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Since July 2015, Rev. Bonner held vigil in solidarity with Sandra Bland, who died that month in the Waller County (TX) Jail. Very recently, Sandra Bland’s sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho inducted Rev. Bonner as an Honorary Member. And WomanPreach! Inc. honored her with the Parthia Hall Justice Award “to a woman minister whose prophetic voice has been obvious and effective in the public arena.” Rev. Bonner’s current witness is focused on her role as Curator of The Shout, a spoken word poetry focused arts and justice movement, which “has as its goal nothing less than the cultivation of a community of diverse people committed to transforming our world.” Snacks and mingling begin at 6:30p, followed by the program at 7:00. Bring friends of any (or no) faith tradition. We hope to see you there! |
Rio Texas Conference Delegation LISTENING SESSIONS
April 12, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA As the Rio Texas Conference Delegation prepares to attend the 2016 General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Portland, Oregon – May 10 thru 20, the Delegation is hosting three Listening Sessions. You are invited to participate while gaining information from our constituents of the Rio Texas Conference regarding proposals of General Conference. These sessions will be on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. A brief summary will be provided regarding what information / proposals fall within the listening session topic.
The Listening Sessions will cover the following topic areas: · April 5th UMC Restructuring Related Proposals · April 12th Human Sexuality and LGBTQI Proposals · April 19th Global Discipline & Other Miscellaneous Topics Learn more and register as a participant or presenter. These Listening Sessions will all be conducted as a webinar via ZOOM – online video conferencing. There is no limit to the total number of participants for each session. Each session will be recorded and archived for later viewing. ParticipantsThose registering as webinar participants will be able to see and hear the presentations and discussion. Depending on the number of participants and presentations, you may have the ability to ask questions through text-based Q&A or by audio and video. Upon registering, ZOOM connection information will be sent as a confirmation of registration. Click on the session below to register as a participant. You will be redirected to the Zoom Webinar Page.
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Love Your Neighbor Coalition
April 12, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA The Love Your Neighbor Coalition consists of United Methodists committed to the embodiment of God’s love and justice within and through the people and mission of The United Methodist Church. The core of our faith is found in Jesus’ response to the question “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” – to “love God with all our heart, soul (being) and mind” and to “love neighbor as self” (Matthew 22:36-40). These hold ancient “law and prophets” together with our contemporary Book of Discipline, Social Principles, and Book of Resolutions. Our mission is to assure The United Methodist Church is fully open to the presence, love and grace of God offered to all people.
LYNC is a coalition of thirteen partner organizations, and each has agreed to work together around the intersections of common justice issues and shared values. For more information, see: http://www.lyncoalition.org/ |
“It’s Time” – RMN Initiatives
April 12, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA|
For more information, go to http://www.rmnetwork.org/newrmn/itstime/. |
Prayer Service for General Conference
April 12, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA On Sunday, April 24, at 3 p.m., Saint John’s UMC Austin will host a prayer service in its chapel to gather hopes and concerns before The United Methodist Church’s General Conference, meeting May 10-20 in Portland, Oregon. The hour-long service, which will be led by Rev. Paul Escamilla and includes Holy Communion, is open to United Methodists across the greater Austin community. It will provide opportunities to pray for the guidance of the Spirit as the conference deliberates on matters of the church’s theology and policies. Child care will be provided. |
Documentary Screenings – An Act Of Love
April 12, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
First United Methodist Church of Austin Wesley Hall 6:00 p.m. – Sunday, April 17 Free Admission You are invited to a screening of An Act of Love. This powerful film documents the trial that rocked the United Methodist Church and the minister, Rev. Frank Schaefer, who risked his career and identity as a UMC elder to officiate his son’s marriage to his longtime partner. Our local church has ties to this movie. First United Methodist assisted in funding this project with special contributions from several members of our congregation. Rev. Schaefer also preached at our Reconciling Service a few years ago. A discussion with Q&A will follow with Reconciling Ministries Network board member, David Mauzy. The timing of our showing of this film is significant. In May 2016, the United Methodist Church’s General Conference will once again debate the questions of same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy. Even though the United States now recognizes the right of same-sex couples to marry, our denomination still struggles with these issues. We encourage you to attend this screening to inform yourself about the issues that are of national and denominational importance. If you are interested in attending the screening please send your RSVP to RMN Chair Trevor Harper at trevorscottharper@gmail.com. |
| Additional Screening of An Act of Love – San Antonio
Travis Park UMC 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 24
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No Book Fair at Annual Conference this year
April 12, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA Rio Texas MFSA will again have a presence at the 2016 Annual Conference meetings in Corpus Christi June 9 – 12. Because of policy changes this year, we will be limited to only one table for our displays in the Exhibit Hall. We will continue to provide information at our booth about our organization and our activities. And we will sponsor our Sixth Annual Peace and Justice Luncheon (see below). |
As a result of limited space, however, we will not have a book fair as we have for the past 7 years. Please find other meaningful places to donate your used religious and spiritual books.
Rio Texas Annual Conference – Peace & Justice Luncheon
April 12, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
Where do we go from here?Reflections on General Conference 2016 Friday, June 10, 2016 – Noon American Bank Convention Center – Watergarden A (upstairs) Corpus Christi, Texas Sixth Annual Peace & Justice Luncheon Methodist Federation for Social Action, Rio Texas Chapter Rio Texas Conference Transforming Communities Vision Team FeaturingWe are pleased to have these four United Methodists share their perspectives about General Conference 2016.
