October 2021 Newsletter
We love, serve, and gather in Christ.
Pastor’s Corner
Friends:
This month always amazes me here in Central Indiana as the colors of the trees and bushes transform right before us. I am sure all of us love to watch the colors change on the trees as a true sign that fall is here and winter will not be far behind.
When I think of the colors like we will see this month I get reminded of the spiritual miracle of color! For example:
Red - the shed blood of Jesus, which actually makes us white as snow
Yellow - the Light of Christ shining in our hearts and out to the world
Orange - like the flame, the fire of the Spirit among us
Green - for God’s new growth in our hearts, minds, and souls
This month as we take in the “show” as I like to call it, let God move in your heart, mind and soul and bring refreshing grace and love to your spirit. We are still in the Coronavirus wilderness and times are tough all around. Be renewed by looking out the window, by going on walks, by being outside and being refreshed in life It’s still a beautiful world.
Peace, Pastor Doug
Council President’s Thoughts - October 2021
Fall has officially arrived! It’s hard to believe that it’s time to finish the harvest, clean out the garden, put away the lawn furniture and add the final touches to our winter prep to-do list. Have you thought recently about your faith to-do list? If you took the time to make such a list, would it include things like: attend Bible study, help feed our Family Promise families, or volunteer to care for our land and building? Would it include making time to pray for our new neighbors at Camp Atterbury, attending worship service or donating to the FLC food pantry? In our busy world it is hard to add one more thing to our to-do list, but maybe the year comes to a close, we can each take a few minutes to be intentional about of faith to-do list. In Ecclesiastes 3:1 it is written, “For everything there is a season”, as we travel through fall let us count our blessings for all that God has given us and look for ways that we can share these blessings through our personal faith to-do list.
Peace and Love to each of you,
Julie
317-374-6638
jmuncy@cvrindy.com
Council Meeting Highlights - September 2021
Discussion was held on how we will celebrate our upcoming 75th anniversary in February.
Pastor’s Installation is still pending for September 26th. (Installation has been postponed until spring)
Pastor will be gone to a retreat the week of September 19th - 24th, and again on October 3rd.
Advent services on Wednesday night will be held via Zoom or Facebook. We need to be COVID safe.
Food Pantry committee is considering some kind of outdoor cabinet to be used for donations.
Pastor and Debbie Hacker have met and discussed possible programs to be used for Stewardship.
We need to be mindful of how we might handle another possible COVID shutdown. We need to be flexible regardless of how its handled.
We need to be thinking about a nominating committee and what council positions need to be filled for the new year.
We are still on the hunt for a permanent Administrative Secretary.
Adult Forum
Adult Forum started back up on September 12th at 10:15 a.m. Everyone is invited! Please see Debbie Hacker for additional information.
Wednesday night Zoom/Virtual Bible Study
Weekday Zoom Bible Study led by Pastor Doug began on September 8th at 7 p.m. Ask PD for any questions. EVERYONE IS WELCOME AND INVITED! Each week the topics shift and there won’t be any reading ahead of time, please join us.
Friendship Bible Study
Friendship Bible Study will resume every Tuesday starting October 5th at 7pm via Zoom! Please see Pastor Doug for more details!
Faith Formation
Every Sunday Evening
at 7:00pm via Zoom
All are welcome! We will see you on Sunday evenings at 7:00 pm via Zoom! Zoom link is sent out with the Sunday morning email. Contact Pastor for details.
Food Pantry Dates
The October food pantries will be held on Friday, October 1st from 5 -7 p.m., and Saturday, October 16th from 9 - 11 a.m. We ask you to please prayerfully consider joining us as we serve our neighbors. All hands are welcomed and needed!
Fellowship
Hi Everyone! Thank you to everyone who is on the volunteer list to be scheduled for Coffee Fellowship. If you are not currently signed up as a volunteer, but would like to be or have any questions about Coffee Fellowship, please feel free to email the church email at: flc.avon@att.net to be included or with any questions! We invite EVERYONE to stay each week to enjoy goodies and fellowship with one another!
Nikki Lee
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Saturday, October 2, 2021
10:30 a.m. Opening Ceremony & Walk
2 mile course
IUPUI Carroll Stadium
Indianapolis, IN
You are invited to join: CURRY’s (Alzheimer’s) CRUSHERS
Registration is free but donations are obviously very appreciated.
