August 19th FLC Update

FLC Weekly Email

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Worship for August 14th
8th Sunday after Pentecost

Most of the artwork for this Sunday's Gospel focused on the woman's ailment. But instead, I found one that focuses on joy... not on hurt, but what God has done to restore those who are broken. This is a picture of the joy that comes from being set free. "Old Woman Dancing" is a 1920 work by German sculptor Ernst Barlach.

Through the lens of the gospel, today’s texts offer a clear identification of God’s work. What is God doing? God is reaching out to the bound-up to proclaim release from captivity. God is lifting up the oppressed. God is satisfying the needs of the afflicted. God raises up foundations. God restores and rebuilds, reconciles and sets free. God, whose word can shake the very foundations of the earth, speaks a better word than we’ve ever heard, or that we could ever speak. Like yeast that’s included in bread dough or the seed of a particularly stubborn weed sown in the garden (Luke 13:18-21), when God speaks, there’s no going back. The bread will be leavened; the garden will have a mustard bush; and precious daughters and sons of Abraham will be set free. It is God’s work and God’s activity that Isaiah calls us to be about. Why is the prophet so confident that light will conquer darkness and needs will be satisfied? Because this is already God’s work, or as the prophet says, because “the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Phone and Internet Changes at Church

Occasional outages are occuring while we finish the system transition.

Phones have changed over to the new system. The two primary numbers are the exact same (FLC is 512-392-2064 and KOK is 512-353-5437)

While we complete transition, there are times that calls do not go through. If you call and it gives a message that your call cannot be completed at this time, that the number is not in service, or simply doesn't ring, try later. If the problem continues, call Pastor Tim at 512-842-7138.

Email:
The grandecom.net email will go away because we will no longer have Grande as our internet provider. When we were first looking at this quite some time back we set up the address info@flcsm.org (that this email comes from each week). That will become the primary email address for the church, checked by Sue. THIS CHANGE WILL HAPPEN VERY SOON, ONCE WE HAVE THE NEW INTERNET INSTALLED AND DISCONNECT THE GRANDE ADDRESS.

These changes will upgrade our internet speed and hopefully stop the issues with our worship livestream. They also will allow us to place cameras and electronic locks that will help keep our building more secure.

Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81459937029?pwd=Z0pTMXVjUWU5VkxEQXBva2FDRHhXQT09
Meeting ID: 814 5993 7029 Passcode: 106355
(Those shouldn't be necessary if you use the link)

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/firstlutheransmtx/
(If the above links do not work, try the red buttons on the top of https://flcsm.org/ instead.)

The worship book is posted at https://flcsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Aug-21-pd.pdf

The readings for this Sunday are:

Isaiah 58:9b-14
Do not trample the sabbath, but feed the hungry
Psalm 103:1-8
The Lord crowns you with mercy and steadfast love. (Ps. 103:4)
Hebrews 12:18-29
You have come to the city of the living God and to Jesus
Luke 13:10-17
Jesus heals a crippled woman on the sabbath and is condemned

You can find the readings each week by going to https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/ and clicking on the date. Our Old Testament reading and Psalm are the second set listed.

Our hymns are:

Gathering Song Healer of Our Every Ill (ELW 612)
Hymn of the Day Build a Longer Table (ACS 1062)
Communion hymn: Praise, Praise! You Are My Rock (ELW 862)
Sending Song Blest Be the Tie That Binds (ELW 656)

The worship book now has a permanent address so you can find it easily and there will be fewer chances for errors. It will be at http:// http://flcsm.org/next-sunday-worship-book/ . You might find a placeholder file there during the week. It will be posted by Saturday at the latest. (There may be changes in prayers and other small items, but the link should remain the same. If there are any major changes, which we do not anticipate, we would send another email on Sunday.)

More full instructions are on the website. Additionally, if you cannot access from the usual links, check the website because Zoom often implements updates on the weekend. The website can be changed in minutes if needed to update links or passwords. You can find all the information at

https://flcsm.org/onlineworship/
and more complete instructions at
https://flcsm.org/worshipaccess/

IF YOU GO there on Saturday and Sunday and find last weeks file you need to fully refresh your browser because your computer is reading its cached version.
If that does not work try getting the file from the specific date link on the worship page

Prime Timers Returns

We are preparing for a return to our Prime Timer’s lunch tradition for those who are ready. We missed our regular August gathering and with Meals On Wheels there is not time to reschedule this week. We will gather on September 6th. Restaurant TBD.

If you are ready to gather for lunch at a local restaurant, let Sue know.

Living Lutheran

The latest Living Lutheran magazine is now in! It was a bit late in arriving but has some excellent articles.

Current FLC COVID Practices
(Last change in July 2022)

Update on July 28:
The FLC Council decided that we will NOT require masks even though we are in a high transmission status. Instead, we will encourage them as well as continuing to encourage people to keep social distance during worship.

From April 2022:
The FLC Council, based on current public health recommendations adopted the following.

“Based on guidance from the CDC, because we are currently in a “low transmission” status, the church council has decided that wearing masks will be optional during hours that Kids Of The Kingdom is not in operation. (7 am to 6 pm weekdays masks will be mandatory to follow State of Texas requirements for child care centers.)

If Hays County goes into a “high transmission” category we will immediately resume mandatory masking at all times per CDC guidelines.

Zoom and Facebook will continue to be available for those not wishing to be in person.”

This policy is effective immediately.

Other notes: As we adjust to a new phase and the pandemic becomes endemic (a disease that continues to circulate but against which we have more immunity and precautions available), we are all ready to respond to risks differently. Of course we expect everyone in our church community to respect the ways others choose to protect themselves. But we also want to be aware of ways to support one another. For some, wearing a mask may also be a sign that they are wanting to keep more personal space than we might have considered normal a few years ago. As our faith tells us to be more concerned for our neighbor than ourselves, we need to be aware of these signals and make returning to church in-person as comfortable as we can for all, no matter how we are ready to engage the risks of being in public.

Please be aware of the still increased cautions that Kids Of The Kingdom continues to take. The children in our care cannot be vaccinated yet because of age. During operating hours, we must require that you wear a mask when not in a separate space away from more than one other person. These are strictly enforced rules put in place by state childcare licensing and we cannot risk any violation.

If you visit the church building during KOK hours (M-F 7 am to 6 pm), PLEASE use the main doors by the church office. This is especially important at pick-up time in the late afternoon until 6 pm. Parents are still not allowed in the building and it is confusing to parents and difficult for staff when people use those doors while they are dismissing children.

First Lutheran Staff and Contact Info:

Pastor: The Rev. Tim Bauerkemper
Office Manager: Sue Cole
Music Director: Dr. Cynthia Gonzales
Organist: Joe Callan

pastortim@flcsm.org
firstlutheran@grandecom.net

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