Category: News

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Thank you! — from Vicar Wes Isberner

A Farewell Note from Vicar Wes Isberner

Dear Siblings in Christ,

I want to share a word of thanks to you all for welcoming me into the First English community this year as your vicar. To welcome a seminarian and contribute to their mentoring and formation as a church leader is no small feat, let alone doing so in conjunction with another ministry.

As all internships are, this has been a year of formative growth, deep reflection, and hopeful visioning. To become a part of a congregation as a vicar is to wade into the realities of being a pastor, both the wonderful and the painful. I have rejoiced in the many relationships I have formed and the way they have shaped my sense of leadership and call. And I give thanks for the times I have been welcomed into the mess of it all. It’s the most difficult parts of life that show how communities like First English are so vital – places that give peace, hope, care, and liberation even when the way forward is unclear.

First English has cared for, inspired, and empowered me as a candidate and helped lay another part of the foundation for my ministry. I also give thanks for the ways many of you have embraced Micah and me as a clergy couple, and supported Micah in their discernment this year. In a year full of change and challenge – for us, for the church, and for the world – it has been invaluable to be so loved by this church.

Thank you, again. I can’t wait to see how God continues to move and shape this congregation.

In Christ,

— Wes Isberner (they/them/theirs)

May 31, 2022

A note of information:

As of May 31, Wes Isberner’s internship with FELC and LuMin has concluded. If you would like to contact Wes personally, they can be reached at: wisberner@wartburgseminary.edu or by this mailing address: The Rev. Seminarian Wes Isberner, 450 Blair Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003

To read the final sermon offered from Wes on Sunday, May 29, click here.

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Farewell Potluck for Vicar Wes Isberner

Sunday, May 29 2022

Vicar Wes’ last Sunday with us will be May 29. They will preach in worship this Sunday, and we will bless them with a sending service. After worship we will have a potluck in the fellowship hall and share our appreciation for Wes’ ministry among us.

You’re invited to contribute to a cash gift to be given to Wes. You may use our online giving web page (https://www.felcaustin.org/information/giving) and enter the amount under the “Vicar and Staff Gifts” option. If you would like to write a check, please make it payable to First English Lutheran Church, and note it as “Vicar Gift.” If possible, please make your gift donation by Sunday.

Remember potlucks? It’s been a while! Bring something to share if you can, but come even if you can’t. Come enjoy the fellowship, food, and vicar sending.

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We Lament: Grief, Fear, Anger

What shall we say about these things?

There will be many ways to respond to tragedies in our communities. We must act.

In these days we grieve. In these days we are afraid. In these days we live in anger.

We gather this Sunday at 10:00 AM in person and online to do what Christian people have done for centuries: we proclaim, we sing, we pray, we commune, we are blessed. And this Sunday we give thanks for the internship of our 50th vicar, Wes Isberner, and we eat. Come. Be together.

If a prayer is helpful for you or others, here’s one. There are no right words.

Let us pray.

Holy One,

You spoke through prophets of the days when weapons of violence would be transformed into tools that brought about the food we need for life. We don’t have that imagination or hope these days. Would you receive and hold our anger, our rage, our grief? Would you, even already knowing the things that have happened in Buffalo and Laguna Woods and Newberry and Uvalde, ask us, “What things?” that we might share with you our dashed hopes and our bitter helplessness?

Would you renew our hearts and the heart of an entire nation, and rekindle among us a vision of weapons being destroyed and resources given to things which give life abundant?

Send your Spirit again, we beg, that we would listen this time, knowing that listening leads to transformation and action. May that led us to follow the command to love like Jesus, who rejected violence and showed another way – the way where we know one another as beloved.

In the name of the one we call the Prince of Peace we cry these prayers. Make us one, animated by love, like you yourself are one and you yourself are love. Amen.

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May Church Council Meeting Highlights

The FELC congregation council met for its monthly meeting on May 16. Here are some highlights from the meeting:

1. The council continued the discussion on living our strategic plan for outreach. Opportunities will be available soon for volunteers to help with immigrants and refugees in partnership with Casa Marianella.

2. Pastor Coffey’s report included: (1) Update on Sunday worship participation data, with our average total participation (in person and online) at 90. (2) Update on the progress of the capital campaign team’s work to develop a proposal. (3) Update on the formation of an LGBTQ+ ministry team and the focus on writing a statement of welcome.

