Welcome Cameron Jane Jargo, the newest member of our church family. Cameron, daughter of Travis and Amy Jargo, was baptized into Christian discipleship on Sunday, May 28.

Support Appalachia Service Project Team and Help Send 40 to Serve This Summer

This community of faith has a time-honored tradition of sending high school youth and their adult sponsors to the mountains of Appalachia to make homes in the region warmer, safer, and drier. These team-building trips are more than a chance to help vulnerable neighbors. Young people also learn about systemic injustice and begin building the habit of practicing mercy and justice in their lives. This year's Appalachia Service Project (ASP) team—26 youth and 14 adults—heads to Breathitt County, Kentucky, which was greatly impacted by massive flooding last summer, on Friday, June 16. Equipping our team for their service requires much time, planning, and the financial support of this community. Please be in prayer for them as they make their final preparations, and for the families they will go to serve. Also, prayerfully consider making a financial contribution using the button below. 

TOAST Happy Hour

Sunday, June 11

4:30PM

Scholz Garten | 1607 San Jacinto Blvd

Young adults and young professionals (mid-20s to mid-40s) are welcome. At most of our events, we dig into the complex and/or difficult aspects of our lives and faith, but sometimes we just need to relax, enjoy one another's company, and TOAST all we have to celebrate!

Connect With Your Church As You Go With God This Summer

(As longer days and slower schedules lead you to new adventures in Austin or around the world, stay connected to this faith community. Even as you Go With God to the mountains or the beach, to visit old friends or make new ones, send your First Church family a postcard and share things like:

• What prayers you have for a place or person you visit;
• Where you have seen God or struggled to see God;
• How your new surroundings have surprised or delighted you;
• When you have experienced God's peace.

You can mail postcard to the church from your destination or share your mail on Sunday mornings by placing a postcard in the mailbox that will be available in the foyer this summer. Want a way to participate digitally? Share your photos and messages on your social media and use the hashtag #gofirstchurch when you post.

Need a postcard? We will also have those available in the Sanctuary foyer, and will shared messages and connections there throughout the summer. For more information, contact Rachel Wright.

Children's Summer Sunday School: Journey Together

Sundays in June

10:00-10:45AM

EDU Cabins 108 and 109

This summer, young explorers (children who have completed Kindergarten through 5th grades) can expect excitement and adventure each week as we journey together in Sunday School. Sure, the trail may sometimes get challenging and we might not always be sure where we are going. But, we will find our way together by listening, learning, exploring, and growing as followers of Jesus. A new adventure awaits our explorers every Sunday, so join the journey when you can!

Coffee Talk is Back!

Sundays in June

10:00-10:45AM

LOCATION CHANGE: PARLOR

Coffee Talk is back for the summer! Each week, this casual time of fellowship and conversation will be hosted by members of one of our adult Sunday School classes. Join us for coffee and community as we meet friends and make new connections. Come whenever you are in town consider what it means to Go With God through our summer adventures and our everyday life!

First Fruits Offering

Sunday, June 18

9:00AM and 11:00AM

Sanctuary

On June 18, we will have a First Fruits Offering. The Hebrew word for first fruit is bikkurim—literally translated to “promise to come.” The Israelites saw these first fruits as an investment into their future. Like our spiritual ancestors, this is a time to show our faith in the future by making the first gift of your campaign commitment or by making a commitment if you have yet to do so. It is an exciting time to look forward with hope at the way God continues to offer grace for generations through our ministry here!

Over the Rainbow: A Conversation About Pride

Sunday, June 18

10:00AM | EDU Murchison Chapel

Why does participating in Pride matter? Join Pastor Brad King and members of our Pride Team to learn more about how our deep commitment to full inclusion is lived out in our public witness. We will share a recap of legislative updates from this spring, discuss the good and bad bills affecting the lives of LGBTQ+ siblings and families, learn more about being good allies, and explore the next steps we can take as a faith community to live out our commitment to inclusion. Bring your curiosity, compassion, and energy as we learn and prepare to show up for the Pride festival and parade on Saturday, August 12, as a witness that God’s love is all inclusive.

