at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma
Many of our small groups volunteer with the food bank to sort and organize food during the year. Keep an eye out for all-church food bank volunteering dates throughout the year as well!
July Mission Emphasis Month
The month of July at Boston Avenue is July Mission Emphasis Month. During this time, we take up a special monetary collection to support the mission work of our United Methodist connectional partners; 100% of those funds go to mission and ministry opportunities of the United Methodist Church, where it serves to change countless lives. We also offer an opportunity for our whole church community to serve in missions as Christ’s love in action. Information and signup can be found through our Boston Avenue app.
Cookson Hills Christmas
The Cookson Hills Center has been a significant part of the United Women in Faith in Oklahoma since 1948. A project of the United Methodist Church, Cookson Hills is the only rural mission program in the Oklahoma area and the only mission program that is a joint effort of the Oklahoma Conference, the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, and the United Women in Faith. Located in Northeastern Oklahoma, the Center’s target demographic is the people of the Cherokee tribe and, more broadly, Native American people. Every year Cookson Hills hosts a Christmas store for local parents and grandparents to pick out Christmas gifts for their families at a nominal cost (based on income). Boston Avenue’s United Women in Faith coordinate a collection of item donations for the Cookson Christmas store each October.
Special Projects and Collections
We believe in responding compassionately to the needs and crises that arise throughout the year. Through our special projects and donation drives, we come together as a community to provide immediate support and assistance to community partners and beyond – from collecting pet supplies for the local SPCA to a drive for coloring books and crayons for refugee children from Ukraine. Check out our events page to see the latest mission opportunities at Boston Avenue.
Connectional Partners
Being a United Methodist Church means we are in connection with United Methodist ministries across the state, nation, and globe. During the Advent and Lenten season, along with the month of July, we take up special offerings to support our Oklahoma connectional ministries. Your donation will be used to help others through the following ministries:
Camps and Conferences
Campus Ministries
Neighborhood Services Organization
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference
Circle of Care
Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministry
Project Transformation
Restore Hope
Skyline Urban Ministry
Cookson Hills Center
Mission Trips
Boston Avenue’s Volunteers-In-Mission engage in life-changing missions throughout the United States and the world!
Past VIM missions have included medical, construction, and/or Vacation Bible School teams to Mexico, Nicaragua, and Bolivia, along with trips in the United States to Texas and Louisiana to help with disaster recovery, to Uvalde, Texas to serve children in the community, and to our National Mission Partners at McCurdy Ministries in Española, New Mexico.
McCurdy Ministries Community Center – Our National Mission Partner
In February 2020, Boston Avenue UMC formally adopted McCurdy Ministries Community Center in Española, New Mexico, as our national mission focus. Boston Ave UMC has committed to sending two to three Volunteer in Mission Teams a year to McCurdy and to help support Project Cariño, the ministries’ mental health counseling program for children and their families.
Get Involved at Boston Avenue
Learn more about upcoming mission opportunities and events through our “What’s Happening at Boston Avenue” email newsletter.