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Welcome to the August Tidings!

August At A Glance

  • Aug 1 @ 10:45 am – Worship
  • Aug 8 @ 10:45 am – Worship
  • Aug 8 after service – Choir Meeting
  • Aug 11 @ 5:30 pm – Study on the ELCA
  • Aug 12 @ 5:30 pm – Council Meeting
  • Aug 15 @ 10:45 am – Worship
  • Aug 17 @ 9:30 am – Ruth Circle at Joyce Heckmann's
  • Aug 18 @ 5:30 pm – Study on the ELCA
  • Aug 21 – Baylor Church Fair
  • Aug 22 @ 10:45 am – Worship
  • Aug 25 @ 5:30 pm – Study on the ELCA
  • Aug 28 @ 1:30 pm – Faith on Stage: WICKED
  • Aug 29 @ 10:45 am – Worship

A Letter from Pastor Austin

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.     

When I was a kid I always listened to the oldies station with my dad all the time, and one song that I always loved was Turn! Turn! Turn! by the Byrds. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized that the song was based off of the verse from Ecclesiastes listed above. This verse is one that is a constant reminder to us that everything in life has an ebb and flow to it. It’s hard to believe that August is here, and that summertime is almost over, the seasons come and go so quickly it seems. And there is a sadness and a gladness with the passing seasons I feel. Summer time is filled with lemonade, grill outs, pool parties, outdoor events, and so on. And when that season comes to an end there is a sadness, but there’s also a gladness because following summer comes fall, a time of hayrides, and Halloween, and for many people pumpkin spice everything. We say goodbye to summer and hello to the fall, and in many ways it is a reminder to us that our lives are filled with little deaths and resurrection’s. In every season we encounter, whether literally or figuratively, there is a reminder to us that God provides us with so much, in every passing moment there is something to give thanks for, there are blessings to be found in every moment, whether they are just beginning or coming to an end. In Christ we have the promise of everything being made new, and that’s something that we can always take comfort in, the changes that happen in life, in the coming and going of seasons, days, and moments. In Christ everything is being made new, so remember to stop and look for the newness that Christ brings, and know that through every passing season Christ is with us on the journey. As the song goes, to everything, turn, turn, turn, there is a season, turn, turn, turn, and a time to every purpose, under heaven.

In Christ,

     Austin Nickel

Announcements and Updates for August

Faith on Stage!

Come see the musical WICKED with us! We will be taking a road trip to Dallas on August 28 to see the 1:30 showing of WICKED at Music Hall at Fair Park. We aim to be on the road by 10 am from Waco and plan to stop for lunch before the show. If you are interested, let Austin know. Tickets are $60. More information can be found here.

The ELCA and Me: What it Means to be Lutheran Today

Join us as we explore what makes us the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Our mission for Christ is sacred and here we will look back on our history as well and understand our Christian identity today which is always growing. We will be using Lutherans in America: A New History by Mark Granquist as a guide, as well as looking at other documents and writings from ELCA to guide us. Please let Austin or Fallon know if you would like to participate. We will meet at the ESC and on Zoom at 5:30 on Wednesdays.  

  • Schedule August 11– The ELCA beginnings
  • August 18– The ELCA celebrations and struggles
  • August 25– The ELCA today

Altar Flower are Back!

Beginning in September the altar flowers will once again be placed on the small tables near the altar. The sign-up sheet for the end of the year is on the bulletin board in the chapel. Now you have the opportunity to acknowledge special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays, births, deaths, etc., and in memory of loved ones. The cost of 2 arrangements is now $40 (including delivery) and is payable to Sandy Geier, FLC Treasurer.

Lutheran World Relief Project

The School Kits Project will begin in July and will continue through September. You can donate as many or as few supplies as you like. Cash and check donations will also be accepted and used to purchase specific items to complete additional kits. Please bring your contributions to the ESC Chapel on Sundays and give them to Ann Pierson or Bettye Spears. Those items include:

  • Notebooks (70 sheets of wide or college ruled paper, 8" x 10 1/2 ": no loose-leaf paper)
  • Rulers (centimeters on one side and inches on the other)
  • Crayons (box of 16 or 24)
  • Pencil Sharpeners
  • Pencils (unsharpened #2 pencils with erasers)
  • Ball Point Pens (NO gel ink)
  • Erasers (about 2 1/2" long)
  • Scissors (blunt, safety scissors)
  • Backpacks
  • Cash and Check Donations

Your support and contributions of these items or cash donations are so greatly appreciated.  

Projects & Services,

Ann Pierson and Bettye Spears

Notes:

Prayer Requests

Jerry Crawford, Greg Mastorianni, Gail Parish.

Birthdays this month

Aug 1– Isabel Colorado; Aug 2– Jerry Lowrimore; Aug 2– Ashley Luedke; Aug 8– Doris Hodde; Aug 11– Lois Hoffman; Aug 14– Cheryl Dunn; Aug 14– Kat Hunt; Aug 16– Kolten Lillard; Aug 17– Violet Luedke; Aug 28–  Sean Maguire; Aug 29– Jim Alvarado; Aug 31– Dawn Alvarado; Aug 31– Henry Kasper

Anniversaries this month

August 1– Jerry & Katherine Lowrimore; August 8– Virgil & Glenda Bain; August 8– Alan & Laura Wertsching; August 29– James & Lisa Hunt Susan and Jerry Crawford have gotten rid of their landline phone. Susan's cell number is 254.716.0867.