ESUMC Newsletter
December 2025 - January 2026
Dear friends in Christ,
Blessings and peace to you! With the start of December comes the arrival of the season of Advent, the time of the church year when we prepare for the coming of Christ. With joy and thanksgiving, we look forward and ready our hearts and minds for the arrival of our Lord Jesus, the light of the world, born in the city of David.
In this newsletter, you will find a listing of the special services of worship in this season of Advent, including our Children's Christmas celebration, a Service of Lesson and Carols, and our Christmas Eve worship (at 14:00 and 18:00) with candle lighting and Holy Communion.
You may also read a note from our Missions Coordinator Barbara Gibson regarding the start of the new Wärmestube season on Tuesday 2 December, and an invitation to bake cookies to be distributed to our guests at the Wärmestube Christmas celebration on 23 December.
And please mark the date of Saturday 13 December; from 14:00 to 17:00, the children shall hold their final rehearsal for the Christmas celebration and will decorate our Christmas tree. All families are welcome!
Recently in worship, our Finance Committee chairperson Delia Viljoen gave thanks to our church members and friends for your generous prayerful and financial support of our ministry in 2025. We also extend our appreciation to those who have already submitted your Estimate of Giving form for 2026. We are thankful for the financial and spiritual commitment you have made to support our congregation in the coming year.
If you have not yet submitted your Estimate of Giving for 2026, you may pick up a form in the fellowship area in church, or make your statement of support online via this dedicated link:
ESUMC 2026 Estimate of Giving Form
Lastly, please note that my family and I shall be in the US visiting relatives and celebrating the holiday season from 25 December through 9 January. We are grateful to Hayford Boateng and Andrew Stones for providing worship leadership on 28 December and 4 January, respectively.
I give thanks to God for your faithful support of ESUMC, and pray God's blessings upon you and your loved ones in this holy season.
Yours in Christ, Pastor John
Pastor
News from the church
Vienna English-Speaking
In this season of stewardship, ESUMC Finance Committee Chair Delia Viljoen shares a word about how each of us is a vital piece of the "puzzle" that is ESUMC!
read more
Join us in December for our Children's Christmas celebration, a Service of Lessons and Carols, and a candlelight celebration on Christmas Eve.
read morePastor
Our ministry of hot meals and warm hospitality begins on Tuesday 2 December.
read morePastor
On this annual day of giving, we welcome your financial donations in support of our Wärmestube.
read morePastor
ESUMC Missions Coordinator Barbara Gibson invites members to bake cookies for the upcoming Wärmestube Christmas party.
read more
Our good friend, the Rev. Tom Garrison, leads a study of the parables of Jesus every Tuesday evening through 2 December.
read morePastor
für Jugendliche ab 14 Jahren. Im Evangelischen Freizeitheim Windischgarsten.
learn more
ESUMC music director Marilyn Brandl invites members and friends to share their talents on Saturday 28 February, and to bring a finger food for the meal following the event.
read more
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
Services
Vienna English-Speaking
Bible texts
- Isaiah 2,1-5
- Romans 13,11-14
- Matthew 24,36-44
During Fellowship Hour after worship, the Youth/Younger Adult group will host a bake sale.
Bible texts
- Isaiah 11,1-10
- Romans 15,4-13
- Matthew 3,1-12
Join us in worship as the children of the congregation celebrate the Christmas story. Following worship, remain with us for a special Soup Fellowship.
Bible texts
- Isaiah 35,1-10
- James 5,7-10
- Matthew 11,2-11
Today's hour of worship shall be our traditional Service of Lessons and Carols.
Bible texts
- Isaiah 7,10-16
- Romans 1,1-7
- Matthew 1,18-25
On Christmas Eve, a service of candlelighting and Holy Communion will be celebrated at both 14:00 and 18:00.
Bible texts
- Isaiah 9,1-6
- Titus 2,11-14
- Luke 2,1-20
Our guest preacher for the service will be Hayford Boateng.
Bible texts
- Isaiah 63,7-9
- Hebrews 2,10-18
- Matthew 2,13-23
Our guest preacher for the service will be Andrew Stones.
Bible texts
- Isaiah 60:1-6
- Ephesians 3:1-12
- Matthew 2:1-12
Following worship, remain with us for a special Soup Fellowship.
Bible texts
- Isaiah 42:1-9
- Acts 10:34-43
- Matthew 3:13-17
Bible texts
- Isaiah 49:1-7
- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
- John 1:29-42
Bible texts
- Isaiah 9:1-4
- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
- Matthew 4:12-23
Events
Vienna English-Speaking
Please volunteer with our ministry, as we provide hot meals, medical care, and warm Christian fellowship to the needy of our community. You are welcome to participate in any part of the day. For more information or to volunteer, speak with Barbara Gibson or Pastor John, or email to waermestube@emk.at.
Our Bible study series on the parables of Jesus concludes this evening, presented by our good friend, the Rev. Tom Garrison. All are welcome, and no registration is required. For the Zoom link, please contact Pastor John.
Please volunteer with our ministry, as we provide hot meals, medical care, and warm Christian fellowship to the needy of our community. You are welcome to participate in any part of the day. For more information or to volunteer, speak with Barbara Gibson or Pastor John, or email to waermestube@emk.at.
The children shall hold their final rehearsal for their celebration in worship on 14 December, and will help to decorate our Christmas tree. All families are welcome!
Please volunteer with our ministry, as we provide hot meals, medical care, and warm Christian fellowship to the needy of our community. You are welcome to participate in any part of the day. For more information or to volunteer, speak with Barbara Gibson or Pastor John, or email to waermestube@emk.at.
Please volunteer with our ministry, as we provide hot meals, medical care, and warm Christian fellowship to the needy of our community. You are welcome to participate in any part of the day. For more information or to volunteer, speak with Barbara Gibson or Pastor John, or email to waermestube@emk.at.
Please volunteer with our ministry, as we provide hot meals, medical care, and warm Christian fellowship to the needy of our community. You are welcome to participate in any part of the day. For more information or to volunteer, speak with Barbara Gibson or Pastor John, or email to waermestube@emk.at.
Please volunteer with our ministry, as we provide hot meals, medical care, and warm Christian fellowship to the needy of our community. You are welcome to participate in any part of the day. For more information or to volunteer, speak with Barbara Gibson or Pastor John, or email to waermestube@emk.at.
Please volunteer with our ministry, as we provide hot meals, medical care, and warm Christian fellowship to the needy of our community. You are welcome to participate in any part of the day. For more information or to volunteer, speak with Barbara Gibson or Pastor John, or email to waermestube@emk.at.
Please volunteer with our ministry, as we provide hot meals, medical care, and warm Christian fellowship to the needy of our community. You are welcome to participate in any part of the day. For more information or to volunteer, speak with Barbara Gibson or Pastor John, or email to waermestube@emk.at.
Please volunteer with our ministry, as we provide hot meals, medical care, and warm Christian fellowship to the needy of our community. You are welcome to participate in any part of the day. For more information or to volunteer, speak with Barbara Gibson or Pastor John, or email to waermestube@emk.at.