Econnection: January 4, 2024

EConnection
Written By Renee Moreno
*|MC:SUBJECT|*

Featured Events

Worship | Sunday @ 11 am
Online or In-Person

Join us for Worship Sunday, January 7, as we observe Epiphany. Pastor Teresa will preach on the story of the Magi’s visit to the Christ Child from Matthew’s Gospel.


At our 11 am sanctuary service, we will celebrate Holy Communion and Alicia will share a song by Regina Spektor entitled “The Call.” We will also receive “star words” as an invitation to a prayer practice for the new year. Our online service premiers at 11 am on our YouTube channel.

“Look closely at the present you are constructing: it should look like the future you are dreaming.”

– Alice Walker


“Pick a star on the dark horizon and follow the light.”

– Regina Spector, “The Call”


“An epiphany is not an experience that we can create from within, but one that we can only be open to and receive from another. Epiphanies leave us totally out of control, and they always demand that we change.”

– Father Richard Rohr

News

Anti-Racism Vote: January 14

Last year, our Racial Justice task force, alongside our Church Council worked on and adopted a set of resolutions that aimed to define our values and work ahead as an anti-racist church. Part of that work was developing a statement to articulate our values and commitment around racial justice. The statement reads as follows:


“University United Methodist Church is an anti-racist church. We are committed to the elimination of systemic racism and reformation of current institutions that adversely affect people of color seeking health care, education, employment, housing and criminal justice. We resist systemic racism through the promotion of anti-racist education, advocacy for anti-racist reforms in our community, and support for church policies that make us more anti-racist in welcoming, hiring, purchasing and investing. We invite others to join us as we strive to love all our neighbors as Christ loves us.”


On January 14, immediately following the 11 am Sanctuary service, we will hold a church-wide vote to adopt the statement as an articulation of our principles here at University United Methodist Church. We hope you’ll be with us that MLK Sunday and support your church community in our effort to solidify our work in becoming a more anti-racist church. To learn more about the resolutions, please visit the Racial Justice page on our website. 

Advent Offering

Thank you to all who contributed to our Advent Offering. To date we’ve raised over $1,500 for GAVA. 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. Resident-led teams work to improve nutrition, increase access to safe physical activity, support climate resilience and neighborhood stability, and advocate for equitable policies and practices.

In the New Year

January

Get Connected
Renee Moreno
Previous

Teresa’s Note: January 5, 2024
Next

Children’s Ministry Newsletter: January