- April 13 | Palm Sunday
“Hosanna” or “Hoshana” (הושענא) is a Hebrew word meaning save us now. Saint Augustine, fourth century bishop of the church, called Holy Week, the “Great Week” because of the great things that were accomplished during these days. Augustine said, “Unless the church can learn to identify itself with Christ in … - Chicken BBQ | Saturday, April 26
Everyone is invited to the longest-running community & social event of FELC (since 1964): the annual chicken BBQ, to be held in the parking lot (weather permitting)! Pitmasters will start smoking chickens in the outdoor smoker pit in the afternoon, & the potato salad & beans team will be getting the sides ready. You’re … - 5th Sunday in Lent | April 6
On the fifth Sunday in Lent, we enter the culmination on the wandering journey. We’ve been praying, fasting, and offering ourselves. And we are once again reminded that God makes all things new. In the Hebrew scriptures God promises this newness. In the gospel story from John this Sunday, Mary … - Mozart Anew | Sunday, April 6
Secrets in Plain Sight: A New Way to Hear and Perform Mozart’s Music will be offered on Sunday, April 6, 3:00 PM at the University of Texas Butler School of Music, Dedman Drive, Room 2.614 (next to the Recital Studio). Mozart scholar and pianist Dr. Mary Robbins introduces an important … - Austin Cantorum in Concert | Saturday, April 5, 7:30 PM
Join FELC music partner, Austin Cantorum, on Saturday April 5 at 7:30 PM, for an evening of choral music exploring personal growth in the face of adversity. With music from composers Benjamin Britten, Gwyneth Walker, and Brandon Waddles, plus Veljo Tormis’s powerful “Raua needmine” (Curse Upon Iron), we’re all “Facing …Continue reading “Austin Cantorum in Concert | Saturday, April 5, 7:30 PM”
- Romani Music in Concert at FELC | Friday, April 4
hAmaro Fest 2025 – a two-day event celebrating Romani culture! Friday, April 4 beginning at 7:00PM Join everyone at FELC for an evening of Romani music & dance featuring world renowned artists (including our own Oliver Rajamani) of the Romani diaspora musical traditions – flamenco, kathak dance, Balkan Romani, & …Continue reading “Romani Music in Concert at FELC | Friday, April 4”
- March 30 | Laetare Sunday
Laetare Sunday is the fourth Sunday in Lent in the western Christian liturgical calendar. This Sunday has been a day of celebration, within the austere season of Lent, and gets its name from the first few words of the traditional entrance verses in Latin, Laetare, meaning Rejoice. On Laetare Sunday … - Council Meeting Highlights | March 2025
At the Council meeting on March 24, 2025, Terry Porter was approved as chair of the Support Ministry Team. Charlie Boas has received input from members related to the technology upgrade effort. He stated that he welcomes suggestions as well as expertise. He provided additional information about the keypad entry … - First English Lutheran Child Development Center!
The First English Child Development Center has openings! It’s rare for a high-quality child development center to have open spots—especially for infants–but we do! Visit: https://www.firstenglishcdc.org/ Post or Share our flyer: Have an info board at your office or know someone who might be interested? Share this flyer! Follow us on …Continue reading “First English Lutheran Child Development Center!”
- March 23 | Third Sunday in Lent
These forty days called Lent (not counting Sundays) are like no other. The warnings are plentiful and blunt on the third Sunday in Lent. Cut it out or get cut down! The warnings are accompanied by God’s invitation to attentiveness: “Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that … - Learning Ministry
Our Saints and Icons series continued last Sunday with an inter-generational session on Fannie Lou Hamer, facilitated by Leigh Northcutt-Benson. Thank you to all of our participants and especially our young teaching assistants. Sunday, March 23, 9AM in the Parlor, Leigh Northcutt-Benson will be leading Adult Faith Formation, continuing our … - Repertory Chorus in Concert
UT’s new choir, Repertory Chorus, was in concert at FELC on March 3. In the theme “When the Dark is Done” the choir offered a stunning program, including J.S. Bach’s Aus Tiefer Not (BWV 131) with instruments, including harpsichord. Repertory Chorus is a mixed chamber choir directed by graduate student … - Council Highlights | February 2025At the meeting of the church council on February 17, 2025, newly elected council members Elijah Aguirre, Betsy Appleton, Paul Barlow, and Lillian Martinez-Rodriguez were welcomed. Thanks were given for those who rotated off council including Anne Wiebe, Nancy Neuse, and JD Aguirre. The recently created orientation packet for new …
- Lent 2025
DEVOTION & ENGAGEMENT IN LENT The season of Lent began on Ash Wednesday, and continues for five weeks and Holy Week. This Lent you are invited to contemplate the theme Wandering Toward God. We often use the theme of a journey to describe life, but that journey is not usually … - Ash Wednesday | March 5
Noon & 7:00 PM Noon – at the church building | 7:00 PM – at the church building & online The season of Lent begins with this solemn day of repentance and receiving ashes as a sign of mortality and humility. We are invited to begin the Lenten disciplines of … - Alleluia – there were pancakes!
