First English Lutheran Church | Austin, Texas
God Loves. We Love. Everyone!
Our Chapel of the Saints now includes saints icons by artist Kelly Latimore. Using FELC memorial funds, we purchased sixteen icons of diverse saints ancient and contemporary. Eight of the icons are now installed in the Chapel of the Saints. Eight more are installed in the hallway outside the north transept entrance. The icons will be rotated into the Chapel of the Saints.
You can see all sixteen saints icons here.
“I have been pondering for a long time how to write a theology that does not make use of the ancient Greek metaphysical assumptions that undergird the Christian dogmatic tradition. There’s nothing wrong with that tradition, but those assumptions are not necessary to faithfully express our faith.
As I work on giving this theology content, I invite you to join me for a series of adult forums as I explore with you how our Christian faith can be expressed in a way that is meaningful, active, and faithful. Your thoughts and questions will help shape my work and will give me much needed insight.
While we will touch on some philosophical and theological big ideas, we won’t spend too much time on those. Rather, we will explore what it means to live our Christian faith as we experience God on the way with Jesus.
I hope you’ll consider joining me as we explore this topic together and offer your feedback to help guide me in this writing project.” — Pastor Michael Coffey
Find forum materials at the links below:
One Year to Live is NOT your typical men’s retreat!
Developed by LMM in partnership with Lyman Coleman, pioneer of small group ministry, and CEO and founder of Serendipity Publishing House, the One Year to Live retreat is designed to be a life changing, lay led event. Join men from around the area October 21, 22, 23 at Camp Chrysalis in Kerrville, Texas. For retreat information and to register soon, visit this brochure or contact FELC member Andy MacLaren at andrew.maclaren@lpl.com or 512-947-4186.
Welcome to First English Lutheran Church. 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:
Our new LGBTQ+ Ministries 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.
Following the January 23rd meeting of the FELC Racial Justice Action Group, a small subset team was formed to do a focused evaluation of the ‘whiteness’ of First English Lutheran Church and seek meaningful ways in which this church can strive for and embody both strategic and authentic diversity of many forms. Members of the team include Nancy Baden, Erin McCracken, Bryan Rust, Cassi Smith, and Barbara Wiederanders. Over these months, the team began reviewing the extent to which the current community and culture of FELC enables, inhibits, and reflects authentic diversity. The team compiled a report including meaningful recommended actions for strategic and authentic diversity. Team members present conversation pieces during Sunday worship in Temple Talks on July 17, July 31, and August 14, and the report to the church council at its August meeting.
We give thanks with Michele Hockett Copper and Brendan Cooper and big brother Jesse on the arrival of Sal Tyler Cooper on Saturday evening, July 16. All are reported to be happy and healthy! Can’t wait to meet you, Sal! Welcome!
The FELC Church Council met on July 18 on Zoom. Here are some highlights from the meeting:
Since July 19, 1936 we have shared the love and mercy of Jesus Christ through the witness of First English Evangelical Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas. We give thanks to God for all the saints who have and continue to shape the character, worship, proclamation, learning, engagement, witness, benevolence, and volunteer action of FELC for 86 years strong. On Sunday, July 17 we celebrated with festive worship & hospitality. We welcomed the Rev. Robert Karli as our guest preacher. Bob Karli served as the fourth pastor of FELC from 1984-2007.
To watch Pastor Karli’s anniversary sermon, visit here on YouTube. The sermon begins at 23:17.
For historical information about our church and our mission and life, visit here
“We all know the church is not a building, it is people. People helping and loving other people in the name of Christ.”
The Rev. Doris Gurst Williams Dupree Harris died July 8, 2022. Born on March 5, 1949 in Biloxi, Mississippi and studying at the University of Minnesota, Pastor Harris was the first Black female pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to serve in Texas. Most of her ministry occurred in the Dallas area. Pastor Harris served her seminary internship year at St. John’s / San Juan Lutheran Church in Austin. She became the first Black female to attend clergy, conference, and youth meetings in Texas. Pastor Harris is survived by numerous family, friends, and colleagues. Her funeral liturgy will be celebrated on Thursday, July 21 at 11:00 AM at New Life in Christ Lutheran Church in Duncanville, Texas. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gives thanks for the ministry and faithful witness of Doris Harris.
More/Mas, Better/Mejor, Together/Juntos
On Sunday, July 10, we welcomed the Rev. T. Carlos (Tim) Anderson as our guest preacher. Pastor Tim is the Director of Community Development for Austin City Lutherans (the “other” ACL). For more information on ACL’s ministry, including Bread for All food pantry, Mariposa Family Learning Center, and supporting homeless neighbors in transition, visit breadforall-atx.org. You can also find more information about ACL’s comprehensive strategy on combating and preventing homeless in Austin—and how to be involved! FELC is an active participant in ACL since 2011. Click here to watch the gospel story and Pastor Tim’s sermon from Sunday, beginning at 15.00.