CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH | |
Your Weekly E-Newsletter - March 6, 2025 | |
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS ON SUNDAY AT 2:00 A.M. | |
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Congregational Vote
Sunday, March 9, 10:30 a.m.
Sanctuary
Please sign in at the table at the
south doors to the Sanctuary.
(Contingency date: March 16)
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This Week's Devotional - Listening for the Promise | |
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“‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:8b-9
These verses from Paul’s letter to the Romans echoes the words of Moses in Deuteronomy, chapter 30. The Israelites had been wandering the desert, the wilderness, for nearly 40 years. And throughout those 40 years, God had provided them with all they needed: food, water, clothing. Now they are about to enter into the Promised Land, but before they do, the Israelites hear how they ought to respond to what God has done for them—not to earn salvation. They couldn’t do that on their own. Only God can provide them with salvation. So, Moses tells the people, “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the Word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”
The word is near the Israelites. They know the Word. They know how they ought to live in response to what God has done for them. It is right there, dwelling within them. For Paul, this goes even deeper. Paul says that there’s no need for people to go up to heaven to bring Christ down, or to go to the deepest depths to bring Christ up from the dead. There’s no need to go searching high and low for Christ. Why? Well, first of all, it’s simply impossible to do so on our own. Secondly, just like the Israelites, you and I hear these words, “The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.”
Along with the Israelites, we also hear, “The Word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart.” We find God in the Word. His message of salvation is in Scripture. This is how God chooses to reveal himself to us: in Scripture. Our God and the message of salvation is found in Scripture. It is where our God chooses to be revealed. We don’t know Him apart from it, nor can we fully. When talking about this passage of Scripture, Lutheran father Philip Melanchthon shares these words, “God is found nowhere outside of His Word, or without His Word; He wants to be known through it. By means of this instrument He wants to work.” Our God is found in His Word, and this Word is found in our midst!
Sola Worship Resource — Weekly Devotional © 2024, Sola Publishing
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First Sunday in Lent
March 8 - 9, 2025
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PRESIDING MINISTER: Pastor Jerry Wittmus
ASSISTING MINISTER: Larry Bonier
DEACONS: Saturday: Jim Kalupa to assist
Sunday: Pat Foy, Judy Sayas, Andy Foy
ACOLYTE: Bristol and Piper Nowicki
LECTOR: Ellie Sayas
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Larry Bonier
USHERS: Scott and Lisa Grossman
ALTAR GUILD: Norene Giuliani
GREETERS: Wayne and Bonnie Johnson, Scott and Peggy Langelin
FELLOWSHIP TREATS: Jonni Roush
FLOWERS: Jonni Roush
POWERPOINT OPERATORS:
Saturday: Amelia Evert
Sunday: Jessica Dudzik
LIVESTREAM OPERATOR: Chris Dudzik
This weekend's hymns: "On Eagle's Wings" WOV #779; "Jesus, Still Lead On", LBW 341; Approach, My Soul" Listen to it here: SPOTIFY or YOUTUBE;
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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: Tom Thiede, Paula (granddaughter of Eloise Kurth)
Ongoing short-term prayer requests: Randy Wizner; Sandie Rupnick; Ka Thao; John Schwartz; Elaine Nap (friend of Sue Rowe); Gary and Margie Orten (friends of John and Mary Lau); Be (friend of Andy Schatz's co-worker); Jan Trede (friend of Ernie Kretschmann); Nora Giuliani (granddaughter of Norene and Chuck Giuliani); Mike Santell (brother-in-law of Judy Sayas); 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); Nate Kreiter (friend of Rick Kegel); Bonnie Nelson (former Calvary member); Jack Banker (brother-in-law of Mary Lau); Creig Moritz (brother of Bryant Moritz); Taylor (granddaughter of Lenny Graffin); Edward Hermann (son of Marilyn Hermann); Larry Larsen (brother of Kris Larsen); John Kretschmann (brother of Ernie Kretschmann); Paul Mahn (son of Shirley Mahn); Amy Clark (friend of Megan Scott)
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.
