Mercy & Justice Movie Discussion: Rustin

Sunday, January 14

4:30-7:00PM | FLC Garrison Chapel

Because of expected freezing weather, we have made changes to our MLK Day Weekend activities. Please see below for up specific updates.

EVENT RESCHEDULED

Mercy & Justice Movie Discussion: Rustin

Now Sunday, February 18

4:30-7:00PM | FLC Garrison Chapel

We have rescheduled this special screening of Rustin, a 2023 biopic, that tells the story of Bayard Rustin, the key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, an event that is considered one of the high points of the Civil Rights movement. A committed and charismatic leader, Rustin faced homophobia and his role in the March on Washington has long been sidelined. Rediscover this hidden hero of the Civil Rights movement in community as we screen the PG-13-rated movie together and host a discussion following the film. Pizza and snacks provided. Join us for this important conversation during Black History Month. For more information, email Pastor Cathy Stone.

CANCELLED AND RESCHEDULED

MLK Day Community March

The MLK Day March has been cancelled by organizers due to expected inclement weather. The Community Festival and Celebration at Huston-Tillotson University has been rescheduled for Saturday, January 27, from 11:00AM-3:30PM. For more information, visit www.mlkcelebration.com.

Stories from the Civil Rights Pilgrimage

Sunday, January 14

10:00AM | Sanctuary

Praying your way through a cotton warehouse where enslaved Black people were forced to labor in bondage, walking in the footsteps of John Lewis across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, bearing witness to the Black lives lost to lynching and other forms of racial terror...these are just a few of the experiences of those on the 2023 Civil Rights Pilgrimage. Leaning into this faith community’s values of justice and active learning, last fall these pilgrims made stops in Selma, Montgomery, and Birmingham, Alabama, and Jackson, Mississippi. Come hear their stories and learn why this experience is more than a trip; it is a pilgrimage of personal and spiritual growth as one encounters God in the pain and resilience of our collective past and present. Pastor Cathy Stone will also have information about the 2024 Civil Rights Pilgrimage.

Cheers: LBJ Library Guided Tour

Tuesday, January 16 | 1:30PM

2313 Red River | Cost: $4.50

Cheers!, a community of newly and nearly retired friends, continues to tour important Austin sites in 2024. Join us in January for a guided tour of the LBJ Presidential Library on the University of Texas campus. For those who were able to participate in our tour of the Austin City Library, you will recognize our wonderful guide, Suzanne, who will be leading us through the LBJ Library. Pay a reduced entry fee of $4.50 at the library. RSVP using the button below.

Book Study: Our Hearts Were Strangely Lukewarm

Tuesdays, January 16, 23, and 30 and February 6 | 6:30-8:00PM | Zoom

We are taking an unusual journey through Methodist history in January and February, with Rev. John Elford’s new book, Our Hearts Were Strangely Lukewarm: The American Methodist Church and the Struggle with White Supremacy, as our guide. Each week, Pastor Cathy will lead discussion as the book invites us to discover how the White American Methodist Church became deeply entangled with White supremacy. Zoom link sent with registration. Rev. Elford, who recently retired from University UMC in Austin after serving several churches in the Southwest Texas and Rio Texas Annual Conferences, will also be with us to discuss his book on Sunday, February 4, at 10:00AM.

Deep Dive: The Epistle to the Galatians

Wednesdays, January 17, 24, 31 and February 7 | 6:00-7:15PM | Zoom

Deep Dive, a chance to delve into a particular scripture passage in short-term study, returns in the new year with an exploration of Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. This letter to the early church is a shorter piece focused on what the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection means for gentiles living far beyond the communities and faith traditions of the people to whom Jesus directly ministered. Dig into the text with Pastor Brad King, explore some of the deepest history of our faith, and wrestle in community with the unanswerable questions that scripture invites us not to solve, but to consider. Zoom link sent with registration.

UWF Joy Circle Book Discussion: Nevertheless

Thursdays, January 18 and February 15 | 10:00AM | Member Home and Zoom

The faith of Methodist women has always emboldened them to reach beyond their social confines to find political avenues for social justice advocacy. All interested women are invited to join the Joy Circle of United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women) for a two-part discussion of Nevertheless: American Methodists and Women’s Rights by Ashley Boggan Dreff. Learn how Methodist women have turned their faith into courage for action, and—from the Temperance movement to the #Metoo movement— have addressed the causes of oppression head on by stepping out of their places in society to make a place for others. For more information about how to join either in person or via Zoom, email Elizabeth Lerner or call her at 512-589-6305.

Connect for Tweens

Friday, January 19 | 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.

REGISTER BY SATURDAY!

Wonderfully Made: Preteen Human Sexuality Workshop

Event: February 2-3, 2024

Registration Deadline: January 20

Cost: $70/child

This highly regarded weekend workshop returns and uses Wonderfully Made, a curriculum designed to offer you and your young person opportunities to learn, grow, and celebrate the fact that we have each been wonderfully created by God, and are loved now and always, even as bodies grow and change. The expertly facilitated sessions cover physical development, sexual anatomy, and other age-appropriate aspects of puberty, while helping preteens (ages 10-12) learn to listen for God’s loving influence in their lives. The weekend includes two sessions, one on Friday evening and a full day on Saturday, with a parent meeting each day. All preteens must be able to attend each full session both days and at least one parent is required to attend both parent sessions. Full details about session times are available with registration at fumcaustin.org/wonderfully-made. The cost is $70, which includes meals and the participant workbook. Friends are welcome, so invite classmates or neighbors. Spaces are limited, so sign up today.

