Econnection: October 31, 2024

EConnection

Oct 31

Written By Renee Moreno

Econnection - October 31, 2024

Featured Events

All Saints’ Sunday

featuring Brahms Requiem

Sunday | 11 am

We will observe All Saints Sunday this Sunday at 11am in the sanctuary with a special worship service. The Congregational Church of Austin will join us for a worship service including a lighting of candles for All Saints’ Sunday and the Brahms Requiem. The Brahms’ Requiem is a renowned work, composed by Johannes Brahms during a time of personal grief to provide comfort and peace to others experiencing grief and loss. We anticipate the service being 90 minutes to 2 hours. Due to the length of the requiem, we will celebrate Communion on November 10.

Learn More about the Requiem

Election Connection

November 5 | 11 am - 8 pm

This come-and-go day of community building is an opportunity for us to connect, lean on one another, enjoy some fun and to remind one another that God is with us as we await election results.

See the Schedule

Parents’ Night Out

November 2 | 5 - 8 pm

Register by October 31!

Treat your kids to a fun night out with friends at UUMC! We'll have some Día de los Muertos 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!

Service of Worship

Sunday | 11 am

Join us for worship as we celebrate All Saints Sunday. We’ll welcome members and friends from The Congregational Church of Austin as we worship together and as our choirs join together in offering the Brahms Requiem. The Brahms Requiem is an inspiring and impressive piece of work and we expect this worship service to be about 90 minutes.

We will remember the members of UUMC and the Congregational Church who have died within this past year with candle lighting. If family members are present, they will be invited to come forward and light their loved one’s candle. With this special worship service falling just before the presidential election in our country, we’ll also look to this time together in community as we offer the joys and concerns of our hearts to God.

Please note that due to the length of this service, we will celebrate Holy Communion on Sunday, November 10.

And a special announcement for parents of young children: We welcome your children in worship as always! Our children’s director Jillian Moore has created new busy bags for worship–so you’ll want to check them out! Please know the wiggle in your child is welcome in our sanctuary, but if you feel more comfortable with your child in childcare, childcare will be available until the worship service concludes.

“I am listening to a deeper way. Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. Be still, they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands.”

– Linda Hogan

“My culture does not honor the ancestors as a quaint spirituality of the past, but as a living source of strength for the present.”

– Steven Charleston

Stewardship

Pledges put stewardship campaign on track. Thank you!

Thank you for the fantastic response to our 2025 stewardship campaign.

On Sunday, we received 124 financial commitments totaling $655,755. That includes 15 individuals or families returning pledge cards for the first time. This is a fantastic first tally of commitments and speaks to the generosity and aspiration of our church community.

We know that many current givers were not able to be in worship Sunday and have yet to submit their 2025 commitments. We’re optimistic that those commitments will be made soon, putting us on target to meet our goal of $810,000.

If you have yet to submit your financial commitment for 2025, you may turn in a pledge card in worship or to the church office. You may email Cindy Reeves at finance@uumc.org.

We will continue to tally commitments through mid-November before putting together our budget for 2025. Commitments made now allow us to serve our community in the coming year.

We indeed are people of possibility!

– John Bridges, finance chair

News

Teresa’s Interview with

Texas Freedom Network

Finally, I had the joy of visiting with Texas Freedom Network recently. "Members of our Just Texas community, like Rev. Welborn, consistently show us that the religious right does not speak for all faith communities."

Listen to the Interview Here

College Ministry Fun!

Megan and the college students have been having a ton of fun this October. They’ve hung out at the Fall Festival, carved pumpkins, and even had a Drag Bingo with Aria! Any college kids wanting to join in on the fun should email Megan at motto@uumc.org.

Stolen Lives Art Display

UUMC is currently working with Texas Impact on a state-wide installation campaign called “Vidas Robadas” or “Stolen Lives.” Every year lives are lost to gun violence through homicide and suicide. Vidas Robadas seeks to raise awareness by representing the names of those lost on a shirt that will be displayed here at the church. To learn more about this initiative and the work Texas Impact is doing visit their website here.