Category: News

Pipe organs are known to function for hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of years. But they do not survive that long without regular maintenance and, at times, major renovation and rebuilding. A pipe organ is, after all, a mechanical instrument as well as a musical instrument.

The First English pipe organ is a product of the Wicks Organ Company, Highland, Illinois. It is 85 years old, installed in 1939 with the completion of our sanctuary. It was a gift of the Ed Mollenhauer family, parents of Mrs. Alfreda Mollenhauer Bohls who was their only child. Because of Mrs. Bohls’ great devotion to this church, and because of her love of music, her parents made this gift to her memory and to the glory of God whose praise she sang. Alfreda Bohls was a baptismal sponsor of Lois Albers Holck, current and long-time member of First English.

Over the years several moderate updates have been accomplished due to the expertise of organ builder Otto Hoffmann. Periodic minor maintenance has been carried out on our organ. Wind chests, ductwork, consoles, electrical switches instead of trackers to actuate openings, all wear out. Even the organ bench gets more wear than pew seats. In recent years it became obvious that major restoration and upkeep were necessary in order for the 80+ year old instrument to remain functional and a vital part of our worship and music life. That work began in several stages as part of our 2016 capital campaign.

Last April, issues with the organ console (the box where the keyboard is located) caused it to become unworkable, making the organ unusable. We had known there was console work that needed to be done, and now it has become critical.

Bryan Rust, Bob Karli, and LeRoy Haverlah form a pipe organ committee under the umbrella of the Worship Ministry Team of the Congregation Council. On behalf of the committee Bryan has been gathering proposals and options for a staged and complete restoration of the instrument. This has been a tedious process.

We now are gathering final proposals to be explored in earnest and then presented to the Council for consideration. We expect several layers to this important project, including significant fundraising.

Everyone who experiences this instrument, in our congregation, in our community, and online, experiences something of the glory of God. There is good reason that the pipe organ has been called “The King of Instruments.”

The committee asks that you be ready to answer the call to share our abundance so that we and generations to come can receive the music of God and of God’s people through this instrument. The organ is a conduit of God’s faithfulness and love, and we are excited to share it with one another, the Austin community, and with the world. Thank you! 

– Bryan Rust, Bob Karli, LeRoy Haverlah

rjkarli45@gmail.com

Are you an unpaid caregiver?  That is, do you accept responsibility for assisting another adult with the activities of daily living?  That can be very isolating sometimes, motivated by love there are nevertheless moments of resentment and dismay.  AND it can be very rewarding, knowing that God is enabling you to love, sometimes sacrificially. 

We invite you to join a new support ministry, the FELC Caregiver’s Circle.  The Circle is facilitated by Barbara Wiederaenders who has 18 years of experience leading groups for AGE of Central Texas and Alzheimer’s Texas.  Participants pledge strict confidentiality to one another, make time for each person to share as much or as little as desired, hear about available resources, share ideas, and make time for prayer and meditation. 

Anyone interested may attend on Zoom on the 4^th Monday of each month, 7-8:30 p.m.  To attend, please email Barbara Wiederaenders to receive the Zoom link and to offer any questions or suggestions that would be helpful in considering your own participation.

Austin is growing, and so is the need for more transit options. With the implementation of Austin Light Rail, Austin Transit Partnership is advancing required studies to support the federal process. 

 Join us at an upcoming open house to provide input on station location and other design options. 

In-person events: Feb. 10, 12, 27 and 29 

Virtual event: Feb. 22 

www.atptx.org/events/ 

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK: 

Translation is available in English and Spanish for all events. For translations in other languages, contact us by email at input@atptx.org or phone at 512-389-7590.

Yes, you can get to FELC during the marathon!

The Austin Marathon returns on Sunday, February 18. Race day road closures will begin at 2 a.m., and may continue along the route as late as 2 p.m, depending upon location.  Pre-race day closures will occur downtown starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, February 16th on Congress Ave. between Cesar Chavez and 11th St.The route for the race will be similar to recent years.

