Communication Workshop at Trinity

March 2, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA

TRinityLeading Difficult Conversations Across Difference

Monday, March 7, 2016 6.30-8.00 pm

Community practitioners, activists, advocates and allies will develop practical communication skills to lead difficult conversations around difference in this workshop. The flexible model presented by Jeremy Solomons is as useful to help manage conversations based on the simplest differences
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Getting Ready for General Conference 2016

March 2, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
lyncThe Love Your Neighbor Coalition consisting of thirteen partner organizations, including MFSA and RMN, join together to offer an alternative witness and advocate for policy changes that would lead the denomination to the embodiment of God’s love and justice for all people in our church & beyond.  http://www.lyncoalition.org/

Here’s how you can help:

1.    Go to the Love Your Neighbor Coalition website and endorse the vision statement. http://www.lyncoalition.org/vision-for-umc. Rio Texas MFSA has rented a house in Portland for 8 of the 10 days of GC. Contact Rowland Curry at rcurry@austin.rr.com if you are interested in going to GC to volunteer.

2.    Sign up to be a volunteer for the coalition. If you are able to come to Portland anytime during May 10-20, 2016, please consider signing up to volunteer with the coalition (legislative tracking, witness, and support to justice-seeking delegates). You can register to volunteer now!
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General Conference 2016 Scholarships

March 2, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
therefore_goThe Rio Texas MFSA and Rio Texas Reconciling Team are collaborating to raise funds to send Young Adults from our conference to General Conference 2016 in Portland, OR. It takes $1000-$1500 per scholarship to pay for airfare, lodging, and meals. We have already presented one scholarship and we are hoping to present at least one more.

Our first scholarship was presented to Jarell Wilson, a United Methodist candidate for ordination and a May graduate from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Here is how you can help:

·       If you have air miles that you would like to donate, please contact Joy Butler at joylbutler@gmail.com.

·       If you would like to help with a check, please make the check to Rio Texas MFSA and give or mail it to Janice Curry, 1509 Mearns Meadow Blvd., Austin, TX 78758.

·       Or, you can use this “Donate” button to contribute directly to our Rio Texas Chapter of MFSA which will go to the scholarship fund.  This button uses PayPaltm to collect your donation via your major credit card.  (You do not need a PayPaltm account in order to donate – just click and follow the instructions.)

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=LLZWDFTTVUMAW

Thank you for helping young adults participate in General Conference 2016. If know of a young adult who would like to apply for a scholarship to GC 2016, please have them contact Janice Curry jlcurry@austin.rr.com or Joy Butler joylbutler@gmail.com.
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Reconciling Ministries Network – It’s Time

March 2, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA

In May 2016, the UMC’s General Conference is expected to vote on whether or not to include LGBTQ congregants and ministers or continue to reject them and forbid same-sex marriage.

It’s Time to end the hurt that’s engulfed so many of our families.

It’s Time to welcome and celebrate everyone who comes to The UMC.

Get involved by sending a letter to your delegation and sharing your story.

Visit http://www.rmnetwork.org/newrmn/itstime/ for more information.

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Lenten Devotions from Reconciling Ministries Network

March 2, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
 season of becomingA Season of Becoming is a spiritual resource written by 47 different individuals from across the Reconciling Network, including three from the Rio Conference and our own Joy Butler.

In the season of Lent, we are invited into a period of self-reflection, preparation, and spiritual growth as we engage in the holy work of becoming. The Spirit moves through this season to free us from that which binds our growth as we are drawn more deeply into the truth of who we are, into the possibilities of who we can become, and of the justice we are called to seek together.

Reconciling Ministries Network hopes this daily devotional will offer you spiritual nourishment and restoration as we prepare our hearts for General Conference this May where the global denomination will meet to make choices about who we are going to be as a church for the next four years. Download your copy at: http://www.rmnetwork.org/newrmn/lent/
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TEXAS SOCIAL JUSTICE SERIES

March 2, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA

ACCESS TO FAIR HOUSING

March 10, 2015 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Bob Bullock Museum

Event Summary

In the first of a four-part series on the fight for social justice in Texas, join us for a discussion of one of the most basic and necessary aspects of life: fair access to housing, including historical roots in the 1968 Fair Housing Act. Panelists will discuss the realities that have influenced housing policy in the past as well as housing issues that municipal governments still grapple with today, including public policy, discriminatory lending practices, and urban development.

