Sunday, June 21
3rd Sunday after Pentecost
Preacher: Rev. Taylor Fuerst
Scripture: Luke 6:46-49
Sermon: "The Wise and Foolish Builders"
You know the feeling…that feeling that happens as you listen to or read a story, and the realization washes over you: this is really about me! This is just the feeling that Jesus was going for when he shared parable after parable with his disciples. Parables are short stories that shine a light on our lives and help us to see the world a bit differently. They spur us toward change. They reveal who God is. They give us a vision for the world God dreams of. This summer, we invite you not just to read the parables, but to be read by them.
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Children's Summer Online Sunday School
8:45 a.m. -
This is a special time for our preschoolers where we will have fun learning about God's love through songs and a short story.
9:00 a.m.
- Kindergarten through 5th graders will have a faith lesson, music, and a time to check in with their church friends.
Meeting ID:
402 211 293
Password:
children
Dial-in by Phone:
1-312-626-6799
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Video Worship Service
Sundays at 11:00 a.m. (opens at 10:50 a.m.)
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 on Zoom
Our Interactive Worship on Zoom includes opportunities to connect with one another, share prayer concerns, and view our worship service.
Meeting ID:
496 666 774
Password:
welcome
Dial-in by Phone
: 1-312-626-6799
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FEAST/TOAST for Young Adults
Sundays at 5:00 p.m.
All young adults ages 20-45 are invited to join us weekly to check in, share, and connect on Zoom! We'll treat this time as a virtual happy hour.
Meeting ID:
516 485 253
Password:
feast
Dial-in by Phone
: 1-312-626-6799
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Father's Day Alternative Gifts
Thank you for your generous donations to honor your Father—and other men who are important to you—by making an alternate gift that helps a father and family in need. We raised $2,029 to support the ongoing work of Church World Service, a United Methodist-related international ministry, with families across the globe in need of a helping hand as they seek solutions to their own challenges. The list of Father's Day Alternative Gifts will be published in the Sunday morning email.
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Virtual Talent Show
Submission deadline Sunday, June 21
Can you tap in heels or do a cartwheel? Draw with great flair or juggle balls in the air? Whatever your talent, you shouldn't be hoarding. The whole church is invited, so get to recording! The FUMC Virtual Talent Show will "air" on
Saturday, June 27 at 6:00 p.m.
Video submissions should be 3 minutes or less. You may submit as an individual or as a group.
Deadline to submit your talent video of 3 minutes or less is this
Sunday, June 21
! Videos for the FUMC Virtual Talent Show can be submitted through a private Dropbox file:
https://www.dropbox.com/request/h56hjiXjolXlKVxTlghz
or emailed to
[email protected]
.
Questions? Contact
[email protected]
.
Read More
.
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FUMC Launches New Website
FUMC is excited to launch a new wide-format website that provides additional functionality for users, improved organization, style, and content. Everyone will now have better access to information about events, classes, and worship. Ministry chairs and staff in partnership with an external designer worked together over the last six months to develop this vibrant online presence for FUMC-Austin. All are invited to go view the new website at
fumcaustin.org
. If you have any questions or comments, please direct those to Mary Heckmann, Director of Communications at
[email protected]
.
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Learning the Parables
Wednesdays Through July 29, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Zoom Online
Dr. Brad King and Lara Greene
Like many Jewish rabbis, Jesus was fond of using parables as a means of getting his audiences to arrive at deeper spiritual truths. Many of Christ's parables were intentionally difficult to understand. In other cases, Jesus was very clear about what he meant, but we have trouble understanding him across so many years of history! Join Dr. Brad King and Lara Greene to explore more deeply with your head and your heart some parables you think you know, and some you have never heard before. This combination class will alternate between the two styles of our teachers and their expertise. Zoom link provided after registration.
Register Here.
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Living the Parables
Meet Barnabas, the FUMC Staff Encourager. This “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36) lives to encourage people through challenging times. When Pastor Taylor mentioned a worship series on the parables this summer, Barnabas offered to help. In June and July, he will provide weekly emails to encourage the congregation and share guides for engaging with the parables in new ways. Sign up to receive his emails every Monday through July 27.
Learn More
.
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Weekly Prayer & Connection
Wednesdays, 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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Virus As a Summons to Faith
Thursdays, June 18-July 9, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Zoom Online
Why bother with the interpretive categories of biblical faith when in fact our energy and interest are focused on more immediate matters? The answer is simple and obvious. We linger because, in the midst of our immediate preoccupation with our felt jeopardy and our hope for relief, our imagination does indeed range beyond the immediate to larger, deeper wonderments. Join the retired Reverend John McMullen in exploring Walter Brueggemann's new book,
Virus as a Summons to Faith
, to discuss how our lives are not fully contained in the cause-and-effect reasoning of the Enlightenment that seeks to explain and control. The book is available on Amazon and Cokesbury, and it is highly recommended that you read along.
Zoom link shared after registration.
Register Here
.
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Creating Spirit, Practicing Presence: Making a Joyful Noise
Thursdays, June 18-July 9, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Zoom Online
Saturday, June 27, 1:30-3:00 (Zoom)
Join us for the 2nd workshop of our series, Creating Spirit, Practicing Presence, when we will explore music as spiritual practice. Music plays a significant role in worship at FUMC-Austin, with our choir, handbells, our pipe organ, and our congregational singing. Methodism is often recognized as “a faith that sings.” Why is music so important to us? Some might think these things are nonessential, however, we know better! Though we might not sing together at the moment, we can develop a creative spiritual practice with music to sustain us until we can be together again. Facilitated by Amy Wink, this workshop is for anyone who is curious about creative spiritual practices and enjoys music. You do not have to be able to sing or play an instrument!
