Rio Texas MFSA will be there!
Stay tuned for more information…
Rev. M Barclay will speak at the 8th Annual Peace and Justice Luncheon
February 27, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA
Rev. M Barclay is a deacon in the Northern Illinois Conference of The United Methodist Church. Originally from the Alabama-West Florida Conference, M received their M.Div. from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. They have worked as a hospital chaplain, youth director, justice associate, and faith coordinator for reproductive justice in Texas prior to moving to Chicago in 2013.
M formerly served as Director of Communications at Reconciling Ministries Network where they advocated for queer and trans inclusion in The United Methodist Church. M currently serves as Director of enfleshed (https://enfleshed.com), providing spiritual resources and faith education.
M is passionate about bringing fresh and relevant perspectives to the questions, traditions, and theologies that have sustained our faith communities for centuries. They have extensive experience in writing, preaching, and teaching on the gospel’s call to communal justice making.
Book Fair at Annual Conference!
February 27, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA
Rio Texas MFSA will again sponsor a Book Fair at Annual Conference. Members and friends box up their gently used religious and spiritual books, and we haul them to Corpus Christi. It becomes like a treasure hunt at our tables! People contribute to us according to what they think the books are worth to them. It has been quite successful in the past, but to make it happen, we need your books!
Contact rcurry@austin.rr.com to donate gently used religious or spiritual books for this MFSA event.
Congratulations to New Reconciling Community in Pflugerville
February 27, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA
“We affirm that all people are of sacred worth. We seek to invite and welcome people of all ages, sexual orientation, gender identity, racial identity, and ethnic background.
We have approved our class joining the Reconciling Ministries Network because we welcome all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people to our class and church.
Furthermore, we support RMN as it advocates for change in The UMC Discipline to embrace full inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the administration and ministry of The UMC, including marriage by clergy on church property and ordination of LGBTQ persons called to ministry.”
Living The Questions Class of Pflugerville UMC
Is Not This The Fast That I Choose?
February 27, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA
From National MFSA office:
“This is the sort of fast that pleases me:
Remove the chains of injustice!
Let those who are oppressed go free,
and break every yoke you encounter!
Share your bread with those who are hungry,
and shelter homeless poor people!
Clothe those who are naked,
and don’t hide from the needs of your own flesh and blood!
Do this, and your light will shine like the dawn —
and your healing will break forth like lightning!
Your integrity will go before you,
and the glory of YHWH will be your rearguard.”
Isaiah 58: 6-8 — The Inclusive Bible
Jan L. Richardson in her poem “Blessing the Dust” describes Ash Wednesday in this way: “This is the day we freely say we are scorched. This is the hour we are marked by what has made it through the burning.”
Today is the day we acknowledge our humanity, our mortality and our interconnectedness to the earth. The day we say the fires stoked by the flames of injustice may have marked us but, we are rising from its ashes.
Today is the day we begin the fast preparing us for the long journey that will lead to new life in the resurrection. This Lent we will journey alongside the prophet Isaiah exploring what it means to be people of faith fasting from injustice.
Our legacy of fasting from injustice is faithfully long. We’ve been scorched by the powers and principalities of this nation and of this denomination. As Richardson described “we are marked by what has made it through the burning” and as our baptismal covenant proclaims we continue to rise up and “resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever form it presents itself.” In 1908 our founders envisioned “equal rights and complete justice for all.” We continue that struggle today.
Your voice makes sacred change possible each and every day.
MFSA Monthly Meeting Thursday, February 8
February 6, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA
The February meeting of the Rio Texas Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) will take place Thursday, February 8, at Saint John’s UMC, Austin. The program will focus on the Austin Region Justice for Our Neighbors (ARJFON) effort, which is part of a national United Methodist network of legal clinics based in United Methodist churches around the country. Our speaker will provide updates on JFON’s activities as they attempt to address immigration issues in an increasingly challenging social environment.
ARJFON, a non-profit law office, welcomes refugees and immigrants into our communities by providing free, high-quality immigration legal services, education, and advocacy. ARJFON strives to empower immigrants bring about systematic change through active participation in our community.
Please join us to learn about this much-needed ministry. Snacks and mingling begin at 6:30p; the program will start at 7p. Hope to see you there!
