Issuu

E D I T I O N NO. 18 .7 |

JU L 2018

MO NTHLY NEWSL ET TER

Serving at

Servant

We desire to become a serving church, answering Godâ€™s call to serve by connecting our unique gifts and passions to His mission!

SAVE THE DATE!

Dr. Matthew Mitchell Senior Minister

eptember 9th will be here before we know it! On that day, Church of the Servant will reach a major milestone as we are preparing to celebrate our 50th anniversary as a church! That Sunday will be a day you do not want to miss! The Executive Team is working hard to create a day of celebration and fellowship. Folks from every aspect of our life together are preparing to celebrate this important day in unique and engaging ways. I hope you will save the date, invite a friend, and begin to prepare your hearts, minds and souls for a day of thanksgiving and celebration. Below are a few details: •

Bishop Jimmy Nunn will take part in the service, and I will be delivering the message, kicking off a new worship series – Servant 5.0: Celebrating Our Past/Preparing for Our Future.

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Special events for children and youth are being planned. Pray for great weather as the NextGen Team is planning an outdoor birthday party with Slip-and-Slides, bouncy houses, and cake! Yes, CAKE! If you have a youth, tell them we will have jump tents that are for their age as well!

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Plus much, much more…

As the Executive Team continues to prepare for this exciting day, be on the lookout for more information coming your way! Also, we need your help. If you have pictures of Church of the Servant over the past fifty years, please share them with us. Pictures from the first thirty years are especially needed. Please drop your pictures off to Heather DeShazo in the church office or email the pictures to hdeshazo@churchoftheservant.com. Celebrating and preparing for what has happened, what is happening, and what is to come,

Four New Staff Members! We are so happy and delighted to introduce several people who have joined our church staff in the last few weeks! First, we want to welcome Rev. Matt Patrick to Church of the Servant! Matt recently graduated from St. Paul’s School of Theology at OCU and joins our staff as an associate minister responsible for the development of 9:30 and 11:00 Modern Worship Services, as well as the Hospitality Ministries. He comes to us as a Path One resident to spend a few years in training with the intent to plant a brand new church in the future. He recently served at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church.

Rev. Matt Patrick Associate Minister for Development of 9:30 and 11:00 Modern Worship Services

Kourtney Aller Director of Servant Kids

Kourtney Aller is joining the staff as our new Director of Servant Kids! Kourtney, along with her husband Ryan and two children, Noah and Nathan, joined Church of the Servant in October of last year. She has a Masters in Education from the University of Oklahoma and was teaching Algebra to 7th and 8th grade students at Piedmont Middle School. She served as the Director of Children’s Ministries at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church for three years, 2014 to 2017, as well as their Director of Student Ministries before that. Kourtney has already been volunteering in Children’s Ministries for Vacation Bible School. Her husband, Ryan, is a weekly volunteer with Servant Middle School ministries as a small group leader. Kourtney loved teaching students, but is very excited to get back into children’s ministry! Rachel Gillespie, while she is not new to our staff, is now serving in a new position as our Front Desk Receptionist! She volunteered for five years in Servant Kids when her children were young. As her children grew, she volunteered in Servant Students from 2007 to 2014, serving as a small group leader in Servant Middle School and Servant High School Ministries. In 2014, Rachel was hired as the Servant Students’ Administrative Assistant. Rachel, her husband Jim, and two children, Jake and Regan, are long-time members of Church of the Servant. We are very happy and excited for Rachel as she begins serving in this new role!

Rachel Gillespie Front Desk Receptionist

We are also very excited to welcome Andi Neaves, as our new Servant Students’ Administrative Assistant. Andi has been a part of the Student Ministries team serving as a High School small group leader for the past 6 years. She was also on our Servant Kids staff as the Coordinator of Christian Education from 2005 - 2008. Todd, her husband, has served in Student Ministries for many years as a small group leader. Andi and Todd, along with their three daughters, Hillary, Meghan, and Rachel, are long-time members at Church of the Servant. We feel very blessed and grateful to welcome each of these people to our Ministry Team!

Andi Neaves Servant Students Administrative Assistant

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MISSION IN ACTION

Project Transformation During the month of June, volunteers from our church are always a part of the Project Transformation team. Project Transformation provides two key services: 1) leadership development and career/ministry exploration opportunities for college-age young adults through summer internships, and 2) community-oriented summer day camp programming for children from low-income neighborhoods. One key component of the summer day camp program is a reading time in which the children meet one-on-one with a volunteer to practice their reading skills. We supply those volunteers one week each summer, and they find that their commitment serves to enrich both their own lives and the lives of the children with whom they share a few hours. Also, several of our Sunday school classes come together to provide the evening meals for the interns who are leading the day camps. Pictured here is the team of interns that have served in Oklahoma City this summer along with members of The Path Sunday School Class who enjoyed sharing a meal with the interns.

Help TEEM and Skyline This Summer

Collecting Items Through the Month of July The Education and Employment Ministry, also known as TEEM, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking cycles of incarceration and poverty through education, personal development, and work-readiness training. As they prepare to re-enter society, TEEM participants may lack items essential for personal health and hygiene. New hygiene products are a valued item to promote wellness, professionalism and confidence as participants re-enter the workplace. Earthglow gift shop will be collecting toiletry items throughout the month of July. Bring new, full-sized deodorant, soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, non-alcoholic mouthwash, floss, towels and washcloths, razers, shaving cream, Chapstick, new makeup, and feminine hygiene products to Earthglow gift shop, and place it in the TEEM collection box. Skyline Urban Ministries is another agency we are helping with your toiletry and toilet paper donations this summer. These items are always in short supply. Pick up extra tissue and toiletry items when you are at the store, and bring them to the church to share with those in need right here in our community!

