August 2021 Newsletter
We love, serve, and gather in Christ.
Pastor’s Corner
Friends:
Back to School season is underway, and the stores have had supplies out for a few weeks! As you read this, I'm sure Halloween and Christmas are already out in some stores!
The Back to School season reminds us of an everyday season in Christ. This one is called "Back to Grace!" No matter what we have done, or left undone, God always welcomes us back to grace! Jesus welcomes us home, and it refreshes the soul.
This is Good News for all of God’s people, and we can rejoice and be glad. As we continue to grow together in this post-pandemic world, we rely on God’s grace and forgiveness!
Come Back to Grace! If you're reading this and you've been away from either church, come back to church! We welcome you, and God's love is doing wonderful things among us. In God's Grace, Pastor Doug
Worship Service Time Change
September 5th marks the time change from 11am worship service time to 9am worship service time. Please be sure to mark your calendar!
Joint Congregation Worship Service
On August 29th, Faith and St. Andrews will gather at Arbuckle Acres Park in Brownsburg for a 10 a.m. service and luncheon. The Shared Ministry agreement calls for joint services on 5th Sundays. We will be in Shelter 2, near restrooms and parking. Bring your own chair and Worship the Lord together: Faith Lutheran and St. Andrew’s Lutheran.
More details as we get closer!! Make plans to come, and bring a friend. There will be no services at either church building.
Council Vice-President’s Thoughts - August 2021
What does a new beginning look like? Isn’t every day a new beginning? Each day we wake up to a new opportunity to do better and be better in His eyes and others. Each day gives us an opportunity to be kind to someone like a family member, a friend, a neighbor and yes, a complete stranger. Saying a kind word, doing a good deed, and praying for someone are all ways to uplift people. I recently heard someone say, “let each word count”. Our words mean something. Make each one count.
A wise Faith family member who has been through an unimaginable crisis over the last several years chooses hope and joy each day. Her words and thoughts mean something important. She has encouraged me and others. We never know what someone else is going through. Each day is an opportunity to help someone find hope and joy to get past tough times. It is a simple reminder to each and everyone of us to uplift another person and make their day a little brighter.
Together, through our words and good deeds, we can make this world a better place…today and “tomorrow”.
Janice Lee
Council Meeting Highlights - July 2021
New armchairs are being ordered for the sanctuary
It has been suggested to move the Food Pantry carts to a different part of the sanctuary in order to make more seating space in the sanctuary.
Hymnals can now be used for those more comfortable using them as opposed to the screen - Namaste will continue as our passing of the peace.
Members from both councils will meet with Pastor Doug for his contract renewal on July 20.
Some food pantries are opening up for inside service, however, it is not felt that we are there yet.
For our project for God’s Work / Our Hands, we will use our food pantry service.
Sidewalk at the east end of the property should be finished soon.
Pastor Doug Givan’s Installation
Pastor Doug will be officially installed as the Presiding Minister of Faith Lutheran Church (Avon, IN) and St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church (Speedway, IN)!
Date: Sunday, September 26th, 2021
Time: 2:00pm
Location: St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church 6118 Crawfordsville Road Speedway, IN
Phone: (317) 243-6684
Details: Reception to follow
Adult Forum
Adult Forum will be starting back up on September 12th at 9:45 a.m. Everyone is invited and welcomed. Please see Debbie Hacker for additional information.
Summer Sermon Series
JUST LIKE JESUS By Max Lucado
“God loves you just the way you are, but God refuses to leave you that way. God wants us to be just like Jesus.”
From June 6 to August 15 Pastor will guide us through a sermon series on having a heart like Jesus with each chapter listing ways to “remodel” our hearts to be like Jesus.
June 6: Heart like Jesus/Forgiving Heart
June 13: Compassionate Heart
June 20: Listening Heart
June 27: God-Intoxicated and Worship Heart
July 4: No book/sermon series b/c of Holiday
July 11: Focused Heart
July 18: Honest and Pure Heart
July 25: Hope Filled Heart
August 1: Rejoicing Heart
August 8: Enduring Heart
August 15: Keeping Eyes on Jesus/Wrap up
The book is $9 on Amazon, $3 on Kindle.
