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Generosity

Our annual pledge to FUMC

Our Money Story Worship Series

Sundays, October 4-25
Every one of us has a money story, whether we recognize it or not. Maybe it’s a story of fear or a story of shame. Maybe it’s a story of joy and possibility. Even churches have a money story. For some, it’s a story that the church is dying and no longer relevant. For others, it’s a story that we don’t have enough. From my experience, our money stories tend to be a lot more limited than God’s story. Now, more than ever, as we endure the ongoing global pandemic, it is so hard to see beyond our limited story to the ever unfolding story of possibility that God brings.

This fall, we are taking a fresh look at our money stories and asking where might God be speaking a new narrative into the limited ones we have told ourselves. We are inviting you to open up your own money story and consider it in the light of God’s story—a story that liberates us and invites us to be transformed for lives of joyful generosity and justice. This theme is personal—it’s about you as a disciple—but it’s also about us as a church.

Throughout the month of October, we invite you to join us in worship to remember, release, reimagine, and restore your money stories so that we can write the one God is begging us to live into. Beyond worship, you can take additional steps to grow in your discipleship through a personal study guide and opportunities to discuss and engage in spiritual practices that open us to that transformation.

Sunday, October 4
18th Sunday After Pentecost
Preacher: Rev. Taylor Fuerst
Scripture: Exodus 16:1-18
Sermon: “Remember”

Sunday, October 11
19th Sunday After Pentecost
Preacher: Rev. Taylor Fuerst
Scripture: Deuteronomy 15:1-11
Sermon: “Release”

Sunday, October 18
20th Sunday After Pentecost
Preacher: Dr. Brad King
Scripture: Mark 12:38-44
Sermon: “Reimagine”

Sunday, October 25
Commitment Sunday
Preacher: Rev. Taylor Fuerst
Scripture: John 21:1-19
Sermon: “Restore”

Our Money Story – Visio Divina

Sundays, October 4-18, 10:00 a.m., Zoom
Join longtime member Caroline Jones in her exploration of Visio Divina over 3 classes. Visio Divina, latin for “divine seeing,” is a method of meditation, reflection, and prayer through a process of intentional seeing, used here with original artwork and artist statements created as part of our generosity series, Our Money Story. Sunday School classes and individuals welcome for any or all weeks! 

Study Guide

Through art, written reflections, poetry, text study prompts, and journaling prompts, a four-week study journal digs deep into eight scriptures to help us live more fully into God’s story. You can complete the journal at the pace and order you wish—the journal is designed to be used as a personal devotional or as the curriculum for a small groups.

Digital or Printed
A digital version of our study guide will be available in a pdf link in your Sunday morning email throughout October. Printed study guides will be available for pickup on Sunday, October 4 during parking lot Communion and on Monday, October 5 and Thursday, October 8 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the church office. Contact Dave Ballbach at dave@fumcaustin.org or 512-478-5684 ext. 202 with any questions regarding picking up your printed study guide.

Sunday Morning Emails
From October 4-25, our Sunday morning email will feature an artist selection for reflection with scripture and a link to a digital study guide.

COMMITMENT SUNDAY

On Commitment Sunday, you will have the opportunity to turn in your Generosity Commitment Card at the church in a special way to express your intent and affirm your desire to honor God with your financial generosity. Your financial generosity enables all of our ministries to answer God’s call effectively. Sharing with the church your prayerful decision to be generous makes it possible for us to confidently make and implement bold plans for effective ministry. You may also submit your pledge online at fumcaustin.org/pledge.

COMMITMENT SUNDAY STATIONS

Sunday, October 25
15-Minute Time Slots, 8:30-10:00 a.m. and 1:00-5:30 p.m
Join us at the church to prayerfully offer your 2021 financial commitment to FUMC. When you arrive, you will be guided through a series of stations lifting up each of the commitments we are called to make as the Church:

  • Prayers | Exercise your commitment to pray for the church and our ministry by tying a cloth prayer strip to prayer lines that will hang between the columns on our front porch.
  • Presence | Place your name on the pew in the Sanctuary where you usually sit in worship—or where you look forward to sitting again—as a symbol of your commitment to be regularly present for worship, even virtually. Or, bring a picture of yourself to leave in your spot!
  • Gifts | Bring your 2021 Commitment Card and leave it at the altar with a guided prayer of Dedication.
  • Service | Receive a manna bag prepared for you by FUMC Volunteers to give away to someone in need of a meal.
  • Witness | Fill out a card to share a tangible way you will live into God’s money story in the coming year.

Masks and social distancing are required. Please review the available slots at our sign up and reserve one time slot per family unit.

TIME AND TALENTS SURVEY

What are your talents? God blesses each of us with gifts to be used together to form the body of Christ in the church and do God’s work in the world. In addition to our financial generosity, we also give to God of our time and talents. Are you a great organizer of events? Enjoy public speaking? Handy around the house? You can serve God through the church with your talents. Fill out our Time and Talents Survey at fumcaustin.org/talents.