After the 2016 Presidential election, Anne Mund, President of Rio Texas MFSA, compiled a document with ideas for turning our passion for social justice into action. Sources include Nicholas Kristof, Jim Wallis, MFSA, Slate magazine and others. Please find the document here: 2016-presidential-election-response
Next MFSA Meeting Thursday, November 10, 7pm
November 10, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
Texas Impact and the Texas Legislature
The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, famously said, “The Gospel of Christ knows no religion but social; no holiness, but social holiness.” The November meeting of the Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) will welcome Yaira Robinson from Texas Impact, as our speaker. Texas Impact is a statewide religious grassroots network whose members include individuals, congregations, and governing bodies of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. Its mission is to help people of faith participate faithfully and effectively in public policy discussions concerning issues of broad religious social concern, through non-partisan education on policy issues and training in civic participation. Yaira will speak about what we, as people of faith, should be particularly aware of as our legislators convene in just three short months.
Please join us at Saint John’s UMC, 2140 Allandale Road, on Thursday, November 10 at 6:30p for snacks and mingling. The program begins at 7p. All are welcome.
ARJFON Dinner November 19
November 10, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
Come celebrate and support Austin Region Justice for our Neighbors (ARJFON), learn more about its program, and meet with other community leaders. It’s an opportunity for the organization, volunteers, and friends to give thanks and dream of a better, brighter future together. This year’s event will feature tasty food, live music and fun for all.
Special guests are Bishop Robert Schnase and Dr. Luis Zayas, dean of the UT School of Social Work and author of Forgotten Citizens: Deportation, Children, and the Making of American Exiles and Orphans.
Saturday, November 19, 2016
6:30-7:00 p.m. – Welcome Reception
7:00 p.m. – Dinner and Music
First United Methodist Church
Family Life Center
1300 Lavaca Street
Austin, Texas
What is ARJFON?
The Austin Region Justice for Our Neighbors (ARJFON) is a not-for-profit legal clinic whose goal is to provide hospitality and compassion by welcoming low-income immigrants through free or affordable immigration legal services, engaging in advocacy for immigrants’ rights, and education to communities of faith and the public.
Individual Ticket – $50.00
Table Leaders – $500.00 (includes one table for 8 people)
Shepherds – $2,000.00 (includes one table for 8 people, name in program, acknowledgement during program, acknowledged on ARJFON Website)
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
November 10, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
Interfaith Action of Central Texas is having its 32nd annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service!
Free and open to the public, all are welcome. Come join fellow Austinites of every faith tradition at St. James Missionary Baptist Church as we celebrate what we are thankful for together. If you plan to attend, please RSVP!
Sunday, November 20, 2016, 3:00 pm
Download the full sized event poster to share with your community!
Download the smaller event poster to share with your community!
Austin UMC Christmas Markets to Benefit Missions
November 10, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSAManchaca UMC -41st Annual Craft Show
DO YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING WITH US!
Manchaca UMC -41st Annual Craft Show
· Saturday November 12, 2016 from 10 am – 4 pm
· Sunday November 13, 2016 from 8am – 10:30 am and then from 12:30pm – 2 pm
· In the Family Life Center
All crafts handmade by the MUMC Craft Group! Featuring:
· Quilts and wall hangings for all occasions
· Ornaments and wreaths
· Fall and Thanksgiving decorations
· Gifts for all seasons
· Silent Auction and drawing items
· Baked goods
Special Theme Tables: North Woods, Santa, Snowmen, Angels, Kitchen Items, Pets, and more!
Lunch available on Saturday only.
Admission is free! Plenty of free parking.
Click HERE for information about the Craft Group
Allies Against Slavery Market
Sunday, December 4 – 11am -6pm
1100 E 5th St. – Austin
Now in its 7th year, the Allies Market is the perfect place to shop for the holidays while also doing good. The vendors and artisans we feature at the Market are dedicated to bringing you beautiful products that are also good for people and the earth.
The Market is free to attend and will include food, games and fun for the entire family. So come enjoy yourself and shop for art, jewelry, music, clothing, purses, bags, toys, cosmetics, coffee, housewares and other gifts.
News From TCADP
November 10, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSAScheduled executions: Texas will end 2016 with fewest executions in 20 years
Announcements: Register today for the TCADP 2017 Annual Conference; join us at the State Capitol next year for the 2017 Faith Leader Advocacy Day on the Death Penalty
In case you missed it: Part II of Fair Punishment Project report cites systemic problems in Dallas County; Texas Catholic Bishops issue powerful statement against the death penalty; national momentum for abolition
From the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty; more here.
UMW Legislative Event in January 2017
November 10, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
Join United Methodist Women from all over Texas in Austin for three days of learning, engagement, and advocacy. The UMW Legislative Event is an informative and inspiring event that is right here in Austin, January 22-24, 2017. You can attend all three days or any part of the event. The 2017 keynote speakers are the Hon. Leticia Van de Putte and the Hon. Hope Andrade! Register by January 6 to get the early bird registration price.
29th Annual Legislative Event
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN IN TEXAS
Program planned and produced by Texas Impact
JANUARY 22-24, 2017
Austin, Texas
The Way Texas Works
Join Women from All Around the State
To Engage Issues That Matter
To get the early-bird registration price, register by January 6.
Register at: https://texasimpact.org/content/2017-united-methodist-womens-legislative-event-registration-now-open
Equal Justice Initiative – Lynching Museum
November 10, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) plans to build a national memorial to victims of lynching and open a museum that explores African American history from enslavement to mass incarceration. Both the museum and memorial will be located in Montgomery, Alabama. Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy and founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, talked about this when he spoke to 900 people in Austin, TX. There is interest in Austin to participate in this project. Stay tuned for more information.
From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration will be situated within 150 yards of one of the South’s most prominent slave auction sites and the Alabama River dock and rail station where tens of thousands of enslaved black people were trafficked. The museum will contain high-tech exhibits, artifacts, recordings, and films, as well as comprehensive data and information on lynching and racial segregation. The museum will connect the history of racial inequality with contemporary issues of mass incarceration, excessive punishment, and police violence.
The Memorial to Peace and Justice will sit on six acres of land in Montgomery and become the nation’s first national memorial to victims of lynching. The massive structure will contain the names of over 4000 lynching victims engraved on concrete columns representing each county in the United States where racial terror lynchings took place. Counties across the country will be invited to retrieve duplicate columns with the names of each county’s lynching victims to be placed in every county.
In February 2015, EJI released Lynching in America: Confronting the Legacy of Racial Terror, a ground-breaking report that documents more than 4000 lynchings of black people in the United States between 1877 and 1950. EJI identified several hundred more lynchings than had previously been recognized. For a copy of the full report, please contact EJI. A summary of the report is available here.
The national memorial to lynching victims will be one of the nation’s most ambitious projects relating to the history of racial terror lynchings. EJI has purchased six acres of land atop a rise that overlooks the City of Montgomery and out to the American South, where terror lynchings were most prevalent.
Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action 