DANIELLE ROBINSON AND FAMILY RESILIENT • HOPEFUL • FAITHFUL
On February 20, 2017, Danielle Robinson visited the doctor’s office with what was thought to be a bad case of the flu... only to discovered Danielle had cancer. This was the beginning of a long and difficult journey, but the Robinson family is strong, faithful, and fiercely loving. Read more on page 4...
MORE INSIDE:
• New Worship Series, “A REEL CHRISTMAS” starts THIS SUNDAY!
• Christmas is in the air! Join us in celebrating the birth of Christ Jesus! Many opportunities! More information inside!
Reel Christmas Dear Friends, I must admit... once Thanksgiving has passed, I become the fifth child in the Mitchell house. I love Christmas! The lights, the songs, the food, family, the church services… my list goes on and on. As a child, I knew once I saw the Advent Wreath at the church, Christmas would soon follow. Now Advent and Christmas are almost here, and I want to share our upcoming Worship Series with each of you. For the first four Sundays in December, Church of the Servant will dive into a worship series called Reel Christmas. No, I did not make a spelling error. Yes, Reel Christmas will be a way for us to look at how some of our favorite Christmas movies can challenge all of us to experience the special season in a new way. On Sundays, December 3-24, we will watch a Christmas movie clip and focus on a biblical theme that challenges us to be more than spectators. Here is a quick preview of what is to come: Dr. Matthew Mitchell Senior Minister December 3: “It’s a Wonderful Life”—You Matter to God! December 10: “Elf”—Singing Loud for All to Hear December 17: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”—Our Hearts Matter December 24: “Polar Express”—The Faith of a Child What I get excited about is the way all four services will be able to use technology in December! The Chapel and Centrum are already equipped with technology, and during the month of December, the Celebration Center will have special screens that allow for the use of technology in a temporary way. Of course, the long-term goal is to continue having that technology in the Celebration Center. I know how special the Celebration Center is to all of us; and prior to permanently adding screens, I believe it is important to learn what can be done with excellence. I hope you have a chance to see all the movies of our Reel Christmas worship series this December, but let us never forget the real reason for our joy this special time of year! “REELY” EXCITED, Matthew Watch a preview of the series here:
https://vimeo.com/244659165
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RISE AGAINST HUNGER Sunday, February 25, 2018
It’s not just an event Church of the Servant does each year! It is a mission we have committed to for the past 8 years to help feed children all over the world.
Missions
How many children have been fed as a result of our church committing 5 hours on a Sunday morning and approximately $44,000 each year to package over 151,000 meals? Since 2010, 1,162,792 meals have been packaged and shipped all over the world! We are making a tremendous impact on reducing the number of children who wonder when and where their next meal is coming from. On Sunday, February 25, 2018 we will experience the 8th Rise Against Hunger packaging event. Our goal is to package 151,000 meals! At .29 cents per meal, we will have to raise approximately $44,000. Through generous donations to our Fish Appeal on January 21 and the M&M fundraiser, we hope to raise the money to reach our meal goal. Invite family, friends, and co-workers to participate in Rise Against Hunger on Sunday, February 25. Registration will be open on Sunday, January 28. Contact Scott Smith at 721-4141 or ssmith@churchoftheservant.com for more information.
VIM Training: Training to Lead Mission Trips Would you be interested in learning more about leading a mission trip? It could be in the state, the country, or international. The mission council is looking for 7-10 people to send to VIM mission team leader training on Saturday, February 24. To complete the certification, each participant would then go on a mission trip to compliment the training. As we are planning for 2018, the hope is to send more teams out this year with new leaders. Please contact Susie Cobden at scobden@churchoftheservant.com if you are interested and willing to attend the training in February.
Christmas Grace Thank you so much for your amazing response to adopting families to share a little extra love with this season. What a blessing this ministry is for the hundreds of families who will receive gifts and food this Christmas because of you and your desire to be a blessing to others! Please return gifts and meals by Sunday, December 3.
Deliver a Christmas Meal Do you know a family that might need and appreciate one of the Christmas meals this year? There will be several extra meals available. Contact Susie Cobden at scobden@churchoftheservant.com, and a meal can be available on December 10 or 17 for you to deliver.
