Zoom Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/499545065?pwd=aXd4M3EwcmdOWTh0SC80TVNGeW44dz09 

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.)

 

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/

The worship book is posted at https://flcsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Oct-11-WEB.pdf

The readings for this Sunday are: 
 

• FIRST READING: Isaiah 25:1-9
  • The feast of victory
• Psalm 23
  You prepare a table before me, and my cup is running over. (Ps. 23:5)
• SECOND READING: Philippians 4:1-9
  Rejoice in the Lord always
• Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14
  The parable of the unwelcome guest at the wedding feast 

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: 

Hymn of the Day Beloved, God’s Chosen (ELW 648)
Communion hymn: Bread of Life from Heaven, (ELW 474, chorus only, repeated)
Sending Song To Be Your Presence (ELW 546)

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.)

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. 

Livestream will continue permanently for those who are not ready to be back.  

This is not a “return to normal”.  There are several reasons that is not feasible or advisable. Thus  described as a “live studio audience”.  No singing, no moving around the sanctuary (communion in pews, offering received beforehand, other modifications) and still our amended liturgy adapted for online.

Basic rules are that masks must be worn the entire time you are in the building. Only our worship leaders will sing, others may hum to themselves but are asked not to project as that is a danger for spreading aerosols. Full details are available at https://flcsm.org/in-person/ . PLEASE read and understand those if you plan to join us. 

It is also contingent on maintaining a low or steadily declining number based on Hays County Health Department statistics as well as information from the wider area that impacts us. If that ceases to be the case we will return to our practices from the past 6 months. 

If you are coming, we ask you to RSVP to the church office so we can have worship materials ready. firstlutheran@grandecom.net is still the one to use, though if you reply directly to this email (info@flcsm.org) it will also get here. 

For now, we have plenty of room. If you have not RSVPed come on anyway... having the list is mostly for our records and preparation, but we do not anticipate having too many to safely fit. If we begin to get close to that, we may need to have a 'waiting list' and rotation, but we are a good ways from that being necessary. 
  

Ringing will be one way for those who are comfortable returning to worship in person to participate. Only our two singers will be singing because of the dangers involved. But we have made a plan to ring handbells as part of worship and hope it provides a way for you to be part of making the songs of praise to God.
First: You do NOT need musical training. If you can follow the words of the hymn, you can ring a bell. You don't need to read notes.

Cynthia will prepare the scores. Show up Sunday morning at 9 am to rehearse (bells only at 9 am, then join the other instrumentalists at 9:30 am).

Bells ringers will sit in the section by the windows, near the other instruments. The spacing there is the same as anywhere in the sanctuary. Music will be on stands in the pew in front of you, so that you need not juggle music and bells.

Again, if you can follow the words of a hymn, then you can ring a bell! No music reading required. Really!
Please notify the Church office by Thursday at 4 pm if you want to ring a bell (or even two!) on Sunday.   

firstlutheran@grandecom.net  is still the operating email for that, or you can call 512-392-2064 

The link for the email in yesterday's email was incorrect. If you sent an email, please try again! 

The answering machine is occaionally cutting messages short. If you get it and want to make sure the message gets through, be double sure with email!  firstlutheran@grandecom.net is still working at this time! 

We are still taking hymn suggestions! if you want to submit a favorite hymn, email it to pastortim@flcsm.org . You don't need to put down a number but it does need to be in the ELW hymnal.  

In addition to hymn suggestions (which we are now running short on) we also want to hear other ideas for worship. Some have offered ideas from other services they have been watching online. Others have asked for changes to the worship book to make it easier to follow. The good side of worship this way is it is very flexible in format and open for experimentation. If you have suggestions or critiques, Pastor Tim wants to hear them. Not everything may be possible, but we can try!  
 

If you have any challenges accessing worship, let us know! We recently learned that one of the links in this email was not working!  Pastor Tim tries to keep them all correct but the ways he gets on and starts worship are not the ways an 'end user' would. If you ever have a hard time getting online, email him at pastortim@flcsm.org and he can troubleshoot it.