Newsletter May 2022 by Church of the Servant UMC

THE SERVANT

CONNECT E DITIO N NO. 22 .05

MAY 2022

MO NTHLY NEWSLE T TE R

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SCHEDULE WILL LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS SUMMER >>>> MORE ON PAGE 3

A NOTE FROM OUR SENIOR MINISTER

SUMMER AT SERVANT ! SUMMER GREETINGS, CHURCH OF THE SERVANT FAMILY! This summer will be an exciting time at Church of the Servant. So much will be happening, and I am afraid we will miss something if you and I blink. This edition of the monthly newsletter will be an essential guide so that we will be able to know about all that will be taking place on campus and in multiple ministry areas.

CAMPUS REPAIRS, REFURBISHMENT, AND ENHANCEMENTS

Dr. Matthew Mitchell Senior Minister

06-11 Servant Kids

12-16 Servant Students

18-19 Missions in Action

SERVANT CONNECT

This summer, you and I will begin to see a new activity level on the church campus. $2.6 million of work has already started! The parking lot will undergo extensive repairs. After the repairs are complete, the entire parking lot will be sealed, and all parking and traffic markings will be repainted. One of the largest projects on the campus will be seen by everyone! The Celebration Center will receive a new roof. Replacing the Celebration Center roof is essential due to the age of the original materials used to construct the building. If you look closely the next time you are in the Celebration Center, you will notice water stains and damage to the ceiling. Furthermore, many other water intrusion issues will be dealt with throughout the campus. New windows, window sealing, flashing replacement, and extensive maintenance to siding and drainage will also occur throughout the campus. The skylights in the original concourse will be replaced due to damage and age. Finally, the main concourses on the church’s main level will be completely updated with a fresh new look, flooring, and other finishes. Due to so much happening, please prepare to have your usual movement patterns into and within the building impacted. There will be times when entrances will have to be closed for a limited period. As these interruptions occur, you will be able to learn about their impact by checking social media and reading the weekly eBlast. If you have special summer events planned at the church, I suggest you check in with the church office to inquire how your event may be impacted. >>> next page

TEN WEEKS AT 10:00 SUMMER WORSHIP Many of you have shared with me your summer plans, and I can feel your excitement! I, too, am excited. I have to admit, I cannot wait to jump in the lake, go tubing with my kids, and play a little bit of golf! Summer has traditionally been a time for travel, changing our routines, and looking at life differently. Within the life of every church I have served, summer has been a season when the pace of ministry changes as people embrace summer. Knowing so much will be happening on campus and so many of you will be traveling this year, I recently asked the ministry team what changes our congregation might make so that we engage the summer months differently. Together, we looked at how we could make this summer more exciting than ever! Thankfully, the ideas began to develop, and we came up with a bold and exciting concept. Beginning on Sunday, June 5, Church of the Servant will gather each week for one worship service at 10:00 a.m. This summer schedule will be called “Ten Weeks at 10:00.” Over the past year, our congregation has gathered for special one-service Sundays. After each of these services, people have come to other staff and me asking, “Why can’t we do this more often?” People have loved the fellowship, homemade ice cream socials, gathering for meals, seeing everyone gather in one room for worship, and experiencing something different. This same excitement is what I hope will be present at Church of the Servant this summer. There will be three special Sundays of Food and Fellowship during the ten weeks. A meal will take place immediately following the worship service on these Sundays. The meals will be free to all who attend, but reservations are requested. The Fellowship Sundays will be:

JUNE 5 – SUMMER KICK-OFF JULY 10 – SUMMER LUAU & HOMEMADE ICE CREAM COMPETITION AUGUST 7 – BACK TO SCHOOL B.B.Q BASH

Make a reservation today by selecting the QR Code. <<<<<<<<<<

SUNDAY SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES Sunday school classes will continue to meet throughout the summer. This summer, each Sunday school class will have the option to meet before or after the 10:00 Worship Service. Please let Jessica King know what time your group will want to meet. One additional aspect of “Ten Weeks at 10:00” I am excited about is my availability to come to your Sunday school classes. Church of the Servant currently has twenty-two Sunday school classes meeting, and I won’t be able to make it to every class. However, I will be able to make it to five weeks of classes. I am available to come to your class either before or after the weekly worship services on these dates:

• June 12, July 3, July 17, 24, 31 If your class would like me to come and speak, all you have to do is ask. Contact Rachel Gillespie as soon as possible; reservations will be made first come, first served. As you can see, there will be no slowdown of activity at the church this summer. Before you know it, college football will be here again, and the children will be heading back to school for a whole new year! Until the kickoff whistle blows, we have a lot to do at Church of the Servant, and I thank you in advance for reading this entire newsletter so that we will all be excited and prepared for all that is happening this summer! As they say at Home Depot, Let’s Do This! Dr. Matthew Mitchell Senior Minister ServantOKC.org

Last week, our Women’s Ministry hosted a two-day event that brought together women from our church and community for a weekend dedicated to learning about and experiencing the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We enjoyed a night of praise and worship on Friday evening in our Celebration Center. The Women’s Ministry Planning Committee and our worship band did an excellent job making the evening feel intimate and special. On Saturday, we gathered in Community Hall for a time of teaching, table-time, and fellowship. We had three sessions that featured different speakers, followed by round-table discussions. Our speakers put so much thought and prayer into their talks, and our Table Leaders facilitated meaningful conversations with grace.

Jessica King Director of Connections Questions about membership, Bible study, or how to get involved? Contact Jessica at jking@ServantOKC.org.

During the entire duration of this event, the men of the church signed up to cover the women of the church in prayer. It was beautiful to witness our whole body loving and supporting one another in this way. I want to thank everyone who gave their prayers, presence, gifts, and service so that this event could be successful. And I hope that through it, lives were changed, friendships were deepened, and hearts were opened to the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Jessica King

SERVANT CONNECT

March 7, 2021 12-1 pm

DISCOVER SERVANT SERVANT DISCOVER

Whether you’ve been attending Church of the Servant for months, or you’re planning your first visit, we would love to meet you and get to know you better. When you arrive at a big church, we know that it can be really difficult to figure out how to get involved and how to connect with other people. It can be especially difficult to move beyond Sunday morning to know others and to be known by them. If you’re new to Church of the Servant and want to learn how to get involved, we want to invite you to join us for Discover Servant. We would love the opportunity to meet you and get to know you a little better. We will meet for about one hour and introduce you to some of the staff and leadership, tell you about what we believe and how to get connected, and answer any questions you have. Our next meeting will be Sunday, May 22, 2022, from 12–1 p.m. in Community Hall on the north side of our building. Lunch will be provided! To register, head over to our website at ServantOKC.org/discover-servant and fill out the short form. We look forward to connecting with you!

DISCOVER A PLACE FOR YOU

Discover who we are

DISCOVER A PLACE FOR YOU

MAY 22, 2022, 12-1 PM

SERVANT KIDS Report LOOK WHAT WE DID... BREAKAWAY Kourtney Aller Director of Servant Kids

Breakaway was on April 1st-3rd and was a weekend of service, worship, and fun for students in 4th-8th grade. The participants got to be the hands and feet of Christ and serve some incredible local ministries such as Skyline, Cleats 4 Kids, Infant Crisis Center, and TEEM. They had fun spending time together during these mission activities as well as at Get Air and at the Oklahoma Science Museum. We are already looking forward to Breakaway 2023!

EASTER JAM AND EGG HUNT We had a great time on April 10th at Easter Jam! Families experienced the interactive event together and sang songs, played crazy games, and heard the Easter story. There were lots of laughs and memories made. That fun experience was followed by an egg hunt, crafts, and pictures with the Easter Bunny. It was a great way to celebrate Palm Sunday while getting ready for Easter! Josh Snodgrass Assistant Director of Servant Kids

UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND OTHER INFORMATION, SO YOU DON’T MISS OUT ON COMMUNICATION ABOUT EVENTS! CONTACT KOURTNEY TO CHECK OR UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION AT KALLER@SERVANTOKC.ORG OR 405-728-4715.