Zoom link provided after registration.
Register Here
.
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Administrative Board Meeting
Sunday, June 28, 1:00 p.m.
Zoom Online
All are welcome to attend and participate in discussion. Board members have voting rights. Please register to attend using the link below if you are interested, but not a member of the board. The Zoom link will be emailed prior to the meeting.
Register Here
.
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Conversations on Racial Justice
Sunday, July 5, 4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
Join us as we work to be anti-racists, seeking to undo racism in ourselves and to recognize and understand our participation in systemic racism. This group meets on first Sundays, 4:30-6:00 p.m., to discuss and learn more about racial oppression, issues of whiteness and racism, and other topics through videos, podcasts, and short articles.
Register Here
.
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Mercy and Justice Book Study: How to Be an Antiracist
TWO OPTIONS
Tuesday, July 7-28, 6:30–8:00 p.m. or
Thursday, July 9-30, 1:00–2:30 p.m.
The work of resisting racism continues. Join Pastor Cathy Stone as we read and discuss
How to Be an Antiracist
by Ibram X. Kendi. Antiracism is a transformative concept that reorients and reenergizes the conversation about racism—and, even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. In
How to Be an Antiracist
, Kendi takes readers through a widening circle of antiracist ideas—from the most basic concepts to visionary possibilities—that will help readers see all forms of racism clearly, understand their poisonous consequences, and work to oppose them in our systems and in ourselves.
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Meet the Grief Group Facilitators
In preparation for leading Grief Groups for our congregation, trained facilitators have been meeting weekly to share their personal experiences, acknowledging that grief is cumulative over time. Grief is a natural emotion that can sometimes take us hostage in response to loss, but we can recover through faith and allow our grief to help reshape us. While each person processes grief differently, intimate sharing in a community can be a healing balm to those suffering from loss. Listen to our Grief Group facilitators discuss the importance of community in the experience of grief and consider whether joining a group might be right for you. Learn more at
fumcaustin.org/grief
.
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Your Gifts Keep Us Going
Your gifts are a blessing to the ministry of FUMC. It is your donations that keep the church operating during this unique time. We may not be together in person for some time to receive offerings, but it is important we still pay our bills and staff to support and adapt ongoing ministries. You can give online to the ministry of FUMC through our website or by mailing a check to FUMC at 1201 Lavaca St. Austin, TX 78701. We appreciate your gifts.
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Story Submissions
Help us build the next issue of
Bolder than the State of Texas
! We are particularly seeking stories about Change and Resurrection. We are open to poetry, essays, photography, or art! Be part of the story this church is telling the world. Submissions accepted continually. Submit your stories online at
fumcaustin.org/bolderthantexas
. For more information, contact Amy Wink and Caroline Jones at
[email protected]
.
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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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Submit a Prayer Request
If you have a loved one to lift up, send us your prayer concerns and we will add that person(s) to our prayer list. Prayer requests can be submitted to our pastoral staff using our
online form
or emailed to
[email protected]
.
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Justice for Our Neighbors
This offering supports the peace and justice work of Austin Region Justice for Our Neighbors (ARJFON), a United Methodist-affiliated immigration ministry that welcomes refugees and immigrants into our communities by providing free, high-quality immigration legal services, education, and advocacy. ARJFON’s services are focused on family-based and humanitarian immigration law, especially handling asylum and special immigrant juveniles, for clients whose income is limited to, at, or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Checks marked "JFON" may be mailed to the church or donations made
online
.
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Submit a prayer request
online
.
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Within our Congregation
Sandy Bowles, Nell Broadbent, Glenna Marks, Mari Perez, Dick Raycraft, Pam Tackett and Dan Wood.
Congratulations to Kevin and Haley Rose on the birth of their child, Collin Brittain Rose.
Beyond our Congregation
Meridith Albright’s niece, Chelsea Carpenter Fogle and great nephew, Townsend Fogle; Curt Ashmos’ friend, Elissa Marek; Grady Basler’s sister, Tonya Basler Stout; Jill Barre’s father, Bill Graeber; Cheryl Bias’ niece, Lauren Stafford; Bob Block’s friend, Tim Sullivan; Fay Brown’s sister, Jo Rene Altenburg; former FUMC member, John Carpenter; Pat Freeman’s daughter, Staci; Judy Funke’s parents, Bob & Josie Luckenbaugh; George Gaston’s friend, Dr. Robert Wootton; Mary Higgs’ brother-in-law, Pat Higgs; Marcia Houston’s mother, Johnnie; Connie Payne’s friend, Urban Bellinghausen; Cindy Reidland’s friends, Carly and Colton Wimberly; David Strong’s brother-in-law, Dan Hoge; Whitney Thurman’s father, Dee Monge; and Dick Young’s nephew, Jeff Young.
Condolences to the friends and family of Vivian Ballard on her death.
Guidance for our Local, State, and Federal leaders and decision makers.
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Contact Us
First United Methodist Church
1201 Lavaca St. Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-5684
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