Bless our Schools: Hefner Middle School Teacher Blessing Boxes For the last three years, the teachers and staff of Hefner Middle School have been left speechless when they arrived to their classrooms the first day to find a box of supplies and goodies given to each one by our congregation! The mission council is thrilled to sponsor this opportunity again. Pick up a box or two with a suggestion list, fill and it and return it by Sunday, August 12. Boxes will be delivered to Hefner on Monday, August 13. With a new principal this year and new direction, we imagine this partnership forged over the last four years will become stronger and more effective for the students and staff. It is just one small way to make a difference in the lives of teachers who are giving their best to the students in our community. Pick up a box on Sundays, July 22, 29, or August 5 and return by Sunday, August 12.

What is Whiz Kids? Whiz Kids is a local ministry that partners with churches throughout the city because we all believe every child deserves a shot at success, especially the most under-resourced. For 23 years, Whiz Kids has been working with at-risk kids in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area to improve reading skills and comprehension and to foster mentoring relationships with caring adults. We are entering into our 8th year as a Whiz Kids church. The ministry will continue to happen Monday afternoons from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at Wesley UMC at 26th and Classen. Our volunteers travel there to meet the students from Edgemere Elementary.

Recruitment Sunday is August 19. We will be looking for people to share Monday afternoons with a child. We need 15 full time tutors; we also need substitute tutors, drivers and food preparers. Come by the table on Sunday to have a conversation with our coordinators and plan to join us Monday, August 20 at 3:00 p.m. for an ice cream social in the Courtyard, followed by an information session in Chapel of the Cross. Would you consider making a commitment for one school year to a child?

Earthglow Volunteers are THE GREATEST! One of the unique and beautiful features of the Earthglow Gift Shop, in addition to the fact that all proceeds are given to local missions, is that it is completely staffed by volunteers. This is a dedicated team that makes sure our shoppers are greeted by friendly, eager-to-serve salespersons. Behind the sales team is an Earthglow Board of Directors and a group of well-qualified buyers that go to market several times a year and keep the shelves stocked with beautiful home, garden, and gift items for your shopping pleasure. It truly takes a village to keep the shop vibrant. If you are looking for a place to plug in for a few hours once or twice a month, you will find that becoming an Earthglow volunteer can be an avenue to serving your church, contributing to missions in our community, and making delightful new friends. Contact Jan Green, jkg2262@sbcglobal.net, pictured here, and she will help you learn the ropes, provide you training in the operation of the store, and make sure that you are properly placed on the weekly schedule. One of the additional benefits of volunteering in Earthglow is getting that first-hand look-see at the new products as they arrive. Our volunteers find that they have little need to shop elsewhere for quality gift items at very reasonable prices â€“ and they are some of our very best customers!

ChurchoftheServant.com

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” – Hebrews 13.2 (NIV)

13.2 Coffee Shop Join the 13.2 Coffee Shop Team! Several shifts are available! Contact Dana Israel for more information.

ust in case you may have wondered why the marvelous coffee shop at Church of the Servant was named 13.2, it comes from Hebrews 13:2. And hospitality is just what is provided by the volunteers that give their time and talents to serve the members and guests of our church. If you want the opportunity to learn to make fancy coffee concoctions and have the possibility of entertaining many friendly folks, some of whom are almost certainly “angels”, contact Dana Israel at disrael@churchoftheservant.com. Several shifts are available; specifically, we need two people to be trained to open the shop one time a month on Sunday mornings with shifts from 7:20 to 9:30 a.m. Once we get into full swing in the fall, help will also be needed on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and Monday evenings. Sign up today!

SKYLINE URBAN MINISTRY

IS IMPACTING OUR CITY AND YOU CAN BE A PART! Six days a week the United Methodist Ministry called Skyline Urban Ministry is impacting lives in one of the poorest zip codes of our city, and just about 20 minutes from our church. Here are some statistics from 2017:

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1,414,763 pounds of groceries distributed: Every pound of groceries is equivalent to about 4 meals. Your gifts to Skyline helped provide 5,659,052 meals, feeding 1,886,351 people for a day.

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9,485 unique households served in the Food Resource Center: a misconception is that each household shops every month (patrons are invited to shop once every 30 days). In 2017, only 34 households (less than 1%) shopped 12 times.

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Skyline is a “gap” ministry. Our patrons work at minimum wage jobs and when difficulty strikes, they cannot make ends meet. That is when they come to Skyline.

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6 percent increase in households served: As our communities have faced economic crises, the needs – the food insecurity of those living in the shadows – has increased dramatically.

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2,620 eye examinations: eye-care professionals donate

1,304 persons seeing more clearly through new glasses: Imagine the difference it makes in daily routine when a working mom can finally drive herself to work, saving at least 45 minutes commute time to and from work!

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548 health screening: a high percentage of those living below the poverty line suffer from diabetes and hypertension—early screening is a first step, introducing exercise and nutritional changes is next, and both are part of Skyline’s new Wellness Program.

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614 shoes filled for school: the Clothes 4 Kids program, through your giving, helps school children dress for success as they begin a new school year.

1,113 visits from Santa: Your gifts enabled Christmas Grace and the Christmas Store to bring Christmas morning smiles to over 1,000 children—and their grateful parents.

8,304 meals to the Prime Timers—Skyline’s seniors have an average income of $700 and receive SNAP benefits of about $15. They cannot survive without your generosity.

138,081 pounds of clothing distributed: While it might

time monthly so that those living in the shadows can see the light.

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Sunday school class volunteering at Skyline Urban Ministries.

