January 2023 Newsletter
We love, serve, and gather in Christ.
Pastor’s Corner
Family of Faith:
Happy New Year! I pray for both churches and all our members that this new year brings much joy and happiness to you all! I pray for the fresh new wind of the Spirit of God to “blow through” our buildings and strengthen our renewal to share God’s love with each other the surrounding community. Both congregations can now set behind us the stress and strain of whatever 2022 brought and reengage the community in new ways. In both Avon, and Speedway, the surrounding culture is changing as I write. Hear me church, this means we must change! I am open, ready and praying for God’s leading as God has already done for this collective 155 years! (75 years for Faith, 80 years for St. Andrews).
I pray that fresh breath blows over our worship with new music, new singing, new ways to hear the word of the Lord preached and taught. I pray you will step up and attend the Sunday night Faith Formation and the Wednesday night Bible studies on Zoom. You are ALL welcomed and invited as you know.
What about using your new energy from the Lord in this new year to invite someone to come with you to church? I have encouraged us because we all have a neighbor, new co-worker or friend to invite? I hope you are proud of your congregation and that you want others to come and worship together with us.
This newness is for us personally as well. The Bible teaches that “anyone who is in Christ is a new creation.” This is you! This time of year is hard for many people. With the gray skies and cold temps and the Holidays in the rear view, it’s sad for many. One of the ways to counter this is to be around light, literally! I say let’s gather around the light of Jesus in this Epiphany Season, attending events and Bible studies, and going full steam ahead into what God has planned for us in 2023. Happy New YOU, friends!
Pastor Doug
Worship Time Change
Mark your calendars and clocks once again because it’s time for the worship service time to change! Effective January 1, 2023 the morning services will switch to Faith at 9am and St. Andrew’s at 11am each Sunday through April.
From Faith Church Council
Happy New Year, Faith Family! I am honored to begin serving as your Council President. It will be an interesting year as we (hopefully) complete the sale of some of our acreage and see what opportunities the Spirit leads us toward. As a person of few words, I do not plan to write a monthly column, but know that this invitation stands for the entire year: Please feel free to share with me or any Council member your questions, concerns, thoughts, or ideas.
Teresa K.
2023 President of Faith Church Council
Council Meeting Highlights - December 2022
Pastor reminded us to keep the Joy of Christmas and the gift of Jesus, no matter what comes along.
Land update – A waiver from the well company was presented to be signed to keep the land sale process moving.
Food pantry was discussed; they are still in need of funds to continue with helping the growing need for help with food.
There is a master gardener interested in working with our garden.
Council will be installed on January 8 during worship service.
Annual meeting will be held in February.
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 afternoon. We will study the Bible lesson for the coming Sunday. These are also printed in newsletter and announcements! Please join us!
Friendship Bible Study
Friendship Bible Study meets every Tuesday at 7 pm at St. Andrew’s. Both congregations are invited to attend. You are welcome to join and if you have any questions, please ask Pastor Doug.
Faith Formation
Every Sunday Evening
at 7:00pm via 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
Greetings and God's Blessings.
Thank You to the congregation and those who volunteer at the food pantry. We could not have fed the masses without your support. We still need your support with the growing need for help.
The pantry needs elbow macaroni, wide egg noodles, canned spaghetti sauce, instant potatoes, potatoes Au Gratin and Scalloped potatoes. These are hard to find items.
The coalition bought more canned chicken, mac n cheese, jelly, peanut butter, tomato soup, chicken noodle soup, vegetable soup, chicken and rice soup, and more skillet dinners. This has really boosted our shelves!
Thank you all for pitching in to make this pantry able to feed the community.
Have a Wonderful and Blessed Christmas!
Debbie Mohr
The January food pantries will be held on Friday, January 6th from 5 -7pm, and Saturday, January 21st from 9 - 11am. We ask you to please prayerfully consider joining us as we serve our neighbors. All hands are welcomed and needed!
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
Thank you to Janice Lee and Jim Orebaugh for your years of service. Thank you!
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 Janice Lee and Jim Orebaugh for their years of service.
● 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 lock, alarm the building, and check the doors to protect people and property. If you have any questions, please contact Teresa Kofodimos.
January
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
Gary Norland 01-06
Lothar Nitz 01-17
Jenna Westwick 01-19
Joyce Sams 01-20
Cassidy Thomas 01-23
Jodi Draper 01-29
Worship Assistants - January 2023
Altar Guild
Asst Minister
Lector
Cantor
FB Live Tech
Usher
Greeter
Fellowship
Gifts Counter
Cleaning Ministry
Altar Flowers
January 1
January 8
Lori W. Becker
Phil Zillinger
Lori W. Becker
Karen Anderson
Kevin Westwick
Ron Graff
Mona Etter
Julie Muncy
Janet Lee
Lee 1/1 - 1/8
January 15
Lori W. Becker
Jim Orebaugh
Teresa Kofodimos
Brian K.
John Kofodimos
Gil Sams
Nikki Lee
Karen Anderson
Phil Zillinger
Albaugh 1/8–1/15
January 22
Lori W. Becker
Mike Maksymicz
Kim Orebaugh
Willy Frizzell
Kevin Westwick
Julie Muncy
Becky Albaugh
Janice Lee
Debbie Hacker
Hacker 1/16–1/22
January 29
Lori W. Becker
Brian K.
Debbie Hacker
Jim Orebaugh
John Kofodimos
Kevin Westwick
Joyce Sams
Sara Curry
Julie Muncy
Etter 1/23–1/29
Faith Financials
November 2022 Offerings
Account Name
Budget Giving
Building Fund
Food Pantry
Misc.
St. Andrew’s
Amount
$9,110.86
$150.00
$1,920.72
$750.00
$4,519.57
In the spirit of giving, we thank you for your generosity!
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.
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.