HPUMC Churchwide Serving Day a Family Affair

Highland Park United Methodist Church’s mission is to help people become deeply devoted followers of Jesus Christ, and part of that comes from having a servant’s heart.

Even if someone is born with a heart to serve, it still has to be nurtured and allowed to grow. This year’s Churchwide Serving Day was another chance to develop that for a group of families at Wilkinson Center.

Four families brought their kids, ages 9-16, to serve alongside each other.

“We want to have a service culture for our kids and it’s great that the church provides the opportunity to organize and allow us to come out here and bring the kids and show them what it is to give back to the community,” Cameron Moates said.

Cameron and his wife Megan were joined by their sons Alex and Charlie.

Meanwhile Jill and Mark Meyer had their sons Ethan, Luke, and Owen with them.

“We try to find things to do as a family together to serve throughout the year, but this is a great way to do it with friends and make a big impact through the church,” Jill Meyer said. “It’s really fun, too.”

On Saturday, April 12, over 500 people spread out across Dallas to serve in 35 projects for 18 HPUMC Outreach partners who change lives through health, education, and housing. HPUMC’s Churchwide Serving Day offers an annual, low-barrier opportunity for individuals, families, and groups to serve their community on the Saturday before Palm Sunday.

Astrid Odegarrd, 10, was there with her brother Callan and parents Denisa and Greg.

“You get to help people and it’s fun to help with the food pantry,” she said.

The Moates, Meyer, Odegarrd, and Flood families were giving Wilkinson Center’s food pantry a refresh. They were removing food items from shelves, cleaning them, and then reorganizing them. They also cleaned tables, chairs, and windows in the center.

Like many service projects, it doesn’t sound all that fun on paper. But put a group of families with their kids together, and all of a sudden it has that feel to it.

“It’s fun to do stuff with friends,” 9-year-old Charlie Moates said.

Before beginning the project, all of the volunteers got a rundown of what Wilkinson Center’s food assistance program does. It provides a shopping experience for clients as families receive fresh produce, dry goods, protein, and perishable items.

“It’s good to help people and learn about experiences and it helps you become a better person,” Luke Meyer, 13, said.

It was the third or fourth time these families had gotten together to serve. Each time, they do something a little different to get the most out of the experience.

In 2024, they worked on the outdoor beautification project at St. Philip’s School and Community Center.

“I think last year we were outside doing landscaping work for several hours, so this year we tried to do an alternative,” Cameron said. “I’m sure next year we’ll be back outside. We try to alternate inside and outside.”

The location was also important to the families. This was a chance to help out as close to home as possible.

“It’s also in east Dallas and we live in east Dallas, so it makes sense to serve where we live,” Jill said.

This year’s Churchwide Serving Day added a new element. All of the volunteers met at HPUMC in Arden Forest before leaving for the various sites. Senior Minister Rev. Paul Rasmussen reminded everyone of the importance of what they were doing.

“You’re part of something much bigger than you probably even recognize,” Rev. Rasmussen said. “You’re standing on the shoulders of about 100 years of tradition, of people, a community of faith, that have decided that serving in the name of the Lord is about the most important thing we can do."

It’s a message that was not only heard before starting the day, but felt through serving. And in the case of these families, it is a chance to keep that tradition going through their children as they take the early steps on their serving journey.

“I think it’s great that we’re given the opportunity to serve with our families,” Cameron said. “That we find community partners that have tasks to do, like what I’m watching right now, that younger citizens can engage in and give back.”