April 2025 Newsletter
We love, serve, and gather in Christ.
Pastor’s Corner
Friends:
Recent doctor visits brought up the term "holistic" as a way to receive my medical care. I've been accepted into a program called Pain Navigators through IU Health. Several different doctors and specialists will focus on the care and "repair" of my whole system, not just parts!
Instead of just treating my leg numbness, for example, they want to look at "why" it's numb and get deeply involved in my assessment. More soon, but I'm underway with a higher, deeper level of care. Thanks be to God!!
This month of April will bring another level of holistic care for us in Jesus Christ! We will celebrate His defeat of death and resurrection at Easter April 20th.
Jesus doesn't just want us to experience the freedom of new life in our "heads!" He wants us to also rejoice in our hearts, bodies and souls.
Just as I am telling ppl about my health update, so God ways us to share this Good News with everyone we meet! It's yours, friend, and it's yours to give away to others. RENEWAL! Spring clean the soul!!
We know, from our Lenten study, we are saved by grace through our faith as told to us in the Scriptures centered on Jesus the Christ, all to the Glory of God! Thanks be to God!
Pastor Doug
Worship Time Change:
Once again we follow our Shared Ministry Agreement and change worship times effective May 4th, 2025.
Faith Lutheran moves to 11am
St. Andrews moves to 9am
Council Members
Teresa Kofodimos – President
Becky Albaugh – Vice President
Janice Damrow – Secretary
Karen Anderson – Financial Secretary
Sara Curry – At-Large
Samuel Muncy – At-Large
38th Annual Gardening for All Ages
38th Annual Gardening for All Ages 1900 E. Main St., Danville, IN 46122
Presented By: Hendricks County Master Gardeners
Dates: April 26, 2025
Location: Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds & Conference Complex
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Summer Supper & May through September this year we’ll once again hold monthly Summer Supper & Service events.
From May through September this year we’ll once again hold monthly Summer Supper & Service events.
Here’s the plan:
We’ll need volunteers to sign-up for each Wednesday’s dinner. We would like to serve from 6:00 until 6:30, then as soon as we finish eating, we’ll dive into our projects.
We need to develop a list of tasks for this summer and then decide which project we would work on each month; see below for some suggestions. Note that some projects will be on the list every month (i.e. food pantry prep, trash pickup, etc.)
After setting the month’s focus we’ll oversee the project or get a volunteer who will oversee it, making sure that all the supplies that are needed are at church when we arrive.
This will be a great opportunity for fellowship, and at the same time we can care for our building and property.
Supper & Service Dates – Please mark your calendar:
May 14th – Mulching ??
June 18th
July 16th
August 13th
Sept 17th
Project Idea List:
Food Pantry Setup
Food Pantry Shed Inventory
Garden Work / Clean-up
Deep Clean of Building
Clean Windows
Watering
Mowing
Trimming Weeding
Tilling
Trash pickup
Rock pickup
Painting touchups
God’s Work Our Hands prep (August?)
Have suggestions or thoughts, please let Becky or Julie know!
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, resuming April 23rd.
LENS Reflection / Sunday Morning
The LENS program is a Bible study that engage discussion of connecting world events with the Bible, faith and everyday life. We will meet at Faith, in Pastor's office @ 10:20am until 11am.
The current scheduled dates we will meet are:
April 13th
April 27th
Food Pantry
Happy Spring!
Thank you to everyone who volunteers to make our food pantry run smoothly and have helped organize product. The need to help feed our community is on going and we appreciate your willingness to serve.
Thank you!
* The next food pantry will be held on Saturday, April 19th from 9-11am. We ask you to please prayerfully consider joining us as we serve our neighbors. All volunteers are welcome and needed!
Holy Week
Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025. Faith 9am
Maundy Thurday, April 17, 2025.
Agape Supper is 6:30pm at Faith.
Good Friday, April 18, 2025. 7pm service at St. Andrews. Service will focus on the Seven Last Words of Jesus. .
Holy Saturday, April 19, 2025
Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 Faith 7am and 9am, with a light breakfast in between.