Whiz Kids Fruit Sale is December 10 The annual fruit sale will once again benefit Whiz Kids of Oklahoma. Boxes of oranges, boxes of grapefruit, and mixed boxes will be available for pre-sale on December 3 (for pick up on December 10) and for sale again on December 10. Look for the tables in the Concourse. The fruit is $20 per box and can be picked up on December 10 or picked up in the church office after the sale from December 11-13. Enjoy a healthful snack or gift to share with your family and friends while helping a FANTASTIC cause! What cause is that? Whiz Kids of Oklahoma – an organization that improves the lives of elementary school students by partnering each child with a caring volunteer tutor. The tutors are there each week to work one-on-one with their student and to build a relationship. The volunteers help primarily with reading, but can help with any schoolwork necessary. The students are picked up from school, driven to a partnering church, fed a meal, spend time learning, and are driven home. The volunteers become invested in their students, get to know their families, and build lasting relationships.
December Blood Drive Sunday, December 10
Give the gift of life this Christmas by giving blood at Church of the Servant. Register in advance at the table near Community Hall. One hour of your time could save someone’s life. Giving blood is a simple way to make a difference.
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Danielle’s Journey THE BEGINNING The month of February had already been a big medical month for the Robinson family. Courtney had ACL replacement surgery on the 6th and Craig’s father had a minor stroke on the 11th. In addition to those things, Danielle had started complaining that she was tired and did not feel good. She also developed a cracked lip and a bloody nose that just wouldn’t stop. It did not seem too unusual because her high school had the flu, strep and mono making their rounds. We figured that she had caught something from school, treated her for her symptoms, and took her to the doctor for a strep/mono test on the 15th. The doctor agreed that it was something that was just going around, but took some blood to test for a few things. On Friday and through the weekend she rested, but seemed to only get worse. Because of some issues at the doctor’s office, we did not get the results of her Thursday blood test until late Monday. After we finally got in to the doctor’s office, the doctor started asking questions that did not seem like standard questions. What we finally learned was that Danielle’s blood work was very abnormal to the point the doctor could not explain it. The doctor could only tell us that she was in trouble. We also learned that what we were watching over the weekend was not the flu or mono getting worse. What we were watching was our daughter dying right there on the couch in our living room. The bloody nose – results of her body not making enough platelets to heal the broken capillaries in her nose. The fatigue – results of having extremely low red blood counts and kidneys that were failing. The only advice the doctor had for us was to pack her up and take her straight to OU Children’s because they would be the only ones who she would feel comfortable treating Danielle. Once we got to Children’s ed seeing more and more multiple disciplines. After one of the doctors pulled
ER, we startdoctor’s from a few hours, us down the
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hallway to let us know that Danielle had been diagnosed with Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and they would be admitting her to the hospital. It was February 20 and the start of a long journey for all of us.
Danielle Robinson and Family (clockwise): Ashley, Jennifer, Anthony, Craig, Courtney, and Danielle
They immediately started replacing her blood products, recovering kidney function and started chemotherapy treatments. We started a crash course in leukemia and tried to figure out how to cope with her diagnosis. Before we could even get used to the idea that Danielle had cancer, the doctors let us know that getting her organs to start working and resolving other health issues were more important. That has been a recurring theme on Danielle’s journey. Within a couple of days, she had started feeling better and then started feeling worse again. On February 25, she spiked a pretty high fever and her body stopped being able to keep up her own blood pressure. Within about 4 hours, she went from being awake on the 10th floor to being in a medically-induced coma in the PICU due to septic shock from a staph infection. We were told that septic shock is a serious condition with a high mortality rate and that our daughter’s life was now measured in hours instead of days, months and years, if they could not get her condition under control. We watched the PICU team and our girl fight for her life, and it left us feeling so helpless. Over the rest of her 90-day stay in the PICU, it seemed that fighting the leukemia was the least of our worries. It
seemed that if something could go wrong, it did. She had many complications to include: multiple surgeries, getting a tracheotomy, needing a nasal feeding tube, fighting a fungal infection that affected her lungs ability to process oxygen and caused the intestine perforation, blood clots in her limbs, nasal cavity damage from the tubing, skin breakdown/itching from reaction to medication, chemo port/ IV/PICC failures, mouth sores, PICU psychosis, and getting hooked on OPIODs. In total, she was treated by medical staff members from 19 disciplines before she left. The PICU and Oncology teams did not really get to see the full personality of the sassy Danielle that many of us know and love. But the PICU team was able to save Danielle’s life and stabilize her condition, and she left the PICU on May 26. She spent a few days back on the 10th floor before being transferred to The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Unit. We will always be grateful to the staff of OU Children’s, not just the medical staff. But we are especially grateful to the PICU team for all they did to restore Danielle to health and to the Oncology team for continuing her battle against the leukemia. ...Continue reading on page 6
