CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH | | Your Weekly E-Newsletter - August 7, 2025 | | |
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Tonight's VBS dinner is cancelled. There was a water main break late Tuesday afternoon which is in the process of being repaired. There will not be water to the building until late Friday. Sadly, we had to cancel VBS on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, disappointing 50 children who were so very excited after days one and two.
Thank you to Angie and the many volunteers.
| |
Pastor Marcus Johnson's
Installation as Calvary's Senior Pastor
Sunday, August 10, 2025
9:00 a.m. Service
Pastor Marcus will be installed as our Senior Pastor on August 10. The service will be followed with a luncheon in Fellowship Hall. Please join us as we celebrate!
| | | |
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
- Luke 12:22-26, 31
In this parable Jesus is confronting the sin of chronic anxiety. However, to properly delineate Jesus’ point, we must first understand what he does not mean. First, Jesus is not saying that we should be lazy and not work. He is not saying that we should forego preparations to feed and clothe ourselves. Although Jesus compares us to ravens, he does not intend for us to wait around for God to drop a worm in our mouths. The comparison to ravens is hyperbolic, and its analogy inexact. Jesus knows that God created humanity to take dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28), and he therefore knows that such a task requires industry, planning, and thrift, not to mention God’s help. So, Jesus is not asking us to contradict God’s design for humanity in creation.
Second, Jesus is not talking about acute anxiety. Acute anxiety helps us gear up for a challenge and then passes away when the challenge is over. For instance, it is normal to feel anxiety before a test, a musical performance, a sermon, or an important business meeting. In these challenging situations, acute anxiety is a good thing because it keeps us on our toes and helps us perform. So, Jesus is not opposing acute anxiety.
What Jesus opposes is chronic anxiety. Chronic anxiety is an unhealthy preoccupation with fear, worry, and dread in regard to things that we cannot control or even influence. Therefore, chronic anxiety does not help us plan and prepare. It does not help us perform. Instead, it reduces us to helplessness and passivity because it is at bottom a lack of faith or else a weak faith. And without faith we have no kingdom orientation for action in our world.
So, the answer to anxiety is faith in God. The answer is to know God, to trust God, and to pray to God. The answer is to let God handle the things that we can affect and especially the things we can’t. So, if we struggle with chronic anxiety, we should first rejoice that we have enough faith to recognize our problem and struggle with it. Then, we should ask God to strengthen our faith. With our strengthened faith, we should next seek God’s kingdom in all areas of our life, including our family and business life. And in seeking God’s kingdom, we will act to feed and clothe our families and ourselves.
Source: Sola Worship Resource — Weekly Devotional © 2024 Sola Publishing (www.solapublishing.org), written by Julie A. Smith.
| | | | |
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Pastor Marcus Johnson's Installation
August 9-10, 2025
| | |
PRESIDING MINISTER: Pastor Marcus Johnson
ASSISTING MINISTER: Saturday: Pat Foy Sunday: Lynnae Douglas
SERMON: Pastor Mark Knappe
DEACONS:
Saturday: Pat Foy
Sunday: Lenny Graffin, Bill Graffin, Lisa Grossman, Andy Foy
ACOLYTE: Grace Moritz
LECTOR: Jon Sayas
USHERS: Ed Ramthun and George Sedivec
ALTAR GUILD: Marge Tyne and Shirley Brodell
GREETERS: John and Mary Lau, Keith and Karen Pierce
FELLOWSHIP TREATS: Pastor Johnson's Installation Luncheon
FLOWERS: Bob and Diana Streicher in memory of Brett
POWERPOINT OPERATORS:
Saturday: Cindy Rooks
Sunday: Jessica Dudzik
LIVESTREAM OPERATOR: Chris Dudzik
THIS WEEKEND'S HYMNS: "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" CCLI #6016351 (Listen to it here: SPOTIFY or YOUTUBE); "Come Holy Ghost, God and Lord", LBW #163; and "The Church's One Foundation", LBW 369
| | |
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: Lee Tyne; Hugh Taufner, Wayne Dieck; Henry Alba (friend of Glori Kurth)
Ongoing short-term prayer requests: Sue Rowe; Sue White (Lisa Grossman's cousin's wife); Craig (son of John and Mary Lau); Jane (friend of Jane Taufner); Anu Smith (wife of Judy Sayas' nephew); Anthony and Steph (friends of Glori Kurth); Sid (father of Sue Meyer); Ben Askren (friend of Lisa Grossman's daughter)
The Hindi-speaking Yadav Hindus in India, who have limited or no access to the Gospel, with our partners at the World Mission Prayer League.