Easter
Length: Easter is not just a day, but it is also a season. This can get lost amidst things like spring break, vacations, school getting out, and nice weather returning (at the time of writing this, the snow is almost gone!). Easter is a 50-day celebration that also includes Jesus’ ascension (always a Thursday and 40 days after His resurrection). To help emphasize this celebration aspect, Sundays are called “of Easter.” The church dedicates 1/7 of the year celebrating Easter!
Origin and Date: Have you ever wondered why Easter is the date it is? Have you ever wondered why it is in March one year, and then in April another? Have you ever wondered why Easter can vary by weeks from year to year? Well, I got an answer for you! Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. Since that date can vary, the date of Easter can vary.
Themes: Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, and it is a time for all Christians to profess their faith in a risen and victorious Lord. Many of the Gospel texts are post resurrection appearances of Jesus that touch on the mysterious and miraculous nature of His resurrection. The Acts readings (first reading) “emphasize the rapid spread of the joyous Good News of Jesus’ victory over sin and death and the consequent growth of the Christian community throughout the world.” The last Sunday of Easter looks forwards to the sending of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
Color: White is the color of “celebration, purity, innocence, and gladness.” What an appropriate color for the season of Easter! The color of white is also associated with important events in Jesus’ life, like his birth and baptism. It is also interesting to note that the word for “white” in Latin is alba, which is also the name of the “gown” or “robe” that pastors and assisting ministers wear (that is also white).
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 the church office know.
Earth Day
The 55th Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22.
Ever wonder how Earth Day began? The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, when San Francisco activist John McConnell and Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson separately asked Americans to join in a grassroots demonstration. Dealing with dangerously serious issues concerning toxic drinking water, air pollution, and the effects of pesticides, an impressive 20 million Americans—10% of the population—ventured outdoors and protested together.
Today, not only is Earth Day meant to increase awareness of environmental problems, but it is also becoming a popular time for many communities to gather together to clean up litter, plant trees, or simply reflect on the beauty of nature. Further down the page, we’ve provided a list of activities and projects that you can do to improve your local environment!
God’s Work Our Hands Sunday
This year God’s Work Our Hands Sunday will be held on September 7th. If you’re interested in some of the projects that other congregations have done in the past few years, take a minute to look at https://www.elca.org/dayofservice.
We are going to look for a project that those with all physical capabilities can participate in.
Pastor’s Office Hours
Just a reminder that Pastor Doug’s office hours are as follows (but are subject to change):
Faith: 11a-2p Tuesdays
Thank You Very Much
“Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the way of God in Christ Jesus” (1 Th. 5:16)
We appreciate everyone who cooked, set up and tore down for services.
Thank you to Samuel Muncy for the Sola display.
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.
April 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
Leigh Anderson April 5
Teresa Kofodimos April 5
Nikki Lee April 6
Kevin Westwick April 6
Julie Muncy April 9
Becky Albaugh April 29
ANNIVERSARIES
Steve & Debbie Hacker April 11
Worship Assistants - April 2024
Altar Guild
Asst Minister
Lector
Cantor
FB Live Tech
Usher
Greeter
Fellowship
Gifts Counter
Cleaning Ministry
April 9
Christine Nitz
Karen A
Janice D
Kevin W
Lori W B
Jay A
Vi Hughes
Phil Zillinger
Hacker 3.31 - 4.06
April 13
Christine Nitz
Lori W B
Debbie H
John K
Samuel M
Becky A
Karen A
Debbie H
Etter 4.07 - 4.13
April 20
Christine Nitz
Jim O
Karen A
Brian K
John K
Ron Graff
Janice Lee
COMMITTEE
Becky A
Lee 4.14 - 4.20
April 27
Christine Nitz
Brian K
Kim O
Karen A
Kevin W
Phil Zillinger
Gil Sams
Joyce Sams
Janice Lee
Albaugh 4.21 - 4.27
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: David Lee and Jack Seitz
For special intention: 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: Kaleb Durfee, Maddie Anderson, Matthew Benning, Jacob Benning, Karissa Draper, Scott Brunton, Lily Brunton and all the 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 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.