FEAST Karaoke Night

Saturday, May 18

6:30PM | 8440 Burnet Road

Join us for an extra-loud, extra-fun FEAST karaoke event in a private room at Common Interest Karaoke Bar. Bring a friend, grab a drink, sing a song! Contact Pastor Brad King for details. Let’s FEAST!

General Conference Wrap Up

Sunday, May 19 | 10:00-10:45AM

Sanctuary

Pastor Taylor Fuerst and Rachel Wright will host a brief opportunity to learn more about the work of the postponed 2020 General Conference, which they attended as delegates from the Rio Texas Conference. Get more information about the decisions to remove the harmful language toward the LGBTQ+ community, to regionalize the worldwide church, to adopt new Social Principles, and more. Contact Rachel Wright for more information.

Pentecost Picnic

Sunday, May 19

12:15PM | Church Parking Lot

Save the date for the return of the Pentecost Picnic! We are celebrating the birthday of the Christian church with a backyard bash. Enjoy good food—including vegetarian and gluten free options—and good friends at this casual community meal following the conclusion of our 11:00AM worship service. The cost is $5 per person. Contact Jen Seibel with questions.

Special Engage: Senior Roast

Sunday, May 19

4:30-7:00PM | Family Life Center

It’s time for Engage, our weekly Sunday evening gathering for middle and high school students, to celebrate our graduating seniors. We are hosting a Senior Roast, where we will share stories and watch a slideshow just for them. Please plan to bring a dessert, side dish, soft drinks, or a small donation to help cover the cost of dinner. This will be our last Engage of this school year, so you won’t want to miss it.

Registration Deadline for Vacation Bible School and Fit N' Fun Camp

Sunday, May 19 | 8:00PM

As we make our final preparations for Vacation Bible School (VBS) 2024: Camp Firelight and the Fit N’ Fun Camp to follow, we want to make sure that we are ready to welcome every camper.

FEAST Special Event

Sunday, May 26

6:30-8:30PM

FLC Garrison Chapel

This will be Pastor Brad’s last time to lead a dinner event for FEAST, our community for young adults and young professionals, before his move to Cross Tracks Church, so you can expect a gathering that is more focused on fellowship and celebration than our usual Biblical conversations. Contact Pastor Brad King for details.

Administrative Board Meeting

Sunday, June 2 | 12:15-2:00PM

FLC Great Hall

Join us for the June Administrative Board meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in discussion, though only Administrative Board members have voting rights. Register for this meeting and optional light lunch. Childcare will be provided in EDU Room 104. Contact Rachel Wright with questions.

Decoration Day for Vacation Bible School (VBS)

Sunday, June 2 | 12:15-2:00PM

Sanctuary

Help transform our Sanctuary and classroom spaces into this year’s Vacation Bible School: Camp Firelight. A pizza lunch will be provided. Contact Jen Seibel with questions.

Scavenger Hunt for Austin Area UMC Youth

Sunday, June 2 | 4:00-7:30PM

201 East Mary Street

We are cluing you in to a special scavenger hunt for Austin Area UMC youth. Church teams will run up and down South Congress, competing as they follow clues, complete tasks, and try to win the most points. The church with the most points will be crowned champion and take home a trophy (Yes...A REAL TROPHY!) We will meet at 4:00PM in the Lively Middle School parking lot to compete in the Scavenger Hunt before we finish the evening with a pizza snack and award ceremony in Garrison Chapel. Pick up at the Family Life Center at 7:30PM. The cost is $5/participant. Invite a friend and sign up today. Contact Devon Bailey if you have any questions or want to volunteer to be one of the Safe Gatherings certified adult team members for this fun event.

Commissioning of Dr. Becca Edwards and Dr. Brad King

Friday, June 7 | 6:30PM | American Bank Center | Corpus Christi, Texas

We are celebrating two of our own at this year’s Rio Texas Conference Service of Commissioning and Ordination where Dr. Becca Edwards will be commissioned as a provisional deacon and Dr. Brad King will be commissioned as a provisional elder. Commissioning is the last major step on their path to becoming ordained clergy in the United Methodist Church. You are invited to travel to Corpus Christi to offer support at this milestone moment in their ministries.

