e-News / Methodist Federation for Social Action
Southwest Texas Chapter
Meeting Reminder – January 14
The SWTX Chapter of MFSA will meet this Thursday, January 14, in the Saint John’s UMC Fellowship Hall, to continue our study of poverty. Our speaker will be Richard Troxel, who works with the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH) here in Austin and is a nationally recognized expert on the living wage issue. He will describe a “Let’s Get Back to Work” program to support homeless families of the working poor, while the wage earners take job certification courses that will enable them to significantly increase their income at their current jobs. We will learn about the program and how MFSA members and other concerned people of faith might help. This program is one of the options the MFSA will be considering for an outreach project later this year.
The meeting will begin at 6:30p with snacks and visiting. The program will begin at 7:00p. Come and learn with us!
More Events – Mark Your Calendar
January 16 – Reconciling Social Event
Saturday, January 16th at Richard and Joe’s home at 7403 Shoal Creek Blvd. from 7:30-9:00 pm.
This is an opportunity to meet and greet other Reconciling United Methodists and find out what everyone is doing, and join forces where need be. There is also a training for Annual Conference to be held at First Church in early February so we can publicize this event at that time. Appetizers and beverages will be served. This is going to be fun…pass the word around.
January 18 – MLK Day March and Festival
Come out to the MLK March and Festival on Monday, January 18, 2009 starting from the MLK Statue @ UT at 9 am, stopping at the Capitol at about 10 am and ending at the festival grounds @ Huston-Tillotson. We’ll be there with our banner! Contact Rowland or Janice Curry at 836-7004 or rcurry@austin.rr.com with questions. For more information: http://www.mlkcelebration.com/
February 11 – Monthly Meeting – Texas Faith & Food
We are planning a special panel presentation to follow up on the recent Hunger Summit in Waco. Texas Faith and Food: How Congregations Can Help Get Healthy Food to Those Who Need It the Most. Learn about the Summer Food Service Program, (SFSP) recent activities to reduce hunger and obesity, and community food security. The objective is to increase the faith community’s participation in the SFSP, and community food security issues. Hosted by MFSA; Co-Sponsored by Texas Impact. Location: Saint John’s UMC Fellowship Hall. Date: Thursday, February 11. Time (tentative): Gathering & Snacks 6:30, Program 7:00 pm. Speakers invited from Texas Department of Agriculture- Summer Food Service Program; Local SFSP Sponsors: Capital Area Food Bank, Central Dallas Ministries; Sustainable Food Center. Look for more information in the near future!
Join us!
We Need Your 2010 Membership! Please help us continue and improve the programs and activities of MFSA through your generosity!
There are several easy ways to join MFSA. You can log onto the national MFSA website, http://www.mfsaweb.org and follow the instructions there (you can safely use a credit card). You can bring a check to the next meeting, made out to St. John’s UMC, with “MFSA” on the memo line and we will see that it is registered in our account. Or, you can simply mail your check to our Treasurer, Janice Curry, at 1509 Mearns Meadow Blvd, Austin 78758.
Our local chapter gets a portion of the gift for our programs. We continue to need funding for visibility within our communities and to advance our social action movement.
Suggested Membership Amounts (you may also select your own amount):
$60 Subscribing Membership Gift $200 Spirited Membership Gift
$100 Sustaining Membership Gift $500 Stellar Membership Gift
$150 Supporting Membership Gift
Benefits of membership:
* Receive the MFSA newsletter (Social Questions Bulletin)
* Receive the MFSA E-newsletter with action updates
* Receive discounts on events sponsored by MFSA
* Connect with other justice-seekers in your annual conference
* Join with others in speaking up for justice in the UMC and world
Membership in MFSA is not predicated on ability to pay. Any amount of money you are able to give is gratefully accepted. Membership gifts to MFSA are tax deductible as provided by law.
Join us! Chapter: http://www.swtmfsa.org National: http://www.mfsaweb.org