Preaching: Rev. Taylor Fuerst
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:8-12
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This week, we will offer our gifts and ourselves to God, making our financial commitments for 2024 as an act of worship. Visit our More Than Enough landing page to more about God's invitation to step away from a world driven by scarcity and into the promise that we have more than enough for the life God is calling us to live. There you will also be able to make your financial commitment online if you are not able to join us for worship on Sunday. | | |
Join us in the Sanctuary for worship this Sunday at 9:00AM and 11:00AM or participate in 11:00AM worship online via livestream by visiting Youtube Channel or Facebook or listen to the podcast on our Worship Archive. | | |
Mercy & Justice 5th Sunday Presentation: Homelessness in Austin
Sunday, October 29
10:00AM | SAN Wesley Hall
Our Mercy & Justice Team invites you to come learn more about homelessness in Austin. Our presenter will be Laura Torres, a clinical case manager serving with HOST (Homeless Outreach Street Team) and the Downtown Austin Community Court. Come to both learn and be inspired by her experience and compassion for our unhoused neighbors. For more information, contact Pastor Cathy Stone at cathy@fumcaustin.org.
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CHANGE OF LOCATION BECAUSE OF PREDICTED INCLEMENT WEATHER
Chili Cook-Off Competition and Lunch
Sunday, October 29
12:15-2:00PM | FLC Great Hall
Unleash your inner chef or just bring your appetite and get ready for a sizzling showdown of flavors at our second annual Chili Cook-Off! After the smashing success of last year’s cook-off, we are excited to make this an annual tradition that is spicier than ever. Enjoy eating all you want for $5 per person.
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CHANGE OF LOCATION BECAUSE OF PREDICTED INCLEMENT WEATHER
Trunk-or-Treat
Sunday, October 29
12:15-2:00PM | Family Life Center
Need something sweet to go with all the Chili Cook-Off spice? How about candy? Children of all ages are encouraged to join us for this year’s Trunk-or-Treat! This event will be held in conjunction with the Chili Cook Off. Infants, todders, and children are invited are encouraged to wear their costumes! There is no cost to attend, but families are encouraged to bring new packaged white crew socks and men's boxer briefs as a way of treating our unhoused neighbors in this season.
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Engage for Youth: Pumpkinfest!
Sunday, October 29 | 4:30-7:00PM
What better way to celebrate the changing seasons and to get out any frustrations than to toss pumpkins off the top of a parking garage! Pumpkinfest is a BYOP event—bring your own pumpkins to toss. We hope to have some extras, too. Costumes welcome. Dinner provided, but all youth are invited to bring a side-dish or dessert for this special occasion.
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Caregiver Support Group
Wednesday, November 1
8:00-9:00PM | Zoom
Caring for a loved one in their season of need is a sacred trust and holy work. Maybe you are caring for a spouse, a child, or a friend; it might be temporary or long-term. 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 will host this time that is open to those currently caring for a loved one or who have recently been in this role, whether in home or miles apart. For the Zoom link or questions, email Judy.
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SEE CORRECTION BELOW:
Supper Club with The Other Ones Foundation
Saturday, November 4
4:00-7:00PM
The Esperanza Community
As a part of our observance of Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Month, we are serving with The Other Ones Foundation’s (TOOF) Supper Club to provide a meal for 50-60 of our neighbors at the Esperanza Community. Sign up at fumcaustin.org/toof to cook chili; donate food supplies like fritos, diet coke, or cookies; or volunteer to serve the meal, play games, and offer fellowship as we seek moments of authentic kinship. TOOF offers humanitarian aid, case management, and extremely low-barrier work opportunities to people experiencing homelessness in Austin. TOOF and residents of the Esperanza Community, a sanctioned encampment, are working together to build a transitional shelter community where unhoused individuals can find the stability they need to move on to a safer and more fulfilling life.
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Candy Collection for Mobile Loaves & Fishes
November 5-12
Need a sweet idea for how to deal with all of your extra Halloween candy? Please donate any leftover candy to our Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF) Ministry. Spread joy to those we serve who love when we have candy to share! Collection bins will be in the Sanctuary Foyer and Family Life Center.
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Young Children and Family Play Time
Sunday, November 5
10:00–10:45AM | SAN Wesley Hall
Infants through preschoolers and their grownups are invited to join our childcare staff for a fun time of music and play on Sunday morning! This is a great chance for families to get to know the childcare staff and other families with children of similar ages.
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Kids' Night Out
Friday, November 17
6:00–9:00PM | SAN Wesley Hall
Kids’ Night Out is a great night for grown-ups and kids since everybody gets a break when infants-4th graders join our trained childcare staff for pizza, play time, and a movie. The cost is $45 for the first child and $15 for siblings. Spaces are limited, so sign up today. Contact Jen Seibel with questions or to request a scholarship.
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Connect for Tweens
Friday, November 17
6:00–9:00PM | Family Life Center
All 5th-7th graders are invited to Connect, a time just for tweens! Connect helps kids bridge the transition between child and youth by helping tweens connect with each other and God, while having tons of fun. Together, we will eat dinner, play games, talk pre-teen life, and give kids and parents a Friday night break.
