December 2021 Newsletter
We love, serve, and gather in Christ.
Pastor’s Corner
Friends:
The scene is set. The spotlight shines on the stage. The Charlie Brown kids are all quiet, even Snoopy the dog. Charlie Brown is upset and wants to know the true meaning of Christmas.
Linus walks on stage and tells the story of Luke, chapter 2 the birth of Jesus. Charles Schultz, creator of Charlie Brown, was a man of deep faith and it shows in this episode. So incredible. I had no idea as a kid, but I do now later in life see what it’s all about.
Really, friends, it’s not the rush to buy, ship and hopefully get gifts on time. It’s not about decorations, parties, and get-togethers as much fun as those are. It’s not about anything but Jesus. May the same Babe born in the manger, who grew up and gave his life for you, died for you and rose again be born anew into your hearts, and lives.
This Christmas season, make room for one more in your life. In your busy schedule, in your family, with your friends, under your tree. Make room for one more and the scene will be set, the spotlight will be on YOU as you move with Christ into 2022.
May it be so for you and your family. I wish you a most blessed and warm Christmas season with people you love and who love you, namely Jesus Christ!
Amen! Pastor Doug
2021 Congregational Meeting
Just a reminder that this SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5th, we will be holding our Congregational Meeting and it will be hybrid allowing for virtual & in-person attendance. If you will be at church on the 5th, we will have the meeting following the end of our regular service. We plan to log off from our Facebook broadcast at the conclusion of service and then will launch our zoom meeting shortly thereafter. All voting members will be sent a Zoom invite via MailChimp which will provide the link and password information for the meeting.
Proposed Meeting Agenda:
Opening Prayer
Determination & Declaration of Quorum
Count will include voting members present both in-person and online
Adoption/Approval of Agenda
Recognition of our Nominating Committee
2022 Council Member Slate
President - Janice Lee
Vice President - Teresa Kofodimos
Recording Secretary - Becky Albaugh
Financial Secretary - Jim Orebaugh
Council at Large - Sara Curry
Council at Large - Julie Muncy
2022 Budget Review/Approval (please see below for budget details)
Adjournment
Closing Prayer
Ministry Team Leader Positions Available
We currently have the following Ministry Team Leader positions available; Faith Development, Outreach and Youth, and would like congregation members to consider filling these rewarding positions.
If you are interested and would consider any of these positions, please contact a member of the Council.
Faith Lutheran Church 2022 Congregational Proposed Budget
General Operating and Fixed Costs
Staff
Pastor
Salary $24,637
Housing Allowance $7,391
Soc Sec Offset $2,450
Benefits $19,784
Mileage $1,500
Business Expenses $1,500
Guest Pastor $800
Office Secretary $6,084
Music Coordinator $13,390
Employer Social Security $1,650
Supply Pianist $400
Occupancy
Mortgage $35,520
Electricity $3,100
Office/Phone/Internet $3,400
Computer/Software $500
Equipment/Supplies $1,000
Aqua Systems $800
Landscape & Property Maintenance $2,000
Water Permit/Utility $750
P&C, Liability $1,900
Property Taxes $1,100
Workers Compensation $450
Mission and Vision
$200
$300
$350
$1,100
$1,400
Events/Special Projects
IK Synod Assembly $1,500
Council Discretionary $250
75th Anniversary $250
General Support $14,000
Allocated Mission Gift $500
Total $149,955
The proposed 2022 Operating Budget is $7,528 more than 2021’s budget. Other than pastoral compensation, the remainder of the budget is essentially the same ($400 increase). Included for the pastor is a $2,500 annual salary increase with its attendant increases in Housing Allowance, Social Security Offset, and benefits, all of which total $7,128.
Worship Time Change
Mark your calendars and clocks once again because it’s time for the worship service time to change! Effective January 2, 2022 the morning services will switch to St. Andrew’s at 9 a.m. and Faith at 11 a.m. each Sunday through April.
Council Meeting Highlights - November 2021
Karen Anderson will lead the 75th Anniversary Planning Committee.
December congregational meeting will be December 5th and will be Hybrid; both in-person and zoom.
There will be no mid-week services during Advent.
Christmas Eve Services will be in-person at 7:00pm at Faith, and 9:00pm at St. Andrew’s.
Nominating committee consists of Debbie Hacker, Phil Zillinger, and Julie Muncy.
Joint council meeting with St. Andrew’s is November 25th.