SERVANT CONNECT

SERVANT KIDS SUNDAY MORNINGS Servant Kids meets in person each Sunday morning at 9:30 and/ or 11:00 a.m. Two-hour programming is available once again. The same topic will be covered all morning long, but each hour will have different activities and videos to reinforce the lesson. This is a great option for parents who want to attend both a class and worship service on Sunday mornings. Drop your kids off between 9:15-9:30 a.m. and pick them up again at noon! Elementary kids in grades first through fifth meet in The Point Student Center (south side of church), and kids in kindergarten, preschool, or who are nursery-aged (2 and under) meet downstairs. Virtual options are available on our website each week. If you can’t make it in person on a Sunday morning, check out the lessons and videos online! ServantOKC.org

MAY HAPPENINGS... SCAVENGER HUNT

SUNDAYS IN MAY AGES 3 YEARS THROUGH KINDERGARTEN Preschoolers will ask questions countless times as they get to know the world around them. It’s like they’re beginning a lifelong Scavenger Hunt. This is the perfect opportunity for us to not only tell them what they are looking at but who made it as well. That’s why we are going to add another question to their inquisitive minds. Who made everything? Who made the red ladybug? Who made the grey rocks? The white clouds? The blue bird? We want preschoolers to know that God made everything. We want them to think of God as they explore and get to know this wonderful, colorful world we live in. And even more, we want them to know that the same God who made everything made them and loves them. Our memory verse this month comes from Genesis 1:31 and says, “God saw everything he made. And it was very good.” This month, we will learn about how God created the world in six days. On the seventh day, God looked at everything he made. Then, He rested. Who made everything? God made everything!

BOUNCE BACK: GET BACK UP AGAIN SUNDAYS IN MAY GRADES 1-5

This month, we will learn about the connection between RESILIENCE and God’s character, as shown through God’s big story. Resilience is getting back up when something gets you down. God is strong and faithful, always working in our lives. We might get knocked down from time to time, but when we put our trust in God, we find the strength we need to get back up again. Jesus showed us how to face life with resilience. No matter what happened, Jesus relied on God to help Him accomplish the mission set before Him. Because of Jesus, we can trust God no matter what. We can bounce back from whatever knocks us down and complete the mission God has for us. Our memory verse comes from Isaiah 40:31 and says, “But those who trust in the Lord will receive new strength. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not grow weak.” We will learn that God is always with you and trusting him can help you get back up. We will discuss how to keep going even when times get tough and how to choose joy when life gets hard. We can keep going because of what Jesus did for us. We can’t wait to see you this month!

SERVANT CONNECT

STILL TO COME... SAVE THE DATE FOR SOME FUN EVENTS HAPPENING SOON!

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! WE POST UPDATES, INFORMATION, PICTURES, AND MORE, SO DON’T MISS OUT! GO TO @SERVANTKIDS ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM! SIGN UP FOR TEXT ALERTS BY TEXTING @SERVANTKI TO 81010.

KANAKUK KAMPOUT! It’s almost time for Kanakuk Kampout! We will host for two weeks again. The dates are May 30-June 3 and August 1-5. Contact Kourtney for information about scholarships. Register at https://kanakuk.com/kampout/. We need your help in the form of host homes, overnight security, and people (or groups) to provide lunch each day. There is a minimum of 3 counselors who need to stay at each home. Sign up to be a host home here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/ServantOKC1/KanakukKampoutHostHomes We need lunches provided for approximately 40 staff members. There are 3 spots left for each session. This is a great opportunity for your family or Bible study group to join together to make a meal. Sign up to make meals here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4ea5a922a7ff2-lunch If you are interested in security, it is from 6pm-6am. For doing security, you will receive one full scholarship for your child. It’s first-come, first-served on all these spots. Let Kourtney know if you have any questions - kaller@churchoftheservant.com. ServantOKC.org

STILL TO COME...

