Author: FELC Office

On Pentecost Sunday, June 5, the Spirit of God was among those gathered with First English Lutheran Church. The FELC Racial Justice Task Force (RJTF) hosted a festive hospitality and celebration as we learned more about supporting the educational programs of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). One of the HBCU’s is right here in Austin – Huston-Tillotson University. We also gave thanks for the witness of beloved FELC members Mrs. Zeta and Dr. Mel Sikes, both of whom benefited from HBCU’s. We learned about our connections with the Sikes legacy, HBCU’s, and heard from several speakers, including Pastor Regina Earls of Vision of Hope African Methodist Episcopal Church, our partner in ministry. Pastor Earls is a graduate of an HBCU. We also viewed a new lending library with racial justice books and other materials that will be part of our onsite FELC Second Readings Library.

We are invited to directly support Huston-Tillotson University, and we encourage you to invest now at: www.htu.edu Donor cards and pre-addressed envelopes are also available in the sanctuary and during Sunday morning hospitality time.

Our thanks to the RJTF for hosting this celebration, especially to Fred Woody for his excellent and caring leadership of this event.

For more information on advancing racial justice through FELC, contact: Barbara Schutz 512 694 6916; Barbara Wiederaenders 512 451 0684; Mari Ward 979 209 4527; Charlotte Gilman 512 332 6102; Derek Bridges 512 671 0918.  Visit: www.felcaustin.org/ministries/racial-justice

A Meditation on Psalm 77 after Uvalde from Pastor Michael Coffey

I have written a new blog post and I invite you to read it here:

http://www.ocotillopub.org/2022/05/refusing-to-be-comforted-meditation-on.html

— Pastor Michael Coffey

Advancing Racial Justice

Celebrating Zeta and Mel Sikes & HBCU’s: Pentecost Sunday, June 5 at 11:15 am

On Pentecost Sunday, June 5, the Racial Justice Team hosts a celebration in the Fellowship Hall during the “Hospitality Time” between the FELC and Vision of Hope African American Episcopal Church services. The focus will be on supporting the educational programs of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). During the celebration we will be honoring the memory of Zeta & Dr. Mel Sikes, both of whom were alumni of HBCU’s, and members of FELC. 

AND, follow this link for several upcoming ways to learn, advocate, and serve as we strive for racial justice: www.felcaustin.org/ministries/racial-justice

“During the last five weeks of this Spring, I facilitated an adult forum on the ELCA’s Social Statements – teaching documents which help churches facilitate conversation around vital social issues. Weekly, we gathered via Community Zoom to wade into another topic – discussing the death penalty, sexism, human sexuality, and the criminal justice system. These were not easy conversations as many held strong beliefs or had personal experience with these topics. Not only that, but we found ourselves in a time when heartbreak and suffering seemed the daily routine. It felt like we were carrying a new pain or injustice into the space each week. And yet, our brave conversation partners were able to create a space of vulnerability and openness. We held space for each other, leaned into our traditions of confession and lament, and wondered together about the needs of the church, the neighbor, and the world. Through these practices, we began to think more deeply about what it means to be a church who hears the cries of the suffering and responds in faith. It was an honor to co-create these moments of reflection and wonder with all who joined, and I know I will be carrying many of our insights and questions into my future ministry.

Folks also requested the PowerPoint be added to the website, so that PDF is attached.

2022 ELCA Social Statements Adult Forum

In Christ,

— 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.

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.

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.

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!