ESUMC Newsletter

September 2026

Dear friends and members of the English-speaking United Methodist Church in Vienna!

Summer and the vacation season are coming to an end. As your superintendent, I’d like to use this newsletter to update you on upcoming events and changes in the congregation.

Thank you, Rev Tom!

First, a heartfelt thank you to Rev. Tom Garrison, who preached at all worship services this summer and served as a pastoral resource for the congregation. Thank you, Tom!

Welcome, Rev. Mark Jason!

I am delighted to inform you of the appointment of a new pastor for the congregation: Rev. Dr. Mark Jason will begin his ministry as the new pastor of ESUMC on December 1. Mark Jason is currently serving as a pastor in the United Kingdom and will take up his post in Vienna on behalf of the General Board on Global Ministries. Mark will be moving to Vienna with his wife, Sarah. Here, your new pastor introduces himself!

In the months leading up to early December, congregational life will be led by members of the congregation and pastors from the UMC Austria. Rev. Tom Garrison will also continue to celebrate Holy Communion services with the congregation on a monthly basis.

Stefan Schröckenfuchs

Pastor, Superintendent

Highlights in September

Barbecue and hike

On Saturday 12 September, ESUMC members and friends will gather in Grünbach for our annual barbecue and hike. Read more.

Ecumenical TV Service

On Sunday September 20, a special ecumenical service will take place in our church: the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Austria will celebrate the “Service for Creation Time.” The service will be broadcast live on ORF III. Among those leading the service are Lutheran Bishop Cornelia Richter, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vienna Josef Grünwiedl, Armenian Apostolic Bishop Tiran Petrosyan, and other representatives of the ecumenical movement.

We invite you to join us in celebrating this very unique service! The liturgy will be conducted primarily in German and begins at 10:00 a.m. (as we are live on TV, it starts on time!). We ask that you arrive at the church by 9:45 a.m. Due to cleanup work, there will be no service at 11:15 a.m.

October Outlook

On Sunday, October 18, we will celebrate the harvest in the time-honored tradition! Please mark your calendars now. More information will follow in the next newsletter and in the upcoming Sunday Services.