April 18, 2024

Living The Gospel In An Unjust World

MEETING TIME 10:00AM

Please join us for our UPC discussion class facilitated by Jon Eddison

Thursdays 10:00am-11:00am   ZOOM ONLY.

• Our class discussions include: Climate change (global heating), Christian nationalism, government control of healthcare (reproductive freedom, transgender care, access to care), insurance company control of healthcare, and the gun culture in America. We continue to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Please join us for this class as you are able. 
• Join us as we discuss major issues often avoided in church in this safe and supportive space.
• Class interest guides our choice of topics. (No homework, no required reading, and no tests.)  
• We discuss major issues, and how we as Christians can respond in these challenging times.  
• Living the Gospel is an obligation. It is lifelong learning. 
• We're all entitled to our own opinions, just not to our own facts. 
• You are very welcome in this group, you are welcome to invite friends, and you are very welcome to propose topics for discussion. 

Dear UPC community,

Grace and peace to you! The UKirk Subcommittee and Associate Pastor Carter Grant have an update on the life of UKirk Austin.

With outreach ministries such as UKirk Austin, we are called to simultaneously spread the Good News in the wilderness of Austin’s institutions of higher learning as well as offer ourselves in a way that is approachable to students. After reflecting on 1) historical experiences of the UKirk subcommittee, 2) crowdsourced advice from other campus ministers, and 3) input from students in the UKirk Austin fold, we created a new approach for 2024. We are now out of the brainstorming season and in an experimentation season. We will reevaluate our efforts in January 2025. UKirk Engagement Approach:

Campus Outreach – primarily focused on UT undergraduate students

• The University Interfaith Council (UIC) – 12 UT-serving campus ministries
• Outdoor Office Hours – Carter sits on campus in her collar meeting students
• Meal/snack ministry on the corner of SA and 22^nd Street

Pastoral Relationships – both UT undergraduates and graduates and APTS students

• Coffee/lunch with Carter - pastoral care and/or general relationship-building
• Sunday worship – frequently seeing 6-9 students each Sunday

Student Fellowship – primarily focused on UT undergraduate students

• Sunday Brunch – average 5.5 students in attendance in Spring 2024
• UKirk Tuesdays – weekly homecooked meals and fellowship in the UParlor
• UKirk Community Hours – facilities operation committee approved UKirk’s proposal to increase the UParlor’s access to 24/7 for involved students

We expect to continue to engage different students at different programs/events; meeting them where they are in a “Come and See” type of invitation. This means that some students might never darken the door of UPC in favor of meeting Carter for pastoral care over coffee. Or it might mean that students will attend UPC Sunday services (in person or on zoom) for years but never attend any UKirk events.

UKirk Austin should be a great planter of seeds, though we know we won’t get to see most of the seeds flourish. This is the beauty and the burden of ministry, and we are so blessed to be in this work together. All UKirk Austin’s students and the UKirk subcommittee is very thankful for this congregation’s support and encouragement as we minister with these amazing college students.

One easy way to support UKirk Austin is to attend next week’s worship service, on

April 21^st at 11 am, when our congregation will be led in word, sacrament, and song by some of our dedicated UKirk students! We hope to see you there!

Peace and blessings,

UKirk Austin Subcommittee and Pastor Carter

One Great Hour Of Sharing

On Easter Sunday, we collected $1870 for the Presbyterian Church (USA) One Great Hour of Sharing — which supports critical PC(USA) work like Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Thank you so much for your generosity and your commitment to our church’s work in the world’s most vulnerable places.

A Note From The Financial Office: 

Contribution Statements were emailed this week, listing all gifts from

1/1/2024 - 4/16/2024.  

If you've made a pledge to the UPC Operating Fund for 2024 you will also find pledge information at the bottom of your statement (total pledge, pledged gifts to date

and remaining balance).

Please contact Trudi (trudi@upcaustin.org) if you have any questions about your statement.

