Category: News

n the bible readings for Sunday, the prophet Jeremiah speaks of his suffering. He finds God’s words the delight of his heart. When Peter doesn’t grasp Jesus’ words about suffering, Jesus tells his disciples they will find their lives in losing them. These stories tell that sacrificial love is costly, challenging, and also life-changing. It’s really real. We gather as a community that we might offer ourselves for the sake of God’s world. God’s word, Christ’s life, and God’s people empower us to be, and go, and do.

While June is worldwide Pride Month, this year FELC celebrates Pride on Sunday, August 23 during worship and hospitality! The Austin community holds its celebrations and parade on Saturday, August 22. As followers of Jesus, we extend God’s welcome to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. We value diversity, including sexuality, gender, and expression, and we welcome it as a spiritual gift. We aspire to create an inclusive and affirming community, and work for LGBTQIA+ justice and equity. We’ve been doing this work of reconciliation through FELC since 1989. Each person is sacred and valued. We are proud. And, we have even more to learn from one another. God loves. We Love. Everyone!

Mary is perhaps the most fascinating person in the Bible for us to listen to and think about. Mary’s role is not only about giving birth to Jesus and the importance of mothering him in his childhood. In John’s gospel, she is among the women standing near the cross; in Acts, she is among the disciples awaiting the gift of the Spirit. The church (including Martin Luther) honors Mary with the title theotokos, meaning “God-bearer,” for her role in giving birth to the Child of God. Through all that happened, Mary continued to see how God was at work in Jesus, keeping the ancient promises to her ancestors, calling the powerful to account, and focusing on those as powerless as Mary in her time. August 15 was set as the Assumption of Mary, because of the early church’s understandings that Mary was “assumed” to heaven. As Lutherans, we honor Mary, her being, her humility, her tenacity, her trust, and her life-long focus on Jesus, her dear boy, who is her risen Lord and ours.

Following the FELC Ministry Pause worship and sermon series, we return to the Bible readings proclaimed each week in most Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches (and others). This Sunday, the Hebrew bible story tells of Elijah finding the presence of God not in earthquake, wind, or fire, but in the sound of silence. When the first disciples of Jesus face a great storm on the sea, they cry out with fear. Jesus says: “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Amid the storms of life, we gather to seek the calm presence of Christ that soothes our fears. In comforting words of scripture, the refreshing bread and cup of the eucharist, and in the gathering of one another, God grants us peace, calling us to BE the presence of Christ’s mercy and justice in the world.

Since July 19, 1936, we have offered vibrant, life-giving ministry in Austin as First English Evangelical Lutheran Church. We give thanks to God for all the saints who have and continue to shape the welcome, character, ministry, worship, learning, engagement, and outreach of FELC for 90 plus years strong and counting. We celebrate God’s faithfulness!

May 31 – July 26 | Worship & Sermon Series: Tending What Has Been Entrusted

Week 9 Theme: Returning to Community

May 31 – July 26 | Worship & Sermon Series: Tending What Has Been Entrusted

Week 8 Theme: What we treasure shapes our direction

May 31 – July 26 | Worship & Sermon Series: Tending What Has Been Entrusted

Week 7 Theme: Christ is revealed as we begin to see clearly

May 31 – July 26 | Worship & Sermon Series: Tending What Has Been Entrusted

Week 6 Theme: Faith requires movement in the presence of uncertainty

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May 31 – July 26 | Worship & Sermon Series: Tending What Has Been Entrusted

Week 5 Theme: The shape of our life reflects God’s mercy