ESUMC Newsletter
October 2024
Dear friends in Christ,
Greetings and peace to you all! At long last, the summer heat has finally abated, and the cool air and autumnal colors have arrived. We give thanks to God for the start of this new season, and for the fresh blessings that have come upon us, our loved ones, and our congregation.
With the turn of every new season comes change, and in this moment we have a significant change in our community. As some of you may be aware, early this week a fault was discovered in the ceiling of our church sanctuary. Repair works are now underway, which has led to the temporary closure of our church sanctuary. At present, we are not exactly sure how long the sanctuary will be inaccessible, but we have been told to expect that the repair work could take about two to three months. The repair and renovation shall be coordinated and supervised by the property management office of the UMC in Austria.
In light of this development, we have made arrangements for our congregation to gather every Sunday morning at 11:15 in the fellowship area on the first floor of our church building. As you enter from the street into the church, our ushers will guide you to this temporary worship space. Sunday School for children shall continue every Sunday as usual, and Coffee Hour Fellowship will be held in the downstairs fellowship area following worship.
Unfortunately, the online worship livestream will not be available this Sunday 29 September. We hope to have the livestream available again soon. Also, this development will impact our plan to celebrate Harvest Festival on Sunday 20 October. I will keep the congregation updated regarding this important event.
On behalf of our Church Council, I thank you for your understanding and support. As we shall be sharing these common spaces with our friends from the German-speaking congregation, we appreciate the patience and flexibility of both communities. I look forward to gathering with you in this more intimate space, as we continue our mission of loving and serving God and others.
Yours in Christ, Pastor John
Pastor
News from the church
Vienna English-Speaking
On Saturday 7 September, ESUMC members and friends gathered for our annual barbecue and hike in Grünbach.
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We give thanks to God for the children recently baptized at ESUMC into the Christian faith.
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On Sunday 22 September 2024, two lay pastors were ordained into the United Methodist Church in Albania.
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Under the leadership of Simone Viljoen, ESUMC's Lay Delegate to the Annual Conference, the UMC in Austria has issued a statement on "Creation Responsibility."
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ESUMC members are invited to participate in an online lecture series this fall, sponsored by Methodist churches in Europe.
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The first conversations and planning sessions were held in Vienna from July 7th - 8th.
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Join ESUMC's new Congregational Care Team, as we provide spiritual and physical support to fellow church members.
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The Central European University in Vienna offers two free programs in English to help Matura students complete their studies and adults prepare for university study.
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Services
Vienna English-Speaking
Youth Sunday, with the youth and young adults of ESUMC leading our service of worship.
Bible texts
- Esther 7,1-6 und 9-10; 9,20-22
- James 5,13-20
- Mark 9,38-50
Bible texts
- Job 1,1 und 2.1-10
- Hebrews 1,1-4 und 2,5-12
- Mark 10,2-16
Join us in worship as we celebrate the baptism of Seth and Jamie Oppong.
Bible texts
- Job 23,1-9 und 16-17
- Hebrews 4,12-16
- Mark 10,17-31
Please note: Due to the ongoing renovation in the church sanctuary, our annual Harvest Festival has been postponed. Jerry Barton will lead the service and deliver the message.
Bible texts
- Job 38,1-7
- Hebrews 5,1-10
- Mark 10,35-45
UMC Global Mission Fellow Daniel Mohr will deliver the message.
Bible texts
- Job 42,1-6 und 10-17
- Hebrews 7,23-28
- Mark 10,46-52
Today's message shall be given by Daniel Mohr, ESUMC member and Global Mission Fellow of the United Methodist Church.
Bible texts
- Ruth 1,1-18
- Hebrews 9,11-14
- Mark 12,28-34
Events
Vienna English-Speaking
Our Disciple Bible Study series on the Old Testament continues every Tuesday via Zoom. Please contact Pastor John for more information or if you wish to join.
Our Disciple Bible Study group will not meet this evening, as Pastor John shall be on a two-day retreat with other United Methodist pastors in Austria. Bible study will resume next Tuesday evening.
Our Disciple Bible Study group will not meet this evening, as Pastor John is away from Vienna. Bible study will resume next Tuesday evening.
Our Disciple Bible Study series on the Old Testament continues every Tuesday via Zoom. Please contact Pastor John for more information or if you wish to join.