A Sunday Rhythm on West Hefner Road
Chapel Hill United Methodist Church gathers on the northwest side of Oklahoma City at 2717 West Hefner Road. Two Sunday services fill the Sanctuary each week, a contemplative gathering at 8:30 a.m. and a second service at 11:00 a.m., with Sunday School classes for all ages meeting between them from 9:40 to 10:40 a.m. The 8:30 service is also broadcast live, so members and friends who cannot be there in person can take part from home.
The church describes its purpose in simple terms: building relationships with God and with one another. Visitors are welcomed with the invitation to "come and worship, where you'll get to know us, discover a fulfilling path and go and share the good news with others."
A Music Ministry in Four Parts
Music is treated as central to worship at Chapel Hill, and four ensembles serve the church and the wider community throughout the year.
The Chancel Choir, directed by Dr. Randi Von Ellefson, rehearses on Wednesdays from 6:45 to 8:00 p.m. and sings at both Sunday services from September through May. The choir is open to adults, college students, and older singers without audition.
Ellen Jackson leads the Handbell Ensemble on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., a group of adult music readers that performs in worship from September through May.
Spirit Winds is the church's orchestral ensemble. Directed by Andrew Sharp, it rehearses Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:40 p.m., plays in monthly worship services, and gives outreach concerts in the community. Anyone who plays an instrument is welcome.
A Worship Team and band, led by Sunday Experience Director Alan Murphy, rehearses Wednesdays from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. and leads music in Sunday services. Singers, students, and adults of any age are welcome with an audition.
Together these ensembles give Chapel Hill a blended worship style, pairing a classical choral and orchestral tradition with a contemporary band.
Children and Families
Children are welcomed from the youngest ages. Nursery care is provided at both Sunday services, and activity bags for children are available outside the Sanctuary. Children's Sunday School meets at 9:45 a.m. in the Mother's Day Out Wing and uses scripture, song, and video to connect kids with Bible stories.
Each spring and fall, Manna classes bring adults, youth, and children together for shared study, so families can grow as one church body.
Sunday School for Every Stage of Life
Nine Sunday School classes meet between the services, grouped by life stage and interest.
- Adventurers: an all-ages adult class that mixes scripture study with monthly "Dinner with Friends" gatherings.
- Bible Study: covers scripture a verse at a time in an informal discussion around the table.
- Common Ground: a young adult group for those aged 18 to 35 who want to talk about how faith and modern life interact.
- New Media: a large class for middle to senior adults that participates in the Master Teacher program and enjoys outside speakers.
- Family and Fellowship: designed for mid-life couples with grandchildren, with a focus on missions.
- Friends in Faith: a social class for older singles.
- Connect: brings together young, middle, and older adults, married or single, for a low-key study and sharing time.
- Youth Group: students in grades 6 through 12 meet in the Youth Room above the gym for devotions and shared life.
- Children's Church: serves kids ages 5 through fifth grade with scripture, song, video, and art.
Mission in Oklahoma City and Beyond
Local mission is woven into the weekly life of the church, and five regular volunteer opportunities draw members into Oklahoma City neighborhoods.
Project Transformation runs an eight-week summer day camp each June and July where volunteers spend half-hour rotations reading one-on-one with campers.
Mobile Meals sends volunteers on Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. to shop, cook, package, or deliver meals to homebound neighbors. A typical route takes about 45 minutes.
Whiz Kids - Quail Creek meets Tuesdays from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. during the school year, with reading tutors working alongside children from Quail Creek Elementary. Whiz Kids - Kaiser meets Thursdays at Church of the Pentecost with students from Kaiser Elementary.
Once a month, volunteers help the Regional Food Bank organize Backpacks for Kids and Boxes for Seniors, riding together in the church vans.
Beyond the city, Chapel Hill has a long history of short-term mission trips. Past teams have served in the Caribbean, Mexico, Bolivia, Belize, Alaska, Texas, Kansas, and around Oklahoma. The church typically sponsors one or two international missions a year and stays connected with Methodist mission networks across the state and nation.
Mother's Day Out and Preschool
Inside the same building, The Hill Mother's Day Out and Preschool serves children from six weeks old through pre-kindergarten. The program runs Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in a Christ-centered setting that includes an enclosed playground, a gym, and a small chapel, with the Duffner Park Splash Pad just across the street. Mother's Day Out serves ages six weeks to three years, and the Preschool serves three- to five-year-olds.
Recovery Ministry
A dedicated Recovery Ministry at Chapel Hill, coordinated by Rhena Reynolds, walks alongside people working through addiction and other life struggles. The ministry keeps a calendar of regular meetings and serves as a starting point for anyone looking to connect.
Pastoral Leadership
Senior Pastor Rev. Chris Dodson and Associate Pastor Rev. Janet Gilbert lead the congregation. Alan Murphy serves as Sunday Experience Director, Zach Foster as Director of Adult Ministries and IT, Peyton James as Minister to Children and Families, and Wes Eckert as Youth Director. Music leadership includes Dr. Randi Von Ellefson (Chancel Choir), Ellen Jackson (Handbells), Andrew Sharp (Spirit Winds), and Alan Murphy (Worship Team).
The church office can be reached at (405) 751-0755 or at media@mychapelhill.org. Sunday services are held in the Sanctuary at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m., with Sunday School for all ages at 9:40 a.m. The 8:30 service is available via livestream, and giving is accepted online or by mail.