Author: FELC Office

From the Treasurer

FELC Members and Friends,

Here’s an update on the church’s finances as of November 30, 2021:

Operating income fell short of operating expenses for the month of November by $643.49. The church’s year-to-date deficit is now $-(4,125.28).

We hope that December’s income will exceed expenses enough to overcome this deficit and also build a surplus for the end of the year. Any operating income received in December over and above operating expenses will be surplus and will be allocated in the following way:50% to the Southwestern Texas Synod; 25% to the Benevolence Pool (Micah 6 and Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center); and 25% to savings (the emergency borrowing fund).

Operating Income/Expenses Snapshot:

	In the Month of November	Actual Year-to-date	Budgeted Year-to-date
Total Operating Income	$26,332.12	$282,839.64	$337,500.00
Total Non-Contingent Operating Expenses	$26,975.61	$286,263.36	$329,645.00
Total Contingent Operating Expenses (Synod, Benevolence, Savings)	$0.00	$701.56	$7,857.00
Net Income (Loss)	$-(643.49)	$-(4,125.28)	$-(2.00)

Monthly Giving Income* Snapshot:

	Jan	Feb	Mar (Q1)	Apr	May	Jun (Q2)
Unified, Current, & Benevolent Income (Giving income)*	$16,547.41	$26,668.38	$28,220.38	$22,508.38	$27,110.38	23,913.38
July	August	Sept (Q3)	Oct	Nov	Dec (Q4)
$24,989.69	$37,042.38	$21,855.38	$21,248.38	$24,981.38

*Our monthly budget for giving income is $26,250.

With gratitude,

Erin McCracken

FELC Treasurer

We are grateful for your year-end contributions and your support of the church all year. December is usually our biggest month for income because of your generosity. Any year-end financial contributions received in the Sunday offering on December 26th and postmarked or received online by Friday, December 31st will be processed for this calendar year. Thank you for helping us end the year on a strong financial note.

January 5 and 6

Epiphany is a traditional time for blessing of the home with readings, prayer, and chalking above the entrance to the home with a blessing for the year. As the magi visited the home of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus and brought gifts and blessings, we bless homes in the name of Christ.

On January 5 Pastor Coffey will visit homes south of FELC, and on January 6 he will visit homes north of FELC. If you would like Pastor Coffey to come to your home and bring an Epiphany house blessing, you may email him (pastor@felcaustin.org) to request being added to the list. Approximate times will be sent out once the schedule is complete. Blessings are performed outside at the front door. You need not be present to have your home blessed.

Plans are being made for adult forum topics and schedules for 2022. This fall we began offering adult forums on weekday evenings rather than Sunday mornings. Participation has been good. This survey is a chance for you to let Pastor Coffey know what schedule, format, and topics are of interest to you.

Submissions will be accepted through January 6, 2022.

Sorry, but this form is no longer accepting submissions.

Sunday, December 26 at 10 AM

The Christmas season lasts for twelve days. Come enjoy the Lessons and Carols service as we continue to ponder, sing, and celebrate the good news of the birth of Jesus. Join us in person and on livestream.

An Invitation from Pastor Coffey

This has been canceled due to scheduling issues for Devil Dog Coffee.

On January 16 we will host our first hospitality after worship with members of Vision of Hope AME Church joining us. To help celebrate, I am sponsoring the coffee for the day with the help of my friend, Eric Gates.

Eric is the founder of Devil Dog Coffee Company in Austin. “Devil Dog” is a nickname for the Marines. Eric is a former Marine, a former Austin police officer, and a current pastor in the Disciples Church, in addition to running his coffee business. Here’s his brief bio from his web site:

Eric lives life serving others. From his time in the Marine Corps as a Reconnaissance Marine to a nine year stint as an Austin Police officer, Eric is proud to have helped others. Today, as the owner of Devil Dog Coffee Company and being a person in recovery, the calling to make a positive impact in our communities and helping others still resonates. Eric works hard to provide products that not only taste good, but also do good. His mission is using Devil Dog coffee to bring people together to foster deeper and more meaningful relationships.

https://devildogcoffeecompany.com/pages/about-us

On Sunday, January 16 Eric is going to bring his Devil Dog coffee truck to FELC. The first 50 drinks are on me! He’ll park in front of the sanctuary and serve drinks from 9:30 to 10:00, and 11:00 to 12:00. If bad weather forces hospitality indoors that day, he will park the truck in our parking lot near the fellowship hall entrance. In addition to a variety of coffee drinks, Eric offers hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and Kool-Aid drinks.

I hope to see you January 16 as we welcome the people of Vision of Hope among us.

One Service at 9 PM

This year we will have a single Christmas Eve service at 9 PM. Come and celebrate the birth of Christ through singing, prayer, communion, and candle light. This service will be in person and on livestream.

Prelude music will begin at 8:45 PM. Special music will be offered throughout the service.

We have seen continued attempts from spammers to send emails to church members appearing to be from Pastor Coffey but using a different email address. These often end up leading to an odd request about donating gift cards or needing help in an emergency. This is happening to many churches all over the nation.

Sometimes the email address looks like the correct one, but has a “@gmail.com” domain, or some other email service. All emails from the church come from the “@felcaustin.org” domain. We will never send emails requesting you to send gift cards or other unusual forms of donation. If you ever have questions about an unusual or suspicious email, do not respond to the email. Instead, please contact Pastor Coffey directly by phone or using the correct email address: pastor@felcaustin.org

From the Pastor

Vision of Hope African Methodist Episcopal Church recently sold their two properties in Austin. They have purchased land in Manor and are developing plans to build. A few months ago, Rev. Regina Earls reached out to me to see if I had any ideas of places where they could temporarily gather for worship. I said I would ask around. I also said maybe we could work something out at FELC. After pondering ideas of how such an arrangement could work well for both congregations, the leadership of VOH and FELC have agreed to have VOH worship at FELC on the first and third Sundays of the month starting at Noon, beginning January 2.

Our two congregations began an intentional relationship with each other immediately following the horrific murders of 9 members of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015. Both communities have rejoiced in sharing this fellowship, welcomed one another, learned from each other, and hoped for even more to come in our relationship. I am grateful that we now have the chance to build on a solid foundation.

One way we can make the most of this opportunity is to gather together during our hospitality. For FELC this happens after worship, and for VOH it will be before worship. It will be a wonderful time to visit, connect, and build relationships in the spirit of our shared faith. Beginning with hospitality on January 16, we will invite the participants of VOH to join us at 11:15. On the same day we plan to have each other’s pastors visit the other’s worship service.

In addition to hospitality, we will have opportunities to attend each other’s worship services, and work on other shared ministry ideas. I for one am looking forward to enjoying the gathering music as VOH begins their worship services – they have a wonderful band and choir.

Rejoice with me that we have been led into this blessed fellowship and unique opportunity by the Spirit that makes us one in Christ Jesus.

Peace,

Michael Coffey