Early voting continues through Friday, November 2. Remember that on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, Travis County residents can vote at any polling place. The ballot is long with many city and county items, in addition to Federal, State, and School Board candidate choices. Review the League of Women Voters Guide before going to the polls.
Vote – Tuesday, November 6 !
November 1, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSATrinity UMC – 20 Years as Reconciling Congregation
November 1, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSA
20th Anniversary Gay-La
Friday, November 9, 2012
6:30 PM to 8:45 PM
First UMC Family Life Center
1300 Lavaca St. – Austin
Friday, November 9th
- Location: First UMC’s Family Life Center, 1300 Lavaca St.
Great Hall, Room 200 (http://bit.ly/QZjkWC) - 6:15 pm: Doors Open, Silent Auction Begins
- 6:30 pm: Buffet by Word of Mouth Catering
- 7:15 pm – 8:45 pm:
- Austin Babtist Women – http://www.babtistwomen.com
- Sharing Our Story
- Keynote Speaker, Mark Bowman – Mark Bowman, Founder of Reconciling Ministries Network (bio at http://www.lgbtran.org/Profile.aspx?ID=25)
- Silent Auction
- Need Childcare? Contact Amy at info@tumc.org.
- Tickets: $50/adult; $25/ages 10 – 22
Community Education Events
November 1, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSA| THE TEXAS DEATH PENALTY: FROM SHAKA SANKOFA TO RODNEY REED
Date: November 2, 2012 Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm A panel will discuss the Texas death penalty, with a focus on wrongful convictions and executions. Panelists include Jim Harrington of the Texas Civil Rights Project; Sandra Reed, the mother of Texas death row prisoner Rodney Reed; and Darby Tillis, former Illinois death row prisoner The event is part of Texas Abolition Weekend, the 12th Annual Convention of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, which will include a march on Saturday at 2 pm starting at the south steps of the Texas Capitol. There is more information online, or contact cedp@nodeathpenalty.org. Location: 5604 Manor, 5604 Manor Road, Austin, 78723
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| MEXICAN POLITICAL ASYLUM: FROM VICTIMS TO ACTIVISTSDate: November 8, 2012
Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Carlos Spector, a leading immigration attorney specializing in Mexican political asylum cases, will discuss the causes of violence in Mexico as well as the U.S. government’s rationale for denying Mexican asylum claims. Spector will be joined by 32-year old Juan Fraire Escobedo, son of Marisela Escobedo, a human-rights activist who was murdered in Mexico while advocating for judicial reform. Escobedo, who has applied for political asylum in the United States, will discuss his family’s continuing fight for justice and what can be done to end the political repression and violence in his country. For more information, contact Alejandra Spector, mexenex@gmail.com. Location: 5604 Manor, Austin, 78723 – 5604manor.org
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Craft/Alternative Christmas Events
November 1, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSABethany Holiday Crafts Market – sponsored by Bethany UMC Nursery Ministry
Saturday, November 3, 2012 -9:00 AM – 5:00 PM http://www.bethany-umc.org/events/merry-marketplace
Crestview Annual Bazaar, Saturday, November 3, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm http://www.gbgm-umc.org/crestviewumc/
Saint John’s UMC Alternative Christmas Market – Saturday, December 1, 11:00am – 4:00pm and Sunday, December 2, Noon – 3:00.
University UMC Alternative Gift Market – Sunday, December 2
Anthony Graves to speak at Wesley UMC
November 1, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSASunday, 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.
Sister Helen Prejean Speaks to Full House in Austin
November 1, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSA
Sister Helen Prejean, the internationally known speaker and author of Dead Man Walking, addressed a crowd of 300 at St. Edward’s University on Friday evening, October 12, as part of “Faithful Considerations: A Discussion with Sister Helen Prejean and Austin Faith Leaders”. Sister Helen was fresh from a trip crisscrossing California, speaking in churches to encourage voting for Proposition 34 to repeal the death penalty on the November ballot. “Faithful Considerations” was the third such discussion hosted by TCADP.
