Tuesdays February 24 - March 31

When you hear the phrase Christian Mysticism, what comes to mind? Many of us know it’s an ancient, and life-giving stream within our faith—yet the Mystical texts can feel obscure, and the mystics themselves can seem hard to approach. If you are curious about Mysticism but unsure where to begin, Walter Hames and Pastor Earl invite you to explore this rich tradition together during the season of Lent.

Guided by the book Tending the Garden: A History of Christian Mysticism, we will discover that the mystics were highly relatable people who were concerned with tending to a personal and loving relationship with God. Along the way, we will reflect on how their wisdom and spiritual practices speak to our own lives today: in prayer, in leadership, in politics, in intellectual life, and in the ordinary rhythms of being human. Also, our final session will include a special opportunity to meet and talk with the book’s author.

This is a hybrid class. To register, learn more, or receive the Zoom link, please email Pastor Earl at pastorearl@uumc.org.

Join Land & Legacy as we continue the discernment conversation around building development. We hope to have some information from the broker to share, but are excited to connect with y’all either way. If you haven’t attended one of our previous Town Halls, we encourage you to do so, as this conversation will build on earlier ones.

Childcare and some light bites will be available.

If you have any questions about this process, please reach out to Chad—chad@uumc.org—he’s more than happy to chat with you.

Tweens, join us for the most fun we'll ever have! Meet Jillian at the church at 5:30 pm and we'll get dinner together and then head to a game show inspired experience. This has been a favorite event of our kiddos, they won’t want to miss it! Please plan to bring $15 for dinner. Pick up at the church at 9 pm!

Questions? Ready to RSVP? Email Jillian at jillian@uumc.org.

Join us as we begin our Lenten journey! The evening Ash Wednesday service will take place at 7pm in the Sanctuary and will include readings, contemplative music, holy communion, and imposition of ashes. Also, Pastor Earl will be in the courtyard at 6:45 for anyone who wants to come and participate in the burning of last year's palm branches.

The scripture lesson is The Parable of the Wedding Banquet in Luke 14:15-24. We begin Ash Wednesday with an open invitation. Instead of inviting people to focus internally on fasting and self-deprivation during Lent, this parable invites us into a communal feast. As guests are gathered in, the miracle is that there is still room. There is more love and abundance available, if only we are present to accept it.

We will also have a mid-day service, with lunch, for those who are looking to come during the lunch hour.

The noon Ash Wednesday service will take place in the Chapel on Feb. 18. This mid-day service will include imposition of ashes, readings, and Taizé music. Plan to stay after worship for lunch in the courtyard with our campus ministry students and a time of fellowship.

Please Note: there will be gathering music shared from noon until about 12:15 to allow those working to travel in time for the service.

We will also hold an evening service featuring communion and burning of the ashes.

Come celebrate Shrove Tuesday with pancakes (including gluten-free and red velvet) and other breakfast goodies. ALL are welcome-bring your beads and empty stomachs!

Questions? Contact Jillian at jillian@uumc.org!

Tweens (4th & 5th graders) and youth (6th - 12th graders) are welcome to join Jillian and Natasha to prep for our annual Shrove Tuesday pancake supper. We will cook, decorate and play! No school for AISD- send them here!

Questions? Want to RSVP?

Tweens can contact Jillian at jillian@uumc.org.
You can contact Natasha at natasha@uumc.org.

All high school youth come make dinner and join in conversation and fun with our UUMC college group.

Questions? Want to RSVP? Contact Natasha at natasha@uumc.org!

February 15th is the annual Austin Marathon.  Since the route runs right down Guadalupe we will all need to plan a little additional time for travel. 

As always, you can try using Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze. However, sometimes those applications don't work as well on these type of occasions. We’ve put together some handy tips for getting to church this Sunday!

Treat your kids to a fun night out with friends at UUMC! We'll have Valentine’s Day themed crafts, recreation, STEM, pizza, movie and dessert. This is the perfect time to do something fun by yourselves or join other parents for community time together. We can't wait to see you there! Fifth grade and under!