Property Vision Team SPRING UPDATE

In looking to keep everyone up to date on our property exploration work, the below information is the PVT work this spring. If you have missed any of this information, please know that it is available at the PVT site on the UPC website and linked for your convenience below. As always, please reach out to any PVT member or UPCpropertyvisionteam@gmail.com with any questions or comments.

UPC Property Prayer was composed by the PVT with the guidance of Pastor Matt for the members of UPC. As we gather for property discussions and activities, we will look to use this prayer to center us as we consider God's calling for UPC and the future of our church property. Prayer cards are available outside of the sanctuary doors and available at this link.

JLL Real Estate Brokerage Firm has been selected as the representing firm for UPC as we consider exploration of our property and the potential of development in our future. JLL is currently working on a Broker's Opinion of Value for UPC, which we will be discussing with you at our next Congregational Gathering on Sunday, June 2nd immediately following Worship in the Fellowship Hall. Please mark your calendar!

Educational Opportunity No. 1 - "Design & Sustainability - Why It Matters at UPC" - Larry Speck, UT Architecture Professor and Principal at PageSutherlandPage, offered his personal expertise in these areas last Sunday. If you missed this in-person presentation, we encourage you to watch it here. The PVT will be offering these ED OPs throughout the summer and into the fall with experts in a variety of fields as an opportunity to educate ourselves on various options and thoughts as we consider our potential future development.

A New Welcome Video For UPC

Earlier this year, UPC member Maddie Carlson approached us asking if she could make a video about UPC for part of a high school class. We said yes immediately, and we’re so glad we did! Maddie and her team captured so much about what we love about UPC, and we’re gladly featuring this video on our website as an introduction to this church.

Welcome Wagon & Courtyard Rangers

Calling all people who like to meet and greet other people! The Fellowship and Connections committee works hard at connecting with both members and visitors in the courtyard directly after the Sunday morning worship services. We need your help setting up the welcome wagon and being a courtyard ranger, making it possible to have good connections and conversations with willing visitors. Sign up to help with either of these great ministries:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F44ADAC22A7F8C25-48599841-welcome#/

The Fellowship & Connections Committee Needs Volunteers!

Reach out to the Zoom congregation by attending a Zoom Fellowship Room in the UPC Library after worship. We will provide a computer for you to log into the post worship Zoom room and visit with those who do not have the opportunity to attend worship in person. We plan to have slots on Sundays when communion is not served.  If you are interested use the Sign Up Genius below, or contact Karen Grice (karengrice109@gmail.com) or Pastor Carter (carter@upcaustin.org)

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F44ADAC22A7F8C25-48457133-after

Our Committee Needs More Members! 

If you enjoy Fellowship, Retreats, etc. we could use your input and participation. Please consider joining our committee. We meet on the 2^nd Monday of the month via Zoom. 

Finally, many members have shared with us that the information on Realm is often out of date. If you have moved, changed phone numbers or emails and have forgotten to let the church know, you can update your record by logging in to Realm and making the changes. If you prefer, let Anja (upc@upcaustin.org) know and she can make the changes. If you have not opted in to sharing your information, please consider doing so. It is available to members and staff only.

Local Election On Saturday May 4, 2024              

Vote for members of the central appraisal board in your county. Changes in law now require that three members be elected in Texas’ 50 largest counties. The other five positions will be appointed by local governments and school districts. Every one of the races is contested in both Travis and Williamson Counties. Hays County is excepted from this requirement.

What do members of appraisal boards do? They hire the chief appraiser, set the appraisal district’s annual budget, hear taxpayer protests, and correct errors in appraisal records. The value of your property times the tax rate determines your tax bill.

Also on the ballot are local propositions, school contests, MUD contests, and ESD contests. MUDs are Municipal Utility Districts. ESDs are Emergency Services Districts. Get a sample ballot for Hays County, Travis County, or Williamson County.

Vote early April 22-30. Get a list of voting locations in Hays County, Travis County or Williamson County.

