A Note from Pastor David
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Another Contagion
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Recently I have heard a lot of discussion about another contagion. I have experienced it first hand and I can tell that it did not give me immunity from future attacks. This contagion is called anxiety (I had an anxiety four years ago that nearly paralyzed me emotionally for a time). It is highly contagious and you can catch it without being physically exposed to the carrier. You can catch it by reading an article or by looking at a social media post or even by watching the evening news. You can see the symptoms of anxiety spreading wildly throughout our society- blaming others for problems, looking for quick fixes, conflict and polarization. Studies say that 1/3 of adults will be infected by this contagion in their lifetime (and that was before the current pandemic!).
The good news is there is an antidote to this contagion. It is called calm. The better news is that calm is as contagious as anxiety. We can actually reverse the plague of anxiety by the practice of calm in the midst of this crisis. The best news is that our Lord Jesus came to give us the presence and gift of calm (see promises in Matthew 11:28-30 and John 20:21).
In a recent podcast Brene Brown offered a few tips to help us keep calm in the midst of anxiety:
1. Take your time before responding to an anxious situation
2. Slow your life down
3. Ask yourself, do I have enough information to freak out (90% of the time we do not have enough)? And even if I do, would freaking out help (100% of the time it would not)?
I hope you will receive the notices in this newsletter as ways to to receive the calm which Christ offers and as opportunities to spread that calm to others.
~David
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In spite of this crazy time we were able to work with the Student Social Services counselor at Akins High School to reach the 10 graduating seniors who are currently experiencing homelessness. Just like years past we were able to provide them with some items like dorm room essentials, school supplies, cookware, etc... to help start the next phase of their life journeys. Thanks to the New to Me Sunday school class and Discount Electronics, we purchased refurbished Dell laptops for seven graduates. And the craft group donated sweet baby items to one grad who is a new mom. The students received their gifts last week and they were ecstatic! Thanks to the whole congregation for your support over the years. Seven of the students have plans to attend college and three were on the annual college tour this spring. Our goal of helping these students realize their options is working!
Please continue to keep this effort to support Akins homeless in your thoughts and prayers. Due to lower levels of giving at the district level, there was not a grant offered for the 2020/21 school year. We have received a grant for $6000-8000 each of the past 4 years. We have enough in our current budget to continue our college tour for 2021 but without the grant we will need additional funding to continue in future years. We are making a difference, let’s continue!
Please contact Sandee Setterquist with any questions!
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With the continuation of the current Covid crisis, your pastoral staff wants you to know we are here for you. We know these can be difficult and isolating times and we want to encourage you to consider opening up your smartphone, tablet, or camera-enabled computer and connecting with us. Your patoral staff has created a schedule of availability for one-on-one video chats through Zoom. These chats will provide you with an opportunity to talk through current struggles, share in your unexpected joys, have live one-on-one prayer, etc. We are currently offering 20 minute slots. If you are uncertain about using Zoom, you can schedule a tech support session with Jason.
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Our May altar rail offering supports the South Austin Assistance Ministry. MUMC is one of several churches in South Austin that are part of this community coalition seeking to better serve people in need of basic food, clothing, housing, and utilities assistance. SAAM does this by providing supplemental help in coordination with Post Road Community Center.
You may designate part of your offering towards SAAM by denoting this in the memo line of your check or on the online giving form.
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"Drive-thru"
Pentecost Sunday
May 31, 2pm - 4pm
Celebrate the
birth of the Church!
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Pick up individually wrapped cupcakes
Enjoy live music & a fire pit
Drop off your Super Silver Saver Cups
Donate your Noisy Offering
Take family pictures at the Easter Cross
Pick up your family summer ministry bag!
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Sunday Worship - join us from home on
Facebook (church campus closed)
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Sunday, May 24, 2020
Acts 14:1-7
Theme:
When it seems like the church is dying, God may be birthing something new
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8:30 a.m.
Traditional Worship Service
“Losing My Church”
Pastor David McNitzky,
preaching
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9:30 a.m.
Children's Time
Kim Carroll
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11:00 a.m.
Praise Worship Service
Pastor Chansin Esparza,
preaching
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Kim's At-Home Sunday School Lesson for Children
David's Exodus Sunday School Class
Sundays, 9:45 - 10:15 a.m.
Or, login with - Meeting ID: 513 661 475, Password: 054834
Youth Chat
Sundays, 10:00 - 10:45 a.m.
Seeker's Class
Sundays, 10:00 a.m.
Dive into Colossians with us! Mixed adult ages, married and single - have your bible with you if you can. Newcomers are welcome - join us! Links to materials are below.
Meeting ID: 133 051 453
, Password: 9fx0mZ
Kim Carroll's
ADULT
Sunday School Class
Sundays, 10:00 - 10:40 a.m.
Look at current events through a biblical context. Brief pre-reading material sent to those who RSVP in advance, but feel free to join us even if you haven't RSVP'ed!
Meeting ID: 299 428 197
GriefShare Online
Beginning Sunday, May 31 at 1:30 p.m.
This GriefShare class will be held online via ZOOM. Recommended workbooks are $15 (scholarships available). In order to have access to the online videos, you must register for our class through the GriefShare website:
You will receive more information upon registering for the class.
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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 is sure to bring a smile to your face as you hang with the Esparza Family!
DAVID'S TUESDAY MORNING CLASS WILL NOT MEET MAY 26
New: David's
Philippians
Class, Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m., beginning June 2
Or, login with: Meeting ID: 601 349 309, Password: 010816
New Women's Study: The Belonging Project
4 Wednesdays, June 3 - June 24, 10:00 - 11:30 am
Online Via Zoom, Hosted by Kim Carroll
Are you feeling depleted, disappointed, dissatisfied, and disconnected? Are you tired of being lonely and left out at work, home, church, and online? Are you hungry for true community, deeper connection with God, and friendships that are greater than just "likes" on social media? Come and discover true community! In this four-week study, author Amberly Neese provides Biblical and practical help for cultivating meaningful relationships that glorify God through an exploration of four "one another" sayings in the New Testament: Love one another, Serve one another, Build up and strengthen one another, and forgive one another. Each week, we will watch a video together and engage in meaningful conversations that will encourage and equip us to pursue deeper relationships and true belonging!
- Participant Book Available through Amazon for $17 Or through Cokesbury for $12.
- Focus is on the "one another" statements of Jesus and building a true community.
- Note: Sermon series in June will also be about Friendship.
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