Other news

Special pastors/professionals meeting
Thursday, March 2, 9:30 a.m.
Faith UMC,
2701 S. Lamar, Austin
Representatives from the conference office will present four initiatives coming before the annual conference session in June:
> Bishop’s initiative on New Church Development
> Clergy effectiveness task force
> Voluntary clergy health and wellness program
> Clergy Retirement Security Plan funding proposal
Please make plans to attend this meeting.

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Churches sign up for March CROP Walk
Austin District congregations are getting on board for the 2006 Austin CROP Walk to End Hunger.
This year’s walk is scheduled for March 4 and 5 in Roy Guerrero Colorado River Park.
Congregations are signing up walkers who will recruit sponsors. Both walkers and sponsors are to make a gift to help end hunger.
Twenty-four UM congregations participated in the 2005 Austin CROP Walk, which raised more than $122,000. Many of those same congregations have already signed up for 2006.
Talk to your pastor or mission chair about participation in Austin’s largest interfaith community event. The Austin CROP Walk is sponsored by Church World Service and Austin Area Interreligious Ministries.
UM Men in Elgin are to participate in their community’s Spring CROP Walk. Pflugerville, Bastrop and San Marcos are planning CROP Walks for the fall.
For CROP Walk information call (512) 451-2062 or e-mail
tx@churchworldservice.org .

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March 13 is the application deadline for 2006 Action Support Ministries grants.
These grants provide funds for outreach ministries of existing churches to relieve human suffering or to establish new and creative forms of such outreach within the district.
Applications are available from the District Office, (512) 444-1983 or alice@umcad.org. For information contact Associate Pastor Ron Campbell, Tarrytown UMC, (512) 472-3111 or ron@tarrytownumc.org.
Application deadline nears for Action Support Ministries grants