Day Apart event offered at St. John’s UMC / District happenings

Paula D’Arcy, author of the bestselling book The Gift of the Red Bird, is to facilitate “The Gift of a Day Apart” at St. John’s UMC, 2140 Allandale Road, Austin, April 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Each person’s life is an amazing array of 10,000 things: things that are rich, good and rewarding; things intended to bring pleasure and joy; and difficult and challenging things. Underneath all that, a deeper life exists.
D’Arcy, a psychotherapist who has spent time ministering to those with issues of grief and loss, is to offer tools for discovering that deeper level of living and share how to stay attentive even in the hardest places.
Award-winning musician Sara Hickman is to bring her blend of music and humanity to enrich the time together.
Early registration ends March 16. For more information contact St. John’s at (512) 452-5737.

Wesley UMC to mark 143 years of serving Austin March 30
The Wesley UMC Choir will be among the featured guests at the black tie gala opening of the Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive, on the shores of Lady Bird Lake, March 28 at 7 p.m.
This commemorative event also features the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the Austin Lyric Opera, Ballet Austin, the Conspirare Symphonic Choir and Broadway legend Tommy Tune.
Wesley UMC, 1164 San Bernard St., commemorates its 143rd anniversary that same weekend. The celebration begins at 4 p.m. March 30 and will feature the Rev. Carl Rohlfs, senior pastor at University UMC, Austin, as guest speaker and the University UMC choir.

Austin District Men’s meeting set for March 15 at Oak Hill
 Every man in your church is invited to the Austin District Men’s quarterly meeting March 15 at Oak Hill UMC. The meeting is to introduce “Amachi,” a mentoring program much like Big Brothers Big Sisters. Amachi is different in that it is for children of incarcerated parents. “Amachi” is a Nigerian word for “Who knows what God has brought us through this child?”
The presenter will be Kenny Taylor, executive director Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas. Worship in word and song, see old friends, make new friends in Christ, and enjoy a great breakfast. 
Oak Hill UMC is at 7815 U.S. 290, just west of the U.S. 290/Texas 71 split in southwest Austin. The church is directly across from the Austin Community College Pinnacle Building. The church Web site is www. oakhillunitedmethodist church.org. The phone number is (512) 288-3836.
Registration and coffee begin at 7:30 a.m. The morning’s program is to conclude with Holy Communion.
Please bring white socks for the support of Austin Resource Center for the Homeless.
For more information about Amachi, visit www.amachi-texas.org.

Marriage Encounter weekend helps strengthen relationships
The Spring Austin Marriage Encounter-United Methodist Weekend is scheduled for April 25-27.
This 44-hour experience deepens communication for married couples. Marriage Encounter-United Methodist is affiliated with the General Board of Discipleship.
During the program, couples spend a weekend in a hotel away from the distractions of home, job, children and other activities. They are to rediscover each other and learn to communicate more effectively. The program is designed to help couples with good marriages make them into great marriages!
The weekend will be at Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel at Interstate 35 North and U.S. 183 in north Austin. Activities begin at 8 p.m. April 25 and conclude at 4 p.m. April 27.
For more information contact Carl or Jan Dodd at (512) 468-0691, Carl-Dodd@People-Velocity.com or www.encounter.org.
Pastors who attend at a Marriage Encounter Weekend can earn 1.5 continuing education units from the General Board of Discipleship.

Elderhaven Adult Day Center offers caregivers time away
Former First Lady Rosalyn Carter said, “There are only four kinds of people in this world: Those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those will need caregivers.”
Elderhaven Adult Day Center understands the caregiving dynamic and is there to alleviate some of the stresses caregivers face.  Elderhaven provides a safe, secure and structured environment in which seniors may spend their days while their caregiver works.
Elderhaven is open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Snacks and a hot meal are provided, and transportation is available.
Call Elderhaven at (512) 458-6305 and ask for Katie to set up a tour, or visit www.AGEofAUSTIN.org.
Elderhaven Adult Day Center is a program of Austin Groups for the Elderly, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Lay speaker training scheduled April 4-5 in Corpus Christi
The Corpus Christi District Council on Lay Speaking Ministries has set April 4 and 5 for the spring lay speaker training event.
Training includes both the basic course and an advanced course: Lay Speakers Lead Bible Study.
Anyone interested in learning about all that is involved in lay speaking may take the basic course. The advanced course is open to those who have already completed the basic course.
For more information contact Sharon Cooke, chairman of the district Council on Lay Speaking Ministries, at (361) 643-6113 or Sheila Campbell at the Corpus Christi District Office, (361) 852-8268.

Applications deadline nears for district outreach grants
The Austin District Board of Missions Action Support Ministries provides funds to facilitate outreach ministries of existing churches to relieve human suffering and establish new and creative forms of such outreach within the district.
Application deadline for funding is March 26.
We strongly encourage churches to consider what needs in ministry continue to be unmet and submit an application for available funds.
Applications must come from organizations directly related to The United Methodist Church. Should you have questions about the appropriateness of your needs, contact Ron Campbell, associate pastor of Tarrytown UMC, Austin, at (512) 472-3111 or ron@tarrytownumc. org. 
Applications for these funds can be obtained by contacting the District Office at (512) 444-1983 or alice@ umcad.org.