CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH
| Your Weekly E-Newsletter -- Thursday December 28, 2023 | |
Reflection on this weekend's Scripture reading | |
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He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. - Psalm 111:4
“What Milton Couldn’t Forget”
Poet John Milton, author of Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained, was raised on the Psalms. He, his older sister, Anne, and his younger brother, Kit, would often sprawl in front of the fireplace as they discussed a Bible passage with their parents, and then sing several Psalms together.
It is not surprising that the earliest of Milton’s poems were paraphrases of psalms, written when he was about fifteen years old. He began: “Let us with a gladsome mind/Praise the Lord, for He is kind.“ As he was going completely blind in his forties, he wrote a paraphrase of Psalm 6 including the words: “My bed I water with my tears; my eye through grief consumed is waxen old and dark.”
But despite his blindness, Milton could always recall the beauties and the majesties of God’s creation, as he did in his epics. He paraphrased Psalm 111:4 as:
For wonderful, indeed, are all his works,
pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all
Had in remembrance always with delight.
“Who can forget?” asked the psalmist. The answer is simple: We do, over and over again. Very quickly we forget the wonderful things God has done for us. Pause a moment to bring to remembrance a few of the things God did for you yesterday.
Source: “One Year Book of Psalms”
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The end of 2023 is fast approaching. Have you --
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returned your 2024 pledge card?
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planned to make your remaining 2023 contributions by Sunday, December 31, 2023?
The Office will be closed on Monday, January 1.
Wishing you a very blessed Christmas and a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!
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1st Sunday after Christmas
December 30-31, 2023
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PRESIDING MINISTER: Pastor Jerry Wittmus
ASSISTING MINISTER: Ed Ramthun
DEACONS:
Saturday: Pat Foy
Sunday: Linda Thorpe, Larry Bonier, Everett Lambert
ACOLYTE:
USHERS:
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE:
LECTOR:
ALTAR GUILD:
GREETERS:
- Keith and Karen Pierce
- Carole Roe
FELLOWSHIP:
FLOWERS: Christmas Poinsettias
POWERPOINT OPERATORS:
Saturday: Cindy Rooks
Sunday: Jessica Dudzik
LIVESTREAM OPERATOR:
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PLEASE NOTE:
Change in our Communion Procedure
Beginning on Saturday, December 30, we will return to the practice of placing empty communion cups in the baskets on the sides of the altar as you return to your pew..
Due to scheduling conflicts and the limited number of acolytes that are available, there will only be one acolyte at each Sunday service to light the candles and participate in the procession.
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Severe Weather Announcements
With winter in full swing, we are reminded that weather can definitely impact traveling to church. And with that, inclement weather could necessitate the cancelling of worship.
In the event this should happen, you will receive an e-mail stating that the church is closed. We will also be sharing this with local TV stations (WISN-TV 12 and FOX6) so that it will be included in their scrolling list and on their website of closures.
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Annual Meeting Date
January 28, 2024, 10:30 a.m. - Congregational Annual Meeting (Contingency date is February 4, 2024)
January 21, 2024, 10:30 a.m. - Informational Meeting
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New prayer requests or any updates to this current list should be directed to Cindy Zilske in the Church office (office@calvarylc.com).
New prayer requests: Jean (friend of Linda Thorpe)
Ongoing short-term prayer requests: Laura Burger; Kris Larsen; Richard and his wife (friends of Joanne Schultz); Justin Rowe (son of Sue Rowe); Kathy (friend of Judy Sayas' sister); Christine (cousin of Judy Sayas); Peggy (niece of Judy DeBruine); Sandy (friend of Linda Thorpe); Gerald van Zyverden (nephew of Lisa Grossman); Jim Walters (cousin of Krista Dentice); Lynn Weber (godmother of Angie Schatz); Karly Bambanek (friend of Joanne Schultz); Wolf Knappe (father of Pastor Mark Knappe); Sue Miller (sister of Mary Ellen Thiede); Peter Vang (relative of Ka Thao); Edward Hermann (son of Marilyn Hermann); Courtney Cook (friend of Lenny Graffin); Nate Kreiter, Matti Beilfuss (friends of Rick Kegel); Sharon Anderson (mother of Deron Anderson); Lou Dangler (friend of Evelyn Ceci); Paul Mahn (son of Shirley Mahn); Hunter Green (nephew of Andy and Angie Schatz); Tom Schatz (father of Andy Schatz); Susie Barnhart and Amy Clark (friends of Megan Scott); Delores Seel (mother of Keith Pierce).
Please continue to pray for: God’s guidance and support for our Call Committee, and that the Holy Spirit is working in the heart of the pastor He wishes to call as the next pastor of Calvary.
