God's Gifts in Action: Connecting With Community

As Methodists, we’re often out and about in the community striving to rise to John Wesley’s challenge to “do all the good you can.” Sometimes this is a one-time project, such as The Big Serve in July, which involved more than 80 Wimberley United Methodist Church members. This community-wide service project brought together volunteers from local churches to mow, paint, and complete other tasks at Wimberley schools.

Other connections with the community are ongoing; several of these are listed below. Each of these programs is supported by the energy of church people and through our beautiful, well-maintained facility. In the coming year, we hope to grow these programs as invitational tools and add others, including classes from parenting to money management. The goal is to provide more entryways into the church for people in the community who wouldn’t find us otherwise. To make this happen, additional budgetary support will be needed for advertising, childcare, materials and other costs.

CAFE SUSANNA
Each summer from June through August, Café Susanna invites church and community members alike to stop by for lunch on Thursdays. Initiated in 2004 as a way to raise funds for WUMC’s new sanctuary building, the program has grown into a community institution known for good old-fashioned fun, fellowship and church cookin’. In February, the program received an award for Innovation in Ministry from the Austin District. And this summer, despite kitchen renovations, the Café, led by Frances Tise, continued to bring a big slice of Wimberley through our doors each week.

In the life of a community of faith there are those times when we know that our best human efforts have been touched by grace, times when our ideas and plans become far more than we had hoped and dreamed. Café Susanna has been such an experience. The nitty-gritty work of planning, coordinating, cooking, cleaning, and serving so other people can enjoy the fruits of our labors results in the satisfied feelings of seeing a program succeed to bring people into community and accomplish the goals of raising funds for the new sanctuary and the renovation of the kitchen.— Suzy Cannon, Café Susanna Organizer and Volunteer

Café Susanna receives no financial support from the budget but depends on volunteers to prepare and serve lunches and to donate the home-baked desserts. The program is fully self-funded and returns all monies earned after expenses to the church. Your pledges help by providing the facility to house the program. Café Susanna will return in June of 2009. Until then, you’ll just have to dream of that wonderful chocolate meringue pie and other “to die for” desserts!

Working at Café’ Susanna has given me the opportunity to get to know many wonderful people in the church that I would never have known otherwise. I believe that has meant the most to me out of everything I have done in the Church. It can be a lot of hard work-- sometimes more than you feel you can do—but it’s fun being and working with other church members and feeling like others in the community are enjoying themselves at our church. I am usually tired when I come home but I feel good about what I did. I think it is great to make money towards our kitchen and building fund.-- Naida Tate, Café Susanna Volunteer

SUSANNA'S KITCHEN
From September through May, Susanna’s Kitchen offers church members and community members alike the opportunity to hear talented musicians in a smoke-free, alcohol-free environment. For the past several years Dan McCuisition has led the Susanna’s Kitchen Committee.

Susanna’s Kitchen has given me the opportunity to grow in many personal ways and to have a lot of fun being a part of the community at large. I haven't had many opportunities to develop leadership skills, and this program enabled me to do so. Plus it has been a lot of fun getting to meet so many musicians and share them with our community. This program provides outsiders an opportunity to become more comfortable in our church so they will hopefully come back in a more spiritual context— Dan McCuistion, Susanna’s Kitchen Committee Chair

Like Café Susanna, Susanna’s Kitchen is a self-sustaining program that actually makes a donation to the church to offset facility costs. All proceeds benefit the artist and a local mission chosen each year. This year’s beneficiary is the youth mission program R.O.T.C. (Reaching Others Through Christ). Your pledges help by supporting advertising and providing and maintaining space to house the program. You can support this program further with your presence. Having church members in the crowd to answer visitors’ questions about WUMC is definitely a plus. Next month Susanna’s Kitchen features Trout Fishing in America. Bring a friend and come on out to hear some great music in a familiar setting!

MOTHER'S DAY OUT
Take a look each Sunday as the children move forward for the Children’s Sermon. At the 11:00 service, you’ll see a crowd and chances are the child walking past you either attends or once attended Mother’s Day Out (MDO). MDO provides quality childcare and a loving environment for children ages 1-5. Currently, Mother’s Day Out serves 56 children who are cared for by 10 teachers and two administrators.

