Sunday, August 9
10th Sunday after Pentecost
Preacher: Rev. Taylor Fuerst
Scripture: Philemon 1: 8-10, 17-20
Sermon: "You are Blessed with Influence"
"...To Be a Blessing" Worship Series
You recognize a blessing when you see it—when what you have been given is beyond what you deserve or have earned. But what is it for, and what should you do with it? In Genesis, God promised Abraham, "I will bless you...so that you will be a blessing." God’s intention is that we use whatever we have, whatever we’ve been given, in order to be a blessing to others. Join us for this 3-week series in which we explore the ways we are called and equipped to bless others in our day-in, day-out lives.
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Video Worship Service
We go live with a video worship service in the Sanctuary at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays accessible through our Zoom worship time, our YouTube Channel and on Facebook page. This traditional worship service lasts about 50 minutes.
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Interactive Worship
Sundays at 11:00 a.m. (opens at 10:50 a.m.)
Our Interactive Worship includes opportunities to connect with one another, share prayer concerns, and view our worship service. Check your Sunday morning email for Zoom link.
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PRIDE Week Celebration
Join us for worship on August 9 and we’ll celebrate PRIDE together! PRIDE Week in Austin is August 9-15. The PRIDE Parade and Festival have all been postponed until 2021. However, we can still celebrate the spirit of PRIDE from our homes! One way to show your support for the LGBTQ+ community is by placing a PRIDE flag in your yard, your windows, and social media during PRIDE Week. We found lots of options at rainbowdepot.com.
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Weekly Prayer & Connection
Wednesdays through August 12
7:30-8:00 p.m.
A simple, low-key time to gather with FUMC family to check in and pray for one another and our world. No frills, no program, just people and the Holy Spirit! We'll gather each Wednesday night.
Zoom Login:
Meeting ID: 805 144 062
Password: welcome
Dial-in by Phone: 1-312-626-6799
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Movie Night and Virtual Potluck
Thursday, August 20, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Zoom Online
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. Join for an evening of virtual fun! Dust off your VCR or stream the movie The Mission before August 20. Come prepared for a lively discussion of the movie and your fondest memories of FUMC potluck suppers from days long ago. For more information, contact Dick Young at [email protected]. Zoom link is sent after registration. Register Online.
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Back-to-School
Going back to school will look different this year, but we know that God is present through all of it! Here are the ways you can help bless the work of education in our community.
Help us identify our teachers and school staff!
Do you work in a school? Do you know someone at FUMC who is a teacher? We want to bless our educators more than ever during this challenging time, and we want to be sure we don’t miss anyone! Help us identify all those educators in our congregation by filling out the form on this page.
Prayers for Schools—we need your help!
Our schools are a major lifeblood of our community and the students, teachers, staff, and administration of those schools need our prayers as they face uncertainty in the coming school year! So, we are asking FUMC to pray for the schools near you. FUMC members are spread throughout the Austin area, from Elgin to Horseshoe Bay, and from Buda to Burnet—together, that’s a lot of schools! Between now and August 16, take time to walk or drive to your neighborhood schools to say a prayer for the students, faculty, staff, and administration of that school. Use the prayer we’ve provided, or say your own prayer. Then take a selfie in front of the school’s sign so that we can show all the different schools our church is praying for! Send your picture to [email protected] by August 16 to help us keep track and share our prayers with the community! Not sure what to pray for? Here's a suggested prayer from Pastor Taylor!
Back-to-School Blessing
Sunday, August 23, 11:00 a.m. During Worship
Join us for worship on August 23 as we bless everyone involved in our education community. The blessing will happen in our worship service at 11:00 a.m., available on Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube.
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Curtis Higgs Prodigals Study Group
New Study Begins Monday, August 24
The Curtis Higgs Prodigals Study Group invites all men to join in its next 10-week study, Christ in Crisis, by Jim Wallis, beginning Monday, August 24. Wallis argues that Christians have become disconnected from Jesus and need to revisit their spiritual foundations. By pointing to eight questions Jesus asked or is asked, Wallis provides a means to measure whether we are truly aligned with the moral and spiritual foundations of our Christian faith. The book is a constructive field guide for all those involved in resistance and renewal initiatives in faith communities in the post-2016 political context. This group is currently meeting virtually on Mondays from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Contact Randy Teich at [email protected] for Zoom information.
