Category: News

A Month-Long Celebration

Febuary is African-American History Month. Many significant events in African-American history occurred in the month of February. Each week of this month we will share historical information for each date. The source for this information is here.

On February 1:
Feb. 1, 1865 – The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery, was adopted by the 38th Congress..
Feb. 1, 1902 – Langston Hughes, a famous poet, was born this day in Joplin, Mo.
Feb. 1, 1926 – What is now known as Black History Month was first celebrated on this date as Negro History Week by Carter G.
Woodson. It became a month long celebration in 1976.

On February 2:
Feb. 2, 1862 – District of Columbia abolishes slavery.
Feb. 2, 1914 – Ernest Just, genetic biologist, wins the Spingarn Medal. He received this same medal on this day in 1915 for his pioneering in cell division and fertilization.
Feb. 2, 1948 – President Truman sent Congress a special message urging the adoption of a Civil Rights program, including the creation of a fair employment
practices commission.

On February 3:
Feb. 3, 1903 – Jack Johnson wins the Negro Heavyweight title.
Feb. 3, 1920 – The Negro Baseball League is founded.
Feb. 3, 1965 – Geraldine McCullough, sculptor, wins the Widener Gold Medal Award.

On February 4:
Feb. 4, 1913 – Rosa Parks (born Rosa Louise McCauley) was born on this day.
Feb. 4, 1971 – National Guard mobilized to quell rioting in Wilmington, N.C. Two persons killed.
Feb. 4, 1996 – J. C. Watts becomes the first Black selected to respond to a State of the Union Address.

On February 5:
Feb. 5, 1866 – Congressman Thaddeus Stevens offered an amendment to Freedmen’s Bureau Bill authorizing the distribution of public land and confiscated land to freedmen and loyal refugees in 40-acre lots.
Feb. 5, 1958 – Clifton R. Wharton Sr. confirmed as minister to Rumania. This career diplomat was the first Black to head a U.S. embassy in Europe.
Feb. 5, 1962 – Suit seeking to bar Englewood, N.J., from maintaining “racial segregated” elementary schools filed in U.S. District Court.

On February 6:
Feb. 6, 1820 – “Mayflower of Liberia” sailed from New York City with eighty six Blacks. Black population: 1,771,656 (18.4%)
Feb. 6, 1993 – Arthur Ashe dies. First African American tennis player to win at Wimbledon.
Feb. 6, 1867 – Robert Tanner Jackson becomes first African American to receive a degree in dentistry.

On February 7:
Feb. 7, 1926 – Negro History Week originated by Carter G. Woodson is observed for the first time.

On February 8:
Feb. 8, 1944 – Harry S. McAlphin, first African American to be accredited to attend the White House press conference.
Feb. 8, 1986 – Oprah Winfrey becomes the first African American woman to host a nationally syndicated talk show.

Worship at 10:00 AM, Potluck at 11:30 AM, Annual Meeting at Noon

The congregation council has set the annual congregation meeting of First English Evangelical Lutheran Church for Sunday, January 28, 2024. 

We will gather for worship at 10 am, followed by a hospitality time in which we will enjoy a potluck luncheon in the fellowship hall.  Please bring a dish to share if you are able. 

At noon we will convene the annual meeting, both in the fellowship hall and via a special Zoom link. 

Please click here to view the 2024 Annual Meeting Packet.

Zoom Info:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81075669503?pwd=MmJXZEcyZXlsdFA5aVFUZ2FSUDBXUT09

Meeting ID: 810 7566 9503
Passcode: 365450

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One tap mobile
+13462487799,,81075669503#,,,,*365450# US (Houston)
+16694449171,,81075669503#,,,,*365450# US

Please review the 2024 Annual Meeting Packet in order that you have an opportunity to review the written reports of the various ministry teams and committees within your church.  Oral reports will be delivered at the meeting but we are not anticipating printing a hard copy of the reports for each attendee. 

The 3M Half Marathon will be Sunday, January 21. Some tips to arrive onsite at FELC for worship at 10 AM.

1. Use MoPac if possible and exit at 38th Street or at Northwood to 29th Street.

2. If you’re traveling from the north on I-35, use 45 th Street or 183 to MoPac.

3. If you’re traveling from the south on I-35, take Ben White to MoPac or Cesar Chavez to Lamar Blvd.

4. If you’re traveling from nearby east of Duval Street, north of 45th Street, or from East Austin, take I-35 or local streets to Cesar Chavez to Lamar Blvd. The Marathon will impact getting to FELC only if you’re coming from I-35, or nearby in the neighborhood east of Duval Street or north of 45th Street.

