Sunday, March 20
Preacher: Rev. Taylor Fuerst
Scripture: Ephesians 2: 11-22
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9:00 and 11:00 a.m. | Sanctuary
Worship is livestreamed at 11:00 a.m. each Sunday and is available online through our Zoom worship time, YouTube Channel, and Facebook page. Our Interactive Worship on Zoom includes opportunities to connect with one another, share prayer concerns, and view our video worship service together.
At this time, FUMC Austin requires masks in worship through Easter on Sunday, April 17. For more information about masking after Easter, visit our website at www.fumcaustin.org.
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Save the Date:
Master Plan Community Forum
Saturday, March 26, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Sanctuary
Reimagining the ways that we use our facilities for ministry is an act that we do together, listening for God's Spirit to lead us. In order to do that, we need the whole congregation to attend and contribute to the FUMC Community Forum! This is a time to evaluate uses of the church’s spaces in support of our ministry, both current and future.
We’ll start with an architects' update of the facilities conditions assessment and review of the major focus areas of our ministry. We’ll transition into small groups assigned to tour specific areas of the campus. These “walk and talk” tours will foster observations and discussions. At the end, each group will return to the main assembly and report on its conversations. Mark your calendar now and join us on March 26!
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Mercy Makers Collective
Saturday, March 19,
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Family Life Center Foyer
The Mercy Makers Collective is a new community of knitters, crocheters, and other fabric makers that are joining together to provide textiles to members in need in and around our community. If you want to learn to knit or crochet—or if you already know how and want to help train new makers—join us for one of our Saturday workshops, March 12 and 19, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Come for the whole thing or drop in as you please! All adults and children (age 8 and up) are welcome to attend. We'll have snacks, fellowship, and fun!
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Cynicism, Skepticism, and Christian Faith
Sunday, March 20
12:15-1:30 p.m.
Sanctuary and Zoom
In place of this month's Deep Dive Bible Study, join Dr. Brad King for a discussion of the roles that cynicism and skepticism play in our lives of faith. Though it may seem that cynicism and skepticism are in opposition to the Christian values of hope and faith, they have played key roles in the lives of Christians, stretching all the way back to Christ himself. Stick around after the 11:00 a.m. worship service to learn about and discuss these important topics. Register below. Zoom link will be sent with completed registration.
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Drop-in Lent Small Group
Sundays, Now-April 10
10:00 a.m., FLC Room 110
Small groups help you deepen your relationship with God and with others at church. You can participate in conversations about our Lenten faith questions during the Sunday School hour, even if you have limited time during the week. This Drop-in Lent Small Group, led by Dr. Brad King, will meet each Sunday in Lent. Join as often as you are able.
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Celebrate Spring Break in a Blaze of Glory
Sunday, March 20, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Blazer Tag, Cost: $20
1701 W Ben White Blvd, 78704
Who will reign as champion? All middle and high school youth are invited to our Blazer Tag event! Please bring $20 for two rounds of laser tag and pizza. Recruit your best team for this evening of fun!
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FUMC History Workshop
Sunday, March 20
10:00-10:45 a.m.
Wesley Hall
Who knew we were about to be 182? Have you ever wondered how First Church became First? Or why our Sanctuary looks like it does? Or the story of people whose names are on our cornerstones? Join Amy Wink and Caroline Jones to explore the history, people, and places that have made FUMC Austin the grace-filled church we call home today.
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Mercy & Justice Action Groups
The Mercy & Justice team is looking for people to be part of our action groups! Action groups are lay driven groups focused on a specific area - doing the work and inviting others into the work. We're multiplying ministry! Action groups are currently working in these areas: anti-racism, immigration, LGBTQ justice and support, environmental/climate, and reproductive justice. The work of these groups is guided by awareness, relationships, and commitment. If you would like to learn more or join one of these action groups, please email Pastor Cathy Stone.
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Feed My People Fourth Tuesday Breakfast
Tuesday, March 22, 5:15-7:00 a.m.
Family Life Center
The Feed My People Breakfast is moving back inside on Tuesday, March 22! Preparing and cooking this meal that feeds 50 of our vulnerable neighbors begins at 5:15 a.m. and clean up is finished by 7:00 a.m.. March 22 is a fourth Tuesday, which means First UMC sponsors the meal and provides volunteers. We have a new signup for the move back inside, so sign up today before it fills!