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Mercy & Justice 5th Sunday Presentation
Sunday, August 30, 9:45-10:45 a.m.
Zoom Online
Our August presentation is sponsored by our United Methodist Women. We are planning for a conversation on the intersection of racial justice and public education. Zoom link is sent after registration. Register Online.
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Creating Spirit, Practicing Presence - "We Are The Stories We Tell"
Saturday, August 29, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Zoom Online
Join us for the next Creating Spirit, Practicing Presence workshop on storytelling. If you have a story or think you don’t, this workshop will help you find and develop your story as part of God’s story. Facilitated by Dr. Amy Wink, we will explore the value of stories to ourselves, each other and our community, and learn to why telling our stories matters. Zoom link provided after registration. Contact Amy Wink with questions at [email protected]. Register Here.
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Disciple I Fast Track
This long-term study offers a twist on the classic Disciple Bible Study, which is an excellent overview of the entire Bible. This class meets in the fall and spring, and is for anyone ready to commit and delve deeper. Perhaps you have recently started coming (or coming back!) to church, and you want to know God and the Bible better. Perhaps you are looking for a group to connect with over a longer study. Perhaps you are interested in becoming a leader at FUMC. Disciple is a great place to start. Registration is free. Participants are asked to purchase their own Old and New Testament Study Manuals. Order class materials here.
Tuesdays, Beginning September 15, 7:00-8:30 p.m
Wednesdays, Beginning September 16, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
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Manna Bags Needed
We are seeking assembled Manna Bags to hand out to our hungry neighbors on the street. Officer Shelly, our officer from the Feed My People Breakfast, is helping distribute the Manna Bags where they are needed the most. Completed manna bags may be dropped off at the Family Life Center. Please email Pastor Cathy at [email protected] with any questions about items to include and for her phone number to coordinate drop-off. She will unlock the FLC front door remotely. Manna Bag items could include: tuna or chicken lunch kit, peanut butter or cheese cracker sandwiches, Nutri Grain fruit bar, raisins, juice box, socks, and an encouraging message such as "God loves you."
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English as a Second Language
English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are offered at no cost on Mondays and Thursdays. Guests can practice their English conversation skills and develop friendships to support them outside the classroom. In Austin, 32 percent of the population lives in a home in which English is not the primary language. Student spouses, those brought to Austin to work in high-tech firms, people arriving under political asylum, family members of those brought for jobs, all these arrive in Austin with the common need to learn to speak English. Contributions during the month of August go to support this quiet but powerful ministry. You may give online or mail your contribution to the church office. Make checks payable to FUMC and include a note stating that your contribution is for "ESL."
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Submit a prayer request online.
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Within our Congregation
Bob and Clo Bains, Sandy Bowles, Raymond Lewis, Mari Perez, Mimi Raper, Dick Raycraft, Cathy Stone, Pam Tackett, Victoria Tijerina, Kevin Waggoner, and Dan Wood.
Beyond our Congregation
Curt Ashmos’ friend, Elissa Marek; Grady Basler’s sister, Tonya Basler Stout; Cheryl Bias’ niece, Lauren Stafford; Bob Block’s friend, Tim Sullivan; Fay Brown’s sister, Jo Rene Altenburg; Cheryl and Mike Etie’s sister-in-law, Pam Etie; Randie Fraser’s friend, Travis Sansom; George Gaston’s friend, Dr. Robert Wootton; Marilyn Good’s friend, Leslie Boerger and her family; Marcia Houston’s mother, Johnnie; Mary Heckmann’s friend, Esmeralda Gonzalez; Kathy Morales’ step father, Jim Hockensmith; Cindy Reidland’s friends, Carly and Colton Wimberly; Beth Ann Rider’s son, Wes Johnston and his family; Rick Russell’s neighbor, Kerri Apolzon; Victoria Tijerina's uncle, Ruben Lopez; Cindy Walter’s uncle, Marty Kaback; and Dick Young’s nephew, Jeff Young.
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Contact Us
First United Methodist Church
1201 Lavaca St. Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-5684
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