74 percent of households shopped 3 times or less:

be outdated to you, to someone experiencing sudden loss of all their possessions, your used clothing is a treasure!

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Monache Class

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9,100 volunteer hours logged: Skyline has a staff of 12 excellent workers—but even the best and most hardworking staff (as this one is) cannot meet the needs alone. Your hands and feet are needed!

Skyline is always looking for groups and individuals to come serve one time or regularly. Right now, there is a great need for Saturday volunteers and meals made for the Prime Timers. Skyline serves breakfast and lunch 5 days a week and on Saturday morning to the vulnerable senior community living on very little. Skyline serves 100 families a day on average, six days a week. This is tremendous ministry of which many of Servant people are already a part, but the need for new volunteers is great. Consider serving there and contact Rev. Debbie Ingraham at dingraham@ skylineurbanministry.org to find your place or bring a group. You can also check the Skyline Website at www.skylineurbanministry.org to sign up to serve.

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HANNAH’S PROMISE A M I N I S T RY F O R FA M I L I E S W I T H C H I L D R E N W H O H AV E S P E C I A L N E E D S

hildren with special needs have a special place in our hearts – and in our church – at Hannah’s Promise. Through this ministry we seek to honor Jesus’ desire that all children be welcomed and embraced as signs of the Kingdom. The original idea of this church and community ministry was that families would have a safe place to leave their children one evening a month so that the parents might have valuable time of respite and refreshment for themselves and for their relationships. It is a ministry that is helping families in ways we can’t begin to imagine. How can one evening a month change the life of a family? For some parents this is the only evening they have to spend alone together for a special date night. One mother shares that she takes a long, leisurely bath, as it is the one time a month she gets to have some time to herself. Another mother shops for groceries – peacefully, all alone. The stories from families living life with the blessings and the challenges of a child with special needs are uniquely beautiful and painful. On the second Saturday of each month from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m., volunteers gather to share an evening of games, crafts, playtime, a therapy dog, and a Bible story with the children and their siblings. Regardless of ability or age, each child has his/her own volunteer for the entire evening, and volunteers are needed for

Andi Butler with Gypsy, Jessica, and June Lily siblings as well as the children with special needs. This ministry is fulfilling for the volunteers as they give of themselves for the evening, and it is life-giving for the parents to have this support. Hannah’s Promise is in its 17th year of providing respite care for families that have children with special needs, and we have journeyed with over 50 families over the span of these 17 years. Right now, we have 19 families with 33 children enjoying the ministry; but we also have 6 families with a total of 8 children who would like to be a part of this beautiful ministry, if we only had enough volunteers! If you are feeling a tug at your heart and conscience, thinking you just might find a place in this ministry, please call and visit with Lola Burgtorf at 728-4735 or email her at lburgtorf@churchoftheservant.com. You can also arrange to visit a Hannah’s Promise gathering to experience what an evening is like. But watch out! God may bless you more than you ever thought you could be blessed. You may fall so in love with these special children that you’ll never be the same again.

Betty Bohan with Hannah Jensen 08

Put your love to work by becoming a Hannah’s Promise volunteer!

Here is a little more about Maynor’s story about his experience in Nicaragua:

ou may remember from the shipment email we sent you in early April that the ORPHANetwork in Nicaragua was the recipient organization of the meals you packaged earlier this year. A few weeks ago, the DFW Rise Against Hunger team had the privilege of meeting Maynor Aragon, who is a past recipient of meals through the ORPHANetwork. He was in Dallas to speak at an event about the impact the Rise Against Hunger meals had on his life as a child. It was exciting to meet someone who had actually received and benefited from meals we’ve packaged through our location.

Maynor Aragon is an aspiring sportscaster and college student from rural Nicaragua, a country where roughly 300,000 people require food assistance to survive. Maynor has been a beneficiary of Rise Against Hunger through our impact partner, ORPHANetwork, and has received meals provided by Rise Against Hunger for nearly 6 years. Then, just as Maynor returned to Nicaragua from Dallas, the meals from YOUR packaging event arrived by truck at OPHANetwork and he was on site to help unload them. I’ve attached the pictures (below) he took and sent back to us. It’s unusual for us to receive this kind of direct feedback about our meals, so I thought you would enjoy seeing the meals you actually packaged being unloaded and made ready to be used. Jeff Jones, RAH Dallas Fort Worth Community Engagement Manager

The meals Maynor received not only nourished his body, but empowered him to pursue his dream of studying broadcast journalism at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, Managua. Maynor spoke to more than 11,000 attendees from 150 countries at a corporate conference on April 27th in Dallas. The next day, he joined volunteers in packaging meals, where more than 3,000 employees packaged 400,000 meals. For more information about Rise Against Hunger, go to www.churchoftheservant.com/ missions/global..

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God’s Handiwork

FROM BABY BLANKETS TO MEDICAL SUPPLIES

he Kenya Mission Trip is 9 months away and yet three members of Servant have already donated much needed supplies to the team. Linda Walters regularly receives eyeglasses from her optometrist, Brett McKean, from Precision Optical, which she gives to various organizations. She recently gave a box of sunglasses and readers to be taken to Kenya. Even non-prescription sunglasses are appreciated as the sun shines almost all the time in Kenya! Readers can be used by several family members. Doris Klein and about 12 members of “God’s Handiwork” sewing group made 105 baby blankets in just about 4 hours on a recent Tuesday. These ladies have their act

together! Some bring sewing machines, some bring cutters, others irons and they work assembly style to produce another greatly appreciated gift. They were able to use donated fabric scraps for the blankets. What amazing stewards of resources! Since electricity is very expensive to use at Maua hospital, the blankets are laid over shrubbery to dry. The God’s Handiwork Ladies were kind enough to use cotton fabric to ensure the blankets will dry quickly. Kathryn Rogers is an office manager for a physician who recently retired. As Kathryn inventoried the medical supplies, she wondered if Maua Methodist Hospital could use any of the items. Her list of goods was quickly emailed to the hospital in Kenya

and the needed items are now all boxed and in a closet for safe-keeping until February 2019. Even as Cathy Hersom was cleaning out her desk before she retired, she also cleaned out all the leftover VBS shirts and donated them to the mission team! Most hospital patients only come with the clothing they are wearing and brand-new t-shirts will be quickly put to use. In August, we will have a list of other items that the team would love to take with us! For more information about Kenya and ways that you can help, contact Jaci Finch at jacf@cox.net or Ann Knutson at annknut@gmail.com.