The past 10 years of being Director of MDO has been a very fulfilling opportunity for me. This program has been able to provide a Christian atmosphere in which each child can grow spiritually, learn independence, and develop a positive self-concept. Working with a group of teachers who put the children first and go beyond their job description to help each child develop physically, mentally, emotionally and socially is the reason for the program’s success.

Every year God has blessed our program to be able to reach out and help the families in financial need. Being able to reach out to families in our own community and provide that small child a safe place to go has got to the best blessing as a Director that I have received. My rewards come each day as I encounter a smile from a child, a hug, and a simple “Hi Ms. Matilda”.

I have a picture of a small child that sits on my desk that reads: “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”— Matilda Long, Director of Mother’s Day Out

MDO is self-supported financially. While most children pay tuition, 10 children are currently on scholarship. Your pledges help by providing space for the program as well as visibility and communication through the church website. More funds from the church would make it possible for MDO to maintain the scholarships currently offered and offer additional scholarships to families in need.

Kaeden loved MDO. The nurturing care and education he received as a toddler helped him transition into Godly Play and Little Lambs easily. As parents, MDO introduced us to a wonderful group of people who would eventually become our church family— Kima and Scott Coltharp, WUMC Members

WELCOMING OUR GUESTS: EVANGELISM COMMITTEE
Jack Massengale is part of the team of Evangelism Committee members who reach out to first time visitors. Jack makes one or two “door front” visits every 2-3 weeks.

On Monday, we call visitors from Sunday and ask if we can stop by. We don’t try to go in or sit at the kitchen table. We simply take them a gift bag and fresh bread, thank them for coming to WUMC and ask if they have any questions. It doesn’t always work as a door front visit though. If they have questions sometimes you get to talking. A couple of weeks ago I went to visit a guy who was out in his garage when I arrived. He reconditions motorcycles and he had one of the prettiest motorcycles you ever saw. We ended up talking for 30-45 minutes. We had a good time. He and his wife have become very regular attenders— Jack Massengale, Evangelism Committee Member

Your pledges help by purchasing the gift bags and bread, small gifts for Sunday mornings, welcome packets, advertising, mailings, and the supplies and staff needed to record and track guest attendance at worship.

Did You Know!

Café Susanna volunteers have prepared 65 lunches, served more than 6500 individual meals, and contributed $45,000 to the WUMC building and kitchen funds.

It costs approximately $70.00 per hour for WUMC to keep the doors open and the light on.

Susanna’s Kitchen and Café Susanna provide great opportunities to invite friends to WUMC.
Last season, Susanna’s Kitchen donated $1000 to UM Army, $2000 to the new kitchen and $2000 for painting the fellowship hall.

At least 22 families who attend regularly strengthened their bonds with WUMC through having their children attend MDO.

The church always needs more people to call on newcomers, in person or by phone. The only requirement is a joy-filled heart and the willingness to share it.

God's Gifts in Action: Caring for Our Community

FROM PASTOR MERRILL

This email is the first in a series of four, called God's Gifts in Action, accompanying our fall stewardship campaign. The goal of these mailings over the next four weeks is to share stories of passionate ministry using church resources in the areas of mission, connections with the community, youth, and music. These emails will coordinate with a series of speakers in worship on each of these topics.

This year will be the first time for us to use electronic communication for the purposes of stewardship. Your Stewardship Committee solicits your responses to the ministry stories, via the link at the bottom of the page. The committee also invites you to reflect on the gifts God has placed in your life and the ways God is calling you to use them in ministry in Christ's name. We will celebrate and commit our gifts to God's service in worship on Sunday, October 19. In the meantime, we hope to inspire a vision of the path God is opening to us in the future and ways we can walk together as joyful, faithful stewards.

BARNABAS CONNECTION


Since 2004, the Barnabas Connection has offered hope to Hays County residents in need. This innovative ministry depends on trained volunteers who staff a phone line and refer callers to needed services. From helping a single father register his children for the Texas Children’s Insurance Program to finding affordable cancer treatment for a student, Barnabas Connection volunteers provide mentoring and companionship as they help callers navigate the complex, and often confusing, health and human services system.