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Music Under the Dome:
Free Lunchtime Concerts
Wednesdays, Now-April 6
12:00-12:30 p.m.
Sanctuary
Enjoy free admission to these 30-minute concerts, presented by First Church musicians and friends. March 23 features Scott Davis, our Director of Music and Organist, and visiting musician David Allen. A boxed lunch will be available by reservation for $10 and can be enjoyed in the FLC Great Hall or taken to go. Lunch reservations can be made by contacting Director of Events Ken Spivey at least two days in advance. (Deadline for requesting a boxed lunch is Monday at noon each week.) Free parking is available in the Texas Trial Lawyers' garage (third floor and above), which can be entered on 13th Street via Lavaca or Guadalupe Streets.
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Mark Your Calendar: Vacation Bible School Registration Opens Soon
Registration Begins Thursday, March 24
VBS takes place July 25-28
It's coming! Vacation Bible School registration is nearly here. Kids, parents, and volunteers, it's nearly time to join our summer quest for the King's armor. We couldn't be more excited to offer an in-person VBS experience this summer. Get ready for fun and adventure and sign up when registration goes live on March 24. Questions? Contact children@fumcaustin.org. Who will be the first to join the Knights of North Castle?
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Butterfly Helpers Needed During Holy Week
During Holy Week, the church needs helpers to assist with our beautiful butterfly display, which, once again, will transform our Lenten prayers into a colorful sign of resurrection on Easter morning. Help glue the butterfly displays by signing up during open times. This can be a meditative individual project or a great group project with the opportunity for conversation as you glue our paper prayer butterflies onto fishing line!
Instructions and supplies will be available in the Library. Please note that you can come and go as needed during those times (every little bit helps, so even stopping by for 30 minutes will make a difference!). If there's a time you'd like to come that's not listed, just let us know! We also need a team of people to help us Friday night to install the butterflies after worship. Questions? Contact Pastor Cathy Stone.
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Help Us Reset and Prep
Sundays, 12:00 p.m., Sanctuary
Each week on Sundays after the 11:00 a.m. service concludes, we need a small team to help reset the Sanctuary so that it is ready for worship the next week. This reset and prep team helps to tidy the pews, refill any resources in the pew backs, and recycle any leftover bulletins so that the Sanctuary is ready to welcome worshippers for the next week. Can you stay after worship to help make this happen? Contact Rachel Wright for more details and to share your availability.
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Manna Bag Make and Take
Sunday, March 27, 8:30-11:00 a.m.
Murchison Chapel
Stop by to assemble a few manna bags for our unhoused neighbors. These manna bags will be distributed by the Homeless Outreach Street Team, Downtown Austin Community Court, and the church office. Manna bags are also available to purchase for $5, so stop by to make one and take one! Contact Pastor Cathy for more information.
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FEAST: Questioning Salvation
7:30-9:00 p.m.
FLC Garrison Chapel
Join Dr. Brad King and the FEAST community for this month's FEAST dinner and discussion. This time around, we're reexamining the Christian concept of salvation and asking what it means for our lives together and with God. We will take a look at some different views of salvation in early Christianity, as well as some other, sometimes strange, groups that influenced Christian thought. In addition to diving deep into our topic, we will FEAST on food and fellowship!
For more information on FEAST events and/or to get on the FEAST mailing list, email Pastor Brad King.
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The Hymns We Sing
Sunday, April 3, 12:15-1:00 p.m.
Sanctuary
Hymns have been with us since the earliest days of the Christian faith. In fact, some might say that the Psalter is the hymnbook of the Hebrew people. In the 18th century, Charles Wesley, an Anglican priest and founder of Methodist Societies, set all Methodists on a course of vigorous and passionate hymn singing. We are one of the many heirs of his tradition. Join Director of Music Scott Davis and the retired Reverend Kathleen Jones to celebrate and examine these hymns, both theologically and musically. In the words printed in the front of The United Methodist Hymnal by Charles' brother John, "Sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing."