Moderator

Eric Tang is an Assistant Professor in the African and African Diaspora Studies Department at the University of Texas at Austin, a Faculty Fellow for the Institute for Urban Policy Research & Analysis at UT Austin, and the director of UT’s Social Justice Institute. His current research focuses on the past and present of racial segregation in Austin, Texas.

Panelists

Wesley Phelps is an Assistant Professor of History at Sam Houston State University. His focus for our panel conversation will be on community organization, mobilization, and empowerment and how that has affected federal programs in Texas during the 1960s and beyond.

Tammye H. Treviño was sworn in as Regional Administrator for Region VI for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Monday, August 12, 2013, in Washington, DC, by HUD Deputy Secretary Maurice Jones.  She has more than 25 years of experience in managing housing and economic development programs for underserved populations.

This program is presented in partnership with the Social Justice Institute at the University of Texas at Austin and the Texas Civil Rights Project.

http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/visit/calendar/texas-social-justice-series-housing?utm_source=Bullock+Museum&utm_campaign=87f794b0e8-Texas_Social_Justice_Series&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b47aa90d0f-87f794b0e8-171528569

 
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Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT) Events

March 2, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA

The Red Bench:  Happiness
redbench_logo-300x79Saint John’s UMC will play host to iACT’s The Red Bench dialogue program at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 29 in the Great Hall. The Red Bench is designed to address the most pressing needs of our time: improving interfaith understanding and civil discourse in our society. “Happiness” is the the topic of conversation in March. For more information go to the Interfaith Action of Central Texas website interfaithtexas.org.
Contact Rev. Hilary Marchbanks with questions at 512-452-5737 or hilary@stjohnsaustin.org.

iACT’s Hope Awards

Monday, May 2, 2016

The Hope Awards celebration and fundraiser provides support for iACT’s outstanding community service programs. Hands on Housing repairs the homes of impoverished seniors and people with disabilities. iACT for Refugees

provides basic educational assistance to newly arrived refugees from around the world. The Red Bench interfaith dialogue program encourages meaningful conversations that matter.

This year iACT will be holding it’s biggest fundraiser, The Hope Awards, on Monday, May 2, 2016 at Congregation Agudas Achim.

 

Exciting details to come!
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Hope Food Pantry Fundraiser

March 2, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA

hopefood2016

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MFSA Sponsors One Human Race Workshop in April

March 2, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
one-human-race-workshops-87Rio Texas MFSA is sponsoring the One Human Race Series on three Saturdays in April (16th, 23rd, and 30th) at St. Luke UMC, 1306 West Lynn, Austin, 78703. We will meet once a week for three weeks to create a safe environment to communicate about race using the following resources:

·     Watch PBS Series: “Race: The Power of An Illusion” in one hour segments;

·     Participate in group discussions with trained group leaders;

·     Examine the American concept of race;

·     Share feelings and experiences with a goal of building community and common ground.

You do not have to attend all three sessions. If you miss a session, you can register for it later at another location. Registration will be available soon. Contact Anne Mund, ennadnum@hotmail.com, if you have questions.

We look forward to seeing you on April 16, 23, and 30th

Posted in Newsletter, Racism & White Privilege. Leave a Comment »

Women’s Empowerment Conference

March 2, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA

wecon2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

EARLY REGISTRATION RUNS THROUGH MARCH 10!

More at http://weconaustin.org/about/

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Events from Third Coast Activist

March 2, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
For more information on these events, go to http://www.thirdcoastactivist.org.

Friday, March 11, 11 am-12:30 pm

Athletes as Activists: Lessons from Black Lives Matters and Beyond

British journalist Keme Nzerem will moderate a panel on “Athletes as Activists,” featuring author and former NBA player Etan Thomas, former English Premier League and Jamaican national team football player Michael Johnson, and athlete/writer/activist Shireen Ahmed.

For more information check ThirdCoastActivist.org or contact Ben Carrington, bcarrington@austin.utexas.edu.

Location: University of Texas, Glickman Conference Center, Liberal Arts Building (CLA 1.302B), Austin

 

Saturday, March 19, 1 – 4 pm

Iraq Veterans Against the War Art Exhibition

Local members of Iraq Veterans Against the War and the Civilian-Soldier Alliance at Howson Hall will host an exhibition of the War Is Trauma poster portfolio on the 13th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

This event will also be a release party for the Jacob George Memorial Album, where folks who placed orders for the album can pick up their copies. Unfortunately, there will not be any copies of the albums for sale, but it will be available for digital download. You can listen to a Democracy Now segment about Jacob here.