Route information can be found at
https://downhilltodowntown.com/course-elevation/

TW: Gun violence, murder of children

Siblings and friends of First English: in what has become a tradition in our time, our nation has moved quickly into counting innocents as dead and wounded as a result of gun violence. You might recall from this past Sunday, that I invited you to explore and reconcile that innocents are an often-overlooked part of the Magi Story. As we move through this Epiphany season I invite you to recognize that the slaughter of the innocents continues in our time. And “Herod”, as an archetype, continues to exist alongside us. Education Week reports two school shootings already in this year, and 183 such shootings since 2018. US News and World Report offers a much more damning critique on our society in counting 384 school shooting incidents across the country in 2023.

“On Jan. 4, a 6th grade student was killed and seven others—four students and three faculty members—were wounded in a shooting at Perry High School in Perry, Iowa. Police say the 17-year-old student suspect died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. This marks the highest number of casualties in a single incident since the Oct. 24, 2022, Central Visual and Performing Arts High School shooting in St. Louis, Mo.”

We’re Connected

Outside of the reality of our neighborhood returning to school this week, and our sibling-teachers returning to school this week, Al and Kathy Wicks were Vicars (over a two year period) at First English under Rev. Merle Franke’s supervision. Kathy reports that Al’s brother is superintendent of schools in Perry, Iowa where [the January 4^th] shootings took place. It was a long, tough day for him [on the 4^th], and I shudder and weep to think what it must be like for the families of every child of that school and those that died that day. 2023 has shown us that these events are not likely to stop, unless…

First, Al and Kathy Wicks were FELC Vicars (1977-1978, 1978-1979). While one of them served with us as Vicar, the other served as a chaplain at the Austin State Hospital; after the first year they switched “jobs.” They returned to Austin and served as co-pastors of Holy Cross Lutheran from 1991-1997 before returning to their roots in Iowa. They remain connected to us through relationships born out of their time in Austin.

Al’s brother, Clark S. Wicks, is Superintendent of the Perry Community School District. I’m not sure how long he has held that position, but he’s been with the District for 31 years in (it appears) several capacities, including Principal. A Google search brought up several links to recent days’ news conferences featuring him—trying to deal and rebuild, and restore classes. How godawful!

To quote Rev. Bob Karli, “God damn guns!!!”

What can we do?

Gun violence is a heated and polarizing topic in this nation and amongst our neighbors, regardless of political leanings. Most people like the nation’s constitution, some thrive under the constitution’s protections, and many people like the Second Amendment. We’re not going to debate the efficacy or intended impact of the words collected in one of the largest plagues on our existence as a society. Where a great number of people, gun owners included, agree is: gun control is a step in the right direction.

Supporting candidates whose platform supports gun control is a good step.

Getting connected to a community that is working with our local leaders to engage gun control conversation and legislation is another good step. Who can you connect with? Excellent question, here are some places you might start:

Texas Impact , Polarization versus Peacemaking

Sandy Hook Promise

Prayer is always a good option and I would invite you to understand the invitation that prayer can be to us to get involved, and engage action around civic policy and legislative change.

“Most of us don’t live in an agrarian culture with divinely appointed monarchs. My faith tradition doesn’t offer animal or grain sacrifices, but we do hold vigils, we do pray, we do lament, we do oppress, we do cause harm and enact violence. The ways we engage with our faith and the world have changed, but the heart of God’s call through Amos remains the same: Care for the well-being of each person. Adapting Amos draws us closer to the text, connecting and calling us to action in the world.”

Photo, Protestor holding a sign during the rally in the Texas Capitol to demand age increase for AR-15 sales. Patricia Lim /KUT
Excerpts, Ewing, Emily E. “God Will Not Accept Your Thoughts and Prayers.” Sojourners, June 2, 2022. https://sojo.net/articles/god-will-not-accept-your-thoughts-and-prayers.

Sunday, January 7, 2024: Sunday of the Epiphany of Our Lord at 10:00 AM

The feast of Epiphany (“manifestation”), traditionally on January 6, concludes the twelve-day Christmas season. It is a celebration of God’s glory revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. Like the light of the star that guided the magi to Jesus, the light of Christ reveals who we are: children of God who are claimed in love and called to witness to that love, invited to be beacons of God’s light.

Epiphany Day, January 6 (or another day during the season of Epiphany) offers an occasion for gathering with family, friends, and neighbors for a blessing of the home or dwelling with readings, prayer, and chalking above the entrance to the home for the year. As the magi visited the dwelling of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus and brought gifts and blessings, we bless homes in the name of Christ. 

Would you like to bless your home?

Access the Epiphany House Blessing liturgy here

“Let your grace be with us this whole year, and your peace upon all who enter here.”