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

Week Two Theme: God sustains us in the midst of strain

Tending What Has Been Entrusted

May 31-July 26 | A Worship & Sermon Series

Week One Theme: Something must die for something new to live

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.

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.

The Easter season concludes on the fiftieth day of the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. Pentecost comes from the Greek, pentekoste, “fiftieth” and it refers to the festival celebrated on the fiftieth day after Passover, also known as the “Feast of Weeks” and the “Feast of 50 days” in rabbinic tradition. Easter is the time of greatest joy as we’ve gathered in the good news of God’s victory over death and God’s power to renew our lives. Today we celebrate the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The primary color of red on this day symbolizes the fire and power of that Spirit in the Church and in the world. We rejoice with Hadley Fuerst as she affirms her baptism through the Church’s gift of confirmation. Come, Holy Spirit!

As we enter the final week of the fifty days of Easter, we engage a potentially unsettling Bible story: Jesus ascends into heaven forty days after his resurrection from the dead. Yet, his followers are assured that the Spirit will empower them to be witnesses throughout the earth. The disciples were told to not gaze up into heaven to look for Jesus. On this Ascension celebration, one of the major feasts of the Church, we find Christ’s presence among us as we proclaim the word and share the Easter feast. From that feast we go to live abundantly, to commit to acts of service and care, and to love freely. This Easter faith is active and real. We long for the Spirit to invigorate God’s mission in us. Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! We welcome Leigh Northcutt-Benson, president of the congregation, as our preacher this Sunday.

Join Austin Cantorum at FELC exploring choral music that celebrates regional cuisine, reflects on the nature of hunger, and examines what it means to have a purposeful relationship with the food we eat. Two universal languages: music and food (!) with a non-perishable canned food drive to benefit the Central Texas Food Bank. Admission is FREE; suggested donation of $25. RSVP today at AustinCantorum.com.

 As we enter the final weeks of the Easter season, Jesus does not abandon his followers. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus comes to abide with his disciples of every generation. As Pentecost draws near, we are reminded that the risen Christ dwells in us as the Spirit. We receive this Spirit and pray that in our gathering around the Lord’s table the Spirit will transform us to be the body of the risen Christ in the world. Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
 

As we continue to celebrate the fifty days of Easter, the gospel story this week includes Jesus’ promise that he goes to prepare a place in his Father’s house. We are called to share Jesus’ mission in the world. We are called to proclaim the one who called us out of the shadows into the fullness of light. In words and deeds or service, healing, and justice-making we bear witness to the risen Christ—who is our way, and truth, and life. Today we welcome new members to this congregation community. Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

This Sunday is called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Jesus is called the “gate” of the sheep in the gospel story. The risen Christ is abundant life now. Christ anoints our heads with oil and guides us beside the waters of our baptism. Each Sunday Christ spreads a feast before us amid the world’s violence and war. We live as signs of the resurrection and extend God’s tender care in all creation. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!