Serving in the Military: Kevin Butler (son of Heidi Powers, serving in the U.S. Army); Ben DeYoung (son-in-law of George and Kay Sedivec, serving in the U.S. Air Force); Alex Olson (U.S. Air Force, grandchild of Ardath Olson); Kyle Pierce (son of Karen and Keith Pierce, serving in the U.S. Army); Nicole Wahlgren (serving in the U.S. Army National Guard); all military chaplains; and all veterans suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder.
For All Men and Women Serving: Police Officers, Firefighters, EMT's; Health Care workers and First Responders.
Serving in the mission field: Our NALC missionaries and missionaries everywhere bringing the gospel to the ends of the Earth.
Long-term prayer list: Calvary members: Jan Chesner, Pat Corcoran; Wayne Dieck; Ron Foster; Bev Lawson; Shirley Mahn, Sue Rowe; Nadine Schuelke; Gloria Strei; Pat Treutelaar; Janet Zastrow
Non-members: Mark Sturms (cousin of Cindy Zilske); Ron Parker (brother of Linda Thorpe); Mary (sister-in-law of Jane Taufner); Lauren (granddaughter of Scott and Peggy Langelin); Dennis Reich (friend of John and Mary Lau); Curt (friend of Larry Bonier); Pastor Mark Gehrke (son of Lois Gehrke); Barb Anderson (friend of Lisa Grossman); Gareth George (cousin of Judy Sayas); Monica Barchus (niece of Ernie Kretschmann); Michael Rossa (Lucy Dallman's son); Karen (friend of Lydia Trudell); Susan Petropoulos (sister of Wayne Johnson); Tom Dallman (husband of Lucy Dallman); Laura Lynn (friend of Pastor Jerry and Nancy Wittmus)
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Lenny Graffin, 12/28
Gabrielle Hanke, 12/29
Judy Klade, 12/31
Sallie Schulz, 12/31
JoAnne Krause, 1/1
Hadley Brooks, 1/4
Kyle Jones, 1/4
Ed Ramthun, 1/5
Jonni Roush, 1/5
Sean Corcoran, 1/7
Joanne Juno, 1/7
Ernie Kretschmann, 1/7
Tiffany Schlieve, 1/7
Jim Selas, 1/7
Carol Corcoran, 1/9
Ka Thao, 1/9
Liam Brooks, 1/11
Carol Roe, 1/11
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Jeremy and Nicole Nowicki, 12/28 (13 years)
Ben and Amy Blobaum, 12/29 (3 years)
Rick and Carol Treadwell, 12/29 (50 years)
Ken and Amanda Olstinski, 12/31 (2 years)
Chris and Jessica Dudzik, 1/7 (18 years)
Pat and Carol Corcoran, 1/12 (61 years)
Dave and Chris Cason, 1/17 (43 years)
Alex and Margaux Baumgarten, 1/25 (4 years)
Jiafu and Sophia Liu, 1/27 (24 years)
Joel and Linda Richmond, 1/30 (42 years)
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Community Outreach Opportunities | |
WOW!
What a fantastic response to the
"Mitten Tree" collection!
Thank you to all who placed items at the tree this year. There are so many beautiful purchased and handmade items that will be enjoyed by recipients at Serenity Inn, Care Net and Franciscan Peacemakers.
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Church Life Fellowship Opportunity | |
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"The Savannah Sipping Society"
Sunset Playhouse Theater Outing
Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.
In this delightful, laugh-a-minute comedy, four unique Southern women, all needing to escape the sameness of their day-to-day routines, are drawn together by fate—and an impromptu happy hour—and decide it’s high time to reclaim the enthusiasm for life they’ve lost through the years.
Sign up/ticket sales will be promoted in January.
Hope you can join us!
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December Mission of the Month | |
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To support this important Mission of the Month, you may include it in your weekly offering envelope or designate the donation as "Mission of the Month" in your online giving.
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n December we raise up a vital Mission of the Month supporting the training of pastors for service in the North American Lutheran Churches. We have been blessed to have Ben Blobaum with us this year as a pastoral intern. Ben is a graduate of the North American Lutheran Seminary in Ambridge, PA.
Why is this important? The NALC is growing and the need for pastors trained for our Synod is crucial to us and congregations like ours in the NALC. Current pastors in other Synod traditions have received training in preparation for serving in NALC congregations; however, many of those pastors are nearing retirement.
The NALC has grown from 17 congregations at inception to over 500. Initially there was only one seminary in Ambridge, PA; however, due to growth and demand, the Lutheran Institute of Technology (ILT) in Brookings, SD also trains pastors for the NALC. The ILT is an online institute with undergraduate, graduate and seminary programs.
Please consider supporting these seminaries n their godly work. Click here to be directed to the NALS website for more information.
