We have journeyed through Advent, and Christmas is almost here. We are working hard to provide a safe way to join together in celebration and worship on Christmas Eve. Here are a few important things to know about worship, and a video to give you an idea of what to expect.
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Register | Please register through our website for whichever service you will attend. Click the red button below to do so.
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Extra Services | There are five traditional services and one family service being held throughout the day in the Sanctuary. We anticipate the 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. will have the heaviest attendance.
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Seating Options | Our Sanctuary seats 750 when all seats are available. Part of the side sections on the main floor, as well as the entire balcony, will only have seating available in every other row for those who would like some extra space. We anticipate each service will have 100-250 people in attendance.
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Masks Required | Masks will be required at all services for those age 3 and up. We will have adult- and child-sized KN95 masks available at the door.
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Livestream | The 7:00 p.m. service will be livestreamed on our Facebook and YouTube pages, as well as on the FUMC app.
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First Sunday after Christmas
Sunday, December 26
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11:00 a.m.
Virtual worship will still be available at 11:00 a.m. each Sunday 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.
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Carols and Jammies
11:00 a.m.
Sanctuary
With the season of Christmas in full swing, it’s time to celebrate! This service will be chock-full of Christmas carols. Children (and children-at-heart) are invited to wear their pajamas to church. There will be no 9:00 a.m. service or children's or youth Sunday School that morning.
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Christmas Eve Breakfast for the Homeless
Friday, December 24, 7:00-8:30 a.m.
Church Parking Lot
Our guests enjoy coffee and Christmas music beginning at 7:00 a.m., breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. Many in our congregation have made this volunteer opportunity a significant part of their Christmas season. Spaces fill fast, so sign up now. For additional information, please contact Randy Teich at rteich@austin.rr.com or Pastor Cathy Stone at cathy@fumcaustin.org or 512-478-5684 (ext. 215).
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Feed My People Fourth Tuesday Breakfast
Tuesday, December 28, 5:15-7:00 a.m.
FLC Great Hall
We need more volunteers! Come help serve breakfast to our neighbors experiencing homelessness. Preparing, cooking, and setting up begins at 5:15 a.m.; serving begins by 6:00 a.m.; and clean-up is finished by 7:00 a.m. Find more details and the required volunteer signup at foundationhomeless.org/volunteer-fmp.
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Assemble Manna Bags at Home
We continue to collect assembled bags for our hungry neighbors experiencing homelessness. Manna bags include: bottle of water, Nutri Grain fruit bar, peanut butter or cheese cracker sandwiches, juice box, raisins, tuna or chicken lunch kit, socks, and an encouraging message such as “God loves you.” Completed bags may be dropped off at the Family Life Center. Email Pastor Cathy Stone at cathy@fumcaustin.org with questions and to coordinate drop-off.
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Cold Weather Shelter
During the winter months, we provide shelter for women on Tuesday nights when the predicted overnight low is expected to be 35 degrees and wet or 32 degrees and dry. We have shifts to welcome and greet guests, provide/serve dinner, and act as overnight hosts. Sign up online or contact Pastor Cathy Stone with questions at cathy@fumcaustin.org.
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Church Office Closure and End-of-Year Giving
The church office will be closed Monday, December 27, through Monday, January 3, for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. We will reopen on Tuesday, January 4, at
9:00 a.m. Our pastors are on call at 512-478-5684, press 213, and leave a message for a return call.
We will have a staff member in the office from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 31 to accept in-person end of year gifts. IRS regulations require all contributions received by mail for 2021 to be postmarked no later than December 31, 2021.
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2022 Pledge Commitment
First Church thanks you for your commitment to live generous lives. Your pledges and contributions are a critical part of how we make a difference in our church, our community, and our world in 2022.
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Magi-cal Mystery Tour
January 9, 2022, 10:00-10:45 a.m.
Church Parking Lot
Start your new year with joy by celebrating Christ’s light in the world with your church family. Join us on a “Magi-cal” Mystery Tour as we participate in a scavenger hunt around campus in search of the Magi! Start in the church parking lot to receive your clues to finding them and maybe a camel or two on the way. Think you are up for the quest!? Families, individuals, children, and adults all are welcome! Children and youth will not have regular Sunday School class that day. Sign up to bring muffins online.
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Engage Spring Kickoff & Parent Meeting
January 9, 2022, 4:30-7:00 p.m.
FLC Garrison Chapel and Great Hall
Youth and their adults are invited to our Engage Spring Kickoff! We'll play games and take a look at the spring and summer ahead for the youth program.
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FEAST: TOAST Happy Hour
Sunday, January 9, 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Join us to check in, share, and connect with Dr. Brad King and young adults ages 20-45! Bring a story. Bring a friend. Reach out to Dr. Brad King to get added to the FEAST mailing list at brad@fumcaustin.org or to register.
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Caregiver Support Group
Wednesday, January 12, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Zoom
Caring for a loved one in their season of need is a sacred trust and holy work. At the same time, it can be isolating and exhausting—no matter how much we love the recipient! Often, caregivers need a brief time away to renew their spirits, to just be themselves, and to connect with others in similar circumstances to receive support and encouragement. Pastor Cathy Stone and member Judy Breckbill are the hosts for this time that is open to those currently caring for a loved one or recently in this role, whether in-home or miles apart. Email Judy Breckbill at judybreckbill25@gmail.com with questions or for the Zoom link.
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Kids' Night Out
Friday, January 14, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
EDU 102-108 and Wesley Hall
Pizza, fun with peers, and a movie = fun for kids ages infants through 4th grade and time off for the grown ups! Supervision by our paid childcare and children’s ministry staff. Suggested donation is $10 per child to help offset food and staff costs. Contact children@fumcaustin.org to receive notifications of dates and how you can register for any of our events.
