October Newsletter
We love, serve, and gather in Christ.
A note from Pastor Doug
If you live in Indiana, October has to be one of your favorite months. “The Show” as I call it is the bright colors of the changing leaves all around the state. I know many people travel south to the Nashville area to see those colors at Brown County State Park. I have fun memories with my two younger brothers running and jumping in the pile of leaves that my dad would rake up almost every Saturday! When I was a kid we played sports out on the cul-de-sac and this time of year was “sweatshirt” weather and football, kickball and anything else we could do to suck out the last energy of good weather was so much fun. I love the colors of God’s rainbow in the trees and I want us to always be on the lookout for God in the everyday. The colors can inform us about the spiritual life:
Green - for growth in God’s love and grace for all of God’s creatures
Yellow - A reminder to shine our lights out into the world
Orange - To fan the flame of the Holy Spirit among us and keep our spiritual life “fresh”
Red - The blood of Christ shed for us
Most of all, in their beautiful October colors, leaves teach us it’s okay to let go!
Peace be with you,
Pr. Doug
**I continue to urge contact between you and me! Call 317-698-8472, I have a cell phone at bedside, email at douggivan@yahoo.com or pastor@standrews-elca.org, or leave a message at either church office. I will receive and promptly reply.
Council Meeting Highlights
FLC Council has continued to meet regularly via Zoom to keep projects moving forward and provide for ongoing communication.
Continue to review our Return to Worship process, discussing input received, adjusting the number of Sunday Servants and their locations, Sunday morning worship flow and monitor information format, entrance/exit pathways.
Discussion prep for live streaming and review of first Sunday Live Stream on Facebook. It was noted that we had over 70 views of our first video. We will be looking to establish a Technology Team to cover the broadcasting duties on Sunday mornings and then add the Team assignments to the Worship Assistant list.
Reviewed the final draft of our new website and then reviewed the launch. Logo sheets will be shared for further use by Teams.
Discussed the upcoming Memorial Service for Jerry Curry on Saturday, November 7th and plans for a joint service with St. Andrew’s for Pastor Doug’s Installation. More details to come for both events.
Refocused on our 2020 To-Do list and scheduled final review of Constitution and By-Law updates in October.
Discussion re Food Pantry, Nominating Committee, 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, Rick, Julie, Jim, Debbie, Ron, and Pastor
Council President’s Thoughts
Welcome to Fall! As the year progresses, so do we. In case you missed it, we have a new logo for Faith. It was introduced at a recent worship service, and will be rolled into all of our communications; our website, Facebook page, emails, printed materials, etc. If you notice our old logo being used, please let us know so we can update our look. Thank you to Haley Kochersperger, Julie Muncy, and all others involved in this project.
You may also have seen that we have added Facebook Live as a way to attend worship. This allows friends and members to worship with us in real time, or to view the video later if it is more convenient. Thank you to Rick Westwick, John Kofodimos, and everybody else that contributed to this undertaking.
I am pleased to say that there has been a noticeable improvement in the traffic flow on Sunday mornings. If you are volunteering as a worship assistant, you will receive updated instructions for your duties with your reminder the week you are to serve. Thanks to everyone for being flexible, for keeping the walkways open for safe social distancing, and for adhering to the guidelines we continue to observe – wearing masks over the mouth and nose, not singing during worship, and not speaking the group responses, prayers, etc., during worship.
One important project for the Council and Pastor Doug, is to gather all of the church documents and items that are being stored at various members’ homes. If you are storing anything, please bring it to church as soon as possible. If you are concerned that there isn’t room for what you are returning, please talk to Pr. Doug or a council member so we know what you have, and can make a plan for it’s return.
Thanks to everyone for continuing to be flexible, and FAITH-FULL.
Don
Faith Formation
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
Every Sunday Evening
at 7:00pm via Zoom
Over the next few weeks we will be studying the Fruits of the Spirit . The Fruits of the Spirit are 9 guidelines to live by according to Paul in Galatians 5:22-23: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, and Self-Control.
Our discussions are led by St. Andrews member, Jim Patton, each week includes Holy Communion at the beginning if you weren’t able to attend, and ends promptly at 8:00pm.
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 certainly come and go on any “givan” Sunday and you don’t have to study ahead.
