July 26, 2024
Brethren,
Special Announcements:
Sickness & Distress: One of our members has lost his young son to medical issues he had suffered since birth. Please keep him and all others who are grieving in your thoughts and prayers.
July 30 (Tuesday) – Dinner at 6 pm, Activity to follow - Family night – Lodge will provide meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans. Please bring side dishes to share Potluck style. Dinner is not cost, unless you would like to donate to the meal.
The activity for the night is to craft Native American Fans. Fee is $20 to cover materials. Any additional amounts will be donated to Rainbow Assembly #74.
We will also be recognizing July masonic anniversaries.
August 10 (Saturday) – Back to School Bash – Child ID program. 9 am to Noon. The Assembly Church, 3500 W. New Orleans St., Broken Arrow. Sponsored by the BA Police Department ant The Assembly. We need volunteers to help perform the Child ID program. Volunteers should report at 8 am.
Attendance Drawing – Every time you come to lodge or to a lodge event, you will receive one entry (sometimes 2 for special occasions) to be entered in a drawing for $200. The drawing will be held on Lodge Election Night on Tuesday, December 7, 2024. You must be present to win. You can either take the $200, donate it back to the lodge, or use it to pay your dues. Your choice.
My Ramblings by W:. Scott A. MacDonald ©2024
What are the rules for life?
Jordan Peterson is a Canadian Psychologist. His book “12 Rules for Life: An antidote to Chaos” is an interesting read. I think I see a little masonic thinking in there somewhere.
His 12 rules are:
Rule 1: Stand up straight with your shoulders back
Rule 2: Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping
Rule 3: Make friends with people who want the best for you.
Rule 4: Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.
Rule 5: Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them.
Rule 6: Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world.
Rule 7: Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient)
Rule 8: Tell the truth --- or, at least, don’t lie.
Rule 9: Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don’t.
Rule 10: Be precise in your speech.
Rule 11: Do not bother children when they are skateboarding
Rule 12: Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street
Of course, each one of these rules is explained more in the book,
For those of you who don’t particularly like to read a book, here is a summary. https://www.grahammann.net/book-notes/12-rules-for-life-jordan-peterson
I’d like to dig a little into Rule 1. Our body language relays to society the confidence we have in ourselves. Good posture also relays how confident we are in the decisions we have made. If we are always looking down with our back hunched over and a sad expression, we affect the way people will react to us. Walking upright, with a confident gaze and looking forward will tell others that we believe in ourselves. When you believe in yourself, you become confident to talk with others about your views and beliefs.
Confidence is what many in society want to take from us. When we aren’t confident, we can be swayed into thinking all sorts of nonsense. But our confidence needs to be based in morality and fairness. Find that source in your life. In masonry we are taught many things about how to live our life. After all, aren’t we taught to stand with body erect (confidence) facing the east (knowledge)?
Lord, help us to be confident in our life and in the decision we make with your divine guidance and instruction. Amen.
Lodge Calendar
July 30 (Tuesday) - 5th Tuesday Family Dinner. Dinner at 6 pm. After dinner, we will be learning how to make Native American Fans. So, if you are a crafty person, you won’t want to miss this event. Donation of $20 for materials. Any extra money after supplies are purchased will be donated to the Rainbow Girls. Pay at the lodge.
August 6 (Tuesday) – Stated communication. Meal at 6 pm, lodge at 7 pm.
August 10 (Saturday) – Back to School Bash – Child ID program. 9 am to Noon. The Assembly Church, 3500 W. New Orleans St., Broken Arrow. Sponsored by the BA Police Department ant The Assembly. We need volunteers to help perform the Child ID program. Volunteers should report at 8 am.
August 13 (Tuesday) – EA Degree. Dinner at 6 pm, degree to follow.
August 20 (Tuesday) – Stated Communication. Meal at 6 pm, lodge at 7 pm.
August 27 (Tuesday) – Potential EA Degree. Dinner at 6 pm, degree to follow.
August 28 (Wednesday) – District 12 meeting at Akdar #555 – 5925 E 9th St., Tulsa.
September 10 (Tuesday) – Lodge Dinner at Charleston’s in Broken Arrow. 6 pm. Spouses are encouraged to attend. You will be responsible to pay for all your food and drink. We are limited to 40 people in the meeting room. Please email brokenarrowmasons@gmail.com if you want to attend along with the number of people in your party. First come, first served. We will have a signup sheet at lodge.
September 27 (Friday) – Fish Fry 5 pm to 7 pm. You should have received your fish fry tickets in the mail by now. If not let us know. We sent 5 tickets. They are $15 a piece and pay for one person. These tickets are not “Free”. Please pay for them by sending a check to the Lodge or paying online. The proceeds are for operation of the lodge. You may buy tickets at https://balodge243.square.site/ as well or send a check to the lodge.
December 7 (Tuesday) - Stated Meeting and Officer Elections. Dinner at 6 pm, lodge at 7 pm.
December 12 (Thursday) – District 12 meeting at Tulsa #71 - 5925 E. 9th St., Tulsa
Other Business
Please remember to pay your dues. They were due by January 1, 2024. You can pay dues or at https://balodge243.square.site/ . Or mail in your dues to 117 W. Commercial St., Broken Arrow, OK, 74012.
If you are having trouble paying your dues, we will be happy to work with you. Please contact the lodge office at 918.251.9282 to make arrangements or email us at brokenarrowmasons@gmail.com .
Please note we are making every attempt to keep our meetings to one hour. However, if you attend and the meeting is going long, you can certainly excuse yourself from the meeting at any time.
As always, if you need a ride to/from any of these activities, please contact the lodge office at 918.251.9282 or email me at scott@alphamac.com .
Sincerely,
W:. Scott A. MacDonald, Treasurer and Membership Calling Chairman
Copyright © 2024 Broken Arrow Masonic Lodge #243 AF&AM - All Rights Reserved.
117 W. Commercial St.
Broken Arrow, OK 74012
918.251.9282. After Hours: 539.204.4547