While this makes getting to the church building more difficult, here’s the way to get to FELC:

• Use MLK exit from I-35 and turn west. There is no access to FELC from MoPac.
• Turn north on Trinity St. into the UT campus. It quickly becomes San Jacinto.
• Follow San Jacinto through the UT campus to Dean Keeton St.
• Turn left on Dean Keeton.
• Turn right on Speedway.
• Turn left on 30th St.

The Austin Marathon has published a comprehensive traffic guide which provides location specific information on how to access sections of the city during the event.  The traffic guide also includes links to church specific traffic guides that were created upon request.  Complete traffic information is available on the website at https://youraustinmarathon.com/traffic/.

The traffic guide may be viewed and downloaded directly using this link.

Livestream ministry also continues Sunday, February 18 at 10:00 AM at our YouTube channel.

You can participate in livestream worship on Sunday, February 18 at this link.

A Month Long Celebration

February is African-American History Month. Many significant events in African-American history occurred in the month of February. Each week of this month we are sharing historical information for each date. The source for this information is here.

On February 16:
Feb. 16, 1857 – Frederick Douglass elected President of Freeman Bank and Trust.
Feb. 16, 1923 – Bessie Smith makes her first recording, “Down Hearted Blues,” which sells 800,000 copies for Columbia Records.
Feb. 16, 1951 – New York City Council passes a bill prohibiting racial discrimination in city-assisted housing developments.

On February 17:
Feb. 17, 1870 – Congress passed resolution readmitting Mississippi on condition that it would never change its constitution to disenfranchise blacks.
Feb. 17, 1963 – Michael Jeffrey Jordan, famed basketball player and former minor league baseball player, born in New York, N.Y.
Feb. 17, 1997 – Virginia House of Delegates votes unanimously to retire the state song, “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia,” a tune that glorifies slavery.

On February 18:
Feb. 18, 1688 – First formal protest against slavery by organized white body in English America made by Germantown Quakers at monthly meeting.
Feb. 18, 1865 – Rebels abandoned Charleston. First Union troops to enter the city included twenty-first U.S.C.T., followed by two companies of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteers.
Feb. 18, 1931 – Toni Morrison (born Chloe Anthony Wofford), who will win the Pulitzer Prize for her novel Beloved, was born on this day in Lorain, Ohio.

On February 19:
Feb. 19, 1919 – Pan-African Congress, organized by W.E.B. DuBois, met at the Grand Hotel, Paris. There were 57 delegates–16 from the United States and 14 from Africa as well as others from 16 countries and colonies.

On February 20:
Feb. 20, 1895 – Death of Frederick Douglass. Douglass was the leading black spokesman for almost 50 years. He was a major abolitionist, lecturer, and editor.

On February 21:
Feb. 21, 1895 – North Carolina Legislature, dominated by black Republicans and white Populists, adjourned for the day to mark the death of Frederick Douglass.

On February 22:
Feb 22, 1979 – Frank E. Peterson Jr. named the first black general in the Marine Corps.

Saturday, February 17, at 6:00 PM

WHO:  Anyone who enjoys potluck dinners and/or tabletop games.  FELC members and non-members. Friends from other faiths, or who do not participate in a church. All ages and abilities welcome.

 WHAT: Third Saturday Game Night and Pot Luck Supper.  Bring food you like to share, bring games if you want, or just try one of the many games that arrive.

 WHEN: Saturday February 17, starting about 6:00pm and usually ending by 10:00.

 WHERE: In the Fellowship Hall of First English Lutheran Church, 3001 Whitis.  Enter though the door marked Fellowship Hall, or the door marked Kitchen.

 WHY: Because you got lots of chocolates for Valentine’s Day and want to share?  Because you want to play a simple game with lots of time for conversation? Because you want to play an in-depth game with lots of strategy? Because you have games that you ordered during the pandemic lock-downs that you still haven’t had a chance to play? Because you have an old favorite game you want to bring along? Only you can decide…