EDMOND—Headquarters employees Jeremiah Jacques and Rachel Dattolo coordinated Philadelphia Church of God singles events throughout 2013, including Bible studies, a movie night fundraiser and a singles event and helping Pastor Joel Hilliker revive the God Family culture singles initiative. Now, fellow employees Steven Privratsky and Sarah Patten have taken the reins for 2014. We asked them about their reactions, activity ideas and more.
Q: At the end of the 2013 singles dinner dance, when you heard you would be the new coordinators, what was your reaction?
Steven: It was mixed. It was bittersweet. I helped Jeremiah a lot, so I knew the amount of work that it takes to make these things run so smoothly like he did. With that in mind, I was excited to have the responsibility, but I was a little intimidated by it.
Sarah: I was surprised … I was surprised.
Q: What did you learn from the 2013 singles event?
Steven: Communication. That’s the biggest problem whenever an activity is put together. The lack of communication can cause a lot of problems [in things like transportation and housing].
Sarah: In organizing things in the past, I know it’s really important to plan ahead and get things done sooner even though things will have to change. There’s a flexibility to that that’s important.
Q: What possible activities have you discussed for this year?
Steven: A costume party for the local singles, and the whole congregation really, but the singles are guiding and directing it: March 30. We’re doing three specific singles outings, combining them with a singles Bible study that Saturday. Whenever there’s an online Bible study, there will be an activity that Sunday.
Sarah: We even have the next activity where we would like it to involve singles in the field as well. But we don’t have pretty much any details worked out for that.
Steven: Imagine, if you could, a board game where one person is on Skype. That’s the vision. Obviously you can’t roll the dice or move the piece, but it could work. We don’t have the third activity set yet.
Q: What was an awesome singles activity that you have participated in?
Sarah: The paint day that Emily [Burns] and Harley [Breth] had. It was fun. There were paint-filled water balloons. There were all sorts of activities with that, one where we threw them at each other.
Steven: You like to be messy, don’t you? You also liked tomato throwing.
Sarah: I like messy activities.
Steven: When I was a freshman, David Weeks was the singles coordinator, and he had the gym spread out into 10 different activities. They were all wacky games; like, there’s a whistle and whipped cream ….
Sarah: Two years ago we had one like that. It was cool.
Q: What are the plans for the singles winter weekend this year? Any changes?
Steven: We’ll probably change up those three [activities]: bowling, museum, trampoline park somewhat.
Q: But there will still be a ball, a progressive dinner, a lecture?
Steven: Oh yeah! If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Q: What would you say is your main goal as singles coordinators this year?
Sarah: Keep it fun.
Steven: Also, [Local Church Elder Mark] Hyde mentioned that he wanted more unity in the field. You can tell with the articles Mr. Hilliker is putting together that he is trying to make the singles experience something that’s not just at headquarters, but something the field will experience too.
The 2014 singles coordinators invite you singles in the field to share your opinions and ideas. E-mail Steven Privratsky at scprivratsky@pcog.org. E-mail Sarah Patten at scpatten@pcog.org.
And don’t forget, Turnabout weekend is March 21-23! Ladies, you can begin asking your dates!