Sunday, April 25
4th Sunday of Easter
Preacher: Rev. Elizabeth Wright
Scripture: John 1:1-14
Sermon: "In the Flesh"
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Sunday School
Children's Sunday School meets weekly on Zoom at 9:00 a.m. for Kindergarten-5th Grades. Youth Sunday School meets bi-weekly at 10:00 a.m. (next meeting is 4/25). Check the Sunday morning email for Zoom links. Adult Sunday School classes continue to meet weekly, all interested should reach out to class contacts for more information.
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Sunday Night Youth Hang
Sunday, April 25
Freshman 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Sophomore/Junior 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Youth are invited to Whole Foods on Lamar for a socially distanced hangout. No agenda just fun, games and community! Bring a mask! We will meet on the rooftop at Whole Foods at 525 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703. Questions? Contact Devon Bailey, Director of Youth Ministries, at [email protected].
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Virtual FEAST!
Sunday, April 25
7:30-9:00 p.m. on Zoom
Following last month’s discussion of curse words, in April, we’re digging into some of the history of Christianity and “magic.” We’ll discuss the concept of “magic” as well as some of the ways Christians have interacted with magic throughout history. (And yes, we will look at some ancient charms and spells used by Christians in antiquity.) Register Online.
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Senior Pictures
All high school and college graduates will be acknowledged in worship on May 16. Please submit your graduate photos or senior portraits to [email protected] by May 9. Please include with their portrait: 1) full name, 2) the school they are graduating from, and 3) any after graduation plans.
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Cheers Ministry:
Earth Day Walk in the Park
Thursday, April 22, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Come celebrate Earth Day with a walk in the park and picnic. The Cheers Ministry is a community for those young-at-heart who are recently retired, semi-retired, or thinking about setting a date to retire. Cheers invites you to a Walk in the Park and Picnic at Zilker Park. Bring your walking shoes, cameras, picnic baskets, mask, and chairs for a few hours of enjoying our great historic park, food, and fellowship. Our meeting place in the park will be provided to those who register their attendance. Register Online.
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Creating Spirit, Practicing Presence: We Are Family
May 1, 2021, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Join us for a conversation with Steven Self, ACC faculty librarian and professor, on family history and genealogy as spiritual practice. How does learning about your family history and understanding your roots bring you closer to understanding the kindom of God? Steven will offer practical research tips as well as share engaging discoveries of his own family history. Register Online.
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Holy Communion
Sunday, May 2
Sign up to attend a brief Communion Service in the FUMC parking lot, where we have devised the safest possible way to share in this Sacrament together. One car per registration and up to 22 cars per time slot. Bread and juice will be individually bagged for each car and distributed when you arrive, and participants will be invited to park in every other spot, joining the service from your tailgate or camping chair behind your car.
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Alternative Gifts for Mother's Day
Order Deadline: Monday, May 3
On Mother's Day, May 9, you are invited to honor your mother—and other women who are important to you—by making an alternative gift that helps a mother and family in need. Get started now by selecting the gifts you wish to symbolically provide using our online form. Make your online payment from our website by donating towards the Mother’s Day Alternative Fund. Order Online.
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Rethinking Atonement
Sunday, May 9, 9:45-10:45 a.m.
Many American Christians believe that Christ had to die a violent and humiliating death to save us from something worse, but in fact, this notion completely misunderstands both Scripture and tradition. On May 9th, join Dr. Brad King for a frank discussion of the problems with this model as well as several others with better historical and theological footing. Register Online.
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Mercy & Justice Book Study:
Minor Feelings
Tuesdays, May 11-25, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Thursdays, May 13-27, 12:30-2:00 p.m.
Join Pastor Cathy as we read and discuss Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning. Poet and essayist Cathy Park Hong fearlessly and provocatively blends memoir, cultural criticism, and history to expose fresh truths about racialized consciousness in America. Part memoir and part cultural criticism, this collection is vulnerable, humorous, and provocative—and its relentless and riveting pursuit of vital questions around family and friendship, art and politics, identity and individuality will change the way you think about our world. Zoom invitation will be sent with registration. Contact Pastor Cathy at [email protected] for additional information. We encourage you to purchase the book locally at Black Pearl Books or Book People. Learn More.
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We Need Children's Books
Children’s Books Needed By May 15
Pickle Elementary has requested that we host another “Quarter Book Sale” before the end of the school year in mid-to-late May. Since we haven't had a sale in 16 months, and want to limit the “summer slide” after a challenged year of virtual learning, we’ve agreed to do it. But that means we need more children’s books ASAP. If you or your friends or family members can donate any new or gently used books — current titles please — appropriate for preschool through 5th grade (bonus points for Spanish titles), please contact Heather Schuelke at [email protected] to arrange pick up or drop them off at the Schuelkes’ house at 2702 Carlton Road, Austin, 78703. We also accept monetary donations to purchase new ones.