*Order your copy of the book now!!
Wednesday night Zoom/Virtual Bible Study
From June 9 to August 18 Pastor will host a Bible Study from 7-8 p.m. also based on the book Just Like Jesus where we will look at all the characteristics of having a heart just like Jesus! Look for the email with the link!
Faith Formation
Every Sunday Evening
at 7:00pm via Zoom
We will be covering the Book of Titus on August 1st, and the Book of James beginning August 2nd. All are welcome and invited. We will see you on Sunday evenings at 7:00pm via Zoom! Contact Pastor for details.
Food Pantry Corner
Thank You for all of the volunteers during the month of July. We had a slow start on the Friday evening pantry with only 16 families. Saturday pantry our number doubled from the month of June. We served 64 families or 218 individuals. The food pantry is in need of plastic bags, we have exhausted our supply of boxes. Please bring them to church so we can use them for extras, bakery, vegetables, and meat. Thank you. Thank you to the congregation for all of the support that you give to the pantry. This ministry is an important part for the community in need. God Bless you.
Debbie M
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 to have your questions answered! We invite EVERYONE to stay each week to enjoy goodies and fellowship with one another!
Thank You from JJ James
My homecoming was long awaited. I want to thank everyone for the prayers and support you have given me and Dez over the four years. The Welcome Reception that you gave me on July 11, 2021 was wonderful! I had missed seeing everyone. Thank you again for all the support for me and my family.
God Bless You,
JJ, Dez, and Zane James
Hymn History with Douglas featuring “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” (1923)
The author of this hymn, Thomas Obediah Chisholm, was born in a log cabin in Kentucky. At age 15, he began teaching school, despite the paucity of his own education. He came to Christ at the age of 27 under the ministry of evangelist H.C. Morrison. But Chisholm’s health was unstable, and he alternated between bouts of illness and gainful employment in which he did everything from journalism to insurance to evangelistic work. Through all the ups and downs, he discovered new blessings from God every morning. The third chapter of Lamentations became precious to him: It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Thomas later admitted there was no dramatic story behind the writing of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” While serving the Lord in Vineland, New Jersey, Thomas sent several poems to his friend, musician William Runyan, who was so moved by this one that he prayed earnestly for special guidance in composing the music. Runyan was in Baldwin, Kansas, at the time, and the hymn was published in 1923 in Runyan’s private song pamphlets. “It went rather slowly for several years,” recalled Thomas. Then, Dr. Will Houghton of the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago discovered it and would say in chapel, “Well, I think we shall have to sing ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness.’” It became an unofficial theme song for the Institute; and when Houghton died, it was sung at his funeral. Still, it remained relatively unknown until popularized around the world by George Beverly Shea and the choir at the Billy Graham Crusades.
Chisholm spent is retirement years in a Methodist Home for the Aged in Ocean Park, New Jersey, where he was frequently seen walking by the ocean and along town streets. Tom Rich, a resident of Ocean Park, recalls his pleasant demeanor as he dropped by the diner, sat on park benches, and fellowshipped with friends at Ocean Park’s summer Bible conferences. Thomas died in Ocean Park in 1960. During his lifetime, he wrote 1,200 poems and hymns. In addition to “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” he is the author of the well-known “O To Be Like Thee’ and the hymn, “Living for Jesus.”
Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
“Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; And thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.”
Psalm 36:5
Back to School
Blessings to our students who are returning to a new school year in the coming weeks. Please pray for a great start to the new year.
Avon HS - July 29th
Ben Davis HS - July 28th
University of Indianapolis - August 30th
Purdue University - August 23rd
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.
August
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 Snyder 8/4
Kris Basicker 8/8
Debbie Mohr 8/9
Dee Kochersperger 8/10
Katlyn VanDam 8/11
Jay Anderson 8/18
Elaine Graff 8/19
Ron Graff 8/22
Christine Nitz 8/25
Jim Orebaugh 8/29
ANNIVERSARIES
Dale and Darleen Olson 8/29
Jay and Karen Anderson 8/30
HOMEBOUND
Martha Siemers
Worship Assistants - July 2021
If you are unable to perform your assigned duties on your assigned day, please be sure to find a replacement, and email Nikki at flc.avon@att.net the name of your replacement as soon as possible.