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Danielle’s Journey – Continued from page 4 THE REHABILITATION On May 30, Danielle was transferred to The Children’s Center rehabilitation unit in Bethany. She was so weak from being in bed since February 20 that she struggled to move herself around in bed, feed herself, and could not sit up alone or stand. The staff took on the challenge of working with Danielle to become stronger and more independent. The summer had its ups and downs with Danielle spending some inpatient time back at OU Children’s in July, August and September for severe reactions to the chemotherapy medications. During her time at The Children’s Center, the nursing, OT, PT, Speech Therapy, Education, Music Therapy, and Recreation Therapy staff combined their efforts to motivate her in different ways to keep working on getting better. Everyday Danielle gained more strength and started to recover some of the things she had lost. When she was discharged on October 17, she was healthy enough that they removed her tracheotomy, IV medication, nasal feeding tube, and she was able to feed herself, sit up unaided, start moving her legs, help with transfers from her chair to the bed, car, shower bench or chair, and was breathing better. She was still not able to walk, but she was able to wheel herself in her wheelchair at her discharge parade. She had worked very hard to get better and had made so much progress!!! We feel tremendously blessed by the whole team of people at The Children’s Center. They worked diligently and loved her and supported our family throughout Danielle’s time there. We had a wonderful experience there! HOME! Danielle is home now and is enjoying her family and her couch! Getting back to some sense of being normal has been a tremendous boost to her spirit. She has enjoyed getting back to some of her activities and getting out and about. She loved going back to small group at church. She auditioned for a musical that starts rehearsing in January. She started back to school for half days unPage 6 I ChurchoftheServant.com
til Christmas break (We’ll see how that goes and then decide after break.). She has transitioned to outpatient OT and PT to continue to grow stronger. Her goal is to walk and dance again. We have home nursing to help us as we transition from inpatient to outpatient. And she has been able to visit both the PICU and Children’s Center to thank staff for their hard work and diligence in her care. THE FUTURE Danielle has finished the intense part of her chemotherapy treatment. She is now in what they call the Maintenance Phase. She is basically on a three-
Danielle’s Youth Small Group month treatment plan that keeps repeating. During the Maintenance Phase, she receives a combination of IV, oral and spinal tap medications. This phase will last until about June of 2019 from what we understand. This experience has been and continues to be tremendously hard for the Robinson family. We are often asked how we made it/are making it through this. For Danielle... as most of you know, Danielle has made some new high profile friends in Kelli O’Hara and Ogbo Okoronkwo. They both have been a part of experiences she looked forward to and will remember for the rest of her life. The Kid’s Alive family reminding Danielle that she has been dearly missed and will always be a part of their family, whether she is on their stage or not, has also meant so much to her. But
each of her friends, classmates, small group members, book club, COS family, etc. that have reached out to her, visited her and have traveled this journey with her a little at a time are the things for which she is most grateful. For the rest of us, the answer is really simple. Every day we are being carried on the wings of angels sent by GOD. We have said many prayers, and they have been and are being answered daily. Whenever we could not take another step, the Lord sent someone to carry us. Whenever we needed someone to visit us or talk with us so that we could escape from the world of machines and beeping, you were there. We see GOD’s face every day when we see many of you. We could not have made it through this without the tremendous love, support and prayers from so many people – some we may not even know. We cannot express the gratitude that we feel to those who prayed, texted, called, visited, sent letters and cards, ran errands for us, and brought us food and other things. The peace that you provided was an answer to our prayers and a savior to our spirit, soul and sanity. We may never be able to thank you enough, but we know that unconditional love and support is the strength and beauty of community. We feel tremendously blessed and grateful that Danielle is here with us and believe that she is truly a miracle. Thank You! 2 Chronicles 15:7 – “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” FOLLOW DANIELLE’S JOURNEY Follow Danielle’s Journey on Facebook @Dab4Danielle. MIRACLES HAPPEN Danielle is featured this month in The Children Center’s Miracles Happen campaign. Find out more about Miracles Happen at https://www.miracleshappenhere.org/ support/
PRIME TIME Welcomes Kyle Dillingham! Ready for a really outstanding Christmas treat for Prime Time? Well, we’ve got it! Come join us Thursday, December 14, at 10:00 a.m. (note the earlier time) for our very important Annual Bake Sale and Silent Auction, and a morning of musical magic from Kyle Dillingham! World renowned fiddle sensation and Oklahoma Musical Ambassador, Kyle Dillingham, has over 20 years of international experience with performances in 36 countries. The Enid native picked up the violin when he was nine, and eight years later gave two featured performances at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. He later went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in instrumental music performance from Oklahoma City University. Many times Kyle has performed for royalty and government leaders. He has been soloist with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, the Amici New York Orchestra, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the Enid Symphony Orchestra, the Oklahoma City University Orchestra, the UCO Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra and the Oklahoma Community Orchestra. He is a 2009 recipient of the OK Governor’s Art’s Award and is currently “Ambassador in Residence” at the University of Central Oklahoma, using his “musical diplomacy” to help develop and strengthen new overseas relationships for the university. He also received the 405 Magazine Best of OKC Award for Best
Local Musician 2016 and 2017. Perhaps Kyle is best known as part of the very popular Horseshoe Road. These fellows have been thrilling audiences since 2005 with their high energy performances, and they are winners of the 2016 Oklahoma Gazette Music Awards for “Best Americana/Folk.” They just performed with Canterbury Choral Society at a sold out “Bluegrass and Blue Jeans” Concert. And remember, you don’t want to miss bidding on the goodies at the Annual Bake Sale and Silent Auction, the proceeds of which allow us to be generous in our charitable giving. The auction will be from 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. Please consider contributing one or more baked items; cakes, pies, cookies and candy are all best sellers! There will be a table in the Concourse on Sunday, December 3 and 10, so stop by and sign up to make this the best bake sale ever! We’ll round out the morning with a Christmas Feast of ham, praline sweet potatoes, braised cabbage, and assorted crème pies for dessert! $2 for program only, $10 with the meal. Sign up online at www.churchoftheservant.com/ events or at the Welcome Center.
