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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
