Calvary News

Update

February 25, 2026

Spirit of the desert,

you drove Jesus

to the edge of the world

to find his truth and calling:

scour our hearts

and awaken our hunger

that freed from empty clinging

we might find ourselves in you;

through Jesus Christ, the Lord of the wilds.

from Prayers for an Inclusive Church.

A Message from the Rector

Dear Friends in Christ,

In the Gospel readings this Lent we will encounter Biblical characters whose lives were changed by their encounter with Jesus. But they had to do something first. They had to pause. They had to stop what they were doing and set aside preconceived notions and expectations of who Jesus was. They had to pause, then reflect, reset and only then respond.

These are the stories we will hear this Lent:

Lent week 1 – Jesus’ encounter with the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11)

Lent week 2 – Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus (John 3:1-17)

Lent week 3 – Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well. (John 4:5-42)

Lent week 4 – Jesus’ encounter with man born blind. (John 9:1-41)

Lent week 5 – Jesus’ encounter with Martha, Mary and the raising of Lazarus. (John 11:1-45)

Starting tonight, Wednesday, February 25 running through Wednesday March 25 we will begin with a potluck dinner at 6 PM and then have our Lenten study at 7 PM. For the potluck dinner please bring something for yourself and some to share with others. It can be anything. Feel free to be creative.

In the study we’ll have table conversations about these Gospel stories. We’ll consider how each encounter with Jesus began with a pause that lead to a response. I hope you can join us for our Lenten study. They are always lots of fun and the food is always delicious!

Faithfully,

Fr. Robert Harvey

Fellowship Committee

The Fellowship Committee at Calvary will have a hybrid meeting tomorrow, February 26th from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. in the reception room. Come in person or join Zoom by using this link or by calling (646) 931-3860 with Meeting ID 896 6604 8987 and Passcode 304875. Light snacks will be provided for those attending in person.

If you have not attended a Fellowship meeting in the past, but would like to help out with coffee hours and some of our special events, please know that you are most welcome to attend. It’s a great way to get to meet people and get involved. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact lorriearchdeacon@gmail.com or Amy Gorney aegken01@gmail.com

Good Grief

The Good Grief Support Group will meet this Saturday, February 28 at 9:30 a.m. in the Reception Room. We are a non-denominational Grief Support Group that offers fellowship and support to anyone who has suffered any type of significant loss. For more information, contact Ellen Marshall, 716-689-2133.

Williamsville Soup Stroll

Cris Hicks will represent Calvary Church at Williamsville's Annual Soup Stroll to benefit FeedMore of WNY this Saturday, February 28. She will be serving "Lenten Lentil" soup, a vegetarian option, from Noon to 3 p.m. at the Eagle House. At Soup Stroll, a 3-ounce sample is available for $2 each at many locations on Main Street.

Wardens Forum

Vestry met on Tuesday. If you missed the meeting, you can catch up at the Wardens Forum this Sunday, March 1 at 9 a.m. Wardens Bryan Gorney and Dennis McCoy will review the actions and discussion that took place at the Vestry meeting. Come in person or join by Zoom with this link or by calling 646 558 8656 and using Meeting ID 861 5122 9478 and Passcode 328426.

Family Justice Center Snack Drive

Calvary has been a long time supporter of The Family Justice Center (FJC). The FJC helps victims of domestic abuse find resources and support services. Located in downtown Buffalo, clients may spend hours in consultation with an advocate as services are lined up for them. Snacks help them stay focused through the day.

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 22nd.

Thank you!

Betsy Greno

Deacon Leann's Pysanky Egg Decorating Class

Deacon Leann McConchie will be teaching a class on Ukrainian Egg Decorating, a.k.a. "Pysanky," on Saturday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact Deacon Leann if you are interested or sign up here. She has enough supplies for a class of 10 students but is willing to offer another Saturday class during Lent if more people are interested.

March 14 Luncheon and Basket Raffle to Benefit Our Little Roses

This is a major fundraiser for the missionaries who will be traveling to Honduras this year. The money raised goes directly to the girls for special excursions/activities while we are there.

We are asking for gift baskets and/or gift cards for the luncheon. Please have these donations to Calvary by March 8th. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

March 27 Fish Fry

Save the date! Calvary will host a Fish Fry Dinner from 4 - 6 p.m. on Friday, March 27.

The $20 meal ticket includes a mouth-watering Krolick's Haddock Fish Fry, Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, and Roll & Butter. Participants may eat in or take out. Bring your friends and family to enjoy a delicious meal together!

Ashes to Go

Over 1070 people received ashes last Wednesday at Calvary's 10th annual Ashes to Go program. We ran out of wristbands after distributing 1070 and lost count of how many more people were served. At 6:00 pm, as the event concluded, there was still a long line of cars waiting to receive ashes and a prayer to begin the sacred period of Lent. This year's free will offerings from Ashes to Go raised $3,658.58 for FeedMore WNY.

Thanks to our media friends for the excellent coverage. See the attached photos from the Buffalo News and WKBW (Ch 7), and click here to view Eileen Buckley's WKBW report.

Last Sunday's Children's Service

Thanks to our crucifer Grace and ushers Naomi, Nolan, and Owen for participating in last Sunday's Children's Service. Well done!

Hola friends of Our Little Roses in Honduras!

Are you interested in visiting Our Little Roses (OLR) in San Pedro Sula, Honduras? Read more about Our Little Roses.

There are two trips scheduled to OLR this year:

Trip One: Team Advent

Travel Dates: May 12 – 20

Team Leader: Larry Mazuchowski

(716) 228-8960

Trip Two: Team Calvary

Travel Dates: October 19 - 26

Team Leader: Norine Eaton

(716) 866-4920

It does not matter what parish you belong to ... you are welcome to join either (or both!) trips. Family members and non-parishioners are also welcome. The only requirement is a loving heart and open mind.

Team Calvary is almost full. If you are interested in attending in October, please let Norine know ASAP.

Resources for Lent

Forward Day by Day

Forward Day by Day is a 3-month booklet for parishioners to use as a simple and effective daily prayer practice. Each day features a Bible verse from the daily readings and a related reflection written by a different author each month, all in less than 200 words. It even includes the daily feast days, as well as prompts to take faithful action in your daily life. These booklets are available year-round in the tract rack in Calvary's Reading Room, but Lent is a good time to develop a new prayer practice. Anyone can take a booklet. If you wish, you may leave a small donation in the lockbox to defray costs.

Write a Prayer for UTO's Prayer Booklet

The United Thank Offering, a ministry of The Episcopal Church, invites Episcopalians of all ages and languages to submit written prayers for publication in its 2027-2030 prayer booklet. This could be an ideal activity for congregations or small groups during Lent. Click here to learn more about submitting a prayer and to download UTO's Book of Prayers from previous years.

ERD Lenten Meditations: Holy Habits

Episcopal Relief and Development presents Holy Habits, 2026 Lenten Meditations written by Sister Monica Clare, an Episcopal nun, author and unlikely TikTok star. The meditations offer an invitation to rediscover—or deepen—holy habits of prayer, worship and engagement with Scripture. These "holy habits" provide a path to a life that is given shape, meaning and direction by being rooted in a deeper relationship with God. Click here to subscribe to read the meditations.

Lent Madness

Click here to play Lent Madness, in which 32 saints are placed into a tournament-like single elimination bracket. Each pairing remains open for a set period of time and people vote for their favorite saint and learn more about them. Click here to find out more.

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.