OH WHAT FUN! – A Christmas Crafting Morning Saturday, December 9 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. in Community Hall $35 (all supplies for 2 projects and breakfast included) Come join Women’s Ministry for a Christmas Crafting morning! feature coffee, bagels, fun and fellowship. We will be painting and creating a custom Christmas decoration as well as four wooden ornaments. Remember to wear “paint-friendly” clothes.
Adults The Holy Spirit Unleashed In You by Kay Arthur
Wednesdays, January 10 - April 11, 2018 For Men and Women Nancy Harris – Leader Cost for Book: $10.00
Do you know what it means to “walk by the Spirit”? Is your life filled with power to serve? Do you wonder whether the Holy Spirit is given only to certain believers — or active in your life at all? Now you can know firsthand who the Holy Spirit is, to whom the gift of the Spirit is given, and how He fulfills His marvelous purpose. The book of Acts is a gold mine of invaluable truths about living and walking by the Spirit. Explore for yourself the dynamic working of God’s Spirit in the lives of early believers — and in the lives of believers today. Experience power in everyday living — the Holy Spirit unleashed in you! Come join us Wednesday mornings, January 10 – April 11 at 9:30 a.m. for this precept-style study on the exciting topic of the Holy Spirit! Books are $10.00 and will be available the first day of class. Be prepared to learn how to “Walk by the Spirit of God” in your everyday living, just like the early believers did. Email Nancy Harris at nancyquilter@cox.net for more information.
The morning will
Register and pay at www.churchoftheservant.com/ events or on Sunday mornings in the Concourse. Limited spots available, so register early! The mission outreach for the morning will be to provide a new or gently used baby/toddler coat for Infant Crisis Services. SERVANT November 29, 2017 I Page 7
Christmas Happy Birthday, Jesus!
CHRISTMAS EVE AT C H U R C H O F T H E S E R V A N T
Servant Kids are invited to the most important birthday party of the year on Sunday, December 17 – a birthday party celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior – Jesus Christ. The theme for the morning’s activities at both 9:30 and 11:00 is from How the Grinch Stole Christmas – “Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more” than just presents and feasting. This coincides with the Reel Christmas Sermon Series and the movie being highlighted that morning. 9:30: The Total Group Time will include the reading of the story How the Grinch Stole Christmas and will be followed by a short lesson and game activities.
DECEMBER
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9:30am 2017
4th Sunday of Advent
Traditional Service in Celebration Center
Final Cut of “Reel Christmas” only one 9:30 service today
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services – 11:00am– Modern *Kid-Friendly* Christmas Eve Service – 6:00 & 8:00pm – Candlelight Communion Services Nursery available for ages 2 & Under – 9:30, 11:00, and 6:00 services
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11:00: During Sunday school, an animated version of the movie will be shown. The kids will feast on popcorn and make an ornament to share with their family. Church of the Servant • www. 14343 N MacArthur Blvd • Oklahom Every activity of the morning will emphasize this theme. Make plans for your children to be with us all morning on Sunday, December 17.
Invite a Friend!
Christmas at Servant is always so beautiful and festive... share the joy with a friend! Do you have a neighbor that you have been thinking about inviting to church? Now is the perfect time! Go to www.churchoftheservant.com to see all of the wonderful opportunities we have this Christmas at Servant, and then invite a friend to join us!