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); ITC Agustin Juarez (son-in-law of Ken Miller serving in the U.S. Navy); 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 (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: Jan Chesner; Pat Corcoran; Wayne Dieck; Sue Dindorf; Jonni Roush; Sue Rowe; Nadine Schuelke; Jan Tschetter; Janet Zastrow
Non-members: 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); Karen (friend of Lydia Trudell); Laura Lynn (friend of Pastor Jerry and Nancy Wittmus)
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Ann Derse, 3/7
Tricia Fenske, 3/8
Sue Rowe, 3/10
Gil Thompson, 3/11
Lucy Dallman, 3/12
Chris Morris, 3/12
Pat Corcoran, 3/15
Sue Dindorf, 3/15
Chet Elliott, 3/20
Shirley Jordan, 3/22
Ellie Sayas, 3/23
Kay Sedivec, 3/23
Kevin Wahlgren, 3/23
Ava Schlieve, 3/27
Nancy Wittmus, 3/27
Sandy Moths, 3/30
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Chris and Rick Spangenberger, 3/16 (26 years)
Pat and Wayne Dieck, 3/30 (62 years)
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2025 Stewardship Campaign
Time & Talent Responses
As part of the 2025 Stewardship Campaign, the congregation was asked to provide where they currently share or would like to share their time and talents.
Of the 92 pledge cards returned, 44 returned/completed the time and talent section of the card. In addition, three (3) of the cards returned separated the activities of the husband and wife for a total of 47 responses. Four (4) of those returned only checked categories versus activities. Five (5) others returned checked some activities and some categories without detail on the activities.
A total of 178 activities were checked with an average of four (4) per response with most checking one (1) or two (2) activities.
The card did not easily identify whether the member was currently involved or wanting to get involved in an activity. A review of the activities for worship, identified seven (7) responses wanting to get involved in ushering, greeting, and/or lecturing. A quick review of the other activities appears to be current members of those areas. However, this information will be shared with the respective leader in the activity.
The office has also been working with a group to highlight the opportunities for involvement at Calvary. The 2024 Committee Report included many more areas and encouraged members to reach out to a committee member or the office to get involved. A link to this Report is found below. In addition, we will work with the groups to do a short temple talk before service.
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Faith Formation/Youth Ministry | |
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Youth & Family Ministry Schedule - April
Little Lutherans
PJ's and Prayers, Friday, April 25, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Elementary School (K- 5th grade)
Adventure Rock, Saturday, April 12, 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
Middle School (6-8th grade)
Let's Go Bowling! Sunday,April 13, 11:30 - 1:30 p.m.
High School (6-12th grade)
Youth Group, April 13, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
If you didn't get a chance to pick up the upcoming Youth & Family Ministry flyer outside the Sanctuary, you can link below to see all the fun activities planned.
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Christian Education/Bible Study | |
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LENTEN BIBLE STUDY
"The Road to Coronation"
Thursdays at 10:30 a.m., begins on March 6th
The study by Harry Wendt looks at, and compares, the four Passion Narratives. Sessions will be facilitated each week by a member of one of our Ministry Teams. Study Materials will be available at the study and are being provided at no charge to the participants. Come when you can!
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"The Easter Code"
A 40-Day Journey to the Cross
The "Easter Code" is a call to freedom during the days of Lent. In the pages of this devotional book, you will be walking with Jesus along the journey to Jerusalem. Each devotion contains a devotional thought, a "code word" for the day, a Scripture and a daily prayer. The "code word" helps unlock the blessing of each day's reading.
Devotional books are available on the table in the Narthex.
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Weekly Bible Study with Pastor Jerry Wittmus
Pastor Jerry's weekly Bible Study is held on Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. You will be studying the scripture readings for the coming weekend. Study text will be placed in the Narthex prior to the Study.
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NEW! Enjoy a Christian Movie
First and Third Tuesday of the Month
Join Janet Zastrow on Tuesday, March 18 at 9:30 a.m. to watch the first in a series of Christian films created by the Kendrick Brothers. You may have heard of some of their movies which were shown in theaters around the country (War Room, Facing the Giants, Overcomer). Who are these Christian film makers? Click here to learn a little more about the Kendrick Brothers: LINK
The first film that Janet will be showing is "Fireproof", originally released in 2008. Here is a short synopsis of that movie: After seven years of marriage, Caleb and Catherine Holt have drifted so far apart that Catherine wishes she had never married. As the couple prepares to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb’s father challenges his son to commit to a 40-day adventure he calls “The Love Dare.” Wondering if it’s even worth the effort, Caleb agrees, but more for his father’s sake than for his marriage. Along the journey, however, Caleb makes a life-changing commitment to love God … and, with God’s help, truly love his wife. But is it too late to fireproof his marriage? His job is to rescue others. Now Caleb Holt is ready to face his toughest job ever … rescuing his wife’s heart.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Janet Zastrow at janetzastrow@att.net.
