Austin District happenings

Austin District slates training for lay speaker Nov. 11, 18
Cedar Creek UMC is to play host to the fall advanced lay speaker training course scheduled for Nov. 11 and 18.
Course title is “Lay Speakers Create Disciple-Making Faith Communities.” The principle text is Next Church Now, which is available through Cokesbury bookstore. Course participants are encouraged to read the text and prepare before the course.
Those seeking initial certification or recertification (every three years) may send their registration fee of $40 to Elley Morgan, Austin District Lay Speaking Ministries, 8603 Brookfield Drive, Austin 78758.
Additional information and resources concerning Lay Speaking Ministries are available at www.austinlayspeakers.org/structure/ or by contacting Emmett Eary, district coordinator for Lay Speaking Ministries, at (512) 251-2145 or EmmettEary@msn.com.

Marriage Encounter Weekend scheduled for Oct. 6-8 in Austin
A United Methodist Marriage Encounter weekend is scheduled Oct. 6-8 at Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, Interstate 35 and U.S. 183, Austin. 
The program helps couples communicate more effectively.
Contact Carl or Jan Dodd at (512) 468-0691 or cdodd1@austin.rr.com.

Events set for Oct. 22 sabbath to promote kids’ hope, healing
The Children’s Defense Fund is suggesting Oct. 22 as the date for the 2006 Children’s Sabbath. But churches are encouraged to choose any Sunday convenient for them.
Theme for this year’s observance is “Congregations Stand for Healthy Children: Bringing Hope and Healing.” Materials to help plan local events may by ordered from CDF-ssnyder@childrensdefense.org.
The material is available in either a printed manual or on compact disk. Both cost $10.

Training on disaster response for youngsters planned Oct. 7
Manchaca UMC is to play host to an Oct. 7 workshop, sponsored by the Children’s Advocacy Council, on disaster response for children.
Vivian Woods, minister of education at First UMC, Beeville, is to lead the 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. event.
The purpose of the workshop is to equip caregivers with a variety of skills that effectively and creatively minister to the specific needs of children in disaster situations.
Registration fee is $20 per person. Child care is available for an additional $5.

San Marcos UM to tell about experiences in Mozambique
A San Marcos United Methodist is to be keynote luncheon speaker Sept. 16 for the Austin District United Methodist Women Annual Meeting at Wesley UMC, Austin.
Diana Wiley, member of First UMC, San Marcos, is to share her experiences as a volunteer at the Chicuque Rural Hospital in Mozambique. The General Board of Global Ministries supports the facilities.
Meeting participants are asked to bring disposable gloves for the hospital as mission outreach.
Mission Studies for 2006-2007 will be taught by Barbara Holmes (India-Pakistan), Anne Ader (Shalom, Salaam, Peace) and Junell Treece (Globalization).
Local units are encouraged to have at least one member in each class.

District pastors to be honored Oct. 19 at appreciation dinner
Senior pastors, associate pastors, retired pastors and their spouses are to be honored Oct. 19 during the first Austin District pastor appreciation dinner.
The event is to begin at 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 honor pastors.
Gil Hanke, president of the General Commission on United Methodist Men, is to speak. Theme for the evening is ”ministering to those who minister to us”.
District UM Men to meet Nov. 18
Guest speaker for the Nov. 18 quarterly meeting of Austin District United Methodist Men is to be the Rev. Bob Lively.
An ordained Presbyterian minister, Lively is to speak on “What God Expects of Us” (from the prophet Micah). The meeting is at Memorial UMC, Austin. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast is served at 8 a.m.
For the past 33 years Lively has served as a pastor, college instructor, adjunct seminary professor, activist for the poor and homeless, counselor, chaplain, teacher, author and Austin American-Statesman columnist.