grace united methodist church austin, tx

For information on these and other events at Grace United Methodist Church, please check out the ‘Grace Events Calendar’, click here.  

• August 12, Thursday.  10 AM.  Families and Friends of Grace, Please join us for another Water Fun Day.  The fun will begin at 10 AM  in Grace’s “Aunt Catherine’s Garden” (the park-like lot in the same block as the church).  We will have water activities and tasty treats.  Plan to get soaked and bring a towel. RSVP to Cas at caslongo@yahoo.com. Hope to see you all there!  Cas
• August 19, Thursday. 7 PM. Administrative Council meeting in Fellowship Hall.
• August 22, Sunday. 11AM. Back-to-School Blessing of the Backpacks followed by ice cream and water fun in Aunt Catherine’s Garden.
• August 29. Noon. Fifth Sunday Luncheon in Fellowship Hall. Bring a salad or sandwiches to share! Dessert will be in the form of sundaes and banana splits provided by David Arnold! Note: Church conference will be held at a later date.
• September 9, Thursday. 5-7 AM. Feed My People Breakfast for the Homeless at First UMC Family Life Center (13^th & Lavaca).  Be one of the Grace UMC volunteers to help prepare and serve breakfast. Breakfast is served at 6 AM.  Talk with Rev. Kessie, or just show up at the First UMC Family Life Center, and sign in as a volunteer.  You will be directed to the kitchen.
• September 18, Saturday. 9:30 AM. Blessing of the Animals in Aunt Catherine’s Garden.  
• September 19, Sunday. 11 AM. Special Music during Worship Service with Renata Green, flutist. Ms. Green is the flutist of Viva Trio (www.myspace.com/vivatrio) and Director of Outreach and Development for Classical Guitar Alive (www.guitaralive.org/gallery_renata1.html).
• Dinners for 8. It’s back, one of our favorite fellowship activities!  Great friendships are forged here in these relaxed small groups.  Bill Stone is coordinating the formation of the groups, but after the groups are formed, they are on their own to organize monthly activities, typically potluck dinners at private homes, picnics, evenings at free concerts or plays, but the group can decide whatever they like.  The groups will only meet for 3 (or so) months, then disband, but the bonds made usually lead to more social activities and deepening friendships.  This is a chance to spend some personal time with the folks you meet at Grace.  Sign-up sheets will be in Fellowship Hall, but you can also contact Bill (lpcbear@gmail.com or 963-8642 ) to let him know you want to be in a group. The members are randomly grouped, however, couples or families can sign up together, so they will be sure to be part of the same group.
• Wednesday Evenings (7-8 PM) in September. Fall Bible Study on the Book of Romans. Bill Stone is leading this study, and encourages anyone who might be interested to participate. Bill is asking for someone to volunteer their home for this study. Please talk to Bill (or call or email him, 963-8642 / lpcbear@gmail.com) if you can host one of these classes.  Bringing refreshments will be rotated for the study and some type study material will be provided as well. Please use the sign-up sheet in the Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, and/or contact Bill. 
• Also coming up, Disciple Bible Study #3 (a 32-week study of the Prophets and Paul). 
• October 23, Saturday. Yard Sale!  Please Help Us with this Fundraiser by Donating Items for the Sale!  We will be hosting a Yard Sale in Aunt Catherine’s Garden during the Pumpkin Patch. We are already accepting donated items at the church. Please bring items before any Sunday worship service between now and then and we will have a place to store it until the sale. All items that do not sell will be donated to charity. Please contact David Jester at 512-568-2900 or by email at David.A.Jester@gmail.com for further information. Volunteers who will work at the sale are always welcome and appreciated!

To access the August 2010 Pulpit and Pew newsletter, click here.

Hello All!   Here is the info the churches have received from our Bishop Dorff on behalf of Bishop Raul Garcia de Ochoa re:  flooding in Eastern Conference Methodist Church of Mexico including the Rio Grande Valley .  Items are needed immediately.  The last collection date will be Tuesday, July 27.  Another appeal may be necessary in order to meet the needs on the U.S. side of the border. Cash gifts are most urgently needed and should be given through the SWTX Conference Disaster Response – Conference Advance #2050.  Please designate “Mexico Disaster Response” on the memo line with the Advance #.  (You can bring your checks to church or to the church office during the week: make your check to Grace UMC with the Advance number on the memo line)

SPECIFIC items requested:

• Water (bottles)
• Beans (2 lb bags)
• Rice (2 lb bags)
• Cereal (Varieties of Cheerios/Chex)
• Canned Goods (Tuna/Corn/Tomatoes)
• Fideo (pasta)
• Disposable Diapers

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Expiration date on any item must not be less than 3 months, preferably 6 months.  No clothes, PLEASE. And we had it confirmed again – $$$ are the most efficient way to help at this time. 

Drop point is the Austin District Office, or Grace Church and we will bring to Austin District Office.

Contact Person for the District Office:  Emmett Eary – emmett.eary@sbcglobal.net.

Items will be transported to Mexico and given through the Methodist Church to families evacuated from their homes. Any questions, please contact Susan Hellums, Border Area Mission Coordinator (956)648-8509 or shellums@mcfirst.com.

 The need is great.  Every $10 will help!

Shalom,

Linda