Meal Servant

Jesus said, "Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” - Mark 9;35 (NIV)

"To serve you only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Welcome to the role of a meal servant!  We have a great opportunity to serve men over the weekend in a way they may have never been served before.

Yes, it is a long weekend, serving from 9am on Friday though noon on Sunday.  But, best of all, the meal servants are, in a literal sense, the “hands and feet of Jesus” throughout the conference weekend- especially at meal times.

  • The heart of the kitchen team is to model the selfless love and grace of Christ.
  • The hands of the kitchen team feeds the souls and bodies of men, just as Jesus did.

The two tabs below provide information about the Meal Servant. "WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING" explores the skills needed for the role, and "HOW TO SERVE" will help prepare your heart for the role.

What you will be doing

What you will be doing

The primary responsibility of the meal servants is to ensure the Brothers are served fresh, high quality meals with humility and excellence.

The Head Meal Servant is responsible for the overall organization of the meal service and will help each servant find something they are comfortable doing.

  • Prepare for the weekend

    • You will receive a group email on Sunday
      • Please READ the email.
      • It will include a detailed schedule for Friday Morning.
      • Details about the “Kitchen Crew” cabin.
      • Please respond to the email as requested.
      • Problems with scheduling are generally not a problem. We just need to know when to expect your arrival.

  • Show up Ready to Go!

    • As with the other roles at Souly, please have your work related matters finished and keep your cell phone hidden from the site of the Brothers.
    • Arrive at the camp to allow you to check into your cabin, claim a bunk and be in the kitchen at the requested arrival time.
    • Wear comfortable clothes.
      • Shorts and polos or t-shirts are fine.
      • Short sleeves are better in the kitchen environment.
      • Flip Flops are considered a safety hazard in kitchen environments
      • Comfortable shoes with support. We work many hours on concrete floors.
    • A kitchen orientation will be held at the stated arrival time.

  • Follow Food Safety Protocol

    • Food service safety is the most important part of working in the kitchen
    • Each member of the team will receive an orientation on food safter procedures.
    • Be part of the team, be clean!!!

  • Prepare Meals

    • Groups of team members will be assigned food prep processes, washing, chopping, counting, cooking, measuring, and many other exciting things to do and learn.
    • Cleaning work areas after each operation.
    • Executing recipes as requested.
    • Continual trash management, collapsing boxes, taking out trash and keeping items in their correct storage area.

  • Participate in Meal Service Activities

    • Each meal cycle includes
      • Sanitizing tables
      • Setting tables with various condiment requirements
      • Setting up the serving tables
      • Omelet cooking. (Do NOT worry, you will be trained.)
    • Greeting the brothers and other teams as the arrive.
    • Working on various serving table.
    • Clearing empty plates as each person is finished, asking “may I take your plate?”

  • Eat Together and Clean-up After Meals

    • The entire kitchen crew will STOP all activity and sit together for their meal.
    • Clean up after they all leave
    • Reset the room.
    • Completely sanitize and clean all service items.
    • Store all items as directed.

  • Help with extra fun activities

    • Help re-set tables for Cross Ceremony.
    • Stay later Sunday to clean-up if you can.

How to Serve

How to Serve

Even though you are working hard, receiving God’s grace is the heart and soul of the kitchen team. As your heart is full, you can then give from a full heart.

  • Attitudes that are vital to a great weekend in the kitchen

    • As much as possible, leave all other activities and communication responsibilities behind. Take this time for yourself to serve God.
    • We are here to serve in humility
    • No job is too small or too large.
    • Have a joyful heart as you serve. Smile at the brothers.
    • Go out of your way to make the men feel welcome.
    • Ask the Lord to show His love though you.

  • Spiritual Development

    • We start the weekend with a prayer circle, where each team member is asked to share their personal prayer needs with the group.
    • Each meal is prayed over by the entire team.
    • Most all work is done by 2+ men, so there are many hours to share experience, strength and hope with each other.
    • All kitchen team members are given the opportunity to select a talk (or two) to take a break, grow and be with all of the brothers.
    • The kitchen provides one prayer warrior for each speaker. This is the most important act of worship for a team member, therefore takes precedence over all other work activities in the kitchen.
    • Begin part of a spiritual team is an mountain top experience where new relationships are born and spirits are lifted.
    • Enjoy your new brotherhood.