ESUMC Newsletter
March 2024
Dear friends in Christ,
In this season of Lenten prayer and repentance, I pray that you and your loved ones are well and blessed.
As you will note in this newsletter, the month of March is filled with a number of special worship services and congregational events.
In worship on Sunday 10 March, we will hear the word of God preached by our District Superintendent, Pastor Stefan Schröckenfuchs of the Fünfhaus Gemeinde. Following worship, Pastor Stefan will lead us in our Charge Conference, the annual meeting of the congregation, to which all are invited.
The following Sunday, 17 March at 10:30, we will celebrate a special joint worship service with our fellow Christians from the Fünfhaus Gemeinde. Joining us for worship shall be members of the UMC Central Conference Executive Committee who will be meeting in our building during the week. Our guest preacher shall be Bishop Stefan Zürcher, the newly elected bishop for our episcopal area. We ask ESUMC members and friends to bring a finger food to share during the fellowship hour after worship.
On Saturday 23 March, all are invited to participate in "Growing Together: A Study of First Corinthians," a spiritual retreat to bless our Lenten journey, to be led by the Revd Dr. Robert Kinney and sponsored by the ecumenical English-speaking community in Vienna. ESUMC is the host for this event; details can be found below.
Following the celebration of Palm Sunday on 24 March, the month concludes with Holy Week: solemn services of worship on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, culminating in the celebration of Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday 31 March.
I warmly invite you to participate in these worship services and events throughout the month. In the meantime, may God bless you and your loved ones as you continue your Lenten journey. I pray that your spiritual disciplines in this season--fasting, Scripture reading, prayer--shall bring you closer into communion with God, who has pledged to be with us and never forsake us. May this truth give us assurance and hope, and the courage to confess our sins and receive God's great gifts of forgiveness and salvation.
Yours in Christ, Pastor John
Pastor
News from the church
Vienna English-Speaking
Join ESUMC's new six-week Bible study, meeting every Tuesday evening during Lent.
read morePastor
All ESUMC members and friends are invited to take part in our annual church meeting immediately following the worship service.
read more
Our two congregations at Sechshauser Strasse shall gather for a joint worship service on Sunday 17 March at 10:30 am.
read morePastor
Join us on Saturday 23 March for "Growing Together: A Study of First Corinthians," a spiritual retreat to bless our Lenten journey, to be led by the Revd Dr. Robert Kinney and sponsored by the ecumenical English-speaking community in Vienna.
read morePastor
With just a few weeks remaining in the Wärmestube season, we seek volunteers to serve on Tuesdays. Please contact Pastor John for more information about volunteering.
read morePastor
A summer celebration for members of all UMC congregations in Austria! The gathering will be held in Ennshof, Altenmarkt im Pongau, with the theme Spirituality in Daily Life. Flyers are available at church. Click to read more and register (in German).
learn moreServices
Vienna English-Speaking
Bible texts
- Exodus 20,1-17
- 1 Corinthians 1,18-25
- John 2,13-22
Remain with us following worship for the Charge Conference, the annual congregational meeting of ESUMC. Our preacher shall be Superintendent Pastor Stefan Schröckenfuchs.
Bible texts
- Numbers 21,4-9
- Ephesians 2,1-10
- John 3,14-21
Join us for a special worship service starting at 10:30, as we gather with our sisters and brothers from the German-speaking Fünfhaus Gemeinde. Our preacher shall be Bishop Stefan Zürcher. Please bring a finger food or other snack item to share during a special Fellowship Hour following worship.
Bible texts
- Jeremiah 31,31-34
- Hebrews 5,5-10
- John 12,20-33
Join us as we celebrate with a procession of the palms, as we observe the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem.
Bible texts
- Isaiah 50,4-9a
- Philippians 2,5-11
- Mark 11,1-11
We commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples with the ritual of Footwashing and the sacrament of Holy Communion.
Bible texts
- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14
- 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
- John 13: 1-17, 31b-35
In this solemn service of worship, we remember the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Bible texts
- Isaiah 52,13 – 53,12
- Hebrews 10,16-25
- John 18,1 – 19,42
Celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ with a special service of Holy Communion.
Bible texts
- Acts 10,34-43
- 1 Corinthians 15,1-11
- Mark 16,1-8
Events
Vienna English-Speaking
Join us for Bible study every Tuesday evening during Lent, as we reflect on the seven last words of Christ. All ESUMC members and friends are welcome. Please contact Pastor John for the Zoom link.
Please volunteer with our ministry, as we provide warm meals, medical care, and legal assistance to the needy of our community. For more information or to volunteer, speak with Beate Eysinger or Pastor John, or email to waermestube@emk.at.
Join us for Bible study every Tuesday evening during Lent, as we reflect on the seven last words of Christ. All ESUMC members and friends are welcome. Please contact Pastor John for the Zoom link.
Please volunteer with our ministry, as we provide warm meals, medical care, and legal assistance to the needy of our community. For more information or to volunteer, speak with Beate Eysinger or Pastor John, or email to waermestube@emk.at.
Join us for Bible study every Tuesday evening during Lent, as we reflect on the seven last words of Christ. All ESUMC members and friends are welcome. Please contact Pastor John for the Zoom link.
Please volunteer with our ministry, as we provide warm meals, medical care, and legal assistance to the needy of our community. For more information or to volunteer, speak with Beate Eysinger or Pastor John, or email to waermestube@emk.at.
Join us on Saturday 23 March for "Growing Together: A Study of First Corinthians," a spiritual retreat to bless our Lenten journey, to be led by the Revd Dr. Robert Kinney and sponsored by the ecumenical English-speaking community in Vienna.
Join us for Bible study every Tuesday evening during Lent, as we reflect on the seven last words of Christ. All ESUMC members and friends are welcome. Please contact Pastor John for the Zoom link.
Join us for an ecumenical service of worship, hosted by Christ Church Anglican, Jaurèsgasse 12, 1030 Wien.