Author: FELC Office

Click here for October financials.

Sunday, November 17, we welcome back to FELC Vicar # 46 (2012-2013), Pastor Alex LaChapelle, as our preaching & presiding minister. Pastor Alex is in Austin for the national Progressive Youth Ministry Conference, which now makes its home with FELC neighbor, Austin Presbyterian Seminary. The Progressive Youth Ministry strives to be a space of connection and collaboration for youth workers seeking to lead young people into a faith that’s compassionate, just, and inclusive in the ways of Jesus. Pastor Alex is currently called to Prince of Peace Lutheran in Harvey, Michigan. Previously Pastor Alex served as associate pastor of St. Luke’s Lutheran in Park Ridge, Illinois; as country coordinator in Southern Africa and Tanzania for the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission program; and as pastor of Nairobi International Lutheran in Kenya. Pastor Alex completed undergraduate studies in theology at Concordia University Chicago and, in 2014, received a Master of Divinity degree from The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

The FELC Church Council met October 21, 2024. Betsy Appleton and Joe Cain joined us as guests. Betsy advocated for our CDC center as a parent whose children have benefited from attending. Joe led the council through our Draft Budget Report for FELC and discussed shared expenses between our church and our CDC. The executive team rolled out our new FELC Organization Chart to the council for feedback and questions. Nancy Neuse was appointed Chair of our Nominating Committee as we continue to strive to build capacity in our council leadership for the upcoming year.

The next meeting of the council will be November 18, 2024.

ACL Live at the Moody Theater. Since 1986, Austin’s Casa Marianella has been a place of refuge for men, women, and children seeking asylum in the U.S. The show will include performances by Patty Griffin, Adrian Quesada, Britt Daniel from Spoon, Fastball, Money Chicha, Tekle Mezghebe and more. Funds raised will contribute to a NEW shelter for women and children in 2025. Purchase your concert tickets here: acllive.com/events/detail/2024-12-09-home-is-here-a-concert-for-casa-marianella-at-7-pm

Click here to review the financial summary for September, 2024.

The Call Committee has recently interviewed two pastor candidates and will meet next week to prayerfully discern next steps with these candidates. We are grateful for your continued prayers as we follow this Spirit-led process. To contact the Call Committee, please email us at: FELCTransitionMinistry@felcaustin.org. 

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans. For more information visit:

https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov

On Monday evening, November 4, we gathered for a time of prayer, music, scripture, poetry, reflection, and connection. We centered ourselves in the themes of community, humility, and peace.

The link to the service is online here. The link to the worship bulletin is here.

Holy One, where hearts are fearful and constricted, grant courage and hope. Where anxiety is infectious and widening, grant peace and reassurance. Where impossibilities close every door and window, grant imagination and resistance. Where distrust twists our thinking, grant humility and illumination. Where spirits are daunted and weakened, grant soaring wings and strengthened dreams. Holy One, you are the fullness of all love: today, tomorrow, and forever. Amen.

We commend our nation to God’s loving care.

On a beautiful, breezy, Sunday evening, 50 or so neighbors, members, & friends gathered at FELC for our Fall Festival. We celebrated our community of faith: past, present, & those yet to come. We enjoyed brats, schnitzel, & many trimmings & desserts prepared by folks. And, this year, there were a variety of potato salad recipes to try! Our great thanks to Herr Randy Baden (and Herr Terry Porter) for coordinating & welcoming us – and to all the hands & feet that served. Das leben ist gut! La vida es buena!