MONACHE

More than just a Sunday School Class Monache (mon-a-key) for the last thirteen years has grown into a class that loves doing life together, whether it is a mission project at the church, Food Bank, Skyline, or just hanging together at a movie night, or several of our annual social gatherings. Monache is open to all, but is primarily made of those in their mid-forties to mid-fifties who are single, divorced or re-married. We are a family-friendly class; all of our classes and social gatherings are for the whole family; children are always welcome. If you are looking for a place to get connected, we would love to have you join us Sundays mornings at 9:30 in the South Conference Room for fun and fellowship with a lively group of people. If you would like more information, contact Eric Nance at 405-416-3791.

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En Route

A Faith-Journey Story

hen I was asked to write this piece, I wondered how real I should be. I have been told I am brutally honest, to a fault, and it gets me into trouble! So, in order to be transparent, I decided, GO BIG OR GO HOME! On Sunday, April 9, 2017, I walked into Church of the Servant with my five-year-old son, Tungsten Cross. I entered the church as a broken and scared sinner, but with the desire to change my life for my son. I was feeling the necessity to end the generations of broken and lost choices of the women in my family, not feeling worthy enough to make these changes for myself. I understand that the women in my family did the best they knew how with the information given to them. I was worried that my son would not take to Church of the Servant like he did with our last church, since that church had toys, climbing apparatuses, and such. I was seeking truth tellers and an intimate family setting for my son and me. Little did I know, I got the family of a lifetime, the family I never had. I had no idea that God was already putting the pieces into place to change my life. When Tungsten Cross and I entered the doors at Servant, we were met with loving hospitality. Michael Carpenter was the first to greet us, and he still remembers our names to this day after hearing them only once. Later, we met Cathy Hersom and she made us feel so welcome. Fortunately, it was Palm Sunday and they handed Tungsten Cross a palm to wave. I was thinking, YES, they are already involving him! Picking him up after Sunday school, I met a lovely woman, Dr. Robyn Goggs. When I found out that this woman was one of the pastors, I HAD to hear her preach. The next Sunday, Easter, came around. I met her after the service and told her I had just accepted Christ. I wanted to be held accountable for my

decision, and later in the week, I met with her and shared some of my story. My world has been filled with abuse of any type you can imagine. Needless to say, I have been in survival mode all of my life. Church of the Servant is where I call my home, my real home, for so many reasons and I HAD to jump into service. VBS first, then Earthglow, and now horticulture with Susan Satterlee. I also started with Bible studies: Friday Morning Mom’s Group, Servant Women in the Word on Tuesdays, and Wednesday Nights with the “Prayer Warriors”, who took me right in. Most recently, I was a participant in “Living Your Strengths,” which I would recommend to EVERYONE in this church! One Sunday, I told my son how proud I was of how he conducted himself in church and Sunday school and that God’s heart was so happy and warm, as well. While we were driving, we came upon the place on Highway 74 that was filled with excruciating pain for me, and some of you know why. Out of the blue, at that same EXACT spot, my son yells out, “I WANT THEM IN MY HEART!!!” “Who son, Jesus? You want Jesus in your heart?” I asked. “NO, I want BOTH!” he said. “I want GOD and Jesus in my heart!” It was as if God was telling me, “You’re doing okay, Donnell. He wouldn’t have found ME if you weren’t here.” I pulled right off the highway and we prayed as he accepted BOTH God and Jesus

Right: Donnell with son, Tungston. Above: Donnell as group leader at VBS into his heart. A few weeks later, Tungsten Cross was baptized by Dr. Robyn Goggs in the Celebration Center. This church is a church because of the amazing, loving, humble, open, and accepting people in it. I wouldn’t be here without you all, and I hope “you all” know who you are. By serving at Church of the Servant, I can show help and love in the same way that this church has shown it to me and Tungsten Cross. I hope God uses me to guide others to an amazing Sunday school class like mine, the “Anybody Class”, where anyone and everyone is welcomed, loved, and accepted. This is a class where (just like in this church) I CAN be real and not be judged and I can call my home. I know God (AND Jesus, as my son would say) are so proud of the blessings the people of COS bring. Although I am still “En Route,” I know God can and will use me (and my story too) so that I can be there for someone, as the people of Church of the Servant have been there for me. With utmost appreciation, Donnell Mecklenburg

Serving at Servant There are a few simple steps for you to consider when volunteering:

1. Express Your Interest: Contact the ministry leader of the ministry in which you are interested in serving for more information by filling out the form at www.churchoftheservant.com/connect/volunteer/. Each ministry has different parameters and requirements for serving. 2. Meet & Greet: Take an opportunity to meet the volunteer team and observe the in’s and out’s of the ministry. 3. Start Serving: Use your passions and skills to connect with God and with others!

We desire to become a serving church answering God’s call to serve by connecting our unique gifts and passions to His mission, resulting in Christ-centered growth that is celebrated in community! You make a difference in the lives of others. You have a purpose. Start the journey of discovering it today!