Serving in the Military: Marshall Owen (nephew of Ken Miller serving in the U.S. Marines); ITCS Augustin Juarez (son-in-law of Ken Miller serving in the U.S. Navy); Alex Olson (grandchild of Ardath Olson serving in the U.S. Air Force); 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: Sandie Rupnick; John Schwartz; Ka Thao; Jan Chesner; Pat Corcoran; Sue Dindorf; Jonni Roush; Jan Tschetter; Janet Zastrow
Non-members: Bobby Scharar (cousin of Cindy Zilske); Kara Kretschmann (daughter-in-law of Ernie Kretschmann); Jeff Edwards (friend of Ernie Kretschmann); Kathy (friend of Judy Sayas' sister); Christine (cousin of Judy Sayas); Jan Sperry (friend of Judy Sayas); Ron Parker (brother of Linda Thorpe); Lauren (granddaughter of Scott and Peggy Langelin); Dennis Reich (friend of John and Mary Lau); Pastor Mark Gehrke (son of Lois Gehrke); Monica Barchus (niece of Ernie Kretschmann); Michael Rossa (Lucy Dallman's son); Laura Lynn (friend of Pastor Jerry and Nancy Wittmus); Bob Armstrong (cousin of Rick Kegel); Wolfgang Schulz (brother-in-law of Salllie Schulz); Gary and Margie Orten (friends of John and Mary Lau); Be (friend of Andy Schatz's co-worker); Keenan (friend of Ka Thao); Sandy B. (friend of Randy and Sue Wizner); Amy Bronner (friend of Ed Ramthun); Ann (cousin of Mary Lau); Brenda Schmidt (relative of Judy Kestly's friend); Paul Queck (sponsor of Ka Thao); Chris Bogusch (son-in-law of Pastor Jerry and Nancy Wittmus); Bonnie Nelson (former Calvary member); Jack Banker (brother-in-law of Mary Lau); Creig Moritz (brother of Bryant Moritz); Larry Larsen (brother of Kris Larsen); John Kretschmann (brother of Ernie Kretschmann); Paul Mahn (son of Shirley Mahn); Amy Clark (friend of Megan Scott)
| | | |
Linda Berger, 8/7
Sophia Peters, 8/7
Derron Anderson, 8/9
Noah Ciszewski, 8/9
Darrel Schwenn, 8/9
Donna Siderits, 8/9
Wayne Wegner, 8/9
Mary Baumgartner, 8/13
Roger Evert, 8/13
Jackson Schlieve, 8/13
| |  | |
Brad and Sue Meyer, 8/3 (23 years)
Philip and Jill Voss, 8/4 (13 years)
Josh and Emily Brooks, 8/9 (11 years)
Hugh and Jane Taufner, 8/16 (56 years)
Jim and Nancy Marsho, 8/17 (57 years)
Larry and Susie Bonier, 8/18 (52 years)
John and Lindsey Peters, 8/22 (16 years)
Bob and Mary Smith, 8/22 (55 years)
Gerhard and Sallie Schulz, 8/23 (50 years)
Ed and Carol Witzke, 8/24 (56 years)
| | | Christian Education Opportunities | | |
NEW BIBLE STUDY!
Pastor Marcus will begin a new Bible Study on Friday, August 15 at 2:00 p.m. All are welcome!
|
| Mission and Community Outreach | |
Serenity Inn Volunteers Needed
Judy Kestly is seeking volunteers to help provide food for the Serenity Inn's monthly meal. She is in need of one potato dish to serve 18 and one vegetable dish to serve 18. This would need to be dropped off at Judy’s house the second Monday of each month. If interested or you have questions, please contact Judy at (262) 782-5286 or tandjkestly@sbcglobal.net.
| | | |
Disaster Relief Help Needed!
In the early morning hours of July 4, 2025, torrential rains in the Hill Country of Texas unleashed a catastrophic flash flood along the Guadalupe River. Significant rains continue to fall in other areas of the Texas Hill Country. This has become a mass casualty event with dozens of fatalities and unaccounted for individuals. The loss of property is anticipated to be enormous.
Hardest hit were the communities of Hunt, Ingram, and Kerrville in Kerr County, Texas. Zion Lutheran Church in Kerrville is well connected to the entire region and is organizing to assist their community as it begins to recover.
