Category: News

The Call Committee and Council worked together to finalize revisions, and we are grateful that the Council has unanimously accepted and adopted the FELC Ministry Site Profile and Seven Reflections on Ministry and Context! This adopted, finalized MSP is being formally submitted to the Synod. A copy of the finalized MSP package will be shared very soon with the congregation. With gratitude and joy, we prepare for the next phase of our pastoral transition journey!

On Monday, June 17, the Church Council unanimously approved the amended Ministry Site Profile (MSP) and the Seven Reflections document submitted to them by the Call Committee.  The Chair of the Call Committee was notified of the vote so that they can proceed with next steps.

Reports were received from the Treasurer, Child Development Center, Worship Ministry, Learning Ministry, Witness Ministry and Support Ministry.  Special thanks to Terry Porter for navigating the challenges with the Sanctuary HVAC system. Margaret Bruesch responded to Heidi Goebel’s concerns in the property report related to budget details.  President Woody suggested that Heidi Goebel and Allen Jensen, Treasurer, would benefit from a conversation about that.  President Woody informed the Council that insurance costs will likely go up since that is a current trend.  

A check-in review for Dawn Wetzel, newly hired church office administrator, will happen Tuesday 6-18-24, per a condition of her employment. 

A ‘God’s Work/Our Hands’ activity is being considered for Sunday, September 8, 2024. This is an ELCA service project initiative in which congregations take efforts to support their local communities.  Many ELCA congregations across the country will be engaged in the ‘God’s Work/Our Hands’ event on this, the 10th anniversary of the event.

Next Council Meeting will be July 15.

Respectfully submitted,

Nancy Baden

The church season after the 50 days of Eastertide and Pentecost Day celebrations is half of the year, yet it has no “official” name. It is called “Time after Pentecost” or “Ordinary Time” because of the numbering (ordinals) of the Sundays. It includes the distinct natural seasons of summer and fall, which have different themes emphasized. The primary color is green. This highlights the first part of Ordinary Time with themes of  growth and celebration in community, and the renewal of faith and discipleship in the ministry and teaching of Jesus.

All are welcome to worship in the Fellowship Hall, Sunday, June 16, 10 am.

A big thank-you to Fritz Woody for leading the Adult Faith Formation sessions on the
United States Relations with Indigenous Peoples.

Join us Sunday, June 16, for an Intergenerational Faith Formation session, 9 am in the Parlor. Betsy Appleton will be facilitating a feedback session for Faith Formation participants of all ages. Be ready to share your reflections on Faith Formation the past few months and also your ideas for the future.

On Sunday, June 23, Michele Hockett Cooper will be leading the first of two Adult Faith
Formation sessions, Faith and Food: Your Body is a Temple, 9 am in the Parlor. Charlie
Boas will be leading Children’s Faith Formation, starting a rotation on the story of
Joseph from Genesis, 9 am in the Fellowship Hall.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Micah 6 ministries! Summer brings the
following needs:

Plastic bags for shopping, preferably with handles
Refillable water bottles
Backpacks for carrying food, used or new
New or used clothing, especially small women’s and large men’s (identified by size if
possible)
Canned meat and veggies

Food and clothing may be left in the Micah 6 identified containers in the narthex,
sanctuary, or fellowship hall. Backpack container is marked as such. For questions
about donations, contact Andy MacLaren, 512-947-4186, Andymaclaren@cs.com

With the reduced student enrollment during the summer, Micah 6 also needs volunteers
on Thursdays, 5-7pm and Saturdays, 8am-12 noon, at 2203 San Antonio St, Austin. To volunteer, contact Anthony, Pantry Director, at 346-717-2736.

Part I
This information was compiled by FELC member Nancy Baden, a long-time CDC
volunteer, through her review of archived FELC newsletters. The history of the CDC is
important for us to have as a reference point as we continue to grow and as we carefully
consider the relationship of the church to the CDC. We are grateful to Nancy B. for this
history and for her volunteer efforts and to all the volunteers who have supported the
CDC in many ways over the years.

Even before there was a child development center on the premises of First English, the
people of First English joined eight other Austin area Lutheran congregations to start
Springdale Day Care Center on the east side of Austin. This center opened at Ebenezer
Baptist Church in September of 1968. The chief objective of this Lutheran coalition was to help families in the low-income bracket. The center reached capacity on the second
day of operation, with twelve children on the wait list. Agnes Lundstedt was the First
English liaison to the Springdale Day Care Center Board of Directors.

By late 1969, while the Springdale Center was an ongoing operation, First English had
joined in the effort to support the creation of a child care center at San Juan Lutheran
Church through provision of material and financial resources. By the middle of 1971,
the two child care centers (Springdale and San Juan) were being supported by fourteen
Lutheran churches in Austin and were serving 80 children, aged 2.5 to 6 years of age.
Tuition was based on each enrolled family’s weekly salary and ranged from 55 cents to
$11.50 per week.

In October of 1971, FELC created a committee to study the feasibility of a child care
center and/or Kindergarten at FELC. This was the second such study. By May of 1972,
the FELC council gave its full support to the child care center proposal. Later in May,
the proposal was placed in front of the members of FELC at a congregational meeting.
The congregation voted unanimously to move forward with the establishment of a child
care center on the premises of FELC.