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SERVANT MIDDLE SCHOOL

Megan with her 7th-grade girls

SERVANT MIDDLE SCHOOL, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER MINISTRY AT CHURCH OF THE SERVANT, WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT AMAZING VOLUNTEERS. WHETHER IT’S WEDNESDAY NIGHT SMALL GROUP LEADERS, CAMP LEADERS, HOSTING A POOL PARTY, OR DRIVING A VAN FOR OUR MISSION EVENT, WE HAVE INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO LOVE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND LOVE JESUS. I CAN SPEND AN ENTIRE DAY EXPRESSING MY GRATITUDE AND TELLING YOU HOW AMAZING OUR LEADERS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE, BUT I WANTED TO LET THEM TELL YOU ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE. JENNA SMITH, DIRECTOR OF SERVANT MIDDLE SCHOOOL

would have never thought that I would

I was asked to continue volunteering as

be in the position to be a small group

a small group leader for sixth grade girls

leader at Church of the Servant. The

(now about to go into seventh grade).

opportunity to become a volunteer as

Every single girl in my small group is

small group leader came at the perfect

beautiful, kind, intelligent, respectful, and

time. It was the end of my junior year of

funny. They aren’t afraid to ask tough

college, which I would say was the most

questions about our lessons or their daily

stressful year and emotional year of my

experiences in middle school. Another

life. I had stopped going to church alto-

person who is very kind and funny is

gether because of my workload at school

my co-leader, Courtney. We have always

and working a part-time job. So one day

communicated who is going to lead for

out of the blue, I got a text from my old

the night and not realizing we had the

small group leader, Rachel Gillespie, say-

same birthday was the funniest thing

ing they were short on leaders for Disciple

ever. I really look up to her as a teacher

Camp and was wondering if I would be

which is the most honorable job and her

able to help out. I immediately thought,

overall loving personality. The family and

“This opportunity is definitely a God

community of Church of the Servant has

thing (a phrase I typically use to describe

always been a blessing in my life from the

something that God guides me toward

leaders of the youth ministry team and

in my life) and these kids need a positive

the several small group leaders I had in

role model to ask questions about God

middle school and high school.

and their faith. I ended up replying “yes” to the message and went to Disciple. The Disciple Camp of 2017 was probably the second best camp experience I’ve had since high school. After camp had ended,

Megan McDaniel, 7th grade girls leader

hen I was asked to be the small group leader for the 6th grade boys, I said yes as a way to spend time with Xander. Little did I know how much more I would get out of it. The

THIS COULD BE YOU... EVERY EXPERIENCE IS DIFFERENT, BUT I

boys have reminded me that friendships at this age are just as impor-

PROMISE EVERY EXPERIENCE WILL IMPACT

tant as memorizing Bible verses.

YOUR LIFE IN A POSITIVE WAY. PLEASE

Ryan Aller and I have really learned a lot about these boys. Not only

CHECK THE LIST TO SEE OUR VOLUNTEER

are they all boy, but they have a serious side when they really want

MISSION OPPORTUNITIES AND CONTACT

to. At the beginning of the year, we set up rules to follow during small

JENNA AT 405-728-4753 OR

group. One of the rules the boys chose was no phones during small

JSMITH@CHURCHOFTHESERVANT.COM.

group. We call it #phonefree. It has been a pleasure to watch these boys mature over the last year. While we have some nights when I wonder if they have heard one word I said, there are other nights when they have a depth of knowledge that

SERVANT MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

amazes me. We end each small group with joys and concerns. The

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SUNDAY MORNING HOSPITALITY TEAM

boys ask about concerns from previous weeks and congratulate each

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SUNDAY MORNING ADULT LEADER

other on the joys.

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WEDNESDAY NIGHT 6TH GRADE GIRLS SMALL GROUP LEADER

I’m looking forward to my time with the 7th grade “men” in the fall and can’t wait to see what God has in store for them.

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SMALL GROUP LEADER

Colby Stone, 7th grade boy leader

WEDNESDAY NIGHT 6TH GRADE BOYS

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SPECIAL EVENTS VOLUNTEER

Colby with his 7th-grade boys

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Servant High School Students

– High School Servant –

rowing up a member of Church of the Servant, I was involved in almost all the church had to offer. I got to take part in some amazing Sunday School programs, bring friends to Wednesday night activities, and grow in my faith with some of my dearest friends and my incredible family. I will always remember the moments I spent as a participant in the youth program and the lessons and people it brought me, but some of my favorite memories come from serving with the Middle School program. During my Senior year of High School, I was asked to be a Confirmation leader for the current 8th grade students. Although a little nervous, I was very excited to pour into the lives of my Confirmation group. I reflected on my Confirmation and the absolutely incredible mentors I had to guide me along the way and I couldn’t help but think about where I would be today if it weren’t for their compassion and willingness to help me devote my life to Christ. I will forever be grateful for the individuals I had in my life during my Confirmation season and I can only hope I influenced the lives of the girls in my group the way my leaders did mine. I enjoyed every second of being a leader during Confirmation

and I loved watching my girls slowly, but surely, become more comfortable with their faith and their new love for Christ. I had the privilege of watching them accept Christ into their lives and act upon what it means to be a Christian. I absolutely loved being a Confirmation leader and loving on my group, but their hearts towards others and their love for Christ taught me more than they will ever know. I have been lucky enough to serve the Middle School program by being a Confirmation leader, Disciple Camp leader, and Lock-In leader, and I am so thankful for the people and the memories each experience brought me. I consider myself a better person because of the lessons I have been taught and the love I have been shown from Middle School students. I am so thankful for each and every opportunity I had to get to know the students that sit in the room right next to me during Sunday morning youth groups, and they will always have a special place in my heart, as will Church of the Servant and all the ways it has shaped me into the person I am today. Hillary Neaves, Middle School Volunteer

Hillary with campers

High School Students! Just a reminder: we still meet on Wednesday evening and Sunday mornings throughout the summer! Sunday Morning starts at 9:30 a.m. in The Point Student Center. Our morning is filled with breakfast, games, teaching, and adult leaders leading discussions! Summer Wednesdays takes place at the church and various locations around town! Our evening this summer focuses on building community. Check the dates to determine the location and time. Transportation will not be provided. You can find this information on the church Website under High School Calendar!

