United Christian Church of Austin
  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, & Values
    • Our History
    • Our Denominations
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Our Beliefs & Practices >
      • LGBTQ+ Open & Affirming
      • God is Kid-Friendly
      • Racial Justice
      • Abuse Prevention
  • Worship
    • Bulletin
    • Worship
  • What's Happening
    • Church Calendar
    • Adults
    • Youth
    • Children
  • Give
    • Give Online
    • Give Time & Talent
    • Pledge Online
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Prayer Requests
    • Email Sign-Up
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Request an Event
    • View Social Media >
      • Facebook Page
      • YouTube Channel
      • Instagram Feed
  • Members
    • Media Policy
    • Icon Member Portal
    • Members Website
  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, & Values
    • Our History
    • Our Denominations
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Our Beliefs & Practices >
      • LGBTQ+ Open & Affirming
      • God is Kid-Friendly
      • Racial Justice
      • Abuse Prevention
  • Worship
    • Bulletin
    • Worship
  • What's Happening
    • Church Calendar
    • Adults
    • Youth
    • Children
  • Give
    • Give Online
    • Give Time & Talent
    • Pledge Online
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Prayer Requests
    • Email Sign-Up
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Request an Event
    • View Social Media >
      • Facebook Page
      • YouTube Channel
      • Instagram Feed
  • Members
    • Media Policy
    • Icon Member Portal
    • Members Website
Picture

Our Blog: "The Ministry Minute"
featured in our weekly e-newsletters

I've Been Meaning to ask...

8/26/2022

1 Comment

 
Dearly Beloved,
How many times have I heard myself say, "I've been thinking about you and meaning to check in…" or "You've been on my mind and I've been meaning to ask..."

The ellipses symbolize the main objective for our September sermon series, titled "I've Been Meaning to Ask": to cultivate deeper relationships to God and to one another through meaningful and authentic conversations.

During the pandemic, many of us have experienced a general sense of disconnection as we literally placed partitions between us and the rest of the world. Not only have we been physically divided, but our culture has also become increasingly divided -- divided along lines of politics, social class, generation, and race. It's now possible to live your life in a silo, interacting only with people of your age, race, political persuasion, and income level. You can even curate your news feed to show only articles that align with your beliefs! The Church, however, is one of the few intergenerational communities left where people of different ideas, abilities, and backgrounds come together to live life together.

​So each Sunday, we'll be asking a question that will stir meaningful conversations at Church and in your small groups to connect us with God through authentic relationships with one another: 
  • Week 1: Where are you from?
  • Week 2: Where does it hurt?
  • Week 3: What do you need?
  • Week 4: Where do we go from here?

And there couldn’t be a better time for this because -- not only have we come back together after years of lockdown -- but we're also bringing together a number of new families and friends into our community this fall. So I pray that through this series, the accompanying small groups, and the devotionals, you form bonds within this church family and see Christ in one other -- living here among us at United Christian Church of Austin.

Much heart,
Rev. Anna

1 Comment

Fall is fast approaching!

8/19/2022

0 Comments

 
Dearly Beloved,
By the time you receive this, I will be on my way to Minnesota to visit my dear friend from seminary, Rev. Mariah Tollgaard, whom you heard preach at my installation in February. This will be my last Sunday away before our regular fall programming kicks off, and then you’ll be stuck with me through Christmas!
Though I will not be with you in body this Sunday, I will be worshipping with you online because I’m so excited to hear Rev. Dr. Sarah Allen preach this Sunday. Dr. Allen is the Director of the Doctor of Ministry and Supervised Practice of Ministry programs at Austin Seminary and is ordained in the Presbyterian Church, USA. We have been blessed to have her family of 5 worshipping with us these past months and to have them as part of our community.
Speaking of community, I’m so excited for our fall sermon series on community, and the community we will be building in our small groups. After hours of logistical gymnastics by Jan Austin-Scott and Mark Simoneau, we just have a few final details to confirm, but we can tell you that:
  1. There will be 4 small groups this fall for which you can sign up/RSVP for at church or by email.
  2. Groups will gather every other week at a variety of days and times, in homes, for the fall semester (September - December). 
  3. Each group will be given resources, including “conversation cards” that coincide with our sermon series on community titled, “I’ve Been Meaning to Ask.” (These cards will also be used in an Adult Faith Formation class after worship each Sunday facilitated by yours truly. Childcare provided.)
  4. At the conclusion of the semester, we will evaluate various possibilities for small groups for the Spring Semester.
I hope you put this sermon series into action this fall by trying out a small group! It is through our life together that we model and build the Kin-dom of God.
Much heart,
Rev. Anna

0 Comments

Blessing, Giving, and Celebrating on August 14th

8/12/2022

0 Comments

 
This Sunday, please join us for a wonderful morning of celebrations!

BLESSING
During our 10 a.m. Worship Service, we will have a special time of Blessing for those beginning a new school year - students, teachers, and school staff. All are invited to bring a backpack or school bag, and any other teaching tools that you would like to have blessed during the service. 

GIVING
Let's help our neighbors by bringing school supplies to donate to area schools. We want to help everyone have the best start possible to their school year - bring ANY school supply to donate during the month of August!

CELEBRATING
After the worship service, please stay as we celebrate the new school year with our Second Sunday Social: Splash-Party Edition! Bring clothes you can splash around in, a towel, and lunch or snack for your family. The church will provide the water and some fun water-play activities. We hope you'll stay to play, snack, and socialize with our church family!!!

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!
With love, always, 
Emily :)
0 Comments

Open and Affirming now and always

8/2/2022

0 Comments

 
This Sunday, August 7th, we will celebrate Pride Sunday at UCC.  While celebrating Pride Sunday is not a new thing for our congregation, celebrating it as an out, queer woman is new for me.  When I began attending this church in 2008, I knew it was a special place.  The sense of community, the amazing children’s programs, the true feeling of welcome and inclusion, were like nothing I had ever experienced anywhere before.  I loved being a part of a church that had a clearly written open and affirming statement...what a welcome to all!  

After attending for several years, I was so proud of the intentional work put into expanding that open and affirming statement.  The work put into making the statement more inclusive and welcoming, showed that our congregation believes very much in the phrase “God is still speaking.”  We are a congregation that continues to show welcome and love, because we are willing to continue to learn and grow in our faith.
​ 
This extravagant welcome and continued focus on what it means to be a child of God, is what helped me to learn to know myself better.  I am grateful for a God that loves me "no matter who I am, or where I am on life’s journey.” What a privilege that the church where I am encouraged to serve, worship, and practice my faith, is one of such love, welcome, and radical hospitality.  Thank you all for loving me into being, I look forward to sharing more of my story this Sunday!
 
Peace,
Pastor Meghan Dever 
Director of Youth Ministries
0 Comments

      Sign up for our Newsletter

    Subscribe to Newsletter

    Archives

    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture
Worship at 10 am CST each Sunday in-person and online (email us for link)
​
We are proudly affiliated with both the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

3500 West Parmer Lane, Austin, TX 78727 
512-218-8110
Find us on social media on these platforms!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture