by Janet Moore, Director of Social Services and Wednesday Night Dinners

A big “thank you” to all of you who assisted with a Wednesday Night Dinner (WND) with Families in Service. I look forward to these summers, partly because I know how important community service was for my girls. But mostly I am excited because I’ve witnessed great moments while watching families assist at the dinners.

Aside from being a great opportunity for us, it’s a window through which our guests see the congregation that supports this ministry. I often get asked by our guests why our church serves these meals. Our guests are curious about the people who support the dinner and attend a church that welcomes them through its doors every Wednesday Night.

Memorable moments from this summer service were:

• The younger kids passing out socks with such exuberance that many were tossed in the air with excitement. One lady did not need socks but our young volunteers would not let her leave without a pair.
  
• The smiles on the servers faces as they served hot fudge sundaes with all the trimmings to our enthusiastic guests who were also smiling.
  
• One of our rather snarly guests reflecting that he would have to watch his language with all the young kids in the room. As he walked out I asked him how the evening went he smiled and said, “piece of cake!”
  
• I got the thumbs up from one of our guests as a family sat down to join him for dinner. Later I saw him talking up a storm with the kids of the family.
  
• Napkin baskets being picked up and chairs being stacked with super hero speed at the end of the evening as everyone participated in clean up.
  
• Good-byes from both our guests and families as the evening came to a close.
  
• Seeing an entire family behind the food service table serving dinner to our guests, and both parties enjoying themselves.

With such a positive experience for both our guests and families, why stop now? WND leadership would like to invite families to come and serve the first Wednesday of every month.

So if you missed the Family in Service Night this summer, there will be opportunities to serve at the WND with other Bethany families the first Wednesday of each month. Of course you are welcome to serve any Wednesday night, however. Arrive about 5:35 pm and plan on staying until 7:15 pm. Kids under 12 years old must have an adult with them in the food service line.

We look forward to having more families at the dinners on Wednesday night and I’m looking forward to more memorable moments witnessing families in service at Wednesday Night Dinners.