November 4, 2026

We thank you, Lord, for music: for rich harmonies and compelling rhythms; for peaceful melodies and the great, stirring choruses. When we listen to music or share in making it, help us to do so with our full attention, so that our hearts as well as our heads may be open to the hints of glory that music can give; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

from The Book of a Thousand Prayers.

A Message from the Rector

Dear Friends in Christ,

Did you hear about the Christmas parade in central North Carolina? Many elaborate floats passed by when suddenly a simple hay wagon pulled by a tractor passes by hundreds of spectators. On the wagon are several fraternity boys from the university. They are madly sawing boards and nailing things together in the middle of the parade. The puzzled expressions of the onlooker's faces changed to laughter when they read the sign on the back of the wagon. It read: “We thought the parade was next week!”

The consistent witness of the Scriptures are clear: there is a time to prepare, and there is a deadline after which nothing will do. Either you’re ready or you’re not! Now is the time to prepare and make room for God’s presence in us. As Captain Picard once said in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, “Seize the time . . . Live now. Make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again.” 

Faithfully,

Fr. Robert Harvey

Outreach Meeting November 5

The Outreach Committee will meet tomorrow November 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the Reception Room or online via Zoom, Meeting ID 851 3261 7312 and Passcode 576417.

Read the meeting agenda here and last month's meeting minutes here. All are welcome to join us!

Churchyard Flags for Veteran's Day

To honor those who bravely served their country, flags will be placed in Calvary's churchyard at the gravesites of all veterans in time for Veteran's Day (Wednesday, November 11). If your loved one buried in the churchyard was a veteran (regardless of nationality) and has not had a flag in past years, please contact Linda McKenna at linm1210@gmail.com or (716) 479-2029 by Friday November 6 to include the veteran's name and branch of service in Calvary's records.

Pastoral Care Ministries Committee -- FINAL MEETING OF 2026

Please join us for the November 10th meeting at 5:30 in the Reception Room or by Zoom to review our subcommittees' activities and discuss our plans and needs for 2027. New and potential members are encouraged to attend this meeting, as our next formal, full committee meeting will not be until after January.

Come to learn about Eucharistic Visiting and what is done by the Altar Flower Ministry, Congregational Care, The Pet Ministry, Funeral Receptions, the Parent Ministry & Mothers Prayers, Good Grief, and Hands2Hearts. Meeting highlights and agendas will be sent to committee members prior to the meeting and will be available at the meeting; if you are interested in joining and would like copies before the meeting, please contact Elizabeth Harten, and please contact her if you are unable to attend the meeting.

Pixie Village Preschool Food Collection Drive

Pixie Village Preschool is collecting non-perishable food items and household essentials for the StrongWILL Food Pantry which supports local families experiencing food insecurity in the Williamsville School District.

Pixie Village is collecting the following; starred items in bold are most needed:

PANTRY STAPLES

• *Spaghetti sauce
• Catsup, mustard, other condiments
• Canned meats
• *Boxed or bagged instant potatoes
• *Cake mixes & pie fillings
• Jelly
• Peanut butter
• Canned fruit
• Canned yams

MEALS & SNACKS

• *Cereal (hot & cold)
• Ramen
• Rice
• *Snacks -- especially granola and breakfast bars

HOUSEHOLD & PERSONAL CARE

• *Toilet paper
• *Paper towels
• *Toothpaste
• *Deodorant

Donations may be dropped off on the table to the right of the elevator in the lobby outside the Pixie Village wing. The collection deadline is Friday, November 13.

Coming Soon: Calvary's Mitten Tree Drive for School 30

Calvary's Annual Mitten Tree Drive brings holiday joy to students at Buffalo Public School #30. As in previous years, every second and fourth grader at School 30 will receive a fleece jacket with the school's logo (preordered by the Outreach Committee) and a book that they or their teacher requested. This year we have expanded the Mitten Tree to give every first grader a hooded sweatshirt (also preordered by Outreach) and a book.

The Mitten Tree drive will run from Saturday, November 14 through Sunday, December 13. Stay tuned for more information about how you may participate in this drive.

Nominations for 2027 Parish Election

Calvary's Vestry has approved the following people to serve on the Nominating Committee: Dennis McCoy (Chair), Helen Cochran, Bruce Davidson, George Faeth, Samantha Maciejewski, and Emily Sityar. The committee is seeking to fill positions of those rotating off the Vestry: one warden and three vestrypersons.

Please help Calvary recruit good leaders by submitting names of potential candidates to run as Warden or Vestrypersons in the 2027 Parish Election. Download a nomination form, fill it out, and drop it off in Nominations Box in the Reception Room. The deadline for vestry nominations is Sunday, November 15.

Attention All Knitters!