Andi with her youth group girls

I Parents! Don’t forget to sign up for our email subscriptions! You can do this under Newsletter on the church Website at www.churchoftheservant.com/ resources/newsletter.

SERVANT HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: •

SUNDAY MORNING HOSPITALITY TEAM

– High School Servant –

n the weeks before I left Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia to return home to Oklahoma City for the summer, I struggled with finding a definite reason why I was coming back. For several reasons, I wished that I had applied for summer housing on campus and stayed in Lynchburg to work for the summer, or that I had applied for a new job somewhere I had never been before. Instead, I was returning home to work the same jobs I had worked for four straight summers, and I struggled with apathy regarding my current set of circumstances. That changed when I started serving with youth ministry at Church of the Servant. I had been involved with the youth group at Servant during my entire high school career and had loved every minute of it. However, I was reluctant to add anything to my already

hectic schedule. God had different plans, and the first Sunday morning I served with the youth group, it became evident that this was something God wanted me to be intimately involved in throughout the summer. Serving as a leader in the youth group is already beginning to shape and grow my relationship with God more than I thought possible and provides me with an outlet to pour into others the way Liberty University has poured into me over the past year. My prayer is that by serving these high school students, I can convey some of my experiences and show Christ to them through forming relationships with them, as well as guiding them into stronger relationships with Christ. Andi Butler, High School Volunteer

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SHIPWRECKED

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

HANK YOU to everyone who participated in SHIPWRECKED VBS! If you helped make decorations… THANK YOU! If you moved tables and chairs for us…THANK YOU! If you volunteered during the week…THANK YOU! We had an amazing week learning that Jesus rescues us when we’re lonely, when we worry, when we struggle, and when we do wrong. And we made new friends and made great memories. Almost 540 kids and more than 150 volunteers learned about Jesus through stories, music, snacks and games. The kids also collected socks, lotion and Kleenex for Tenaciously Teal and collected

over 3,000 items! It was a competition between the girls and the boys for who could bring the most, and while the girls won, the community of Tenaciously Teal were the real winners! But I have to admit, I really enjoyed watching Brooke Gebb turn John Gilstrap into a human ice cream sundae! Thank you to everyone who had a part in preparing for VBS. The kids loved it! Mark your calendars for next year’s VBS: June 3-6, 2019. Martha Stone, VBS Coordinator Extraordinaire

NEW – FOR BEGINNERS

BALLROOM CLASS If you have always wanted to learn to dance, now is your chance! Dates: Every Tuesday (August 7 – November 27) Time: 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. Location: Youth Area Cost : $80 a month for couples ($20 per class) $40 a month for singles ($10 per class)

You will learn: 5 Basic Elements & 3 Dances (Rumba - East Coast Swing - Waltz) If you have always wanted to learn to dance, now is your chance. We will start from the very beginning and answer your questions along the way. This group class is a slow-paced learning environment for any age. Contact: Crystal Johnson, Instructor Email: crysjohnson1@yahoo.com Call/Text: (917) 828-6466

FUN IN THE SUNday is July 29. During the 11:00 Sunday morning hour for 3 year olds – 5th graders, the kids will celebrate SUMMER with a fun Sunday! Kids should wear clothes that can get wet (please no bathing suits), appropriate shoes, and a towel is always a good idea.

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CARE MINISTRIES

Congregational Care & Support “WE ARE HUMBLED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNIT Y TO MINISTER TO THE CONCERNS – AND SHARE IN THE JOYS – OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR CONGREGATION AND BE YOND!” – REV. TIM TRAVERS, MINISTER OF CONGREGATIONAL CARE

id you know we have what is called “Care Ministries” in our congregation? Care Ministries is

the way our church reaches out to people when they experience difficult times in their lives, such as during grief, illness, surgery, or even the loss of a job. These are just a few of the times we give our support by praying, visiting, and sending cards or emails. Much of this ministry is accomplished by our trained laypersons, called Care Chaplains. Care Chaplains have had training in being there for people, sharing the care and prayer support on behalf of our whole congregation – with our members and beyond. Sometimes they simply lend a listening ear on the phone, sometimes they share some encouragement from scripture, and sometimes they go and visit in person. Many congregations have what are called Stephen Ministers, and our team of Care Chaplains are very similar to Stephen Ministers.

