March 20, 2024

Lord, in these days of mercy, make us quiet and prayerful;

in these days of challenge, make us stronger in you;

in these days of emptiness, take possession of us;

in these days of waiting, open our hearts to the mystery of your cross.

-- from The Book of a Thousand Prayers

A Message from the Rector

Dear Friends in Christ,

This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday also known as Passion Sunday. It’s the start of Holy Week, the most important week in the life of the Church year. On Palm Sunday we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Did you know that there were two processions into Jerusalem that day? Historians tell us two processions took place that day. Two “kings” entered Jerusalem representing two very different kingdoms: The kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. Jesus enters the Holy City as a prophet challenging the unholy union between the religious authorities and Roman imperial power. Jesus arrives on the scene from the east just as Pilate and his cadre of Roman soldiers enter the city from the west. The two processions couldn’t be more starkly contrasting. Jesus, a peasant from Galilee, rides a lowly donkey and is greeted by the people as a prophet, liberator, a political revolutionary and completely unarmed. Pilate on the other hand, representing the Roman imperial power of the Roman Empire, bursts into Jerusalem in high military fashion, with a column of cavalry, marching soldiers, and a cache of weapons reminding everyone who was really in charge.



They present two radically different visions for the world. Pilate’s vision was a world dominated by power, violence, subjugation, and domination. Jesus offered another vision for humanity centered on service, justice, humility, peace, and unconditional love for our neighbors. The remainder of Holy Week pits the Kingdom of God against the kingdoms of this world. Still to this day, the kingdoms of this world trust the power of the sword while the kingdom of God rests in the power of the cross. Which will we chose? Will we choose to continue living according to the dominating ways of this world or will we risk joining Jesus in the liberating work of striving “for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human begin.” At every baptism we say, “I will with God’s help.” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 305)

Father Robert Harvey

Palm Sunday Procession

This weekend, the Palm Sunday Liturgies mean that we begin worship in a different location from usual.

We will gather to bless and distribute palm crosses and branches

• in the Reception Room for the Saturday 4 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. services
• in Hughson Hall for the Sunday 10 a.m. service.

Then we will process into the church to reenact the procession of Jesus into Jerusalem.

Holy Week at Calvary

• Saturday March 23, 4 p.m. - Palm Sunday Service
• Sunday March 24, 8 a.m. & 10 a.m. - Palm Sunday Service
• Wednesday, March 27, 7 a.m. - Holy Week Service
• Thursday, March 28, 7 p.m. - Maundy Thursday Service
• Thursday, March 28, 8:30 p.m. through Friday, March 29, 8:30 a.m. - Prayer Vigil
• Friday, March 29, Noon - Good Friday Service
• Friday, March 29 7 p.m. - Sacred Music Concert
• Saturday, March 30 - No services
• Sunday March 31, 8 a.m. & 10 a.m. - Easter Service

Easter Flower Donations

The beauty of our worship at Easter is a gift we offer to God and each other. Consider donating toward Easter flowers in memory of or in thanksgiving for loved ones. Download this form or write a note to mail or put in the offering plate with a check, or make your donation online and write "Easter Flower Donation" on the memo line. To be sure your loved one's name is publicized this Easter, please submit your names and contributions by Monday, March 25.

TONIGHT

Lenten Bible Study & Potluck

Tonight will be the final Wednesday of Calvary's potluck dinner and Bible discussion. Join us as we enjoy delicious food and inspiring conversation.

Have you ever marveled about St. Paul's thrilling conversion on the road to Damascus? Have you wondered how the Holy Spirit worked in the early church, and what it means in our lives today? Have you wondered how the Church grew and expanded so quickly in that time, and how the disciples on the one hand received a tremendous welcome wherever they went – and on the other hand, terrible persecutions?  

Please join us as we ponder these questions and others from the Book of Acts from 5:30 to 7:30 pm tonight. The food has been so delicious that we hope to compile recipes for a church cookbook. Bring a dish to share if you can, but anyway just come.    

Friends of Night People

Calvary will be volunteering at Friends of Night People on Thursday, March 21. Consider becoming one of Calvary's 5-8 volunteers serving meals and distributing clothing. The group will meet in the church parking lot at 4:00 pm to carpool and return around 8:00 pm. Please sign up in the Reception Room if you can help. Contact Ro Cherpak (716-863-4267) or Chris Coburn Miller (716 597-5263) for more information.