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Music Under the Dome
Sunday, November 5
3:00PM | Sanctuary
In the stillness of the Sanctuary, the FUMC Choir invites you to listen as they sing music celebrating the lives and memories of those who have walked with us; those who have gone ahead; and those who journey with us still. God’s eternal light and promise: you do not walk alone.
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Book Study:
Poverty, By America
4 Tuesdays Beginning November 7
6:30-8:00PM | Zoom
The United States, the richest country on earth, has more poverty than any other advanced democracy. Why? Why does this land of plenty allow one in every eight of its children to go without basic necessities, permit scores of its citizens to live and die on the streets, and authorize its corporations to pay poverty wages? Join Pastor Cathy Stone as we read and discuss Matthew Desmond’s landmark book, Poverty By America. Desmond builds a startlingly original and ambitious case for ending poverty. He calls on us all to become poverty abolitionists, engaged in a politics of collective belonging to usher in a new age of shared prosperity and, at last, true freedom. Zoom link sent with registration.
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Service Project Sunday
Sunday, November 19
10:00–10:45AM | SAN Wesley Hall
Join us for an intergenerational time of service. We will assemble manna bags for our unhoused neighbors, make care notes for the teachers at Pickle Elementary, and more! There will be no Sunday School for children or youth, so we hope families will join us. Manna bags are also available to purchase for $5, so stop by to make one and take one.
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Each fall, the administrative board meets independently and as the Charge Conference to connect in ministry with other United Methodist churches. For more information about these events, contact Amy Wink. | | |
Administrative Board Meeting
Sunday, November 12
12:15PM | FLC Great Hall
Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in this meeting, though only Administrative Board members have voting rights. Register at fumcaustin.org/admin-board. A lunch ( $13.50) is available for those who prepay by noon on Wednesday, November 8. Childcare will be provided in EDU Room 104.
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Annual Charge Conference
Sunday, November 12
4:00PM | Northwest Hills UMC
District Superintendent Marcus Freeman will preside as we join with other churches across the district to celebrate our connection and do the business of the church. Our time together will also include special guest Dr. Melva K. Wallace, President of Huston-Tillotson University. All are welcome to participate.
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In October, we are highlighting two partners working for mercyv& justice for refugees and immigrants in Texas.
La Posada Providencia, located in San Benito, Texas, is an emergency shelter for individuals and families who flee to the United States due to political oppression, natural disaster, and other life-threatening actions in their native countries. La Posada is the only shelter in the lower Rio Grande Valley that offers individual case management to optimize client resettlement outcomes and that can accommodate extended stays for clients when needed.
Austin Region Justice for Our Neighbors (ARJFON) is a nonprofit law office founded by United Methodists in the Capital District, and welcomes refugees and immigrants into our communities by providing free, high-quality immigration legal services, education, and advocacy. ARJFON focuses on providing key services to the most vulnerable immigrants, like asylum seekers and children or teenagers who are working through the immigration system alone and who may qualify for Special
Immigrant Juvenile Status.
We invite you to support ARJFON and La Posada with your prayers and financial giving. Your gifts, marked “October Mission Emphasis,” may be brought to worship, mailed to or brought by the church office, or by using the button below and writing "October" in the memo line.
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Submit a prayer request online.
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Within Our Congregation
Chris Higgs, Scarlett Kelley, Mimi Raper, Cecily Wright.
Condolences
Condolences to the family and friends of Bob Bains on his death.
Condolences to Devon Bailey on the death of his uncle, Don Whaley.
Beyond Our Congregation
Tony Alessi and family, friends of Cindy Gunderson; Jo Rene Altenberg, sister of Fay Brown; Danielle Babin and her granddaughter, Faith Hodsdon, friends of Barbara Morris-Blake; Sue Byrd, family of David Bonner; Kevin Carpenter, friend of Scott Davis; Uri Cohen and family, friends of Ann Venno; Nancy Ellison, friend of Jan Ashmos; Juan Gonzalez, friend of Cathy Stone; Trudy Gove, mother of Madison Gove-Khamooshi; Janet Hamilton, cousin of Howard Hartman; Charlie Lancaster, father of Sarah Lancaster; Pat Larsen, grandmother of Meredith Wooderson; Gloria Lewis, friend of Dianne Render; Nancy Lightenberger, friend of Jane Bowen; J. E. and Bonnie Johnson, friends of Julie Nelson; Molly Lock, sister of Karen Janes; Elissa Marek, friend of Curt Ashmos; Patty McCormick, friend of Jan Ashmos; Jerry McMurtrey, uncle of Curt Ashmos; Mitzi Moore, friend of Jan Ashmos; Natalie and Landon, daughter and grandson of Miren Carranza; David Olson, uncle of Cliff Archey; Vickye Patrick, friend of Jan Ashmos; Robert Rodney, friend of Pat Rives; Yulah Sisler, friend of Molly Drazic; Ken Snider, brother of Maggie Kahn; Lauren Stafford, niece of Cheryl Bias; Tonya Basler Stout, sister of Grady Basler; and Scott Weiss, stepfather of Jackie Mader.
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Contact Us
First United Methodist Church
1201 Lavaca St. Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-5684
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