Jean Eastlake (pictured above) became a Barnabas Volunteer this January. Jean sees the Barnabas Connection as a direct response to Jesus’ commands to “feed my sheep” and “tend my sheep” John 21:15-17. Like many other volunteers, Jean has discovered that the rewards of serving are many:

It’s really a lot of fun when you know exactly where to tell a client to call for help. Not all calls are like that; some take a lot of work. But often clients call not really expecting that we can help and when we can it is so satisfying. Last week a single mother called needing medical care for her children. She said, “I don’t suppose you can really help me, but I thought I’d take a shot.” Well, we could help her. It was wonderful!

Barnabas volunteers receive the great blessing of talking with those who need to be fed, and in many cases, of being able to feed them.


WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY


The Barnabas Connection partners with other churches and organizations to provide services that benefit the entire community including an annual Flu Shot Clinic and the Back to School Fiesta. This ecumenical program served 240 children in need this year by providing free school supplies, immunizations, and free haircuts. Last spring, the Barnabas Connection began administering Operation Good Shepherd, the financial assistance fund of the Wimberley Ministerial Alliance. Wimberley churches rotate the responsibility for overseeing this fund. Thanks to the Barnabas Connection’s experienced volunteers and excellent database, the transition from the previous administrator, Cypress Creek Church, to WUMC has been seamless.

The weekly call volume has increased greatly in the last 6 months in part due to the administration of the financial assistance fund, and in part to the troubled economy. Our clients are largely the working poor and single parent families who cannot handle the ripple of an unexpected medical expense, loss of work, or transportation failure. Vicki McCuistion, Barnabas Connection Program Director

DID YOU KNOW?

The most frequent need expressed by callers (73 so far this year) is help with utility bills.

Since March, 133 calls have come in requesting financial assistance through Operation Good Shepherd.

The Barnabas Connection needs you! Donate as little as one day per month to help answer the phone and assist callers. No experience necessary! Call the Barnabas Connection Program Director, Vicki McCuistion at 847-3109 for more information.



GOD's GIFTS IN ACTION

Your pledges support the Barnabas Connection by providing office space at WUMC and some funding—almost enough to cover the annual phone bill. Pledges also enable WUMC to contribute to the Ministerial Alliance. The program depends on individual donations and grants to fund the part-time (10 hours per week) program director position and purchase needed technology and supplies. More funding would enable the church to help with these costs as well as to publicize the program more widely and increase our contribution to the Ministerial Alliance, directly helping more people in need.

The needs of people are so heart wrenching! I ache, when I get calls! I always wish I could do more. This week I got a call from a daughter who does not have the funds to bury her recently, deceased mother. I was able to give her phone numbers to call, but also had to tell her that there is no money (for that type of expense). Barnabas Volunteer, Darlene Birgel

Making a Difference

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)


When I read this passage from Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth, I am reminded of God’s miracle power. In the Old and New Testaments there are many examples and stories about the power of God at work. In Genesis, at the beginning of the Creation story, "the Spirit of God hovered over the waters" before God began His work. Moses tells of being in the presence of this miracle power that caused a bush to be on fire yet not to burn up. It was a miracle power that brought forward all the events that freed the Israelites from bondage in Egypt and led them through the wilderness to the Promised Land. The same people feared for their lives if they were caught up too close to the presence of that power. This power was so strong the face of Moses, who stood in the presence of that power when he talked with God, would radiate in such a way that the people even feared him. Moses would have to wear a veil over his face on such occasions to allay the people’s fear. There are stories of Elijah and Elisha being used as instruments of God’s power to bring about healing of the sick and to bring the dead back to life. The prophets Daniel and Ezekiel fell forward and lay face first on the ground when confronted with visions of the Glory of God; such was the power of the Lord.

In the New Testament, we read stories of Jesus healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, causing the lame to walk, and bringing the dead back to life; all by the miracle power of God. In the Book of Acts, at Pentecost the power of the Holy Spirit filled the room with wind and fire and filled the disciples and all who were there with the power of God. From that point on, there is story after story of people being healed, non-believers being converted, and chains of bondage being set loose; all by the miracle power of God manifested through the disciples and other followers. By the power of the Spirit of the Lord, the church grew from a small band of persecuted followers of Jesus to an institution of millions and millions.

Throughout the Bible we see, time and time again, that the Spirit of the Lord is a powerful and life-changing force. It transforms people; it renews them and sets them free. I have seen this power at work in today’s times in the lives of everyday people. Before I was appointed as a pastor in the local church I worked in ministry at a Prayer Center where people came in every day in need of, and hungry for, that transforming and healing power of God. Every day we would sit in session with someone who realized that they were in almost desperate need to be in the presence of the Spirit of the Lord. And time after time we would be truly amazed by the experience of the miracle transforming power of God at work in people’s lives.

