

Rising to Meet the Need.
Sunday Worship
Live Stream
11:00 a.m.
On Facebook Live
In order to meet the highest level of safety measures for our congregation and to be a responsible member of our Austin community, upRising worship will be online only (through Facebook Live) until further notice.
We are offering a variety of additional online community activities for all of our members and friends during this time, and you can see a full schedule in our News & Notes electronic newsletter. If you do not already receive our newsletter, you can sign up easily at the bottom of this page. If you have ideas, questions, or needs that you want us to know about, please send an email to upDates@uprisingaustin.org.
Always in Hope,
Rev. Karen
It’s time for Spring Growth Groups!
We’ve got book studies, exercise options, crafts, and games, all designed to provide opportunities for connection in a small group format. Most of the groups will be virtual (on Zoom), although we also have in-person offerings this session. The classes are free and will run for four to six weeks, so invite your friends and get ready to learn, grow, and have fun. Register by clicking on the link given for each group.

Walk and Talk
Mondays at 6 pm in various locations beginning April 19
Sergio Alvarado
Take a tour of Austin’s trails for a time of walking and connection.

Faith After 50
Tuesdays at 8 pm on Zoom beginning April 20
Rev. Karen Thompson
Our society glorifies youth and degrades old age. Read and discuss Sister Joan Chittister’s book “The Gift of Years” for a celebration of the blessings of growing older. It is a clear-eyed and unsentimental book about the reality of the aging process that shows how our later years are a gift, not a burden.

The Righteous Mind
Wednesdays at 6 pm on Zoom beginning April 21
Amanda Alvarado
Religion and politics are famously controversial topics. Read and discuss social psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s book “The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion” to help understand human morality and the reasons why it can be so difficult to talk across our differences.

A Woman's Way Through the 12 Steps
Wednesdays at 8 pm on Zoom beginning April 21
Josephine Williamson
Don’t be fooled! This group can be helpful to anyone, regardless of gender identity. We will read through Stephanie Covington’s “A Woman’s Way Through the 12 Steps.” It addresses an emerging challenge with the source text of Alcoholics Anonymous which was written in the mid 30s. It aims to give us a better understanding of addiction. This group is not a 12 step program.

Game Night
Thursdays at 8 pm on Zoom beginning April 22
Becki Lee
Join your friends for virtual laughs and games.

The Big Clean Up
Saturdays at 9 am at upRising beginning April 24
Becky Rhone
Help clean and beautify the upRising campus.

Make Something in May
Saturdays at 6:30 pm via Zoom beginning May 1
Kathryn Lunsford
Pick up your supplies at the church and log on for an evening of fun and crafts.
Who We Are
MCC Austin is now upRising–a church without walls. In searching for our new name, we didn’t want a name that just described one piece of us—just our welcome, advocacy for lgbtq people, MCC roots, or passion for social justice. We wanted a name that said we are people who believe in the good news of the Gospel, that our human nature can be transformed to the nature of Jesus Christ, and that the truest expression of our faith is how we act in the world.
We are people in whom love, hope, joy, and peace rise up. Who will rise up for justice. Who will rise up for the least of these even when, and especially when, we are the least of these. Who inspire others to rise up with us.
We wanted a name that will inspire us never to become complacent. Even in the moments when we are still and know that God is God, our spirits are rising.
We believe our new name captures all of that. We would love for you to come and worship with us or join us for one of our many programs and outreach ministries and experience upRising for yourself.