Category: News

A grand old came down in the ice storm last week. This tree in the front of our campus welcomed folks entering the open doors of First English, provided shade for hot days, hung lights for nighttime receptions, and was climbed on by several generations of beloveds.

Nothing was parked along Whitis Avenue at that location. While it crushed our middle handrail, it avoided the light post. Most importantly, no one was injured.

Last week our neighbors at Fire Station No. 3 were “ordered” by the Fire Chief to assist us, without us asking. Personnel spent several hours moving the tree out of the street, cutting it, hauling the limbs on a flatbed trailer, and disposing of the tree. They will continue working on the tree in the coming weeks. We will have to secure professional services to remove the stump.

We are grateful for God’s creation, and our good neighbors.

On February 2 the church honors The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, a minor feast day. Forty days after the birth of Jesus we mark the day Mary and Joseph presented him in the temple in accordance with Jewish law. This feast day that mentions two major saints of the faith: St. Simeon and St. Anna, Elders and Prophets.

Yes, we don’t know much about these saints (noted at the end of Luke 2:22-40) except to say that their patience and wisdom is instructive for a humanity that too easily leans toward immediacy and easy answers. They hold up Christ in all his potential, declaring Jesus a special one. Imagine what could happen if we lifted up all children this way, not just those born in privilege. It could change the world. It has before.

Christians also bless candles today, making the metaphorical shift that the Christ is also the light of the world. The Celts, more practical, would haul out new candles today because it is the midpoint between the solstice and the equinox, and the early winter candles are now spent as we are in the belly of the snow season. But light daily grows, Beloved. Anna and Simeon knew this. St. Simeon and St. Anna are reminders that all who are fortunate become old, but not all become elders. Becoming an elder takes time, intention, patience, and a wisdom that comes from trusting promises in the face of scoffers and opposition.

So, bless your candles today. Give thanks for Jesus, the light of the world – the light of new and unending life.

Only four years after founding First English Lutheran Church, church members organized and chartered Boy Scout Troop 28 (1940). Cub Scout Pack 28 was chartered in 1951. Since the 1990’s the Pack & Troop have gone through different iterations, in part due to declining membership and in part to BSA policies. Boy Scouts of America is now “Scouts BSA”. Even though circumstances have adapted regular connections throughout the pandemic, leaders and students have continued to gather safely. 

Wyatt Hansen is our most recent Eagle Scout from FELC’s chartered Troop28.

For his Eagle project he managed the construction of a 64-foot fence at the PEAS Community Garden in June of 2022. He underwent his Eagle Board of Review in August of 2022 and celebrated his Eagle Ceremony in the FELC Fellowship Hall and received his Eagle award on December 29, 2022.

Congratulations Wyatt!

On Sunday January 22, hundreds of people, including international guests from around the world (and our Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton), gathered at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Jerusalem Old City to celebrate the ordination of The Rev. Sally Azar, as the first Palestinian woman to become ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

To read more information about Pastor Azar and the Church in the Holy Land, click here.

To see photos of this celebration, click here.

We give thanks to God for the life and ministry of James (Jim) Bennett who died Saturday, January 21 at this home in Aiken, SC. Bishop Bennett was a friend to many at FELC, and a colleague and friend to our three former pastors. He was also a friend and mentor to our current and our former music directors. After serving as senior pastor of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, Austin from 1987-1994, Jim served as the bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod from 1994-2000.

You can read his obituary here.

We pray for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and all who love him. Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him.

Pastor Coffey’s last Sunday is January 15.  We’ll give thanks for his ministry, participate in a liturgy ending his call among us, and join together for a festive, catered reception in the fellowship hall following the liturgy.

Everyone is welcome!  At the reception, special presentations will be made.

 

“On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother”

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 dwelling of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus and brought gifts and blessings, we bless homes in the name of Christ. On January 4 & 5, Bryan Rust and Pastor Coffey made visits to homes of FELC folks.

Would you like to bless your home? Click here for the Epiphany House Blessing liturgy.

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

We are adapting and changing some of our communications strategies as we move into 2023. As we proceed through the year, we’ll invite engagement from the congregation and community in a variety of ways.

The first change is that our Weekly Email News will be distributed by email each Thursday, no longer on Wednesday. This will allow for a broader variety of leaders to keep us informed about ministry, outreach, and benevolence opportunities. The deadline for the Weekly Email News will now be each Tuesday at noon. If you know someone who might be interested in sharing in our church, send them this link to sign-up for communications from FELC.

Additionally, to support our staff and volunteers, the church office will be closed each Monday, no longer Friday. If you need immediate care on Monday, any evening, or the weekend, we are developing a team approach to receiving your needs and responding. More information will be shared soon.

As we grow in care for each other, we will be more effective in our development, engagement, and advocacy in the community and the wider church.  

If you missed our Christmas celebrations, or would like to invite others to experience them, here’s our worship links for this Christmas season.

2022 Christmas Eve Candlelight Liturgy with Holy Communion

The Christmas Eve Liturgy is archived at this link.

The Christmas Eve worship bulletin is here.

2022 Christmas Day Lessons and Carols Liturgy with Holy Communion

The Christmas Morning Lessons and Carols is archived at this link.

The Christmas Day worship bulletin is here.

First Sunday of Christmas / New Year’s Day Zoom Worship & on YouTube

Sunday, January 1, 2023

The January 1 First Sunday of Christmas Worship is archived at this link.

The January 1 worship bulletin is at this link.

From the Pastor

“As I prepare to move out of my office I am thinning out my personal library — I’ve collected a lot of books over 30 years, and I can’t possibly fit them all on my bookshelves at home. I have placed all the books I am not keeping on tables in the parlor. They are there for you to take — as many as you like. There are books on theology, biblical studies, church history, social issues, spirituality, worship, philosophy, and more. They will be available through Sunday, January 8.”