Death Penalty Documentary and Discussion – Saint John’s UMC

October 14, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSA

Saint John’s Risk-Taking Mission and Service Committee will host a discussion about the death penalty in Texas at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 4 at Saint John’s UMC.  There will be a viewing of the documentary At the Death House Door: No Man Should Die Alone, which tells the story of Rev. Carroll Pickett, former death house chaplain at the Walls Unit in Huntsville, TX.  Following the film, Kristin Houle, Executive Director of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, will lead a Q&A.  Please join us for this compelling inside look at Texas’ death penalty system.  This event is free and open to the public.

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Anthony Graves to speak at Wesley UMC

October 14, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSA

Sunday, November 18, 10:00am Worship

Wesley UMC

1164 San Bernard Street
Austin, Texas 78702-2030

On October 27, 2010, Anthony Graves walked out of the Burleson County Jail after spending 18 years in prison – including 12 years on death row – for a crime he did not commit.  Prosecutors dropped all charges against Anthony and declared him innocent after conducting their own investigation of the case.  He is the 12th person in Texas to be wrongfully convicted and removed from death row and one of 140 death row exonorees nationwide.  Since his release, Anthony has spoken about his experience with the Texas death penalty system to audiences throughout the United States and around the world.  He served for a year as the Director of Community Outreach for the Texas Defender Service and now is working with attorney David Dow on individual capital cases and juvenile issues.  He is looking forward to starting school in the fall, 2012.

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PBS Will Present “Half the Sky” on October 1 & 2

October 14, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSA

Coming as a special presentation of Independent Lens October 1 and 2

A landmark transmedia project featuring a four-hour PBS primetime national and international broadcast event, a Facebook-hosted social action game, mobile games, two websites, educational video modules with companion text, a social media campaign supporting over 30 partner NGOs, and an impact assessment plan all inspired by Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, the widely acclaimed book by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. http://www.halftheskymovement.org/

Half the Sky filmed in 10 countries, following Kristof, WuDunn, and celebrity activists America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union and Olivia Wilde on a journey to tell the stories of inspiring, courageous individuals.  Across the globe oppression is being confronted, and real meaningful solutions are being fashioned through health care, education, and economic empowerment for women and girls.  The linked problems of sex trafficking and forced prostitution, gender-based violence, and maternal mortality — which needlessly claim one woman every 90 seconds — present to us the single most vital opportunity of our time: the opportunity to make a change. All over the world women are seizing this opportunity. Watch the trailer at http://www.halftheskymovement.org/videos.

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What Have We Been Up To?

August 17, 2009 — Rio Texas MFSA

Our Southwest Texas Chapter has been busy this summer, looking at our mission and goals for the 2009-2010 program year.  Your leadership team had planning meetings on June 11, June 22, and July 23.  We came up with lists of things we want to continue doing, new things we want to start, and things we don’t want to continue.

After a great deal of discussion and discernment, we are recommending that our chapter undertake a year-long project to look at the many facets of poverty.   Eradicating Poverty is one of the four primary focus areas of the United Methodist Church for 2008-2012. (see http://www.umc-gbcs.org/4areas)

Will we continue our efforts on issues such as opposition to the death penalty, supporting human rights and GLBT inclusion?  Of course!   As resources permit, we will continue our major action events alongside our efforts to educate, promote understanding, and take action on poverty issues and conditions.

The Executive Committee will be meeting again this week, Thursday, August 20, 6 pm, at St. John’s UMC to continue our discussions on the direction of our program.  This meeting is open to any member who wishes to become involved!

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Chapter Meeting September 10 !

August 17, 2009 — Rio Texas MFSA

Note: the date for this meeting has changed to September 10th!

The next Southwest Texas Conference MFSA Chapter meeting will be September 17 10 at 6:00 pm at St. John’s UMC.

Our program will begin with a short video “When Did I See You Hungry” produced by the San Damiano Foundation.  This is a moving film about poverty in our country and in the world.  We are hoping to use this meeting as a springboard to educate and motivate our membership and our church communities to take action on issues of poverty and human rights.

