January 2021 Newsletter
We love, serve, and gather in Christ.
NEWS FROM FAITH
* VIRTUAL FAITH WORSHIP SERVICE, SUNDAY, JANUARY 3rd AT 9 AM
Watch your email or Check FACEBOOK FAITH LUTHERAN at Avon LIVE at 9 am (St. Andrews at 11 am)
** IN PERSON WORSHIP SERVICES CURRENTLY SUSPENDED, SERVICES ARE CURRENTLY VIRTUAL AND THE OFFICE IS CLOSED.
WATCH FOR INFO ON OUR CHURCH FACEBOOK PAGE OR OUR WEBSITE WWW.FAITHLUTHERANAVON.ORG
WHEN WE WILL HAVE CHURCH IN-PERSON AGAIN?
The church council will be meeting early in the month of January to discuss re-opening. As always, we will prayerfully look at the facts and data and talk and listen to one another to decide. We will publicize widely when decided. Meanwhile, watch emails and Facebook posts on the latest video links to 9 am Facebook “live” services and Pastor’s Midweek Moment!!
Pastor Doug’s “Peace”
Finally, the new year dawns!! Hooray, the world says! We would very much like to put the year 2020 in the rearview mirror and move forward into 2021. We know the last year was so difficult and stressful with the Pandemic, closed congregations, and all the rest. It was a year I know I am glad to put behind me and I hope you are also.
So a new year opens. New possibilities for our lives, and hopes and dreams for ourselves, our family and our family of faith. Every year the same pattern continues for many people. They start out getting up early to read the Bible or pray and that fails by the end of January! Many join gyms to work out and get in shape in the new year and that, also, usually fails by February.
Unless you or I are committed totally to the idea of change, it won’t take place. Thankfully, God saw a change was needed and was committed to having the price of sin paid for by Jesus! The Lord did that and now for us offers a new life we so desperately need. Always and forever, every day, not just on January 1st!!
I have a friend who has “Happy New Year!” on her voicemail. Her point to those who call, every day is Happy New Year! In Jesus Christ, this is most certainly true.
Join me in prayer that this new year brings great things for our shared ministry together and our respective congregations. We pray we can get back to worship, full worship in due time. We can have fellowship events and services together and rejoice in the new thing God is doing! From Isaiah 43: 18-19: “Do not remember the former things, or consider things of old. I am about to do a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert!” What new thing is God doing in your life and our congregations?
Peace be with you, Pastor Doug
December Council Meeting Highlights
Discussed the December 6th Zoom Congregational meeting which included Election of 2021 Council, First review / vote on Constitution-By-Law updates, Approval of 2021 Budget
Welcomed our 2021 new Council Members – Julie Muncy (President), Janice Lee (Vice President), Becky Albaugh (Recording Secretary, and Sara Curry (At-Large)
Reviewed 2020 Council Action Items list
Discussed Food Pantry Support
Thanked our 2020 Council Members who would be ending their term: Don Damrow (President) and Debbie Hacker (At-Large).
Agreed to review in-person worship status early in January to determine the best course of action.
Thanks to Don Damrow and Debbie Hacker for their dedication and commitment to Faith as they end their current terms on Council.
December 6th Congregational Meeting Highlights
The Congregational meeting was held virtually via Zoom on December 6, 2020.
The new 2021 Faith Lutheran Church Operating budget was approved.
Newly elected Council members for 2021 include: Julie Muncy, President; Janice Lee, Vice President; Becky Albaugh, Recording Secretary (to complete the 2nd year of the term); Sara Curry, Council-at-Large; Jim Orebaugh, Financial Secretary (completing his 2nd year of the term); Ron Graff (completing his 2nd year of the term);
FLC Constitution & By-Laws updates approved, First Approval of two required
We want to thank everyone for their continued support and please contact any Council member if you have any concerns or questions!
** As a review, the 2021 Congregational Approved Budget is included in the Financial Section within the newsletter.
Council President’s Thoughts
A new day, a New Year and a new way of looking at the months to come indeed. A time filled with much anticipation and promise for what 2021 will bring us. At this time of year we’re usually working on a list of New Year’s resolutions; lose five pounds, stay within our budget, be more organized…we each have our hit-list. This year maybe we should add our faith life to the resolution to-do list. Many items to consider include reading our Bible more regularly, making sure to attend our online Sunday services, watch our Midweek Moment and participating in our joint Sunday evening Faith Formation group with our sister congregation, helping out at the Food Pantry, in our garden or just simply talking with God more often. As you go through your preparation for 2021, I ask that you consider this and that you will say a prayer for our Faith family. We stand at the doorway of a new year filled with change and much hope for the mission and ministry that God has blessed us with and we can continue to share with our community this year.
Many blessings to you and your family.
Julie Muncy
Communion Kits
Communion Kits were distributed in a drive-thru format at Faith in November. We hope to repeat this in January. The purpose is to allow you and yours may participate in Holy Communion with your family of faith virtually from home. If you need more, contact Pastor Doug or send an email to the church flc.avon@att.net.
Congrats to JJ & Dezarae
JJ was finally able to make it home for two weeks from his service to his country in the U.S. Marine Corps. On December 29th, JJ and Dezarae were married! Planning for a wedding when the groom-to-be is hundreds of miles away and it is ‘2020’ doesn’t make it easy to plan, but it was certainly a time filled with excitement and joy. Dezarae and JJ’s family were excited to see him and celebrate this special day.