On the last Sunday after the Epiphany, before Lent began on Ash Wednesday, we sang and shouted “Alleluia” as we omit and remove this Hebrew word of praise until the Easter Vigil. Worshipers colored Alleluia art and each sheet was placed in a box, put inside the altar, awaiting Easter. … - Fastnacht Celebration | March 4
Join FELC for a Fastnacht celebration on Tuesday, March 4, in the FELC Fellowship Hall. Tuesday night before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday we have a “night before fasting” or Fastnacht. At 6 PM we’ll serve pancakes, and after we’ll begin the talent-show-and-hymn sing. Bring your appetite, talent, favorite hymn, … - Repertory Chorus Concert | March 3
Join Repertory Chorus in concert on Monday, March 3 at 8 PM. This new choir of UT’s Butler School of Music serves as a laboratory chorus for the master’s and doctoral students in choral conducting. FELC is excited to collaborate with UT in this new music and teaching endeavor. This … - Transfiguration | Sunday, March 2
Transfiguration Sunday is a bridge between the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle that comes to a close as the Lent-Easter cycle begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5. Throughout the liturgy we offer “alleluia” which is expressed in a variety of ways. Alleluia means “God be praised.” This word of joy is “buried” during the season … - Stephen Mark Youngdahl (1946-2025)
We join family, and many friends, colleagues, and parishioners, in giving God thanks for the life and witness of Pastor Steve Youngdahl. Pastor Youngdahl was the founding pastor of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran in Austin, and served that congregation for 35 years. Steve was the sixth vicar/intern pastor at First … - February 23 | The Seventh Sunday after Epiphany
The promise and its fulfillment may not look at all alike, even though they are intimately connected. Saint Paul speaks about seeds and plants as he tries to picture resurrection life. Joseph’s brothers never thought they would see him alive again, so how shocking he must have appeared to them …Continue reading “February 23 | The Seventh Sunday after Epiphany”
- Austin Marathon | Sunday, February 16
The Austin marathon will take place on Sunday, February 16, 2025. Race day road closures will begin as early as 5 a.m., and may continue along the route as late as 2 p.m, depending upon location. Pre-race day closures will occur in downtown Austin beginning Friday evening, February 14, on … - Game Night & Potluck | February 15, 6 pm
Meet in the Fellowship Hall of First English Lutheran Church, 3001 Whitis Ave. Enter though the door marked Fellowship Hall, or the door marked Kitchen. Bring food you like to share, bring board games if you want, or just try one of the many games that will be available. Anyone … - February 16 | Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
Blessings and curses abound on the sixth Sunday after Epiphany. We would do well to listen closely to whom the “blessed ares” and the “woe tos” are directed and to find our place in the crowd among those who desire to touch Jesus. The risen Christ is among us with …Continue reading “February 16 | Sixth Sunday after Epiphany”
- Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
February 9–the fifth Sunday after Epiphany–continues to highlight unlikely instruments and circumstances appointed to reveal God’s glory. “Who will go for us?” God asks. A person of unclean lips, a former persecutor of the church of God, and three fishermen who couldn’t catch a thing. More surprising still, perhaps, is … - Scout Sunday | February 2
On Sunday, February 2, we welcome Pack 28. 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. Boy Scouts of … - Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple | February 2
Forty days after the birth of Jesus we mark the day Mary and Joseph presented him in the temple in accordance with Jewish law. There they were greeted by Simeon, an aged priest who offered the song “Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace,” as well as by …Continue reading “Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple | February 2”
- Commemoration of MLK, Jr.
On Sunday, January 26, we commemorate the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), pastor, renewer of society, and martyr. An American prophet of justice among races and nations, Pastor King was an ordained minister in the Baptist tradition, a leader of the nonviolent resistance … - Community Madrigal Sing | Monday, February 3
Join us at the next Community Madrigal Sing at FELC on Monday February 3 at 7:00 pm, hosted by Texas Early Music Project! TEMP is a long-standing community music partner. Sing madrigals together with other early music buffs; no experience is required for this “TEMP-orary choir” – just a love …Continue reading “Community Madrigal Sing | Monday, February 3”
- Thanks from Austin City Lutherans
Austin City Lutheran’s Move-In Ministry capped off 2024 by serving 114 individuals and families with furniture and household items. Thank you to so many for your collaboration in this effort in Christ’s name to make our Austin community a better place to live. To learn more, visit the ACL website: … - FELC Book Club | February 9
On Sunday, Feb. 9, 1:00-3:00 PM, we will meet at the home of Kathleen and Charlie Boas for a potluck lunch and discussion of Translation State, by Ann Leckie. Translation State is available from Austin Public Library, Amazon, and Bookfinder. Here’s the summary from amazon.com: Qven was created to be a Presger … - Congratulations, Pastor Wes!
On Saturday, January 18, Wesley Joy Isberner, 50th vicar/intern pastor of FELC (2021-2022), was ordained to the ministry of word and sacrament in Christ’s one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Pastor Wes is called to serve with the people of Spirit Alive! Lutheran … - Learning Ministry | January 19On Sunday, January 19, Adult Faith Formation will be an exploration of Climate Change and Tropical Diseases, led by Kristin Mondy, 9 am in the Parlor. January 19 (the third Sunday of the month) is also our Intergenerational Faith Formation time. We will be making a trip out to Fortlandia …
- The Season of Epiphany
Epiphany (a Greek word meaning “to reveal”) is the celebration of God being revealed the Christ to the magi from the east, and all the ways that God’s light in manifest in love and mercy among us. It is celebrated on January 6. The Sunday after Epiphany is a celebration … - National Day of Racial Healing
Tuesday, Jan. 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free, online event presented by the ELCA in partnership with Augsburg Fortress Publishers, featuring worship, workshops, music and guided reflection while centering the voices of ELCA leaders of color. This event is designed to raise awareness of the need for racial healing … - Epiphany Lessons & Carols | Sunday, January 12
Worship at 10 am | onsite and online During Epiphany Lesson & Carols we celebrate the three manifestations, or “epiphanies,” of Jesus’ humanity and divinity. These showings of Christ’s birth are: the coming of the Magi, Christ’s baptism, and the Wedding at Cana where he changed water into wine. This …Continue reading “Epiphany Lessons & Carols | Sunday, January 12”
First English Lutheran Church | Austin, Texas
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