Mobile Loaves & Fishes for First Timers

Sunday, June 18

4:00PM and 5:00PM

MLF Kitchen

Feed people who experience homelessness daily on the streets of Austin. We are offering a monthly opportunity, primarily for first-time individuals or families, to serve with Mobile Loaves & Fishes. We will have 1-2 veteran volunteers for each run who will be there to lead the way! Volunteers can serve on the make-ready team from 4:00-5:00PM, the truck team from 5:00-7:00PM, or both!

Popsicles at Pease Park Splash Pad

CORRECTED DATE/TIME:

Sunday, June 25

3:00-5:00PM | 1100 Kingsbury Street

Splish-splash. Summer is a great time to cool off and treat yourself to time with other FUMC families with little ones at this casual, come-and-go gathering. Light refreshments will be provided by our Children’s Ministry Team. For more information, contact children@fumcaustin.org.

FEAST Dinner Event: What Power Does Prayer Have?

Sunday, June 25

7:30-9:00PM | FLC Garrison Chapel

As Christians, we learn that prayer is one of the best ways for us to connect with God, which makes it painful and confusing when our prayers seem to go unanswered. For some, this experience leads to a new, perhaps deeper relationship with God. For others, it is the first step away from faith and a life in the church. This month we ask, “What power does prayer have?” Dinner is provided for those who register by Saturday, June 24.

Family Service Day at Community First! Village

Wednesday, June 28

7:45-11:30AM | 9301 Hog Eye Road

Help your child experience and share God’s love. This service day is designed for you to stay and serve side-by-side with your young person(s), sharing your time and values by living them together. FUMC is a proud ministry partner with Community First! Village, the 51-acre master-planned community that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for those who have been chronically homeless in Central Texas. This workday is outdoors, so bring a water bottle and a pair of gardening gloves. Pre-registration and waivers are required for all participants. Community First! Village also suggests a $10 donation per person to support their ministry. A link to the waiver and logistical details will be sent after registration.

Women's Spirituality Book Study Group

Beginning Monday, June 26

6:30-8:00PM | Zoom

Women who wish to deepen their spirituality and faith through book study are invited to join the Women’s Spiritual Book Study as they begin a new book, Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott. This ongoing group, led by members Cheryl Bias and Kristin Robertson, meets weekly on Zoom to pray, contemplate, share readings, and discuss the work of women authors. For the Zoom link and/or more information, email Kristin Robertson.

Curtis Higgs' Prodigals Study Group

Beginning Monday, June 26

6:30-8:00PM | Zoom

Men of all ages who enjoy studying and discussing scripture and Christian faith are invited to join this group for our next book study of When All You’ve Ever Wanted Isn’t Enough: The Search for a Life That Matters by Rabbi Harold Kushner. In his deeply inspiring bestseller, Rabbi Kushner shows readers how to live as human beings are meant to, guiding us to a heightened sense of joy, purpose, and meaning, and helps us to redirect our energies toward goals that will bring us lasting happiness and true fulfillment. For the Zoom link and/or more information, contact Randy Teich.

Deep Dive: The Book of Acts

Wednesdays, June 28-July 19

CORRECTED TIME: 6:00-7:15PM

Zoom

As we “Go with God” this summer, you are also invited to go with Dr. Brad King on a journey through the New Testament book of Acts. Deep Dive is more than just a bible study, it is a chance to dig into the text, to explore some of the deepest history of our faith, and to wrestle with the problems that scripture provokes and the unanswerable questions that scripture invites us, not to solve, but to consider. Zoom link sent with registration.

Pride Everyday!

The anti-LGBTQ legislation filed this legislative session cast a long shadow on the state of Texas. But joy is powerful! Joy is a beacon against darkness! We are celebrating Pride this June as we look with joy and anticipation to the Pride Festival and Parade on Saturday, August 12. 

We are joining other Austin area UMCs to offer hospitality and connection at the Festival. Then we will join the celebration in the streets of Austin as a witness that God’s love is all inclusive. Our goal is to raise $1,500 to cover the costs of our participation in the Pride Festival and Parade. Funds raised beyond this amount will go to the Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT), an organization dedicated to furthering gender-diverse equality in Texas through education and networking in both public and private forums. TENT strives to halt discrimination through social, legislative, and corporate education.

Gifts, marked “PRIDE,” may be placed in the offering basket, mailed to or brought by the church office, or made online during the month of June. To donate online, select “Other Designated” from the drop-down menu and indicate “PRIDE” in the memo section.