Specifically, we have identified ways that people can assist at this time
- Pray. Please remember all who are suffering through this tragedy. Please pray for safety for first responders who are participating in search, rescue, and recovery efforts. Please pray for miracles of discovering the missing alive. Please pray for consolation for all who mourn the loss of life and property. Please give thanks to God for the precious gift of each day lived.
- Provide Gift Cards for groceries and basic needs from Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowe’s. Gift cards can be put in the envelope and in the Calvary offering basket. Please include your name.
-
As the body of Christ seeks to care for those impacted by the flooding, we are receiving donations to be used exclusively to respond to these tragic events. You can give online through this link.
| | |
|
Backpack and School Supply Drive
One of the activities of the Mission & Outreach Committee is to provide school supplies for the NALC Disaster Relief team to distribute, as needed, to elementary and high school students.
We invite you to pick up a backpack or two, along with the school supply shopping list from the table in the Narthex. Please note there are two grade options for the supplies - Elementary and High School. Please return the filled backpack to the Narthex and attach the shopping list sheet to the outside of the backpack, with the appropriate grade level circled.
Questions? Contact Judy Sayas (262-784-5375 or 262-844-1934) or Paula Altman (262-893-6591).
| | | August Mission of the Month | | |
Opportunity International is helping to end extreme poverty in our lifetime. They believe that empowering individuals to work their way out of poverty and give their children a quality education is the most sustainable way to transform their lives, their families, and their communities.
Opportunity International serves 10 million hardworking families in 23 countries around the world. They have big plans for the world: A place without poverty where people can live with dignity and purpose. Their clients have ambitious dreams for their futures, but lack the opportunities needed to make those dreams a reality. They go where others won’t to give these inspiring people access to business loans, savings accounts, financial training, and community support—all which empower these entrepreneurs to work their way out of poverty and build a new sustainable future for themselves and their families.
To date, they have created or sustained more than 20 million jobs by giving entrepreneurs the tools they need to thrive. With our support, they will reach millions more clients—and those clients will change the world.
| | | |
•Vision: Their vision is a world in which all people have the opportunity to achieve a life free from poverty, with dignity and purpose.
•Mission: By providing financial solutions and training, they empower people living in poverty to transform their lives, their children’s futures and their communities.
•Motivation: They respond to Jesus Christ’s call to love and serve the poor. They seek to emulate the Good Samaritan, whose compassion crossed ethnic groups and religions. They serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.
To support this important Mission of the Month, you may include it in your weekly offering envelope (designate donation next to Mission of the Month) or select the donation as "Mission of the Month" in your online giving.
| | |
Weekly Men's Breakfast
Every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m.
Maxim's Restaurant
18025 W. Capitol Drive
Brookfield
All men are invited to attend!
| | | |
Monthly Men's Gathering
Fellowship Hall
6:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 21
September (no Gathering this month)
Thursday, October 16
If you have any questions, please contact Ernie Kretschmann at erniekretschmann@gmail.com
| | | Worship Attendance and Giving | | |
Worship Attendance
August 2-3, 2025
Saturday, 5 p.m. service: 22
Sunday, 9 a.m. service: 94
Livestream unique views: 40
| | 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 LINK.
We appreciate your taking the time to complete this each week. It helps us know that our Live Stream is being viewed.
| | |
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.
| | | |
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.
| | |
Your 2025 Church Council
Pictured are: (l-r): David Vogel, Andy Schatz (Secretary), Phil Hanson (Co-Vice President), Keith Pierce (President), Jill Voss, Ernie Kretschmann, Gordy Gunnlaugsson (Treasurer) and Scott Langelin. Not pictured: Peggy Langelin (Co-Vice President)
| | |
Your 2025 Board of Deacons
Not sure who your Deacon is? A listing of each Deacon's alpha group is posted on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall.
Pictured are: Front row (l-r): Darlene Louison (Secretary); Ruth Brostowitz, Lenny Graffin (Scheduler), Lisa Grossman, Judy Sayas. Back row (l-r): Andy Foy, Pat Foy (co-chair), Ed Ramthun (co-chair), Bill Graffin and Ken Miller. Not pictured: Kevin Wahlgren.
| | |
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.
| |
|
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.
The sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex, near the door to Fellowship Hall.
| | | | |
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, fruit, etc.) for Sunday hospitality time, there is a sheet on the bulletin board outside of Fellowship Hall. You may bring the treats (six dozen) and drop them off in the kitchen, or you can pay $30 to the church office and the treats will be purchased for you. Please check the appropriate column when you sign up so the Hospitality coordinator will know what to expect.
The sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board. Thank you for your support!
| | 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.
| | | | |
