THIS SUNDAY
Sunday, November 14
Preacher: Cathy Stone
Scripture: Matthew 25:35-40
Sermon: Hunger & Homelessness
Worship
9:00 and 11:00 a.m.
As of November 1, registration is no longer required to attend in-person worship on Sundays. Virtual worship will still be available at 11:00 a.m. each Sunday through our Zoom worship time, YouTube Channel, and Facebook page. Our Interactive Worship on Zoom includes opportunities to connect with one another, share prayer concerns, and view our video worship service together.
Sunday School
10:00 a.m.
Youth Sunday School meets in the Great Hall of the Family Life Center. Adult Sunday School classes are meeting in person or in hybrid formats. Reach out to class contacts for more information. Children's Sunday School is back in hybrid format, with dropoff (9:45 a.m.) and pickup (10:45 a.m.) in Wesley Hall. Indoor and outdoor small group rotations continue and masks are still required.
Children's Christmas Choir
November 14-December 5 (not meeting November 21)
12:00-12:45 p.m.
EDU Murchison Chapel
Children in Kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to rehearse special music with the Children's Choir to be shared on December 12 and Christmas Eve. No snack served. Masks required. If your child is interested in these rehearsals, please contact Roxie Garza. Regular Children's Choir rehearsals will resume in January.
MLF Candy Collection
Collection Bins
Please donate any leftover Halloween candy to our Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF) Ministry. The people we serve are so happy when we have candy to share! Collection bins will be in the foyers of the Sanctuary, Chapel, and Family Life Center.
At the Well Ministry Presentation
10:00 a.m.
EDU Murchison Chapel
Inspired by God’s Spirit, At the Well welcomes Austin-area women experiencing homelessness by providing hospitality, supportive services, and some of life’s basic necessities in a caring, safe, and accepting environment that affirms self-worth and dignity. This new ministry is blessing everyone involved. It is growing and we welcome additional volunteers! Come hear stories of love, acceptance, and transformation from our dedicated volunteers. To learn more about volunteering, contact Pastor Cathy Stone at cathy@fumcaustin.org.
Administrative Board Meeting
12:15-2:00 p.m.
FLC Great Hall
All are welcome to attend and participate in discussion. Board members have voting rights. Lunch will be provided for registered attendees, with a $12 requested donation. Register online.
FEAST: TOAST Happy Hour
4:30-6:00 p.m.
Join us to check in, share, and connect with Dr. Brad King and young adults ages 20-45! Bring a story. Bring a friend. Reach out to Dr. Brad King to get added to the FEAST mailing list at brad@fumcaustin.org.
GENEROSITY UPDATE
Thank you to our families who have submitted a Commitment Card for
giving in 2022! Are we missing yours? We need your commitment in order
to accurately plan for our ministry in 2022. You can make your commitment
online below or by placing your Commitment Card in the offering plate or mailing it to the church office. Questions? Contact Kristen Thurman, Director of Finance, at kristen@fumcaustin.org.
HUNGER & HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS
For a complete listing of opportunities during Hunger & Homelessness Awareness month,
visit our website.
Food Drive for Caritas of Austin
November 14-28
Help fight hunger by bringing canned goods to church! All contributions will be donated to Caritas of Austin, a local nonprofit working toward preventing and ending homelessness in Austin. With your help, the Caritas Pantry provides take-home groceries to families as people are transitioning out of homelessness. Together with their other services, food assistance builds a strong foundation as people work toward their life goals. When you are struggling to make ends meet and must choose between putting food on the table and paying the electric bill, weekly groceries bring great relief.

