Category: News

Adult Faith Formation | Sundays, 9:00 am in the Parlor

December 22: Advent Event Redux, led by Betsy Appleton

December 29: No Session. Thanks to all our Faith Formation leaders for an excellent year of learning!

January 5: Better Know a Ministry: Scouting, led by Charlie Boas

January 12: FELC 2025 Proposed Budget Forum, led by Joe Cain and the Finance Committee

Children’s Faith Formation | Sundays, 9:00 am in the Library

December 22: Mary Visits Elizabeth, led by Merrily Porter

December 29: No Session. Thanks to all our Faith Formation leaders for an excellent year of learning!

January 5: Jesus the Word, Contact Betsy Appleton to lead this lesson.

January 12: Jesus’ Baptism, led by Merrily Porter

Sundays in Advent | December 1, 8, 15, 22 | 10:00 am            

Onsite & YouTube livestream

Worship as we wait for the coming of Jesus

Christmas Eve with Candlelight | Tuesday, December 24 | 8:00 pm

Onsite & YouTube livestream

Holy Communion Service at 8 pm
Prelude Music begins at 7:45 pm

Sunday after Christmas Lessons & Carols | December 29 | 10:00 am

Onsite & YouTube livestream

Worship together with scripture, poetry, and music for Christmas

Epiphany Sunday | January 5, 2025 | 10:00 am

Onsite & YouTube livestream

12^th Night During the Day

Join together following worship for a festive 12^th day party!

Epiphany Lessons & Carols | Sunday, January 12 | 10 am

Onsite & YouTube livestream

Worship together with scripture, poetry, and music in this season of light.

Saturday, December 21, 6:00pm

Meet in the Fellowship Hall of First English Lutheran Church, 3001 Whitis Ave.  Enter though the door marked Fellowship Hall, or the door marked Kitchen.

Bring food you like to share, bring board games if you want, or just try one of the many games that will be available.

This is also a season of music, which means we will be sharing the church (and the parking lot) with the Austin Cantorum, who will present “Living Room Carols” starting at 7:30 pm. https://www.austincantorum.com/performances. You would actually have time to enjoy the potluck, play a quick round of Bananagrams, and still attend the concert.  Please consider parking on the street to leave space in the parking lot for the people attending the concert.

Anyone who enjoys potluck dinners and/or tabletop games is welcome….FELC members, friends from the community, friends from other faiths, and friends who do not participate in a church. All ages and abilities welcome!

In her Christmas message, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton calls our attention to the word “joy” in the angel’s proclamation to the shepherds. Watch the video here.

Book Club will meet at the home of Anne Wiebe and Vincent Hill, 1:00 pm on Sunday, January 12. We will share a potluck lunch and discuss A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear: The Utopian Plot to Liberate an American Town (And Some Bears), by Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling. Copies are available at  Austin Public Library, Amazon, and Bookfinder.

Summary: A group of libertarians launch the Free Town Project, a plan to take over an American town and eliminate its government. When they descended on Grafton NH, public funding for services went away and state and federal laws became meek suggestions, scarcely heard in the town’s thick wilderness. The anything-goes atmosphere soon caught the attention of Grafton’s neighbors: the bears. Freedom-loving citizens built a tent city in an effort to get off the grid and ignored hunting laws and regulations on food disposal. The bears smelled food and opportunity. A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear is the sometimes funny, sometimes terrifying tale of what happens when a government disappears into the woods.

On Sunday afternoon, December 15, about a dozen enthusiastic carolers from First English spread joy and love to our beloved, some of whom are homebound. Fa la la la la, la la la la!

Join Austin Cantorum for a relaxing and intimate holiday performance at “Living Room Carols,” on Saturday, December 21, First English Lutheran Church. Through delicate chamber works, stately choral anthems, and everything in between, this concert and carol-sing will feel like a cozy gathering of friends and family sharing musical gifts together. Featuring special guests Harpist Anna Blauw, Trumpeter Kenken Gorder, and Pianist Benjamin Dia. Free cookies and hot cocoa! Free admission with suggested donation of $25. For more info, visit: https://www.austincantorum.com/performances

FELC encourages you to support arts and music organizations in Austin, including the upcoming holiday concerts of Conspirare, and Austin Symphony Orchestra.

First English and the community provide year-round support for the Micah 6 Food Pantry and Street Youth Drop-in Center. Check out these important updates and a current list of critical needs.

Micah 6 Board Report

Year-end Donation Opportunity

Current Critical needs for the Micah 6 Food Pantry and Youth Drop-in Center:

• Winter clothing: hospital socks, coats, thermal underwear, sweaters, mittens, gloves, winter caps, scarves, jackets, sweatpants

• 15 oz. Canned Vegetables, including Green Beans, Corn, Spinach/greens, Pinto or Black Beans

• 15 oz. Canned Fruit, any variety

• 15 oz. Canned Meat, including Chicken and Tuna

• Luncheon meat

• Dry Goods

• Rice, 1 to 2 lb. bags

• Dried beans, 1 to 2 lb. bags

• Skillet dinners (hamburger helper or other boxed meals)

• Side dishes (Rice a Roni, Mac n Cheese, or other side item)

• 18 oz. Peanut butter

Please do not send large containers or bulk products that have to be divided prior to distribution.

Thank you for supporting Micah 6 ministries!!!!

Join Texas Lutheran University for “When All is Still: Christmas Vespers 2024” at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church on Sunday, December 15 at 4 pm. No tickets are required at St. Martin’s. For more information, visit: https://www.tlu.edu/news/when-all-is-still-christmas-vespers-2024.

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 reflective nature in Advent is somewhat suspended on Gaudete Sunday to emphasize the gladness in the promised coming of the Holy One.