ESUMC Newsletter
October 2025
Dear friends in Christ,
Greetings and peace to you all, and I pray that the fall season has started with blessings upon you and your loved ones.
We have been richly blessed over the last few weeks. Our annual barbecue and hike in Grünbach was a great success and a time of spirited fellowship, with more than 100 members and friends joining in the day, thanks to the generous hospitality of Andrew Stones.
We have also inaugurated our new Sunday School year, with three new teachers joining the teaching team; we give thanks to Sunday School coordinator Shelley Brauneis and all our Christian leaders who serve this vital ministry.
As the number of small children in our community is increasing, we are looking to hire persons with childcare training to regularly provide childcare in our nursery during worship. If you are interested in this opportunity, or could recommend someone, please speak with Shelley or me.
Related to our education ministry, as previously mentioned we are planning to hold a Confirmation course for youth aged 14 to 18. The course will begin in January 2026 and will culminate with the liturgy of Confirmation in worship on Pentecost Sunday, 24 May 2026. I invite the families of our youth in this age range who have not yet been confirmed to speak with me as soon as possible. The exact schedule and format of the course will depend on the number and ages of youth who enroll in the course. Thank you for your support and participation!
Our newsletter below is filled with information about upcoming opportunities for worship and fellowship. We look forward to the celebration of our Harvest Festival during our service of worship on Sunday 19 October. Please kindly bring a dish of food to share with others. And we ask volunteers to join us on Saturday 18 October at 14:00 to help prepare our sanctuary and fellowship area for the festival; if you can help out for an hour or two on Saturday, please let me know.
Lastly, below please find two articles in German, as the Fünfhaus Gemeinde formally celebrated the installation of Pastor Antje, and the UMC in Austria invites all youth to a ski holiday event in early January.
I wish you a blessed month, and look forward to seeing you in worship.
Yours in Christ, Pastor John
Pastor
News from the church
Vienna English-Speaking
It is right to give our thanks and praise!
read morePastor
In this month when Christians celebrate the gift of God's creation, Simone Viljoen offers the following reflection.
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Team Klimaschutz
Our good friend, the Rev. Tom Garrison, shall lead a study of the parables of Jesus starting 28 October.
read morePastor
This program of spiritual growth and learning in preparation for church membership is offered to youth aged 14 to 18 years.
read morePastor
On Saturday 13 September, ESUMC members and friends gathered for our annual barbecue and hike in Grünbach.
read morePastor
As our Congregational Care Team begins its second year of service, you are invited to take part in this ministry of grace, as we provide spiritual and physical support to fellow church members.
read morePastor
Over the next months in worship, the committees and small group ministries of the church will be introduced to the congregation. Below is a brief word about our Church Council.
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Predigthelferin ESUMC
“Climate Justice? Theological, Spiritual, Political and Practical Dimensions” is the topic of this year’s European Methodist Lecture Program, beginning on 14 October 2025.
read morePastor
Antje Klein wurde in einem fröhlichen Gottesdienst als leitende Pastorin der EmK Wien-Fünfhaus willkommen geheißen.
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für Jugendliche ab 14 Jahren. Im Evangelischen Freizeitheim Windischgarsten.
learn moreServices
Vienna English-Speaking
Bible texts
- Lamentations 1,1-6
- 2 Timothy 1,1-14
- Luke 17,5-10
Bible texts
- Jeremiah 29,1 und 4-7
- 2 Timothy 2,8-15
- Luke 17,11-19
Join us as we celebrate the harvest with prayers, hymns, special music, dancing, and the taking of a special offering, as we give thanks to God for all God's many blessings!
Following the service, we shall gather for a congregational meal, with food and drink from around the world. Save the date, and plan to join us and bring a dish of food to share!
Bible texts
- Jeremiah 31,27-34
- 2 Timothy 3,14 – 4,5
- Luke 18,1-8
Bible texts
- Joel 2,23 – 3,5
- 2 Timothy 4,6-8 und 16-18
- Luke 18,9-14
Bible texts
- Habakkuk 1,1-4 und 2,1-4
- 2 Thessalonians 1,1-4 und 11-12
- Luke 19,1-10
Events
Vienna English-Speaking
All are invited to participate in our Bible study series on Paul's letter to the Galatians. The study meets every Tuesday evening via Zoom. Please contact Pastor John for more information or if you wish to join.
This month the Begegnungsstube is taking a day trip, to enjoying a relaxing walk in autumn nature with church volunteers and members of the community. All are invited to meet at 14:00 at the Feuerwache am Steinhof, Johann Staud Strasse, 1160 Wien. The destination is accessible by bus line 46A or 46B (Feuerwache am Steinhof stop). For more information or to take part, please send a note to Jutta Dietl at waermestube@emk.at.
Join us for the final meeting of our Bible study series on Paul's letter to the Galatians. Please contact Pastor John for more information or if you wish to join the Zoom meeting.
Join us to help prepare the sanctuary and fellowship area for our Harvest Festival, taking place on Sunday 19 October. Please inform Pastor John in advance if you plan to assist.
Join us for a new Bible study series on the parables of Jesus. Our guest presenter for this series will be our good friend, the Rev. Tom Garrison. All are welcome, and no registration is required. For the Zoom link, please contact Pastor John.
On the last Tuesday of each month, we open our church doors to neighbors in the community for an afternoon of fellowship. During this time, visitors will be welcomed with refreshments, and will have the opportunity to play board games, engage in community activities, participate in language learning, and enjoy extended conversation and fellowship. Volunteers are welcome to staff the Begegnungsstube. For more information or to volunteer, please send a note to Jutta Dietl at waermestube@emk.at.