Questions? Email Jillian at jillian@uumc.org!

Click Here to Register

Join us at 7 pm for a one-hour salsa lesson taught by AV, followed by music and dancing in the Fellowship Hall.

All ages, all people welcome to come learn, laugh, and be in community at UUMC. Bring some salsa or some sweet treats to share!

Questions? Want more information? Contact Natasha at natasha@uumc.org.

The Caregivers Support Group will meet via Zoom on the Second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm. It is a safe place for persons to gather and share confidentially about the joys and challenges of caregiving.

JOIN US ON ZOOM

College students join us for our annual Super Bowl Party! Even if you don't like football you can join the fun. There will be food and games.

Looking to join? Contact Megan at motto@uumc.org!

All are welcome to hear Rev. Jim Harrington, a Texas civil rights icon who has dedicated his life to the pursuit of justice. Rev. Harrington will share stories from his recently published book, The Texas Civil Rights Project: How We Built a Social Justice Movement, reflecting on his lifelong fight for equality—from advocating for farmworkers alongside César Chávez to securing major reforms for people with disabilities—and his work to build a movement for social justice.

Questions? Contact Pastor Earl at pastorearl@uumc.org.

Join us as we rejoice in the progress our queer and trans community has made, and recommit to the work that remains before us.

After worship, join us in the Fellowship Hall for an intergenerational Drag Brunch, showcasing two of Austin's own Queens, Diamond Dior Davenport and Monica Monae! Check out AV’s video about what to expect this Sunday. If you’re curious about Drag Etiquette in general, we recommend this excellent video created by Waterloo Spectrum featuring kings and queens from their local community.

Questions? Want to help out? Contact AV at av@uumc.org!

Planned and led by our Queer Council, this week in worship we celebrate UUMC's anniversary of our affiliation with the Reconciling Ministries Network. We’ll welcome Rev. Dr. Adama Brown as our guest preacher.

Meet Rev. Dr. Adama Brown

The Rev. Dr. Adama Brown currently serves as the Director of Impact and Grants at the United Methodist Foundation of New England, where she brings more than twenty years of experience in research, data, and evaluation to the Foundation. Prior to joining the Foundation, Adama directed research and data work at United Way of Rhode Island, where she utilized quantitative and qualitative analysis to better understand and reimagine social impact. Adama is particularly interested in the ways that data and narrative inform philanthropic work and can serve as a catalyst for change.

Adama has served in social justice ministries at the district and conference levels of the United Methodist Church. From 2015 to 2017, she served on the Amos Commission, the social justice arm of the Capital District of the Rio Texas Annual Conference, where she secured grant funding for Undoing Racism work. Beginning in 2010, The Rev. Dr. Brown became involved in the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), where she served as a board member and became a reconciling church consultant, helping churches, including her home church, First UMC of Austin, in their discernment to become a reconciling congregation. From 2019 to 2021, Adama co-chaired the Open Spirit Task Force, designed to facilitate discussion about whether or how the NEAC would engage or create new expressions of Methodism. Since 2019, Adama has been a member of the New England Annual Conference Commission on Religion and Race, where she has co-created anti-racism curriculum and co-facilitated anti-racism training for NEAC clergy.

Adama is a sociologist by training and earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Texas at Austin and a PhD in sociology from Iowa State University with an emphasis on mental health, research methods, statistics, and social policy. She also earned an MDiv from Iliff School of Theology with a specialization in pastoral counseling and spiritual care. Ordained in the New England Annual Conference, The Rev. Dr. Brown is a Deacon in Full Connection and the Deacon in Residence at Arnold Mills UMC in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

In her spare time, Adama is passionate about genealogy, jazz, justice, and joy.

If you missed our last presentation with Christopher Kennedy we will offer a final virtual opportunity to hear his presentation on January 29 at 12 pm. We will record that presentation and make it available to watch at your convenience. It will be helpful context to have ahead of our next meeting so we encourage your to attend or watch as able. Find the Zoom link below.