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Mission of the Month - LUTHERAN BIBLE TRANSLATORS | |
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The March focus of the Mission of the Month is support for Lutheran Bible Translators (LBT). We support the work of the Federwitz families involved in Bible Translation work in Papua New Guinea, Liberia and the Ivory Coast of Africa.
Our monetary gifts in March will support bringing The Good News and literacy to those in great need of hope, love, peace and salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Please pray for all those involved in Lutheran Bible Translators.
Fifty-one years ago, Reverend Dale and Alvina Federwitz began their missionary career with LBT among the Mandigo people in Liberia. In 1980 they began their work translating the New Testament into the Kuwaa language. This was completed in 1988. They served as advisors and coordinators in Liberia and Cameroon until Dale's death in July of 2002. Alvina has continued to work with 16 language groups in Ghana.
As the four Federwitz chiildren finished their education in the United States, they, in turn, have worked as missionaries in West Africa and Papua, New Guinea. Nathan Federwitz is in the process of finishing his pilot training in North Carolina, following his father Jonathan's footsteps to be be a missionary pilot, while his cousins (third generation of the Federwitz family) continue their LBT work in Africa. And the beat goes on ...
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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Women's Book Group
Monday, March 10, 2025
12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Media Room
"Carnegie's Maid"
by Marie Benedict
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Clara Kelley is not who they think she is.
She's not the experienced Irish maid who was hired to work in one of Pittsburgh's grandest households. She's a poor farmer's daughter with nowhere to go and nothing in her pockets. But the other Clara Kelley has vanished, and pretending to be her just might get Clara some money to send back home.
If she can keep up the ruse, that is. Serving as a lady's maid in the household of Andrew Carnegie requires skills she doesn't have, answering to an icy mistress who rules her sons and her domain with an iron fist. What Clara does have is a resolve as strong as the steel Pittsburgh will become famous for, coupled with an uncanny understanding of business, and Andrew begins to rely on her. But Clara can't let her guard down, not even when Andrew becomes something more than an employer. Revealing her past might ruin her future -- and her family's.
With captivating insight and stunning heart, CARNEGIE'S MAID tells the story of the brilliant woman who spurred Andrew's transformation from ruthless industrialist into the world's first true philanthropist.
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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!
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Monthly Men's Gathering
Fellowship Hall
Thursday, March 20 at 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 | |
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.
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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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Your 2025 Board of Deacons
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.
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Calvary Library Re-Organization
The Calvary Library, located near the Sanctuary entrance doors on the west end of the building, has been sorted and reorganized. A huge thank you to Pastor Ken Nelson who spent many hours reviewing and organizing the books into manageable categories.
We have an extensive array of titles ranging from personal devotion to reference works for more in-depth Bible study. There is no catalog, color-coded categorizing, or “checking out” process – just peruse sections of the library at your leisure and take any volumes you wish for as long as you wish. When you are finished, we ask you to place books in the box labeled “returns”, and our staff will see that they are returned to their proper section.
In addition, Calvary has a large collection of group Bible and Christian-themed studies, many with DVD’s, Leader Guides and participant books, by such popular authors as Max Lucado, Philip Yancey, and Steven King (of SOLA Lutheran Publishing). These are stored in the Media Room in the Christian Education wing of the church. If you are not sure where this is, ask our staff or stop in and they can guide you to them.
Finally, in the entry of the church there is a library of children’s books, organized by Bible theme, story Bibles, as well as Christmas and Lent/Easter books. This is just around the corner from the main library.
We hope you will make use of our library soon. If you would like to donate something to our library, please bring books to the church office for staff placement on the shelves.
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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.
The 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 is posted on the bulletin board. Thank you for your support!
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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 that 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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