First English Lutheran Church | Austin, Texas
God Loves. We Love. Everyone!
Join UT’s Repertory Chorus in their first concert of the 2025-2026 season on Monday, October 13 at 8 pm at FELC. Music by Durufle, Brahms, Hogan, Mozart, and others. Free admission. FELC partners with UT’s Butler School of Music to provide a laboratory, rehearsal, and venue experience for these professional, educational vocal leaders.
The FELC Chapel of the Saints & Columbarium includes icons of saints by artist Kelly Latimore. Using FELC memorial funds, we purchased and installed icons of diverse saints, ancient and contemporary, in the chapel, with additional icons installed in the hallway outside the north transept entrance. Recently, a placard with information on each saint was affixed near the icon, in gallery style. A brochure is also available in the chapel on the west wall. We are grateful to Heidi Goebel for her labor of love in enhancing the witness of these saints. May these icons and sacred spaces bring those who engage them into prayer and thanksgiving.
On Saturday, October 4, we welcomed Yehiel Curry, former Lutheran bishop of Chicago, as the fifth presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Presiding Bishop Curry is the first person of African descent called to this leadership role since the ELCA was formed in 1988. We give thanks to God, and we hold Yehiel in prayer as he begins this call. For more information and a descriptive photo scroll of the installation celebration, view this article: Answering the call – Living Lutheran
Photo: Presiding Bishop Curry with First Lady LaShonda Hicks-Curry, and their daughters, Shekinah, Ashirah, and Shemiah. LaShonda Hicks-Curry is a disciple, wife, mother, and a public-school educator, administrator, and advocate in Chicago.
Commemoration of Francis of Assisi: May 25, 1181—October 4, 1226
Born into the family of a wealthy merchant, Francis gave up his inheritance to serve poor people. He formed the Order of Friars Minor (called Franciscans), who took on poverty and the task of preaching “using words if necessary.” Francis had a spirit of gratitude for all of God’s creation. In July, 1228, Francis was pronounced a saint by Pope Gregory IX.
All are welcome to the Fellowship Hall after worship for hospitality and to greet our friends from Tiny Tails to You.
Gather with young adults on the first Thursday of each month for food, fellowship, and faith formation.
“Katie, the office of pastor is now committed to you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!”
On Sunday, September 14, we welcomed and formally installed the sixth pastor of FELC, the Rev. Katie Rode. We give thanks to God for our life and witness, as together we proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The autumn season continues “ordinary” time in the cycle of the church year. Many of the bible readings focus on the telling of parables. We are encouraged to be faithful and steadfast. We celebrate several commemorations and feasts on Sundays in the fall: Holy Cross Day (September 14), Saint Michael and All Angels (transferred to September 28), St. Francis Day (transferred to October 5), Reformation Day (transferred to October 26), All Saints’ Day (transferred to November 2), and the Reign of Christ Day (November 23).
This Sunday in worship we are invited to consider what it means to be managers (rather than owners) of all that we have. It is crucial to recognize that we are bought with a price. “Christ Jesus, himself human, . . . gave himself a ransom for all.” Apart from the generosity of God we have nothing. By God’s gracious love we are and have everything we need.
With thanksgiving to God, and in gratitude for 89 years of witness, First English Lutheran Church invites you to a Celebration of Ministry as we welcome and install The Rev. Katie Rode as Pastor, Sunday, September 14, 2025, 3 PM at First English Lutheran Church. All are welcome. The colors of the day are green and rainbow. Clergy are invited to process and vest, as you desire. A festive reception follows the liturgy. The Rev. Candice Combs, Conference Dean, will be the installing minister.
The autumn season continues “ordinary” time in the cycle of the church year. Many of the bible readings focus on the telling of parables. We are encouraged to be faithful and steadfast. Autumn also brings a renewal within the congregation. Faith formation sessions resume, and events return to community life. As the year turns, we have a rush of energy for many possibilities. With this hustle and bustle of the fall with all its competing activities, we are called to remain focused on the presence of Christ in God’s mission in the world. We celebrate several commemorations and feasts on Sundays in the fall: Holy Cross Day (September 14), Saint Michael and All Angels (transferred to September 28), St. Francis Day (transferred to October 5), Reformation Day (transferred to October 26), All Saints’ Day (transferred to November 2), and the Reign of Christ Day (November 23).
Sunday, September 14: Helena (248-340), mother of Emperor Constantine, made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and found what may be the actual site of Jesus’ crucifixion. Her son built two churches there, and the dedication of one of them (the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on September 14, 335 CE) gave rise to this celebration of our Lord’s victory on the cross. While St. Helena discovered the Cross, it was the consecration of the newly built church on that site that directly led to the celebration of the feast. In the Bible, Paul reminds us that Christ crucified is the power and wisdom of God. As Moses put a serpent on a pole to be a source of healing for the ancient Israelites, we lift high the cross as the sign of our health and salvation. Each time we make the sign of the cross we remember our baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ.
The autumn season continues “ordinary” time in the cycle of the church year. Many of the bible readings focus on the telling of parables. We are encouraged to be faithful and steadfast. Autumn also brings a renewal within the congregation. Faith formation sessions resume, and events return to community life. As the year turns, we have a rush of energy for many possibilities. With this hustle and bustle of the fall with all its competing activities, we are called to remain focused on the presence of Christ in God’s mission in the world. We celebrate several commemorations and feasts on Sundays in the fall: Holy Cross Day (September 14), Saint Michael and All Angels (transferred to September 28), St. Francis Day (transferred to October 5), Reformation Day (transferred to October 26), All Saints’ Day (transferred to November 2), and the Reign of Christ Day (November 23).
Sunday, September 7: Called to contemplate the cost of discipleship, we might be helped by translating Paul’s request to Philemon in the Bible. What is that request? Refresh my heart in Christ. Strengthened by the company and forgiveness of Christ and recalling God’s grace, we can be strengthened in worshiping God and in community to “choose life”—to choose life in God as our own, life that has purpose, life that is faithful.