Vacation Bible School Listening Session

Sunday, January 21

10:00AM | EDU Murchison Chapel

Parents, grandparents, Sunday School teachers, volunteers, and people who

want First Church to remain a place where children flourish spiritually in community, you are invited to one of three opportunities to dream about Vacation Bible School (VBS) in 2025. This is a chance to step back and talk about purpose, consider what works (and what does not) for young families today, share ideas, consider possibilities, and dream! This is an opportunity to share your thoughts with the Children’s ministries team as we imagine the VBS of our future together. For more information, contact Jen Seibel, Assistant Director of Children’s Ministries.

3rd Grade Bible Basics

Sunday, January 21

12:15PM | SAN Wesley Hall

3rd graders and their grown up(s) are invited to eat, play, learn, and have fun as we adventure through the Bibles they received in the fall, as we dig deeper and learn more about how to use this powerful tool in our daily lives. If you are new to FUMC and/or your 3rd grader did not receive a Bible, email Jen Seibel, Assistant Director of Children’s Ministries.

For Their Flourishing: A Conversation on Youth Health & Development

Sunday, January 21 | 4:30-7:00PM

FLC Garrison Chapel

Adults who care for tweens and teens are invited to a conversation about mental health and steps we can take to ensure the well-being of our youth. This is work FUMC prioritizes with regular opportunities to learn and grow each semester so that adults can best support the young people in your life. Whether you have participated in the past or are making time to learn in community for the first time, are new to parenting a tween or teen or are an old pro, all parents and guardians are invited to participate in the first conversation about the flourishing of our youth in 2024. We will meet during Engage, our regular Sunday evening gathering for youth, and will end our evening with an intergenerational group activity.

Feed My People Fourth Tuesday Breakfast

Tuesday, January 23 | 5:15-7:15AM Family Life Center

Start your day with service to our unhoused neighbors! Once a month, we not only provide this program with a facility home, but we also sponsor the cost of the meal and provide the volunteers who make and serve it. You can prepare and cook this breakfast beginning at 5:15AM. Clean-up is finished by 7:15AM. We need more volunteers, so sign up below.

Leadership Kickoff and Administrative Board Meeting

Sunday, January 28 | 12:15-3:00PM

Family Life Center

All leaders are asked to kick off a new year of FUMC ministries! We will share lunch, learn and grow together as church leaders, and divide into ministry teams to plan and set goals for the coming year. This meeting also includes an Administrative Board meeting for approval of our 2024 budget and clergy compensation. Childcare is available. RSVP below to reserve your lunch. Contact Amy Wink with questions.

United Women in Faith Annual Legislative Event:

A New and Serious Response

Sunday-Tuesday, January 28-30

United Women in Faith invite women of faith across Texas to the 37th Annual Texas Legislative Event! All who are committed to justice, freedom, and opportunity for all people are invited to participate in this three-day event focused on learning, advocacy, and action. Presented in partnership with Texas Impact, the event includes two days of inspiration, speakers, and workshops where you can connect with others like you 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 using the button below.

FEAST: The Bible and History

Sunday, January 28 | 6:30-8:30PM

FLC Garrison Chapel

The Bible includes plenty of “bad” history—for example, Earth is much more than 6000 years old— but that is not because its authors did not know or did not care about what happened. Sometimes, they didn’t have great sources; other times, they weren’t interested in a strict timeline. And, of course, sometimes they just got it wrong. Join us on Sunday, January 28, for food, fellowship, and to grapple with these important questions. Dinner is provided for those who register by Saturday, January 27. Doors open at 6:30PM and the conversation starts at 7:00PM.

Baptism Preparation Class

Sunday, February 4 | 12:15-2:00PM

SAN Library

Are you thinking about having your child baptized? Pastor Taylor Fuerst and Lara Greene, Director of Children’s Ministries, host this class for parents to discuss our beliefs about Baptism, logistical information about scheduling and service preparation, and ways to help your child live the Baptized life. This class is required for those preparing for Baptism, and is only offered twice each year. Lunch is provided and childcare is available upon request when you register at fumcaustin.org/baptism or by using the button below.

High School Retreat at Mo Ranch

February 16-18, 2024 | Cost: $200

2229 FM 1340 | Hunt, Texas

Registration deadline: February 11

Get fired up! 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 $200 per person. Sign up now, and don’t be afraid to rope your friends into the fun, too!

Our January mission emphasis is the Immigration Care Team (ICT), a ministry offering active support and provision to asylum seekers and other immigrants.

ICT began in 2020 when we sponsored an asylum seeker from a Central African country who was being held in a detention center at the Texas Border. Our ongoing care has ensured her a safe space to live, food and other necessities, access to legal representation, and English instruction. After more than three years in Austin, this woman received her work permit and is now employed at a restaurant. She recently moved to another state to live with a family member and is able to contribute to her rent and other expenses.

Together, we have walked with her as she learned a new language, adjusted to a new country, and became more independent and self-sufficient. In this new year, we are grateful to continue walking beside her, providing a monthly subsidy to help cover the cost of her rent, utilities, and food as she continues to build a life for herself. What a joy it has been to be a part of her journey!

Contributions to the Immigration Care Team help us offer this support any legal costs that arise for our asylum seeker, while also providing occasional funds to meet the emergent needs of other immigrants and asylum seekers. Your gifts marked “Immigration Care Team” may be placed in the offering basket during worship, mailed to or brought by the church office, or made online using the button below. Please select “Immigration Care Team” from the drop-down menu.