December Newsletter
We love, serve, and gather in Christ.
A note from Pastor Doug
We are almost done with the year 2020!! I have seen many, many social media posts about people just wanting this year to be over with and done. I am ready for it to be over as well and for the new year to begin, but I am also excited about Christmas this year.
It will be different, as never before, but it will still be Christmas! All of the "tinsel" of the season must be put aside and our focus return to the "reason for the season!" Christmas is always about Christ born anew among us. Our living hope, peace, and joy return in Jesus on Christmas Eve.
There will be a reduced number of activities: office parties, special events, going to shows, or out shopping. Everything has taken a dramatic change in how we do that which we do. We are being advised to reduce these gatherings, and not to travel to be with family just as we were for Thanksgiving. This will be hard. Daily living is hard. Everything we knew about the world back in January/February 2020 has changed and likely be changed forever.
This is hard, but one of the things I like about the new year is putting the past year away! Tear the page off the calendar, wrinkle it up and toss in the trash. We put our "past in our behind" as Pumba says in The Lion King! Maybe this is the reason many party and celebrate on New Year's Eve. We ceremoniously put the past away and open up a new year, new month, new day and always a new life.
Take time out this season to quietly celebrate Jesus in our midst. We have much to give thanks, and many reasons to celebrate Jesus. We are loved, God is with us (Emmanuel) a name given to Jesus in Matthew 1:23! Rejoice and be glad, this month, next month and every day because the God of love has been born new into our hearts and lives.
Let us rejoice and be glad,
Pastor Doug
Council Meeting Highlights
FLC Council has continued to meet regularly via Zoom to keep projects moving forward and provide for ongoing communication.
FLC and St. Andrew’s to hold joint Thanksgiving Eve service at St. Andrew’s. Note this service was held virtually due to Covid closure.
Continued to review our Return to Worship process, participated in a joint meeting with St. Andrew’s, reviewed insights from the Bishop and others, determined that we would cease in-person service through Sunday, January 24, 2021. Agreed to review in-person worship status the week of January 4th.
Discussed the continuation of our Sunday Live Stream on Facebook. Reviewed input received from viewers and talked about needed adjustments and to coordinate efforts with St. Andrews.
Reviewed and approved the draft budget to be presented at the December congregational metting.
Discussed performance, duties, and salary review of FLC staff
Confirmed December 6th at 11am for Congregational meeting. NOte that this meeting will now be held via Zoom, see info below for more information including support on site
Established the list of members to be asked to lead the Nominating Committee; Debbie Hacker, Phil Zillinger, and Becky Albaugh.
Accepted the resignation of Rick Westwick as Vice President and voted to have Debbie Hacker fulfill the balance of Rick’s term.
Disussions held regarding the Food Pantry and year-end tasks.
We want to thank everyone for their continued support and please contact us if you have any concerns or questions!
Don, Julie, Jim, Debbie, Ron, and Pastor
Council President’s Thoughts
I’m sitting here putting together my last newsletter as your Council President. Looking back at 2020, I am thinking what can only be described as, “What a year”! As a family of Faith, we have come through all the challenges we faced, and we have endured. We have been blessed.
This year, the congregation has called Pastor Doug in a shared ministry with St. Andrew’s. We currently are experiencing our second suspension of in-person worship services due to the pandemic, but we continue to worship together. We found ways and have gained the knowledge of conducting both recorded and livestream worship services even with the restrictions placed upon us.
The congregation continued to function and provide to the community through the Garden of Faith and has maintained the Food Pantry during the pandemic and continues setting examples of pride and devotion serving God in a time of need.
I have been honored to serve the church as council president this year and pass the torch as we move into 2021.
Don Damrow
Advent
The season of Advent began Nov. 29th marking the four (4) week period of waiting, once again, on the birth of Christ at Christmas. This year there will be no mid-week services at either church, however, Pr. Doug will prepare a mid-week devotional and send that out electronically.
Thank you to our
Church Council and Ministry Team Leaders
To Our Church Council and Team Ministry Leaders:
We want to take this time to say THANK YOU to all of you! You have had to make tough decisions and that is never easy, but understood! You have provided opportunities for Faith to continue to worship with sacrifices of your own time and effort, provided outreach to those in need, kept us informed, and kept everyone as safe as possible.
For those who “move off” Council or a team lead role, please continue to be a part of the various ministries and offer your leadership! For those who are continuing on or will be new to the 2021 Faith leadership team, thank you for your service and commitment to the mission!
God bless you all,
Your Faith Family
December 6, 2020
Congregational Meeting
Our Faith December Congregational meeting will be held on Sunday December 6th @ 11 am. This meeting will be held via Zoom (in the same way we held our Congregational election in June).
All voting members will be sent a Zoom invite via MailChimp which will provide the link and password information for the meeting.
Note that we ask that you log into Zoom 10-15 minutes prior to the meeting in order to handle any technical difficulties.