MFSA Delegation Visits The Rio Grande Valley
February 6, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA
On January 18 – 20, a group of 9 people from the Methodist Federation for Social Action in Austin went to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) on an immigration education tour. Steve Hamlett, Kenneth Henry and Deana Henry are from Trinity Church Austin. Anne Mund, Rowland Curry, Al Lindsay, Pat Stewart, Patsy Hickey, and Lyn Loeffler are members of Saint John’s UMC Austin. Our guide for the tour was Susan Hellums, Border Area Mission Coordinator for the El Valle District from First UMC McAllen.
A more detailed description of our visit will soon be available on our website.
On Thursday, we attended a presentation in San Juan on the RGV Equal Voice Network, which has several components addressing the following issues: health care, education, wages and jobs, housing, and transportation. The housing initiative, Proyecto Azteca, was founded in 1991 by Cesar Chavez, is similar to “sweat equity” programs like Habitat for Humanity, and has 4,000 families on its waiting list.
Friday, we traveled to the Hidalgo County Park to view the Rio Grande River, Mexico, and portions of the border wall. We then went to First UMC McAllen to hear a presentation on the Tamar’s Tapestry program by Tracy Hughes. We were joined by Robert Lopez, Superintendent of the El Valle District. Tamar’s Tapestry provides intervention, education, and restoration for victims of human trafficking in the RGV. Data is horrifying; there are an estimated 79,000 persons in Texas that are victims of commercial sex trafficking.
After this presentation and lunch, we drove to San Benito to visit La Posada Providencia, a short-term shelter for immigrants and asylum seekers. While it is a Catholic charity, La Posada receives help from the UMC in many ways. Deaconess Cindy Johnson was our guide at La Posada as we visited with the Sisters and others. We were introduced to a group of about a dozen immigrants from Central America, Cuba, Africa, and Eastern Europe.
Saturday morning, we toured the Humanitarian Respite Center, sponsored by the Catholic Charities RGV, where refugees in transit are provided with information, food, clothing, hygiene products, and other assistance before boarding a bus to join family, friends, or sponsors in other parts of the country. Our group then volunteered to do a short service project, sorting donated clothing for the refugees.
Before heading back to Austin, we drove through a Colonia near Edinburgh to observe the conditions that we had heard about in several presentations.
This MFSA road trip was extremely enlightening and educational, and we hope it will guide us in pursuing further mission opportunities related to immigration. Our plan is to present an in-depth report on this trip at a future meeting, most likely in April.
MFSA National Office Move Planned
February 6, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA
As many of you have already learned, MFSA has decided to relocate their national headquarters office to Central UMC in Detroit in mid-2018. This announcement follows a lengthy discernment and visioning process that includes a recommitment to local church and community-led grassroots organizing. Unlike MFSA’s current location in a Lutheran church on Capitol Hill in Washington, Detroit Central UMC will offer adequate office space, conference rooms, and other amenities needed for the headquarters. MFSA is also posting for the Executive Director position, replacing interim E.D. Darlene DiDomeneck.
More information here.
Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
February 6, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA
TCADP 2018 Annual Conference in Dallas – February 17, 2018
TCADP’s Annual Conference is a one-day event geared towards anyone interested in learning about the death penalty and becoming involved in our efforts. It features a panel discussion, workshops, a keynote address, and the presentation of our annual awards. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to connect with supporters from across the state and hear about the progress we are making towards ending the death penalty in Texas!
The TCADP 2018 Annual Conference will take place on Saturday, February 17, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. Registration includes breakfast and the awards luncheon. Tickets are available for the luncheon and keynote address for those who can attend only part of the day. We accept cash, check, or credit card as payment.
Contact us at 512-441-1808 or khoule@tcadp.org if you have questions.
Crop Hunger Walk
February 6, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA 
The Austin CROP Hunger Walk is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, February 25 at Camp Mabry. Registration opens at 2:00 with the Step-Off at 2:30.
Register and raise funds online—it’s easy! Go to www.crophungerwalk.org/austintx to sign up.
Thank you Austin Hunger Heroes – $72,614.47 raised at the 2017 Walk.
YOU make the difference
iACT Red Bench
February 6, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSA
The Red Bench – HOME
Join us on Tuesday, February 27 for a courageous conversation on
the topic of Home at Unity Church of Austin
(5501 West Highway 290, Austin TX 78735).
If you plan to attend, please RSVP
BOPA Collection Scheduled March 10
February 6, 2018 — Rio Texas MFSABOPA (Batteries, Oil, Paint, Antifreeze) Recycling in the parking lot across from Trinity Church 
Austin, 4001 Speedway on Saturday March 10, starting at 9 am. We’ll close at 11 am or when our trailers are full, whichever comes first. 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.
Bring your stuff, or volunteer to help!
Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action 