Category: News

Secrets in Plain Sight: A New Way to Hear and Perform Mozart’s Music will be offered on Sunday, April 6, 3:00 PM at the University of Texas Butler School of Music, Dedman Drive,  Room 2.614 (next to the Recital Studio). Mozart scholar and pianist Dr. Mary Robbins introduces an important aspect of Mozart’s music that we haven’t been taught today but that he said was crucial to its force and meaning. Kristin Wolfe Jensen, bassoon, Åshilld Henriksen, horn, Dr. Martha MacDonald, clarinet, and Robbins demonstrate Mozart’s approach in selected movements of his concertos. This event is open to the public. Admission is free.

On the fifth Sunday in Lent, we enter the culmination on the wandering journey. We’ve been praying, fasting, and offering ourselves. And we are once again reminded that God makes all things new. In the Hebrew scriptures God promises this newness. In the gospel story from John this Sunday, Mary anticipates this newness, anointing Jesus’ feet with costly perfume in preparation for the day of his burial. Saint Paul recalls his transformation from the persecutor Saul into an apostle. We don’t know what the future will hold, based on the past, good or bad. God is doing a new thing. God’s newness in each person rises daily from the mire of trespasses and sins, from apathy and indifference, from violence and war, from degradation and fear. We rise. God’s people always rise.

Guest Musician | Sunday, April 6

We welcome Åshilld Henriksen, principal horn for the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra for her entire professional career. Åshilld, studying at Musikhochschule Carl Maria von Weber in Dresden, is an active recitalist and chamber musician in Sweden. She will play Mozart’s Andante Cantabile from the Horn Concerto, K.495, accompanied by pianist, Mozart scholar, and FELC member, Dr. Mary Robbins.

hAmaro Fest 2025 – a two-day event celebrating Romani culture!

Friday, April 4 beginning at 7:00PM

Join everyone at FELC for an evening of Romani music & dance featuring world renowned artists (including our own Oliver Rajamani) of the Romani diaspora musical traditions – flamenco, kathak dance, Balkan Romani, & dance, & more.

TICKETS at: https://www.eventbookings.com/b/event/hamaro-fest-2025-day-1

Saturday, April 5 from Noon to 10:00PM

Free event of music, dance, kids events, food, workshops, & more at Kenny Durhams Outdoor Stage, 1106 E 11th Street, Austin. Details at: www.hamarofest.com

Join FELC music partner, Austin Cantorum, on Saturday April 5 at 7:30 PM, for an evening of choral music exploring personal growth in the face of adversity. With music from composers Benjamin Britten, Gwyneth Walker, and Brandon Waddles, plus Veljo Tormis’s powerful “Raua needmine” (Curse Upon Iron), we’re all “Facing It” and recognizing our community, our world, and ourselves for who we really are. Featuring Pianist Benjamin Dia. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $25. 

Everyone is invited to the longest-running community & social event of FELC (since 1964): the annual chicken BBQ, to be held in the parking lot (weather permitting)! Pitmasters will start smoking chickens in the outdoor smoker pit in the afternoon, & the potato salad & beans team will be getting the sides ready.

You’re welcome to come & visit beginning at 4 PM. BYOB. Dinner will be served around 6 PM, & includes BBQ chicken, beans, potato salad, drinks, & ice cream. Beans & potato salad are vegetarian. Vegans are welcome to bring their favorite dish to share. Come one, come all! 

Laetare Sunday is the fourth Sunday in Lent in the western Christian liturgical calendar. This Sunday has been a day of celebration, within the austere season of Lent, and gets its name from the first few words of the traditional entrance verses in Latin, Laetare, meaning Rejoice. On Laetare Sunday (as similarly with the Third Sunday of Advent’s Gaudete Sunday) the church expresses hope and joy in the midst of our Lenten wandering and fasting. Call it pink — or, more fittingly, rose — a traditional color on this day indicates a glimpse of the joy that awaits us at Easter. Before we enter into the holy days of Passiontide, our music, prayers, and liturgical texts reflect this “mini” Easter. Happy are those for whom the forgiveness of God has “rolled away the disgrace” of former times. Happy is the parent at the return of a prodigal child. Happy are we that our sins are forgiven by God’s love in Jesus. Rejoice!

At the Council meeting on March 24, 2025, Terry Porter was approved as chair of the Support Ministry Team.

Charlie Boas has received input from members related to the technology upgrade effort. He stated that he welcomes suggestions as well as expertise. He provided additional information about the keypad entry system that is being considered.

Forward movement continues to be made by the Child Development Center; see details in the current report submitted by Merrily Porter.

The Seventh Day Adventists have been notified that they will need to find a new worship space before August 31, 2025.

Progress was made toward completing the First English Organizational Chart. Council members offered to invite other individuals to contribute brief descriptions of ministry activities in which they participate to include on the chart.

The Council voiced their support of participation in Red Dress Day on May 4, in memory of missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Ministry Team reports were shared.

The next Council meeting is scheduled for April 28.

The First English Child Development Center has openings! It’s rare for a high-quality child development center to have open spots—especially for infants–but we do!

Visit: https://www.firstenglishcdc.org/

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These forty days called Lent (not counting Sundays) are like no other. The warnings are plentiful and blunt on the third Sunday in Lent. Cut it out or get cut down! The warnings are accompanied by God’s invitation to attentiveness: “Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live.” There is good news for all of us. Thanks be to God!

Our Saints and Icons series continued last Sunday with an inter-generational session on Fannie Lou Hamer, facilitated by Leigh Northcutt-Benson. Thank you to all of our participants and especially our young teaching assistants.

Sunday, March 23, 9AM in the Parlor, Leigh Northcutt-Benson will be leading Adult Faith Formation, continuing our Saints and Icons Series with a session on Marsha P. Johnson. Merrily Porter will be leading Children’s Faith Formation, 9 AM in the library.

Sunday, March 30, Charlotte Gilman, Merrily Porter, and Mari Ward will lead a session from our Better Know a Ministry series on Care and Hospitality.

Learning Ministry invites any congregation member who would like to lead an Adult Faith Formation session to reach out to Betsy Appleton or Leigh Northcutt-Benson. You may lead a session on any topic you would like, including our Saints and Icons series, for which materials are provided.