Come and hang out!!! Join us, invite a friend or family member too!
Contact Pastor Doug or call Jim at 317.319.3523 with any questions!
Thank you for recognizing my 20th anniversary of Ordination on Sunday, September 20th at services. Special thanks to Lori Becker and Nikki Lee and others who helped. I was surprised and honored and I thank you!!
Pastor Doug
Thank You
from Pastor Doug
September 16, 2020
Dear Friends at Faith,
I was one of your previous pastors who served you from 1959-1973. Those were formative years for me as they were my first call out of seminary. Most of the members I served are no longer living and those who remain are along in years. Martie (my wife) and I enjoy reading your monthly newsletter and keeping abreast of your activity done as servants of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Martie and I have some health issues, but we are on our feet and are reasonably self-sufficient. We have limited our activity during this time of COVID-19. Enclosed is a gift for you to use as you see fit. I unbelievably forgot to rejoice in Pastor Doug Givan coming to you as your called pastor. His enthusiasm shines through his words in the newsletter. May the Holy Spirit lead you to many opportunities to “Lift High the Name of Jesus.”
Cordially/Peacefully in Christ,
Pastor Rodney and Martie Willike
Letter from Pastor Rodney and Martie Willike
Changes?! Who likes changes? We do!
OFFICE HOURS
Our church and office are OPEN!!!!
Family of faith we are excited to announce that we have official OFFICE HOURS and we welcome you to stop in and visit us! Pastor Doug and Sheilah will be in the office on Wednesday’s between 9:00am and 11:00am.
When we aren’t physically in the office we are still available by phone and email which are checked regularly. You can call, text, or email us 24/7.
Office phone:
317.272.1022
Pastor Doug phone:
317.698.8472
flc.avon@att.net douggivan@yahoo.com
NEW LOOK
New Website, New Logo, New Look, OH MY!! - Faithlutheranavon.org
If you haven’t had a chance to visit our new website please do! Faithlutheranavon.org
On our website you will find information about our ministries, a link to GIVE+ (our online giving application), a link to our Facebook page to where we broadcast Sunday morning worship LIVE, and MORE!!!! We encourage you to visit the new website and share it with friends and family!
FACEBOOK LIVE
We are LIVE on FACEBOOK!
The end of September was an exciting time as we prepared to broadcast our worship services LIVE on Facebook. We give thanks to Rick Westwick and all those who took part in making this new endeavor a success!!! You do not need to have a facebook account to join us for worship.
You can connect to our live stream by visiting our Website and clicking on FACEBOOK LIVE, go directly to our Facebook Live Streaming page Here or by clicking the link on the Sunday Worship email that will be sent every Sunday Morning at 10:45am.
Live streaming will begin 5-10 minutes prior to worship. If you are unable to join us live but would like to watch the service the live recording will be available soon after the live worship ends.
Faith’s Food Pantry
September was a very good month. We served a little over 77 families. I give Thank You’s to all of the volunteers that work the pantries.
I would like to ask the congregation for bags of treats for Halloween. We are not able to have a Trunk-or-Treats because of the COVID-19. We are planning to make treat bags for the families with children at our food pantry. Every child will get a bag. We will pass the bags on the
Saturday pantry day. We need candy donations by October 11, 2020.
Thank you for all of your support that makes the food pantry successful.
Thank you and God Bless.
Debbie M.
On September 21, Faith Lutheran Church will be providing dinner, along with breakfast and lunch for the following day, for the families currently residing with Family Promise. If you can provide food, deliver, and serve dinner on the 21st, or just come and spend some time with the families that evening, please contact Debbie Hacker.
Family
Promise
Prayer is Powerful
We, as Christian brothers and sisters, are called to pray for each other on all occasions. Ephesians chapter 6 says we are to keep this in mind, be alert, and always keep praying for all the saints. That means YOU!
Do you have a prayer request for ANY OCCASION? Health, Temporary Situation, Travel, Worry, Doubt, Moving etc.
Do you have a joy to share? Answered Prayer, Birth, New Job, Milestone Celebration, etc.?
Do you know someone that needs continued prayers? Homebound, Chronic Illness, Student, Military Service Member, etc.
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. The church phone and email are monitored daily.
If you would like to add details to your petitions you are welcome to do so but you do NOT have to.