3. The council discussed the transition plan to a new treasurer as Erin McCracken prepares to step down this summer.

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Church in the World: Adult Forum with Vicar Wes

Adult Forum Exploring ELCA Social Statements

Thursday, May 26 (We will not meet on May 19)

7:00 PM FELC Community Zoom

Join with Vicar Wes Isberner as we explore the ELCA Social Statements. What are social statements? What are their theological groundings? How can they apply to our lives and our life together? How can we learn and grow as a community of faith, action, and service?  This forum ends on Thursday, May 26 at 7:00 PM on FELC Community Zoom link. You are invited to join this remaining session. For more information: Vicar Wes Isberner at vicar@felcaustin.org.

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FELC Feeds 350+ UT Students

On Tuesday, May 3 young adults from FELC had a great time connecting with and serving over 350 UT students – the best hamburgers in town – for the last Tailgate Tuesdays event of the semester at UT Lutheran Campus Ministry (LuMin). Pastor Brad Fuerst and Vicar Wes Isberber have been doing this excellent ministry all year. Young adults from FELC included Colin Coffey, Nick Franke, Madeline Frommelt, and Elizabeth Zimmermann. LuMin thanks FELC for sponsoring this Tailgate Tuesday meal. Hook ‘Em!

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FELC Young Adults Service Event

Tailgate Tuesday Dinner at LuMin, May 3

Our FELC Young Adults group will be providing the Tailgate Tuesday dinner at Lutheran Campus Ministry at UT (LuMin) on May 3. Tailgate Tuesday is a ministry of LuMin providing a free dinner to UT students, serving over 300 each week.

Prep for the dinner will begin at 3 PM. Service is from 5 to 7 PM. Cleanup after that. Any young adults wanting to participate should contact Pastor Coffey and indicate what time they plan to arrive.

This will be a fun, first service event for our young adults group — more to come!

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Austin Baroque Orchestra in Concert at FELC

Saturday, April 30 at 7:30 PM

Only the best French musicians were members of the musique de chambre, Louis XIV’s personal, private retinue of musicians who performed for him in his personal chambers. Louis’s highly choreographed day was capped off by the coucher, a set of ceremonies that surrounded the king’s evening meal and bedtime. There was always music, and over the years the coucher brought together such illustrious musicians as Lully, Marais, Couperin, and Rebel. Ausitn Baroque Orchestra, with the leadership of Artistic Director Billy Traylor, recapture what a musical evening in Louis’s innermost chambers may have been like, presenting music by the king’s favorites in sets interspersed with brief readings from diaries written at Versailles during Louis’s life. Join us – it’ll be très magnifique!

For ticket information, visit: Musique pour le Coucher du Roi | Austin Baroque Orchestra & Chorus

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2022 Chicken BBQ

On Saturday afternoon, April 23, FELC friends, family, neighbors, and newcomers gathered for our longest-running social event (since 1964): our annual chicken BBQ! A menu of chicken, beans, potato salad, and tea was served to over 70 folks. Kids and parents enjoyed a visit to our neighborhood fire station, and the firefighters joined us for some BBQ. We are grateful to our crews for the leadership they offer.

BBQ Pit Masters: Randy Baden, Tim Atkinson, Derek Bridges, Joel Baden, Charlie Boas, Colin Coffey, Adam Mays, Sean Peterson, Terry Porter;

Chicken Washers: Charlie Boas, Larry Collmann, Sean Peterson;

Kitchen preparing chickens and BBQ sauce: Charlie Boas, Sean Peterson

Kitchen preparing potato salad: Trish Karli, Tessa Baden, Kate Baden VanDellan, Anne Wiebe

Kitchen preparing beans and iced tea: Nancy Baden;

Provided boiled eggs: Henri Atkinson, Fran Collmann, Merrily Porter, Barbara Wiederaenders, LaRu Woody;

Provided boiled, peeled potatoes: Betsy Appleton, Kathryn Coffey, Erin McCracken, Leigh Northcutt-Benson, Bonnie Northcutt, Elizabeth Zimmerman;

Clean-Up and Leftover: Jennifer Biggs, Kathryn Coffey, Gwen Flory, Bruce Flory, Connor Hansen;

Serving: Trish Karli, Nancy Neuse, Merrily Porter;

Live Music: Oliver Rajamani and Company.

Our profound thanks to Randy Baden (CEO) and Terry Porter (GC)!

See more photos on the First English Lutheran Church Austin Texas Factbook page

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Holy Week & Easter Day @ FELC

What a joy to celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. We invite you to view our First English Lutheran Austin Texas Facebook page for more scenes from Holy Week & Easter Day. Hundreds of folks gathered online and onsite from Palm Sunday through Easter Day. Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!