Budget discussions were held and a draft budget is being prepared for the Congregational meeting.
Christmas Eve Festival of the Nativity Services
Faith Lutheran - 7 p.m.
St. Andrew’s - 9 p.m.
These times are set per the Shared Ministry Agreement. These services are lovely to invite a friend or family member to come with you and join us for worship! We will sing some of the best hymnody of the church to include Candle Lighting and singing Silent Night.
ADVENT Devotional Books
Pick up your copy at church this Sunday. These short devotionals will help us walk together through this wonderful season of waiting upon the Lord.
Advent
November 28th, 2021 begins the 4 week period of waiting, praying and looking forward to the Babe born in the manger on Christmas. Advent is a time of waiting, the liturgical colors turns to blue and we wait. Many families and individuals have Advent Calendars or Wreaths used to countdown the season. The church office will provide devotionals.
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 Zoom link is sent out Wednesday mornings. We will study the Bible lesson for the coming Sunday. These are also printed in newsletter and announcements! Please join us!
No In-Person Bible Study - December 26 or January 2
There will be no in-person bible study Sunday, December 26th or Sunday, January 2nd. It will resume on Sunday, January 9th.
Friendship Bible Study
Friendship Bible Study is continuing every Tuesday 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! The Zoom link is sent out with the Sunday morning email. Contact Pastor for details.
Food Pantry Dates
The December food pantries will be held on Friday, December 3rd from 5 -7 p.m., and Saturday, December 18th 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
St. Andrew’s Communications Director Update
Kelli Steurer, the St. Andrew’s Communications Director, will be moving on from her position at the end of November. She has been a great blessing to St. Andrew’s and to Faith with all of her time and expertise, and she will be greatly missed! We wish her and her family the best!!!
Stewardship (G3)
G3 is “Give as God has Given us.”
Merry Christmas to All,
Several things are of importance this month beyond Jesus’ birth.
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 and mark it for the air conditioner that would be helpful.
We are preparing meals for families working with Family Promise on December 20th. If you would like to join this team, please contact Debbie Hacker.
If you are currently sending your offering thru Give Plus, the change to Vanco will be automatic on January 1st. You do not need to do anything.
If you have not been giving online yet, you can open an account in the Vanco mobile app or Online. You can give one time or set up a recurring event now.
In the notion of giving gifts at this time of year, we have the ‘Good Gifts’ program from the ELCA which allow for giving from $10 and up. Please contact Debbie Hacker or go to the ELCA website for the Good Gifts program.
Adult Forum schedule for next month -
November 28th - on vacation
December 5th - All helping with Christmas decorations
December 12th - Class in session
December 19th - Class in session
December 26th - on vacation
January 2nd - on vacation
January 9th - Class in session
I look forward to talking about how we can share our abundance going forward.
On our Path to Serving others,
Debbie Hacker
Stewardship Coordinator
Hymn History with Douglas featuring “What Child is This” (1865)
Feelings of sadness can come over us whenever we hear this deeply moving carol. After all, it is traditionally set in the key of E minor, which is considered 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 pinning 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 says, “Let the sky rain potatoes; let it thunder to the tune of ‘Green Sleeves.’”
The tune 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 William Chatterton Dix, an insurance agent 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 with 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 scepter, 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. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told into them.”
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing!
Luke 2:15-20
Pastor’s Office Hour
Just a reminder that Pastor Doug’s office hours are as followed (but are subject to change):
Faith: 9am - 12pm Wednesdays
St. Andrew’s: 9am - 12pm Thursdays
Thank You Very Much
“Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the way of God in Christ Jesus” (1 Th. 5:16)
Thank you to our altar guild ladies for preparing the sanctuary for the season of Advent.
Thank you to Ron Graff, Vince Draper, Brian Kochersperger, and Jay Anderson for helping to take care of the property and building.
Thank you to Phil Zillinger for all of his time in testing the water samples, meetings, and work towards getting our water issues resolved.
Thank you to John Kofodimos, Kevin Westwick, and Brian Kochersperger for your time and dedication that allows us to broadcast live on Facebook each week.
Building Security
If you are the last person to leave the building, please lock, alarm the building, and check the doors to protect people and property. If you have any questions, please contact Janice Lee.
