Holy Week Worship Services
Easter SUnday
Sunday, April 20 | Worship at 9:00 and 11:00AM* | Sanctuary and *Livestream
Celebrate God’s victory over sin, oppression, and death. Find new life and shout “Alleluia!” On Easter morning, we will have two worship services full of music, scripture, and good news. Proclaim that good news by participating in the live butterfly release on the Capitol grounds at 10:00AM. Even the cross, the instrument of Jesus’ death, will be transformed when you help us create this beautiful symbol for all who drive down Lavaca Street to see on Easter morning. Simply bring flowers—as many as you like—to place on the cross. Volunteers will help you attach them.
Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 13 | 9:00 and 11:00AM*
Sanctuary and *Livestream
Like those who greeted him at the city gates 2000 years ago, we welcome Jesus in triumph, waving palms to welcome him into Jerusalem—the Holy City. We will continue with him throughout Holy Week as the shouts turn from 'Hosanna!" to "Crucify him!" and each day draws Jesus closer to the cross.
Maundy Thursday
Thursday, April 17 | 7:30PM*
Sanctuary and *Livestream
Celebrate Communion in remembrance of Jesus' final night with his disciples in the Upper Room, where he washed their feet, shared a meal, and called them once again to follow the way of love.
Good Friday
Interactive Holy Week Service
Friday, April 18 | 10:30AM
EDU Murchison Chapel
This casual worship experience is a chance for people of every age to experience the stories and explore the great mystery of Holy Week through worship stations, prayer, singing, time for questions and reflection, and more. Our Interactive Holy Week service is friendly to and appropriate for families with children.
Traditional Worship
Friday, April 18 | 7:30PM* | Sanctuary and *Livestream
Experience Christ’s journey to death through scripture, song, and prayer around the cross.
HOLY WEEK EXPERIENCES AND SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Some Bunny Invites You to Easter Egg Festival
Saturday, April 12 | 10:30AM-12:00PM | Capitol Grounds
The Easter Egg Festival is held in our “backyard” on the Capitol Grounds at Colorado and 12th Streets on Saturday, April 12. Join us for egg hunts (infants - preschoolers) and egg races (elementary ages), a special visit from the Easter bunny, and other spring fun! This event is free and open to the public. Bring friends and neighbors to this family-friendly, inclusive celebration of the Easter season.
Hop Up and Help Make Easter Egg Festival Happen
Saturday, April 12
The Easter bunny needs your help to ensure we have plenty of treats ready for this fun, community-wide event for children and their families. Here are some ways that you can help. Donate individually wrapped candy and egg-sized plastic toys or stickers. (All candy should be nut free. Some recommended choices are Lifesavers, Starburst, and small wrapped bubble gum.) We are receiving donations in the bunny barrels around campus. Or, for convenience, shop our wish list. There are also opportunities to volunteer to stuff eggs at home, during a meeting, or small group/class and a way to sign up to serve on the weekend of the Egg Festival.
Butterfly Helpers Needed During Holy Week
Monday-Friday, April 14-18 | SAN Parlor
Help the church create the beautiful butterfly display, which, once again, will transform our Lenten prayers into a colorful sign of resurrection on Easter morning. Sign up during open times to glue the paper prayer butterflies. This can be a meditative individual project or a great group project with the opportunity for conversation. Instructions and supplies will be available in the Parlor. Please note that you can come and go as needed. Every little bit helps, so stopping by for even 30 minutes will make a difference! If you would like to come during a time that is not listed, just let us know. We also need a team of people to help us Friday night to install the butterflies after worship. Sign up using the button below. For more information, contact Pastor Cathy Stone at cathy@fumcaustin.org.
Beneath the black shroud of netting and scaffolding that wrap our Sanctuary Building as it undergoes its historic restoration, God is working an Easter miracle. Behind that dark curtain, all that is broken and crumbling is being made new! This is a generational project—an offering we are making for those who will come after us to be transformed by God in this place.
What better way for us to celebrate Easter—the highest, holiest day of the Christian year—-than to make a special offering in support of the Sanctuary restoration project!
Already, our leadership has begun the earliest stages of planning for a follow-up capital campaign to address the debt from the restoration project. In the meantime, as an expression of Easter hope, one FUMC family has made an additional $50,000 gift toward the project with a challenge for the rest of the church to match that gift through this year's Easter Offering.
Your gifts will help us delay drawing on our loan, minimizing interest payments and ensuring that construction will have less impact on our operating budget.
Please prayerfully discern whether support for this Easter Offering, even through a small contribution, can work into your giving plans for this year. When we all practice generosity, the result is abundance and new life.
Gifts, marked “Easter Offering” may be placed in the offering basket, mailed to or brought by the church office, or made online at fumcaustin.org/giving and following the step-by-step instructions. Be sure to select “Easter Offering” from the drop-down menu.