Thankful for Community
For a year, we have been praying for an opportunity to get our foot into the doors at the Hewitt High School. A few weeks ago, a random email came through and I just happen to be sitting at my desk answering emails. With instant peace, I knew it was the open door we have been praying for, so I replied. The request come to help feed the high school band during the regular football season. The season consist of 10 games and about 275 band members. With a leap of faith, Celebrate Recovery, the Student Ministry and the Children’s Ministry jumped in with both feet to serve the meals.
At our first meal served, the students were overwhelming us with so much gratitude. This was the first time the high school band had ever made such a request. The parents of the band members who volunteer to assist during the season jumped in and helped us distribute spaghetti. With students hungry, they came back for a second serving. It was comical to hear how much they REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LOVE SPAGHETTI and they were very appreciative. At the game that night, the parents expressed their gratitude as well.
We served about 180 students during this first meal. Several students had food brought back to them because that is the normal routine. Seeing all of the smiles and talking with them was a great moment of connection!
Another great moment, while serving the first meal, was the distribution of Gatorade. It was no ordinary distribution because each band member, who came through to eat, received a water bottle they can carry to the game with them. It was no random water bottle. We ordered custom bottles with our church logo on front. They have been told to bring them back each week to refill with their meal.
The water bottles were all the buzz because of our church logo being on the front. One band member recognized our church and said he attended a summer event at our church several years ago. Another student recognized the church as being the one with the basketball goal in the back parking lot where they come to play basketball on the weekends.
As we packed to leave, their volunteers helped us clean up the area. The students asked what was on the menu for next week. Well, that would be chicken and rice. One thing we learned from this opportunity is that fruit punch Gatorade is hands down the best flavor. Another thing we learned is that fresh rolls are the best carbs you can eat on the go and 8 rolls will fit in the bottom of a shirt when you use it as a basket to carry food.
Gracious Lord, we give You all honor, glory and praise for this opportunity to connect and be in community with the students at the high school band, their parents, their directors and all of the other hands that help support them. We are humbled for this opportunity to be Your hands and feet during this season. We pray that You shrink us so that You can be increased in our interactions. We pray You give us the words to speak to those hearts that need to know they matter, we see them, and they are important. We praise You for those that support the ministries of Celebrate Recovery, the Student Ministry and the Children’s Ministry for making this service opportunity become a reality. We ask that You go before us each Friday. We ask for Your protection to surround each family. We pray they grow in You as they learn who they are because of Whose they are. We ask all these things in the precious and holy name of Your risen Son, Christ. Amen!
Much Agape,
Rev. Shan Odom
Phillip McEvoy
Megan McEvoy
Eleanor McEvoy (Water Bottle Counter)
Baby Ellison McEvoy (being precious while she napped)
At our first meal served, the students were overwhelming us with so much gratitude. This was the first time the high school band had ever made such a request. The parents of the band members who volunteer to assist during the season jumped in and helped us distribute spaghetti. With students hungry, they came back for a second serving. It was comical to hear how much they REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LOVE SPAGHETTI and they were very appreciative. At the game that night, the parents expressed their gratitude as well.
We served about 180 students during this first meal. Several students had food brought back to them because that is the normal routine. Seeing all of the smiles and talking with them was a great moment of connection!
Another great moment, while serving the first meal, was the distribution of Gatorade. It was no ordinary distribution because each band member, who came through to eat, received a water bottle they can carry to the game with them. It was no random water bottle. We ordered custom bottles with our church logo on front. They have been told to bring them back each week to refill with their meal.
The water bottles were all the buzz because of our church logo being on the front. One band member recognized our church and said he attended a summer event at our church several years ago. Another student recognized the church as being the one with the basketball goal in the back parking lot where they come to play basketball on the weekends.
As we packed to leave, their volunteers helped us clean up the area. The students asked what was on the menu for next week. Well, that would be chicken and rice. One thing we learned from this opportunity is that fruit punch Gatorade is hands down the best flavor. Another thing we learned is that fresh rolls are the best carbs you can eat on the go and 8 rolls will fit in the bottom of a shirt when you use it as a basket to carry food.
Gracious Lord, we give You all honor, glory and praise for this opportunity to connect and be in community with the students at the high school band, their parents, their directors and all of the other hands that help support them. We are humbled for this opportunity to be Your hands and feet during this season. We pray that You shrink us so that You can be increased in our interactions. We pray You give us the words to speak to those hearts that need to know they matter, we see them, and they are important. We praise You for those that support the ministries of Celebrate Recovery, the Student Ministry and the Children’s Ministry for making this service opportunity become a reality. We ask that You go before us each Friday. We ask for Your protection to surround each family. We pray they grow in You as they learn who they are because of Whose they are. We ask all these things in the precious and holy name of Your risen Son, Christ. Amen!
Much Agape,
Rev. Shan Odom
Phillip McEvoy
Megan McEvoy
Eleanor McEvoy (Water Bottle Counter)
Baby Ellison McEvoy (being precious while she napped)
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