First English Lutheran Church | Austin, Texas
God Loves. We Love. Everyone!
We will reschedule this event soon. Look for a new date in Janaury.
We’re inviting all young adults to join us for a dinner gathering. We’ll connect, enjoy a cheese and charcuterie dinner, and brainstorm ideas for the young adult group at FELC. Who counts as a young adult? Anyone from early to late 20’s/early 30’s is welcome.
RSVP to Pastor Coffey (pastor@felcaustin.org) so we know who to expect.
Ever since the pandemic began there has been no clear way to track worship attendance like we used to. And what does “attendance” mean when livestream participation is an intergral part of how we gather?
Once we returned to in-person worship with livestream on August 1 we began looking at numbers differently. We started to think about “worship participation” rather than “attendance.” We looked at the count of people in the sanctuary and the data we get from livestreaming. While it is not clear how to relate these numbers to traditional ways of tracking attendance, I think there are some helpful ways to think about the data we have.
First, in-person attendance is still low compared to in-person attendance prior to the pandemic. This is understandable since some people are hesitant to gather, and because we have given people the option of livestream. But only looking at that number doesn’t give a full picture of our worship participation.
We have two other numbers we are tracking. We can see what our “peak live viewers” number is. This is the highest number of people participating at any one time in the livestream as it happens.
The second number we are tracking is the number of people who watch at least in part the livestream video over the next 3 days. This gives us a good sense of the total number of people who participated online in some way. After 3 days the total number of viewers tends to increase very little, so it is a good point in time to track.
You can see the data below on worship participation since August 1, and the averages for each column. Below that you can see two numbers I think are the most meaningful to watch. Average Live Participation (In Person and Livestream) is the closest to our attendance numbers prior to the pandemic. It is the total number of people who participated in some way during the live worship service. The average at this point is 59. The other number is Average Total Participation (In Person and 3 Day Views) is the total number of people who participated in some way whether live or soon after. The average for this number is 88.
In the 2019 our average worship attendance was 67. This is just about in the middle of 59 and 88. So in this new world of post-pandemic, in-person and livestream worship, we have a few less participating live than before, and more people particiating in some way than before.
If you’re like me you may find these numbers interesting and worth paying attention to. But, like me, you may also sense that numbers aren’t the only thing to pay attention to. The overall picture of our congregation is one of committed participation, generous stewardship, a heart for serving those in need, an openness to renewal and change while valuing tradition, a love for children, youth, and young adults, exceptional hospitality and welcome, and a passion for including all persons, especially those who may have experienced exclusion elsewhere. How are we doing with all of that? I’d say we have an overall healthy, active, mission-focused, and faithful gathering of the body of Christ.
Thanks for all you do to make FELC a lively and faithful congregation — whether you’re a member, a regular participant, or you just found us. Since I’m the pastor, I’ll close by saying that your regular participation in our worship life and community is important, and not only for your own ongoing spiritual formation in Christ. Your participation is important to everyone else who loves and cares about you and sees your unique gifts and longs to welcome you if you are new.
— Michael Coffey
| DATE | DESCRIPTION | IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE | PEAK LIVE VIEWERS | 3 DAY VIEWS |
| 8/1/2021 | Regathering Sunday | 41 | 22 | 55 |
| 8/8/2021 | Vicar Installation Sunday | 43 | 26 | 52 |
| 8/15/2021 | Feast of Mary. Back to School Blessing | 34 | 25 | 59 |
| 8/22/2021 | Lectionary 21 | 34 | 31 | 67 |
| 8/29/2021 | Lectionary 22 | 29 | 20 | 62 |
| 9/5/2021 | Lectionary 23 / Labor Day Weekend | 25 | 29 | 49 |
| 9/12/2021 | Lectionary 24 | 34 | 28 | 69 |
| 9/19/2021 | Lectionary 25 | 23 | 25 | 52 |
| 9/26/2021 | Lectionary 26 | 22 | 30 | 62 |
| 10/3/2021 | Saint Francis Sunday / 3 baptisms | 62 | 20 | 46 |
| 10/10/2021 | Lectionary 28: no livestream | 28 | ||
| 10/17/2021 | Lectionary 29 / Bryan’s last Sunday | 41 | 22 | 48 |
| 10/24/2021 | Lectionary 30 | 36 | 20 | 37 |
| 10/31/2021 | Reformation Sunday | 39 | 20 | 37 |
| 11/7/2021 | All Saints Sunday / baptism | 40 | 21 | 36 |
| 11/14/2021 | Extended Advent A / no livestream tech | 41 | 10 | 42 |
| Averages | 36 | 23 | 52 | |
| Average Live Participation (In Person and Livestream) | 59 | |||
| Average Total Participation (In Person and 3 Day Views) | 88 |
FELC Members and Friends,
Here is a snapshot of the church’s finances as of October 31, 2021
Financial Update
| In the Month of October | Actual Year-to-date | Budgeted Year-to-date | |
| Total Operating Income | $24,372.56 | $257,955.02 | $281,250.00 |
| Total Non-Contingent Operating Expenses | $27,854.35 | $260,735.25 | $272,902.00 |
| Total Contingent Operating Expenses (Synod, Benevolence, Savings) | $0.00 | $701.56 | $6,551.00 |
| Net Income (Loss) | $-(3,481.79) | $-(3,481.79) | $1,797.00 |
Monthly Giving Income*
| Jan | Feb | Mar (Q1) | Apr | May | Jun (Q2) | |
| Unified, Current, & Benevolent Income (Giving income)* | $16,547.41 | $26,668.38 | $28,220.38 | $22,508.38 | $27,110.38 | 23,913.38 |
| July | August | Sept (Q3) | Oct | Nov | Dec (Q4) | |
| $24,989.69 | $37,042.38 | $21,855.38 | $21,248.38 |
*Our monthly budget for giving income is $26,250.
