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| Lunch & Learn: Daughters of PalestineOctober 12 | 12 pm | Fellowship HallIn this Lunch and Learn, the Rev. Leyla K. King, Canon for Mission in Small Congregations of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, will share highlights from her recently published book, "Daughters of Palestine: A Memoir in Five Generations," as well as reflections on the current humanitarian tragedy in Palestine and broader challenges in global politics. |
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| About Daughters of PalestineLeyla King has been a keeper of family stories since long before she sat down across from her grandmother with a tiny cassette tape recorder. And in this beautifully crafted memoir, she braids matriarchal memory into a vivid saga of love and survival as her ancestors flee war and poverty. From Haifa to Ramallah, Damascus, Beirut, and finally Texas, Leyla makes global politics deeply personal as family squabbles, ambition, mental illness, romance, and religion shape their immigrant journey. |
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| Tuesday Night Lights: Faith & Art A Conversation on Beauty and the SacredTuesdays | 7 pm | Fellowship HallEach Tuesday evening, we’ll welcome a different artist or art expert from within our congregation to explore the meaningful intersection between art and spiritual life as they share their stories and lead a conversation. |
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| October 14 - Ginger Geyer |
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Ginger grew up in Arkansas and has been an Austin resident since 1988. She earned BFA and MFA degrees from SMU and a Masters in Pastoral Ministry at the Seminary of the Southwest. She has taught there and was Artist-in-Residence in 2022-2023. Her previous careers have been in art museum planning and collections management, and in art programming for a retreat center. She |
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has an extensive record of exhibitions, publications, and speaking engagements. Read More |
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| In Transit: A Young Adult Sunday School ClassOctober 19 | 9:45 am | College Ministry Room
Life in your 20s and early 30s can feel like everything is in transit—school, work, relationships, and faith. And that’s probably why we'd better gather together each week to navigate our path by sharing stories, asking honest questions, and exploring how faith connects with real life. Whether you’re in college, starting a career, or just figuring things out, let's build a welcoming community and fellowship here and grow in faith together. Questions? Contact Pastor Earl at pastorearl@uumc.org. |
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| Service of Worship Sunday @ 11 amScripture: Acts 2:14-21
Join us for worship as we continue Stewardship Season with our theme “Dare to Dream!” Pastor Teresa will be preaching and the sermon text is the story of Pentecost from Acts 2:14-21. The Sanctuary choir will sing Mark Miller’s “I Dream of a Church” and for our Stewardship Witness we will hear from a variety of different church members sharing their dreams and visions for the faith community we love called University UMC.
On this Sunday before Indigenous Persons Day, we will hear a Land Acknowledgement and the translation of The Lord’s Prayer comes from The First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament.
Plan to stay after worship for our Lunch and Learn. In this Lunch and Learn, the Rev. Leyla K. King, Canon for Mission in Small Congregations of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, will share highlights from her recently published book, "Daughters of Palestine: A Memoir in Five Generations," as well as reflections on the current humanitarian tragedy in Palestine and broader challenges in global politics. |
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Blessed are you who turn your face up to the sky, who open your arms to feel the wind, who notice all the things that we should notice. Blessed are you who are fluent in wonder and familiar with awe. Blessed are you who, even now, dream dreams, who have not lost hope, who swear the glass is still half-full. Blessed are you who plant trees and sing the harmony, who tell the children how this world can be magic. Blessed are you who walk and seek and turn over every stone, pointing out all the corners and colors that God lives in. Blessed are you. Trusting in our blessedness, let us give generously. – A Blessing for Seekers by Rev. Sarah Speed |
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A Letter from our Finance Chair
This month we’re inviting UUMC to dream — and dream big. Dream of strengthening our multigenerational community. Dream of finding new ways to serve our neighbors. Dream of being a more persuasive voice against injustice in all its forms. With “Dare to Dream” as our theme, our fall stewardship campaign is both an invitation and a challenge, as we ask everyone to prayerfully consider their financial commitment to UUMC.
Our Finance Committee has set a goal of $850,000 in commitments for 2026, which would be an increase of about 8% from our current-year pledged giving of $787,995. Reaching this goal will allow us to continue to grow our ministries for children and youth, more fully fund our Open Door mission to unhoused neighbors, and ensure living wages for our wonderful staff.