We are collecting some of their most needed items throughout November. Thank you for taking action in the fight against hunger. Together we can ensure people have healthy food as they rebuild their lives. Donations may be left in the collection bins located in the foyers of the Chapel, Sanctuary, and Family Life Center.
Training for Cold Weather Shelter
November 21, 12:15-1:00 p.m.
EDU Murchison Chapel
FUMC is a Tuesday night host for Cold Weather Shelter for Women, coordinated by city emergency officials. Training includes a ministry overview, safety and logistics, ways to welcome and interact with guests, Q & A, and signup. Snacks provided.
Cream of the CROP
Congratulations, First Church, for taking a big step forward fundraising for the 2021 Virtual Austin CROP Hunger Walk! FUMC was not only the top Methodist fundraising congregation, but also the #1 fundraising congregation in Austin. Kevin Murphy from Church World Service delivered a plaque that has been with one other church since 2017. It is ours this year, so let’s be sure to keep it for 2022. Mark your calendars now for next year’s CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday, March 6, with virtual and in-person opportunities. Together, we are ending hunger one step at a time. 
NEWS & EVENTS
Stay up-to-date on events at fumcaustin.org/events.
Resolution of Appreciation for Rebecca Yohe
Our Finance Committee voted unanimously on October 24 to publicly recognize member Rebecca Yohe for her years of dedicated service in the church office. Rebecca has assisted the financial director and assistant by untold hours of data entry to facilitate their accurate reconciliation of income and expenses. Rebecca’s years of consistency and accuracy have been a valuable resource to FUMC and the staff. Although Rebecca is stepping away from that role, FUMC appreciates her quiet dedication and thanks Rebecca for living her pledge to support FUMC by her prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.
Cheers Potluck
November 18, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
FLC Garrison Chapel
The Cheers Ministry, a community for those young-at-heart who are recently retired and semi-retired, is hosting a potluck, accompanied by a Community First! Village documentary and speaker. Register online. Contact Dick Young with questions.
Social Justice Conversations
November 21, 10:00-10:45 a.m.
EDU Murchison Chapel
We are committed to join God in the work of justice as we learn, name, and work to eradicate injustice in our church, our community, and around the world. Join Pastor Cathy for a discussion pulled from our longer monthly Social Justice Conversations on first Sundays. This month topic is Indigenous Peoples.

"It's incredible what you can do when you stand together. Stand with us -- empathize, learn, grow, change the conversation." -Tribal attorney and Couchiching First Nation citizen Tara Houska
iACT’s Interfaith Day of Thanks Service and Celebration
November 21, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Zoom
Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT) is excited to once again be coming together for this 37th annual celebration. This year’s theme is “What Love Looks Like.” The celebration will be virtually hosted by St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. We are so blessed by the wonderful diversity of faiths we have in Central Texas and look forward to joining together to express our thanks for the many blessings we enjoy. Register online.
Deep Dive into Scripture
Sunday, November 21, 12:15-1:00 p.m.
Sanctuary
Join us for our monthly churchwide Bible study! Every third Sunday of the month, Pastor Brad King (or a special guest) will lead an hour-long discussion of one or more of the passages read in church that month. If you are interested, stay in your pew after the 11:00 a.m. service or come back and join us.
Curtis Higgs Prodigals New Study:
Wholehearted Faith
Beginning November 22, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Zoom
The Prodigals will begin discussing Wholehearted Faith by Rachel Held Evans on Monday, November 22. At the time of her tragic death in 2019, Evans was working on a new book about wholeheartedness. With the help of her friend and author Jeff Chu, that work-in-progress has been woven together with her other unpublished writings into a rich collection of essays. Through theological reflection and personal recollection, Rachel wrestles with God’s grace and love, looks unsparingly at what the Church is and does, and explores universal human questions about becoming and belonging. Men of all ages are welcome to join. For more information, contact Randy Teich at randy.teich53@gmail.com or call 512-426-7769.
Preteen Human Sexuality Workshop
January 21-22, 2022
Family Life Center
This workshop uses the Wonderfully Made curriculum to offer you and your young person opportunities to learn, grow, and celebrate the fact that we have each been wonderfully created by God and are called to responsible living as sexual beings. Sessions cover physical development and spiritual connection while helping preteens (ages 10-12 years) establish a foundation for their life in Christ. To register or for more information, visit the website.
Reach Beyond Mission 2022
Registration is now open!
Our Middle School Service week heads to Albuquerque, NM this summer Saturday, July 16-Saturday, July 23. A Reach Beyond Mission vision-focused week includes direct service, indirect service, relational ministry, and education. You will learn from community leaders & organizers, ministers & social workers, public policy makers & legislators, and professors & advocates. You will hear personal stories shared by guest speakers, and learn through fun but challenging simulations and activities. Everyone who has just completed grades 6-8 is invited to attend. Total cost is $350, with $100 due at registration.
NOVEMBER MISSION EMPHASIS
Christmas Breakfast for the Homeless
For over 20 years, FUMC has sponsored a Christmas Eve Breakfast in the Family Life Center. We provide a hot breakfast, served restaurant style with hosts and a smiling wait staff. After breakfast, guests receive a gift of hats, gloves, lip balm, socks, bus pass, and a few other items.