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Little Lutherans
PJ's and Prayers, Friday January 26, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
PJ's and Prayers, Friday, March 8, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Elementary School (1st - 5th grade)
Tubing at the Rock!, Sunday January 21, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Youth Group, Sunday February 11, 11:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Roller Skating, Sunday March 17, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Middle School (6-8th grade)
Monthly Youth Group, Sunday, February 25, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Winter Retreat, Camp Timber-Lee, January 5-7, 2024
Snow Tubing, Sunday February 4, 11:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
High School (6-12th grade)
Winter Retreat, Camp Timber-Lee, January 5-7, 2024
1st & Bowl, Sunday, January 28, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Youth Group, Sunday February 4, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Mini-Golf, Sunday March 3, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Youth Group, Sunday March 10, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
If you didn't get a chance to pick up the bulletin with upcoming Youth & Family Ministry events, you can link below to see all the fun activities planned for us. Paper copies are also on the Opportunities kiosk in the Narthex.
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Women's Book Group
Monday, January 8
12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Media Room
The Personal Librarian
by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray
The remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan's personal librarian—who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true, from New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict and acclaimed author Victoria Christopher Murray.
In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture on the New York society scene and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps build a world-class collection.
But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle's complexion isn't dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white — her complexion is dark because she is African American.
The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths to which she must go—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.
There are six books and a sign-up sheet located on the back counter in the media room.
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Worship Attendance and Giving | |
Giving to the NALC Campaign | |
Just a reminder that contributions to the NALC's 20/20 Vision Campaign need to be designated as "NALC" either on your giving envelope or on your check. If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Rooks at finance@calvarylc.com.
For an update on the NALC's 20/20 Vision campaign, click on the link below to watch an update from Bishop Selbo. This video highlights the work we are doing, the ways in which gifts to the initiative are already being used, and the impact future gifts will have in our shared witness and mission.
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Online giving provides options!
While cash and checks are always welcome, the “Give Online” button on the Calvary Lutheran Church website provides another option. And, with the expansion of our vendor’s software, the options are now expanded and customized. In addition to giving to the General Operating Fund, Building Fund and Mission of the Month, you can now specify contributions for Altar Flowers, Sunday Morning Fellowship Treats, NALC, etc.
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Please note that contributions to the Mission of the Month are allocated to the organization for the month in which the donation is made
If you have any questions or would like to make a pledge, please contact Cindy Rooks, Finance Secretary, via email at finance@calvarylc.com or (262) 786-4010.
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Weekly Men's Breakfast
Wednesdays at 7 a.m.
Maxim's Restaurant
18025 W. Capitol Drive
Brookfield
All men are invited to attend!
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Monthly Men's Gathering
Fellowship Hall
Thursday, January 18th
6:00 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact Ernie Kretschmann at erniekretschmann@gmail.com
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Do you need a new Church Directory? | |
The Calvary Church Directory is available electronically or in paper format. If you'd like an electronic copy, please send an email to Sue Rowe at communications@calvarylc.com.
There are also printed copies available in the church office.
If there are any changes to your phone, email or address, please advise the Church office. Any updates should be submitted to Cindy Zilske at office@calvarylc.com.
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Sanctuary Flowers
A wonderful way to celebrate a special occasion or remember a loved one is by sponsoring flowers at our altar. The cost is $35 and you may take them home following the Sunday morning worship. (If you'd prefer, you can leave the flowers at church to be enjoyed in the church office.)
The 2024 sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex, near the door to Fellowship Hall.
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We invite you to provide
Hospitality Treats on Sunday
We invite you to stay after worship on Sunday mornings and enjoy fellowship time and a treat/cup of coffee in Fellowship Hall.
If you'd like to provide treats (donuts, bagels, etc.) for Sunday hospitality time, there is a sheet on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. You may bring the treats (six dozen) and drop them off in the kitchen, or simply add a “P” behind your name, pay $30 to the church office and the treats will be purchased for you.
The sign up sheet for 2024 has been posted on the bulletin board. Thank you for your support!
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Live Stream Attendance Link | |
If you watch our services via the Live Stream, please take a minute to let us know. There is now a link called "Online Worship Attendance" on the page where you access each week's service.
We appreciate you taking the time to complete this each week. It helps us know that our Live Stream is being viewed and by whom.
Thank you!
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The right side of the Sanctuary (as you face the altar) is equipped with a hearing loop system which transmits an audio signal directly into a hearing aid via a magnetic field. This greatly reduces background noise, competing sounds, reverberation and other acoustic distortions that reduce clarity of sound.
Most hearing aids are equipped with a t-coil and connecting to this system is an easy switch on the hearing aid. If you need assistance during worship with this system, please reach out to an usher or any staff member.
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The church office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until noon. The door that is closest to the office (NW corner) will be open during those hours.
Please check in with the office staff so we know you are in the building.
The office phone number is (262) 786-4010. Feel free to leave a message if you call after hours and we will contact you the next day.
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