Sometimes now I come to church as a worship leader and wonder what has happened to the miracle power of God. I want to see the Spirit of the Lord move across the waters that are the people of God in the church and transform their lives. I want the people of God to come to church on Sunday hungry and thirsty for the touch of God’s Spirit in their lives and then to see them go away in exultation at having experienced the manifest presence of God’s miracle power in their worship. I want to see them moved by the Holy Spirit so strongly that they take that same Spirit out into the world with them and spread it around. I yearn to see the people of God, with “unveiled face”, so unembarrassed to be caught up in the Spirit that they are "transformed into the image" of Christ and go “from one degree of glory to another” as it says in the passage from 2 Corinthians.

Have we forgotten about the miracle power of God? Have we given up on the ability of God to make a difference in people’s lives and in the world? Are we desperate for God to make a difference in our lives on this day? Have we forgotten God’s call to us as his people to be the instruments of transformation in the world? Do we pray to Him each day to give us an opportunity to be the difference in the life of someone in need? Have we shared Christ’s love with someone new today, with anyone? People of God; expect the Glory of the Lord to work in your life today! And if you experience just a little bit of that glory in even just a little way, share it with someone else and then expect to experience more. Go from glory to glory that “comes from the Lord who is the Spirit”! That is my prayer for you on this day, in Jesus’ Name. Amen

The Big Serve this Sunday!

Wimberley UMC will be participating in The Big Serve this Sunday morning beginning at 9:30am. The project originated by the Wimberley Ministerial Alliance is an ecumenical event designed to worship God together through service. The Big Serve consists of work teams from many of the Wimberley churches working together on maintenance issues at the 4 Wimberley ISD campuses. This service project will help address a number of maintenance issues (painting inside and out, mowing and lawn care, and building book shelves). The project is being financially supported by the churches with donations of some supplies from Home Depot - Dripping Springs.

Worship this Sunday will commence at 8:30 am with a light breakfast, singing and prayers and then breaking to leave for work sites at 9:15. Children under 10 are not welcome at the work sites due to safety concerns. Childcare is provided at the church. If children over 10 are to be at work sites they are the responsibiity of their parents. Children at the church will be assisting with lunch preparations for the workers at school sites. All are welcome to participate in this service project.

Remember to keep this community service project in your prayers along with the many students and staff that are a part of Wimberley ISD.

Off to Jurisdictional Conference...

The Jurisdictional Conference happens every four years, primarily to elect bishops. The conference also promotes the evangelistic, educational, missionary and benevolent interests within the boundaries of the South Central Jurisdiction. Our pastor, Laura Merrill is one of the delegates representing the Southwest Conference. To follow the proceedings and elections of new Bishops, try several websites for more info...

United Methodist Church website...

http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.4049261/k.56A3/Episcopal_Elections_2008.htm

South Central Jurisdiction website... http://scj.umportal.org/main/index.asp

Candidates for Bishop

http://scj.umportal.org/main/section.asp?id=722

May the Holy Sprit be active in all of the proceedings.

Sacred Space

Psalm 46: 10 “Be still, and know that I am God.”

This phrase, be still and know that I am God, is often quoted as a direction for quiet and contemplative prayer. Yet, when you read all of Psalm 46 you see that it is full of much that does not cause one to think of being still. It talks of the earth giving way, of mountains falling into the sea, waters that roar and foam, and mountains trembling. It speaks of raging nations, tottering kingdoms, and the earth melting at God’s voice. It tells of God making wars to cease, breaking bows and spears, and burning chariots with fire. There is a lot of action and violence in these passages.

When I think of our lives in today’s post-modern world I see many parallels, although in today's fashion. We live busy lives carried out at a frenetic pace. Even though we are surrounded by the accoutrements of technology; cell phones ringing, automobile engines revving, televisions blaring, Personal Data Assistants calling, and I-Pods singing we aren't much better at communication on a human being to human being level. It has been a long time since Alexander Graham Bell is reported to have called his assistant and said, "Watson come here, I need you." And Watson answered and came! In a world where communication is facilitated by all kinds of technological devices we seldom talk face to face with one another anymore. Much less do we have an opportunity to find a sacred space where we can have a little quiet time with God.

