May 2025 Newsletter
We love, serve, and gather in Christ.
Pastor’s Corner
Dear Friends:
My mom, Judy, died in 2014 from complications due to a stroke and lung issues. It still seems like yesterday, and I miss her every month, May especially! Mother's Day brings rich memories of our time together and the love I know she had for me! (Not just because I was the first of three sons!)
It's hard. I think of her often, and I believe I see her when I see a red Cardinal bird!! As I visited her in the nursing home, we would end each good-bye with the exchange of "I love you" to each other.
In the last few months of her life, my mom began to change that "I love you" to "I loved you first!" She never said that before but did every time I visited.
As I thought about it, it's true! She did love me first before I was born, from the womb as her pregnancy developed. Then it hit me. Really, God loved me first! God loved me first because he knew me before I was in my mother's womb says the Bible!
And it's true for you dear reader! God loved you first, God loved you last, and God loves you forever in Jesus Christ our Risen Lord and Savior.
Pastor Doug
God be with you until we meet again!
Worship Time Change:
Per the Shared Ministry Agreement, we switch worship times every four months! Starting May 4th:
Faith Lutheran Church 11am
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church 9am
Thank you, one and all, for your flexibility and understanding. As always, I remind you that if the other time slot works for you on a “given” day, you may certainly worship at the other church as many of you have done.
It’s the same God!
Congregational Information
May 5, 2025, Joint Council 7pm.
June 29, 2025, Joint Worship Service at 10am, with I/K Synod Bishop Tim Graham our guest preacher. Pitch in with St Andrews more info to come.
Sunday, May 25, 2025, Memorial Day Weekend, we will Worship at normal time, 11am.
You can now watch previous Worship services on YouTube. You just type in “Faith Lutheran Church, Avon, Indiana” once you are the YouTube page. Thank you to John and Teresa Kofodimos for setting up our You Tube page!
Council Meeting Highlights
Bishop Timothy Graham from the Indiana-Kentucky Synod will be leading us in worship on Sunday, June 29, 2025. This will be a joint worship service with St. Andrew.
The Memorial Garden is closer to blooming! We are currently raising funds for the needed concrete work, and will be getting that scheduled in the near future. To donate specifically for this project, please note that your donation is for the Memorial Garden on your check, offering envelope, or select the Memorial Garden fund for your online donation.
Supper and Service evenings will be starting soon. See Becky Albaugh or Julie Muncy to get projects added to the list of things to do. Watch the calendar and announcements for dates to come work.
Wednesday Night Zoom
Weekday Zoom Bible Study is led by Pastor Doug on Wednesday nights at 7pm. Ask Pastor Doug if you have any questions. EVERYONE IS WELCOME AND INVITED!
Each week the Zoom link is sent out on Wednesday.
The Wednesday night Bible study is studying the Bible lessons for the coming Sunday. Come join the conversation.
Faith Formation / Sunday Evening Zoom
Faith Formation has moved back every Sunday at 7pm on Zoom!
Starting May 4th we are studying the book by Max Lucado called "Anxious for Nothing!". The zoom link is attached to Sunday Worship email.
This is a fun, lighthearted look at our faith journey.
Memorial Garden Fundraiser Kickoff
The committee formally introduced fund raising for phase one on Easter Sunday of the memorial garden project. Phase one is the cross shaped concrete pathway around which the garden will be centered.
$7,000 is the targeted goal. We are getting closer and closer to our goal every week.
Our first steps of phase one are fundraising and completing ground preparation work. After the path is dug out more volunteers will work together to lay sand & stone in preparation for the concrete contractor to lay the concrete.
The schedule of contractor work will be announced after the funds are attained and the concrete contract is signed. More information will be forthcoming about funding progress and volunteer opportunities.
While making a donation, please specify the funds are for the Memorial Garden. Funds can be donated in person or via the Vanco app.
We are so thrilled to begin this work and are extremely grateful to all for your contributions!
Thank you,
The Memorial Garden Committee
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.
**While making a donations for the Memorial Garden, select the Memorial Garden fund in the Vanco app. You may also go through the website, www.faithlutheranavon.com, to access Vanco by selecting Give. Or give in person.
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 John and Teresa for organizing a piano tuner for us.
Thank you to Becky Albaugh and team for organizing the Agape' Supper!!
Blessings to Fellowship team and all those who helped during Lent for the midweek soup suppers!!
Thank you to Dee Dee for all her hard work during Lent and Holy Week!!
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.
May 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
Phil Zillinger May 10
Vi Hughes May 17
Karen Anderson May 27
Lou Ann Funk May 31
ANNIVERSARIES
David & Janice Lee May 07
Kevin & Lynnette Westwick May 21
Ron & Elaine Graff May 23
Worship Assistants - May 2025
Altar Guild
Asst Minister
Lector
Cantor
FB Live Tech
Usher
Greeter
Fellowship
Gifts Counter
Cleaning Ministry
May 4
Lori W. Becker
Jay Anderson
Debbie Hacker
Teresa Kofodimos
Kevin Westwick
Julie Muncy
Nikki Lee
Becky Albaugh
Phill Zillinger
Hacker 4.28 - 5.04
May 11
Lori W. Becker
Samuel Muncy
Phil Zillinger
Jim Orebaugh
John Kofodimos
Jay Anderson
Elaine Graff
Julie Muncy
Jim Orebaugh
Etter 5.06 - 5.11
May 18
Lori W. Becker
Janice Damrow
Karen Anderson
Teresa Kofodimos
John Kofodimos
Nikki Lee
Janice Lee
Mona Etter
Jim Orebaugh
Lee 5.12 - 5.18
May 28
Lori W. Becker
Phil Zillinger
Samuel Muncy
Jim Orebaugh
Kevin Westwick
Janice Lee
Mona Etter
Vi Hughes
Kevin Westwick
Curry 5.19 - 5.25
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 daughter Chris Burgan, Judy Vogel and family (ongoing support).
For Special Intention: Prayers for our members that are unable to attend Worship service in person.
Students: Kaleb Dufree, Maddie Anderson, Matthew Benning, Jacob Benning, Karissa Draper, Scott Brunton, Lily Brunton and all students in Hendricks County!
Military Service Members: All Service Men and Women fighting for our freedoms
Current Events:
Prayers of comfort for those who have experienced loss due to the unrest in our troubled world.
Leadership and Local Organizations:
ELCA Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, I-K Synod Timothy Graham, 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.