Lori Becker will be onsite at the church to provide zoom access for a limited number of people who need this assistance. She will have two laptops available to allow for social spacing. Please contact either Lori or Julie Muncy to reserve your spot.
Proposed Meeting Agenda for Sunday December 6th:
Opening Prayer
Determination & Declaration of Quorum
Adoption / Approval of Agenda
Recognition of our Nominating Committee
2021 Council Members Election
2021 Budget Review / Approval (see Proposed Budget below)
FLC Constitution & By-Laws Updates, First Approval (See Proposed changes below)
Note - If the Constitution & Bylaws updates are approved during our December meeting, they will be presented for ratification at our next regular meeting, presumed to be sometime after the first of 2021
Adjournment
Closing Prayer
Michelle graduated on November 13th from Rocky Vista University with a Master’s Degree of Physicians Assistant in Parker, Colorado and was the Student Speaker. We are so proud of you for all of your hard work, Michelle! She also passed her “boards”!!
From your Faith family
Congrats to Michelle Becker
Communion Kits
Communion Kits were distributed in a drive-thru format at Faith in November. This will be repeated in December, check email during the week. The purpose is to allow you and yours may participate in Holy Communion with your family of faith virtually from home. More kits will be offered after the new year as needed.
Year-End Financial Givings
Year-end Giving - If you are mailing financial givings in within 2020, please make sure it is postmarked by December 31st or use GIVE PLUS by December 31st. Contact Brian Kochersperger if you have questions.
Account Totals
10/1/2020 - 10/31/2020
Budget Giving $9,975.49
Building Fund $ 270.00
Food Pantry $ 508.77
Garden of Faith $ 39.20
Reformation Sunday $25.00
St. Andrew’s $5,044.01
Sunday School $ 120.00
Total $15,982.47
December
Celebrations
We’d like to honor and celebrate with you!
Please contact Sheilah to make sure we have
your birthday and anniversary on file.
THANK YOU from Martha Siemers
A cheerful THANK YOU to Faith congregation, and also to Pastor Doug, for the thoughts and greetings sent for my 94th birthday. There were many warm greetings and at this time in my life, surrounded by the COVID-19, those greetings are still encouraging me. I have them in sight and read through them periodically. It was a lovely birthday.
Birthdays
Jacob Benning 12/4
Samuel Muncy 12/7
Jordan Kochersperger 12/20
Brian Moench 12/31
Anniversaries
Don and Julie Snyder 12/7
Gil and Joyce Sams 12/27
Vince and Jodi Draper 12/28
MUSIC CORNER with Douglas
“What Child Is This?” (1865)
Feelings of sadness can come over us whenever we hear this deeply moving carol. It is, after all, traditionally set in the key of E minor, which is known as the “saddest of all keys.” Yet triumphant joy dispels the sadness as we exclaim: “This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing.”
The melancholic melody is a famous old British tune called “Greensleeves,” originally a ballad about a man pining for his lost love, the fair Lady Greensleeves. Tradition says it was composed by King Henry VIII for Anne Boleyn. Although that is unlikely, we do know that Henry’s daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, danced to the tune.
Shakespeare referred to it twice in his play, The Merry Wives of Windsor. In Act V, for example, Falstaff said, “Let the sky rain potatoes; let it thunder to the tune of ‘Green Sleeves.’”
It was licensed to two different printers in 1580, and soon thereafter was being used with religious texts. Its first association with Christmas came in 1642, in a book titled New Christmas Carols, in which it was used with the poem “The Old Year Now Away Has Fled.” The last verse says: Come, give’s more liquor when I doe call, / I’ll drink to each one in this hall… And God send us a happy new yeare!
For nearly 150 years, however, “Greensleeves” has been most identified with “What Child Is This?” The words of this carol are taken from a longer poem written by an insurance agent named William Chatterton Dix, born in Bristol, England, in 1837. His father was a surgeon who wanted his son to follow in his footsteps, but having no interest in medicine, William left Bristol Grammar School, moved to Glasgow, and sold insurance.
His greatest love was his prose and poetry for Christ. He wrote two devotional books, a book for children, and scores of hymns, two of which remain popular Christmas carols: “What Child Is This?” and “As with Gladness Men of Old.”
All of Dix’s hymns should be more widely sung today because they are masterpieces of poetry, filled with rich scriptural truth. Here is the way he begins his exultant hymn, “Alleluia!”
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus! His the scepter, His the throne.
Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone.
“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”
Luke 2:15
Prayer Wall
It is written in Philippians 4:6, that we are not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving we are to present our requests to God. You don’t have to be a “Prayer Warrior” to pray. Would you pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ?
Our Administrative Assistant, Sheilah Keefer, has Covid-19 and welcomes our prayers and cards of encouragement.
