La Vernia UMC Welcomes Pastor Michael Mumme and Betsy!
The Reverend Michael Mumme (pronounced “mummy”) is an Ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church and is a native of San Antonio. Pastor Michael has served for 15 years in pastoral ministry with the United Methodist Church, eleven in the position of pastor in charge and four as an executive (associate) pastor. Before coming to La Vernia, Pastor Michael served churches in Canyon Lake, First United Methodist Church of Austin, Cuero, Colonial Hills (San Antonio), Floresville, and Woodsboro. He has a B.A. in Chemistry and Philosophy from Trinity University in San Antonio and a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA.
Originally planning to study medicine, Pastor Michael discerned a call to ordained ministry in the summer before his senior year of college while participating in a United Methodist campus ministry at Texas A&M during summer school. Taking part in worship and Bible study, he heard again the voice of a loving God of grace, the one he had known as a youth from his home church.
God’s grace continues to guide Pastor Michael in ministry. The power of God’s unconditional love and the healing of God’s making all things new through the risen Christ are regular themes in his preaching. Just as God’s grace seeks us out before we are aware to respond, so, in gratitude, we the church should go out into our communities and serve, embodying God’s love for all people. During his pastoral ministry, Pastor Michael has discovered a love of creative worship, an appreciation for ecumenical ministries, and a heart for service.
His service to the church includes his election as a Reserve Lay Delegate to the 2004 General Conference and a Reserve Jurisdictional Clergy Delegate to the 2012 South Central Jurisdictional Conference. He has served on several Conference and District Committees during his ministry and has attended many church leadership trainings. He is currently part of a five-year cohort of Advancing Pastoral Leadership, a program designed to develop the capacity for strategic congregational leadership by United Methodist pastors. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Austin Region Justice for Our Neighbors, a United Methodist ministry providing free and low-cost legal services to immigrants.
In 2017, Pastor Michael walked the Camino de Santiago, a historic Christian pilgrimage across Spain, from the boarder of France to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a distance of 500 miles. In addition to the spiritual purpose for the pilgrimage, the journey also served as an important bonding experience for Pastor Michael and his journey companion, Betsy Richards. On November 3rd, 2018, Michael and Betsy united in marriage and continue their journey together, which now, by the Spirit, leads them to La Vernia UMC.
Betsy Mumme is also a native of San Antonio. She received a BA from Rice University and an MA from Texas State University-San Marcos, both in anthropology. Betsy works remotely in the areas of regulatory compliance and administration for Fusion Advisors, a San Antonio financial services company founded by her parents. Betsy is a member of the Bahá'í faith, which believes in the unity of humanity and the continuous revelation of God through time, including the life of Jesus Christ as God made manifest. You can expect to see Betsy regularly in worship and joining in ministries of fellowship and service to our community.
When the Mummes aren’t working, you can find Michael and Betsy in the process of making a home for themselves. Pre-pandemic, would find Pastor Michael and Betsy cutting a rug two-stepping and swing dancing at Gruene Hall, “toobing” or kayaking in the Guadalupe River, or exploring the wonders of San Antonio, Austin, the hill country, and beyond.
“We are thrilled to be joining La Vernia UMC in mission and ministry. We give thanks for Pastor Wes’ leadership and for the lay leadership at La Vernia. We look forward to seeing the relaunch of mission-minded ministries in this post-COVID world where people can thrive in the richness of a loving, Christian community. Betsy and I ask for your prayers, and please know that you are in our prayers during this transitional time. We long to get to know you, to grow with you as disciples of Jesus Christ, and to serve with you in strengthening the fabric of our community that longs for connection.
Originally planning to study medicine, Pastor Michael discerned a call to ordained ministry in the summer before his senior year of college while participating in a United Methodist campus ministry at Texas A&M during summer school. Taking part in worship and Bible study, he heard again the voice of a loving God of grace, the one he had known as a youth from his home church.
God’s grace continues to guide Pastor Michael in ministry. The power of God’s unconditional love and the healing of God’s making all things new through the risen Christ are regular themes in his preaching. Just as God’s grace seeks us out before we are aware to respond, so, in gratitude, we the church should go out into our communities and serve, embodying God’s love for all people. During his pastoral ministry, Pastor Michael has discovered a love of creative worship, an appreciation for ecumenical ministries, and a heart for service.
His service to the church includes his election as a Reserve Lay Delegate to the 2004 General Conference and a Reserve Jurisdictional Clergy Delegate to the 2012 South Central Jurisdictional Conference. He has served on several Conference and District Committees during his ministry and has attended many church leadership trainings. He is currently part of a five-year cohort of Advancing Pastoral Leadership, a program designed to develop the capacity for strategic congregational leadership by United Methodist pastors. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Austin Region Justice for Our Neighbors, a United Methodist ministry providing free and low-cost legal services to immigrants.
In 2017, Pastor Michael walked the Camino de Santiago, a historic Christian pilgrimage across Spain, from the boarder of France to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a distance of 500 miles. In addition to the spiritual purpose for the pilgrimage, the journey also served as an important bonding experience for Pastor Michael and his journey companion, Betsy Richards. On November 3rd, 2018, Michael and Betsy united in marriage and continue their journey together, which now, by the Spirit, leads them to La Vernia UMC.
Betsy Mumme is also a native of San Antonio. She received a BA from Rice University and an MA from Texas State University-San Marcos, both in anthropology. Betsy works remotely in the areas of regulatory compliance and administration for Fusion Advisors, a San Antonio financial services company founded by her parents. Betsy is a member of the Bahá'í faith, which believes in the unity of humanity and the continuous revelation of God through time, including the life of Jesus Christ as God made manifest. You can expect to see Betsy regularly in worship and joining in ministries of fellowship and service to our community.
When the Mummes aren’t working, you can find Michael and Betsy in the process of making a home for themselves. Pre-pandemic, would find Pastor Michael and Betsy cutting a rug two-stepping and swing dancing at Gruene Hall, “toobing” or kayaking in the Guadalupe River, or exploring the wonders of San Antonio, Austin, the hill country, and beyond.
“We are thrilled to be joining La Vernia UMC in mission and ministry. We give thanks for Pastor Wes’ leadership and for the lay leadership at La Vernia. We look forward to seeing the relaunch of mission-minded ministries in this post-COVID world where people can thrive in the richness of a loving, Christian community. Betsy and I ask for your prayers, and please know that you are in our prayers during this transitional time. We long to get to know you, to grow with you as disciples of Jesus Christ, and to serve with you in strengthening the fabric of our community that longs for connection.
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Sunday Services
Traditional Service
8:30AM
In Person
or On-line (Facebook or YouTube)
Contemporary Service
11AM
In Person
Traditional Service
8:30AM
In Person
or On-line (Facebook or YouTube)
Contemporary Service
11AM
In Person
Church Address
La Vernia United Methodist Church
210 Bluebonnet Road
La Vernia, TX 78121
La Vernia United Methodist Church
210 Bluebonnet Road
La Vernia, TX 78121
(830) 779-2621 LaVerniaUMC@Hotmail.com Facebook: La Vernia United Methodist Church
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Some GPS services incorrectly list us on Bluebonnet Ridge. We are trying to get this corrected. If your navigation takes you to an empty farm outside of Sutherland Springs, try resetting your GPS to the following:
210 FM 775, La Vernia, TX 78121 |
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Office Hours Monday - Thursday, 9:00am - 4:00pm Child Care Hours Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 6:00pm (830) 779-5117 LVUMCChildCare@Hotmail.com Twice Blest Thrift Store Hours Friday - Saturday, 9:00am - 3:00pm |