CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH

Your Weekly E-Newsletter -- Thursday, March 30, 2023

Palm Sunday Special Note!


Palms will be placed in the Narthex for both services this weekend. The Sunday worship service will begin in the Narthex and there will be a short procession led by the acolytes and Pastor Ken through the aisles in the Sanctuary.


If you have mobility issues, please feel free to take a seat in the Sanctuary before the service begins.

Pastor Ken's Pondering This Week

Then Jesus told his disciples, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” 

Matthew 16:24-25  




I hope this finds you well.


Jesus spoke these words, according to Matthew, just before he was transfigured on the mountain.   Some say this is the first time Jesus appeared to his disciples in his heavenly glory – a fact supported by the fear expressed by the three men who were with him.  Lost on most readers, and for sure lost on those disciples, was that Jesus' glory is the cross, not the heavenly light in which he was bathed along with Moses and Elijah.  When Jesus predicted his death and then called on his followers to “take up their cross”, he was saying any glory they would find would come the same way Jesus found His.   


Dietrich Bonhoeffer found his glory that way in April 1945, when, at the age of 39, he was executed at Flossenburg Concentration Camp in Bavaria under the charge of treason against the Nazi regime.  He had been arrested in 1943 and his death came just days before the camp was liberated by allied soldiers.  Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor and teacher whose most important and influential books were “The Cost of Discipleship” (1937) and “Life Together” (1939).  Bonhoeffer was involved in the creation of the so called “Confessing Church” in Germany, which distanced itself from the compromises of the more established state churches of Germany who’d largely given in to the demands of the Nazi regime, and even collaborated with it.  Bonhoeffer was also part of the German resistance movement, to which several other family members belonged, and, who like Dietrich, were executed shortly before the war.


Bonhoeffer’s writings continue to influence the church today, and for that reason, the Men’s Ministry of Calvary is hosting a showing of a 90-minute documentary on his life and legacy on Thursday, April 20.   All Calvary members are invited to attend – and we encourage you to invite others as well.  There will be a light supper served at 6:00 p.m., followed by the film and brief discussion time afterwards.  We hope to conclude the evening by about 8:15 p.m.  


It is right and fitting that such a life gets our attention” wrote a reviewer in the Washington Post. The Minneapolis Tribune wrote “An inspiring portrait of one of the great moral heroes of the 20th Century.”  But Bonhoeffer would have dismissed such – as we will see in the film. To him, as the Apostle Paul wrote, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”   He saw himself as no moral hero, but as a disciple of Jesus, taking up the cross of courage in the face of tyranny. His faithfulness as a servant of the servant king stands in contrast to the cult of personality that infects so many in our world today.  Yes, Bonhoeffer lived and died nearly a century ago, but the challenges to the church that he faced, while less obviously evil, are nonetheless just as fatal to our witness if not confronted and repented of.   


I am sure you will find this a fitting accompaniment in April to the celebration of the Easter season, which includes the Ascension to heaven and the commission to the church to “go and make disciples of all nations.”   Do join us for this extremely well-done presentation of the life of one of those disciples.


Because of a cross,



Pastor Ken Nelson 

Easter Continental Breakfast RSVP


There will be Continental Breakfast served following worship on Easter Sunday April 9



A sign-up and RSVP sheet with items to bring is posted on the OPPORTUNITIES kiosk in the Narthex.



Community Prayer Service


Calvary is pleased to host a Community Prayer Service for Victims and Survivors of Sex Trafficking on April 12 at 6:30 p.m. We invite you join us for worship.


Additionally, Nicole Moritz is extending an invitation to anyone who is interested in singing with the choir that evening to join her for a practice preceding the service at 5:45 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join this community choir - bring a friend or neighbor.


There will be an opportunity to support recovery programs at the Prayer Service. Items requested are:


  • Journal books
  • Fun colored pens and pencils for journaling
  • Fuzzy socks
  • Sudoku and crossword puzzle books


Financial gifts will be received for the Redeem and Restore Center in Pewaukee.


Franciscan Peacemakers will have products for sale made by survivors (lotions, soaps and candles).


Questions? Please contact Marcella Nelson at 701/833-5157.

This Week's

Reflections from

Martin Luther

The only reason they (Christians) must suffer is that they steadfastly adhere to Christ and God’s word, enduring this for the sake of Christ. No people on earth have to endure such bitter hate. No one has compassion on them; they are given myrrh and gall to drink when they thirst. And all of this is done... because they want to have none but Christ and no other God.


