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In memory of Lawrence Yates

We are celebrating in memory of Lawrence this evening. He
dedicated much time assisting Table Grace in its' mission of
"nourishing hungry bodies and souls".
Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me something
to eat, I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink, I was a
stranger and you welcomed me.

Evening schedule

5:30 Hors d'oeuvres and silent auction Table Grace

6:10 Tribute to Lawrence Yates Matt Weber
Prayer

6:15 Dinner Table Grace

6:50 Please bid on the silent auction

7:00 Scenes from “Table Grace the Musical” Simone Weber

7:45 Final bids for the silent auction

8:00 ‘Silent auction closes’

8:00 Dessert Table Grace
Staff and Board Introductions Matt Weber
Table Grace Mission Minute

8:20 Winner of Drawing announcement Elliott Harris

8:25 Silent Auction Winners announced Denise Olson

8:30 Closing Remarks Elliott Harris

Thank you for being here and supporting Table Grace Cafe!
Your generosity helped us serve over 13,000 for 2016

Table Grace The Musical has been in the works for
several years. I have heard comments over the years
like “your songs should be in a musical”. As we
experience the stories of people who come and go
through the doors of Table Grace, I envisioned the
possibility of someday using songs that I have
written to tell some of the stories on stage.
The characters are based on a variety of people we
have seen through the Table Grace years. We started
by interviewing people who come to Table Grace
regularly, and then let our creative brains go from there.
The story is fictional, but based on the reality of
Table Grace.

Jay Gish has been instrumental in co-writing the
script. Poets, Tom Tentis, Jack Dankof, Eugene
Browning, Deborah Rusher and Hope Weber have
contributed their original poetry to tonight’s production.
Sean Blake contributed an original song “I’m always
Dreamin’” that the character of George will sing part
of at the beginning and part at the end. Artist Brian
Gennardo contributed his artist gifts in the painting for
the backdrop of the set. I am pleased to present the
collaborative effort of the Table Grace family in the
Scenes of “Table Grace the Musical”. Stay tuned in
the months to come for a complete stage readying of
the entire musical as well as a full production sometime
in the next couple of years.

Enjoy the evening!
Simone Weber

TABLE GRACE the Musical
Cast

PEARL (Deborah Rusher )
Late middle-age, streetwise with a slight edge, but
without bitterness. Dressed in the found-and-repurposed

“uniform” of the homeless

EMILY (Hope Weber)
Somewhere around age 12; a still, thoughtful and
somewhat wary child; also dressed in the loose and

not-recently-washed way of the streets

MARK (Paul Susemihl )
Mid-thirties, grounded and wise for his years, while
occasionally swept up with rolling enthusiasm; an
executive chef with a visible indie/hipster touch

SARAH (Simone Weber)
Mid-thirties, a mother and singer/songwriter with
spiritual warmth and calm, atop the frank grit and
honesty of a natural counselor; dressed for the mix
of a busy mom who might be called to take the stage at

any moment

GEORGE (Pat Gregory)
An older homeless man, not sharp at every moment

anymore, but well-intentioned

ISABELLA (Alexandra Weber)
A kindergartner, and the daughter of Sarah & Mark

EDWARD (Eugene Browning)
An elderly restaurant patron, one of the country’s
honored military veterans, and also a poet. Clean and

pressed, yet gentle and patient.

JOHN (Jack Dankof) A poet

Table Grace musical scenes

Written by Simone Weber and Jay Gish
Directed by Simone Weber and Stephanie Elrod

Emily meets Pearl

Sarah and cast “I was hungry” Written by Simone Weber

We meet George “I’m always dreamin’” Vs. 1 Written by Sean Blake

Isabella helps out

Music with a Mission Written by Eugene Browning
Edward “Music, Love, and Prayer” Written by Jack Dankof
John “Read Me, Quickly” Written by Hope Weber
Emily “I love art” Written by Simone Weber
Sarah “Table Grace Café”

Getting to know who we are

Pearl “I am” Written by Debrah Rusher
Isabella and Emily Come to Me Written by Simone Weber

George’s revelation Written by Sean Blake
“I’m always Dreamin’” Vs. 2

“Be Faithful to Thyself” Written by Eugene Browning

Spoken by Edward echoed in Song by Sarah

“Who am I” Sung by the Cast Written by Simone Weber

Eugene S. Browning is 89 years old. He has been a
poet since he was 10 years old. He grew up in
Grand Rapids, Michigan, spent 7 years in the
army, was a Combat Veteran of the Korean War
and Paratrooper. Later he did security work in
Asia for 11 years. All of his life he has been
fighting against hatred, bigotry, and injustice. He
has four daughters. Eugene has been participating
regularly at Table Grace since hiring Simone and
her band to perform at an event in Sept. 2016.