So how does it work? One of our trained Care Chaplains is assigned to an individual or household as soon as they let us know of a particular need they have. As an example, let’s say that Joe and Sally Smith inform us that Joe will have heart surgery coming up later this month. They also tell us they’d like to be on our printed prayer lists, so that others in our congregation can pray for them. The Care Ministries Coordinator gets the information we need in order to attend to

them and support them during this time. They’re also assigned to a Care Chaplain, who reaches out to Joe and Sally to let them know they have our prayer support. The Care Chaplain might go and visit them in the hospital as Joe is recuperating from his surgery. In addition, the Care Chaplain might call them in a week or two in order to check in and see how they’re doing. People have often told us how very meaningful it was for them to receive calls, visits, and prayer support during such times. Here’s a different example: Tom and Susie Jones call and let us know that Susie’s mother has just passed away. After we have that information, we reach out to the family with

calls or cards, communicating to them that the whole family is in our prayers as they experience this time of grief. The Care Chaplain who has been assigned to that family will help support them with such cards or calls. As you can imagine, all of the ordained clergy we have on staff here at Church of the Servant keep quite busy attending to as many of these kinds of needs as they are able. However, you can also imagine that our congregation is much too large for all of that outreach to be accomplished by only the clergy. Therefore, the ministry that Care Chaplains accomplish is critical to our ability to care for the spiritual needs of our people. When it

Care Staff (L-R): Lola Burgtorf, Rev. Tim Travers, Vicki Roberds, Camilla Riley

comes to the deaths that our families experience, we are also involved with numerous funerals and memorial services here at Church of the Servant, as well as ones that take place in funeral homes or at gravesides. Our clergy staff often officiate such services. This is, indeed, one of the crucial times when the love, prayers, and support of one’s congregation aids in the healing of one’s broken heart. When it comes to grief, we offer follow-up care with support groups in the fall and in the spring, which give our participants the fellowship and support they need for healing in their grief. You might be wondering if our Care Ministries department is only involved in the rather traumatic, sad, or upsetting times in life. Actually, we also get to share in the deep joys of the families of our congregation, such as when a son or daughter is born, or even a grandchild or great-grandchild. In fact, we often hear from our Care Ministries volunteers that one thing they cherish is the privilege of being in touch with individuals and families as they experience some of the biggest ups and downs in life. Plus, sometimes we have the very happy occasion to receive a call from someone who has experienced a wonderful answer to prayer, and they just know in their heart that the support they received from their church family made a difference as they waited for God’s providence. Would you like to become involved in Care Ministries? There are several ways you can be involved in volunteering for Care Ministries, if that feels like something God is calling you to do. 1) You can be on our Note-Writer Team. This means you would be on a rotating team of persons who write note cards or letters to people in our congregation who are on our printed prayer lists each week. It would come your turn every few weeks. 2) You can help us with visitation to hospi-

tals, nursing homes, or retirement centers. 3) If you feel called to delve even deeper, you can go through our course of training to become a Care Chaplain. 4) Even if none of the items above seem like things that God is calling you to do, perhaps you’d like to stop by the Welcome Center in the Concourse on Sunday mornings, so that you can get one of the updated prayer lists. In this way, you can lift up our congregation’s people—and lift up Care Ministries—in your prayers, whether you are at home, or work, or wherever! If you’d like to be involved in some capacity as a volunteer for Care Ministries, we invite you to contact the Care Ministries Coordinator, Vicki Roberds. You can call her at (405) 728-4738 or email her at vroberds@churchoftheservant.com.

CARE MINISTRIES SUPPORT GROUPS GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP

Have you experienced the loss of a loved one? Do you crave interaction and sharing with others who have also experienced the death of someone they care about? If so, perhaps you would benefit from our Grief Support Group here at Church of the Servant. Being part of a group of people who encourage and build up one another in the faith can make such a difference as we grieve. Whether you have recently experienced the death of a loved one, or if you have been on a grief journey for a long time, we hope you’ll consider joining the group. Sometimes just realizing that we are not alone can be such a source of encouragement as we experience grief. The group will meet on Sundays 3:00-4:30 p.m., beginning September 23 and continuing through December 16. We’ll meet in the Library at Church of the Servant. The Library is located inside the office area directly behind the big waterfall. Each session will include a helpful video and plenty of time for discussion and sharing. We utilize the Grief Share curriculum, and each participant will receive a complimentary workbook. Registration never closes, so you are always welcome to join us at any time during the course. Contact Vicki Roberds at vroberds@churchoftheservant.com or 405-728-4738.

SUPPORT FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE PATIENTS

COLEEN HENRY, NOTEWRITER

Are you a patient who is dealing with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease? If so, we would love to hear from you. We know this can be a very challenging disease to deal with as it progresses in one’s life. Please let us know if you have a desire or need to connect with others who are also Parkinson’s patients. After we’ve heard from some people, we will determine if perhaps it might be in God’s good timing for us to offer a support group here at our church—specifically for the patients themselves, rather than the caregivers, family members, or supporters of the patients. Even if perhaps we don’t have enough people to create a new group, we’d like to help facilitate some communication between persons, so they can share their support in less formal ways. Therefore, if you are dealing with this disease, we invite you to give our Care Ministries Coordinator, Vicki Roberds, a call sometime this summer. We would like to know if there is any particular way we can be of help and support to you. Contact Vicki at 405728-4738 or vroberds@churchoftheservant.com.

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CARE MINISTRIES SUPPORT GROUPS

TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY

ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP

Are you caring for (or giving support to) a loved one who has Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia? If so, we invite you to attend our Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers Support Group, which meets 3:00-4:30 p.m. one Sunday per month (every second Sunday) at Church of the Servant in the South Adult Center, Room 6. This is one of the classrooms just behind the Centrum auditorium. This group is designed to give support and encouragement to people who have loved ones with Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia. Whether you and your loved one are far along on this difficult journey, or if you are brand-new to dealing with this challenge in life, either way you are invited to join us. Some participants have their loved one living at home with them, while others have their loved one cared for in a nursing home or memory care unit. Either way, we welcome all of you, the caregivers and supporters. Here’s how it works: Just take it upon yourself to set up any care that might be necessary for your loved one during the time of our meetings (we don’t offer such care on-site here at Church of the Servant)…and then join us for a time of learning, sharing, and supporting one another. We are on the official list of support groups offered by the Alzheimer’s Association, and we have trained facilitators for our group. Registration for this group never closes, so you are always welcome to join us! If you’re interested in the group, contact Vicki Roberds at vroberds@churchoftheservant.com or (405) 728-4738. Upcoming meeting dates are: Sundays, August 12 and September 9 SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN FACING CROHN’S DISEASE OR COLITIS

Does your child have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis? If so, we invite you and your child to come to our support group for families who have a child who is dealing with this disease. The Oklahoma Pediatric Support Group meets the second Tuesday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Church of the Servant. For more information, contact the Support Group Facilitator, Martha Stone, at marth@hotmail.com.

