CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH

Your Weekly E-Newsletter -- Thursday, February 9, 2023

Questions About the Call Process?


If you'd like to learn more about the NALC Call Process for a Pastor, please click the link below.


The Call Process Manual, created by the NALC, outlines the process and provides the necessary direction to allow those impacted to navigate through the call process.


Call Process Manual Link

This Week's Pondering from Pastor Ken Nelson

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” 


 Psalm 100:5 (NIV)




This past week I attended the annual Pastor’s Conference of the North American Lutheran Church (NALC).  We heard from Bishop Dan Selbo and his assistants regarding the activities and progress of the NALC.  Last year the NALC added a net 18 congregations and the total count now is 483 congregations. Twenty-one pastors from various Lutheran church bodies applied and were approved for call in the NALC. Additionally eight seminarians were ordained and received first calls.  Thirty pastors retired or announced retirements last year, so the need for pastors remains critical. There are currently 76 congregations of the NALC seeking a pastor – 48 seeking a full-time pastor, 17 offering part-time calls, and 11 congregations open to either full or part time. That represents about 16% of our congregations seeking a pastor, which is up from previous years in total and percentage for our denomination.  


The good news is seminary enrollments continue to grow, and the NALC is putting great emphasis on the recruitment and training of future pastors.  The NALC seminary system has commitments for 20 students for the fall of 2024, and their goal for the fall is 30, which would be what is needed to keep pace with the growth of the NALC and anticipated trend of pastor retirements over the next decade.  In 2022 the NALC announced a capital campaign “Ensuring a Legacy of Faith – Today, Tomorrow and Forever”, which we presented to our congregation during our fall stewardship effort.   


That campaign, Bishop Selbo announced, has received pledges of just over $1,000,000 toward its goal of $5,000,000 over the next three years.  It is off to a good start but there is still plenty to raise.  As noted elsewhere in this issue of the Connections, 41 Calvary members/

households pledged last fall to this effort, with pledges and gifts thus far totaling $40,000.  Thank you for this!  It is vital that we support the wider church in this effort, which seeks to support


  • seminary education,
  • pastor recruitment and mentoring,
  • planting congregations, particularly in so called “ethnic’ or non-English speaking communities in our country (There has been great success in our initial efforts in this regard),
  • existing congregation renewal efforts, including workshops and grants, and
  • strengthening our international church relationships particularly in Africa.   


I recall that one of our members at our Annual Meeting this past Sunday asked if some of the surplus we realized in 2022 could be directed to outside benevolences.  While the decision of the Council was to designate that surplus to our Building Fund Reserve and to finance the call process in 2023, I do appreciate that member’s desire to see Calvary engage ministries outside our walls, and particularly the NALC.  The bulk of the $5,000,000 goal of its “Ensuring a Legacy of Faith” effort will go to seminary education and pastoral development. Based on the Bishop’s report, it is clear this is where the emphasis needs to be placed.    


If you did not make a pledge to the NALC campaign as part of your pledge to Calvary last fall, you still may do so. This would be an excellent way of showing Calvary’s support of our church body. Please contact Cindy Rooks about this.  You can learn more about the campaign at www.thenalc.org/vision, and I would be happy to tell you more about it as well.


Because of a cross,




Pastor Ken Nelson

Worship Resources
Calvary's Website
Live Stream Link
NALC Daily Devotion

This Week's Reflection from Martin Luther

So God does not want you to avenge yourself out of anger in any form or manner, be it with your heart, with your fist, or with your mouth, and thus do an injury to your neighbor, show him spite, give him unkind words, etc.


- Martin Luther

Sermon on Matthew 5:20-26

Online Resources

Note: If you give online to the Mission of the Month, your funds will be applied to the MOM recipient at the time of your gift.

See the monthly calendar by clicking on the image below.

New Council Members and Deacons Installed


During the Annual Meeting on February 5, Pastor Ken installed the incoming Deacons and Council members. Please continue to keep our volunteers in your prayers as they serve Calvary in these important ministries.

New Deacons are: Pat Foy, Bill Graffin, Lenny Graffin, Everett Lambert and Marilyn Hermann (not pictured).