Jack Dankof : Finished his third practicum at
Table Grace Café and has been a volunteer since
December of 2016. Jack is a published poet. His
book of poetry can be found on kindle ebooks at
amazon. Please look for “Mirrors: A Collection
of Poetry.” Jack is also an activist and will
continue his education at UNL in the fall of 2017.

Jay Gish: has a journalism degree from the
University of Nebraska - Lincoln. As a student he
also had his one-act play, Gods on the Level,
produced by the UNL Theater Department. He
created the book, music and lyrics for Yo Joe! -
A Real American Hip-Hop Musical, which
premiered onstage in Chicago in 2011. He
currently performs and teaches improvisational
performance around the Windy City, in addition
to producing animation and video effects. His
animation work has been seen on IFC,
ESPN.com and the NFL Network. Jay is a long-standing board member and
supporter of Table Grace and its mission.

Pat Gregory is the Administrative Manager at
St. Thomas Lutheran Church. He and his wife,
Elaine, have two grown children and four
grandchildren and another grandson to be born
in June. Pat has been involved in theater and
music since high school, college, and
community theater in Blair, NE. Pat is
connected with Table Grace through various
church and Nebraska Synod ELCA activities.

Deborah Rusher is a nurse and an ordained
minister. I've been married to Mike many years. I
have 3 sons and 1 granddaughter. I was chosen
Iowa caregiver of the year 2015,which was quite
an honor. I've been a caregiver for many years and
still am. I love doing weddings, funerals (because
everyone's life deserves to be celebrated, and home
visitations.

Paul Susemihl is the choir director at Morning Star
Lutheran and Rockbrook United Methodist
churches. He received his BME degree from
University of Northern Iowa and his ME degree
from UNO. He has appeared in a couple of
productions at Dundee Dinner Theater and Ralston
Community Theater. In addition, he is and
adjudicator for the Iowa High School Music
Association.

Alexandra Weber is 7 years old and in 1st grade and
is the daughter of Simone and Matt Weber. She
enjoys singing, playing drums, doing art and
writing.

Hope Weber is 9 years old and in 4th grade. She
is the daughter of Simone and Matt Weber. She
likes to draw, sing, play violin and piano.

Artist Simone Weber is a Singer, Songwriter, Mother,
MC Musical Missionary, co-founder of Table Grace and
Director of Contemporary Worship at Morning Star
Lutheran Church in Omaha. Simone has released
several CD recordings of original music over the
years. This is the first musical that she has co-
written. She sang the role of Rapunzal in Into the
Woods, was in the chorus of Suor Angelica both at
UNL and was a strolling guitar playing singer for
The Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden in
New York City. Simone directs kids music
productions at Morning Star Lutheran Church and
sings weekly at Table Grace Café.

Brian Gennardo - Growing up in the street-wise
underground of Chicago and in recent years,
Omaha, Gennardo has subsisted with occasional
side jobs “in search of something great” through his
art. He considers himself an abstract expressionist.

Elliott Haris - Chief Financial Officer for Make
Believe Recordings since 2016 in Omaha. Make
Believe Recordings was started out of Make Believe
Studios in Omaha, Nebraska in the Spring of 2012..
Since then, they have signed a wide variety of artists
that take on no limitation to their creativity and
expression. MBR’s main goal is to give the artist the
chance to write, record, and produce music
completely in house so they know exactly what they
want to give to the public, A product from complete
creative freedom. The way records should be made.

Drummers

Tom Tentis

I’ve been very blessed by Table Grace Café because it
is a music outlet for drums, and the fellowship and
food is wonderful. Table Grace is very important in
my life. The main goal in my life has been music and
writing. I hope Table Grace expands to include a main
stage for the music and artistic community in Omaha.

Sean Blake is one of the original volunteers of Table
Grace. Sean came to Table Grace before the cafe
was even opened. He volunteered with Chef Matt in
the First Lutheran Church Kitchen beginning in
2009. Sean is a jack of many trades, not the least of
which is his talent on the drums. We are thankful
for Sean's talents and for allowing us to make his
original song part of the Table Grace musical.

Sponsored by

Santa Martha Cafe
SMC is a direct importer of Nicaraguan Coffee from a
small group of farmers in Santa Martha de Loma Azul,
Jinotega, Nicaragua. Because we are a small direct trade
importer and deal directly with the farmers they receive
a fair market value for their green beans. This is reflected
in our pricing and with every bag you purchase you are
helping too. We have traveled to the region several times over the years
helping to improve their farming practices and education therefore
helping to improve their lives. As a Micro Roaster in Omaha, NE we
strive to achieve a roasting level that brings out the natural flavor and
quality of the coffee beans.