Fellowship Ministries

The Fellowship Committee will have a hybrid meeting on Thursday, March 21 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. This committee serves to provide our parishioners with opportunities for gathering socially.

The main focus of our March meeting will be to solidify our plans for the May 3 Derby Eve social event. We will be planning for the food, games, and theme decorating. At our March meeting we will also continue our planning for newcomers and providing for the Easter Morning Coffee Hour.

Attend in person or use this Zoom link. To join by phone, call 646-558-8656 and used Meeting ID 881 0659 2156 and Passcode 899175. If you are unable to attend on March 21st, but have ideas you would like to share or get involved with future events, please email Lorrie Archdeacon at lorriearchdeacon@gmail.com.

Good Grief

The next Good Grief Support Group Meeting will be Saturday, March 23 at 9:30 am in the Reception Room. The group offers fellowship and support to anyone who has suffered any type of significant loss. For more information, contact Ellen Marshall: 984-7015.

FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER SNACKS DRIVE

Please help the Family Justice Center stock up on needed snacks for their clients. Here are some suggestions:

• Chips
• Cookies
• Power bars
• Crackers
• Peanut butter and crackers snack packets
• Cups of macaroni and cheese
• Boxed soups

Please place donated items in the basket in the reception room by March 24.

Thank you!

Prayer Vigil

In an effort to bring us closer to God, to provide us time to listen to His words, and to allow us time to focus on the many needs and concerns of our congregation and the world, a prayer vigil will take place in St. Luke’s Chapel for the twelve hours following our Maundy Thursday service leading up to Good Friday. It is appropriate for us to spend time in deep prayer with Jesus as we contemplate this period of His deepest human suffering.

You are welcome to join the vigil at any time, for as long as you wish, in person or at home. Those with special intentions may also complete a prayer card and place it in the collection plate. We will pray for those intentions during the Vigil. We would like to have all hours throughout the night covered, so please indicate your hour(s) of participation either on the sign up sheet in the Reception Room or online here.

The lobby link doors will be open for prayers to come and go throughout the vigil and light refreshments will be available in the reception room. An assortment of books and prayers will be left in St. Luke’s Chapel for your use, and you are encouraged to bring books of your own to use and/or leave for others to use. Remember that there is no right or wrong way to pray. This time is dedicated to sharing our own concerns, hopes, and fears, and those for others with the Lord, AND to listening for HIS words of comfort, reassurance, and compassion for us. You may contact Patty Rooss (716.400.3224) with additional questions.

Good Friday Offering

The history of the Good Friday Offering reaches back to 1922 when, in the aftermath of World War I, The Episcopal Church sought to create new relationships with and among the Christians of the Middle East. From these initial efforts which focused on a combination of relief work and the improvement of ecumenical and Anglican relations, the Good Friday Offering was created. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry explains more in this letter to congregations. Donations made at the noon service on Good Friday will support this fund.

Wardens Forum

Because of Palm Sunday and Easter, the Wardens Forum will take place at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 7. There will be no forum on March 24 or 31.

Diocesan Partnership and Church News

• Sign up for Diocesan Partnership newsletters read recent editions here.
• A report on the Partnership offers updates on the work of our two dioceses.
• For more news about the Dioceses of WNY and NWPA 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, which is an in-person service, 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.

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 2024:

• Worship & Music - Fr. Robert & Nancy Bolton
• Christian Formation - Kelly Blackey
• Gathering Socially - Lorrie Archdeacon & Laurie Kaiser
• Reaching In - Ted Andrews
• Reaching Out - Larry Bernhard & Sandra Handy
• Spreading the Word - Howard Craig
• Property - Michael Bommer
• Giving / Development - Dennis McCoy
• Church Finances - Guy Whalen

Attendance

Online viewers came from NY, MT, OH, MD, MA and IN.

We live in a time of struggle between truth and lies, between sincerity, which almost no one believes in still, and hypocrisy and intrigue. Let's not be afraid, brothers and sisters; let's try to be sincere, to love truth; let's try to model ourselves on Christ Jesus. It is time for us to have a great sense of selection, of discernment.

-- Oscar Romero from Daily Prayer for All Seasons