Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action

Here is an updated list of executions schedule through March, 2010.

• 11/17/2009 Eldridge, Gerald
• 11/18/2009 Simpson, Danielle
• 11/19/2009 Thompson, Robert
• 12/03/2009 Woods, Bobby
• 01/07/2010 Mosley, Kenneth
• 01/12/2010 Johnson, Gary
• 02/24/2010 Skinner, Henry
• 03/02/2010 Sigala, Michael
• 03/30/2010 Alix, Franklin

Please Help Us Continue Our Programs

If you have not yet paid your membership gift for 2009, please make plans to do so as soon as possible.  There are now two easy ways to join MFSA.  You can log onto the national MFSA website, http://www.mfsaweb.org and follow the instructions there (you can safely use a credit card), or you can simply bring a check to the next meeting, made out to “MFSA” and we will see that it is registered in our account.  Either way, our local chapter gets a portion of the gift for our programs.  We continue to need funding for visibility within our communities and to advance our social action movement.

Suggested Membership Amounts (you may also select your own amount):

• $60 Subscribing Membership Gift
• $100 Sustaining Membership Gift
• $150 Supporting Membership Gift
• $200 Spirited Membership Gift
• $500 Stellar Membership Gift

Benefits of membership:

• Receive the MFSA newsletter (Social Questions Bulletin)
• Receive the MFSA E-newsletter with action updates
• Receive discounts on events sponsored by MFSA
• Connect with other justice-seekers in your annual conference
• Join with others in speaking up for justice in the UMC and world

Membership in MFSA is not predicated on ability to pay.  Any amount of money you are able to give is gratefully accepted.  Membership gifts to MFSA are tax deductible as provided by law.

Join us!

By Janice Curry

Do you wonder each Christmas what you can give to family and friends who seemingly need nothing?  Or, are you ready to forego the Christmas gifts to be part of making a difference in someone’s life?  Last Christmas, when my kids (in their 30s) asked what I wanted for Christmas, I told them that I wanted them to donate to some worthwhile effort to help others in my name.  I “got” a rabbit for the Heifer Project, as well as gifts that helped feed the hungry and provide books to the illiterate (The Hunger Site).

Here are some suggestions for alternative giving to consider:

• Shop The Hunger Site where purchases help feed in need. http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1
  
• Heifer International is a non-profit organization whose goal is to help end world hunger and poverty through self-reliance & sustainability. http://www.heifer.org
• World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.  http://www.wvi.org/wvi/wviweb.nsf
• Consider microfinance such as Grameen- http://www.grameen-info.org or http://www.grameenamerica.com – Grameen America is built upon the success of the Grameen Bank. Founded by Professor Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh, the Grameen Bank is the most widely recognized microfinance company in the world. This success earned both Professor Yunus and the Grameen Bank the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.
• Glimmer of Hope Austin – Recognizing that poverty comes in many forms, A Glimmer of Hope Austin was established in 2003 to fund programs designed to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged youth and seniors in the foundation’s hometown. A Glimmer of Hope is run like a business and it measures its success like a business. It is in operation to turn a profit – a Social Profit.  http://www.aglimmerofhope.org

• Smile Train – Changing the world one smile at a time.  http://www.smiletrain.org/site/PageServer
• Fair Trade products – Working to build sustainable communities.
  http://www.globalgoodspartners.org/template/index.cfm
  
• http://twohandsworldshop.com/
  
• UMCOR – United Methodist Committee on Relief – http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/give/gift-catalog/

And there are so many other ways to make a difference!  Give it a try!

Austin Area Interreligious Ministries has announced its premiere event, the Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration, bringing together over 1000 people to share gratitude for the gifts and blessings of our world. This is a longstanding tradition in Austin and has been going on for the past 24 years.

AAIM’s 25th Annual Interfaith Celebration will be held on Sunday, November 22, 2009, at First Baptist Church, located at 901 Trinity St. in downtown Austin.  The Service will begin at 3:30 pm, and a Reception will follow at 5:00 pm.  Participating congregations are encouraged to bring food dishes that can be shared by all and include an ingredients list.

Our theme this year is COURAGE.

At our upcoming MFSA chapter meeting, we will discuss whether we want to host an information table for MFSA at the reception.

The Southwest Texas Conference Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action will meet at Saint John’s on Thursday, November 12 to continue our series on addressing poverty issues.  Our speaker will be Rev. Paul DuBois of University UMC, who works with the “Open Door” ministries which feed and clothe many of Austin’s homeless.  University UMC feeds an average of 300 people per week through the program.  Rev. DuBois will discuss the Open Door ministry, as well as aiding us in our examination of the root causes of poverty.  Originally from Louisiana, Rev. DuBois is a student at the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and leads University UMC’s alternate Chapel Worship service.  The MFSA meeting begins at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall with light snacks, and the program begins at 7:00 pm.  Join us!