Location: First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, 4700 Grover Ave., Austin, 78756

 

Wednesday, April 20, 7 pm

Mason Inman on The Oracle of Oil

Journalist Mason Inman will speak about his new book, The Oracle of Oil (W.W. Norton), the first biography of M. King Hubbert, the maverick geologist most known for the “Hubbert curve” and as “the father of peak oil” for his predictions of oil shortages. Joining Inman in the conversation will be Russell Gold, a Wall Street Journal energy reporter and author of The Boom: How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World.

Inman has written widely about energy and the environment for Scientific American, Nature, Science, New Scientist, and National Geographic News.

Location: BookPeople 603 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, 78703

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Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

March 2, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
tcadpScheduled executions

The State of Texas is scheduled to execute three people this month:

  • On March 9, the State of Texas is scheduled to execute Coy Wesbrook for the murders of his ex-wife, Gloria Coons, and Antonio Cruz in 1997 in Channelview (Harris County). In 2012, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ordered a Harris County criminal court to re-evaluate Wesbrook’s intellectual competence to face execution.
  • The State of Texas is scheduled to execute Adam Ward on March 22 for killing Commerce Code Enforcement Officer Michael “Pee Wee” Walker in 2005 in Hunt County.  Ward was 22 years old at the time of the crime.
  • On March 30, the State of Texas is scheduled to execute John Battaglia for the 2001 murders of his two daughters, Faith and Liberty, ages 9 and 6, in Dallas County. Battaglia is now 60 years old.

At this time, there are seven additional executions scheduled to take place in Texas through July 2016.

Attend a vigil in your community on the day of executions. Note the new vigil location in Waco. Information and updates on these cases will be available on our website and through Facebook and Twitter.

http://tcadp.org/

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Allies Against Slavery Event

March 2, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA

summit2016

Allies Against Slavery invites you to the

2016 Slave Free City Summit

Austin, Texas  •  April 22 – 23 •  For the City Center

“Intersections & Opportunities”

What would happen if the cities of the future were deeply committed to freedom?

For more information go to:

 http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=e9c861634e940342ca66dfd3a&id=90c01f46f1&e=3dc87813c1

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Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

March 2, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
Dealing with Conflict in Hispanic Congregations

Led by Mr. Dionisio G. Salazar

April 8, 2016 – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Conflict happens in all congregations and culture plays a part. Come and learn about conflict and culture. Take home a new skill to address conflicts in your congregation and to build consensus on important issues.

Recommended for pastoral leaders serving congregations in which Hispanic/Latino/a people are in the majority. Ordained elders, licensed local pastors, Commissioned Ruling Elders, and all priests and pastors welcome.

Cost: $60 (includes lunch and a one-one-one follow-up consultation). Scholarships available (Contact grich@austinseminary.edu.)

Qualifies for .7 Clergy CEUs

The workshop is in Spanish and English.

 

Preaching in the era of #BlackLivesMatter

Led by The Reverend Dr. Margaret Aymer and The Reverend Dr. Carolyn Helsel

Date:  April 25, 2016

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Location: Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, McCord Community Center

100 East 27th Street, Austin, 78705

Cost: $60/person (including lunch) $15 Livestream

How do you bring mind, heart, soul, and strength to bear on preaching in the era of #BlackLivesMatter? Come join Margaret Aymer and Carolyn Helsel as they help you deepen your understanding of racism, explore how your identity has been shaped in a racialized society, and claim your gifts for preaching.

Qualifies for .7 Clergy CEUs

(Contact beyondthewalls@austinseminary.edu.)

Recommended for: clergy, educators, and other lay leaders.

By registering for this event, you are granting Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary the permission to publish group pictures taken during the event on Facebook.

Click here to register.

Topics: “Listening to All of God’s Children”
and “Which Black Lives Matter?”Led by The Reverend Dr. Tanya Marie Eustace and The Reverend Dr. Jennifer Leath

Date: May 3, 2016

Time: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 pm

Location: Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, McCord Community Center
100 East 27th Street, Austin, 78705

Presented by The Wesley Connection at Austin Seminary

Come and learn from scholar pastors formed in the Wesleyan tradition who are leading the church into the future.

Cost:  $15 (Lunch Included) $15 Livestream
(Contact beyondthewalls@austinseminary.edu.)

Recommended for: clergy and lay leaders of all denominations

Click here to register.

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More News From MFSA And Friends

March 2, 2016 — Rio Texas MFSA
MFSA National E-News Newsletter

http://mfsaweb.org/?page_id=212

Current Faith in Action from General Board of Church & Society –

http://umc-gbcs.org/faith-in-action

Reconciling Ministries newsletter:  http://www.rmnetwork.org

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