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Connect for Tweens
Friday, January 14, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Family Life Center
All 5th, 6th, and 7th graders are invited to Connect, a program just for Tweens! We cook dinner together, play games, and talk about pre-teen life. Connect bridges First UMC’s children and youth ministries through building relationships, serving, and helping youth connect with one another and with God during the transitional pre-teen years. Contact Youth Director Devon Bailey at devon@fumcaustin.org for more information.
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Deep Dive Into Scripture
Sunday, January 16, 12:15-1:00 p.m.
Sanctuary
Join us for our monthly churchwide Bible study! Every third Sunday of the month, Pastor Brad King (or a special guest) will lead a discussion of one or more passages read in church that month. If you are interested, stay in your pew after the 11:00 a.m. service or come back and join us.
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The Hate U Give Movie and Discussion
Sunday, January 16, 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Sanctuary
Our Mercy & Justice Team and youth invite you to watch and discuss the movie The Hate You Give. In this film, Starr Carter is constantly switching between two worlds -- the poor, mostly black neighborhood where she lives and the wealthy, mostly white prep school that she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is soon shattered when she witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer. Facing pressure from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and decide to stand up for what's right. Childcare is available with reservation by emailing childcare@fumcaustin.org. For more information, please email Pastor Cathy at cathy@fumcaustin.org.
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How to Fight Racism Book or Video Study
How do we effectively confront racial injustice? We need to move beyond talking about racism and start equipping ourselves to fight against it. How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice provides groups and individuals with practical tools and suggestions, actionable items, and real-world examples of change, to enable them to confront racism in relationships and in everyday life. There is hope for transforming our nation and the world, and you can be part of the solution.
Book Study:
Tuesdays, January 18-February 15, 6:30-7:00 p.m.
Zoom
In this follow-up to the New York Times Bestseller The Color of Compromise, Jemar Tisby offers an array of actionable items to confront racism. How to Fight Racism introduces a simple framework that teaches readers to consistently interrogate their own actions and maintain a consistent posture of anti-racist behavior. Zoom invitation will be sent with registration. Contact Pastor Cathy at cathy@fumcaustin.org for additional information. We encourage you to purchase the book locally at Black Pearl Books or Book People. Register for book study.
Video Series:
Sundays, January 23-February 20, 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Zoom
How to Fight Racism Video Study is a how-to guide for pursuing racial justice. It is long past time to move beyond mere discussions about racism, and equip people with practical tools and suggestions to actually do something about it. Zoom invitation will be sent with registration. Contact Pastor Cathy at cathy@fumcaustin.org for additional information. No preparation or homework between sessions, just show up ready to engage in anti-racist action. Register for video series.
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High School Retreat
February 18-20, 2022
Mo-Ranch
All High School aged youth are invited to a weekend away in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. We'll play games, swim, kayak, eat s'mores, and have some quality fellowship. Registration is open now and spaces are limited. Cost $150 and includes food when we arrive, lodging, transportation, activities and an exclusive shirt for the weekend. Registration closes February 1, 2022.
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This summer and fall, the stone that so beautifully adorns our buildings developed unsafe cracks, and a few pieces even fell to the ground. While we are thankful that no one was injured, we had to quickly deploy professionals to remove any loose pieces in order to ensure the safety of everyone in and around our facilities.
Efforts are underway to determine the extent of repairs needed throughout our facilities, with a full report due in the spring. In the meantime, we expect to spend nearly three times our annual facilities maintenance budget this year just to ensure safety. While we are able to absorb some of this expense in other areas of the budget, we anticipate that our overall expenses will surpass revenue this year by $150,000. Our hope is to offset this loss as much as possible through this year’s Christmas Offering.
Our buildings are essential to the life-changing work we do together. The church is not a building; and yet, the church’s buildings create spaces where transformation happens. Let’s take care of this place, so it can continue to be a tool for God’s work in this world.
Gifts can be made by check or online, designated “Christmas Offering.”
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Submit a prayer request online.
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Within Our Congregation
Mack Adams, Sandy Bowles, Shirley Derryberry, Sam Miller, Sallie Novinger, Andrew Pyle, Dick Raycraft, and Dan Wood.
Beyond Our Congregation
Curt Ashmos’ friend, Elissa Marek; Robbie Ausley’s brother, Glen Holt; Grady Basler’s sister, Tonya Basler Stout; Cheryl Bias’ niece, Lauren Stafford; Kathy Billiot’s brother, Bob Graff; Betty Bird’s friend, Jack Hays; Kim Bowen’s friend, John Willis Fay Brown’s sister, Jo Rene Altenburg; Davis Covin’s father, Ben Covin; Ryan Edwards’ father, Mark Edwards, and mother, Marilyn Edwards; George Gaston’s friend, Dr. Robert Wootton; Sandra Green’s friend, Carolyn Liner; Melanie Greene’s friend, Annie Dragoo; Marcia Houston’s mother, Johnnie; Sue Kane’s friend, Ed Littlefield; Judy Kostura’s friend, Lisa Mellors; Judy Kostura’s friend, Dale Felton; Terri Purdy’s friends, the Ledford family; Andrew Pyle’s father, James Pyle; Cindy Reidland’s friends, Carly and Colton Wimberly; Donna Shand’s friend, Michael Morrisette; Lee Sloan’s friend, Gayle Bell; and Alan Stephens’ mother-in-law, Betty McBride.
Condolences to the family of River Folan on her passing.
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Contact Us
First United Methodist Church
1201 Lavaca St. Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-5684
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