Our Homebound Members:
Flora Christiansen and Martha Siemers
Continued Prayers:
Christina Burgan (daughter of Joyce and Gil Sams), Carol Westwick (chronic back pain), Lou Ann Funk, Carolyn Moench, Jodi Draper, Vince Draper, Sara Curry, Sam Muncy, Tim Schults (brother of Karen Anderson), Dan Weaver (father of Dee Dee Kochersperger), Unknown needs to all who are troubled in mind, body, and spirit.
Students:
Amy Westwick (Paramedic School), Douglas Perez, Maddie Anderson, Matthew Benning, Lauren Basicker, All students navigating their “new normals”
Military Service Members:
Corporal (JJ James), All Service Men and Women fighting for our freedoms
Current Events:
Continued Covid-19 struggles
Wildfires across our country
Peace for our troubled world
Those affected by Hurricanes
Pastor invites us all to consider a donation to Lutheran World Relief at www.lwr.org
Leadership and Local Organizations:
ELCA Bishop: Elizabeth Eaton
I-K Synod Bishop Bill Gafkjen
Lutheran Child and Family Services
Family Promise
Sheltering Wings
Faith’s Food Pantry
As a family of Faith, we want to pray and celebrate WITH you. Please submit your requests to Sheilah at the office by phone 317.272.1022 or by email at flc.avon@att.net.
If you would like to add details to your petitions you are welcome to do so but you do NOT have to.
Proposed changes to the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions
The Congregation Council proposes that our church’s Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions be updated to bring them into line with the Model Constitution of the ELCA and our unique operation. I have listed a summary of the changes below. I can send electronic documents of our current Constitution, the proposed Constitution, and/or the list of changes if anyone wishes. Please contact me at: jworebaugh@comcast.net and I will forward them to you. We can also provide a paper copy. Just be aware the current Constitution is 24 pages, the proposed Constitution is 38 pages, and the list of changes is 43 pages for a total of 107.
So, what is changing?
Some wording to remove ambiguity, “the congregation” to “this congregation” and synodical” to “this synod”
Added role of Deacon with its responsibilities
Changed “pastor” to “minister of word and sacrament” or “minister of word
and service” depending on whether or not the “pastor” may administer
communion.
A new requirement is to adopt a Mission Statement and review it periodically.
(which we already have)
Changes some of the procedures for leaving the ELCA
Added “Seasonal member” The best example I can think of are Snowbirds, those
living part of the year in Indiana and part of the year somewhere South of Indiana. A Seasonal member has the following restrictions:
They shall not be eligible for elected office in, or for membership on the Congregation Council or on a call committee of this congregation;
They shall not have the right to vote on any matter concerning or affecting the call or termination of call of any minister of this congregation;
They shall not have the right to vote on any matter concerning or affecting the affiliation of this congregation with the ELCA;
Theyshallnotbeeligibletoserveasvotingmembersfromthiscongregation of the Synod Assembly or the Churchwide Assembly;
They shall not, even if otherwise permitted by this congregation, vote by proxy or by absentee ballot; and
Theyshallnot,withinanytwocalendarmonthperiod,exercisevotingrights in this congregation and in the congregation where they remain voting members.
Added more detail to discipline of pastor and using the synod consultation committee to resolve situations involving the pastor.
Added the ability to hold electronic meetings of the congregation, council, or any other group provided that all members of the meeting may simultaneously hear each other (required by Indiana law)
The Council is responsible for overseeing the financial affairs. Changed “efficiently” to “effectively” as being effective is almost always better than being efficient while leaving out “paying particular attention to the prompt payment of benevolence/mission support to the synod” as it is our policy for each month to send the synod 10% of the amount of income we received for the operating budget the previous month.
We also took the opportunity to move some specifics from the constitution to the bylaws to make it easier to change in the future as our needs change. Constitution amendments require approval at a congregation meeting plus ratification (approval without changes) at the subsequent annual meeting plus approval by the synod. Bylaw amendments though only require approval at one congregation meeting. Those specifics that were moved to the Bylaws are:
Spending limit of $2,000 for non-budget items
Council terms of office and scheduling their installation from a vague “before January 31” to “a time appointed by the Council” to avoid inclement weather
The ELCA added a condition that the Council was to notify the Congregation if our anticipated income will not be sufficient to cover expenses. We used to be in this position, but as we now have a healthy budget surplus and a reserve, the Council felt that this didn’t apply, as we didn’t believe that the congregation would care if our income was hundreds of dollars short or even by a thousand dollars or so, that wouldn’t put that much of a dent in our roughly $60,000 surplus. So, we changed the wording to notify the congregation if the budget surplus was in danger of becoming depleted.
Date of Annual meeting, so that it could be moved if necessary or if wanted by the congregation
As noted above, we left out having a full indicated amount of mission support from the budget as we give 10% of our operating budget income. We’ve done this for years now, and it works well. We do include an estimate so that the Synod has something to work with, but it’s typically artificially low to help ensure that we give at least that amount and normally more.
If you have any questions, please ask a council member. We plan on presenting these amendments for approval by the congregation in December when we also vote on Council nominees and approve the 2021 Operating Budget.