CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH
| Your Weekly E-Newsletter -- Thursday January 18, 2024 | | |
Annual Meeting Date
January 21, 2024, 10:30 a.m.
Informational Meeting THIS SUNDAY
Copies of the 2023 Annual Report will be
on the table in the Narthex.
January 28, 2024, 10:30 a.m.
Congregational Annual Meeting
(Contingency date is February 4, 2024)
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"Hymn Sing" this Sunday
at 8:45 a.m.
Come into the Sanctuary early on Sunday to prepare for worship with some of your favorite hymns. Nicole Moritz will be ready to play your reqeuested favorites from the hymnals in the pews.
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Reflection on this weekend's Scripture reading | |
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This week’s Old Testament lesson is from Jonah. Chad Bird wrote the reflection below in his book Unveiling Mercy.
Jonah called out, “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” -- Jonah 3:4
“The Shortest Sermon”
Five Hebrew words – that’s how long Jonah’s sermon was. But he did get right to the point: “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be hafak. “Hafak “is the verb frequently used to describe the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah. Should Nineveh not repent, the same punishment awaited this Assyrian city. But of course, they did turn from their evil way (Jonah 3:10). Fascinatingly, when they repented, another aspect of hafak applied, because while it means “overturn”, this verb can also mean “turn, change, transform”. The psalmist cries ,“You have hafak [‘turned’] for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness” (30:11). So God did for Nineveh! As the Lord had threatened to hafak [“overturn”] the city, when they put on sackcloth in repentance, he hafak [“turned”] their mourning into dancing.
The last thing this xenophobic missionary wanted was for his audience to repent – yet they did, big time. Even the cows wore sack cloth! Jonah’s story vividly reminds us that it’s the Spirit’s job to give repentance and work faith – not the preacher’s. No one can repent, no one come to God, no one can believe, “No one can say, ‘Jesus is, Lord,’ except in the Holy Spirit . (1 Cor. 12:3) He turns hearts to Him.
All praise to you, Holy Spirit, for calling us by the Gospel to faith in Christ Jesus.
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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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Third Sunday after
the Epiphany
January 20-21, 2024
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PRESIDING MINISTER: Pastor Jerry Wittmus
ASSISTING MINISTER: Lee Tyne
DEACONS:
Saturday: Mary Ellen Thiede
Sunday: George Sedivec, Pat Foy, Everett Lambert
ACOLYTE:
USHERS:
- Caryl Braatz and Jane Krause
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE:
LECTOR:
ALTAR GUILD:
GREETERS:
- George and Kay Sedivec
- Bob and Donna Siderits
FELLOWSHIP:
FLOWERS: Kalupa family in memory of Rita Kalupa
POWERPOINT OPERATORS:
Saturday:Jeanette Kalupa
Sunday: Jessica Dudzik
LIVESTREAM OPERATOR:
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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: Cindy Huber (friend of Mary Ellen Thiede)
Ongoing short-term prayer requests: Gloria Strei; Laura Burger; Kris Larsen; Eric Dix (Linda Thorpe's son-in-law's brother); Jim Sanborn (friend of Linda Thorpe); Drake Ferber (Judy Sayas' neighbor's son)Jean (friend of LInda Thorpe); 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; 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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Lauren Beeson, 1/19
Allison Duch, 1/21
Juanita Osowski, 1/21
Alex Baumgarten, 1/22
Amelia Evert, 1/22
Jackson Gall, 1/22
Cindy Rooks, 1/24
Sue Vollmar, 1/25
Bode Zipp, 1/25
Diane Iverson, 1/27
Jeanette Bauer, 1/28
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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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Church Life Fellowship Opportunity | |
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"The Savannah Sipping Society"
Sunset Playhouse Theater Event
Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.
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TICKET SALES ARE NOW OPEN!
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.
Tickets are $19/each. We have a limited amount of tickets so please sign up on the "COMING EVENTS" kiosk in the Narthex. Payment can be dropped in the Offering basket or in the church office. Ticket sales will close on Monday, February 19th - no exceptions for late orders.
Wheelchair seating is available in the theater. If you'd be interested in carpooling from Calvary to the Sunset Theater, please note that on the sign-up form.
Hope you can join us!
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January Mission of the Month | |
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AbleLight (formerly Bethesda) is a national Christian non-profit organization headquartered in Watertown, Wisconsin that provides support services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at program locations across the U.S. They are in eight counties in Wisconsin.
They work to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by giving them the opportunity to live their lives to the fullest. They seek to be a champion of change by supporting independence and community inclusion.
They make a difference every day in the lives of those they support though advocacy, raising awareness and promoting independence.
They ensure communities understand the unique abilities people with disabilities have and encourage everyone to become advocates for people’s rights and independence.
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Some of AbleLight's current and future initiatives include:
- Smart home technology to enhance daily living
- Financial Support Services (they currently provide financial management for more than 700 clients)
- Bethesda College of Applied Learning
- Independent housing choices that offer true community inclusion
- Behavioral Support Services (for people of all ages)
- Faith resources made available online and free-of-charge through Concordia Publishing
For more information about AbleLight, please click here.
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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Youth & Family Ministry Schedule
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.
Snow Tubing, Sunday February 4, 11:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
High School (6-12th grade)
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, March 11 2024
12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Media Room
"The Book of Lost Friends"
by Lisa Wingate
Widower Mukesh lives a quiet life in the London Borough of Ealing after losing his beloved wife. He shops every Wednesday, goes to Temple, and worries about his granddaughter, Priya, who hides in her room reading while he spends his evenings watching nature documentaries.
Aleisha is a bright but anxious teenager working at the local library for the summer when she discovers a crumpled-up piece of paper in the back of To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s a list of novels that she’s never heard of before. Intrigued, and a little bored with her slow job at the checkout desk, she impulsively decides to read every book on the list, one after the other. As each story gives up its magic, the books transport Aleisha from the painful realities she’s facing at home.
When Mukesh arrives at the library, desperate to forge a connection with his bookworm granddaughter, Aleisha passes along the reading list… hoping that it will be a lifeline for him too. Slowly, the shared books create a connection between two lonely souls, as fiction helps them escape their grief and everyday troubles and find joy again.
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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 18
6:00 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact Ernie Kretschmann at erniekretschmann@gmail.com
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Worship Attendance and Giving | |
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Year-end contribution statements for 2023 are in the mail! Thank you for your generous and ongoing support of Calvary and its operations. If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Rooks at finance@calvarylc.com or (262) 786-4010.
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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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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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