Sunday, December 20
4th Sunday of Advent
Preacher: Dr. Brad King
Scripture: Luke 1:26-38, Mark 1:1-11
Sermon: “I Believe in Love”
Advent Worship Series
The history of humanity is fraught with pain, accompanied by fear, oppression, and violence. This is the world into which Jesus was born, and into which Jesus promises to come again and redeem. Through hope, peace, joy, and love, we find strength to believe once again that God’s promise holds, even in the darkest of times.
Sunday Worship
Our video worship service is at 11:00 a.m. accessible through our Zoom worship time, YouTube Channel and Facebook page. Zoom link is in the Sunday morning email.
Sunday School
Children's Sunday School meets weekly on Zoom at 9:00 a.m. for Kindergarten-5th Grades, but will take a break on December 27 and January 3, returning January 10. Youth Sunday School usually meets bi-weekly and is currently on break until January 10. 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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Advent Study: Incarnation
Sunday, December 20
10:00 a.m., Zoom Online
This Advent, join Dr. Brad King for a discussion of what it means that Jesus Christ walked the earth with us. All are encouraged to read Adam Hamilton’s new book, Incarnation. Register Online. View past sessions here (pw: gather@grow).
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Sprouts
1st and 3rd Sundays, 10:15 a.m.
FUMC's Children's Ministry hosts bi-monthly parent and infant/toddler (0-2) meetings. We have baby-friendly curriculum led by nursery staff and teachers, including everyone's favorite, Ms. Pam. Check your Sunday morning email for Zoom link.
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Toast Check-In
2nd and 3rd Sundays
5:00-6:30 p.m. on Zoom
Join us to check in, share, and connect on Zoom with Dr. Brad King and young adults ages 20-45! We’ll treat this time as a virtual happy hour. Bring a drink. Bring a story. Bring a friend. Reach out to Dr. Brad King to get added to the FEAST mailing list and get access to the Zoom login details at [email protected].
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Cheers Christmas Social
Thursday, December 17
7:00 p.m., Zoom Online
For those recently retired or thinking of retiring, join our Cheers Ministry. We will exchange Christmas traditions, memories and favorite readings. Wearing your Ugly Christmas sweaters is optional, but encouraged! Register Online.
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Send Us Your Nativity Scenes!
Send us a photo of your nativity set from home! We will feature as many sets as we can in the video worship services on December 27th and January 3rd. Make sure to turn your device to the horizontal position, snap a picture, and email it to [email protected]! Deadline to receive pictures is December 22.
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Walking the Labyrinth
If you find yourself yearning for a space and a few minutes of time set apart to recenter yourself, our labyrinth is available to walk in Murchison Chapel through December 29. We are being careful to ensure the safety of each person who comes to walk the labyrinth in the Chapel. Sign Up Online.
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Advent Prayer & Connection
Wednesdays through December 30
7:30-8:30 p.m.
A simple, low-key time to share a little light together during this holiday season. It’s a place to connect, check in, and pray for one another and our world. Join one of the pastors any or each Wednesday in December.
Meeting ID: 953 2564 7802
Passcode: Advent
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Family Service Online
4:00 p.m., on YouTube and Facebook
Join us live or whenever is convenient for your family, for an engaging time of carol singing and a unique re-telling of the Christmas Story. We will have special appearances from some of our own families and will end with the children’s choir leading us in Silent Night. This service will be pre-recorded and will be available at 4:00 p.m. on YouTube and our private FUMC Family Facebook group.
Candlelight Worship Online
6:00 p.m. on YouTube and Facebook, 8:00 p.m. Zoom Worship
We’ll celebrate the birth of our savior in a special video worship service featuring special music from FUMC Choirs and Handbells. Grab a candle to light during this virtual worship experience as we sing "Silent Night" together all over the world. The service will air live at 6:00 p.m. on our YouTube and Facebook pages. For those who wish to be in community on this holy night, watch the service together with your church family on Zoom at 8:00 p.m. Check your Christmas Eve email for the Zoom link.
Christmas Eve Worship
Preacher: Rev. Taylor Fuerst
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-20
Sermon: "I believe in God"
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Discussion: Love is the Way
Sunday, December 27
4:30-6:00 p.m., Zoom Online
This December, walk the path of love with one of the warmest, most beloved spiritual leaders of our time, and learn how to put faith into action. Zoom link provided with registration. Register Online.
