March 2023 Newsletter
We love, serve, and gather in Christ.
Pastor’s Corner
Friends:
This new month of March is known as the month of transition for our Central Indiana weather! The first day of Spring, the 21st, starts what we hope is a warm, and growing season of the year. I love springtime as I think we all do! New growth outside, the greening up of our trees, plants and flowers! It is beautiful as we move toward the Easter season and a time of nature’s own personal revival!
Did you know that God longs to revive you and me? Do you remember the verse in Isaiah 43:19 where God says “Behold, I make all things new, the old has passed away!” This is what our Lenten journey does for us…move from the old to the new. We walk with Jesus over these 40 days to new life, and new love in Christ. God longs to make things new for us, to renew our souls, to refresh the dark places of old, to revitalize our spirituality and to remind us of the newness that comes in Jesus!
This newness is shown to us in nature all around us. As God renews the face of the earth, how much more does God long to renew our hearts! To finally let go of old grudges, to finally dust off the resentment and anger and bask in the glow of forgiveness for self and others. Our two congregations need that same new life in Christ. May the refreshing breath of the spirit blow across, in, with and through St. Andrews and Faith Lutheran renewing us all in the fresh breath of spring! God be with you until we meet again!
Pastor Doug
Council Thoughts
2023 Church Council Members
· Teresa Kofodimos – President
· Kevin Westwick – Vice President
· Becky Albaugh – Secretary
· Karen Anderson – Financial Secretary
· Sara Curry – At-Large
· Julie Muncy – At-Large
Council Meeting Highlights - February 2023
Sara Curry commented on how everyone who helped at the last food pantry worked so well together and how much she enjoys working with the pantry.
The Lenten schedule has been set – Services will alternate each week beginning with Ash Wednesday at St. Andrews.
Faith Expansion Committee has been formed with a goal of gathering information on how we should proceed with plans for expansion both spiritually and with the building.
Members of the committee are Julie Muncy, Kevin Westwick, Jim Orebaugh, Brian Kochersperger, and Becky Albaugh.
Joint Council Meeting with St. Andrews on March 6th at 6:30.
Daylight Saving Time:
March 12th - Don’t forget to turn your clock forward!
Living Your Lenten Journey
The planning team from both congregations is planning on us growing and deepening our awareness of God with learning and practicing Christian faith traditions. We will look together at a new way to study the Bible, to meditate, pray, journal, and use mindfulness to deepen our walk with Jesus.
Each Wednesday night in Lent will feature a Soup Supper at 6pm and Worship at 7pm. The services will be short, singing of hymns, prayer, learning about and practicing a spiritual tradition:
March 1 Faith Lexio Divina (Latin for “Divine Reading”)
March 8 St. Andrews Meditation
March 15 Faith Prayer
March 22 St. Andrews Journaling
March 29 Faith Mindfulness
Come join your families of faith and bring a friend with you. Let us grow together!
Devotions for Lenten
This Lenten season, the church has provided Lenten devotional booklets. They are on the table in the narthex/lobby and some large print are available. These devotionals will be used for our Wednesday evenings and Sunday worship events. These will also formulate the backdrop of our study in Faith Formation on Sunday nights. Pick one up for you and one for a friend!
Virtual Lent Discussion/Wednesday Night Zoom
Weekday Zoom Bible Study is led by Pastor Doug on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. Ask PD for any questions. EVERYONE IS WELCOME AND INVITED! Each week the Zoom link is sent out Wednesday afternoons. Come join the conversation. You will be glad you did.
Friendship Bible Study
Friendship Bible Study is every Tuesday at 7pm at St. Andrews! Please email Janice Damrow for more details!
Faith Formation / Sunday Evening Zoom
Faith Formation: Sunday evening, 7 p.m., on Zoom. Reach out to the Pastor for information on which passages specifically, or just join and “wing it!” All are welcome! The Zoom link is sent out with the Sunday morning email.
Food Pantry Date
The March food pantries will be held on Friday, March 3rd, from 5-7 p.m. and Saturday, March 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
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!
Faith Giving Information
Faithful Faith Members…with the various giving options (traditional envelopes, direct deposit, Vanco Mobile, 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 an email to bkochersperger@foxcontractors.com.
Pastor’s Office Hours
Just a reminder that Pastor Doug’s office hours are as follows (but are subject to change):
Faith: 12 pm - 4 pm 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)
● Thanks to: Phil Zillinger for continually addressing and treating our well issues.
● Thank you to Ron Graff for all he does for the church property.
● 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. We’d be lost without you all.
● Thanks to all our Council Members for your continual service, thank you!
Building Security
If you are the last person to leave the building, please check the list on the alarm, lock, alarm the building, and check the doors to protect people and property. If you have any questions, please contact Teresa Kofodimos.
March 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
Zane James March 06
Don Snyder March 14
David Lee March 15
Michelle Becker March 17
Angie Frizzell March 17
Andrea Burks March 19
Dale Olson March 20
Debbie Hacker March 23
Estelle Boyd March 29
Daily Readings & Devotions
March 1
March 2
March 3
March 4
March 5
March 6
March 7
March 8
March 9
March 10
March 11
March 12
March 13
March 14
March 15
March 16
Psalm 51:1-17
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Romans 10:8b-13
Luke 4:1-13
1 John 2:1-6
Psalm 17
Job 1:1-3, 6-22
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 13:31-35
Psalm 105:1-15
Numbers 14:10b-24
Luke 13:22-31
March 17
March 18
March 19
March 20
March 21
March 22
March 23
March 24
March 25
March 26
March 27
March 28
March 29
March 30
March 31
2 Samuel 7:4, 8-16
Romans 4:13-18
Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a
Luke 13:1-9
Isaiah 55:1-9
Psalm 63:1-8
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Isaiah 7:10-14
Luke 1:26-38
Psalm 40:5-10
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Isaiah 43:19-21
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 Financial January 2023
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 Gifts
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
$46,796.09
($131.47)
$28,353.92
$7,066.40
$7,179.09
$3,838.13
$650.81
$115.80
$1,775.00
$213.29
$10.00
$570.00
$296.00
$1,142.25
$975.00
$80.00
$ -
($27.40)
$138.91
$349.47
$574.23
$377.09
$12,329.81
$112,772.42
Deposits
$9,752.17
$2,790.12
$ -
$100.00
$157.72
$98.41
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$28.80
$ -
$5.10
$12,932.32
Disbursement
$11,492.37
$4,315.66
$ -
$139.13
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$15,947.16
Ending Balance 3
$45,055.89
($1,657.01)
$28,353.92
$7,166.40
$7,197.68
$3,936.54
$650.81
$115.80
$1,775.00
$213.29
$10.00
$570.00
$296.00
$1,142.25
$975.00
$80.00
$ -
($27.40)
$138.91
$349.47
$603.03
$377.09
$12,334.91
$109,757.58
Respectfully Submitted by: Lori Westwick Becker
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: Glenn Damrow (Don Damrow’s father), Joyce Sams, Deb Graff (Jay Anderson’s aunt), Judy Vogel and family (ongoing support), Vince Draper, Jodi Draper, Donna Brown (cancer patient-friend of Sara Curry), Dan Weaver (Dee Dee Kochersperger’s father).
For special intention, Jim and Estelle Boyd (health concerns), Chris Burgan (daughter of Joyce and Gil Sams), Lou Ann Funk, Carolyn Moench, Tim Schults (brother of Karen Anderson); 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.