-Martin Luther

Church & Ministry III, LW 41

Check out what's happening at Calvary - click on the calendar

Find Us on Facebook

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

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.

Dr. Leonard Sax Coming to Calvary

Leonard Sax, MD, PhD, has built an international reputation as an expert in child and adolescent development. He is the New York Times best-selling author of four books: The Collapse of Parenting, Why Gender Matters, Boys Adrift and Girls on the Edge.


Calvary is excited to bring Dr. Sax to Brookfield on April 26 - 27. Dr. Sax will spend two evenings with us, presenting important information for parents.


Wednesday, April 26, 2023

6:00 p.m.   Evidence-based Parenting

                     Strategies to improve the odds for your son or daughter

7:30 p.m. Girls on the Edge - TikTok Ate My Daughter

 Factors driving the increase in anxiety and depression in today’s girls

Thursday, April 27, 2023

6:00 p.m. Beyond Resilience

Why so many American kids today are so fragile

7:30 p.m. Boys Adrift - My Son Won’t Stop Playing Video Games

Factors driving the growing epidemic of unmotivated boys

 

There is a small registration fee of $10/household per day to attend the sessions. Due to space limitations, pre-registration is required. A link to the registration and payment site is below. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.


We hope you'll join us - bring a friend or neighbor! Extra copies of the flyer are on the OPPORTUNITIES kiosk - please take one and share it with a parent who might be interested in attending.

REGISTER HERE 



Holy Week - Maundy Thursday and Good Friday

On Maundy Thursday, we will hear two different settings of an ancient Latin hymn, “Ubi Caritas.” The choir will sing a beautiful composition by Bryan Sharpe in three parts, and then the congregation will be able to sing a simple version found in our blue hymnal, WOV.


“Ubi Caritas” is one of the most familiar of the ostinato chants use in the daily common prayer of the Taizé Community in France. As an ostinato, the chant is repeated at the discretion of the leaders as a prayerful meditation.



The text has a long history, possibly extending as far back as the fourth century, predating the formulation of the structure of the Catholic Mass. The text is an antiphon or refrain for a Latin hymn that was traditionally sung during the Eucharist for the Maundy Thursday foot washing rite in the Mass of the Last Supper.


The text of the antiphon translates literally as follows: “Where charity and love [are], God is there.” You can read more here.

We have two worship options for Good Friday, April 7


Traditional worship service at Noon


"7 Last Words of Christ" with string quartet at 7 p.m. (more info below)

In 1786, Franz Joseph Haydn received an unusual commission from a Spanish priest. It was for an orchestral work to be performed for the Good Friday service at the Oratorio de la Santa Cueva, an underground church in the city of Cádiz. Haydn was asked to compose a series of slow, meditative “sonatas,” each relating to one of the seven last words of Christ during the crucifixion, as outlined in the Canonical Gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John.


Haydn wrote this description of the project for the preface of the Breitkopf & Härtel edition, issued in 1801: Some fifteen years ago I was requested by a canon of Cádiz to compose instrumental music on the Seven Last Words of Our Savior On the Cross. It was customary at the Cathedral of Cádiz to produce an oratorio every year during Lent, the effect of the performance being not a little enhanced by the following circumstances. The walls, windows, and pillars of the church were hung with black cloth, and only one large lamp hanging from the center of the roof broke the solemn darkness. 


This article continues HERE.


Palm Sunday


April 1-2, 2023

PRESIDING MINISTER: Pastor Ken Nelson

ASSISTING MINISTER: Jessica Dudzik

DEACONS:

·        Saturday: Larry Bonier

·        Sunday: Mary Ellen Thiede, Linda Thorpe, Lenny Graffin

ACOLYTES:

  •  Kyle and Jackson Gall

CHILDREN'S MESSAGE:

  •  Ben Blobaum

USHERS:

  • Keith and Karen Pierce

LECTOR:

  • Lenny Graffin

ALTAR GUILD:

  • RoJean Holler

GREETERS:

  • Paula Altman
  • Evelyn Ceci
  • Carol Corcoran
  • Judy Sayas

FELLOWSHIP:

  • Susie and Larry Bonier

FLOWERS:

  • Calvary

POWERPOINT TECH:

  • Jeanette Kalupa/Saturday
  • Sue Rowe/Sunday

Faith Formation/Youth Ministry

Are human beings sinful by nature? Or is it, rather, that human nature is essentially good, but has become corrupted by sin? Do we actively participate in our conversion to faith, or are we purely passive recipients of salvation from God? If Jesus is the incarnate Son of God, “of one being with the Father,” then is it correct to say that, on the cross, God died? And if so, how can God be God if he is vulnerable to suffering and death?

