First English Lutheran Church | Austin, Texas
God Loves. We Love. Everyone!
Especially to honor Mary and baby Jesus, in this Advent season!
Austin Diaper Bank says they are looking for any of the following:
There is a big box in the Fellowship Hall to collect donations, now through Nov. 19.
THANK YOU!
(Daylight Savings Time ends Nov. 4)
Sunday, November 5, we celebrate the Feast of All Saints (November 1), a time to remember and give thanks for saints near and far, famous and familiar only to us, those who died long ago, those we have lost recently. As part of the observance we will read the names of those from FELC who have died during the past year. We invite and encourage everyone to bring photos, drawings, and/or mementos to place on our sacred space of remembrance in the Chapel of the Saints, and to write the names of anyone who has died in the past year in the Book of the Dead.
At the festival of the Reformation we celebrate the heart of our faith: the gospel of Christ—the good news—that makes us free-free to live God’s love fully. By the end of the seventeenth century, many Lutheran churches celebrated a festival commemorating All Hallows Eve, October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther posted his Ninety-five Theses in Wittenberg, Germany. These were a summary of abuses in the church of his time, and his call to action. We pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to re-form and empower the whole church in this age and in this place in our witness of love, justice, healing, and joy. The church color associated with the Holy Spirit is red, and we invite you to wear some red on that Sunday.
On October 4th, five of our Siblings joined Pastor J in attending SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity, and [gender] expression) education with ReconcilingWorks. It was a marvelous gathering opportunity with the Director of ReconcilingWorks, Aubrey Thonvold, and some Siblings from around the country to explore the ministry of hospitality as it relates to intention and sharing love for Siblings that are living in a different space on the spectrum of humanity than I, or you, or we, might be! Pastor J will be looking at additional opportunities to engage you in this educational experience and we’re looking ahead at our next community education time: November 4, 2023, 11AM to 3:30PM:Building an Inclusive Church. The registration cost is $75; please reach out to Pastor J if you would like financial assistance to attend. See the group’s reflections on our time together here.
The FELC annual Oktoberfest returns on Sunday, October 29 starting at 5:00 PM at the FELC parking lot and fellowship hall. We’ll celebrate the fall, our founding heritages, and our community of faith.
The cooks will provide brats with brotchen and schnitzel. We’ll also enjoy the sides that you choose to bring! If you’d like to let Randy know what you’re bringing, that would be great. A Karlihaus brew will also be on site; feel free to bring your favorite beverage. Let Randy know if you’re coming (towbarcity@yahoo.com); it’d be nice to have a head-count for purchasing purposes. See you there!
Create a better world through contemplative activism! Please join The 787 Collective of Education Beyond the Walls at Austin Seminary in partnership with Austin non-profit Six Square for an in-person workshop on the sacred practice of creatio divina. This workshop offers attendees tools for integrating spiritual care with anti-racism advocacy. Haitian-American multi-disciplinary artist Carmelle Beaugelin Caldwell will guide lay and clergy faith leaders, activists, community leaders, social justice advocates, entrepreneurs, artists, and seminarians in somatic exercise, art-making, and reflection to deepen relationship with self, community, and the Divine. Each attendee will leave feeling refreshed and equipped to share practices for spiritual renewal and contemplative activism with their respective communities. Best of all, registration supports a worthy cause: your donation will benefit Six Square’s mission to preserve Austin’s Black Cultural District. Read more about the mission, vision, and history of Six Square here. Attendees will receive continental breakfast, refreshments, and Creatio Divina art kits.
IN PERSON
Space is limited. Registration closes at 5:00 p.m. on October 6.
Date: October 14, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Wright Hall, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Audience: Lay and clergy faith leaders, community leaders, social justice advocates/activists, entrepreneurs, artists, congregations, and seminarians.
Cost: Make a tangible step toward change. Because this workshop encourages attendees to practice anti-racism, we invite you to join us in donating $15, $30, or $50 to Austin non-profit Six Square. Your donation will directly support Six Square’s mission to promote and preserve African American cultural heritage in Austin through a variety of initiatives, including educational programs, community events, and preservation efforts of historic sites. As you complete your registration, simply choose the donation amount that feels right for you and follow the easy steps to complete your transaction securely. Your donation will not only help to preserve African American cultural heritage in Austin for generations to come, but it will also make a statement that you stand with us in supporting diversity and inclusion in our community.
Day-of Schedule:
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. — Continental Breakfast
9:30 a.m. – Noon — Workshop and Six Square Presentation
Noon – 1:00 p.m. — Optional Networking Hour
More information here.
Join us in the parlor on Sunday, September 24, during hospitality time to make cards for our transgender and LGBTQ+ siblings. Several of us from FELC participated in a God’s Work, Our Hands event with Technicolor Ministries doing this and we had so much fun that we thought it would be great to do it again as a group after church. We will have cards for you to color and sign along with markers and colored pencils. Please join us for a few minutes after church on the 24th. If you have any questions, please contact Claudia Barlow at capbarlow@gmail.com.
As we welcome and celebrate the reopening of the First English Lutheran Child Development Center (FELCDC) this week (21Aug: and in thanksgiving for the Director and CDC Board’s investment of time and management) we also want to uplift the safety of our youngest friends in the CDC. We want to let everyone know that we can’t wander through the church building/campus while the Center is operating. Doors from the kitchen to the Fellowship Hall and from the Parlor to the Fellowship Hall are locked, Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM. You are welcome to come to the office by way of the Parish House entrance on Whitis Avenue. While it’s always a good idea to schedule gathering space with our spiritual, worship, and administrative staff, we’re typically on site, together, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, weekly should something come up with which we can offer partnership. 512-478-1933 | Pastor: pastor@felcaustin.org | Office Manager: office@felcaustin.org | Music Director: music@felcaustin.org
The FELC Racial Justice Action Team has spent many months studying and discussing the state of racial injustice in our country. Our conclusion is that the most effective action that we can take is to VOTE! And to encourage others to vote. We have chosen to partner with the Progressive Turnout Project Initiative and 5,000+ other Americans in sending out voting reminder postcards to registered voters before the November elections. On each Sunday in September during hospitality you are invited to join us in this effort by addressing postcards from a list provided to us. Please plan to spend a few minutes with us each week to get this important work done!
Last Sunday there was a wonderful group of people who gathered to work on this project during hospitality after worship! 100 postcards were addressed! We will be back at it again this coming Sunday and invite you to join us!
On Sunday, October 1, 2023 everyone is invited to bring their leashed, caged, and contained pets for a blessing of the animals, a St. Francis Feast Day* tradition. Our worship service will be inside the sanctuary and online at 10:00 AM. Join together for a family and animal friendly experience.
Dogs, cats, frogs, gerbils, snakes, birds, and hamsters, among others, will be invited for an individual blessing. Soft animal toys, photos, and mementos will also be blessed. All animals are welcome! We will gather for hospitality after the worship service on the front porch of the church, weather permitting. We hope to meet you and our animal friends!
*Francis of Assisi, renewer of the church, died October 4, 1226
Born into the family of a wealthy merchant, Francis gave up his inheritance to serve poor people. He formed the Order of Friars Minor (called Franciscans), who took on poverty and the task of preaching “using words if necessary.” Francis had a spirit of gratitude for all of God’s creation.