Thank you to the Deacons who have completed their terms: Terry Bzdusek, Lisa Grossman, Ernie Kretschmann and Nancy Wittmus.

New Council members are Jon Sayas, Andy Schatz, Peggy Langelin and Scott Langlin.


Thank you to the Council members who have completed their terms: Bob Branston, Julie Matthes and Leah Morris.

Fat Tuesday Dinner and Talent Show

Fat Tuesday dinner on

February 21 at

5:30 p.m.


Our youth will be cooking and serving a delicious dinner of pancakes, scrambled eggs, jambalaya, etc. for you to enjoy as you listen to New Orleans jazz and catch colorful strings of beads tossed by our youth.

 

It’s a celebration you won’t want to miss! Bring your friends, relatives, classmates, and neighbors


Please sign up in the Narthex on the OPPORTUNITIES kiosk by the glass doors so we know how much batter to make!  Free will offerings will be for Calvary Youth, Mission Trip, and Camps.



Sign up today for the talent show!


Forms are on the OPPORTUNITIES kiosk in the Narthex by the glass doors.



During and after the meal, we plan to present a "Calvary Has Talent" at the south end of Fellowship Hall. Your talent need not be musical, but music is welcomed as part of the whole. Each presentation should be between 2-4 minutes long. See some suggestions listed in this article.


All ages are encouraged to participate!



We invite everyone to come enjoy fellowship, a good supper and fun! If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Moritz at music@calvarylc.com.



Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany


February 11-12, 2023


PRESIDING MINISTER: Pastor Ken Nelson

ASSISTING MINISTER: Scott Langelin

DEACONS:

  • Saturday: Ernie Kretschmann
  • Sunday: Linda Thorpe, George Sedivec, Mary Ellen Thiede

ACOLYTES:

  • Xavier Griese and Addie Meyer

CHILDREN'S MESSAGE:

  • Lizzy Dudzik

USHERS:

  • Tom and Mary Ellen Thiede

LECTOR:

  • Lynnette Anderson

ALTAR GUILD:

  • Jan Lukasik

GREETERS:

  • Paula Altman
  • Evelyn Ceci
  • Carol Corcoran

FELLOWSHIP:

  • Brad and Sue Meyer

FLOWERS: Lukasik family in memory of Geraldine Lukasik

POWERPOINT TECH:

  • Jeanette Kalupa/Saturday
  • Sue Meyer/Sunday

Faith Formation

Looking for a daily devotional? There are several options available on the tables in the Narthex. Portals of Prayer and Christ in Our Home are available in small and large print.



The North American Lutheran Church also offers a daily online devotional. The link to this resource is always available through the CONNECTIONS under the Worship Resources section at the top. Here's a link.

Looking for an online devotional? Between work, family, friends, and more, it can be hard to find time to dig into your Bible. Daily Bread Ministries’ Daily Video Devotionals make it easy to engage with God’s Word, featuring short faithful messages sent to your email inbox every day.

Watch on your computer, smartphone, or tablet, and know that God is always with you, no matter how chaotic life gets. Link HERE to sign up to receive a daily link.

Pastor's Weekly Bible Study


Pastor Ken invites you to join him every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall for his weekly Bible Study. He will present the readings for the upcoming weekend, followed by discussion and insight.

Women's Ministry Book Group

Women’s Book Group – Monday, February 13

Harnischfeger Room -Brookfield Public Library

12:30 – 2:00 pm

 

This Time Next Year We’ll Be Laughing

by Jacqueline Winspear


Book summary from Amazon.com:


After 16 novels, Jacqueline Winspear has taken the bold step of turning to memoir, revealing the hardships and joys of her family history. Both shockingly frank and deftly restrained, her story tackles the difficult, poignant, and fascinating family accounts of her paternal grandfather’s shell shock; her mother’s evacuation from London during the Blitz; her soft-spoken animal-loving father’s torturous assignment to an explosives team during WWII; her parents’ years living with Romany gypsies; and Winspear’s own childhood picking hops and fruit on farms in rural Kent, capturing her ties to the land and her dream of being a writer at its very inception.


