A 40-year Austin tradition continues as University UMC brings together the community for "A Service of Lessons & Carols," an event that ushers in the holiday season. Under the direction of Marc Erck, UUMC's Director of Music & Worship, the service will feature Scripture readings, traditional carols and new music from the church's 55-voice choir. As our special Advent offering for the day, we'll collect gifts for UUMC's Cameroon Outreach, which supports music ministry missions in this African country.
You'll find dozens of holiday gifts that support local and global non-profit groups at our annual Alternative Gift Market. Click here for a shopping list of gift ideas available at the market.For more information, contact Beth Kelley at [email protected]

Sanctuary Worship Service | 8:30 am
Rev. Susan Sprague delivers our Advent II sermon, "You Are Going the Wrong Way." (Matthew 3: 1-12)

Informal worship and Holy Communion with Rev. Bill Frisbie, who preaches on "There's Something About Mary." (Luke 1: 26-38)
       
UUMC's Collaborative "Visual Advent Devotional"  
Advent devotionals are favorite resources for engaging the season that leads to Jesus' birth. This year, we're inviting everyone to be a part of our new collaborative "Visual Advent Devotional" -- a collection of images taken by YOU to help interpret an assortment of daily themes in Advent. Each day from Dec. 1 to Dec. 24, you'll have an Advent theme to illustrate via a photo, which you can take on a cell phone or digital camera. Post your images on UUMC's public Facebook page at  www.facebook.com/uumc.austin or email photos to us at [email protected]. Click here for the upcoming Advent words of the day and experience the season through the creative lens of our UUMC community of faith. For more information or questions, please contact Diana Dworin, Communications Director, at [email protected] or Mary Ann Barclay, Justice Associate, at [email protected]. Special thanks to RethinkChurch for ideas and inspiration for this project.     

 

praxis



University UMC's Social Justice & Mission Ministries 
Praxis is our online venue for news and conversations of social justice and mission at University UMC and the surrounding Austin community. Please contact Mary Ann Barclay, our Justice Associate, at [email protected] with mission or social justice updates, opportunities, pictures or event notices. Click here now to visit and bookmark Praxis as you learn more about:    


  • Texas Hold 'Em Accountable March
  • Austin JFON Donations
  • UMW Legislative Event
  • An Evening With Will Allen
advent at uumc
UUMC Youth are invited to take a break from studying for finals on Saturday night and join us in the Youth Room for dinner and the classic Christmas movie, "Elf."

UUMC's Prime Time group invites you to enjoy a Christmas lights tour in the Hill Country. We'll depart from church at 4 pm and enjoy a meal at the Bluebonnet Cafe. Our return time is 9 pm. Cost is $40 per person. For more information, contact Rev. Bernie Sandberg at [email protected] or (512) 478-9387.

Dec. 15: Children's Christmas Pageant | 11 am Sanctuary worship service   
All children are welcome to participate in our annual UUMC Children's Christmas Pageant. Costumes are provided by the church. For more information, contact Natasha Ulack, Children's Ministry Director, at [email protected].

Advent Special Offerings  
You're invited to make special offerings to the ministries we're highlighting during Advent:  
Sun. Dec. 15 | United Methodist Students Your gifts help students prepare for life in uniting faith with knowledge. Gifts dedicated to this initiative help support the United Methodist Student Loan Fund and scholarships.
Sun. Dec. 22 | Caritas of Austin Caritas provides a service continuum for those experiencing poverty that begins with a safety net and links them to resources to achieve self-sufficiency. The group serves more than 20,000 people each year whose opportunities have been diminished by poverty and homelessness. Clients include households of all sizes, as well as many veterans, refugees, women and children. 
Christmas Eve & Dec. 29: Your gifts on these days will be divided among our Advent Special Offering groups.

Join us as we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord with Scripture, song, special music and Communion. Worship is led by Rev. John Elford, Senior Pastor, the UUMC Choir and orchestra. Bring a bell for ringing! Childcare is provided at our 5:30 pm service -- please RSVP a week in advance with Natasha Ulack, Children's Ministry Director, at [email protected]

Holiday Season Worship Services 
There will be one worship service at 11 am on Sun. Dec. 29 in the UUMC Sanctuary. Campus Ministry Sunday evening services and meals are on winter break.