Sunday, August 1
Sunday, July 15
Altar Guild
Assisting Minister
Lector
Facebook Live Tech
Usher
Greeter
Coffee Fellowship
Money Counter
Cleaning Ministry
Christine Nitz
Karen Anderson
Debbie Hacker
Brian Kochersperger
Matthew Benning
Nikki Lee
Janice Lee
Debbie Hacker
Etter
(7/26 - 8/1)
Altar Guild
Assisting Minister
Lector
Facebook Live Tech
Usher
Greeter
Coffee Fellowship
Money Counter
Cleaning Ministry
Christine Nitz
Brian Kochersperger
Lori Westwick Becker
John Kofodimos
Julie Muncy
Jay Anderson
Joyce Sams
Becky Albaugh
Albaugh
(8/9 - 8/15)
Sunday, August 8
Sunday, August 22
Altar Guild
Assisting Minister
Lector
Facebook Live Tech
Usher
Greeter
Coffee Fellowship
Money Counter
Cleaning Ministry
Christine Nitz
Jay Anderson
Karen Anderson
Kevin Westwick
Lori Westwick Becker
Becky Albaugh
Karen Anderson
Julie Muncy
Lee
(8/2 - 8/8)
Altar Guild
Assisting Minister
Lector
Facebook Live Tech
Usher
Greeter
Coffee Fellowship
Money Counter
Cleaning Ministry
Christine Nitz
Lori Westwick Becker
Sara Curry
Brian Kochersperger
Ron Graff
Joyce & Gil Sams
Becky Albaugh
Janice Lee
Hacker
(8/16 - 8/22)
August 29th Joint Worship with St. Andrews at Arbuckle Park
Lector - Brian Kochersperger
Greeter - Julie Muncy
Daily Readings & Devotions
Sunday, August 1
Monday, August 2
Tuesday, August 3
Wednesday, August 4
Thursday, August 5
Friday, August 6
Saturday, August 7
Sunday, August 8
Monday, August 9
Tuesday, August 10
Wednesday, August 11
Thursday, August 12
Friday, August 13
Saturday, August 14
Sunday, August 15
Monday, August 16
John 6:24-35
Psalm 107:1-3, 33-43
Deuteronomy 8:1-20
Isaiah 55:1-9
Romans 15:1-6
Galatians 6:1-10
Psalm 34:1-8
John 6:35, 41-51
Ephesians 5:1-14
Psalm 81
John 6:35-40
Acts 6:8-15
Psalm 34:9-15
John 4:7-26
John 6:51-58
Luke 1:46-55
Tuesday, August 17
Wednesday, August 18
Thursday, August 19
Friday, August 20
Saturday, August 21
Sunday, August 22
Monday, August 23
Tuesday, August 24
Wednesday, August 25
Thursday, August 26
Friday, August 27
Saturday, August 28
Sunday, August 29
Monday, August 30
Tuesday, August 31
Acts 7:9-16
Psalm 36
Joshua 22:1-9
Romans 13:11-14
Psalm 34:15-22
John 6:56-69
Psalm 119:97-104
Exodus 19:1-6
John 15:16-25
James 1:1-8
James 1:9-18
Psalm 15
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Deuteronomy 4:9-14
1 Peter 2:19-25
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
June 2021 Offerings
Account Name
Budget Giving
Building Fund
Food Pantry
Funeral Dinners
Garden of Faith
St. Andrew’s
June Total
Amount
$11,026.09
$50.00
$275.42
$500.00
$68.00
$4,047.17
$15,966.68
Summer is here...
Friends: Please remember your family of faith as you travel and vacation this summer. We have multiple ways to contribute; you can predate checks or go online and complete your giving while you are out of town, or through our GivePlus app. You can give online at https://secure.myvanco.com/YK3M/home If you need help with any of these, please contact Brian Kochersperger.
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: Masako Knight and family (health concerns), Jim Boyd (currently seeing doctors for 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, Sara Curry, Samuel 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: Amy Westwick (Paramedic School), 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, Peace for our troubled world, Please pray for those affected by the building collapse in Miami.
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.