For generations, Wayzata Community Church has been more than a place of worship—it has been a cornerstone of connection, service, compassion, and community in the Lake Minnetonka area. Through its commitment to faith, outreach, education, and caring for others, the church has touched countless lives and helped strengthen the fabric of the community we call home.
This year, we are proud to recognize Wayzata Community Church as a 50-year member of the Chamber. Director of Engagement, Autumn Toussaint, shared with us how Wayzata Community Church continues to serve the community after many decades.
We believe faith is meant to be lived in relationship with the wider community. We wanted to be an active partner in the life of this area, not simply a church in the community, but a church for the community. For 145 years, WCC has been rooted in Wayzata through seasons of growth, change, celebration, and challenge. Chamber membership has been a meaningful way to build relationships, support local organizations and businesses, and stay connected to the life of the community we love.
How has your church evolved over the past five decades?
We give thanks for our deep roots while also embracing new growth. Over the decades, WCC has continued to adapt while holding onto core values of welcome, compassion, service, and connection. We’ve expanded ministries (and our building footprint) for children, youth, and adults, developed community arts and theater programming, and created new ways for people of all abilities and generations to engage and belong. Today, we also host more than 700 community gatherings each year, including support groups, Scouts, recovery ministries, neighborhood meetings, concerts, and civic events.
Our WCC Nursery School, serving families since 1953, continues to be an important entry point for many in the west metro, offering a caring, play-based, community-centered environment for young children. Our original historic 1881 building on Rice St. now serves as home to Blue Water Theatre Company, a youth arts program that continues to nurture creativity and confidence in young people.
In 2014 we began a ministry called Parables, dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive faith community for people with disabilities and their families. Rooted in the belief that every person is uniquely gifted, the ministry celebrates the wisdom, joy, and faith that members of the disability community bring to our church family. At the heart of the Parables Ministry is Parables Worship, a Sunday service designed to be accessible, accepting, engaging, and joyful for everyone. Beyond worship, the ministry offers a vibrant array of weekly programs, including the Parables Choir, classes, Bible studies, and special events that foster friendship, faith formation, and creative expression. Throughout our evolution, our desire remains the same: to be a place of hope, hospitality, and service.
What are some favorite memories or milestones during your time as a member?
A few moments stand out deeply. On the evening of 9/11, we opened our doors for an interfaith prayer service. More than 350 people gathered from many backgrounds to grieve, pray, and seek hope together. The Chamber helped spread the word very quickly throughout all the members and businesses, making it possible for the wider community to come together in a meaningful way. In 2006, our 125th Anniversary celebration brought the community together for a weekend of festivities, with strong Chamber involvement and support. Each year, Community in Unity during James J. Hill Days remains a meaningful tradition, bringing together area churches and neighbors for worship and shared community life.
In what ways has your church supported or collaborated with local businesses and organizations?
We believe strong communities are built through partnership. WCC collaborates with schools, nonprofits, civic organizations, businesses, artists, and community leaders in many ways, hosting events, supporting outreach, and offering space for connection and care. Each week (adding up to over 700 a year), our building is used by dozens of community groups, including Scouts, AA and Al-Anon, support groups, arts organizations, and neighborhood meetings. We see space itself as a form of service, places where all people can gather, heal, learn, and grow.
Our annual Rummage Sale, now in its 104th year, is another example of community generosity and teamwork, supporting mission partners locally and beyond. Community members donate, as well as volunteer (and shop) each year, and every dollar supports outreach to our neighbors. With 23 departments and 12 outdoor tents, Rummage even donates the remaining items to groups such as the Salvation Army, Epilepsy Society, Habitat for Humanity, Sofas for Vets, Every Third Saturday, ARC, DAV, and others. We also value long-standing partnerships with organizations such as Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP), where shared work continues to support neighbors in meaningful ways. We are immensely grateful for their support when people come to us in need, as they are often our first call for resources.
What role do you believe your church plays in the broader community today?
We hope to serve as a place of welcome, connection, and care. In a time when many people feel isolated, we strive to be a community where relationships are formed, conversations are welcomed, and people of all ages can find belonging. We continue to engage in interfaith prayer gatherings, community-wide services during James J. Hill Days, and partnerships that bring people together around shared values of peace, hope, compassion, and love.
Our Good Works Community Theatre, now over 25 years strong, also reflects this commitment. Our large productions involve around 100 volunteers, about half of whom are community members outside the church, giving them a place to learn, perform, and feel a sense of belonging in the arts realm. All performances are offered free of charge to ensure accessibility and broad participation.
Our vision is to “Inspire the world with the inclusive love of Jesus,” so whether through worship, service, music, theater, outreach, or community programs, we hope people experience a radical welcome, and a reminder that they matter.
Why has it been important for your church to remain a Chamber member for so many years?
Our Chamber membership has always been relational, not transactional. It reflects a shared commitment to the wellbeing of the community. The relationship has become increasingly collaborative. Sort of a “you’ve got a friend” mentality. Whatever we need, whatever they need – there for each other. We value opportunities to participate in conversations, events, and partnerships that strengthen community life. We value the Chamber’s role in bringing people, organizations, and leaders together in ways that strengthen connection and collaboration across the region. Remaining engaged allows us to support local leaders, stay involved in community life, and continue contributing to the place we have called home for 145 years.
Are there any specific programs, events, or connections that have been especially meaningful?
Honestly, many of the most meaningful aspects have been the relationships formed through Chamber involvement. Knowing whom to call when something arises (whether it be a building maintenance issue or a neighbor in need) has been so valuable. An asset we wouldn’t have without the Chamber.
Event highlights include participation in James J. Hill Days, employee volunteer engagement in community events, and leadership luncheons that connect local leaders across sectors. We also value opportunities the Chamber has provided over the decades to host civic and community conversations, authors and speakers, and even visits from local officials and interfaith or civic gatherings in our building.
Do you have a story that captures what being part of this community means?
One meaningful example came in 2002, when our neighbors at St. Edward’s Episcopal Church suffered a devastating fire. The morning after the fire, and during their rebuilding process, WCC opened its chapel and classrooms for their congregation to worship and gather for nearly a year. As a visible sign of welcome, we painted our front doors red, a symbol of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Episcopal tradition. It was a powerful reminder that a community is larger than any one building or denomination, and that in times of need, people show up for one another with generosity and care.
How do you hope to continue making an impact in the community?
One exciting new adventure is heading to Wayzata Community Church – Overjoy Coffee and Friends! This is a business & ministry collaboration established to serve joy and fellowship to its customers while providing inclusion, training and employment for individuals with disabilities. Overjoy will operate a mobile coffee cart serving high quality coffee drinks and quick beverages at WCC for people attending worship or events, and the community. Overjoy’s coffee cart will be staffed by employees with and without disabilities in a community dedicated to inclusion. Stay tuned for more info on when it will be open!
And of course through our Worship, service, and community events. We strive to continue creating physical spaces where people feel welcomed, connected, and cared for. We look forward to expanding opportunities for service, supporting the arts, deepening partnerships, and engaging both longtime and newer residents of the area.
