| MFSA – Chapter Website: https://riotexasmfsa.org/
MFSA – National Site: http://www.mfsaweb.org |
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Rio Texas Chapter MFSA
| MFSA – Chapter Website: https://riotexasmfsa.org/
MFSA – National Site: http://www.mfsaweb.org |
Check out our Facebook Page
Rio Texas Chapter MFSA
Registration is now open for the MFSA Peace & Justice Luncheon at the Rio Texas Annual Conference in Corpus Christi on June 12. Registration information is available at at: MFSA_LuncheonFlyer2015
Wellsprings of JusticeFriday, June 12, 2015 – Noon American Bank Convention Center Corpus Christi, Texas 5th Annual Peace and Justice Luncheon Sponsored by Methodist Federation for Social Action, Rio Texas Chapter & The Rio Texas Conference Transforming Communities Vision Team Featuring Bishop Minerva Carcaño
A native of Edinburg, TX, Bishop Carcaño spent her early years aspiring to make a difference in the lives of persons who faced poverty and discrimination. Not forgetting her roots and early hopes, her ministry has always involved work with the poor, with farm workers, immigrants, and refugees, even as she encourages congregations to work ecumenically and to be active in community organizing. Of her tireless work, she has said, “The road of ministry has not always been easy, but it has always been an incredible blessing, and it has always been home.” Join us for this on-site luncheon. In addition, we will honor the recipients of the MFSA “Building a Just Community” Awards. The luncheon flyer and registration information is available at: MFSA_LuncheonFlyer2015 Luncheon Registration Information Cost: $12.00 in advance (by June 6) – Check or cash $15.00 at the door (limited number available) |
Or, pay by credit card* https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wellsprings-of-justice-tickets-15882596273
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Thursday, February 12 7:00pm Kathleen Davis, a long-time organizer with Austin Interfaith & the Industrial Areas Foundation, and a candidate to be the new Lead Organizer for Austin Interfaith, will be the featured speaker for the February 12th Rio Texas MFSA meeting at St. John’s UMC. Austin Interfaith is a non-partisan, multi-issue organization of 30+ institutions including congregations, public schools, and workers’ associations that work together to address public issues. Ms Davis will be discussing Austin Interfaith’s member organizations, their issues and accomplishments for 2014, as well as the issues and directions for 2015. Three of our Austin United Methodist congregations – Saint John’s, Trinity, and University – are members of Austin Interfaith. Please join us at 6:30p for snacks and mingling; the program starts at 7p. For more information, contact Anne Mund ennadnum@hotmail.com. Hope to see you there! |
| Our Children – Our Future
Join HRC Austin (Human Rights Campaign), Welcoming Schools, and FreedHearts Ministries for “Our Children – Our Future”: The Role of Interfaith Communities in Reducing Risk and Promoting Well-being of LGBTQ and All Youth. This free event is open to the public and will be held on Thursday, February 5th, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center of First UMC – Austin. Join us as we explore faith to promote the well-being and positive development of all children in home, community, and school. This community discussion will be led by Kisha Webster of Welcoming Schools and Susan Cottrell, founder of FreedHearts Ministries and the author of Mom, I’m Gay – Loving Your LGBTQ Child Without Sacrificing Your Faith. With bullying such a common occurrence and with deaths and suicides of youth permeating the news, it is a critical time in our families, churches, schools, and communities to explore what role faith plays in all of this—both in cause and in healing. |
For more information, http://fumcaustin.org/news-events/our-children-our-future/
On Martin Luther King Day, January 19, MFSA friends gathered to march in the Austin MLK Day Celebration. In the afternoon, about a dozen of us went to see the movie, Selma. Please consider what you might do to raise awareness of racial injustice.
| In celebration of Black History Month, KLRU will broadcast a lineup of programs and host events honoring and exploring African American culture. Programs airing this month on KLRU:
Shakespeare Uncovered Othello with David Harewood Antiques Roadshow Celebrating Black Americana Independent Lens Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People Mr. Civil Rights: Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP American Masters August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand Austin Revealed Independent Lens American Denial The Rule |
In Context Presents: Spoken 4 All
Tuesday, February 24 at 10:30 pm
Austin’s spoken word performers take center stage as part of KLRU’s focus on the arts. Also known as “slam poetry,” spoken word is an oral performance of extemporaneous or composed pieces of free poetry. Austin has a number of venues that present spoken word, this program highlights the ranging styles of poets at an all-age program hosted monthly at Mitchie’s Gallery. This event features several artists who were involved with the Austin Neo Soul Team that placed in the 2010 National Poetry Slam.
The United Methodist Women Advocacy Day at the Texas Capitol was a day to share a consensus UMW agenda with Texas Legislators http://texasimpact.org/UMW-2015/Legislative-Agenda.
Now is the time to actively engage with your State Legislators. Make an appointment or drop by and talk to a Legislative Aide. Follow bills here: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/ |
We were able to find information on the following organizations that are consistent with the values of MFSA. Check with other groups for which you would like to advocate to determine if they have an Advocacy Day scheduled.
| Human trafficking is an egregious violation of human rights and it is happening in our very own state. Men, women, and children are being bought and sold as commodities, and Texans will not stand for it. Our state has been a national leader in fighting this crime, but there is still much work to be done. Join us at the Texas State Capitol to show your support for laws addressing human trafficking during the 84th Legislative Session. |
Click here for more information.
First United Methodist Church of Austin Family Life Center11:00 AM – 4:00 PM 1300 Lavaca St. Austin, TX 78701 |
This is an opportunity for YOU to ask state leaders to pass inclusive policies that protect all children, end discrimination and strengthen relationships. Advanced registration is required in order to prepare constituent-matched materials and make strategic lobbying team assignments. Lunch will be provided. More information HERE.
| Join us at the Texas Capitol on, to show Texas lawmakers just how hard Texans’ will fight for access to reproductive health care in our state.
Register now for Trust. Respect. Access. Advocacy Day. We’re uniting with a broad coalition to demand policies that restore trust in Texas, respect for all Texans and access to the full range of reproductive health care—from sex education and birth control to abortion—in our state. |
Advocacy Day 2015 is a day of activism sponsored by Texas Research Institute—Progress Texas educational arm—ACLU of Texas, NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, Whole Woman’s Advocacy Alliance, Texas Freedom Network, Planned Parenthood Texas Votes and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.
| Open to the PublicSERVICE LIFTING FAITH VOICES FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE 7 P.M. Temple Beth Shalom ______________________________________________________________________ For Faith leaders and Clergy only ADVOCACY TRAINING & LEGISLATIVE VISITS |
First UMC Family Life Center
Religious leaders are invited to a briefing on critical reproductive rights legislation, advocacy training and an opportunity to go visit directly with lawmakers.
| Faith Leader Advocacy Day on the Death Penalty – Monday, March 9 |
| Join the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP) at the State Capitol in Austin on Monday, March 9, 2015 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM to release the Interfaith Statement of Opposition to the Death Penalty and voice your concerns about capital punishment to members of the Texas legislature. |
| Texas AFT invites all educators and support staff to join us in Austin on the first Monday of spring break, March 9, for the 2015 Texas AFT Lobby Day. It is our turn to educate the legislature about our priorities, and tell them to do what’s right. |
See the Texas AFT Legislative Agenda at: http://www.texasaft.org/legislative-agenda/