First English Lutheran Church | Austin, Texas
God Loves. We Love. Everyone!
Travis County is still in Stage 5 Covid-19 restrictions, so we will not have the annual Fastnacht event this year. We will have Ash Wednesday evening worship on March 2 at 7 PM.
The annual meeting of the congregation was held on Sunday, January 30, 2022 at 12:30 PM on Zoom. Thirty-five voting members were in attendance, meeting the quorum requirement of 19.
Highlights of the presentations and actions taken include:
All documents relating to the annual meeting are available here.
During the annual meeting we enjoyed a video slideshow of highlights for 2021. The video is available on our YouTube channel here:
Carl Jung was the pioneer of analytical psychology. He diverged from some of Freud’s assumptions about the human psyche and focused on archetypes, religion, aspirations, the unconscious, dreams, the shadow self, and seeking wholeness. Much of Jung’s work has been influential in Christian spirituality in the past century.
Pastor Coffey presented on numerous aspects of analytical psychology and Christian spirituality. Participants explored how Jung’s work may be helpful in understanding one’s own faith, experience, and history.
The 3M half marathon returns to Austin this week. Access to the church is only restricted from 45th Street north and from Duval Street east. You can easily get to FELC by exiting MoPac at Westover or 38th Street, and by taking Lamar or Guadalupe beginning south of 11th Street.
More informatoin about the race course can be found here: https://downhilltodowntown.com/course-elevation/
The congregation council has set the annual meeting of First English Lutheran Church for Sunday, January 30, 2022 at 12:30 PM. Due to increased Covid-19 precautions the annual meeting will be on Zoom only using the FELC Community Zoom meeting. We will worship together at 10:00 AM. The meeting will begin at 12:30 PM to allow time for those attending Sunday worship in person to return home and join on Zoom.
We look forward to gathering together.
Documents for the annual meeting can be found here.
The FELC Community Zoom meeting link is available at the end of each weekly email news.
The recent adult forum survey results are in. Out of 13 responses, 3 favored Sunday morning and the rest favored weekday evenings. Out of the weekday evening choices, Wednesday was the most popular. Results showed a broad interest in types of topics. Thank you to everyone who responded.
Given the preference for Wednesday evenings, and the current surge in Covid-19 infections, we will continue to have adult forums on Wednesday evenings at 7 PM on Zoom only for the time being. Join Pastor Coffey for his next adult forum topic, Carl Jung and Christian Spirituality, beginning Wednesday, January 19 at 7 PM.
Pastor Michael Coffey wrote a blog article on the significance of January 6 in the church’s calendar and how the meaning of it has been affected by the insurrection of 2021. You can read the article here: http://www.ocotillopub.org/2022/01/reclaiming-january-6.html
Sunday, January 9 we welcome home to FELC Bryan Rust, our director of music. Bryan has been on sabbatical since October 18, 2021. Gather for worship at 10:00 am this Sunday, share in Bryan’s musical leadership as we sing together, and, following a special postlude, greet Bryan during hospitality time after worship. Bryan also resumes his role as FELC office administrator this week. Hope to see you in person or online this Sunday morning.
A note: Bryan has returned to nearly 2,000 emails. If you communicated with Bryan by email during his sabbatical, and you want him to know about it, please email him again. Thanks for your understanding.
God of all time, help us enter the New Year quietly,
thoughtful of who we are to ourselves and to others,
mindful that our steps make an impact
and our words carry power.
May we walk gently.
May we speak only after we have listened well.
Creator of all life,
help us enter the New Year reverently,
aware that you have endowed
every creature and plant, every person and habitat
with beauty and purpose.
May we regard the world with tenderness.
May we honor rather than destroy.
Lower of all souls,
help us enter the New Year joyfully,
willing to laugh and dance and dream,
remembering our many gifts with thanks
and looking forward to blessings yet to come.
May we welcome your lavish love.
In this new year, may the grace and peace of Christ bless us now and in the days ahead.
– Vinita Hampton Wright