MFSA Monthly Meeting Thursday, September 13
September 6, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA
A Special General Conference of the United Methodist Church will meet in February 2019 in an attempt to resolve the denomination’s differences over homosexuality. This summer, the Love Your Neighbor Coalition (which includes MFSA and RMN) met at a convocation – For Everyone Born – that included planning the coalition’s witness at the Special GC. At our meeting on Thursday, September 13, we will hear from Rev. Nancy Mossman, who attended the convocation and will report her impressions and the plans that are being made for witness by those supporting an inclusive church.
More than a dozen MFSA supporters from Austin have expressed their intent to travel to St. Louis for the Special GC in February. We will discuss plans and needs for that important and historic witness in the life of the denomination.
Location: Saint John’s UMC, 2140 Allandale Road, with snacks and mingling at 6:30p and the program at 7p. All are welcome! Hope to see you there!
Important Discussion at University UMC Austin
September 6, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA 
Sunday, September 16, 12:15 p.m.
University United Methodist Church (UUMC) Fellowship Hall
2409 Guadalupe St. Austin, TX 78705
In February 2019, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church will have a called special session to determine the future shape of the global United Methodist Church. Our Council of Bishops have recommended a plan, drafted by the “Commission on a Way Forward” called the “One Church Plan.” If adopted, this plan will create a step forward towards full inclusion of the LGBTQ community while at the same time allowing for theological differences to continue to coexist. Leah Taylor, a University of Texas alumni and a Senior Representative for Texas Methodist Foundation was on the Commission that drafted the “One Church Plan.” In her local church Leah served as Chair or Trustees, a member of Staff Parish and Administrative Council and is the former Lay Leader for the South Central Jurisdiction.
Also joining us for the discussion will be Jay Brim, former Lay Leader of the Rio Texas Annual Conference and a member of Westlake UMC in Austin. He has been Chancellor of the Rio Texas Conference since 2016 and is a delegate to the called General Conference in 2019 in St. Louis.
All are invited to join your pastors, Leah Taylor and Jay Brim for lunch as we discuss and answer important questions about this plan. What is it? How will it affect us? How can we support this plan? What are the alternative plans being presented to the General Conference and why would they be harmful to the UMC?
Donations will gratefully be accepted to cover the cost of the food.
Register: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07efmztk6gb83b6b86&oseq=&c=&ch=
Peoples Climate Movement March
September 6, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA
https://peoplesclimate.org/rise/?source=tagged&referrer=group-nrdc
Join us on Saturday, September 8 at a Peoples Climate Movement march near you! Learn more and RSVP today.
WHAT: Peoples Climate Movement, Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice marches
WHEN: Saturday, September 8, 2018 *please note, some marches are taking place on different dates
WHERE: A city or town near you (find the closest event here)
This important march will come after a summer that saw record heat waves, historic wildfires, massive flooding, and countless other impacts from worsening climate change. This summer, the effects of climate change are not so subtle.
The September 8 marches will take place just four days before the start of the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco.
So, in the lead up to this pivotal event — a moment that could change the face of and the fight for climate action — it’s especially important to stand together and show our elected officials that we will continue fighting for a just and sustainable future to protect the health and well-being of generations to come.
Sign up for a Peoples Climate Movement march near you on September 8.
Whether you’ll be with us at the flagship march in San Francisco or at a sister march in your city or town, September 8 will be an opportunity to show the administration, fossil fuel companies, and their allies in Congress that we are resilient, we are resolute, and we won’t allow them to destroy the progress we’ve made in combating climate change. We hope to see you there!
Wesley Choir Celebration
September 6, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA
The Wesley Intergenerational Choir
celebrates
41 years of discipleship.
My Grateful Heart Sings
September 23, 2018
4:00 p.m.
Habitat for Humanity
September 6, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA
Austin is in a housing crisis.
Everyone knows it. Everyone feels it.
This is why we have come together in partnership with Foundation Communities, Meals on Wheels Central Texas, LifeWorks Austin, Caritas of Austin, HousingWorks Austin and Keep Austin Affordable to advocate for what can be one of the biggest investments in our community for generations: the Affordable Housing Bond.
“Affordable Housing Bond” may sound complicated and over the next few months, you’ll see and hear us talking about it a lot. We’ve put together FAQs that you can use to become informed and to better understand why we are advocating for this — Proposition A — to be voted into effect.
Sign up for our advocacy list to stay up-to-date with the Bond and how you can get involved.
N A M I
September 6, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSANAMI Walks Austin
REGISTER NOW! DONATE TO THIS EVENT
When: September 29, 2018
Distance: 5k
Location: The Long Center Austin, TX
Contact:
NAMI Austin
P.O. Box 302398 | Austin, TX 78703
Christina Schneider
Community Relations Coordinator
512-420-9810 Ext 1006
christina.schneider@namiaustin.org
iACT
September 6, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA
On behalf of Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT), we cordially invite you to our fall fundraiser A Night Under One Sky on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at UMLAUF Scuplture Garden and Museum at 6:30pm. Join us for a night of music, dinner and dialogue in celebration of the relationships we have, and those we hope to build. Over the past year, events in our world have shined a light on the vital importance of iACT’s mission: to cultivate peace and respect through interfaith dialogue, service and celebration. Let us come together to appreciate our unity. http://interfaithtexas.org/anuos/
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The Red Bench: 
Divine Presence
Join us at 6:30pm on Tuesday, September 25 for a courageous conversation on the topic of Divine Presence at First Baptist Church of Austin (901 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78701).
If you plan to attend, please RSVP
Phone512-386-9145
Websiteinterfaithtexas.org
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Our next big housing repair project will be Raise the Roof on Saturday, October 20, 2018. We will be painting and doing minor repair work to a number of homes in Austin. If you are ready to register a team for this event, please fill out this form. If you would like to volunteer for this event as an individual, there is no need for you to register. Simply show up at our sheds (701 Tillery Street, 78702, very back of complex right by the dumpsters) on October 20 for a half day or full day of volunteering. Full day: arrive between 8am and 8:30am. Half day: arrive between 1 and 1:30pm. We will have waivers there for you to sign and will administer your project address in person
Texas Gun Sense
September 6, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA
Vice News has released “Fear and Loading: Women and Guns in America“. The piece was filmed in Austin in April during the week of the National School Walkout. The Vice team traveled to Texas to explore both sides of the gun issue from the perspective of women. Interviews included Texas Gun Sense board member and gun violence survivor, Susan R. Nelson, a group of women at a “Girls and Guns” conference and the Austin students who organized the National School Walkout at the Texas Capitol.
We are grateful to our supporters and for all you do. Texas Gun Sense is ready to fight for common sense gun laws during the upcoming legislative session. Please consider a one-time or sustaining donation today – the work we do relies on the generous support of donors like you.
Texas Gun Sense is a statewide nonprofit and nonpartisan organization advocating for common sense, evidence-based policies to reduce gun injuries and deaths. For more information, visit www.txgunsense.org.
Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action 