All Saints Day - Submit Your Saint’s Name
All Saints Day is Sunday, November 1, 2020 and we will be honoring the saints that have gone before us. If you would like to honor a saint in your life, please submit their name to Sheilah by phone at 317.272.1022 or by email at flc.avon@att.net .
Birthdays
James Boyd 10/1
Sara James 10/2
Matthew Benning 10/4
Brian Kochersperger 10/9
Roberta Lothridge 10/11
Haley Kochersperger 10/14
Maddie Anderson 10/22
Anna Sheppard 10/23
Janice Lee 10/27
Jane Panarites 10/29
They’re Engaged!
We extend our congratulations & blessings for the recent engagement of Becky Albaugh’s granddaughter, Karli Thomas, to Nick Chesser.
October
Celebrations
We’d like to honor and celebrate with you!
Please contact Sheilah to make sure we have
your birthday and anniversary on file.
October Worship Assistants
We thank all of our Worship Assistants for their continued willingness to serve during worship.
October 4th
Altar Guild
Mona Etter
Assisting Minister
Lori Becker
Lector
Phil Zillinger
Ushers
Don Damrow
Matthew Benning
Greeter
Nikki Lee
Money Counter
Kevin Westwick
Cleaning Ministry
Albaugh (9/28 - 10/4)
October 11th
Altar Guild
Mona Etter
Assisting Minister
Brian K.
Lector
Willy Frizzell
Ushers
Julie Muncy
Jay Anderson
Greeter
Janice Lee
Money Counter
Janice Lee
Cleaning Ministry
Lee (10/5 - 10/11)
October 18th
Altar Guild
Mona Etter
Assisting Minister
Phil Zillinger
Lector
Sara Curry
Ushers
Janice Lee
Nikki Lee
Greeter
Kris Basicker
Money Counter
Rick Westwick
Cleaning Ministry
Professional Company
October 25th
Altar Guild
Mona Etter
Assisting Minister
Jim Orebaugh
Lector
Don Damrow
Ushers
Ron Graff
Jacob Benning
Greeter
Elaine Graff
Money Counter
Janice Damrow
Cleaning Ministry
Etter (10/19 - 11/2)
Daily Readings & Devotions
Thursday, October 1
Psalm 80:7-15
Friday, October 2
Pilippians 2:14-18; 3:1-4a
Saturday, October 3
John 7:40-52
Sunday, October 4
Matthew 21:33-46
Monday, October 5
1 Peter 2:4-10
Tuesday, October 6
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Wednesday, October 7
John 11:45-57
Thursday, October 8
1 Peter 5:1-5, 12-14
Friday, October 9
James 4:4-10
Saturday, October 10
Mark 2:18-22
Sunday, October 11
Matthew 22:1-14
Monday, October 12
Jude 17-25
Tuesday, October 13
Philippians 3:13-4:1
Wednesday, October 14
John 6:25-35
Thursday, October 15
Psalm 96:1-13
Friday, October 16
Deuteronomy 17:14-20
Saturday, October 17
Isaiah 14:1-11
Sunday, October 18
Matthew 22:15-22
Monday, October 19
Luke 1:1-4, 24:44-53
Tuesday, October 20
Daniel 3:19-30
Wednesday, October 21
Daniel 6:1-28
Thursday, October 22
Numbers 5:5-10
Friday, October 23
Titus 2:7-8, 11-15
Saturday, October 24
Psalm 1
Sunday, October 25
John 8:31-36
Monday, October 26
Deuteronomy 6:1-9, 20-25
Tuesday, October 27
Deuteronomy 10:10-22
Wednesday, October 28
John 14:21-27
Thursday, October 29
Psalm 43
Friday, October 30
2 Peter 2:1-3
Saturday, October 31
Matthew 23:13-28
August 2020 Finances
Prayer Wall
We, as Christian brothers and sisters, are called to pray for each other on all occasions. God’s word says in Ephesians 6 (18) we are to keep this in mind, be alert, and always keep praying for all the saints.
That means YOU!
Our Homebound Members:
Flora Christiansen and Martha Siemers
Continued Prayers:
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, Michelle Becker, 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 lwr.org
Leadership and Local Organizations:
ELCA Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
I-K Synod 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.