An eye-opening and heartfelt portrayal of a postwar England we rarely see, This Time Next Year We’ll Be Laughing chronicles a childhood in the English countryside, of working class indomitability and family secrets, of artistic inspiration and the price of memory.


The Bridges library system owns 14 copies plus two CD versions.


Join us for interesting conversation – and bring a friend!

Our Church Family


Diane Knappe, 2/13

Philip Voss, 2/14

Lydia Trudell, 2/16

Wayne Johnson, 2/18

Carolyn Gillespie, 2/19

Connor Voss, 2/21

Robert Vollmar, 2/24

Jim Brostowitz, 2/25

Luther Himsel, 2/25

Josh Brooks, 2/26

Sandy Voerman, 2/29


Mike and Sue Rowe, 2/14 (42 years)

Bryant and Nicole Moritz, 2/20 (14 years)



Kyle Jones and Lauren Beeson, 3/1 (11 years)

Rick and Chris Spangenberger, 3/16 (24 years)

Craig and Michele Schmidt, 3/28 (53 years)

Wayne and Pat Dieck, 3/30 (60 years)


New prayer requests: Pastor Jerry Wittmus; Dale Solberg (friend of Pastor Ken and Marcella Nelson); Andy Jacobs (friend of Evelyn Ceci); Mary (sister-in-law of Jane Taufner); Jake (friend of Glori Kurth)


Ongoing short-term prayer requests:  Maxine Weisbrodt; Ellie Sayas; Jan Chesner; Grace Gunnlaugsson; Tom Kurtz; Jonni Roush; Mae Easton (friend of Glori and Eloise Kurth); Lynn Strickland father of Nicole Moritz); Michelle (daughter of LInda Thorpe); Kira (daughter of a friend of Jessica Dudzik); Susie Barnhart (friend of Megan Scott); Tony Shemberger (father of Amy Blobaum); Ray-Ann, granddaughter of David Ernst; Elizabeth Stem (niece of Evelyn Ceci); Sarah Green (sister of Andy Schatz); Laura Lynn (friend of Pastor Jerry and Nancy Wittmus)



Serving in the Military: Dan Berger (serving in the U.S. Marines); 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 (U.S. Air Force, grandchild of Ardath Olson); Kyle Pierce (son of Karen and Keith Pierce, serving in the U.S. Army); Karmen Thomas (friend of Tony and Krista Dentice 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 (PTSD).

 

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:  Pat Corcoran; Ron Foster; Beverly Lawson; Shirley Mahn; Myrna Mavroff; Donna Schroeder; Nadine Schuelke; Gloria Strei; Pat Treutelaar; Ruth Young; Janet Zastrow


Non-membersGerry Fosdal (friend of Linda Thorpe); Tom Bruns (brother of Carol Rooney); Lauren (granddaughter of Scott and Peggy Langelin); ; Joe Dentice (father of Tony Dentice); Mike Andrae (husband of former Calvary member Luisa Andrae); Nicole Sayas (daughter in law of Judy Sayas); Dennis Reich (friend of John and Mary Lau); Curt (friend of Larry Bonier); Pastor Mark Gehrke (son of Lois Gehrke); Barb Anderson (friend of Lisa Grossman); Gareth George (cousin of Judy Sayas); Rose Luther (friend of Nicole Moritz); Judy Grospitz; Monica Barchus (niece of Ernie Kretschmann); Michael Rossa (Lucy Dallman's son); Karen (friend of Lydia Trudell); John Nielson (brother of Judy Kestly); Susan Petropoulos (sister of Wayne Johnson); Tom Dallman (husband of Lucy Dallman); Delores Seel (mother of Keith Pierce)


If you have any new prayer requests, please contact the church office at 262.786.4010 or via email to office@calvarylc.com.

Youth Ministry

Youth Winter Retreat - Camp Timber-Lee


12 of our middle school and high school youth recently attended the annual Winter Retreat at Camp Timber-Lee in East Troy. The theme of this year's program was "BUILD", based on Matthew 7:24 (“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.)


