FIRST LUTHERAN SERVES MIDTOWN TULSA

The babble of children’s voices fills the parking lot play area of First Lutheran Church, 1244 South Utica Ave. It’s not Sunday, but ministry is a daily occurrence here.

Across the street, a sign in front of one building reads “Luther Place on Troost: A Senior Living Center with Assistance.” This refurbished apartment building is one of the many ministries of this church, located near Hillcrest Hospital.

Sharolyn is at the information desk as I enter. She had to “buzz” me in. Monitoring who comes and goes is all part of the service and the security associated with providing services for the very young and senior citizens.

“My job is to take messages, answer questions about various programs, monitor who comes and goes, and take Angel Food orders. I’m also in charge of Trinity Ministries. We have a Senior Nutrition Site here, a Senior Exercise Group, Senior Computer Classes, all kinds of programs,” Sharolyn said.

While I have been talking with her several other people have come and gone and the smell of lunch is in the air.

Melissa Shell is the First Lutheran Early Learning Center director. “The ELC has been in existence off and on for quite some time. One lady said her grandchildren came here 30 years ago,” she said.

“We’re currently a two-star facility and have four staff members who have their Child Development Associate certification and two more with Mastery certification. The rest are in school to obtain either an associate’s degree or their CDA,” Shell said.

“We’re here to serve our community, we service children who are blind, have kidney problems, and motor skill disabilities,” Shell said.

“Our classrooms build on each other. The infants get a lot of love and care. There’s a monthly curriculum for development that includes stories and songs, and by the time the children are in the Pre-K classes there are writing centers and they are learning colors and shapes,” she said.

The Early Learning Center is licensed to serve 52 infant through Pre-Kindergarten children and currently has 43 enrolled. The facility hopes to be fully accredited by next year.

Shell had to dash. She was headed to the store to buy milk for break time in the ELC.

First Lutheran also has programs that provide sack lunches for the homeless, a meeting place for Alcoholics Anonymous, and a meeting place for a Senior Deaf Group.

The ministry will hold a Jazz Festival Fundraiser on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007.

--Karen Groff