First English Lutheran Church | Austin, Texas
God Loves. We Love. Everyone!
Young adults at FELC are invited to join Pastor Coffey for a dinner gathering at Matt’s El Rancho on South Lamar. We’ll catch up with each other and make plans for a future service project and other events.
The cost of the meal will be covered by the FELC young adult ministry grant. RSVP to Pastor Coffey by Wednesday, September 14. Let him know if you need a ride from central Austin.
Kelsey Kresse returned to FELC last weekend as our guest preacher. It was a wonderful time together giving thanks for Kelsey’s ministry among us, and rejoicing in her current call. Kelsey served as the 49th vicar of FELC from August 2019 to June 2020. Pastor Kresse is called as associate pastor of Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Burke, VA, In addition to regular pastoral life, she focuses on youth and college age ministries. She is a 2021 graduate of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and was ordained by Bishop Leila Ortiz (ELCA Metro DC Synod) on October 9, 2021.
Pastor Kelsey writes:
“Dearly Beloved FELC Members and Friends,
It was my joy and honor to be with you last weekend! It was such a special thing to be in your midst again, to sing with you, and to reflect on our time together two years ago. I cannot thank you enough for this homecoming and for the indelible mark you have left on me and my ministry. My experience at FELC was a special one from the moment I arrived until I left, always planning to be back. The relationships I built, the incredible leadership I witnessed and was welcomed into, and the space to grow that was made for me will always be something I treasure for myself and tell others about. You welcomed me in and then sent me out as prepared as one could possibly be for the journey ahead. You are a community that educates leaders, it is part of your DNA, and you’re really good at it. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I love you.
Peace be with you. –Kelsey”
Here is a link to Pastor Kelsey’s Sunday sermon
For continued connection:
The Rev. Kelsey Kresse
1150 North Fayette Street, Unit 2406
Alexandria, VA 22314
In 2012 we turned the south transept of our sanctuary into the Chapel of the Saints. As part of this transformation, we added the columbarium — a place to inter cremated remains. The columbarium consists of separate niches that can hold up to two urns each. Names are engraved on the stone tile in front of the niche. This option for interment is available to all FELC members and family. For more information, speak with Pastor Coffey.
When we gather in the Chapel of the Saints, we gather as the baptized saints of God in prayer, worship, and community. We gather with the saints of the past that we remember in various ways: the names engraved on the columbarium, the Cloud of Witnesses saints mobile containing the names of all who have died at FELC since 1936, and the saints icons displayed on the walls that remind us of faithful people who inspire our faith today.
Beloved member Claudine Schoen, who died in 2020, made a bequest in her will of $10,000 to FELC. We have now received this gift. To honor Claudine’s memory, the church council has dedicated part of the gift to support Stephen Ministry at FELC. Claudine was a long-time part of Stephen Ministry and it was dear to her heart.
Claudine’s son, Wayne, hand delivered the check from the estate with the following note written as words from Claudine herself:
To the Congregation of First English Lutheran —
You have provided your constant love, support, strength and spiritual guidance to the Bruno and Claudine Schoen family since the early 1950’s. Thank you for all you do and for the lives you touch. May God continue to bless each of you with peace, love and joy.
My love always to you, Claudine Schoen
Bequests are a wonderful way to honor, give thanks for, and support your congregation. Please consider how you might bless FELC in the future through your estate planning.
This fall we offer a new opportunity for adult learning and growth. Sunday Symposium is a once-a-month gathering on a wide variety of topics. We’ll gather after Sunday hospitality in the parlor for presentations, conversations, and explorations on everything from social issues and theological questions to spirituality and faith. Participants will be encouraged to join in the conversation as they wish. We will emphasize respectful, open dialogue that welcomes a diversity of viewpoints. We will be open to how we might change our own views. We may have occasional guest speakers.
Join us for learning, growth, and community.
Topics for Fall 2022:
| September 18 | Discipleship in a Democracy: ELCA Social Message on Government and Civic Engagement in the United States |
| October 16 | Theology of Generosity |
| November 20 | Coffee, Sweets, and the Other: Hospitality in the New Testament |
| December 18 | The Body of Christ and Mental Illness: ELCA Social Message |
The survey on interests in adult forum topics and formats ended on August 29. Thanks to everyone who participated.
Here are the results that will be used for planning this fall’s adult education opportunities:
What topics interest you?
What evenings work best for you for Zoom meetings?
Would you be interested in a monthly adult forum after worship and hospitality featuring one-time topics or guest speakers?
Searching for a Churchwide Assembly summary? Here’s one! Lots of great work was done by our voting members in Columbus, Ohio on behalf of the whole church.
As I’m making plans for the fall, I’d like to hear from you what topics and formats interest you for adult forums — whether you’re a long-time or first-time participant. I’m also making plans for a monthly adult forum after worship and hospitality, and hope to bring in guest speakers on occasion. Your input on this will be helpful for planning. This is a short survey that should take only 2 minutes to complete.
Here is the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2HZCBW5
Our sixteen saints icons by Kelly Latimore are a beautiful addition to our Chapel of the Saints and facilities. There are many more saints icons and images from the life of Christ in the artist’s series available. They are wonderfully diverse and include saints contemporary and ancient from Asian, Native American, Hispanic, European, African, and American heritages.
We would love to expand our collection. Additional icons will be displayed in the parlor and rotated through the chapel during the year. If you are interested in donating one to add to the collection, they are $150 for the framed prints.
If you are interested in donating one, please contact Pastor Coffey to make arrangements.
Below is the list of images available. You can also view all of the images here.
Christ Breaks the Rifle
Christ in the Wilderness
Christ Swords into Plowshares
Christ the Light
Dorothy Kazel
Etty Hillesum
Flannery OConnor
Henri Nouwen
Holy Family of the Streets
Homeless Christ
La Presentacion de Cristo en el templo
Madonna and Child
Mahalia Jackson
Mama
Mary Oliver
Maya Angelou
Mother Jones
Mother of God Protectress of the Oppressed
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of the Journey – Mothers
Our Lady of the Journey 2
Our Lady of the Journey
Pedro Arrupe SJ
Pops Staples
Refugees La Sagra Familia
Refugees The Holy Family
Saint Dulce of the Poor
Saint Therese of Lisieux
St Nicholas Patron of Mariners
The Crucifixion
The Good Neighbor
The Good Shepherd
The Resurrection
The Transfiguration
The Trinity
Thomas Merton
The following have already been donated:
Fred Rogers
John Lewis
John Muir
Marsha P Johnson
Nicholas Black Elk
Pauli Murray
St Seraphim and Bear
On Sunday evening, August 7, FELC hosted the Eagle Scout Ceremony for three young men from our troop. FELC members Nancy & Randy Baden and Tim Atkinson participated.
Nancy Baden writes: “It was really nice. Nice bunch of people. And delicious potluck to boot. Tim Atkinson shared a little history of his time with the troop. He explained how Herb Walenta took him out to our family farm in Pflugerville and taught him how to build a pit fire in prep for Tim taking over the troop. Fun facts.”
Congratulations, Eagle Scouts!
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. Boy Scouts of America is now “Scouts BSA”. Elementary age girls may now join Cub Scouts, and Scouts BSA is chartering Scout Troops for older girls.
We are grateful to FELC Scout Representative Charlie Boas for his leadership.