Register at: act.Alz.org
Search for Indianapolis walk. Follow prompts to join. If the walk isn’t for you, please consider a donation. THanks!
Let’s CRUSH this terrible disease!
Hymn History with Douglas featuring “Abide with Me” (1847)
Henry Francis Lyte, vicar in the fishing village of Lower Brixham, Devonshire, England ministered faithfully for 23 years to his seafaring people. Though a humble couple, he and his wife, Anne, lived in an elegant estate, Berry Head. It had reportedly been provided by King William IV, who had been impressed with Henry’s ministry. At water’s edge, its coastal views were among the most beautiful on the British Isles. Henry laid out walking trails through the estate’s 41 acres and enjoyed the tranquility of the house and grounds. There he wrote most of his sermons, poems, and hymns.
But Henry’s lung condition hung over the home like a blackening cloud. Lower Brixham suffered damp winters, and while in his early fifties, Henry realized his lung disorder has deteriorated into tuberculosis. On September 4, 1847, age 54, he entered his pulpit with difficulty and preached what was to be his last sermon. He had planned a therapeutic holiday in Italy. “I must put everything in order before I leave,” he said, “because I have no idea how long I will be away”.
That afternoon he walked along the coast in pensive prayer than retired to his room, emerging an hour later with a written copy of “Abide with Me.” Some accounts indicate he wrote the poem during that hour; others say that he discovered it in the bottom of his desk as he packed for his trip to Italy and that it has been written a quarter century earlier. It is possible that both stories are true. It is likely that, finding sketches of a poem he had previously started, he prayerfully revised and completed it that evening.
Shortly afterward, Henry embraced his family a final time and departed for Italy. Stopping in Avignon, France, he again revised “Abide with Me” - it was evidently much on his mind - and mailed it to his wife. Arriving on the French Riviera, he checked into the Hotel de Angleterre in Nice, and there on November 20, 1847, his lungs finally gave out. Another Englishclergyman, Reverend Manning of Chichester, who happened to be staying in the same hotel, attended him during his final hours. Henry’s last words were, “Peace! Joy!”
When news of his death reached Brixham, the fishermen of the village asked Henry’s son-in-law, also a minister, to hold a memorial service. It was on this occasion that “Abide with Me” was first sung.
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall we ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
John 15:7
The History of Halloween
According to History.com, “Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31, and Halloween 2021 will occur on Sunday, October 31. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain [over 2,000 years ago], when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all the saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats”. Below, you will find the confirmed Trick-or-Treat times for local towns:
Avon: Sunday, October 31st, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Brownsburg: Sunday, October 31st, from 6pm to 8:30pm
Clayton: TBD - will post on the town Facebook page
Danville: TBD - will post on the town Facebook page
Pittsboro: Sunday, October 31st, from 6pm to 8pm
Plainfield: Sunday, October 31st, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Thank You Very Much
“Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the way of God in Christ Jesus” (1 Th. 5:16)
Thanks to Pastor Chris Wynn for being on call for Pastor Doug the week of September 19th.
We appreciate John and Teresa Kofodimos for organizing the tuning of our church piano. Thank you John and Teresa!
Thank you Ron Graff, Vince Draper, Brian Kochersperger, and Jay Anderson for helping to take care of the property and building.
Reformation Sunday
According the the Britannica, Reformation Day is the anniversary of the day Martin Luther is said to have posted his Ninety-Five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany (October 31, 1517), and was later identified by Protestants as the beginning of the Reformation. This year, October 31st falls on a Sunday. Don’t forget to wear your RED, and keep on the lookout for any news on events that day.
Zoom Stewardship Presentation from the IN-KY Synod
St. Andrew’s invites you to join their Stewardship Zoom presentation with Pastor Jerry O’Neal from the IK-Synod on Saturday, October 9th where he will talk about the Fruits of the Spirit and share his thoughts on Stewardship. If you are interested, please watch for additional information in our weekly emails.
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
Our CONGREGATIONAL MEETING will be held Sunday, December 5th after worship. Note that this may be in-person, via Zoom, etc. Stay tuned for details as we get closer to the date!
Building Security
If you are the last person to leave the building, you must lock and alarm the building to protect people (most importantly) and property. If you have any questions, please contact Janice Lee.
October
Celebrations
We’d like to honor and celebrate with you!
Please contact the office to make sure we have
your birthday and anniversary on file.