The Austin event featured a conversation between Sister Helen Prejean, Dr. John Elford, senior pastor of University United Methodist Church, and Pastor Nestor Menjivar, pastor of Principe de Paz Baptist Church. Dr. Elford was asked to be a part of the conversation due to his leadership and experience in tackling difficult issues while senior pastor at University UMC: “My fervent hope is that dialogue among Christians and practitioners of other religions will help us recover our voice as a people committed to peace and non-violence.” Pastor Menjivar has a long history of being involved in social justice issues and serving on the Board of the General Baptist Convention and Christian Life Commission. “I believe pastors and other religious leaders need to fully understand their God-given obligation and responsibility to teach God’s great mercy, which he calls us to show to others, especially those considered the least deserving,” he told TCADP.
Both Dr. Elford and Pastor Menjivar shared that clergy can have a tendency to avoid difficult issues as they shepherd their diverse congregations, but they have also learned that people seem to hunger for that direction and real application of their faith to the world around them.
The discussion was sponsored by Catholic Mobilizing Network, Congregational Church of Austin, Diocese of Austin Office of Prolife Activities and Chaste Living, General Board of Church and Society United Methodist Church, Methodist Federation of Social Action—Southwest Texas Chapter, Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation, St. Edward’s University, Liz and Duff Stewart, Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and the Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy. Tremendous thanks are also owed to Liza Manjarez, Mo McMorrow, Herb and Angela Diener, and Rev. Richard Bates. Links to video and pictures can be found at tcadp.org/what-we-do/religiousoutreach/. Read tweets from the event #SrHelen. http://tcadp.org/2012/10/15/acl-austin-can-lead-the-way/
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service & Celebration
November 1, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSA
November 18th, 2012
4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
University United Methodist Church
2409 Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78705
Ample free Sunday parking is available in three designated lots, as well as in metered spaces on the street. Parking details.
Reception following for those in attendance. Please bring your favorite dish ready to serve.
Free, family-friendly, all are welcome!
Faith and the Juvenile Justice System
November 1, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSATour Austin’s Garder Betts Juvenile Justice Center with Us on November 26.
What happens when kids break the law?
In Texas, thousands of young people aged 10 thru 16 are processed through the juvenile justice system every year. In 2011, the Texas Legislature made significant changes to the system designed to keep more youthful offenders in their local communities.
The new law means local faith leaders have new opportunities to support and guide youthful offenders and their families–and it starts with understanding the system.
Join Interfaith Center staff on a tour of Austin’s Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center on November 26th. Learn what happens to youth when they are picked up by the police…what conditions they are held in…who is available to help them navigate the often-intimidating criminal justice system…and where faith communities fit in.
Details of the tour:
- Meet at 9am on Nov. 26th at Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center, 2515 South Congress Ave. in Austin.
- The tour will last about 2 hours and include visits to the residential, probation, and detention areas.
- After the tour, Gardner-Betts staff will meet with us for a Q & A session.
- An informal debrief over brunch/lunch will be held following the visit.
Space is limited! We will accept reservations for this trip on a first-come basis through November 20th. If you know someone that you think would like to attend, please forward this email along.
Please email cindy@texasimpact.org to RSVP or if you have questions or need more information.
Center for Public Policy Priorities Report
November 1, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSAChoices and Challenges: How Texas County Uninsured Rates
Will Drop Under Health Care Reform
Choices and Challenges Report >>
Press Release >>
Texas is projected to see the largest percentage gain in insurance coverage of any state under health care reform. With nearly one in four of the 25 million Texans lacking coverage today, any significant gain in coverage will reduce local charity care and uncompensated care costs and tax burdens. A recent model developed by Michael E. Cline, Ph.D., and Steve H. Murdock, Ph.D. of Rice University provides county-level projections to help local officials and residents plan for how increased coverage under the Affordable Care Act could affect their communities. http://www.cppp.org/research.php?aid=1231
Coats for Kids – Important 2012 Information
November 1, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSA
- Distribution Day: Saturday, December 8th from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Distribution Site: Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road
- Community Coat Drive: Monday, November 12th through Wednesday, December 5th. Please drop your coats off at any local Jack Brown Cleaners. To find a location near you, click here.
- School & Business Coat Drive Competition: Monday, November 12th through Friday, November 30th. Please drop your coats off at any local Jack Brown Cleaners. To find a location near you, click here.
Arm Chair Activism
November 1, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSA
Some of our readers have asked us to include petition requests that they are passionate about. If you have similar petitions to share, please send the link to rcurry@austin.rr.com.
