Weekly news & updates 7/17/20
Sunday Worship ONLINE ONLY - 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. on our Facebook Page
Notable Notes
A Note from Pastor David

Pushing on the Rock

There is an old rabbinic story about a rabbi who lived outside a village. There were two roads that he could take to get to the village. One morning when he got ready to walk to the village, the Lord spoke to him and told him to take the other road to the village and to stop and push on a large boulder that was by the road. Every day for a year when he walked to the village in the morning and then back home from the village he dutifully pushed on the boulder. But it did not move. One day as he was heading out in the morning, Satan stopped the rabbi and asked him where he was going. The rabbi responded that he was on his way to the village and that he would push on the boulder on the way. Satan asked him, Has the boulder moved?” The rabbi had to admit that it had not moved after a year of pushing. So that morning he took a different road to the village and bypassed the boulder. As he prepared to set out the next morning toward the village on the road which did not have the boulder, the Lord spoke to him. “Rabbi, where are you going?” The rabbi said, To the village where I go every morning.” The Lord said, Why aren’t you going on the other road and pushing on the boulder like I asked you to do?” The rabbi protested, “But, Lord, the boulder never moved.” The Lord said, “Who said anything about moving the boulder?!! Haven’t you noticed how strong you have become while pushing on the boulder? You are able to help the men build their homes and the women with their heavy loads. You can do all this because you pushed on that boulder.”

During these days of the pandemic, it may seem that we are not getting things done and that we are not making progress. It appears that the rock is not moving. Don’t lose heart or hope as we are developing strength and resources that will help us for the tasks which the Lord still has for us to do.

~David
Netflix Watch Party - Friday, July 24, 6:30 pm

Let's watch a movie together! Join your church family online for a Netflix watch party on Friday, July 24, at 6:30 pm. We'll be watching "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." Netflix watch party allows people to watch "together" - each from their own home. We'll all be watching at the exact same time and will have the capability of chatting with one another as the movie plays.
In order to watch along, you MUST register for the event. You'll be asked for an email address. This is the address that you will be sent the link to join the watch party at 6:30 pm on Friday, July 24. (You will not get the link in advance.) In addition, you must have a Netflix account, and you must download the watch party app prior to the event. (Please note that I will not be able to provide technical assistance for this activity.) All the information you need to join is at this website (instructions and tutorials are provided): https://www.netflixparty.com/.
July Altar Rail Offering

July's altar rail offerings support Global Ministry Missionary Guillermo (Willie) Berman (Advance #3019612), and the Ray Zirkel Family in Costa Rica.
Upper Room Magazines are in the Blessing Box

Magazine donations welcome! Mail a check with "Upper Room" on memo line to: MUMC, PO Box 460, Manchaca, TX 78652
Virtual Town Hall Meeting

We had a great turnout for the Town Hall Meeting on Sunday, July 12th. In case you missed it, you may view the Town Hall Meeting video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRveJDhRtGQ.
Homecoming Update

The main metric the church leadership team is using to determine when our church can safely return to congregational worship in the building is this: a 14-day drop in the 7-day average number of hospitalizations in Travis County. Because of current trends, we are not yet certain when that will be. When we see a downward trend in the data, at that point we will evaluate what is the best date to return. Click here to view the source data that we use .

As David said in his letter to the congregation with the attach ed  about the plan for reopening, this is a fluid process as we respond to the best data and science available to us.
Drive-In Communion Service
Sunday, August 2 - 9:45 or 10:15 AM

Join us in taking Communion together at a Drive-In Communion Service. Pre-packaged elements will be given out to those that drive up (you must be in your car, and you must enter the West parking lot through Lowden Lane). Tune in to FM 88.3 on your radio and listen in as we take Communion together. We also hope to have volunteers deliver elements to those that may not be able to drive to church. Choose between the 9:45 or 10:15 a.m. service (each will be 10-15 minute long). Please sign up to attend the service, request home delivery, or volunteer to deliver communion to others.
Latest E-News: https://conta.cc/2DPf0yq
  • Netflix Watch Party
  • Virtual VBS
  • God Glasses
Latest E-News: https://conta.cc/392styl
  • Connect Groups
  • Youth Scavenger Hunt
  • Youth T-shirts
Online Gatherings
Sunday Worship - join us from home on Facebook (church campus closed)
Sunday, July 19, 2020

7th Sunday after Pentecost

Micah
8:30 a.m.
Traditional Worship Service
Pastor David McNitzky
“The Lament”
Micah 1:5-10
9:30 a.m.
Children's Time
Kim Carroll
11:00 a.m.
Praise Worship Service
Pastor Chansin Esparza
Micah 1
Sunday Classes/Events
David's Exodus Sunday School will resume on August 9 with Exodus 22:5
Listen to previous class recordings here.

Seeker's Class, 10:00 a.m.
Currently studying the Book of Philemon. All are welcome! 
Links to our previous Collossians study materials may be found on our website .
Or login with - Meeting ID: 847 5627 4738 , Password: SEEKERS

Kim Carroll's Adult Sunday School Class, 10:00 - 10:40 a.m.
In the News: Rock Star Bon Jovi Washes Dishes to Feed Community; Name Changes for Redskins and Master Bedrooms
Contact: Kim@ManchacaUMC.org .

GriefShare, 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.
Recommended workbooks are $15 (scholarships available). Join any time! Register at: https://www.griefshare.org/groups/119635 and the meeting & video links will be sent to you.
Weekday Classes/Events
Nourishment at Noon, Monday - Friday, 12:00 p.m.
Join us on the Manchaca UMC Facebook Page every weekday at noon to give yourself a midday spiritual lift. On Mondays and Wednesdays, you'll hear from Pastor David. On Tuesdays, Mark will bring you a musical message. On Thursday, get some helpful prayer tips from Kim. Fridays will be some or all of the Esparza Family!

David's Tuesday Class will resume in August
Listen to previous class recordings here.

Seussical Funday School for Children, Tuesday Mornings
10:30 am - Younger Class (PreK-2nd grade)   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83559250913   
11:15 am - Older Class (3rd-5th grade)     https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83930137037
Seuss Story: The Zaks
Theme: Stubbornness and Humility
Bible Verse: Philippians 2:3