BIRTHDAYS
Jim Boyd 10/1
Matthew Benning 10/4
Brian Kochersperger 10/9
Dezarae James 10/9
Don Damrow 10/10
Haley Kochersperger 10/14
Donna Teyema 10/19
Maddie Anderson 10/22
Ken Teyema 10/26
Janice Lee 10/27
ANNIVERSARIES
John and Teresa Kofodimos 10/15
HOMEBOUND
Martha Siemers
Worship Assistants - October 2021
Altar Guild
Asst. Minister
Lector
Cantor
FB Live Tech
Usher
Greeter
Fellowship
Gifts Counter
Cleaning Ministry
Altar Flowers
October 3
Mona Etter
Karen A.
Sara Curry
Willy Frizzell
Kevin Westwick
Matthew B.
Mona Etter
Julie Muncy
Becky Albaugh
Etter 9/27 - 10/3
Jim & Estelle Boyd
October 10
Mona Etter
Phil Zillinger
Jay Anderson
Karen A.
John K.
Janice Lee
Joyce Sams
Karen A.
Phil Zillinger
Lee 10/4 - 10/10
October 17
Mona Etter
Jay Anderson
Lori W. Becker
Brian K.
John K.
Julie Muncy
Becky Albaugh
Joyce Sams
Kevin Westwick
Albaugh 10/11 - 10/17
October 24
Mona Etter
Lori W. Becker
Karen A.
Teresa K.
Brian K.
Nikki Lee
Janice Lee
Becky Albaugh
Janice Lee
Hacker 10/18 - 10/24
October 31
Mona Etter
Brian K.
Debbie Hacker
Willy Frizzell
Kevin Westwick
Ron Graff
Julie Muncy
Vi Hughes
Julie Muncy
Etter 10/25 - 10/31
Daily Readings & Devotions
Friday, October 1
Saturday, October 2
Sunday, October 3
Monday, October 4
Tuesday, October 5
Wednesday, October 6
Thursday, October 7
Friday, October 8
Saturday, October 9
Sunday, October 10
Monday, October 11
Tuesday, October 12
Wednesday, October 13
Thursday, October 14
Friday, October 15
Saturday, October 16
Romans 8:1-11
Luke 16:14-18
Mark 10:2-16
Psalm 112
Jeremiah 3:12-14
Matthew 5:27-36
Deuteronomy 5:1-21
Psalm 90:12-17
Matthew 15:1-9
Mark 10:17-31
Revelation 7:9-17
Psalm 26
Luke 16:19-31
Romans 15:7-13
Psalm 91:9-16
Luke 22:24-30
Sunday, October 17
Monday, October 18
Tuesday, October 19
Wednesday, October 20
Thursday, October 21
Friday, October 22
Saturday, October 23
Sunday, October 24
Monday, October 25
Tuesday, October 26
Wednesday, October 27
Thursday, October 28
Friday, October 29
Saturday, October 30
Sunday, October 31
Mark 10:35-45
Luke 1:1-4; 24:44-53
1 Samuel 10:17-25
Psalm 37:23-40
Psalm 126
Jeremiah 26:12-19
Mark 8:22-26
Mark 10:46-52
Exodus 4:1-17
Acts 9:32-35
Psalm 119:17-24
John 14:21-27
Romans 3:21-31
Luke 10:25-37
Romans 12:17-21; 13:8-10
Daily readings are provided by the Christ in Our Homes published by Augsburg Fortress. Copies of this quarter’s books are available for pickup. If you would like a copy and can’t make it to the church, please contact Pastor Doug or the church office.
Stewardship (G3)
A good day to all of Faith,
I begin this article with information on our Stewardship at Faith. I wish to bring joy and energy into this mission. This is a mission we all contribute to and receive benefits from. I hope to bring joy and energy to you and others in the community.
Like trying on new clothes, I am renaming Stewardship to G3.
G3 is “Give as God has Given us.” A new name but the same soul on the inside.
And the purpose of G3 is to Focus on our ‘mission to serve others’ each year.
In getting started to organize this mission, Pastor Doug suggested starting with 2nd Corinthians, chapters 8 & 9. This section as noted in my Study Bible says, “the endeavor Titus is pursuing, deals with the collection for the Christians in Jerusalem. On the surface this is talking about collecting money. Below the surface, Paul deals with the social meaning of money and the ways gifts are often given to emphasize the social distance between giver and recipient.”
Today, we are stewards of gifts God has given us.