Climate Action Team Update

If you want to let a City Council member or legislator know where you stand on issues that affect our climate, wildfire risk, and water supply--but don't always get around to sending the messages--we're here to help.

This Sunday we will have packets with prepaid postcards, contact information, suggested messages, and background links available at the Faith & Life Class and at the PVT meeting after church.

You can pick up and take home—and let us know when you get responses. Contact Kendal Gladish or Bill Gaventa if you have any questions. 

Children's and Youth Sunday School Volunteers!

Sign up to volunteer for children's and youth Sunday School here! Sunday School starts at 10 am. Each classroom has a binder with the day's lesson and necessary materials. There is no need to prepare beforehand as the lessons are straightforward and the kids will help you along as well!

A Note From Remie Martin

Dear Friends,

The Garden team members worked very hard on Monday, April 1st, to improve our courtyard garden. The word "garden" is mentioned in the Bible numerous times. One of the main references is the creation of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2:8, before humankind was created, and the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus would go to pray.

Many tasks were completed on that day for this important ministry in the life of our church:

• Prepared the two raised beds adjacent to the arcade for planting the

12 Boxwood shrubs.

• Pulled/dug out Live oak tree saplings. This task is tedious but necessary each spring to prevent them from invading the perennial bedding plants.
• Planted shrubs in empty spaces where we lost shrubs over the years.
• Planted Purple Heart plants in the two round beds to add color to the courtyard.

Please acknowledge the members of this team for their hard work:

• Danny Dennis
• Arthur Graves
• Martha Bauer
• Theresa Johnson
• Bill Gaventa
• Jenny Elliott
• Melinda Wofford
• Marvin Wofford

Should anyone be interested in joining this garden ministry, please let Anja know or contact me.

Your fellow servant in Christ,

Remie Martin

UPC Vestry

If your child is interested in serving on a Sunday, please sign up through SignUp Genius here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BA5A72CA7F4C07-47877250-vestry

Invitation to Join the UPC Needleworkers                            

You are invited to join the UPC Needleworkers. We meet on the first Thursday of the month from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Our next meeting is April 4, 2024. Bring your current project and enjoy chatting with other needleworkers. Contact Liz Wright at elisabethw2013@gmail.com if you would like to be added to the email list for reminders.

Do You Have A Truck?

Micah 6 is seeking a dedicated volunteer with a truck or van to assist with weekly pickups at the food bank on Montopolis road. Every Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m., we collect over 3,000 pounds of fresh, refrigerated, frozen, and room temperature food. However, certain items like peanut butter are not always available. To maximize our collection efforts, we aim to gather as much as possible when these items are in stock and store them in the basement. Additionally, we are looking to introduce another pickup on Fridays at 11:30 a.m. If you have a large capacity vehicle and can spare time on either of these days, please contact Suzi Parker at 512-789-9368 for further details and to get involved. 

And don't forget to add a few items to your shopping basket - especially canned meats - and bring them on Sundays or any time you're near the church.

Gift Cards Make A Huge Difference In The Lives Of Our Neighbors

UPLift appreciates your continued donations of funds and gift cards from H-E-B, Walmart and Goodwill, which go a long way to meeting the needs of our neighbors.

Maybe it doesn’t seem like much when you place cash or a $15 gift card from one of those stores into the offering plate. But in reality, your generosity enables our neighbors to cover co-pays for their prescriptions or shop for used clothing and other needs at Goodwill stores. Your donations of food and hygiene products are always appreciated, too. 

This week’s food needs include:

• Small apples and oranges
• Bags of cookies and chips
• Large sack of sugar
• Bottle of dry creamer
• Sandwich bags
• Cans of diced tomatoes



Hygiene needs include:

• Feminine pads
• Disposable razors
• Hand lotion
• Full-sized bars of soap

Current Prayer List

Please continue in prayer this week for our entire prayer list of congregation members and friends 

linked here. This list will be continually updated to reflect submitted prayer requests from the past few weeks.