Author: FELC Office

Sunday, January 7, 2024: Sunday of the Epiphany of Our Lord at 10:00 AM

The feast of Epiphany (“manifestation”), traditionally on January 6, concludes the twelve-day Christmas season. It is a celebration of God’s glory revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. Like the light of the star that guided the magi to Jesus, the light of Christ reveals who we are: children of God who are claimed in love and called to witness to that love, invited to be beacons of God’s light.

Epiphany Day, January 6 (or another day during the season of Epiphany) offers an occasion for gathering with family, friends, and neighbors for a blessing of the home or dwelling with readings, prayer, and chalking above the entrance to the home for the year. As the magi visited the dwelling of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus and brought gifts and blessings, we bless homes in the name of Christ. 

Would you like to bless your home?

Access the Epiphany House Blessing liturgy here

“Let your grace be with us this whole year, and your peace upon all who enter here.”

On Saturday, December 23, we interred the remains of Cynthia Ann Cole Cain (1947-2020) in the Chapel of the Saints Columbarium at First English Lutheran Church. Cynthia’s family gathered for a committal service as we commended Cynthia to the everlasting love and tender mercy of God. Cynthia is survived by her husband Joe, her daughter Caroline, her step-daughter Lisa Pacheco and her husband Andrew Pacheco, her grandchildren Sara and Andrew Pacheco, her brother Tom Cole and niece Maddie Cole. The Rev. Robert Karli officiated at the committal service. All of us go down to the dust, yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia!

Many years ago, I was so honored to lead my first Advent Event, sometimes called Advent Workshop. I was very much inspired by Barbara Schutz, who had put together a marvelous Advent Event, probably about 1999. The Advent Event Barbara led was for SERVICE to others, and I thought, THAT’S IT! That’s exactly what Advent is for. We listen for God’s voice, which tells us to prepare our hearts for the Christ Child by doing service for others. In subsequent years, we did a lot of wonderful service projects in Advent Event. So many of us have wonderful memories of those events and of the good that we did. It’s the best part of the Christmas season! So, this year I was again thrilled to be asked to lead Advent Event, with the help of Betsy Appleton and Henri Atkinson of our wonderful Learning Ministry Team, as well as many others.  

We had a fantastic time at Advent Event 2023! It was lots of fun! 

We produced: Fifty bags of supplies for the houseless, 10 bags of homemade cookies for our homebound elders, many home Advent Calendars to inspire other service projects, and many beautiful Advent wreaths were made too.  So many thanks are due to the Learning Ministry committee and everyone who helped, everyone who participated, everyone who brought treats, everyone who set up and cleaned up … 

And the Diaper Drive! We prepared all of our hearts to be open and warm for the Christ Child, by generously donating diapers, wipes, and period supplies, in a wonderfully HUGE truckful for the Austin Diaper Bank! What a lovely thing! 

The long-ago helpless infant Jesus is manifest in those living among us who need our help, especially new parents and babies who benefit from our donations, as well as students in need of period supplies. “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ (Matthew 25:40)” It’s so incredible to think that, in doing this, we are doing it for the baby Jesus! 

Here’s what the Austin Diaper Bank wrote to all of us: 

Thank you for your generous donation and for being part of our community of supporters and friends here at the Austin Diaper Bank.  

We are thrilled to have your support to help families in Central Texas with diapers, wipes and period supplies. 

Please let us know if we can answer any questions about our mission or if you would like to come in for a tour of our warehouse.   

Your donation will help more than 35,000 babies and children with diapers and wipes, and more than 7,500 students with period supplies in our community. 

We did so much good! We are shining the light of Christ to the world, in our work! Our hearts are ready for the Christ Child to come in. A blessed Advent and Merry Christmas to us all! 

Anne Wiebe 

Giving in the Holy Land

Gaudete Sunday provides a break in a season of waiting, showing the nearness of the Lord’s coming. This day for the third Sunday of Advent takes its name from the scriptures and the Latin word Gaudete (“Rejoice”), the first word of the ancient opening song from 476 CE.

The spirit of the liturgy throughout Advent is one of reflection and preparation for the coming of Christ. Call it pink — or, more fittingly, rose — a traditional color on this Gaudete Sunday shows a glimpse of the joy that awaits us. The penitential nature in Advent is somewhat suspended on Gaudete Sunday, as it were, to emphasize the gladness in the promised coming of the Holy One.