Join us for this on-site luncheon. In addition, we will honor the recipients of the MFSA “Building a Just Community” Awards. Luncheon Cost: $12.00 in advance (by June 3); $15.00 at MFSA booth (limited number available)
Purchase tickets with credit card Here See luncheon flyer at: https://riotexasmfsa.org/2016/04/05/peace-and-justice-luncheon-2016/luncheonflyer2016/ |
MFSA Sponsors One Human Race Workshop in April
April 12, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA Rio Texas MFSA is sponsoring the One Human Race Series on three Saturdays in April (16th, 23rd, and 30th) at St. Luke UMC, 1306 West Lynn, Austin, 78703. We will meet once a week or three weeks to create a safe environment to communicate about race using the following resources:
· Watch PBS Series: “Race: The Power of An Illusion” in one hour segments; · Participate in group discussions with trained group leaders; · Examine the American concept of race; · Share feelings and experiences with a goal of building community and common ground. You do not have to attend all three sessions. If you miss a session, you can register for it later at another location. Contact Anne Mund, ennadnum@hotmail.com, if you have questions. Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/one-human-race-series-tickets-21977213437 |
We look forward to seeing you on April 16, 23, and 30th.
Sister Helen Prejean at Southwestern University
April 12, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA The Roy and Margaret Shilling Lecture Series is pleased to welcome Sister Helen Prejean to campus on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. The title of the lecture is “Dead Man Walking—The Journey Continues.”
Sister Helen Prejean has been instrumental in sparking national dialogue on the death penalty and helping to shape the Catholic Church’s newly vigorous opposition to state executions. She travels around the world giving talks about her ministry. She considers herself a southern storyteller. Tickets to the Shilling Lecture are free and open to the public. They will be available through the Wm. Chris & Tina M. Mathers Box Office at 512-863-1378. (Priority will be given to students, faculty, staff and friends of Southwestern. Available on a first come, first served basis.) Ticket pick-up starts at 5 p.m. on the day of the event at the Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center Jim and Pat Walzel Lobby. Doors open for seating at 6 p.m. Sister Helen’s books Dead Man Walking and Death of Innocents will be on sale before and after the lecture. She will be available to autograph copies after the lecture. All proceeds benefit her Ministry Against the Death Penalty. |
Earth Day 2016
April 12, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA|
Earth Day Toolkit The movement continues. We are now entering the 46th year of a movement that continues to inspire, challenge ideas, ignite passion, and motivate people to action. In 1970, the year of our first Earth Day, the movement gave voice to an emerging consciousness, channeling human energy toward environmental issues. Forty-six years later, we continue to lead with groundbreaking ideas and by the power of our example. And so it begins. Today. Right here and right now. Earth Day is more than just a single day — April 22, 2016. It’s bigger than attending a rally and taking a stand. This Earth Day and beyond, let’s make big stuff happen. Let’s plant 7.8 billion trees for the Earth. Let’s divest from fossil fuels and make cities 100% renewable. Let’s take the momentum from the Paris Climate Summit and build on it. Let’s start now. And let’s not stop. – See more at: http://www.earthday.org/earth-day/#sthash.IdDpHhGH.dpuf |
BOPA Recycling at Crestview UMC
April 12, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA BOPA (Batteries, Oil, Paint, Antifreeze) Recycling in our parking lot at Crestview UMC, 1300 Morrow on Saturday April 23, starting at 9 am. We’ll close at 11 am or when our trailers are full, whichever comes first. We are conducting this recycling drive in partnership with the Crestview Neighborhood Association. Bring Batteries, Oil, Paint and Antifreeze (the last three in closed containers). We can accept only these items! They will be taken to the city’s hazardous waste recycling depot. Just drive up, give your zip code (requested by the city) and volunteers will unload your vehicle.
A collection of electronic items will go on at the same time and place, to benefit Wooten Elementary School. Items can be working or non-working cables, circuit boards, computers, laptops, LCD screens, modems, monitors, motherboards, networking hardware, telecommunication equipment, telephones, cell phones, printer cartridges and toner cartridges, electronic games. |
The Mask You Live In
April 12, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA Screening and panel discussion of the film THE MASK YOU LIVE IN
St. Andrews Presbyterian Church – Austin Sunday, April 26, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
In 2011, Jennifer Siebel Newsom debuted her first film, MISS REPRESENTATION, which delved into the dangerous ways mass media reflects and enforces our culture’s belief that the value of women and girls lies in their youth, beauty, and sexuality. In a similar approach, Siebel Newsom’s newest film, THE MASK YOU LIVE IN, takes a look at modern masculinity. What are the messages our boys and men receive from popular culture, sports, and the media? What happens to kids when the traits we’ve feminized are devalued over and over again? In this film, men from various backgrounds share the impact of their upbringing, relationships with their fathers, their struggles, and the deliberate choices they’ve made in raising their own children. Experts in the field, including authors, doctors, and educators, provide research as well as observations on the challenges men and boys face in our society’s unrealistic expectations of hyper-masculinity. This project reveals how our current course of male identity needs to be altered. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc45-ptHMxo |
Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT)
April 12, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
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| This year iACT will be holding its biggest fundraiser, The Hope Awards, on Monday, May 2, 2016 at Congregation Agudas Achim. The celebration will honor the Stewart Family – Liz, Duff, Adam, Noah, and Grace, and will highlight the work of Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
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More information here.
Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action 
