ESUMC Newsletter
September 2025
Dear friends in Christ,
Greetings and peace to you! I pray that your summer season has been blessed. It is a joy to see you returning to our community of faith following the travels and activities of summer.
We give a special thanks to the youth and young adults of our congregation for leading us in worship on Sunday 24 August. The reflection by Amelie Haslinger on the letter of James was especially meaningful, as we were reminded of the importance of encouraging one another to being doers of the word, and not just hearers.
I also wish to thank Jutta Dietl and the leadership team of the Begegnungsstube ministry for the successful flea market held on 25 August. It was a blessing to open the doors of the church to our neighbors and welcome new friends into the community. We are grateful for the funds raised by the flea market that will be used in support of our ongoing outreach ministry.
In this edition of our monthly newsletter, you will read of a number of ministry programs and activities that shall begin in the coming weeks, including the resumption of Bible study for adults and Sunday School for our children, our annual congregational BBQ and potluck, and a preview of our fall Harvest Festival.
Lastly, please allow me this reminder: As announced last month, 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!
Join us in the month of September for worship and fellowship, as we give thanks and praise to the Lord our God.
Yours in Christ, Pastor John
Pastor
News from the church
Vienna English-Speaking
After a pause for the summer season, Bible study has resumed on 26 August with a multi-week study on Paul's letter to the Galatians.
read morePastor
On Saturday 13 September, ESUMC members and friends will gather for our annual barbecue and hike in Grünbach. You are welcome to join us!
read morePastor
In worship on Sunday 14 September, we will inaugurate the start of a new Sunday School year with a special blessing of our children and adult leaders.
read morePastor
It is right to give our thanks and praise!
read morePastor
Österreichweiter Workshop zur EmK in den Social Media. Mit Hadwig Soyoye-Rothschädl, in der EmK Wien-Fünfhaus
learn more
Pastor, Superintendent
Services
Vienna English-Speaking
Bible texts
- Jeremiah 2,4-13
- Hebrews 13,1-8 und 15-16
- Luke 14,1 und 7-14
Bible texts
- Jeremiah 18,1-11
- Philemon 1-21
- Luke 14,25-33
Sunday School for our children during the worship service shall resume today, as we offer a blessing upon our teachers and students at the start of the new school year.
Bible texts
- Jeremiah 4,11-12 und 22-28
- 1 Timothy 1,12-17
- Luke 15,1-10
Bible texts
- Jeremiah 8,18-23
- 1 Timothy 2,1-7
- Luke 16,1-13
Bible texts
- Jeremiah 32,1-3a und 6-15
- 1 Timothy 6,6-19
- Luke 16,19-31
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.
An ecumenical worship service on the theme, “Our Shared Responsibility for Creation,” held at the Jesuitenkirche, Dr. Ignaz-Seipel-Platz 1, 1010 Vienna. Pastor Esther Handschin will represent the United Methodist Church in Austria.
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.
Join us as we shall enjoy a day of inspired hiking, great food, and warm fellowship. We shall gather in Grünbach at 10:00. A private bus will be available to provide round-trip transport from the church to Grünbach, departing the church at 9:00. Please register with George Ackwonu or Franz Haslinger and pay in advance (suggested donation of €10 per adult) to reserve your seat on the bus. Sign up in church to indicate what food and drinks you shall bring to the event.
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.
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.
Representatives from across the UMC in Austria will gather in our church for a day-long visioning and planning session to explore best practices regarding the use of social media in Christian ministry. The event will be led by Hadwig Soyoye-Rothschädel, a social media expert from the UMC congregation in Salzburg. For more information on this event, and to register to participate, please follow this link (in German):
https://www.emk.at/en/veranstaltungen/2025/emk-goes-social-media-und-braucht-dich
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.
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.