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End-of-Year Giving Reminder
Our church office will be open on December 31 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. to accept year-end gifts. IRS regulations require contributions for 2020 be mailed and postmarked no later than December 31, 2020. Contributions received after January 1 will be considered 2021 gifts.
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Breathe: 2021 UMW Virtual Legislative Event
Saturday-Tuesday, January 23-26, 2021
United Methodist Women’s Legislative Event will be online January 23-26. This annual event will still include keynote speakers, presentations from leading policy advocates, worship and opportunities for fellowship with United Methodist Women across Texas— but this year, you can enjoy it from the comfort of your home or office! All sessions will be recorded and available to registered participants for replay. The 2021-2024 UMW social justice priorities include: 1) mass incarceration/criminalization of communities of color, with a particular focus on interrupting the School to Prison Pipeline campaign and 2) climate justice, with a particular focus on the Just Energy 4 All campaign. Register at https://texasimpact.org/umw2021central/.
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Manna Bags Needed
We are collecting assembled manna bags for our hungry neighbors experiencing homelessness to be distributed by the Homeless Outreach Street Team and the Downtown Austin Community Court. Manna Bag items can 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." Email Pastor Cathy at [email protected] to coordinate drop-off.
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2021 Pledge Commitment
First Church thanks you for your commitment to live generous lives. Your pledges and contributions are a critical part of how we make a difference in our church, our community, and our world in 2021.
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DECEMBER MISSION EMPHASIS |
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Christmas Offering - Huston-Tillotson University
Each Christmas, we remember that Christ’s coming is an act of self-giving by God—God has given, and continues to give, God’s very self for our sake. Drawing on our core value of Bridge-building, and with hopes of extending our commitment to racial justice, we are exploring possibilities for long-term partnership with Huston-Tillotson University in East Austin. Huston-Tillotson University (HT) has Methodist roots and continues to be affiliated with the United Methodist Church, as well as the United Church of Christ. A Historically Black University, HT has stood in East Austin since 1878, with a mission to nurture a legacy of leadership and excellence in education, connecting knowledge, power, passion, and values. Our mission with this year’s Christmas Offering is to form the bridge for as many HT students as possible to continue their education during the pandemic. We aim to make up for tuition they have been unable to pay this fall—often due to pandemic loss of income or inability to continue working—in order to allow and encourage them to register for spring classes. Our gifts today open the doors for future steps that allow these students to flourish. It could literally change their lives. You may give online or mail a check to the church marked “Christmas Offering.”
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FUMC Endowment Fund
In memory of Raymond Lewis, given by Bob and Debbie Block.
Gifts to FUMC
To our Christmas Offering in honor of Penny Appleby, given by Judith Rutledge.
To our Christmas Offering in honor of the Reverend Cathy Stone, given by Lee Sloan.
To our Feed My People 4th Tuesday Breakfast in memory of Carla Bowles, given by Kathleen Jones.
To our Ministry Plan in memory of Carla Bowles, given by Tom and Robbie Ausley.
To our Music Memorial Fund in memory of Howard Allen, given by Virginia Ashworth.
To our Music Memorial Fund in memory of Kathleen Jones’ sister, Glenna Isom, given by Tom and Robbie Ausley.
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Submit a prayer request online.
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Within our Congregation
Sandy Bowles, Kathy Morales, Mari Perez, Sallie Novinger, Dick Raycraft, Pam Tackett, Brenda Tharp, and Dan Wood.
Beyond our Congregation
Curt Ashmos’ friend, Elissa Marek; Grady Basler’s sister, Tonya Basler Stout; Cheryl Bias’ niece, Lauren Stafford; Melissa Biegert’s father, Travis Langley; Bob Block’s friend, Tim Sullivan; Fay Brown’s sister, Jo Rene Altenburg; Molly Drazic’s cousin, Dorothy Heacock Butler; George Gaston’s friend, Dr. Robert Wootton; Melanie and Andy Greene’s friend, Gwen Throckmorton; Marcia Houston’s mother, Johnnie; Don Mayfield’s stepdaughter, Robin Michelle Clark; Kisa Polk’s friend, Carole; Cindy Reidland’s friends, Carly and Colton Wimberly; Pat Rives friends, Sandi and Don Parks; Alan Stephens’ father-in-law, Bob McBride, and uncle, George Frear; David Strong’s friend, Luciana P. Fellini; 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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