About Pickle Book Drive
FUMC has partnered with Pickle Elementary in East Austin for several years. The core ministry is our book sale. Because the original principal wanted the students to feel ownership for the books, we “sell” all books for a quarter. Pre-pandemic, we would have these sales two times per year. Since we started in the Spring of 2007, we’ve distributed over 50,000 books to Pickle Elementary students. Please help us keep this important ministry continuing.
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COVID Vaccine Assistance
Need help scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine appointment? If you are an adult eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, you can complete this form to request assistance from church volunteers. No protected health information is required, and any information you provide (name, DOB, contact info) will not be shared except as needed to schedule an appointment. Questions? Contact Terri Purdy at [email protected].
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New Staff Member
We are pleased to announce a recent addition to our church staff, Kristen Thurman, who is our new Director of Finance. Kristen brings non-profit experience having worked in a financial capacity with the Texas Conference of Urban Counties. She and her husband, Trey, have a daughter, Gus (August) in our weekday FUM Preschool program. She can be reached at [email protected] or 512.478.5684, ext. 205. Welcome aboard, Kristen!
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EASTER OFFERING
At Easter, we celebrate the life-giving Resurrection of Christ. As a response to the new life we’ve been given, we dedicate a special Easter Offering to a ministry or facility need that increases our ability to serve others. This year, our Easter Offering will be dedicated to the renovation of a restroom on the first floor of our Sanctuary building, located at the base of the main stairwell near Wesley Hall. What’s so missional about a restroom? As a church that seeks to welcome all people, we’ve spent years learning how to create a welcoming atmosphere for people of all gender identities, including those who identify as trans or non-binary. Our goal is to convert the restroom at the bottom of the stairs—currently a women’s restroom with two tiny stalls—into a single-stall unisex restroom to provide a centrally located restroom. The remodel will make the bathroom more comfortable, with ample room for a changing table and updated safety modifications for the entrance. Learn More.
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FUMC Endowment Fund
In memory of Pam Tackett, given by Bruce and Christine Anderson; Kristi Browning; Stan and Bergan Casey; Sam and Lisa Hildebrand; Jack and Cindi Howell and family; Bill Hulquist; Donald Kerr, Jr.; Judy Morris; Randy and Ann Teich; and Katherine Wong.
GIFTS TO FUMC
To our English as a Second Language (ESL) Ministry in memory of Judith Lancaster, given by Stan and Bergan Casey.
To our English as a Second Language (ESL) Ministry in memory of Pam Tackett, given by Penny Appleby.
To our Ministry Plan in memory of Judith Lancaster, given by Lucius and Lynn Bunton.
To our Ministry Plan in memory of Pam Tackett, given by Lucius and Lynn Bunton and Elizabeth Osborne.
To our Ministry Plan in memory of Olivia Weldon, given by Sunya (Sunny) Alexander.
To our Mobile Loaves & Fishes Ministry in memory of Pam Tackett, given by Kathleen Jones.
To our Mobile Loaves & Fishes in memory of Judith Lancaster, given by Tom and Robbie Ausley.
To our Music Fund in memory of Howard Allen, given by J. Douglas and Melanie Mattox.
To our Women’s “At the Well” Ministry in honor of Jan Berger and Judy Morris, given by Tom and Robbie Ausley.
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Submit a prayer request online.
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Within Our Congregation
Sandy Bowles, Bill and Shirley Derryberry, Melissa and James Jackson Burns; Kathy Morales, Ruby Parker, Mari Perez, Sallie Novinger, Mimi Raper, Dick Raycraft, and Dan Wood.
Beyond Our Congregation
Curt Ashmos’ friend, Elissa Marek; Grady Basler’s sister, Tonya Basler Stout; Cheryl Bias’ niece, Lauren Stafford; Fay Brown’s sister, Jo Rene Altenburg; George Gaston’s friend, Dr. Robert Wootton; Marijo Hartman’s brother, Buddy Rector; Anna Holland’s friend, Jessica Varnado; Marcia Houston’s mother, Johnnie; James Jackson Burns’ mother, Karen Burns, Julie Nelson’s friend,Debbie Childers; Patty Calixto Kane’s sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Larry; Cindy Reidland’s friends, Carly and Colton Wimberly; Alan Stephens’ father-in-law, Bob McBride, and his mother-in-law, Betty McBride; and the University Hills branch of Austin Public Library and its staff.
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FUMC Austin Mobile App
Our mobile app makes it easy to stay up-to-date on opportunities to grow in your faith and connect with others. Download in iTunes or Google Play stores. Learn More.
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Contact Us
First United Methodist Church
1201 Lavaca St. Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-5684
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