As the church, we are called together by God to worship, share in Christian fellowship, and experience God's love for us. But God also sends us back into the world to share that love with others and to actively work for the healing, reconciliation, justice and peace that God intends for this world.
Our church actively supports the following outreach ministries. For more information about any of these ministries, please contact the Congregational Church of Austin.
University Area Micah 6
The Congregational Church of Austin is an active member of the University Area Micah 6 Ministry, through which nine University area churches work closely to increase the effectiveness of their outreach and social justice ministries. In January 2004, University Area Micah 6 opened a food pantry in the University to serve people from around the city of Austin. Congregational Church members serve on the Micah 6 Board of Directors and the Micah 6 Council, and they volunteer at the Micah 6 food pantry.
Freeze Night Cold Weather Shelter
Though Austin remains comfortably warm throughout the winter, the temperature does drop below freezing about twenty times each year. The Congregational Church of Austin participates in Austin's Freeze Night Cold Weather Shelter Program. When the temperature dips below freezing, we open our doors to homeless youth and provide them with an evening meal, a place to sleep, and a morning meal. Trained volunteers from our church work with staff from the LifeWorks Street Outreach program to maintain a safe environment during shelter evenings.
Front Porch Ministry
On the first and third Thursday of the month, church members prepare and serve a lunch to homeless youth in our fellowship hall prior to the opening of the LifeWorks medical clinic housed in our church building.
Christmas Open Door Meal
On Christmas Day, the Congregational Church of Austin celebrates Jesus' birth with a brief communion service in our sanctuary, and then we open our doors to anyone who would like to enter our dining room for a Christmas meal consisting of ham, turkey, stuffing, vegetables, and desserts.
Sunday Food Offering
Sharing food was one of the primary ways Jesus communicated God's love to all people. Please bring some non-perishable food items (preferably pop-top cans, vegetables, and soup) to share with others when you join us for worship on Sunday mornings. The food you offer will be given to the LifeWorks Street Outreach Drop-In Center.
LifeWorks Street Outreach
Our church hosts the LifeWorks Street Outreach Drop-In Center and Medical Clinic. From our building, LifeWorks provides a variety of social work and medical services to area homeless youth.
Care Communities Team
The Congregational Church of Austin supports The Care Communities with service and prayer. Trained church members have volunteered to form a Care Team providing practical and compassionate support to a Care Partner living with AIDS/HIV or cancer in the Austin Area. Our care team provides our care partner support with house cleaning, activities of daily living, errands, caregiver relief, and companionship among other important activities. We look forward in hope to the possibility that new care teams will form in our congregation, answering Jesus' urgent call to look after those in need.
Mt. Bonnell
The Congregational Church of Austin has "adopted" Covert Park at Mt. Bonnell as an environmental outreach project. Mt. Bonnell, easily accessible by foot, is one of Austin's treasured tourist destinations, and the site of our church's Easter Sunrise Service. Four times a year, adults and children from our church spend the morning cleaning the park by picking up garbage, pulling weeds, spreading mulch, and planting new plants. Once our work is complete, we enjoy a nice picnic on top of the mountain.
United Church of Christ Child Sponsorship
The Congregational Church of Austin participates in the United Church of Christ Global Ministry's Child Sponsorship Program. This is a joint project of our Boards for Outreach and Christian Education. We sponsor a girl named Hala Mahmoud, who participates in the Rawdat El Zuhar school in East Jerusalem. Our church is using the child sponsorship ministry as an opportunity to support the United Church of Christ's ministry in East Jerusalem, and to learn more about the religious, political, economic, and social issues in East Jerusalem.
Crop Walk
Members of the Congregational Church of Austin participate in the Annual Crop Walk to raise money for local and international hunger relief services.
Back Bay Mission, Biloxi Mississippi
The Congregational Church of Austin provides annual financial support to Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Mississippi. Back Bay Mission is a leader in economic development and hands-on Christian work camp ministry. A delegation of adults and youth from our church will traveled to Biloxi in June 2005 to participate in a one week Back Bay Mission work camp. We are now helping Back Bay Mission recover from Hurricane Katrina.
Religion and Labor Network of Austin
The Congregational Church of Austin supports the Religion and Labor Network of Austin. The network brings together people of faith and working people to advocate for justice in the workplace. Special projects include advocacy for immigrant day laborers and the Labor in the Pulpits series.
BARCA and Comite de Apoyo Border Ministry
The Congregational Church of Austin supports two ministries on the Texas-Mexican Border. BARCA works on the Texas side of the border with immigrants who are organizing to bring public utilities and services to colonias, while the Comite de Apoyo works with workers in Reynosa, Mexico, who are organizing for justice and dignity in Reynosa's factories. Church members take periodic trips to the border to meet with members of BARCA and the Comite de Apoyo.
Equal Exchange
The Congregational Church of Austin supports Equal Exchange, an organization that purchases coffee, cocoa, and tea directly from coops around the world at fair and just prices, and then sells it directly to consumers. We periodically make equal exchange products available in our fellowship hall after worship.