As we live in joy in this season, we are also called into the full reality of our world. Today, many places and families experience conflict and violence. And this year, people in Gaza and the West Bank live this most dramatically. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us pray and work for justice and lasting peace in the land of the nativity. 

We invite you to live in solidarity with the people in the Holy Land to put your prayers for peace into action through giving directly to Lutheran World Federation. Ways to donate are at this link: Jerusalem | The Lutheran World Federation  

Visit this link for more information and resources: Resources for the Crisis in the Holy Land – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org)

 “Joy to the world…let earth receive her king.”photo: HOPE, a painting by Palestinian artist, Sliman Mansour, used as a guided meditation during the tIme of prayer during Advent worship at FELC.

Upbring is spreading Christmas cheer to over 400 Texas children through Angel Tree! We want children in our care to experience the joy and magic of Christmas morning, but we need Santa’s helper—we need you! 

Virtual Angel Tree
Nov. 1, 2023 – Dec. 8, 2023

Three Ways You Can Make a Difference!

Sponsor a Christmas Gift!

Your donation allows Upbring to purchase Christmas gifts for children and supports our programs and services year-round. 

Let’s Go Christmas Shopping!

Select a child’s wish list from our virtual Angel Tree and purchase a gift from their list. We will wrap and deliver the gift directly to the child. 

Wrap donated Christmas gifts!

We need volunteers on two days. Gift wrap location is Upbring Corporate Offices, 8305 Cross Park Dr., Austin, TX 78754.

Volunteer on November 29, 2023

Volunteer on December 12, 2023

All funds raised will support the children and families we serve through our life-changing programs including Foster In Texas (FIT), New Life Children’s Center, BeREAL, and Early Head Start (Bexar County). 

Thank you for your compassion!

P.S. Share this with your friends and colleagues, and let’s ring in the Christmas spirit for these children in need!

Dear First English,

Greetings! I am writing to share the impact of your generous donation to Eagle Pass Frontera Ministries and to ask you to give again in support of this amazing work.

This message from Emma Espino, the Mission Developer of Eagle Pass Frontera Ministries, illustrates the impact your giving has made in this last year:

“Eagle Pass Frontera Ministries and Iglesia Luterana San Lucas appreciate your prayers, immersion group visits, and financial support. With your donations, we’ve been able to address the most urgent needs of our migrant siblings by:

1. Offering spiritual sustenance through prayer and gospel reflections
2. Providing water, food, clothing, shoes, and backpacks to migrants walking the streets and those staying in partner shelters in Mexico and Eagle Pass who each serve over 300 people daily

The donations you made in our appeal also made it possible for us to purchase a new van crucial for transporting migrants to shelter, clinics, and bus terminals; delivering needed supplies to our ministry partners; and picking up food and clothes donations that allow us to stretch the impact of your support and further tend to the needs of those migrating.

With your financial support, our capacity to engage in advocacy has grown. We visited the capital multiple times during the regular legislative session to give testimony in opposition to HB7 and HB20.

We demonstrated against the use of a city park for Operation Lone Star. With new local partners, we are creating awareness about the human toll of current immigration policy by organizing monthly prayer vigils honoring lives lost in the Rio Grande river. We also received trainings as human rights promoters and have been advocating for fair laws benefiting migrants.

Without your generosity, we couldn’t sustain our ministry. Just as Jesus once fed over five thousand people (cf. Matthew 14:13-21), today, He continues to multiply through all of us, feeding His most vulnerable people. Paz y bien, Emma”

We are incredibly blessed by Emma’s servant leadership and to have such generous donors that make the work of Eagle Pass Frontera Ministry, in all its dimensions, possible. Together, we are making Christ’s love known in tangible ways on the border. I hope you will consider giving another gift this year, or become a regular giver to this vital ministry. Online gifts can be made at Give Now (onrealm.org). Checks can be mailed to Southwestern Texas Synod, 1090 Oestreich Dr. Seguin, TX 78155. Please put “Eagle Pass Frontera Ministries” in the memo line.

Sincerely,

Bishop Sue Briner

Southwestern Texas Synod, ELCA