TRANSPORTATION ACCESS FOR NON-DRIVING SENIORS AND OTHERS WITH DISABILITIES Many of us take for granted the ability to slide into our cars and drive ourselves to appointments, shopping excursions, or even Sunday services at Church of the Servant. However, that is a level of independence that is not enjoyed by everyone. We have learned in the Care Ministry office about many members and their families who have to juggle schedules and responsibilities in order to get a ride to a bridge party, a hair appointment, or even to pick up prescriptions. While Uber and Lyft are good choices for many, we have found three additional options for non-driving seniors and others who have disabilities. For someone living near an existing city bus route, Embark Plus might be the answer. Rides can be scheduled in specific areas for medical appointments and grocery shopping at a low cost, and senior discounts are available if age-eligible. Having the latitude to schedule a driver in a personal vehicle might be your preference, and for that reason you might choose to join the Independent Transportation Network (ITN) or utilize the RSVP Provide-A-Ride service. ITN delivers clients to almost any destination of their choice within the OKC metro area, and RSVP transports clients to medical appointments, including a pharmacy stop after that appointment. Read more about all three in a side-by-side comparison by picking up a chart at the Welcome Center or view it at www.churchoftheservant.com/care-support/transportation/.

POTENTIAL VOLUNTEER DRIVERS Church of the Servant has had a mission/volunteer mindset since its beginning 50 years ago, and a new opportunity is available for those who would enjoy an individual service option. Drivers with good driving records are needed by two organizations, Independent Transportation Network (ITN) and RSVP Provide-A-Ride. Both organizations connect seniors or those with disabilities to volunteer drivers who have even a half-day of available time each week, and both have waiting lists of those needing rides. These ride options don’t offer a paycheck the way Uber and Lyft do, but they do offer the opportunity to get acquainted with interesting and appreciative people, all of whom have had a background check. Many friendships have blossomed through the simple kindness of providing transportation for someone who no longer can drive. Each organization provides additional liability insurance for the driver’s vehicle and allows mileage to be reimbursed or “banked” for future use. Both are 501-C3 organizations, so if the volunteer chooses not to be reimbursed or to receive future rides, the miles driven can be submitted for tax purposes as a charitable deduction. There is no cost involved in becoming a volunteer driver, but if you do sign up and begin driving, Church of the Servant is prepared to make a donation to the organization to help cover the cost of your background and driving record checks. Please contact Susie Cobden or Camilla Riley at the church if you begin driving for either organization. For more information, please request the “Volunteers Needed” flyer from the Welcome Center in the Concourse or view it online at www.churchoftheservant.com/care-support/transportation/, and you will find a side-by-side comparison of how the process works for the two services.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: SEPTEMBER 14-16

SULPHUR, OKLAHOMA

WOMEN’S RETREAT Give Yourself A Break: Helping Your Inner Critic Become Your Compassionate Friend

elf-compassion is having the same concern for our own pain and welfare as we would have for someone else’s. Out of self-compassion flow self-care and protection from harm. It is the idea that we can be kind to ourselves when we fail and treat ourselves with the caring support we would give another who is struggling. Self-compassion is a balance of truth with grace. Self-compassion is absolutely essential for healthy, balanced living. It provides huge benefits including emotional resiliency, stress reduction, contentment, and healthier relationships. Without it we are vulnerable to the opinions of others and find it difficult to deal with and let go of our mistakes.

Don’t make an excuse – take care of yourself…

Self-compassion increases resilience and self-worth, aids in stress reduction, and helps us recover from painful experiences. Come as we talk about self compassion within the context of scripture and Christian faith.

Women of all ages and walks of life. Participants do not have to be members of Church of the Servant. The retreat center space is limited to 90 participants and reservations will be taken as they are received.

Under the direction of Dr. Robyn Goggs, Associate Pastor and Director of Women’s Ministries, several women of our church will lead a retreat that will bring renewal in your own walk with God. There will be large and small group experiences, and plenty of space to exercise, play, rest, be with others, or to simply be alone as you seek space with God.

When:

Friday-Sunday, September 14-16. The retreat begins with dinner at 6pm Friday evening, but participants can arrive as early as 4:30 to check into their rooms. Our time will end on Sunday by noon.

Who:

Accommodations:

The breathtaking scenery of early autumn in the Arbuckle Mountains will be our gathering space for the fall women’s retreat. Surrounded by undisturbed beauty, the Chickasaw Retreat Center is tucked in between the Lake of the Arbuckles and the Arbuckle Mountains. It is an easy 1 and 1/2 hour drive from Oklahoma City, just outside Sulphur, Oklahoma.

Cost: $199

Based on double occupancy, some rooms have king size beds. This registration includes two nights in a room, all meals during the retreat, and all retreat materials. Lunch will not be served on Sunday. Brochures will be available at the welcome center and registration is online at www.churchoftheservant.com/events. For questions, contact Susie Cobden at scobden@churchoftheservant.com.

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

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S.POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT NO 99

OKLAHOMA CITY 73125

September 9th Celebrating and preparing for: what has happened, what is happening, and what is to come!