Econnection: December 7, 2023

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

Featured Events Lessons & Carols This Sunday | 11 am & 7 pm Join us for our annual Lessons and Carols service! The choir and congregation will join together to sing traditional carols as well as more contemporary compositions, interspersed with the Christmas Story read by community leaders. Let's sing the songs of the season together! We’ll have a Lessons and Carols service at 11 am and a second service at 7 pm. 7 pm Service Information Doors will open at 6 pm, at 6:30 pm, we’ll have a special set of prelude music, which will only be performed before the 7 pm service. Learn More Worship | Sunday @ 11 am Online or In-Person Join us for worship this Sunday as we celebrate the beauty of the season with our annual Lessons and Carols service! The choir and congregation will join together to sing traditional carols as well as more contemporary compositions, interspersed with nine scripture readings recounting God’s coming to us in Jesus. Guest readers include community leaders. In person services are at 11 am and 7 pm. An online Lessons and Carols service premiers on our YouTube channel at 11 am. Let's sing the songs of the season together! News Advent Offering About Go! Austin/Vamos! Austin Go! Austin/Vamos! Austin (GAVA) is a coalition of neighbors and community partners breaking down barriers to healthy living and strengthening neighborhood stability in Austin’s Eastern Crescent (Dove Springs, South Austin, the Rundberg area, and St. Johns neighborhood). Resident-led teams work with GAVA organizers to identify and lead efforts to improve nutrition, increase access to safe physical activity, support climate resilience and neighborhood stability, and advocate for equitable policies and practices in their communities. Recent GAVA projects, covered by the press, include their work for climate resilience in flooding zones, their contribution of neighborhood data to the Climate Atlas, an interactive map developed by the UT and funded by a grant from NASA, which shows the impact of climate change, and their effort to launch a cooperative, nonprofit-led grocery store in east Austin to help combat healthy food deserts (Austin City Council approved a $500,000 contract with them). To Donate You can donate by cash, check or online to help us support GAVA. Please write “Advent Offering” on your offering envelope or the memo section of your check. If you are giving online, visit uumc.org/give and select “Give to Special Offerings.” Thank you for your generosity. Donations for Zavala Join the Explorers Sunday School Class in collecting donations for the Zavala Elementary Santa’s Gift Shop. The Elementary School organizes a gift market for their students to "purchase” gifts for family members. If you find yourself cleaning out your closets, consider donating some potential gifts to Zavala by bringing donations to the Explorer’s classroom by Sunday, December 10. Some examples of items to donate: cups/mugs, picture frames, costume jewelry, vases, stuffed animals, and Tupperware. If you have any questions, contact Sandy Smith at sandysmithaustx@gmail.com. Curious about Godly Play? UUMC is hosting a Godly Play training February 17-19. Our children's program has had a rich Godly Play tradition and we are looking to grow our roster of teachers. If you are interested in becoming a teacher or learning more, you are invited to watch a Godly Play story this Sunday, December 10th on the 1st floor. It is open to anyone that's interested! If you are interested in reading more about Godly Play, you can visit their website. If you have any questions, contact Jillian at jillian@uumc.org. Advent Devotional This year’s Advent Devotional is available in the sanctuary, or you can follow along on our website,  Apple Podcasts, and Spotify! Stewardship Update So far, we’ve received 148 pledge cards totaling $711,317. If you haven’t had a chance to turn in a pledge card, there’s still time and members of the finance committee will be reaching out soon. Thanks again for all you do. GivingTuesday Thank you to all who donated to Fig Leaf during #GivingTuesday. You helped raise $1,450 to date! Advent Season December 10 3rd Sunday of Advent Lessons & Carols 11 am Learn More Lessons & Carols - Evening Service 7 pm Learn More Christmas Caroling December 13 @ 7 pm Learn More Youth: Christmas Party and Lock-In December 15 @ 6 pm Learn More December 17 4th Sunday of Advent Christmas Pageant 11 am Learn More Advent Festival 12 pm Learn More Longest Night Service December 19 @ 7 pm Learn More Y’all Come Christmas Eve Choir December 20 @ 7 pm Learn More December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas Eve Services 11 am, 3:30 pm, 5:30 pm & 10:30 pm Learn More Hymn Sing 12/31 @ 9:45 am Learn More In The New Year Diana Butler Bass January 27 @ 7 pm & January 28 @ 11 am We’ve rescheduled Diana Butler Bass’ visit to UUMC! She will now hold her presentation, Q&A, and book signing on January 27 at 7 pm and Guest Preaching during the 11 am service on January 28. Learn more Get Connected Children’s Ministry If you have kiddos that you’d like to get involved in our children’s ministry, or just to learn more, reach out to Pastor Heather. jillian@uumc.org College & Young Adult College Students and Young Adults, we have programs for you too! Contact Megan to get involved. motto@uumc.org Music Ministry UUMC is proud of its rich tradition of outstanding music. We offer opportunities for anyone, of any age or skill level. To get involved, contact Alicia. alicia@uumc.org Continuing Adult Education UUMC provides a variety of Sunday School groups, classes, and mission and justice ministries. Contact Pastor Earl to learn more. pastorearl@uumc.org Worship & Administration There are a lot of moving parts to operate this wonderful place. If you'd like to learn more or potentially volunteer, contact Pastor Teresa. pastorteresa@uumc.org 2409 Guadalupe Street Austin, Texas 78705 512-478-9387 Want to change how you receive emails from us? Click here to update your preferences or unsubscribe or unsubscribe from this list