It is the season for giving warm hats, mittens and scarves to refugees. Journey's End is always in need of men's, women's and children's sets. Individual pieces are also welcome. Many thanks to our knitters and crocheters who are members of Calvary's Hands to Hearts Group for taking on this project. Should there be other parishioners who would like to contribute hand-made items please contact Betsy Greno at 716-864-4817 elizabethgreno@gmail.com.

The deadline for contributions is Sunday November 22.

2027 Stewardship Campaign

Our Church continues to thrive as a place of worship, Christian hospitality, and witness because of your faith, your generosity, and your commitment to our shared ministry. There is so much life and light in our parish. At the heart of it all is you--the people of Calvary--faithfully and compassionately living out your baptismal promise to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Click here if you wish to fill out a 2027 Calvary pledge card online. Calvary's Giving website has further information about ways to make a gift to Calvary.

All pledges will be blessed on November 22, the Sunday before Thanksgiving. As of Tuesday, 131 households have pledged $399,208 in support of Calvary in 2027. Thank you to those who have pledged.

Call for Diocesan Delegates

In addition to the vestry election at Calvary's Annual Parish Meeting in January, parishioners will also elect 3 diocesan delegates and up to 3 alternates to vote in the May Diocesan Election for a new bishop. These delegates will be responsible to attend meetings and forums in April to hear from the congregation about their priorities for a bishop and to vote in the diocesan election in May.

If you are interested in being a diocesan delegate, please submit your name to the church office by email or call 716 633-7800. Do not submit someone's name until you have confirmed that they are willing to be a delegate. The deadline to nominate delegates for the Diocesan Bishop Election is Monday, November 30.

Hands to Hearts Blanket Blessing and Coffee Hour

At last Sunday's 10 am service, Fr. Robert blessed blankets made by Calvary's Hands to Hearts knitters and crocheters. The blankets were given as a housewarming present to Paul and Linda McKenna and as a healing/recuperation present to Sean O'Mahony.

Thanks to Chair Janice Delucia and the Hands to Hearts committee for hosting last Sunday's Coffee Hour. They brought lots of food, displayed many of their creations, and offered on-the-spot demonstrations and sign-ups for lessons.

Drive Carefully and Help Calvary Be a Good Neighbor

Please obey the parking signs and crosswalk signals around Calvary Church. Be kind to Calvary's neighbors and pedestrians as you drive and park your car. Thanks for your consideration!

Ashby Church Calendars

Calvary is taking orders for 2027 Ashby church calendars. These Episcopal calendars list the lectionary readings for Sundays and major feasts. Each day lists the liturgical color and saints commemorated. The $5 calendars are for reference; the boxes are too small in which to write personal schedules. Let the office know if you would like one before the church places its order on November 12.

2026 Areas of Ministry & Vestry Liaisons

Each area of ministry at Calvary is assigned a Vestry member liaison. The liaison serves as an intermediary between the committee and the whole Vestry. These are the liaison assignments for 2026:

• Worship & Music - Janet Newall and Fr. Robert Harvey
• Christian Formation -
• Adult Education - Ryan Fleming
• Children's Education - Ted Andrews
• Fellowship - Howard Craig
• Pastoral Care - Karen Davidson
• Outreach - Karen Davidson
• Communications - Helen Cochran and Laurie Kaiser
• Property - Bryan Gorney
• Giving/Development - Dennis McCoy and Janet Metcalfe
• Finance - Guy Whalen

A Prayer for our Bishop Search

Gracious God, we give thanks for your loving care for the people of the Diocese of Western New York and the members of the Bishop’s Search and Transition Committees. Give us wisdom and understanding as we discern your will. We ask for the gifts of honesty, to speak the truth in love; openness to the gifts and ideas of others and to the Holy Spirit; and willingness, to see your Light shining among us and on the path ahead. Prepare for our Diocese a bishop who will be a faithful pastor, and equip us for the ministries to which we are called in these changing times. Help us to love and serve your world and one another in the Spirit of Christ, trusting in you to be our steadfast helper and guide. Amen.

Inspiration from the Episcopal House in Chauttaucqua:

Diocesan and Church News



• For more news about the Diocese of WNY and to sign up for emailed newsletters, go here.
• The Episcopal Church website offers resources for individuals, congregations, and various ministries. 

Worship at Calvary

In-person worship

• Sunday 8 a.m. Holy Communion
• Sunday 10 a.m. Holy Communion. This worship service is also live streamed.
• Saturday, 4 p.m. Holy Communion
• Wednesday, 7 a.m. Holy Communion

Online worship

• Sunday 10 a.m. Holy Communion is also live streamed. The link to Calvary's 10 a.m. service can be found on the Calvary website or streamed on Facebook and YouTube. All three places will have the recording to watch later.

Attendance

On November 1, online viewers for the 10 a.m. service came from NY, PA, FL, MA and ONT.

Give us grateful hearts, our Father, for all thy mercies, and make us mindful of the needs of others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

from The Book of Common Prayer, p 835.