This year’s Austin CROP Hunger Walk will be Sunday, March 23rd, at Camp Mabry (2200 West 35th St). As always, 75% of funds raised go to Church World Service to help alleviate hunger around the world and 25% of funds stay in the Austin area. The local agencies chosen to receive funds this year are: Sustainable Food Center, Capital Area Food Bank, iACT for Refugees, and Micah 6.
If you prefer to make a donation online, go to http://hunger.cwsglobal.org/goto/uumcaustin.
Marcus Borg Weekend at University UMC, Austin
April 4-6
University United Methodist Church invites you to join us for a weekend of teaching and conversation with Dr. Marcus Borg, one of the most widely known and influential voices in progressive Christianity. The weekend event – “What Does It Mean To Be Christian Today?” – includes a Friday lecture on “Reclaiming Christian Language” at 7 pm, and two Saturday lectures on “Where Do We Meet the Sacred?” and “Radical Discipleship in an Unjust World” at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm. Borg will preach at UUMC’s Sanctuary worship service at 11 am on Sun. April 6.
Registration for the Friday and Saturday events is $40. Student registration is $20. Online registration will begin in February. There will be question-and-answer sessions and book signing opportunities during the weekend. Online registration will begin in February.
A major figure in scholarship related to the Historical Jesus, Borg is the author of 20 books and serves as Canon Theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Ore. Described by The New York Times as “a leading figure in his generation of Jesus scholars,” Borg has appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” and “Dateline,” PBS’s “NewsHour,” ABC’s “Evening News” and “Primetime,” NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross, and several National Geographic programs. A Fellow of the Jesus Seminar, he has been national chair of the Historical Jesus Section of the Society of Biblical Literature.
Registration at: http://www.uumc.org/borg/
iACT’s 2014 Hope Awards
Thursday, April 24, 2014
6:00 – 9:00 PM
Four Seasons Hotel Austin
98 San Jacinto Boulevard
With over 300 guests expected to attend, including some of the Central Texas area’s most prominent business, faith and community leaders, the Hope Awards is Interfaith Action of Central Texas’ (iACT) premier fundraising event to support our outstanding community service programs. Please join us in bringing hope to those we serve: impoverished seniors, disabled individuals and newly arrived refugees from around the world. http://interfaithtexas.org/hope/
Rev. Jen Stuart is the Associate Pastor at First UMC, Austin. She recently wrote this letter to her congregation to explain why she is transferring from the Southwest Texas Conference to the Pacific Northwest Conference.
(Excerpt) “I do not wish to make sacred ordination vows in a place where I cannot clearly speak my mind about the equality of all people in the eyes of God…I am very aware that there are many other issues that the church must deal with, but none of them involve excluding a wide swath of the population from ministry and marriage.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. (UMNS) — Thirty-two people, including two United Methodist bishops, were arrested as they prayed in the shadow of the White House on President’s Day to hold President Obama accountable for the nearly 2 million immigrants deported during his administration.
United Methodist bishops Julius Trimble and Minerva Carcaño are shown here praying in front of the White House on President’s Day during a demonstration calling for an end to deportations of undocumented immigrants. (Photo by Jay Mallin, UMNS) before they were arrested.
Harriett Jane Olson, top executive for United Methodist Women, started the vigil at 1 p.m. with a prayer, “God we are gathered in sorrow and in prayer … we need help.” She was in the group arrested.
http://umc-gbcs.org/faith-in-action/church-leaders-arrested-in-d.c.-immigration-pray-in
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Texas Parent PAC – Supporting Public Education Thursday, February 13 at Saint John’s UMC, Austin 6:30pm – Snacks & Conversations 7:00pm – Program On Thursday, February 13, join MFSA to learn about the power of political activism. Carolyn Boyle, a member of Saint John’s UMC, is one of the founders of the Texas Parent PAC, a bipartisan political action committee for parents, grandparents, parents-to-be, and anyone who supports high quality public education. Carolyn is a long-time advocate for public education, former PTA President, and Coordinator for the Coalition of Public Schools.
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Come be inspired by Carolyn’s story of activism. Join us for snacks and conversation at 6:30pm and the program at 7:00pm.
Brief Chapter Business Meeting on February 13
At our Chapter meeting, we will elect Chapter officers.
Nominations for officers, as recommended by the Executive Committee, are shown below.
Additional nominations will be taken from the floor during the meeting.
President: Anne Mund
Vice President Rowland Curry
Secretary Deana Henry
Treasurer Janice Curry
In addition, the Treasurer’s Report will be provided to those in attendance.
On January 20, over 25 MFSA members and supporters participated in the Martin Luther King, Jr. march in Austin from the UT campus to the state capitol. Along with thousands of others, we heard inspirational speeches, prayers, and choirs celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. King
Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action 