Poverty can be addressed through charity or through examining and attempting to correct the root causes.  We hope to use our meetings to educate, understand, and take action on these issues.  We envision the creation of a program curriculum through this project that can be taken to churches and other groups.

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MFSA Sponsors Recycling – Saturday October 3 !

August 17, 2009 — Rio Texas MFSA

As part of our continuing commitment to environmental issues, our chapter is planning to sponsor a community recycling effort to be held on October 3 at Lamar Middle School, next to St. John’s UMC.  This is a big project, and thanks to Anne Mund for kicking this can (ha) down the road.  We will need advertising and volunteers in all of our churches and neighborhoods in order to make it successful.  Specifically, Anne is looking for the following:

  • Help in planning and coordinating event
  • Pickups and trailers on day of event
  • Bags/boxes/plastic to make sure stuff doesn’t leak
  • Staffing/manpower coordination
  • Help on publicity – Churches?  Neighborhoods?

Contact Anne if you want to help:  ennadnum@hotmail.com
Look for more information coming in the future!

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Social Justice Training at Bethany

August 17, 2009 — Rio Texas MFSA

Make a Difference Through Social Justice
Five consecutive Sundays: September 27 – October 25,
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Bethany UMC, 10010 Anderson Mill Rd

What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6:8

Micah provides a simple yet powerful framework for our lives. But how do we ‘do justice’? Join us in this fast-paced, interactive journey exploring justice and how acting justly can bring about positive social change; creating a culture of peace so all people may live to their full potential. Learn its Biblical basis, its Wesleyan heritage, and how the United Methodist Church is involved in issues of social justice. Discover a model for building a more just world and the transformative power of just one person. Come, be renewed with hope and empowered to make a difference!

Register at bethany-umc.org or email the class leader at: KerryLStevens@earthlink.net

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NAMI 5K Fundraiser October 10

August 17, 2009 — Rio Texas MFSA

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is sponsoring a fundraising event in downtown Austin Saturday morning, October 10.  It’s a 5K walk (3.2 miles) beginning at Auditorium Shores, registration begins at 8a and the Walk itself begins at 9a.  Because so many death row inmates have mental illness of one kind or another, TCADP and NAMI support each other in efforts like this, and Anne Mund is heading up the TCADP team of walkers.  Anyone is welcome to join the TCADP team, or to form another team, or to just walk as an individual.  Or if someone can’t walk, a monetary donation of any size is most welcome.  All donations will go to support NAMI’s programs (not TCADP’s).  Anne has lots more information and will be actively soliciting support between now and Oct 10.  Anne says it would be wonderful if a MFSA team or a St. John’s team could be organized, or if a few MFSA members would support the Walk financially.

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We Still Need Your Membership!

August 17, 2009 — Rio Texas MFSA

Please Help Us Continue Our Programs

If you have not yet paid your membership gift for 2009, please make plans to do so as soon as possible.  There are now two easy ways to join MFSA.  You can log onto the national MFSA website, http://mfsaweb.org and follow the instructions there (you can safely use a credit card), or you can simply bring a check to the next meeting, made out to “MFSA” and we will see that it is registered in our account.  Either way, our local chapter gets a portion of the gift for our programs.  We continue to need funding for visibility within our communities and to advance our social action movement.

Suggested Membership Amounts (you may also select your own amount):

$60 Subscribing Membership Gift               $200 Spirited Membership Gift
$100 Sustaining Membership Gift               $500 Stellar Membership Gift

Benefits of membership:

  • Receive the MFSA newsletter (Social Questions Bulletin)
  • Receive the MFSA E-newsletter with action updates
  • Receive discounts on events sponsored by MFSA
  • Connect with other justice-seekers in your annual conference
  • Join with others in speaking up for justice in the UMC and world

Membership in MFSA is not predicated on ability to pay.  Any amount of money you are able to give is gratefully accepted.  Membership gifts to MFSA are tax deductible as provided by law.

Join us!

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We Still Need Your Membership!

