DAUGHTERS OF THE KING (DOK)
After a hiatus of eighteen years, the Mary and Martha of Bethany Chapter of the Order of the Daughters of the King® (DOK) was reinstated at St. James Parish at the 9:00 AM service on September 21, 2014. The DOK Diocesan Assembly President, Vicky Patterson, presented the charter to our former rector, the late Mark Wilson. Charter members Julene Shell, Lloyd Smith, Fonda Wilson and Beth Moore, who had been Daughters at Large, rededicated themselves to spreading Christ’s kingdom, strengthening the spiritual life of the parish, and supporting the clergy.
Members of the Order take lifetime vows of daily prayer, service and evangelism. After re-organizing the chapter, the charter members trained a new group of twelve members who undertook a three month period of study and discernment before taking their lifetime vows on Sunday, June 6, 2015, bringing the membership to sixteen. Two members, Gayle Merrell and Mary Ann Pugh, have transferred out of the chapter; and two members, Susan McWilliams and Holly Parks, have transferred in from other chapters. Currently there are six parishioners who have formed a new class of postulants who will take their vows on Sunday, April 23, 2017, after the three month period of study and discernment.
Daughters live under a Rule of Life, incorporating a Rule of Prayer and a Rule of Service; each member formulating her own Rule, according to her individual gifts. Besides maintaining a confidential prayer list, the Chapter areas of service include Lay Eucharistic Visitation to those who cannot attend church services, participation in Prayers of the People on Sundays, delivery of bouquets from the altar flowers to shut-ins, delivery of bread to newcomers, and regular contact of shut-ins by phone calls and cards under the Silver Links Ministry organized by the Daughters. This past Thanksgiving, chapter members contacted those on the Silver Links list to see if they would like a holiday meal delivered. During Lent the Chapter sponsored a Stations of the Cross Walk which was well attended with 40 participants. The DOK Diocesan Chaplain, the Rev. Jandy Watkins, led the walk with a special meditation. The Chapter plans to make this an annual event.
Chapter Officers
Betty Bentley, President
Julene Shell, Vice President
Sue Ladd, Treasurer
Susan McWilliams, Corresponding and Recording Secretary
Beth Moore, Chapter Advisor
Members of the Order take lifetime vows of daily prayer, service and evangelism. After re-organizing the chapter, the charter members trained a new group of twelve members who undertook a three month period of study and discernment before taking their lifetime vows on Sunday, June 6, 2015, bringing the membership to sixteen. Two members, Gayle Merrell and Mary Ann Pugh, have transferred out of the chapter; and two members, Susan McWilliams and Holly Parks, have transferred in from other chapters. Currently there are six parishioners who have formed a new class of postulants who will take their vows on Sunday, April 23, 2017, after the three month period of study and discernment.
Daughters live under a Rule of Life, incorporating a Rule of Prayer and a Rule of Service; each member formulating her own Rule, according to her individual gifts. Besides maintaining a confidential prayer list, the Chapter areas of service include Lay Eucharistic Visitation to those who cannot attend church services, participation in Prayers of the People on Sundays, delivery of bouquets from the altar flowers to shut-ins, delivery of bread to newcomers, and regular contact of shut-ins by phone calls and cards under the Silver Links Ministry organized by the Daughters. This past Thanksgiving, chapter members contacted those on the Silver Links list to see if they would like a holiday meal delivered. During Lent the Chapter sponsored a Stations of the Cross Walk which was well attended with 40 participants. The DOK Diocesan Chaplain, the Rev. Jandy Watkins, led the walk with a special meditation. The Chapter plans to make this an annual event.
Chapter Officers
Betty Bentley, President
Julene Shell, Vice President
Sue Ladd, Treasurer
Susan McWilliams, Corresponding and Recording Secretary
Beth Moore, Chapter Advisor
