"How long have you been at Chapel Hill?"
MARILYNN: I've been here for 13 years now!
"What initially brought you to this church?"
MARILYNN: Let's see...I was at Tenkiller for many years before I was here. I believe I received a phone call from David Rose and Steve Hale, and they asked me if I was interested in care ministry? I said yes, I was. Initally I started here as a tutor with Whiz Kids. During my time at Chapel Hill I've even been on 2 mission trips to Alaska!
"I'm sure you have many, but dare I ask, what is your favorite Bible verse?"
MARILYNN: I'd have to say it's probably this one: 1 Corinthians Chapter 13.
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
(I have to say, I'm not surprised that this is Marilynn's favorite verse – she is truly one of the most loving, demonstrative and expressive people I've ever known. She is definitely in the right place!)
"Is there a day that you would consider to be the best day of your life?"
MARILYNN: I have a lot of days that I would consider to be very good. It's hard to choose.
"What do you like to do on your days off?"
MARILYNN: I like to talk long walks through the park at Lake Hefner. A lot of times I will sit down to meditate there. I really enjoy doing that. It brings me a lot of peace.
"What has been your life's work?"
MARILYNN: Ministry, primarily. I've been doing it for 40 years now. I worked three jobs during seminary.
"Do you remember what your very first job was?"
MARILYNN: (laughing) It was in Bucklin, Kansas. I washed combs and brushes for a beautician at her salon. And as part of my earnings, I got my hair done there once a week!
"Do you have any advice for the younger generation?"
MARILYNN: I feel like we're not in unity as a world – as we should be. I would just say, try your best to get along with people. Don't be judgmental. It's important to be open to everyone.
We are grateful to you, Lord, for the leadership Reverend Schellhamer has brought to Chapel Hill. She is fearlessly loving, fiercely kind and she is always extending a hand to those who need it the most.