Austin District happenings

UM Women reorganize
unit at First UMC, Elgin
Austin District United Methodist Women celebrated the reorganization of a unit at First UMC, Elgin, June 17.
Elgin churchwomen join nearly 1 million members of the mission auxiliary as they seek to fulfill the UMW purpose: “to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.”

Austin District UM Men
to meet Aug. 12, Nov. 18
The president of the National Association of Conference Presidents of United Methodist Men is to address the quarterly meeting of Austin District UM Men Saturday in Bastrop.
Glenn Wintemberg is to discuss “The Legacy of Man” during the 7:30 a.m. meeting at First UMC, Bastrop.
Bob Lively is guest speaker for the next quarterly meeting Nov. 18 at Memorial UMC, Austin. He is to talk about “What God Expects from Us.”
For information about either meeting, contact Jack Moncure at (512) 836-5134 or jmoncure@austin.rr.com.

Sanctuary seeks volunteers
to work in respite program
The Sanctuary is recruiting volunteers to serve as companions for participants, to lead or help in program areas, and help raise funds.
The Sanctuary is a respite program operated by a coalition of south Austin churches and as a ministry of Faith UMC. Its mission statement says:
“The Sanctuary, a respite program, exists to provide family members a break from the continuous care of those who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and any of the various forms of dementia.”
The once per week program for people in the early stages of these diseases has operated from Willenberg Fellowship Hall at Faith UMC each Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. since Sept. 16, 2004.
To volunteer or for more information, contact Linda Chambers at (512) 444-6781.

Oct. 7 workshop covers
disaster response for kids
Churches are reminded of the disaster response workshop scheduled for Oct 7 at Manchaca UMC.
Sponsored by the District Child-ren’s Advocacy Council, the workshop will be led by Vivian Woods, minister of education at First UMC, Beeville.
Registration information will be mailed to all churches in the district in early September.

Children’s Sabbath items
available from Web site
Materials to help plan Children’s Sabbath may be ordered from the Children’s Defense Fund at www.childrensdefense.org.
The suggested date for this annual observance is Oct. 22, but churches are encouraged to choose a date that works best for them. The focus for this year’s Sabbath observance is children’s health.

Pastors to be honored
at appreciation dinner
Austin District pastors and their spouses are to be honored Oct. 19 during the first pastor appreciation dinner.
The event for all active and retired clergy members is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Northwest Hills UMC, Austin.
UM Women and UM Men presidents, staff-parish relations committee chairs, church council chairs, lay leaders and their spouses are also to attend to help honor their pastors.
Gil Hanke, president of the General Commission on United Methodist Men, is to speak.

John Carlson receives
UM Men Life Member Award
John Carlson, Crestview UMC, Austin, was honored July 30 with a United Methodist Men Life Membership Award. It recognizes his service to his church and to the local UM Men unit at Crestview.
Carlson is a charter member of the church and has been a force in the development and nurture of the UM Men at Crestview.