June 11, 2009 — Rio Texas MFSA

Please Help Us Continue Our Programs

If you have not yet paid your membership gift for 2009, please make plans to do so as soon as possible.  There are now two easy ways to join 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 bring a check to the next meeting, made out to “MFSA” and we will see that it is registered in our account.  Either way, our local chapter gets a portion of the gift for our programs.  We continue to need funding for visibility within our communities and to advance our social action movement.

Benefits of membership:

  • Receive the MFSA newsletter (Social Questions Bulletin)
  • Receive the MFSA E-newsletter with action updates
  • Receive discounts on events sponsored by MFSA
  • Connect with other justice-seekers in your annual conference
  • Join with others in speaking up for justice in the UMC and world

Membership in MFSA is not predicated on ability to pay.  Any amount of money you are able to give is gratefully accepted.  Membership gifts to MFSA are tax deductible as provided by law.

Join us!

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Join the Vigils – Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

May 17, 2009 — Rio Texas MFSA

Join the Vigils – Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
5:30 – 6:30 pm; On the Date of Scheduled Executions
Austin:  Congress Avenue at 11th St (south side of Capitol)
More information at:  http://www.tcadp.org

On April 30, 2009,  Amnesty International released a new report on the death penalty in Texas.  Too much cruelty, too little clemency: Texas nears 200th execution under current governor focuses on some of the most egregious executions that have taken place in the last eight years in Texas, including those involving juvenile offenders, persons with severe mental illness, and foreign nationals. The report also looks forward to cases that are still pending and might result in execution during the administration of Texas Governor Rick Perry.

Scheduled Executions
May 19:  Michael Lynn Riley
June 2:  Terry Hankins

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It’s Time to Renew Your Membership!

May 17, 2009 — Rio Texas MFSA

Please Help Us Continue Our Programs

If you have not yet paid your membership gift for 2009, please make plans to do so as soon as possible.  There are now two easy ways to join MFSA.  You can log onto the MFSA website, http://www.mfsaweb.org and follow the instructions there (you can safely use a credit card), or you can simply bring a check to the next meeting, made out to “MFSA” and we will see that it is registered in our account.  Either way, our local chapter gets a portion of the gift for our programs.  We continue to need funding for visibility within our communities and to advance our social action movement.

Benefits of membership:

  • Receive the MFSA newsletter (Social Questions Bulletin)
  • Receive the MFSA E-newsletter with action updates
  • Receive discounts on events sponsored by MFSA
  • Connect with other justice-seekers in your annual conference
  • Join with others in speaking up for justice in the UMC and world

Membership in MFSA is not predicated on ability to pay.  Any amount of money you are able to give is gratefully accepted.  Membership gifts to MFSA are tax deductible as provided by law.

Join us!

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Constitutional Amendments Set for Vote at Annual Conference

May 17, 2009 — Rio Texas MFSA

When Annual Conferences meet this year, one of the major items of business will be voting on thirty-two (32) proposed amendments to the Constitution of The United Methodist Church.  This promises to be a daunting task, even for those Annual Conference members who were present at General Conference when these amendments were approved and referred to the Annual Conferences. The sheer number of amendments makes decision-making a challenge.  In an effort to help folks sort through the myriad of issues that are addressed in these proposed revisions, MFSA is providing resources, both in print and on the national office’s website at www.mfsaweb.org.

Whether you are a delegate this year or only an interested member, you should plan to attend the May meeting to see what is proposed and hear MFSA’s positions on these important decisions for the United Methodist Church.

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May 2009 Chapter Meeting

May 17, 2009 — Rio Texas MFSA

Meeting Announcement

May 14th, Thursday, 5:30-7:30 pm

Location: Saint John’s UMC, 2140 Allandale Rd, Austin

Questions? Call: 784-2951

Topics:  Discussion of Social Issues at Annual Conference

Planning for MFSA Exhibits in Corpus Christi

Planning for MFSA Float in Pride Parade

Saint John’s Great Hall (upstairs)

Hearty Snacks and Conversation: 5:30

Program: 6:00

Everyone interested is invited!

Call Deana (784-2951) if you need child care.

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