By June, the first board of directors was named, consisting of nine people, including
Leroy Haverlah. The child development center borrowed $2500 for start-up costs. In
July, by-laws, personnel policies and general operating policies were created and Ms.
Janet Torres was selected as director. The center opened on September 5, 1972 with
21 of 35 available slots filled. A fundraising garage sale soon followed.

Enrollment increased, with children from Iraq, Germany and France, as well as children
who were Mexican American, Black and White. Ma Bell donated telephone poles used
in the construction of playground facilities that Fall. The congregation was encouraged
to donate kitchen appliances, clothing, furniture, jars, blankets, rugs, and a handyman.
Congregational members were encouraged to serve as substitute care givers, serve
afternoon snacks and share hobbies with the children. Margaret Jensen sewed nine
dolls for the center and the FELC Young-at-Hearts held a doll party to stuff them. A
fundraising yard sale was held and raised $200 for a dishwasher. By January of 1973,
Ginna Franke became director.

By March of 1973, a cook position was posted; wages were listed at $1.70 per hour for
the 20 hour per week position. All staff were considered full-time employees as far as
vacation and sick leave were concerned.

In April, all memorial donations that came in on the death of Hoye Eargle, were
donated to the CDC at his wife, Mayre’s, request. She was on the CDC Board at the
time. Those donations totaled almost $1000, which reduced the CDC’s remaining debt
to only $1000.

In May of 1973, a scholarship fund was established by the Board, in keeping with the
original concept of FELC providing child care as a community service by enabling
children of university students and others with limited income to receive quality childcare. These scholarships paid up to two-thirds of tuition. A committee of three, including
Leroy Haverlah, reviewed applications. FELC members Henri Atkinson and Agnes
Lundstedt joined the Board in June of 1973.

To be continued …

Thank you to Fritz Woody for his first session last Sunday:

CITIZENSHIP:  A Centennial Review: The Intersection of Indigenous People and the United States Government 

On Sunday, June 9, Fritz will continue this topic in Adult Faith Formation, 9 am in the Parlor. Also on June 9, Leigh Northcutt-Benson will be offering a lesson for Children’s Faith Formation: Celebrating Indigenous Peoples & Our Natural World, 9 am in the Fellowship Hall. 

Mark your calendars for our intergenerational faith formation session on Sunday, June 16. All learners will meet at 9 am in the Fellowship Hall. 

We are in need of more leaders and lessons for Children’s and Adult Faith Formation  after June. The Learning Ministry Team has prepared an FAQ document for leading Children’s Faith Formation. Check the link below or contact Betsy Appleton, betsy.appleton@gmail.com, to learn more about these leadership opportunities. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aZe0r_fUrs_7Sy_LzKY6sGv_UbibLrmQdiQaHjAaeJ0/edit?usp=drivesdk

The Transition Team (now the Call Committee) is currently working with the Council to finalize the FELC Ministry Site Profile (MSP). Once finalized and adopted by the Council, the MSP will be sent to the Southwestern Texas Synod where it will be used to match our church with pastor candidates. A copy of the final, adopted MSP will also be shared with the congregational community. The Call Committee will be meeting soon with Deacon Darcy Mittlestaedt, Bishop’s Associate for Leadership & Lifelong Faith Formation, for a Call Committee Orientation as we begin this next stage of our pastoral transition journey. We thank you for your continued prayers. –Tim Atkinson, Randy Baden, Allen Jensen, Erin McCracken, Nikki Northcutt, Lillian Martinez-Rodriguez, and Barbara Schutz

The Austin City Lutheran’s rent assistance program fundraiser, currently being carried out at Bread For All Food Pantry, has been extended to the end of June. And it’s not for the usual reason of an extension! We’re very pleased to announce that we’ve cleared our original goal of $60,000 and have set a new goal of $75,000. 

 A number of you have already contributed for which we say THANK YOU. New contributions continue to come in. We’re well aware that a number of you want to do something that has proven to be effective – and compassionate at the same time – as Austin moves forward on its path as a big city, for better and for worse. Rent assistance is one of the best ways that, together, we can help prevent homelessness in Austin. Please join us in this effort as you are able.

 If you’d like to contribute, please do so at this link: https://breadforall-atx.org/donate/ or send a check to Abiding Love Lutheran Church, 7210 Brush Country Road, Austin, TX 78749. Please specify “Rent Assistance.”

 Thanks, everyone!  

 T. Carlos “Tim” Anderson, Pastor & Community Development Director

You may have missed it on Sunday as we’ve been hosting worship in the Fellowship Hall – our South Narthex doors are back! The Restorhaus crew was on-site for several days last week getting them adjusted and installed.  We are nearing the finish line on this significant improvement to our lovely building.

ALL the doors and door jambs have been restored and freshly painted. Years of water and sun damage repaired – they look like new! Existing hardware has been refurbished and some new hardware pieces have been added. 

If you noticed the gap around the opening in the picture, don’t worry!  A few pieces of trim did not make it onto the truck from the shop in Lubbock.  The crew will be back in a few weeks to install those items and finish things up.

Many thanks for Bob Karli’s leadership and the donors that made this happen.

And in more door news, the hardware on both restroom doors has been upgraded.  The previous hardware would loosen over time, ceasing to latch properly and resulting in urgent service calls to Cothron’s.  A nuisance for sure, this situation had the potential to impact the use of our building for FELC and community events. The door technician will be back to make a few adjustments so that the doors close more smoothly, but all is good for now.