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Social Justice Conversations
Sunday, April 3, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
FLC Garrison Chapel
You are invited to a conversation with Just Texas, a project of the Texas Freedom Network, which organizes people of faith to shape public policy around reproductive health issues. This information session will cover the history of the Texas Freedom Network and Just Texas; the frameworks that make up reproductive freedom: reproductive health, reproductive rights, and reproductive justice; and what it means to be a Reproductive Congregation. Contact Pastor Cathy Stone for more information.
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Atonement, Salvation, and the Kingdom of God
Sunday, April 10, 12:15-1:45 p.m.
FLC Great Hall
Join Dr. Brad King for a lunch and learn discussion about what exactly Jesus' saving work accomplished. We will consider Christ's life, death, and teachings as well as a host of other evidences and ideas from Christ's lifetime and the history of Christianity to dig into this vital topic. In addition to some lecture, this event will include table discussions about our beliefs, experiences, and expectations about salvation and atonement. Sandwiches and salads, with a vegetarian option, will be available for $10 for participants who register by March 30.
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Palm Sunday Party
Sunday, April 10, 9:45-10:45 a.m.
FLC Great Hall
Bring your family and join FUMC Children's Ministry for a time of fellowship and games in the FLC Great Hall. Because of COVID, we are not holding the annual Easter Egg Festival. Instead, we are holding this smaller celebration with our church family. Families of all ages and stages are welcome to join in on the fun! At 10:45 a.m, children will line up to prepare for the Palm Sunday Procession into 11:00 a.m. worship. More details coming soon! For more information, email children@fumcaustin.org.
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We're Hiring Childcare Staff
FUMC is hiring new Childcare staff to work 4 hours per week, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Sundays. Opportunities to earn extra hours may be offered on occasion. Email Jen Seibel with any questions and/or to apply.
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Imagine you wake up one morning. A man-made or natural disaster has occurred. Lives in your community have turned upside down. It’s a citywide or statewide disaster. What do you do?
This is the plight of many people in the United States and around the world. Whether man-made or natural disasters, when disaster strikes, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) goes into action to help alleviate suffering and express the love of Christ to those involved. During the early stages of a disaster, UMCOR provides grants to partners such as annual conferences and other groups to support the immediate needs of those affected. For longer-term needs, UMCOR works with local partners in recovery and reconstruction work.
For example, right now UMCOR is already mobilizing to provide humanitarian assistance to the Ukraine and to Ukrainian people fleeing to neighboring countries.
This month’s gifts underwrite UMCOR’s “costs of doing business.” This helps UMCOR keep the promise that 100% of any gift to a specific project will go toward that mission, not administrative costs. We invite you to join us with gifts providing help and hope during times of disaster, be it famine, hurricane, war, flood, fire, or other challenges. Your gifts, marked "UMCOR," may be placed in the Offering basket, made online, or sent to the church during the month of March. To donate online, select "UMCOR" from the drop-down menu.
You can learn more about UMCOR here.
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Submit a prayer request online.
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Within Our Congregation
Dan and Liz Kilday; Kaitlyn Krejci-Mills, Sam Miller, Sallie Novinger, Andrew Pyle, Mary Faye Randolph, and Dan Wood.
Beyond Our Congregation
Curt Ashmos’ friend, Elissa Marek; Grady Basler’s sister, Tonya Basler Stout; Cheryl Bias’ niece, Lauren Stafford; Ashton Brooks’ grandpa, Norman Bach; Fay Brown’s sister, Jo Rene Altenburg; Todd Canon’s brother, Jim Canon, and niece, Lindsey Pate; Shirley Derryberry’s cousin, David Bonzckowski; April Ferrino’s friend, Bill Parr; Brad Fuerst's mother, Bonnie; George Gaston’s friend, Dr. Robert Wootton; Susan Griffith’s friend, Linda Winn and family; Marcia Houston’s mother, Johnnie; Jeff Jackson's father, Andy Jackson; Cody Kyle’s grandfather, Bud Kyle; H. W. Perry’s cousins, Doug and Sheila Stephenson; Cindy Reidland’s friends, Carly Faulkner and Colton Wimberly; Debbie Rippetoe’s friend, Cathy Ellison; Rick Russell’s cousin, Josh Nave; Randy Teich’s friend, Glenn Johnson; Ben Thoma’s mother, Margery Thoma.
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Contact Us
First United Methodist Church
1201 Lavaca St. Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-5684
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