FUMC News
Stay up-to-date on our latest news
January Mission Emphasis: Immigration Care Team
Our January mission emphasis is the Immigration Care Team (ICT), a new ministry offering active support and provision to asylum seekers and other immigrants. In Spring 2020 there was a request to sponsor a young woman from a Central African country, who was seeking...
FUMC Austin Launches New Mobile App
FUMC Austin is excited to announce the launch of a new mobile app providing updates on events, worship, news, and service — all at your fingertips. Your FUMC Austin app makes it easy to stay up-to-date on opportunities to grow in your faith and connect with others. ...
Breathe: 2021 UMW Virtual Legislative Event
Saturday-Tuesday, January 23-26, 2021 United Methodist Women’s Legislative Event will be online January 23-26. This annual event will still include keynote speakers, presentations from leading policy advocates, worship and opportunities for fellowship with United...
Christmas Eve Services
Join Us on Christmas Eve First United Methodist Church of Austin invites you to worship with us on Christmas Eve. Although this year may look different as we prepare for our savior, we will joyfully celebrate this Holy night through two special online worship...
Walking the Labyrinth
If you find yourself yearning for a space and a few minutes of time set apart to recenter yourself, our labyrinth is available to walk in Murchison Chapel. Labyrinth walking is an ancient practice used by many different faiths for spiritual centering, contemplation,...
Christmas Offering – Huston-Tillotson University
Each Christmas, we remember that Christ’s coming is an act of self-giving by God—God has given, and continues to give, God’s very self for our sake. This offering is meant to draw us out of ourselves, to imitate Christ by making our own lives a gift for others....
Blood Donations
FUMC has a long history of making donations to our central Texas blood provider, We Are Blood. Covid-19 prevents us from hosting a drive this year so we invite the congregation along with friends to choose a location convenient for you and make an appointment to...
Decorating for Christmas
We need your help. Christmas Eve Parking Lot Decorating Tuesday, December 22, 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Bring a step ladder and join us in wrapping 10 Christmas trees surrounding our parking lot in white lights as we prepare for our Christmas Eve services on December 24....
UMW Interfaith Maternal Health Forum
The Interfaith Summit on Maternal Health, presented by Circle Up: United Methodist Women for Moms and hosted virtually by FUMC Austin, informed and empowered attendees to use their voices of faith to advocate for Texas moms. This two-hour program opened our eyes to...
Christmas Donations
Many of our members are accustomed to making sock and cookie donations during December for our neighbors at the Christmas Eve Brunch. This year, due to the pandemic, the breakfast will look different. We plan to shower our guests with "premium" manna bags and gift...
Advent at FUMC
WORSHIP "I Believe Even When" Advent Series The history of humanity is fraught with pain accompanied by fear, oppression, and violence of one people against another. No wonder we find it difficult to believe! This is the world into which Jesus was born, and into which...
First Word from Pastor Taylor – Election 2020
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. -Romans 8:24-25 Dear Church, On Tuesday, many of you signed up for FUMC's Election Day Prayer...
November Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is November 15-22, 2020 sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless. During November, FUMC is working to raise awareness about the pressing problem of hunger and homelessness with educational and service...
November Mission Emphasis – Central Texas Food Bank
Central Texas is among the fastest growing regions in the nation. But for many of our neighbors, that growth comes at a high cost. Hunger affects people from all walks of life. Working families, retired seniors on fixed incomes, grandparents with custody of...
October Mission Emphasis – Casa Marianella and World Communion Sunday
Together, we welcome and care for the poor, the stranger, the sojourner, the outcast. Together, we enable national and international graduate students to change the world. This October, our communion rail offering will be shared between Casa Marianella and World...
Time and Talents Survey
Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service, and Witness Upon uniting with this Christian community, we respond to the question: “As a member of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and...
Unmute Thyself: Talking Politics in Church
UNMUTE THYSELF: TALKING POLITICS IN CHURCH It’s taboo to talk about politics in church. God’s people are supposed to be united around our common love for God and desire to serve others, so churches avoid discussing the political issues that our communities are facing....
September Mission Emphasis – Global Mission Fellows
$30 buys a takeout meal — or $30 invested in the Global Mission Fellows program transforms a young adult’s life. Global Mission Fellows, ages 20-30, serve for two years in social justice ministries across the country or internationally. These young adults engage with...
Pledge to Vote
FUMC is a co-sponsor with Texas Impact for the Texas Faith Votes. We are being challenged with other congregations to show our pledge to vote! Please sign the pledge to vote on November 3! In light of COVID-19 safety, all eligible persons should apply to Vote by Mail....
Small Groups Forming
Are you craving meaningful connection along with the spiritual accountability that can accompany sharing your faith with an intimate group? While online groups may leave something to be desired, they CAN offer solace for those who deeply desire connection. This fall,...
First Word from Pastor Taylor – Black Lives Matter to God and to Us
Last week, we hung a banner on the Family Life Center that reads, “Black Lives Matter to God and to us.” The banner hangs at a time when fewer people are driving by our building than ever before, thanks to the Coronavirus. So why hang it? FUMC has been on a...
August Mission Emphasis – English as a Second Language (ESL) Ministry
English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are offered at no cost on Mondays and Thursdays. Guests can practice their English conversation skills and develop friendships to support them outside the classroom. Imagine you know a language only literally. What would you...
UMW Circle Up Receives Grant Funding
Circle Up, a subgroup of United Methodist Women at First United Methodist Church Austin, has received a Just and Resilient Communities Grant offered through the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church. Circle Up was formed in 2018 to focus...
First Steps Registration Form
We are so happy you have chosen to participate in First Steps to learn more about FUMC, our pastors, and the United Methodist Church. Please tell us some basic information about yourself and/or family. This information is confidential for church records....
The Joy Circle Welcomes You!
Our United Methodist Women (UMW) Joy Circle invites all interested ladies to join us as we discuss the UMW Mission Study, Finding Peace in An Anxious World, beginning this week. Please contact Elizabeth Lerner at earendlerner@yahoo.com or at (512) 589-6305 for more information or with questions.
Living the Parables
"God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble." -Psalm 46:1Barnabas, The Encourager Meet Barnabas, the FUMC Staff Encourager. This “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36) lives to encourage people through challenging times. When Pastor Taylor mentioned a...
Transformation Beyond Our Walls
Stories from people building community and fulfilling the mission of the church in new ways during the COVID-19 pandemic.
July Mission Emphasis – Emergency Assistance Fund
Jesus said, "Which of these three...was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” [The man] said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” – Luke 10:25-37. This year’s July Mission Emphasis will support ministry...
A Strong Connection
My story begins with an introduction to Conneen Sanders, a homebound senior. I was delighted to meet her as she was one of the sweetest eighty-year old ladies I had ever encountered besides my own precious mother. She truly was a joy to visit. I always looked forward to knocking on her door and being greeted by her happy smile and little barking dog. She lived in a beautiful garden home and was self-sufficient in the beginning of our friendship. We would sit on her couch and share stories of growing up in Austin.
First Word from Pastor Taylor – Will we ever get there?
Will we ever get there? One part of traveling that I do not miss is the nearly-constant barrage of questions from the back seat, all centered around the same theme: Are we there yet? Children have a different sense of time--I’m not quite sure I’ll ever figure it out!...