Commitments made via pledge cards this month are critically important to our ability to prepare a budget and plan our spending for next year. Put simply, we will not plan to spend money that we don’t have, so a shortfall in financial commitments will result in cuts to beloved programs or missions — the opposite of daring to dream big. If you’ve never turned in a pledge card, we say that there’s no better time than now. If you already pledge your financial commitment, we thank you, and we ask for your help in achieving big dreams.
We believe that, together, we can meet our $850,000 goal and meet the moment. Our campaign culminates Oct. 26 with Commitment to Giving Sunday and the Fall Festival. You may turn in a pledge card then — or anytime before — through the Sunday offering plate or the church office. You can also communicate your plans to finance director Cindy Reeves at finance@uumc.org. Let’s all dare to dream big. — John Bridges, finance chair |
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Ministry Shoutout: Children’s Ministry |
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Our Children’s ministry has been growing steadily over the past year, and our team has been coming up with lots of fun, creative programming to meet the demand. From Blessing of the Backpacks to Tween Room Decorating to 2nd Grade Bibles, it’s been a busy start of the semester!
It’s thanks to your gifts that this ministry has been allowed to thrive. We thank each of you for your gifts to University UMC and our ministries. |
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Stewardship Mailers –with Pledge Cards– have been going out in the mail this week. Keep your eyes on your mailbox for a pledge card, or pick one up in the Sanctuary on Sunday.
P.S. Click the photo above to see more of the fun our Children’s Ministry has been having! |
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Racial Justice Public Art Project
The Racial Justice Task Force is grateful for the resources provided by donations from our congregation to fund the initial Request for Proposals for the Racial Justice Public Art Project. We are now soliciting proposals for a public art work to be displayed on our building or grounds that will be a witness to our commitment to be an anti-racist congregation. Read the full proposal. |
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Sanctuary Flowers
There’s only ONE Sunday left to donate flowers in the Sanctuary in 2025. If you’re interested in sponsoring the flowers in honor or in memory of a loved one on November 30 or in 2026, please contact Renee at renee@uumc.org! |
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Rainbow Connections Benefit Recital
We’re pleased to host this recital in the University UMC Chapel on October 18 from 7 - 9 pm. All donations will benefit Rainbow Connections ATX, supporting intergenerational queer community in Austin.
Please join Rachel Wallis, soprano, and Sydney Sterrett, piano, for an hourlong recital celebrating a lifetime of Queer love, from childhood crushes and leaving home to building your chosen family. With hidden gems pulled from deep in the American Songbook and classics you’ve heard a million times, let’s get together to celebrate a space where Queer people have always—and will always—belong: the world of musical theatre. |
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| Tween Time: Outdoor Movie NightOctober 11 | 6 pm |
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| Methodist Youth Fellowship: Kismet & Activate GamesOctober 12 | 12 pm |
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| Lunch & Learn: Daughters of PalestineOctober 12 | 12 pm |
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| In Transit: A Young Adult Sunday SchoolOctober 19 | 9:45 am |
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| Little Ones PotluckOctober 19 | 4 pm |
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| Diversity Fellowship DinnerOctober 25 | 4 pm |
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| Parents Night OutOctober 25 | 5 pm |
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| Parents Happy HourOctober 25 | 5:15 pm |
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| Fall FestivalOctober 25 | 5:15 pm |
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| Youth: Halloween Costume Party October 31 | 6 pm |
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| Eternal Light: A Requiem by Howard GoodallNovember 2 | 11 am |
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| Children’s Ministry: Juniors Day CampNovember 4 | 9 am |
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| Children’s MinistryIf you have kiddos that you’d like to get involved in our children’s ministry, or just to learn more, reach out to Jillian |
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| Youth MinistryIf you have youth that you’d like to get involved in our youth ministry, or just to learn more, reach out to Natasha. |
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| College & Young AdultCollege Students and Young Adults, we have programs for you too! Contact Megan to get involved. |
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| Music MinistryUUMC is proud of its rich tradition of outstanding music. We offer opportunities for anyone, of any age or skill level. To get involved, contact AV. |
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| Continuing Adult EducationUUMC provides a variety of Sunday School groups, classes, and mission and justice ministries. Contact Pastor Earl to learn more. |
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| Worship & AdministrationThere are a lot of moving parts to operate this wonderful place. If you'd like to learn more or potentially volunteer, contact Pastor Teresa. |
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