February 2024 Newsletter
We love, serve, and gather in Christ.
Pastor’s Corner
Family of Faith:
The other day I was in the dining room of a small restaurant, and there was an “open interview” process happening. The manager was interviewing three people around the dining room, and it wasn’t very crowded. I couldn’t help but hear the questions the manager was asking of the applicants. You and I have been interviewed before and we know those questions!
Eventually this was over after 20-30 minutes and the manager told them they would hear from him in the next day or so. Compare this process with Jesus and the calling of the first disciples we’ve had in this Epiphany season (Mark 1: 14-20). Jesus walks along the Sea of Galilee and calls Simon and Andrew and James and John. He simply says, “Follow me” and they drop everything and “immediately” follow the Lord.
It's the same for you and me! No interview needed, no dressing up, Jesus knows your resume’, your qualities and gifts and skills. Jesus also knows your sin, your shortcomings and all the reasons you may tell yourself you are not right for the job! And look what happens, God calls you to follow Jesus in your life and in your church.
What will this look like in February? How is God stirring your heart, mind and soul and the congregations themselves? Because guess what? You and I are hired!! When can we start, asks the Lord. When? And we say, with the disciples and all followers of Jesus…..Immediately!
Pastor Doug
Council Meeting Highlights - January 2024
President Kevin Westwick led his first Council meeting on Saturday, January 27th. The meeting was scheduled that day to accommodate newest Council member Samuel Muncy. Now that Samuel’s work shifted back to daytime, regular Council meetings will resume on the third Tuesday at 7pm.
As always, if you have any questions, please ask.
Wednesday night Zoom/Virtual Bible Study
Weekday Zoom Bible Study will be suspended until April 3rd.
Faith Formation / Sunday Evening Zoom
Faith Formation: We meet each Sunday evening, 7 pm, on Zoom. Faith Formation invites members of both churches who have never joined in, to come and see what's happening! This is a fun, lighthearted look at our faith journey. The Zoom link is sent out with the Sunday morning email.
Food Pantry Date
2023 was a busy year for Faith's food pantry. We had a great team of volunteers to help purchase, pickup, sort, bag, and load cars...one after another. We were able to provide food to 1558 of families (6070 of people) through Hendricks County and the surrounding area.
Summers Heating and Cooling were very generous and provided donations in December for Faith's clients. We also received donations from the Hendricks County Coalition throughout 2023 which was a tremendous help for our clients. Mona made over 75 loaves of pumpkin bread for our clients to add to their Thanksgiving feast. What a blessing Mona is and all our volunteers to Faith's Food Pantry.
Thanks for all the generous monetary donations including the anonymous contributors from the community. 2024 will be a year to celebrate our successes and brainstorming to face any challenges. With God's help, we will feed the hungry.
Janice Lee, Food Pantry Coordinator
The next food pantry will be held on Saturday, February 17th from 9-11am. We ask you to please prayerfully consider joining us as we serve our neighbors. All volunteers are welcome and needed! Please remember the food pantry in your financial donations and prayers.
Faith Giving Information
Faithful Faith Members...with the various giving options (traditional envelopes, direct deposit, Vanco Mobile or Vanco On-line via link from Faith’s website), we have reduced the number of offering envelopes for the congregation. Please let either the church office know or send email to bkochersperger@foxcontractors.com.
Pastor’s Office Hour
Just a reminder that Pastor Doug’s office hours, beginning February 6th, are as followed (subject to change):
Faith: 11am to 2pm Tuesday
During this time, Pastor and Dee Dee will be present. If a conflict arises, there will be an announcement made.
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 everyone that helped get the church cleaned up from all of the salt and snow.
● Thanks to Vince Draper for shoveling our sidewalks so we could hold our food pantry.
● Thank you to Ron Graff for building the shelving unit for the shed. You are a blessing.
● Sincere thanks to the ladies who prepare fellowship snacks each Sunday!
● Thanks and praise to the Facebook “guys” who record each week: John, Kevin and Brian.
● Thanks to all our Council Members for your continual service, thank you!
February 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
Julie Thomas 2/19
Maggie Miller 2/26
ANNIVERSARIES
Brian & Deanna Kochersperger 2/21/04
Worship Assistants - February 2024
Altar Guild
Asst Minister
Lector
Cantor
FB Live Tech
Usher
Greeter
Fellowship
Gifts Counter
Cleaning Ministry
February 4
Mona Etter
Karen Anderson
Lori W. B.
Teresa Kofodimos
Kevin Westwick
Jay Anderson
Mona Etter
Julie Muncy
Becky Albaugh
Lee 1/29 – 2/4
February 11
Mona Etter
Lori W. B.
Karen Anderson
Jim Orebaugh
Kevin Westwick
Janice Lee
Elaine Graff
Joyce Sams
Phil Zillinger
Curry 2/5–2/11
February 18
Mona Etter
Brian K.
Kim Orebaugh
John Kofodimos
Ron Graff
Gil Sams
Janice Lee
Jim Orebaugh
Albaugh 2/12 – 2/18
February 25
Mona Etter
Samuel Muncy
Jim Orebaugh
John Kofodimos
Lori W. B.
Julie Muncy
Sara Curry
Debbie Hacker
Hacker 2/19 – 2/25
Faith Financials
December 2023 Offerings
Account Name
Budget Giving
Building Fund
Food Pantry
Garden of Faith
Misc.
St. Andrew’s
Amount
$24,844.69
$ -
$1,271.92
$ -
$412.53
$4,690.28
In the spirit of giving, we thank you for your generosity!
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, Carol Westwick, Estelle Boyd, And Judy Vogel
Continued Prayers: Gil and Joyce Sams’s daughter Chis, Bobbie Seitz, Estelle Boyd and family (ongoing support), Judy Vogel and family (ongoing support), Dan Weaver (Dee Dee Kochersperger’s father).
For special intention, Lou Ann Funk, unknown needs to all who are troubled in mind, body, and spirit.;
Prayers of comfort and healing to those Faith Family members who aren’t able to attend due to health concerns. If you need food or anything, please let a Council member know so we can be there for YOU.
Higher Education Students: Douglas Perez, Annika Cahill, Maddie Anderson, Matthew Benning, Lindsey Basicker and all students in Hendricks County!
Military Service Members: All Service Men and Women fighting for our freedoms and their families who have also sacrificed.
Current Events: Prayers of comfort for those who have experienced a loss due to the mass shootings. Peace for our troubled world.
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 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.