December
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
Jacob Benning 12/4
Samuel Muncy 12/7
Brian Moench 12/31
ANNIVERSARIES
Don & Julie Snyder 12/7
Don & Janice Damrow 12/9
Gil & Joyce Sams 12/27
Vince & Jodi Draper 12/28
JJ & Dezarae James 12/29
HOMEBOUND
Martha Siemers
Worship Assistants - December 2021
Altar Guild
Asst Minister
Lector
Cantor
FB Live Tech
Usher
Greeter
Fellowship
Gifts Counter
Cleaning Ministry
Altar Flowers
December 5
Christine Nitz
Brian K.
Lori W. Becker
Teresa K.
John K.
Jacob B.
Mona Etter
Janice Lee
Kevin W.
Etter 11/29 - 12/5
December 12
Christine Nitz
Karen A.
Jay Anderson
Brain K.
Kevin W.
Ron Graff
Elaine Graff
Julie Muncy
Becky A.
Lee 12/6 - 12/12
December 19
Christine Nitz
Phil Zillinger
Karen A.
Willy Frizzell
John K.
Matthew B.
Janice Lee
Karen A.
Janice Lee
Curry 12/13 - 12/19
Brian K.
(Jordan’s birthday)
December 24
Christine Nitz
n/a
Willy F.
Lori B.
Karen A.
Phil Z.
n/a
John K.
Ron Graff
Janice Lee
n/a
n/a
Albaugh 12/20 - 12/27
December 26
Christine Nitz
Lori W. Becker
Debbie H.
Karen A.
Kevin W.
Nikki Lee
Becky A.
Janice Lee
Julie Muncy
Albaugh 12/20 - 12/27
Daily Readings & Devotions
Wed., December 1
Thurs., December 2
Friday, December 3
Sat., December 4
Sunday, December 5
Monday, December 6
Tuesday, December 7
Wed., December 8
Thurs., December 9
Friday, December 10
Sat., December 11
Sunday, December 12
Mon., December 13
Tues., December 14
Wed., December 15
Thurs., December 16
Psalm 90
Luke 1:68-79
Philippians 1:18b-26
Luke 9:1-6
Luke 3:1-6
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 126
Luke 7:18-30
Isaiah 12:2-6
2 Corinthians 9:1-15
Isaiah 12:2-6
Luke 3:7-18
Isaiah 11:1-9
Acts 28:23-31
Isaiah 11:1-9
Psalm 80:1-7
Friday, December 17
Sat., December 18
Sunday, December 19
Mon., December 20
Tues., December 21
Wed., December 22
Thurs., December 23
Friday, December 24
Sat., December 25
Sun., December 26
Mon., December 27
Tues., December 28
Wed., December 29
Thurs., December 30
Friday, December 31
Isaiah 42:10-18
Luke 13:31-35
Luke 1:39-45
Colossians 1:15-20
Psalm 113
Micah 4:1-5
Luke 1:46b-55
Isaiah 9:2-7
Luke 2:1-20
Luke 2:41-52
John 21:20-35
Matthew 2:13-18
Acts 6:8 - 7:2a, 51-60
2 Chronicles 1:7-13
John 8:12-19
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.
Faith Financials
October 2021 Offerings
Account Name
Budget Giving
Building Fund
Reformation Sunday
Food Pantry
Garden of Faith
Misc.
St. Andrew’s
Youth Gathering
August Total
Amount
$13,197.12
$50.00
$25.00
$272.19
$38.40
$115.00
$7,179.08
$100.00
$20,976.79
In the spirit of giving, we thank you for your generosity!
Operating Budget
Budget
St. Andrew’s Pastor Comp.
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 9/1/2021
$45,947.76
-$4,520.43
$28,351.77
$6,962.73
$12,111.90
$2,054.45
$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
$439.43
$377.09
$12,314.66
$110,448.73
Deposits Month of September
$13,222.12
$7,179.08
$ -
$50.00
$272.19
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$115.00
$ -
$ -
$ -
$100.00
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$38.40
$ -
$5.10
$20,981.89
Disbursement Month of September
$10,473.87
$4,274.57
$ -
$ -
$2,309.68
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$17,058.12
Ending Balance 9/30/2021
$48,696.01
-$1,615.92
$28,351.77
$7,012.73
$10,074.41
$2,054.45
$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
$439.43
$377.09
$12,319.76
$114,372.50
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: Joel Vogel, Pastor Emeritus (and Family), Judy Vogel (ongoing support), Karen Anderson’s mom (and Karen’s family), Donna Brown (cancer patient-friend of Sara Curry), For a special intention, Masako Knight and family (health concerns), Jim Boyd (health concerns), 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.