Activities included attending Chapel, followed by facilitated group discussion. Other activities included the Broomball tournament and time in the Science Educatoin Center.


Thank you to Kyle Jones and Melissa Griese for chaperoning the weekend event, and to Deron and Lynnette Anderson for helping with transportation.

Worship Attendance and Giving Update

NALC Vision 2020

The NALC Vision 2020 focuses on “Today, Tomorrow, and Forever” to ensure a legacy of faith. Calvary Lutheran Church is supporting this Vision via pledges and contributions by its members. The stewardship campaign resulted in 41 pledges to Vision 2020 of $40,000 over the next three years. 


Support for this Vision can be made by noting NALC and amount on your offering envelope, check payable to Calvary Lutheran Church or by using the NALC Contributions category with online giving via our website Home | Calvary Lutheran Church (myvanco.com).

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, please contact Cindy Rooks, Finance Secretary, via email at finance@calvarylc.com or (262) 786-4010.



  

Online Giving Link

Mission and Outreach

February Mission of the Month

Lutheran Bible Translators


The February 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 West Africa and Papua New Guinea.


Our monetary gifts in February 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 continued to work with 16 language groups in Ghana, until her death.


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 completed his pilot training in North Carolina, following his father Jonathan's footsteps to be be a missionary pilot. And the beat goes on ...


You can also find out more on their website: llbt.org. Join us on February 25 and 26 to meet the Federwitzes and hear more about their mission work.


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.

Thank you from a recipient

of one of our Walker Bags


Good morning,

 

Yesterday I was at Rehab Ascension of WI; I was given a bag that fits on my walker made by someone from one of your ministries at your church. Since I started using this bag, I can't begin to tell you how much less frustration I've experienced with everything not sinking to the bottom of the purse that I was using before. Whoever created this pattern knows the pitfalls of using a walker; thankfully, my use will be short-term.

 

God's blessings,

Mary O'Brien

Men's Ministry

Weekly Men's Breakfast Wednesdays at 7 a.m.
Maxim's Restaurant
18025 W. Capitol Drive
Brookfield

The restaurant seating has been reconfigured in compliance with social distancing requirements.

All men are invited to attend!

Monthly Men's Gathering 


Thursday, February 16

Fellowship Hall


If you have any questions, please contact Ernie Kretschmann at erniekretschmann@gmail.com


A few reminders ....

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.

CLICK HERE FOR Imposter Scam Info from State of Wisconsin

Scam Emails from "Pastor Ken"


You may have recently received an email from Pastor Ken (or another member of the Calvary staff) requesting assistance for an important matter. These are NOT from Pastor Ken and are imposter scams. You will never receive an email from Pastor Ken or staff requesting your assistance in this way.


Please take a minute to check out the information from the State of Wisconsin which contains very helpful information about Imposter Scams.


Copies of this information is also on the Resources kiosk in the Narthex.


Severe Weather Announcements


With winter in full swing, we are reminded that weather can definitely impact traveling to church. And with that, inclement weather could necessitate the cancelling of worship.


In the event this should happen, you will receive an e-mail stating that the church is closed. We will also be sharing this with WISN-TV 12 and FOX6 so that it will be included in their scrolling list and on their website of closures.

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. (If you'd prefer, you can leave the flowers at church to be enjoyed in the church office.)


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, 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 for 2023 has been posted on the bulletin board.  Thank you for your support!

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.


We appreciate you taking the time to complete this each week. It helps us know that our Live Stream is being viewed and by whom. 


Thank you!

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.
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 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.
Facing tough times? Need a Christian Friend?
Stephen Ministry is here to help. Free, just like God's love.

Stephen Ministers are congregation members trained by Stephen Leaders to offer high-quality, one-to-one Christian care to people going through tough times. A Stephen Minister usually provides care to one person at a time, meeting with that person once a week for about an hour. 

If you, or someone you know, could benefit from this important ministry, please contact Scott or Peggy Langelin at 262.853.0018.

CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH www.calvarylc.com

Regular office hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - noon 262.786.4010

Questions or comments? Email Sue Rowe at communications@calvarylc.com