Our lives and how we live.
Our families and how we help each member to be our best.
Our Church and Congregation and how we use our facilities for the betterment of our fellow Faith members and the Community.
Our community - both near and far - and how we can help others to prosper and know God.
Faith is an abundant community with gifts we may or may not know we have or know how to use for the sharing of our gifts. I will focus on exalting these gifts so we might share God’s Gift with others.
Item to Contemplate
The air conditioner upgrades are paid for from our finances, but will deplete funds to be used for other ministries. If you can give extra, please mark it for the “air conditioner” that would be helpful.
I look forward to talking about how we can share our abundance goin forward on our path to serving others.
Debbie Hacker
New Online Giving Information
Faithful members and friends of Faith, we thank you for your continued financial support. Your contributions can be made In-Person during Sunday Worship, mailed to the church, automatically drafted, or you can use our NEW electronic giving option.
Vanco, which utilizes the GIVEPLUS+ Mobile app to make donations to church, is ending its use of the GIVEPLUS+ Mobile app on September 30th. They are switching to their new Vanco Mobile app (WHICH IS FREE). If you currently use the GIVEPLUS+ Mobile app to make donations online, you should be receiving an email from them in the next couple of weeks. Your current GIVEPLUS+ sign in information will be the same for the Vanco app, and if you have recurring gifts set up, they will continue to be made as scheduled.
Faith would also like to transition current direct deposit members to the new Vanco Mobile App or the Vanco Website accessible via Faith’s website) by the end of the year.
For more information or assistance making this transaction - please contact Brian Kochersperger.
Faith Financials
August 2021 Offerings
Account Name
Budget Giving
Building Fund
Food Pantry
Garden of Faith
St. Andrew’s
August Total
Amount
$11,316.76
$225.00
$275.42
$48.00
$5,450.29
$17,315.47
In the spirit of giving, we thank you for your generosity!
Operating Budget
Budget
St. Andrew’s Pastor Compensation
Budget Reserve
Capital Improvements
Building Fund
Special Accounts
Food Pantry
Memorial Fund
Funeral Expenses
Flower Fund
Sunday School
Pass Thru
SonRise Bible Study
Lent
Advent
Youth Gathering
Undesignated Funds
Youth Designated
Computer Fund
AV Grant
Property Accounts
Trail Construction
Butterfly Garden
Garden of Faith
Garden Shed
Investment Accounts
Endowment Fund
Total of All Accounts
Beginning Balance 8/1/2021
$54,932.47
-$2,629.68
$28,349.62
$6,687.73
$12,517.01
$2,054.37
$820.34
$115.80
$1,775.00
$210.00
$10.00
$570.00
$250.00
$1,142.25
$975.00
$80.00
$ -
-$27.40
$138.91
$349.47
$353.03
$377.09
$12,304.63
$121,355.64
Deposits Month of August 2021
$11,316.76
$5,450.29
$ -
$225.00
$275.42
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$48.00
$ -
$5.10
$17,320.57
Disbursement Month of August 2021
$18,766.48
$4,356.18
$ -
$ -
$452.09
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$23,574.75
Ending Balance 8/30/2021
$47,482.75
-$1,535.57
$28,349.62
$6,912.73
$12,340.34
$2,054.37
$820.34
$115.80
$1,775.00
$210.00
$10.00
$570.00
$250.00
$1,142.25
$975.00
$80.00
$ -
-$27.40
$138.91
$349.47
$401.03
$377.09
$12,309.73
$115,101.46
Prayer Wall
“Through Christ we can do all things”
Philippians 4:13
Join us in prayer for our brother and sisters in Christ for good health, healing, safety, strength, courage, peace, clear minds, renewed spirit, and for all their unknown needs.
Our Homebound Members: Martha Siemers
Continued Prayers: Donna Brown (cancer patient-friend of Sara Curry), For a special intention, Masako Knight and family (health concerns), Jim Boyd (health concerns), Joel and Judy Vogel (prayers for ongoing support), Christina Burgan (daughter of Joyce and Gil Sams), Lou Ann Funk, Carolyn Moench, Jodi Draper, Vince Draper, 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: Douglas Perez, Maddie Anderson, Matthew Benning, Lauren and Lindsay Basicker, All students navigating their “new normals”
Military Service Members: All Service Men and Women fighting for our freedoms
Current Events:
Continued Covid-19 struggles and Peace for our troubled world
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 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.