From United Methodist Kairos Response: Stand with 15 Courageous Christian Leaders.Earlier this month, fifteen leaders of Christian denominations (including Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, President of the UMC Council of Bishops, and organizations sent a historic letter to the United States Congress –and it is having an impact far beyond Washington DC. In the letter, they have questioned the use of US military aid for “widespread Israeli human rights violations committed against Palestinians.” They have called for “an immediate investigation into possible violations by Israel” of US laws that govern the use of foreign assistance and arms exports; they also call for the withholding of military aid if Israel is found to be violating these laws. But enormous pressure has been put on these fifteen leaders to rescind their letter. Take a look at the New York Times report, letters of denunciation and powerful responses in opinion columns nationwide. That’s why United Methodist Kairos Response helped to write and launch this Letter of Support with several partners, including US Campaign to End the Occupation, Friends of Sabeel North America, and Kairos USA. Also working with us are allies like Jewish Voice for Peace and American Muslims for Peace – they are gathering signatures with similar supportive messages. Together we hope to send these leaders an outpouring of support for their efforts. Please take one minute now to sign the Letter of Support and Thanks. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From Augustine Rodriguez: Texas Legislature Implement the Affordable Health Care Act.We are demanding that Governor Rick Perry and the Texas Legislature begin full implementation of the Affordable Health Care Act, which was signed into law in 2010 and recently upheld by the Supreme Court. We are demanding that the insurance exchanges be created and put into service to help the millions of Texans who are uninsured and under-insured. The United States Constitution dictates that states are not above federal law. This is now the law of the land. That’s why I created a petition on SignOn.org to the Texas State House, the Texas State Senate, and Governor Perry, which says: The Supreme Court recently upheld the Affordable Care Act, and we are demanding that our Governor and Texas Legislature begin a full implementation of the law. The insurance exchanges need to be up and running by January 1, 2013. Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.
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MFSA Still Needs Your Support!
November 1, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSAHow to join or support MFSA
Please join with us as we connect progressive United Methodists in putting faith into action!
Membership in MFSA is not predicated on ability to pay. We do not have “dues”. However, our Chapter and the National Office need funding each year for programs and activities. Membership gifts and special giving are always appreciated. MFSA is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization by the IRS. Membership gifts to MFSA are tax deductible as provided by law.
There are several easy ways to join or support 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). Please indicate that you are part of the SWTX Chapter.
- Or, you can mail a check made out to “SWTX – MFSA” to our Treasurer, Janice Curry, at 1509 Mearns Meadow Blvd, Austin 78758. The suggested donation is $60, but any amount is welcome. Thanks for your support!
We have eight monthly meetings per year, generally on the second Thursday of the month. We communicate using monthly electronic newsletters & updates to our website and Facebook page.
Outstanding Turnout for Pride Parade!
October 14, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSAThe Southwest Texas Conference Chapter of MFSA and the Reconciling Ministries Team collaborated to sponsor a group of 244 United Methodists in the 2012 Austin Pride Parade on Saturday, September 22. Members of seven UMC churches – First, Grace, Saint John’s, Trinity, and University in Austin; Journey in Round Rock; and Travis Park in San Antonio – wore shirts in the colors of the rainbow to show our support . The parade attendees gave us a very warm welcome. Thanks to Joy Butler for organizing the group! See more photos on our website – http://www.flickr.com/photos/swtexasmfsa.
TCADP – Month of Faith in Action on the Death Penalty: Faithful Conversation with Sr. Helen Prejean on the Death Penalty
October 14, 2012 — Rio Texas MFSASISTER HELEN PREJEAN — Friday, October 12
On Friday, October 12, St. Edwards University, the UMC General Board of Church and Society, the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and others will host Faithful Considerations: A Discussion With Sister Helen Prejean and Austin Faith Leaders. Sister Helen will be joined by Rev. John Elford of University UMC and Pastor Nestor Menjivar.
The conversation will include the challenges of moving Texas away from a culture of vengeance toward a culture of accountability that does not rely on the death penalty; how faith leaders and people of faith can take a more proactive role in educating their congregations about this issue, and the challenges of addressing the death penalty from the pulpit. As Sr. Helen states, “I realize that I cannot stand by silently as my government executes its citizens. If I do not speak out and resist, I am an accomplice.”
The event will be held at the Ragsdale Center at St. Edward’s University from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The event is free, but you will need to register. Seating is limited.
Sister Helen Prejean is the author of Dead Man Walking, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and later made into a powerful movie (with Susan Sarandon playing Sister Helen). She’ll be coming to Austin to share her story.
Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action 