Now we work at our jobs all day, whether at work or at home, and then we run all our errands before we finally crash on the couch or settle into our version of the ‘easy chair’ in the living room or on the porch or wherever we go to begin decompressing from the day just finished. We are too tired and stressed for our spouses and families. If we turn on the television we have be careful not to turn on a news channel or we will be even more stressed as we begin to hear about the earth giving way, mountains falling into the sea, waters that roar and foam, mountains trembling. The news commentator will talk about raging nations and tottering kingdoms. We will hear about war and crime and disease and famine and all the perils of life in the world in which we live today. Much like the world discussed in that Psalm 46 written so many years ago.

Not long ago I was watching an old movie and there was a scene in which one of the actors, in the midst of much trouble and distress in her movie-role-world, went to a church in the middle of the week and just sat in the Sanctuary. She quietly entered the church, went up to the altar and lit a candle, and then just sat in a pew and listened to the music playing softly in the background. Then after a while, the actor got up and left. She had a smile and a look of contentment on her face that had not been there earlier. She did not talk to a priest, or a nun, or anybody for that matter. She just sat in the church, in the presence of her God and she felt refreshed and renewed. It seemed, in the movie version anyway, that someone had found a sacred space for some quiet time with God.

It does not seem possible that we could do that in the real world today, does it? For one thing, the church is closed tight and locked up during the week. And have you tried to just sit still for any time at all lately? We just are not conditioned for quiet time anymore. What a shame! Well, I tried it today. I found a church that had its Sanctuary open in the middle of the week, had some candles lit, and soft music playing in the background. I went in and found a seat in a pew and tried to relax and meditate. It was difficult at first, but no one else was there so I was able to get up and move around until I found a place where I felt comfortable. I sat and was refreshed and renewed to be in the presence of my God. I had found a sacred space. After a while all the ‘busyness’, noise, and confusion of life melted away and I was able to be still and know that the great “I Am” is God. It is my prayer that you will be able to find such a sacred space somewhere, maybe in a church somewhere, even in the middle of the week!

“The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46: 11

UMC - United Methodists in Cowtown

This morning I am preparing to leave for Ft. Worth, where I'll get to attend nearly three days of the quadrennial UM General Conference. I've only been one other time, in 1996 in Denver. I was pregnant with Joe and working with the National Committee on Hispanic Ministries to get the National Plan passed. My grandfather was there as well (he was 85 at the time), as a marshall (I think they work the doors or hand out materials or something), and that was extremely cool. I was preparing to be ordained that June, and Grandpa bought me my first clergy robe there. We got a loose kind to fit over my growing belly. It was an exciting time.

I had trouble sleeping last night, excited thinking about friends from across the connection whom I might get to see, looking forward to worship tonight and hearing my former pastor, now-Bishop Janice Huie, preach.

I also know that there may be some momentous decisions made. It might or might not end up feeling like these affect us very much here at the local level, but for me both the process and the outcome of these discussions are important. We may well just continue to do what we do no matter what the church delegates decide about global warming, homosexuality or a push to make all United Methodists swear by a certain creed. But whether they impact us immediately or not, our church's pronouncements on this kind of issue do matter. At the very least, they challenge us to look at our own understanding of the faith and how the good news of Jesus Christ as we've heard and experienced it intersects with life in the world.

This gathering will be emphasizing the process we've come to call "Holy Conferencing." This means we get together to decide things, as our Methodist founder John Wesley designed it, but we call upon and trust the Holy Spirit to come and make us into more than just the sum of our parts. Delegates generally go to the conference with opinions already formed on many controversial subjects, and it is easy for those discussions to turn quickly into trench warfare. Holy Conferencing is an attempt to allow ourselves to be convinced or convicted of something new and unexpected. Its intent is to recognize our diversity and respect the worth and integrity of each person, but not to avoid hard conversations. Both the church and our society are increasingly fractured, and polarizing rhetoric abounds--thus the need for civil discourse, rooted in the love and reconciling power of Christ. If you'd like to see a great presentation on Holy Conferencing, go to our annual conference website (www.umcswtx.org) and click on the video. Or for info on General Conference, go to www.umc.org; they'll even have live stream/feed/whatever you call it for some sessions. In any case, pray for our church, that God might do a powerful thing or two in our midst.