Dear First Church Family,
Once again, we begin Holy Week by acknowledging that things are different this year. Our usual traditions have to be set aside or modified. Within the reality of that loss, there is an opportunity to try something new. God has a way of surprising us when we shake things up, opening our Spirits to God's wild and unpredictable Spirit. I invite you to look with openness at the opportunities before you this Holy Week; receive the story of Jesus in a new way and find your hope restored.
With anticipation and hope,
Pastor Taylor
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Lenten Labyrinth Experience
Murchison Chapel
Monday, March 29-Thursday, April 1
During Holy Week, a labyrinth, an ancient pattern for prayer, meditation, and contemplation, will be available in Murchison Chapel during select times: Monday/ Wednesday 9:00-10:00 a.m., 12:00-1:00 p.m., and 6:00-7:00 p.m. and Tuesday/ Thursday 9:00-10:00 a.m. and 12:00-1:00 p.m. FUMC welcomes all members and guests to take part in this Lenten practice. We are being careful to ensure the safety of each person who comes to walk the labyrinth in the Chapel. You can sign up here.
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Thursday, April 1, 8:00 a.m.
Video & Worship Guide
On Maundy Thursday, we gather with Jesus and his friends in the Upper Room to share a meal and experience the washing of feet. We’ll provide a brief worship video with Scripture, song, and sermon, as well as a printed guide for footwashing and remembering Jesus’ last supper. Video and worship guide available on Thursday morning by 8:00 a.m. on our FUMC Austin Mobile App, YouTube, and Facebook page.
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Family Chapel Time
Friday, April 2, 10:00 a.m., Zoom
Families are invited to join Director of Children's Ministries Lara Greene in a live online Good Friday reflection. Story, prayer, and music will be used to lead children in exploring this special day and the mystery of Easter. This brief service of approximately 30 minutes will be presented live on Zoom at 10:00 a.m. Look for Zoom link in Thursday email. A video will also be available afterward on our Family Facebook Group Page.
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Stations of the Cross
Friday, April 2, 2:00-8:00 p.m.
Outdoor Sidewalks, Chapel, & Sanctuary
The Stations of the Cross experience is designed for participants to walk the path of Jesus in the last hours before his crucifixion and burial. Through ten interactive stations, this service honors the ancient story of Jesus’ death while recognizing the ways this narrative repeats itself again and again throughout the past and present. It provides multi-sensory ways to engage, confess, and lament, creating a profound and prophetic Holy Week worship experience. An audio podcast will be available to guide you through the stations. No registration is required. Social distancing and masks required. Parking is available in the garage located at the southwest corner of 13th and Lavaca Street. Audio podcast will be available at fumcaustin.org/stations. Don't forget your headphones!
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Easter Vigil
Saturday, April 3, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Church Parking Lot
Join us for a new, in-person experience of celebrating the Resurrection and new life! In this extended service, we draw on the Jewish tradition of beginning our celebration the night before the Feast Day of Easter, much like we do on Christmas Eve. Utilizing the symbols of Fire, Word, Water, and Meal, this service will trace God's story from Genesis onward and culminate in a celebration of Christ's victory over the grave, complete with Holy Communion and the Baptism of Cherice Mumford and her newborn son, Diego. The service will last 90 minutes and will be held in the FUMC Parking Lot with Covid safety protocols in place. Bring your camping chairs! Register Here (one per person).
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Easter Sunday Worship
Sunday, April 4, 11:00 a.m.
Celebrate God's victory over the powers of sin, oppression, and death! Join us for Virtual Worship, complete with virtual choir and trumpets, at 11:00 a.m. on Zoom, or view the service on the FUMC App, YouTube, or Facebook.
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Easter Flowering of the Cross
Sunday, April 4, All Day
Church Parking Lot
Bring a flower and place on our flowering cross on Easter Sunday! Christ’s resurrection brings new life to the whole world—it is the beginning of the restoration of all things! Help us create this beautiful symbol for all to see as they drive down Lavaca. through the stations. No registration is required. Social distancing and masks required. Parking is available in the garage located at the southwest corner of 13th and Lavaca Street.
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Easter Communion
Sunday, April 4
On this Easter Sunday, join us for Holy Communion. Sign up to attend a brief Communion Service in the FUMC parking lot. One car per registration and 22 parking spots per time slot. Bread and juice will be individually bagged for each car. the stations. No registration is required. Social distancing and masks required. Parking is available in the garage located at the southwest corner of 13th and Lavaca Street.
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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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Contact Us
1201 Lavaca St. Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-5684
www.fumcaustin.org
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