FUMC will also host a breakfast celebration for Becca and Brad on Saturday, June 8, at 7:45AM at the Switchgrass Landing Restaurant in the Omni Hotel and all who are in Corpus Christi that morning are welcome to attend. Please RSVP by Sunday, June 2, so that we can confirm our reservation at the restaurant. If you are unable to attend in person, you can also livestream the worship service at riotx.org. Please congratulate Becca and Brad the next time you see them!

Sunday Funday Family Meet Up

Sunday, June 9 | 10:00AM | Capitol Lawn

All kids (infants - 5th grade) and their grown ups are invited for games for all ages, coffee, juice, and donuts. Come for the coffee and stay for this casual opportunity to meet up with others who are also in the middle of the joys and challenges of raising young children hosted by the Children’s Ministries Team. We will meet on the West side of the Capitol across Colorado Street from the church. Sunday Funday will be our faith formation opportunity for children on this Sunday. While there will be no regular Sunday School, childcare will be available in the nursery (EDU 102) for those infants and preschoolers who are not ready for all the fun and games on the Capitol Lawn.

FUMC LGBTQ+ Community Lunch

Sunday, June 9 | 12:15PM

Nearby Restaurant TBD

First Church is hosting a June LGBTQ+ community lunch on Sunday, June 9, after the 11:00AM worship service ends. Enjoy this opportunity to get to know one another in a casual setting. We will also take some time for conversation and planning about other upcoming events, including First Church's participation in the August Pride Parade and Festival. Please RSVP by Friday, June 7, so that we have an accurate count for the restaurant. Location TBD. If you are unable to attend this event, but want to be included in future gatherings, contact Rose Martinelli.

Farewell Reception for Pastor Brad King

Sunday, June 16 | 12:15PM

FLC Great Hall

You are invited to help First Church send Pastor Brad King to his new appointment at Cross Tracks Church, a United Methodist congregation in Liberty Hill, with all of our love and good wishes. His last Sunday here will be Sunday, June 16, and he will be preaching at both worship services. A reception will follow our 11:00AM service. We will be collecting cards for Pastor Brad and, between now and his departure, we are also taking a Love Offering for him. Make a gift, marked “Love Offering,” by placing it in the offering basket, mailing it to or bringing it by the church office, or making it online by using the button below.

Wanted: Summer Sunday School Helpers

Our faith community is blessed and strengthened by the presence of many children. Our Children’s Ministry Team invites you to get to know FUMC’s youngest disciples better this summer and give our regular teachers a time of rest and renewal by serving with Children’s Sunday School. Help us reach our goal of offering two classrooms for our elementary school kids throughout the summer by signing up to help on one or more Sundays in June or July. All volunteers must be Safe Gatherings certified. Contact Jen Seibel for more information about serving or about Safe Gatherings.

Sign Up for Altar Flowers

Honor someone you love and appreciate, remember a departed loved one, or celebrate special days or events in your life or the life of the church. The cost is $65. The available dates for the next several months are: June 30; July 7 and 21; August 25; September 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29; and October 6, 20, and 27. Contact Tami Kellberg at tami@fumcaustin.org or 512-478-5684 (ext. 226) to sign up.

We fervently believe that God can use anyone to transform the world. That is why our youth practice mercy and justice through our middle and high school service trips. This summer, more than 60 young people and adults will travel to Ft. Worth, Texas, and Eastern Kentucky with our partners at Be the Neighbor (BTN) and Appalachian Service Project (ASP). Our partnership with ASP has spanned more than 4 decades and shaped generations of disciples at First Church.

In May, you are invited to be a part of this year’s summer service teams without even leaving home by making a gift to our May Mission Emphasis or by buying “stock” in the trip directly from our young people. You will find our summer service volunteers out on the sidewalk after worship services helping to fundraise our goal of $30,000.

You can help us achieve this goal by purchasing “stock” in person or by making a direct donation to the Youth Missions Fund. Buying “stock” is a direct investment in the faith formation and growth of our youth as they grow in their love of God by learning how to share God’s love with vulnerable neighbors. You may also make a gift to support our young people by placing it in the offering basket, mailing it to or bringing it by the church office, or making it online at fumcaustin.org/give and selecting “Youth Missions” from the drop-down menu.

This summer, we look forward to participating with you in directly impacting the communities we will serve and the relationships we will build along the way!