MAY THE FOURTH STILL BE WITH YOU! Thursday, MAY 12th 6:30-8:00pm THIS IS A MAKE-UP EVENT FROM MAY THE FOURTH. THE EVENT WAS POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER.

SERVANT CONNECT

ServantOKC.0rg

SERVANT STUDENTS 6TH - 12TH GRADE

BREAKAWAY 2022

Heather Winner Director of Servant Students

Our second edition of Breakaway was an unforgettable one. This weekend is a mission-centered weekend with opportunities for fun, fellowship, and worship. This year’s fun and fellowship featured a night at Surge Adventure Park, the Oklahoma Science Museum, and the world-famous Breakaway Bonanza. The students were split into four teams and competed for a prize at the end of the weekend. It is always great to be able to have fun with these students, but the greatest emphasis for this weekend revolves around mission. This year, we got to partner with and serve at Cleats 4 Kids, Skyline Urban Ministries, Infant Crisis Services, and TEEM OKC. We rearranged and restocked the shelves of Cleats 4 Kids, cleaned and organized various areas of Skyline, created care packages for Infant Crisis Services and wrote letters of encouragement for those that TEEM OKC serves. This year’s theme revolved around Galatians 6:9-10. In this passage, we learn of the opportunity for service and good work that we have been blessed with. It is always great to see students give up their free time to serve their communities.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” – Galatians 6:9-10

Skyler Rodriguez Assistant Director of Servant Students

Would you like more information about Servant Student Ministries? Contact Heather at hwinner@ServantOKC.org or Skyler at srodriguez@ServantOKC.org.

SERVANT CONNECT

SERVANT STUDENTS 6TH - 12TH GRADE

MANY, MANY BLESSINGS, CLASS OF 2022! We know as the end of the school year nears; it brings loads of celebrating. A huge part of that celebration goes with our graduating seniors. As with every year, we have an amazing group of graduates who have big futures ahead. For programming, Servant Students wanted to show support and love to the Class of 2022 as they wrap up their final weeks of high school. For the last two Wednesday nights of April and our final small groups of this school year, we wanted to give time to honor and hear from our older Servant Students. Connor Cook, a Deer Creek graduate, gave a strong message on confronting anxiety and focusing on faith within the demands of school. It was an inspiring word for all of our students to hear. On the final Wednesday, we had a group of our Seniors create a panel to give glimpses into their own faith life, what God is teaching them, and what advice they would like to give their younger selves. Those seniors included Avery Baskin, Rachel Neaves, Henry Berry, Joel Sahmaunt, Caleb Bird, and Charlie Johnston. As this may not be all of our graduating class, it was still wonderful for each of them to give our younger students the chance to hear their hearts. We will miss this group, no doubt, but we cannot wait to hear about all that God does in and through them in the year ahead. We cannot wait to celebrate our graduates on Senior Sunday dated the 15th of May. This day will include a time of recognition and prayer during the 11:00 service and then extend into a luncheon with a few more surprises. We look forward to honoring this amazing crew as they close their chapter of high school and begin anew.

SERVANT CONNECT

CONFIRMATION SUNDAY Just like that, another Confirmation is in the books! May 1, 2022, was Confirmation Sunday for some of our incredible 8th grade students. This class began at the end of January. It is hard to believe that this class has already passed. This class was full of so many memories and stories that we hope will stick with our students for the rest of their lives. As leaders, we will always cherish the ways that we saw these groups grow closer together throughout the class. The beginning of Confirmation can be such a growing period for students. It’s a different environment than they are used to, but they also realize what they are ultimately working towards. By the time Confirmation Sunday had arrived, our students were excited, not just for themselves, but for one another. A big emphasis throughout the Confirmation class is that, when it is over, the journey is not done. It is quite the opposite. A new journey is beginning. This journey is like no other journey that the students could ever embark on, and this journey will bring true happiness and worth to their lives. We will miss being in class with these students every Sunday afternoon, but we are looking forward to the ways that God will transform them in incredible ways.

