Category: News

Forty days after the birth of Jesus we mark the day Mary and Joseph presented him in the temple in accordance with Jewish law. There they were greeted by Simeon, an aged priest who offered the song “Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace,” as well as by the prophet Anna, who proclaimed the redemption of ancient Israel. The Presentation of our Lord is referred to in some corners of the Church as Candlemas because of an ancient tradition of blessing candles used in the church and in the home in the coming year during that Mass. It is a way of underscoring the truth of Simeon’s confession that Jesus was “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” and a light for glory to Israel. Let the light of every candle be a little epiphany of the love of God for all people in the person of Jesus, the light of the world.

On Sunday, January 26, we commemorate the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), pastor, renewer of society, and martyr.  An American prophet of justice among races and nations, Pastor King was an ordained minister in the Baptist tradition, a leader of the nonviolent resistance to race-segregated society, and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Join us at the next Community Madrigal Sing at FELC on Monday February 3 at 7:00 pm, hosted by Texas Early Music Project! TEMP is a long-standing community music partner. Sing madrigals together with other early music buffs; no experience is required for this “TEMP-orary choir” – just a love of singing madrigals!  This event is pay-what-you-can, but we are requesting a suggested donation of $20 per person with a minimum entry of $10 to cover expenses. PDFs of the sheet music will be provided in advance to those who request it, but studying is NOT required – you can just show up and sing if that’s more your style! If you have any beloved madrigals that you’ve been dying to belt out in a communal setting, we’re all ears.  Email your suggestions to admin@early-music.org.  (We make no promises, but we’ll see what we can do!)  And don’t forget to RSVP to secure your spot! See and hear you on Monday, February 3 at 7:00 pm.

Austin City Lutheran’s Move-In Ministry capped off 2024 by serving 114 individuals and families with furniture and household items. Thank you to so many for your collaboration in this effort in Christ’s name to make our Austin community a better place to live. To learn more, visit the ACL website: www.breadforall-atx.org.

Pastor Tim Anderson, Director of ACL

On Sunday, Feb. 9, 1:00-3:00 PM, we will meet at the home of Kathleen and Charlie Boas for a potluck lunch and discussion of Translation State, by Ann Leckie. Translation State is available from Austin Public Library, Amazon, and Bookfinder.

Here’s the summary from amazon.com:

Qven was created to be a Presger translator. The pride of their Clade, they always had a clear path before them: learn human ways, and eventually, make a match and serve as an intermediary between the dangerous alien Presger and the human worlds. The realization that they might want something else isn’t “optimal behavior.” It’s the type of behavior that results in elimination. But Qven rebels and their path collides with those of two others: Enae, a reluctant diplomat whose dead grandmaman has left the task of hunting down a fugitive who has been missing for over 200 years; and Reet, an adopted mechanic who is desperate to learn anything that might explain why he operates so differently from those around him.As a Conclave of the various species approaches—and the long-standing treaty between the humans and the Presger is on the line—the decisions of all three will have ripple effects across the stars.  Merging space adventure and mystery and a poignant exploration about relationships and belonging, Translation State is a triumphant new standalone story set in the celebrated Imperial Radch universe.

On Saturday, January 18, Wesley Joy Isberner, 50th vicar/intern pastor of FELC (2021-2022), was ordained to the ministry of word and sacrament in Christ’s one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Pastor Wes is called to serve with the people of Spirit Alive! Lutheran in Kenosha, WI. They were ordained at Bethany Lutheran, Wisconsin Dells, WI by Bishop Paul Erickson of the Greater Milwaukee Synod and Bishop Felix Malpica of the La Crosse Area Synod. May God continue to bless the ministry and witness of Wes. If you’d like to acknowledge Pastor Wes, please contact the church office for their mailing address.

On Sunday, January 19, Adult Faith Formation will be an exploration of Climate Change and Tropical Diseases, led by Kristin Mondy, 9 am in the Parlor.

January 19 (the third Sunday of the month) is also our Intergenerational Faith Formation time. We will be making a trip out to Fortlandia at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and enjoy a potluck picnic (after the Austin International Half Marathon traffic should be cleared out). Please contact Betsy Appleton with a family headcount for tickets. 

Epiphany (a Greek word meaning “to reveal”) is the celebration of God being revealed the Christ to the magi from the east, and all the ways that God’s light in manifest in love and mercy among us. It is celebrated on January 6. The Sunday after Epiphany is a celebration of the Baptism of Our Lord, when we share the story of the voice from heaven revealing Jesus to be God’s chosen one. Sundays after the Baptism of Our Lord continue with the theme of ways God’s healing and transforming love are made visible in Jesus’ life, culminating with the story of the Transfiguration on a mountaintop. The length of this season varies depending on the date for Easter Day, this year April 20, which determines the beginning of Lent, Ash Wednesday, March 5.

Tuesday, Jan. 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free, online event presented by the ELCA in partnership with Augsburg Fortress Publishers, featuring worship, workshops, music and guided reflection while centering the voices of ELCA leaders of color. This event is designed to raise awareness of the need for racial healing and to inspire collective action toward building common ground for a more just and equitable world. Visit https://dayofracialhealing.org/ to register.

Worship at 10 am | onsite and online

During Epiphany Lesson & Carols we celebrate the three manifestations, or “epiphanies,” of Jesus’ humanity and divinity. These showings of Christ’s birth are: the coming of the Magi, Christ’s baptism, and the Wedding at Cana where he changed water into wine. This day was called “The Feast of Lights.” We will mark our main entrance as we seek God’s blessing for a new year, renew our baptismal promises, and remember God’s miraculous love in the feast of bread and wine.