Our Life Together Our Prayers
u Jarrell and Wilma Cathey as Wilma faces surgery at Integris Baptist Medical Center. u Dorothy Erickson as Dorothy recuperates from surgery after a fall. u Barry and Pam Henthorn as Barry deals with health issues. u Kip and Beverly Kirkhuff as Kip faces surgery at Integris Baptist Medical Center. u Jeremy, Amy, Cap, and Ella Patman as Amy’s grandfather, C.B. Strebeck, deals with health issues. u Will, Michele, Jared, and Jayden Snow as Michele’s sister, Karyn Barnett, recuperates from surgery.
Our Sympathy
u Carolyn Beavers and Jake Knol and Family at the death of Carolyn’s sister and Jake’s wife, Donna Knol. u Sean, Kimberli, Kyle, and Mianna Brownlee and Family at the death of Kimberli’s grandmother, Christine Harding. u Dara Derryberry, Darren Derryberry and Family at the death of Dara’s and Darren’s mother, Gale Derryberry. u Cathy Hersom and Family at the death of Cathy’s sister-in-law, Linda Hersom. u Will, Michele, Jared, and Jayden Snow and Family at the death of Michele’s aunt, Emma Jean Hicks. u Bill, Lisa and Jessica Boone, Justin, Erin, Jackson and Charlotte Lawrence at the death of Lisa’s father, Jessica’s and Justin’s grandfather, and Jackson’s and Charlotte’s great-grandfather, Lee Henry. u Joel, Stacey, Katelyn and Jake Shaffer, at the death of Joel’s sister, Shelli Raines.
Snow Duty!
We do our very best when it comes to keeping the parking lots and sidewalks clean and safe after a snow storm. We need a few brave and sturdy souls to help clear the sidewalks before Sunday services after a snowfall. If you are able to help, please call Don Cole, Director of Facilities, at 834-2702 or email Don at dcole@churchoftheservant. com, and he will put you on the call list.
Celebrating
u Camilla Pinkston, mother of Gerry Pinkston, celebrates her ninety-seventh birthday! u A special congratulations to Conner McGinnis – one of the quarterbacks at the University of Oklahoma and the placeholder for field goals and extra points – for being named First Team Academic All Big Twelve this year! He made another 4.0 grade-point average! Conner is the son of Don and Stacy McGinnis and has been a part of our church family all of his life. He is a Heritage Hall graduate.
Only 21 Earthglow Shopping Days Until CHRISTMAS
In the Kitchen
Dec 3 – Pork Loin with Cran-Raspberry Sauce, Roasted Bakers, Potatoes and Carrots, Rolls, and Dessert. The Kitchen is located just inside Community Hall. Join us on Sundays for hot breakfast or lunch!
Christmas In the Courtyard
This Advent season, experience Christmas in the Courtyard! Enjoy Breakfast-on-theGo, with a choice of an Express breakfast for $3 or a Deluxe breakfast for $4.50. Grab a holiday drink, like a new Peppermint or S’more Mocha Latte, from our 13.2 Coffee Shop. Mingle in the Courtyard after getting your coffee and breakfast and feel the warmth of Christian community. We’ll have places to fellowship and opportunities for pictures as your family and our church family prepare our hearts for Christmas this year. You won’t want to miss it!
Earthglow Gift Shop is the perfect place to do your Christmas shopping! You can put a festive touch to your home with all of the beautiful holiday decor – everything from ornaments, to Christmas pillows, to nativity scenes, to plates for Santa cookies. You can warm the hearts of those on your gift list, and you can also warm the feet of your babies, children or adults with those oh-so-popular, warm, snuggly stockings that are in stock once again. You’ll find food items, jewelry, scarves, greeting cards, Melissa and Doug “non-computerized” games for kids, and much, much more. Stop in today.
Remember that Earthglow shopping not only provides you with a variety of beautiful gift items, but all proceeds from your purchases are given to various local missions. Shopping hours at Earthglow are Sundays, 8:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; and Fridays, 9 a.m.–12:00 noon. We will be closed on Christmas Eve so that our wonderful volunteer staff may spend that day in worship with their families, so shop early!
Welcome Merin!
We are so thankful to announce that Merin Gracey has accepted the position of Nursery Coordinator. Merin, her husband, Dean, and their twin boys, Reid and Tyler, are longtime members of Servant. The Nursery Coordinator schedules nursery workers for Sunday and Wednesday evenings, but also for any special events that requires the nursery or childcare. She can be reached at 721-4141.
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Church of the Servant
14343 N MacArthur Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73142-9725
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