Category: News

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.”

Sunday Symposium December 18, 2022

For this month’s Third Sunday Symposium we will consider the ELCA Social Message called “The Body of Christ and Mental Illness.” Mental health needs are growing in our nation and the church can be a place where stigma is removed and help and support offered. Join us for a conversation on the place of mental health in our lives, the impact of mental illness on all of us, and a look toward how we can be companions with others on the journey of mental health.

You can preview the ELCA Social Message on The Body of Christ and Mental Illness here.

Sunday Symposium meets in the parlor after hospitality.

A booklet is now available with information about the artist of our saints icons, Kelly Latimore, and information about each saint. Copies of the booklet are available in the Chapel of the Saints and outside in the hallway of the north entrance of the nave . A digital copy is available here.

The Micah 6 of Austin ministry is a series of services supporting young adults 30 and younger who are street dependent. Serving on and near the UT campus, there are drop-in times on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Computer labs, a hot, home cooked meal, snacks, basic clothing, TV, a laundry, and toiletries are provided. 

Together, the Micah 6 partner churches, including FELC, and additional individuals have served more than 10,000 meals in over ten years.  A safe place out of the elements and some essential services (that most of us take for granted!) is a keystone of this ministry.

Ryan Valentine, treasurer of Micah 6 Austin, reports that the overall financial health remains strong at the end of November.

• Plenty of cash in the bank – meaning Micah 6 has strong cash reserves into next year;
• We’ve experienced a dip in fundraising this year;
• Lower staff and food costs means a good year-end that is likely to close the gap. We anticipate finishing 2022 close to revenue-neutral.

Micah 6 wishes everyone in the partner churches a merry Christmas!

Please consider making a year-end donation to this important ministry of FELC.  Contact Andy MacLaren at 512-947-4186 or andymaclaren@cs.com with any questions about Micah 6.  Thanks for the continued support and engagement.

Immigrants and refugees find support of various kinds at Casa Marianella, including shelter, food, clothing, legal and medical resources, English classes, and more.  Started in 1986 with one residence, the agency has expanded to 3 additional neighboring houses for men and women with children and 4 houses for women with children (Posada Esperanza).

Serving several hundred immigrants each year, the goal of Casa Marianella is to promote self-sufficiency and provide for emergency and/or transitional needs. 

As the 2022 holiday season approaches, it is our desire to help those who are in need. We are asking you to participate again and have added an additional opportunity to put a smile on a person’s face.

1. Casa Marianella operates three shelters for culturally and racially diverse refugees. Each year we ask what items are needed. The influx of new refugees arrive with little clothing so we are asking that you open your closets to find winter coats, jackets, blanketsfor our donation boxes. This year men’s denim jeans and black slacks (work clothing) are needed. All items must be clean and in good condition.  Thrift store items are welcome as long as they are clean.
2. Oakcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (ONRC) is in need. ONRC is a 67-bed facility with 80% Medicaid recipients. Many of the residents have guardians because no family members are actively involved in their care. In conjunction with FELC’s Racial Justice ministry & Vision of Hope AME Church, we want to support elderly residents of this nursing home in east Austin at 9808 Crofford Lane, 78724. The items needed by residents are sweaters of all sizes, multiple genders. Also needed are shawls and throws for the bed. These items, along with a Christmas card, can bring cheer to weary hearts. Please bring your donations now through Sunday, December 11 to the labeled boxes in the Fellowship Hall. 

Volunteers will sort and prepare for delivery to Oakcrest Nursing Center on Sunday, December 18.  There will even be Christmas Caroling that day

Please refer questions regarding these projects to Pat Thomas via text at 512-574-3490.

May this clothing provide warmth and care to bodies and spirits in need.

All Ages Classroom

Join Pastor Coffey for Holy Moly Sunday School on Sundays, December 11, & 18 at 9 AM in the library. This is an all-ages gathering (through 5^th grade) for bringing Bible stories to life. We’ll be engaging the story of Christmas on these Sundays.

Each lesson includes a video, coloring sheet, and leaflet for use in class. There is also a family sheet to engage with children on the same story, enhancing their learning and building faith formation practices in the home. Families can also share the lesson online.