JJ and Dezarae, Faith Lutheran Church is your Faith home and we celebrate with you in love and spirit! Congratulations
Joyous Gift for Adopted Family
Faith provided Christmas joy to a family at Christmas. The family was very happy and excited. The kids loved their gifts and were so happy to receive them. People of Faith Lutheran always go above and beyond the call of duty to make others feel the love. The parents were so surprised and taken off guard. They were so very grateful for everything. God bless all the people of Faith Lutheran.
Food Pantry Corner
A BIG THANK YOU to all of the Volunteers this month for serving 81 families or 325 individuals! Food was provided to all to help get them through the holidays. Thank You to the congregation for all of the support.
Faith’s Food Pantry is a blessing to this community especially during these challenging times.
Faith will hold the regularly scheduled food pantry (1st Friday of the month) on New Year’s Day, January 1st, 2021 from 5 - 7 pm as we continue to serve the community.
The next regularly scheduled drive-thru food pantry at Faith is Saturday, January 16th from 9 - 11 (8:30 am prep time).
Volunteers are needed. Mark your calendars to volunteer! The more the merrier! This is a wonderful opportunity to share with those in need.
Please stay safe and God Bless You.
Happy Holidays!
Debbie Mohr
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
January
Celebrations
We’d like to honor and celebrate with you!
Please contact Sheilah to make sure we have
your birthday and anniversary on file.
Birthdays
Lothar Nitz 1/17
Joyce Sams 1/20
Cassidey Thomas 1/23
Jodi Draper 1/29
MUSIC CORNER with Douglas
“Angels We Have Heard on High” (1855)
Les Anges dans nos campagnes (literally “The Angels in Our Countryside”) was a French carol dating from the 1700s, which appeared in several different versions, and it was published in English in 1862, the words saying:
Angels we have heard on high / Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply / Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
An older version had the title, “Harken All! What Holy Singing!” Translated into English, the words said:
Hearken, all! What holy singing / Now is sounding from the sky!
‘Tis a hymn with grandeur ringing, / Sung by voices clear and high.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
And an even earlier version speaks from the shepherds’ vantage point, saying:
Shepherds in the field abiding, / Tell us when the seraph bright
Greeted you with wondrous tiding, / What you saw and heard that night.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Hymns are typically, completely composed by human beings like us, but in this case, obscure verses from unknown French poets were coupled with a refrain that was literally composed by angels in heaven: Gloria, in excelsis Deo (the Latin wording for the angelic anthem, “Glory to God in the highest!”). This comes from Luke 2:14 in the Vulgate, the Latin version of the Bible. The Latin word Gloria means Glory, and in excelsis is translated as the phrase, in the highest. Our English words excel and excellent come from the same root, meaning to rise, to ascend, or to be high. The Latin word Deo means God.
This was the song proclaimed by the angels over Shepherds’ Field the night that Christ was born. The musical score stretches out and emphasizes the words in a way that is uniquely fun to sing and deeply stirring as we lift our voices to proclaim, “Jesus has come! Hope has arrived on Earth! A Savior is born! Glory to God on High! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!”
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:13-14
Fellowship at Faith
It has been awhile since we have all been gathered at church together. If you have not been out to the property in the last month, several from Faith gathered safely at church on December 11th to decorate the property for Christmas. We put up our indoor Christmas tree, hung wreaths in the windows, and decorated the outdoor trees along the pond with ornaments and solar-powered lights. We hope you all had a safe and nice holiday, and we will see each other soon! Please reach out if you need anything!
Nikki Lee, Faith Fellowship Coordinator
nlee15@sbcglobal.net
Faith Formation
Every Sunday Evening
7:00pm Via Zoom
Join us Sunday Evenings, 7 p.m., for a new study from the “Book of Romans” series. The Sunday evening gathering is continuing ahead into the new year! Well worth an hour of your time and everyone is welcome! Join St. Andrew’s member, Jim Patton, as he leads us in a discussion on a wide range of Biblical/Christian issues including “rabbit holes!” Starting December 27th and going through February 14th, 2021 we will be studying 2 chapters a week from the Book of Romans.
This excellent book of the Bible provides some of the core beliefs in Lutheranism and is deep and wide in how to live the Christian life and walk with Jesus. Each of these Sunday nights “stands alone” meaning you don’t have to have attended the one before. All we ask is that you read the tow chapters the week prior. Make a note of what speaks to you, or what verses/themes have meaning to you! This is not a “class” and we won’t be theologically analyzing every verse. Simply what has energy, what speaks to you in a overview format.
Everyone is welcome! The schedule is:
January 3rd Romans chapters 3 & 4
January 10th Romans chapters 5 & 6
January 17th Romans chapters 7 & 8
January 24th Romans chapters 9 & 10
January 31st Romans chapters 11 & 12
February 7th Romans chapters 13 & 14
February 14th Romans chapters 15 & 16, conclusion
As always, these gatherings on Sunday night are informal, fun, and enjoyable for an hour of reflection on God’s movement in our everyday lives. The link and information is in an email from church every week. It’s a neat time of sharing, learning about God and God’s Word, and getting to know each other and friends from the other congregation. There is no homework, and you may come and go on any “given” Sunday and you don’t have to study ahead to come. Come and hang out!!! Join us, invite a friend or family member too. All are welcome. Contact Pastor Doug or call Jim at 317.319.3523 with any questions. Lori Becker, Sara Curry, and Janice Lee are regular Faith participants if you have any questions for any of them as well.
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:
Dan Lee, brother of Dave Lee, for heath issues; and Dave and his extended family for the death of his Uncle Decker in Florida; 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.