Our next church-wide Land and Legacy meeting will be in late February to talk about next steps in our discernment process around our property.

If you have any questions about this process, please reach out to Chad—chad@uumc.org—he’s more than happy to chat with you.

POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER

Middle school and high school youth are welcome to join in our annual Game On and Cabo Bobs adventure! The cost is $20 per youth for dinner and games.

Questions? Contact Natasha!

POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER

Diversity Fellowship is kicking off the New Year with a collective celebration featuring traditional Korean New Year food! Diversity Fellowship is a great way for our community's ethnically diverse members to come together, enjoy food, and build meaningful friendships. Have questions or want to know more?

Feel free to contact Pastor Earl—pastorearl@uumc.org—we'd love to connect with you!

The Racial Justice Task Force of UUMC invites you to a four-week study on Christian Nationalism. Together, we’ll explore historical examples and how Christian nationalism emerged in American history and continues to shape the political climate today. We’ll also consider faithful ways to respond: how we can be agents of change and reach out to our neighbors with understanding and hope. Please join us in person or via Zoom! Please email Pastor Earl for the Zoom link.

Our Whole Lives is here again! This year, our kinder-1st graders will get 5 Sundays with our trained OWL teachers- Natasha and Kelly. We will meet in the library right after church, eat lunch together and then begin our lesson! Please plan to bring lunch every Sunday!

OWL dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, fosters healthy relationships and improves decision making. This is a comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education. Get all questions answered by emailing Jillian.

Click here to register!

Join us for MLK Sunday as we remember the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and re-commit to our ongoing anti-racism work.

Everyone is invited to the Fellowship Hall for a Sunday School hour opportunity. Rev. Dr. Amy Laura Hall will lead this time and give us a book talk on her forthcoming book. Her new book examines how religious rhetoric and preaching have shaped Christian nationalism in modern American history, and its title is "Erecting the Pulpit: Muscular Christianity from Teddy Roosevelt to Donald Trump." You can learn more on her publisher’s website. Contact Pastor Earl with any questions! pastorearl@uumc.org.

This opportunity will be in-person only. Thank you for your understanding.

Join us Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. for a meaningful time of reading and sharing.

Each session will begin with a short story from around the world and from different time periods—across cultures and religions—followed by a lively discussion and interpretation. Together, we will explore the meanings and lessons these stories offer for our lives today. Please join us in person or via Zoom (please email Pastor Earl for the Zoom link.)

For the last few months, on Wednesday afternoons, about 3 - 6 of us have met in the Church Library, from 1 - 3 p.m., to write. It provides a nice, quiet, regular place to just sit down and write, a place where, once you’re there, the “What I ought to be doing’s” might have a little less persuasion in keeping you from getting something written down. If you’d like to join us, please do. And, if you’d have any questions, please contact me, Mark Jones (512-749-3898), or Christy Moore (deebuss@gmail.com).

The Caregivers Support Group will meet via Zoom on the Second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm. It is a safe place for persons to gather and share confidentially about the joys and challenges of caregiving. This group is facilitated by Pastor Teresa. Please reach out to her at PastorTeresa@uumc.org if you have any questions or concerns.

JOIN US ON ZOOM

College Ministry starts a new semester! UT Students, join us for our first Sunday back.

Contact Megan at motto@uumc.org with any questions!

On January 11 we remember the Baptism of Jesus and we will be invited to participate in a renewal of baptism ritual.

Tweens (4th & 5th Graders) & Youth (6th - 12th Graders):

Join us as we volunteer at Partnerships for Children, helping the organization with whatever they need! We will stop for lunch when we're done. Wear work clothes, bring water bottles and $15 for lunch.

Questions? Ready to RSVP?

Tweens: Contact Jillian at jillian@uumc.org
Youth: Contact Natasha at natasha@uumc.org