OUR SUMMER SCHEDULE IS RELEASED! We have SO many good things happening in May, June, and July! Stay up to date with our Summer Schedule.

Click on an image to enlarge. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

ServantOKC.org

WHAT IS AHEAD?

FOR SERVANT STUDENTS

DISCIPLE AND DAY SPRING: HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR SUMMER CAMP YET?!

DISCIPLE CAMP Who? All rising 6th grade - rising 9th grade What? A summer camp experience focused on middle-school-aged students. Students will get the chance to learn about knowing Christ and growing in a relationship with Him. When? June 2 - 5 Where? Camp Heart O’ Hills in Welling, OK Cost? $240 Registration closes May 22.

DAYSPRING CAMP Who? All rising 9th grade to graduating 12th grade What? A summer camp experience focused on high-school-aged students. Students will get the chance to learn about knowing Christ and growing in a relationship with Him. When? July 11 - 16 Where? SkyRanch Camp in Miami, OK Cost? $350 Registration closes July 3.

SERVANT CONNECT

Want to sign up for either of these camps? Reach out to Heather at hwinner@churchoftheservant.com or Skyler at srodriguez@churchoftheservant.com.

CHARIS CHARACTER CAMP June 13-17 & June 20-24 July 11-15 & July 18-22 at Church of the Servant Would you like for your children to learn about Asian Culture while integrating character development through talent enrichment? Reserve your spot today! https://www.charisalive.org/camp Charis Character Camp – the one and only Asian Cultural Camp in OKC – is offering 4 weeks of learning mandarin, traditional arts, etiquette, cooking, and more! Elective courses include musical instruments, arts and crafts, martial arts, traditional dance, creative media, drama, and coding. This year, we are adding the country of India to our Asian countries’ exploration! Watch the camp promotional video here: https://youtu.be/MOehd9gdVdI

ServantOKC.org

Setup Team

M I S S I O N S

WHIZ KIDS WINDING DOWN OUR 11TH YEAR Thank you is not enough to show our appreciation for all our wonderful volunteers who have helped make this Whiz Kids’ year a success: Coordinators, Club-time Leaders, Teacher Liaison, Tutors, Subs, Set-up team, Transportation team, Food team and Cookie team. We have about 50 people involved at New Hope UMC every Monday during the school year from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Our last meeting day is May 9th with pizza, games, recognition of our leaders, and 5th grade graduation. On Saturday, May 7, there is a City-Wide End of the Year Celebration for all 28 Whiz Kids’ sites at Orr Family Farm. There will be more about that in the June newsletter. God Bless you, church, for all your support! Carolyn Hays chays25@cox.net

Cookie Team 18

SERVANT CONNECT

Transportation Team

EARTHGLOW GIFT SHOP So many occasions are coming up! Mother’s Day, Confirmation, Graduation, and Teacher Appreciation to name a few. Earthglow has many wonderful gift options for you to consider. We have travel bags, including one for shoes! Who even knew there was such a thing? We have lotions and soaps for men and women! Come in and see our darling frames and red, white and blue things to help celebrate your patriotism. Best of all, the profits from all sales go to local missions and ministries. Where else can you shop where that happens? Thank you for joining us in our efforts for Missions! We would like to share with you a portion of the letter from Exodus House because of our donation from last year’s profits: Your support just made a difference. We sincerely appreciate your donation… an investment in lives. CJAMM continues to model Christ’s love in an effort to successfully break generational cycles of prison, addiction and criminogenic behavior. Earthglow Mission Friends: We love and appreciate your labors to support these great ministries. You are touching lives! Keith Dobbs, CJAMM Executive Director

ServantOKC.org

Church of the Servant 14343 North MacArthur Boulevard Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73142-9725

8:15 • 9:30 • 11:00

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