Income fell short of expenses for the month of October, and as a result, the church now has a year-to-date deficit of $-(3,481.79).
The church did maintain, however, a small year-to-date surplus at the end of Quarter 3 (Sept 30) of $701.56. Those Q3 surplus funds have been allocated in the following ways:
We will next assess our ability to make benevolence payments and a transfer to savings at the end of 4th quarter (December 31st).
With gratitude,
Erin McCracken
FELC Treasurer
Advent is a season for hope and expectation as we await Christ’s coming, whether at the Nativity, today, or the promised future. Advent Lessons and Carols is a service of songs, readings, quiet contemplation, and prayer. We hear the words of the prophets. We sing of God’s promises. We place our hope in God. The carols in this service draw from a variety of countries, cultures, and traditions.
We are pleased to have as our guest musician for this service Austin guitarist Anthony Caulkins, who will accompany our singing. Anthony plays an eclectic range of styles from classical to rock. You can learn more about him here: https://www.gigsalad.com/anthony_caulkins_long_beach
We will livestream the service on our YouTube Live channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj9B6jWh3PqO7ojn9-tHHRQ
Following the service, we will offer hospitality on the front terrace, weather permitting.
Throughout our extended Advent season, the Tree of Hope will be on display at the front of the nave. You’re invited to write on one of the blue stars and hang it on the tree. What gives you hope? What do you hope for?
Add to the tree anytime before or after worship, and during hymns and communion.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
Psalm 42:11
Our FELC mugs are available for purchase. $5 get you 2 mugs — one to take home, and one to donate to our hospitality ministry. They will be available from sale from Pastor Coffey during hospitality after worship on Sundays. Please have cash and exact change.
We will once again be offering refreshments during hospitality on Sunday mornings. This has long been a favorite part of Sunday mornings when we can stay a while and visit with one another. It is the extension of our worship into fellowship.
Returning to offering some treats makes it even more enjoyable. We have many wonderful hospitality hosts who provide for our hospitality ministry.
When we gather outside it is safer to take off our masks as we visit and enjoy some food and drink, especially if vaccinated. Please be mindful of children and others who may not be vaccinated.
We hope you’ll stay after worship, enjoy the hospitality offered, and continue to meet and greet others in the name of Christ.
The renewed Cloud of Witnesses mobile is now hanging in the Chapel of the Saints. It contains the names of all who have died at FELC from 1936 – 2021. Each year on All Saints Sunday new names will be added.
The Cloud of Witnesses mobile reminds us that when we gather together in the name of Christ we are gathered with all who have gone before us in faith — one great communion of saints.
We are moving our livestream ministry from Facebook to YouTube. Some people prefer not to use it, so Facebook has limited who can watch and participate in our livestreams. Also, there are concerns about how Facebook operates and its impact on individuals and society.
YouTube, which is owned by Google, will give us a broader audience and make our livestream videos appear in search results. Anyone with a Google account (Gmail, Docs, Calendar, etc.) can sign into YouTube to view and comment. Those without an account can view the videos without being signed in. YouTube Live videos will also be viewable on our website Livestream page.
We want to be sure that everyone is ready for this switch before December 5. Pastor Coffey will conduct a brief test livestream on YouTube on Wednesday, December 1` at 7 PM. Join in for a few minutes to see how it works and try out the comments.
If anyone needs additional assistance in finding and viewing our YouTube livestream videos, please contact Pastor Coffey.
Our YouTube channel can be found here (or search on YouTube for FELCAustin): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj9B6jWh3PqO7ojn9-tHHRQ . If you subscribe to our channel you will receive notifications when we go live. Click on the bell symbol and select “All” to make sure you always get notified of our live and new videos.
Austin City Lutherans “Homelessness Initiative – Summit Meeting #2” will be held on Wednesday, November 17 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Linked here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3419099479 Meeting ID: 341 909 9479. This meeting is scheduled to last one hour. The audio phone-in number is 1-346-248-7799.
Special guests include leaders in homelessness ministries in Austin: Pastor Mark Hilbelink of Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center, Haleh Kersten of LINC-Austin, and former ECHO Executive Director and St. Martin’s Lutheran member Ann Howard.
ACL has a new website and video on homelessness, linked here: https://breadforall-atx.org/homelessness/
Please join us for this important next step in ACL ministries. As with Bread For All Food Pantry and Mariposa FLC, we are able to do “more, better, together” in Christ’s name and in his compassion.
— Pastor Tim Anderson, ACL Director tca.blueocotillo@gmail.com