Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action

The Southwest Texas Chapter is planning a number of social action programs and activities for 2010 that will require additional funding.  Please consider a contribution as a part of your end-of-year giving.

You can pre-pay your 2010 membership this month, just by specifying that you want your contribution to be applied to your 2010 membership.

There are two easy ways to contribute to 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 mail a check to our Treasurer, Janice Curry, at 1509 Mearns Meadow Blvd, Austin 78758.  The check should be made out to St. John’s UMC, with “MFSA” on the memo line.

Please help us continue and improve the programs and activities of MFSA through your generosity!

January 14 – Monthly Meeting.  Saint John’s UMC
6:30pm social gathering, 7:00 meeting

Continuing our focus on poverty, our speaker will be Richard Troxel, who works with ARCH and House the Homeless here in Austin.  He will describe a “Let’s Get Back-to-Work” program that will support homeless families of the working poor while taking job certification courses which would enable them to significantly increase their income.  How can we help?

January 18 – MLK Day March

This march traditionally begins at the MLK statue on the UT campus, moves to the Capitol for a program and music, then to Huston-Tillotson.  We’ll be there with our banner!

February 11 – Monthly Meeting.

We are planning a panel presentation to follow up on the recent Hunger Summit in Waco.   Texas ranks 49th in food security for children (only Mississippi ranks lower).  There is money available to provide nutritious meals for school-age children during the summer months, if only there were delivery systems in place.  How can we help?

Join us!

You are invited to a Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) social on Saturday, January 16, 7:30 PM, at 7403 Shoal Creek Blvd, Austin, at the home of Rev. Richard Bates and his partner, Joe.

The social is an informal gathering of Austin United Methodist individuals, Sunday School classes, or congregations who are a part of the Reconciling movement within the UMC, or who are interested in learning more about it. RMN is a growing movement of United Methodist individuals, congregations, campus ministries, and other groups working for the full participation of all people in the United Methodist Church. RMN mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world into the full expression of Christ’s inclusive love.  You can learn more about this Methodist ministry here, including how you or your Sunday School class or other group can become more inclusive: http://www.rmnetwork.org/.

If you are able to come, everyone is asked to bring wine or an appetizer to share.  No RSVP is necessary.