Board Member Board Position Affiliations / Occupations

Matt Weber CEO Table Grace Café, Director / Chef

Simone Weber COO Singer/Songwriter

Table Grace Café, Outreach
Director

Morning Star Lutheran,
Contemporary Worship Director

Dan Friedlund President/Chair Immanuel Communities (Retired),
EVP & CFO

Cory Lienemann Vice President CLTC®, FIC

Thrivent Financial, Financial
Associate - Nebraska Region

Treva Haugaard Secretary MSW, MPA

GOALS Center, VP & Executive
Director

Justin Hope Treasurer CPA
Seim Johnson, Senior Manager

Angela Member at Nebraska Methodist College,
Director of Alumni Engagement
Heesacker Smith Large

Pastor Jan ELCA Augustana Lutheran Church Omaha,

Peterson Pastoral Rep Pastor

Tyler Member at First National Bank Omaha, Manager
Cooper
Large – Deposit Maintenance

Jay Gish Member at Writer/Producer/Performer
Large Bindledog Productions, Inc.

Denise Member at FCAS, CPCU
Olson Large
Zurich North America, VP & Director –
Underwriting

Pastor Member at Lutheran pastor and Chaplain (retired)
Stephen Large
Pera

Lauri Muller Member at RISE Services, Inc, Assistant Director
Large

Staff Staff Affiliations / Occupations
Position

Matt Weber CEO Table Grace Café, Director / Chef

Simone Weber COO Singer/Songwriter

Table Grace Café, Outreach Director

Morning Star Lutheran, Contemporary
Worship Director

Ken Exner Operations Jack of all trades – Coffee Entreprenuer
Assistant – santamarthacafe.com TGC since 2011

Bridget Person Café Support Patron/staff/volunteer of TGC since
2011

Stacey Piper Baker, Assistant 10 day graduate with Table Grace since

Manager 2012

Noah Mejstrik Kitchen With Table Grace since 2013
Manager

Accountant & With Table Grace since 2015
Devon Fischer Administrative

Assistant

Stephanie Café Support 10 day graduate – with Table Grace
McCanachie since 2016

Erin Chef Also works for Dire Lion Food Truck –
Cummings pop-up dinner chef – with TGC since
2016

Candy Dishwasher With Table Grace since 2016
Thomas

As one of the co-founders of Table Grace Ministries & Table Grace Cafe –
It’s exciting to see the amazing growth that’s happened since we received
our 501c3 status 9 years ago! In 2009 we were taking care of just a few
families each week out of the kitchen at First Lutheran Church – all with
the help of just one generous individual – Now we’ve had a Café in
downtown Omaha for almost 6 years and we are able to take care of 50
plus patrons each day – all with the help and support of some 2300 donors!
We are so grateful for partners like you!

In 2016 we processed over 50 applications to our 10 day job experience
program and we saw our average donation per patron increase from
$2.55/pp to $4.05/pp at it’s highest. What does that mean? It means that
more people like you all sitting here this evening are eating lunch at Table
Grace each day – helping to create a more meaningful experience. Our
patronage for the first 4 years we were open was 80/20 – 80 % low-no
income and 20% working professionals. In 2016 we saw that increase to
70/30 and it’s because of people like you who are helping us grow and
educate more of the public about what’s happening in our Café.

Table Grace Café is here for Nourishing Hungry Bodies and souls with
food and music. A café for EVERYONE! All walks of life coming
together daily to help each other get healthy food, spiritual sustenance, and
authentic – life-giving community.

I was hungry and you gave me something to eat – I was thirsty and you
gave me something to drink – My wife Simone recently wrote a song
based on that verse - –Using the song “I was hungry” - Simone has been
collaborating with several people to write a musical all about Table Grace
(who knows – maybe someday you’ll see it on Broadway).

But tonight – we’re celebrating 6 years of Table Grace Café. We hope you
enjoy scenes of Table Grace the musical as part of our celebration tonight.
It is a beautifully artistic way to tell the story of Table Grace.

There is SO much more to share about what’s been happening at Table
Grace Café than what can be said on this page or even in one evening – so
stay tuned and please know that we are so grateful for your support – it
helps us shepherd parolees into employment, it helps us give people with
special needs a meaningful place to work, it helps us facilitate offenders
graduation from Drug court, it helps us give a single mother and her
hungry children food and so much more. - Thank You

Matt Weber

Table Grace Cafe For catering contact Matt
Ho​ urs TGC - 402.965.1276
www.tablegracecafe.com
Monday - Saturday For Music call Simone
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM 917-992-8574
www.simonegweber.com
Location
1611 1/2 Farnam St
Omaha, NE 68102-2113

Thank you to St. Thomas Lutheran for the space. Thank you to Denise
Olson and Cory Lineman for coordinating the silent auction.
Thank you to the Table Grace board of directors.