November 27, 2024

Dear Calvary Friends,

Grace and peace to you in our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ!

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, we’re receiving the weekly E-News on

Wednesday of this week.



On Thursday, November 28, 2024, Calvary UMC will offer a 9:30 AM Thanksgiving Day worship service in the sanctuary. Prayerfully consider attending this service in-person or online with family and friends. What a blessing it will be to offer thanksgiving to God for all that we are and all that we have!

Last Sunday, Calvary’s talented youth led our Christ the King worship. What a glorious service we experienced! In great thanksgiving for their gifts and leadership, let’s commit to connecting with more youth this week for our faith-to-life application homework. God’s light and love in Jesus is to be shared intergenerationally. Thanks be to God!

I look forward to worshiping with you at Calvary on Thanksgiving and again this Sunday which is the First Sunday of Advent. This Sunday, we’ll celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion and light the First Advent Candle of Hope. We’ll begin our Advent/Christmas worship series Bound for Bethlehem that shares the family story of Jesus beginning with Isaiah 11: 1-3a.

I continue to thank God for the blessing of being in ministry with the faithful congregation of UMC!

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Linda

There will be no Middle/Senior High Small gathering this week as the Youth are

providing worship this Sunday. Contact Nancy Mills at discipleship@cslumc.org or Melissa Flaherty at melissapflaherty@icloud.com for more information.

Holiday Gift Drive

Calvary supports two non-profit organizations:

Children’s Choice and the Stanton Center

Calvary Children's Choice Gifts

Calvary is partnering again with Children's Choice to provide Christmas gifts for foster children. Please help us by signing up and purchasing Christmas gifts using the line button below. Price range is $25 - $35 and gifts are due the morning of Dec 8th. If you want to donate, but can’t shop please make a check to Calvary UMC and place in an envelope labeled Children’s Choice and give it to Melissa Gryder or Julie Taylor.

Children's Choice is a Christian based organization serving foster children in Anne Arundel and Eastern Shore counties in Maryland. Many of these children have special needs and come from difficult backgrounds. Calvary helps them every year by providing gifts from wish lists made by the kids. 

Contact Melissa Gryder at melissa.gryder@mac.com or 240-626-7778 with any questions.  

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D4DACA62BA31-53216404-calvary#/

Stanton Center Gift Drive

Calvary collaborates with the Stanton Community Center and the Annapolis Police Department to coordinate gifts for 100 children in need. We meet with the children to help them make their wish lists. Then, Calvary members can

request a list and shop for the child. We hold a Holiday party where we give the children their gifts. Lists are available now and are

due on Sunday December 15. Gifts should be wrapped (in wrapping paper, not solely gift bags) and should have the child's name on each gift. Interested?

Contact Julie Taylor community@calumc.org or 410-703-3575.

Join us for our upcoming concert series. You can enjoy Gloria by John Rutter on December 8th during the Worship Service featuring the Calvary UMC Choir & the Calvary Brass Ensemble. On December 15th at 11:30 AM we will be having a Jazz Christmas Concert & Potluck. Music will be provided by Meg May and USNA Blues and Gold Musicians in the Calvary UMC Fellowship Hall.

POTLUCK

Save the date: Sunday, 12/15, after worship and before the final concert of the series—Jazz. Please bring a side or dessert to share. The main meal will be provided. What a perfect time to enjoy each other, music, and a meal! Questions? contact Julie Taylor at community@calumc.org or

410-703-3575.

THE PECANS ARE HERE!! 

The United Women in Faith are excited to share that the pecans are here! They are fresh from Georgia. You don't want to miss out. Place an order before they are gone.

Contact Miriam Stem at mstem@mstem,com or 410-703-1757

Hanging of the Greens

Calvary's annual “Hangin’ of the Greens” including the banners, erecting the

Christmas trees and other miscellaneous decorations will take place on

Saturday, November 30^th starting at 10:00 AM. Just in time for the start of Advent on Sunday, December 1^st. Please join us; it’s always more fun than work and we'll have PIZZA when we’re done. Any questions contact Jay Irwin at jlees569@aol.com

Light House Shelter Food Pantry Cereal Drive

The Light House Shelter Food Pantry serves the hungry in our community. Each week, families in need have the opportunity to shop at The Light House Shelter’s Food Pantry for groceries. Cereal is at the top of the list of requested groceries. But all too often, the Pantry runs out. Please join Calvary’s ongoing cereal drive: It’s easy—just add 1 of these most popular cereals (Honey Nut

Cheerios, Frosted Flakes, Raisin Bran, Instant Oatmeal packets, or Fruit Loops) to your grocery list and when convenient, drop it off in the bin in Calvary’s lobby. Start today—no sign up, no commitment, no stress!

Questions? Contact Julie Taylor at community@calumc.org or 410-703-3575

Help Children by reading to them, helping with homework, and spending time. No experience needed. Training provided. No set schedule required.

Our neighborhood children at the Stanton Center need teens and adults with a heart for sharing time and love during Homework Club. 

Mondays and Thursdays from 3:00-4:00PM.

Sign-up with Julie Taylor at community@calumc.org or 410-703-3575.

Backpack Buddies

The children are working hard at school. Let's keep their tummies fed on the weekends. Please consider adding Backpack Buddies to your weekly shopping list. Most needed items are non-perishable individual size: shelf stable milk, microwave dinners, and fruit cups. We also welcome financial donations and we will do the shopping for you! Contact Barbara Jedrey at Jeds13@aol.com for more information or you can sign-up by using the button below.

Preschool Registration - Spots still open!

Calvary Center School has a few spots remaining in the morning and extended care classes. For more information or to register your child/grandchild,

Calvary Center School - NOW HIRING!

Do you love children and need part-time employment? You are in luck! Calvary Center Preschool is in search of substitute teachers and afternoon part-time aides. For more information about these positions or how to apply, please

Contact Claire Zarrilli, Director of CCS, at calvarycenter@calumc.org.

Youth Winter Retreat

Winter Retreat sign-ups are open. Cost is $120 due before the retreat. The retreat is at West River starting on Friday Jan10^th after school and finishing around 10 AM on Sunday January 12^th. Any parents interested in chaperoning, especially overnight, contact Joe Gryder at youthdirector@calumc.org 

Altar Flower Dedications Sign-up - new list!

Sign-up to dedicate flowers in honor of your loved one!

The dedication cost is $65 for a large floral arrangement. The flowers can go home with you after the Sunday service or can be used in our Flower ministry that sends smaller bouquets to friends/family of Calvary who could use a floral pick-me-up. For questions contact Tracy Leahy at tracyleahy1@gmail.com.

Thank you for your generous help!

What a beautiful community Thanksgiving meal on Monday! Thank you, Calvary, for sharing your gifts of cooking, serving, music, packing, puzzle/toy give-aways, cleaning, kids’ crafting, handmade prayer cards, greeting, and more with our neighbors at the Stanton Community Center.   

Your efforts included a full day from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. packed with shifts of 52 volunteers, 43 Thanksgiving meals to go (each feeding a family of 4), and 82 side dishes, each serving 20 people! Yes—that’s 1640 servings! 

God’s love shines through YOU, Calvary! 

Christ the King Sunday!

To access the monthly bulletin board at BWC, click here.