Our goal is to raise $5,000 for this Christmas celebration in the church parking lot with our unhoused neighbors. Your gifts, marked “Christmas Eve Breakfast,” may be left in the Offering basket as you leave the Sanctuary, made online, or mailed to the church office throughout the month of November. To donate online, select “Other Designated” from the drop-down menu and indicate “Christmas Eve Breakfast” in the memo section.
ADVENT AT FUMC
For a complete listing of opportunities during Advent,
visit our website.
This Advent Season, we join God's journey into our world. Step by step, drawing on the work of historians, archeologists, and theologians, we will retrace the steps of those involved in the birth of Jesus. We'll travel through the stories of Mary, Joseph, and Elizabeth on our way to the manger so we can discover greater insights about this story and what it means for our lives.

Daily Advent devotional materials will be available in the Sanctuary Foyer beginning the first Sunday of Advent, November 28, including a family Advent calendar. Please feel free to take one.
Advent Kickoff
November 28, 10:00-10:45 a.m.
FLC Great Hall
Come explore the meaning of Advent by creating an Advent wreath with your church family. We will make wreaths, play Advent Bingo, and share fellowship. Live greens and wreath supplies (one per household) are available on a first-come, first-served basis for a donation of $20. No purchase or registration required to attend and enjoy the fun.

Volunteers are needed for check-in and clean-up. Reserve your wreath supplies and sign up to volunteer at fumcaustin.org/advent-kickoff. Children and youth will not have regular Sunday School that day, so bring the whole family to the party! Contact Emily Buchanan at emily@fumcaustin.org with questions.
Decorating and Holiday Stroll
Saturday, December 4, 4:00-8:30 p.m.
SAN Wesley Hall
Kick off your holiday by decorating spaces around the church and offering hospitality to Austinites of all ages heading to and coming from the Holiday Stroll. We will begin with decorating the Sanctuary, Family Life Center, and outdoor spaces. A come-and-go potluck meal will be shared from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Wesley Hall. Beginning at 6:00 p.m., volunteers will greet event attendees with hot chocolate and cookies, and bathroom access. Sign up for our decorating team, potluck, and/or hospitality team.

Childcare
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
For parents and guardians who are volunteering, childcare for infants-preschool is available in EDU Room 102 with a reservation sent to childcare@fumcaustin.org. Elementary-aged children (Kindergarten-5th grades) may enjoy activities and crafts in FLC Garrison Chapel led by Lara Greene and Jen Seibel.
Advent Study: The Journey
December 5-19, 10:00-10:45 a.m.
EDU Murchison Chapel
Join Dr. Brad King for an in-depth study of Adam Hamilton's The Journey, which forms the basis of our Advent sermon series. Through engagement with the historical data and archeological research at a deeper level, the most amazing moment in history will become more real and heart-felt for you this season. Attend in person or on Zoom. A limited number of books are available for purchase through registration. Register online.
PRAYER CONCERNS
Submit a prayer request online.
Within Our Congregation
Mack Adams; Sandy Bowles; Shirley Derryberry; Judy Funke; Jack Hathaway; Sam Miller; Sallie Novinger; Rick Ortiz; Andrew Pyle; Dick Raycraft; Ben Thoma; Willie Wisko; and Dan Wood

Condolences to the friends of Dwayne Holman, former member of FUMC and the Downtowners Class, on his death.

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; Michael Carrillo’s mother, Jackie; Michael Carrillo’s sister, Bunny; Teresa Edwards’s aunt, Charlsie Underwood; George Gaston’s friend, Dr. Robert Wootton; Marcia Houston’s mother,
Johnnie; Judy Kostura’s friend, River; Judy Kostura’s friend, Taylor McPheeters; Michelle; Ben Nunn’s friend, Austin Luchak; Andrew Pyle’s father, James Pyle; Richard; Scott Seibel’s father, Dave Seibel; Donna Shands’ friend, Michael Morrisette; Curt and Debbie Shaw’s daughter-in-law, Stacey Shaw; Lee Sloan’s friend, Amanda Brown; Alan Stephens’ father-in-law, Bob McBride; Alan Stephens’ mother-in-law, Betty McBride; Natalie Tindall’s father, Nathaniel Tindall II; Linda Van Horne’s friend, Crissie Donato; Rebecca Yohe’s mother, Virginia Yohe; Dick and Anne Young’s friend, the Reverend Jim Turley; and Dick and Anne Young’s friend, the Reverend Travis Franklin
Contact Us
First United Methodist Church
1201 Lavaca St. Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-5684