Category: News

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Sabbath & Ministry Pause

Welcome to this community of faith and service.

May 31 – July 25 First English Lutheran Church is in a time of Sabbath Ministry Pause. During the eight weeks, the congregation will pause its ministry activities of learning, witness, service, and support. We continue in weekly worship and turn our shared focus toward reflection and discernment of future mission and the faithful stewarding of our resources.

As we begin our 91st year of ministry in Austin, we seek to be intentional about shaping the next season of God’s mission in this place. If you are newly receiving this information, we welcome you to participate in this journey. To learn more, contact Pastor Katie Rode, pastor@felcaustin.org. 

Click here for a Sabbath and Ministry Pause Reflection Booklet.

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Welcome to FELC

FELC Welcome Statement

Welcome to First English Lutheran Church (FELC). We are a congregation of the Southwestern Texas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

You’re invited to fully participate in a community of faith and friendship that gathers for worship, relationship building, personal growth, and service in the community and the world. Following the example of Christ, this congregation welcomes you exactly as you are.

We are committed to the work of racial equity, justice, and advocating for marginalized groups. We welcome people in all places on the journey of faith and life. We celebrate differences in age, appearance, economic status, ethnic origin, nationality, race, family configuration, marital or relationship status, political leaning, religious background, and those who are differently abled physically or mentally.

Since 1989, FELC has openly welcomed persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions to full participation in the church and society.

We’re Lutheran, so that means we believe in grace for everyone. The good news of Jesus
Christ, who brings us the love and mercy of God as a gift, liberates us to love as we are loved, serve as we are served, and give as we have been given much. We rejoice in the diversity that has nurtured and enriched the whole church.

Whether you’re from another faith tradition, a seeker and questioner looking for more to life and a place to explore, or even a lifelong Lutheran, we’re glad to have you.

Information:

The FELC Reconciling in Christ Task Force, in collaboration with several ministry teams, committees, taskforces, and groups at FELC, began meeting in the Spring of 2022. A first priority was to develop a renewed statement of welcome. Reconciling Works, which sponsors the Reconciled in Christ ministry we have been part of since 1989, is asking all of its partners to review their welcome statement. Our Task Forced reviewed welcome statements from several Lutheran congregations, and reviewed our current welcome statement. A proposed statement was drafted for the church council to adopt. At the July 2022 council meeting the statement was adopted through a continuing resolution as our official welcome statement. We have begun using this prominently and continue striving to live it out faithfully.