Stories from the Civil Rights Pilgrimage

Sunday, January 15

10:00AM | Sanctuary

Leaning into our FUMC values of Justice and Active Learning, a group from FUMC took a Civil Rights Pilgrimage last fall, making stops in Selma, Montgomery, and Birmingham, Alabama, and Memphis, Tennessee. This trip was life-changing and eye-opening for many of the participants, who will share stories and highlights from their journey. Pastor Cathy Stone will also have information about the next Civil Rights Pilgrimage planned for fall 2023. Contact Cathy for additional information. 

Film Series: Listen. Learn. Laugh. Love.

Sunday, January 15

4:30-7:00PM | Stotts Dining Hall, Austin Seminary, 100 East 27th

Movies can help capture our imaginations, pique our curiosity, and start conversations about injustice. In The Best of Enemies, civil rights activist Ann Atwater faces off against C. P. Ellis, Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan, in 1971 Durham, North Carolina, over the issue of school integration. Join us for this film, kicking off the first in our spring film series, Listen. Learn. Laugh. Love., and follow our viewing with a short conversation. This event is jointly sponsored by First UMC, St. Luke UMC, Westlake UMC, and in partnership with Education Beyond the Walls of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

MLK Day Community March

Monday, January 16

The annual Community March celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy while uplifting diversity and multi-culturalism in our city. Join FUMC member Cindy Walter at 9:00AM with a short program at the MLK Statue on the University of Texas campus and march from there or grab a breakfast taco in the Family Life Center at 9:30AM before joining the rally on the south steps of the State Capitol and then march on to Huston-Tillotson University for the Community Festival where exciting festivities are planned.

Disciple Bible Study:

New Testament

Wednesdays, January 18 - April 12

6:00-7:15PM | FLC Room 104

At the center of Christian faith is a library of twenty-seven books that we know as the New Testament. These texts preserve the foundational stories of our great faith and point the way to the lives that we can have together and with God. At the same time, they also expose human worries and imperfections and highlight the long history of our struggle to understand what it means to be a child of God. Whatever your stance on scripture, join Pastor Brad and FUMC member, Pete Meeker, for this 12-week study of the history, interpretation, and meaning of the New Testament in its original contexts as well as the ways that it continues to breathe life and hope into our communities today.

Invitation from Joy Circle

Thursday, January 19

10:00AM

Location TBA or Zoom

The Joy Circle welcomes all women to join us at our annual planning session on Thursday, January 19, at 10:00AM. We gather monthly on the third Thursday to pursue studies of social justice, engage in meaningful outreach and support one another through prayer and action. For meeting location or Zoom link, email Elizabeth Lerner or contact her at (512) 589-6305.

Usher Training:

Join the Ministry of Welcome at FUMC

Sunday, January 22 or Sunday, February 26 | 10:00AM | Sanctuary

Current ushers and those interested in joining our awesome welcome team are invited for a brief time of training on one of two Sundays: January 22 or February 26. This is a chance to review the various tasks ushers perform during a worship service, updated safety information and procedures, and how to best welcome the people God sends through the Sanctuary doors each week. While that may sound like an imposing list of tasks, ushering is a fun and easy way to meet new people and serve the church.

Wonderfully Made: Preteen Human Sexuality Workshop

January 27-28, 2023

Family Life Center

Wonderfully Made is a weekend workshop that offers you and your young person opportunities to learn, grow, and celebrate that we are all created by God, in all our many facets—including human sexuality—and God calls us good. God also calls us to responsible living as sexual beings. The weekend’s sessions include facilitated conversation for preteens (ages 10-12) and their parents about adolescent physical and spiritual growth. Preteens may invite friends, but all participants must commit to attend all sessions throughout the weekend and at least one parent/guardian is required to attend both sessions for caregiving adults. Spaces are limited, so register soon at fumcaustin.org/wonderfully-made. The deadline for registration is Tuesday, January 17 and the cost is $50/participant.

Black Mamas ATX

5th Sunday Mercy & Justice Presentation

Sunday, January 29

10:00AM

Sanctuary

The Mercy & Justice Team invites you to join us as we hear from Kelenne Blake-Fallon, Executive Director of Black Mamas ATX. The organization's goal is to reduce and ultimately eliminate the alarming maternal mortality and morbidity rates among Black mothers in Central Texas. Black women have identified systemic racism as the biggest obstacle they face in their healthcare. One area of focus for Black Mamas ATX is transforming these systems by working to engage institutions in the process of understanding and interrupting institutional racism as an upstream determinant of health and contributor to disparate health access and outcomes. Learn more about these critical issues and ways we can support this work. Contact Pastor Cathy Stone for more information. You can learn more about Black Mamas ATX at blackmamasatx.com.

Deepen Your Spirituality with New Women's Book Group

Mondays, February 6, 13, 20, 27

6:30-8:00PM | Zoom

Calling all women who wish to deepen their spirituality and faith, and share with other seekers of God! Join members Cheryl Bias and Kristin Robertson on Zoom weekly for four weeks to read, discuss, and meditate on the book Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence by Diana Butler Bass. We will start each meeting with a reading or prayer followed by a few moments of silence and then discuss one or two chapters of the book. Please read the introduction and first chapter for the first meeting. Zoom link sent with registration. For more information, contact Emily Buchanan.

It's Not Too Late:

United Women in Faith Annual Legislative Event

January 29-31, 2023

The Texas United Women in Faith invite women of faith from across Texas to the 36h annual Texas Legislative Event! All who are committed to justice, freedom, and opportunity for all people are invited to participate in this 3-day event focused on learning, advocacy, and action. Presented in partnership with Texas Impact, the event includes two days of speakers, inspiration, and workshops where you can connect with women like you are ready to put their faith into action. On the third day, attendees will visit the Capitol and meet with lawmakers. There are single day and virtual attendance options available as well. Get all the details, including the full schedule and event description, here.

Get Fired Up! High School Retreat Registration Now Open

February 17-19 | Mo Ranch

2229 FM 1340, Hunt, TX

All high school youth are invited to the hill country where we will hike, kayak, run wild, eat s’mores, and share time together. The cost is $150 per person. Sign up now, and don’t be afraid to rope your friends into the fun, too! In fact, want to make things interesting? The student who recruits the most new friends (other high schoolers who don’t currently attend youth) will have their trip fees refunded and can enjoy the fun for free!

Vacation Bible School (VBS): Hero Hotline

June 12-15, 2022

Early Bird Registration Now Open

What’s that sound? It’s the Hero Hotline Headquarters and its leader, Super Meer the Meerkat, calling all kids to join the Hero Team at Vacation Bible School. Super Meer wants kids and their adults to spring into action to join this awesome time of arts and crafts, drama and storytelling, games, music, science, and snack. Together, we will learn from the amazing heroes in the ultimate Hero Handbook—the Bible!

Our youngest heroes must be four by June 1 and fully potty trained to attend. Heroes who have completed 4th and 5th grade will participate in special mission activities with the Service Squad. Save $10/child by signing up today. Early Bird registration is open now and the cost is $35 through March 12.