 

In a new 5-6 week study throughout the season of Lent, we’ll be taking a look at these and other fundamental questions about the Christian faith as they’re presented to us in the Lutheran Formula of Concord. The Formula is one of the foundational documents of the Lutheran Church and is a rich theological repository with enduring relevance for nurturing and sustaining the ongoing life of the church.


Please join us in the fellowship hall at 12:45 p.m. on Wednesdays immediately following the weekly Lenten services, which are at noon each Wednesday. Copies of the Formula of Concord (and coffee!) will be provided for participants.


For questions or additional information, contact pastoral intern Ben Blobaum at (224) 392-1834 or bblobaum@calvarylc.com.

Register today for this summer's VBS!

Vacation Bible

School


July 31 - August 4

9:00 a.m. - Noon

Register Here!

Our Church Family

Sandy Moths, 3/30


Jane Krause, 4/1

Ben Sayas, 4/3

Roberta Stepp, 4/4

Matt Ware, 4/5

Bob Siderits, 4/6

Scott Anderson, 4/7

Cindy Zilske, 4/7

Chris Spangenberger, 4/9

David Treadwell, 4/9

Krista Dentice, 4/10

Carol Treadwell, 4/10




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


Jim and Jeanette Kalupa, 4/4 (31 years)

Rich and Tina Baumgartner, 4/20 (32 years)

Tom and Sue Sadowsky, 4/20 (38 years)

Tom and Mary Ellen Thiede, 4/24 (47 years)

Chuck and Jan Lukasik, 4/25 (42 years)

Chuck and Norene Giuliani, 4/26 (43 years)

Ed Ramthun and Cathy Way, 4/27 (21 years)

Prayers of sympathy and God's peace to: Keith Pierce and family on the passing of his stepfather Bill Seel.


Prayers of joy and God's grace to: Noah Thomas Ciszewski (nephew of Nicole Moritz) who will be baptized on Saturday, April 1.


Please continue to pray for 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.


Ongoing short-term prayer requests:  Shirley Mahn; Pastor Jerry Wittmus; Maxine Weisbrodt; Ellie Sayas; Jan Chesner; Grace Gunnlaugsson; Tom Kurtz; Jonni Roush; Jan Janchan (friend of Jonni Roush); Delores Seel (mother of Keith Pierce); Karen (daughter of Linda Thorpe's neighbor); Gary Zikmund (friend of George Sedivec); Elaine Wempen (aunt of Ed Ramthun); Andy Jacobs (friend of Evelyn Ceci); Mary (sister-in-law of Jane Taufner); Lynn Strickland (father of Nicole Moritz); 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; 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; Janet Zastrow


Non-members: Gerry 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)


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

Women's Ministry


Women’s Book Group – Monday, April 10

Harnischfeger Room -Brookfield Public Library

12:30 – 2:00 pm


Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine



Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. 

But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.

Are you a knitter, crocheter or loomer? Would you like to participate with a group of crafters who meet regularly to create prayer shawls, lap blankets, scarves, hats, mittens, and much more? These items are given to those in need.


You will enjoy the fellowship of fellow crafters as they work on projects and share suggestions and ideas to grow this ministry.


If you would like additional information, please contact Pat Dieck (262.791.1298) or Evelyn Ceci (262.389.7251).

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Second and Fourth Thursdays

9:30 a.m. - Fellowship Hall

Mission and Outreach

March Mission of the Month

NALC Disaster Response



As you know, Calvary Lutheran Church is a congregation of the North American Lutheran Church. The NALC Disaster Response Fund provides resources for natural disaster victims in the United States.


When a disaster occurs, funds are used to:

  • alleviate human suffering;
  • provide transitional assistance;
  • enable those affected to begin the rebuilding process.


In addition to funds received, the NALC Disaster Response team collects and distributes items that can be given out to disaster victims. We are currently collecting items for Health Care Kits. A tote bag for donated items will be provided. Please pick up the "shopping list" and empty tote bags from the table in the Narthex.


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.

Worship Attendance and Giving Options

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.



  

Online Giving Link

Giving to the NALC Campaign

Just a reminder that contributions to the NALC's 20/20 Vision Campaign need to be designated as "NALC" either on your giving envelope or on your check. If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Rooks at finance@calvarylc.com.

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 



Documentary: Life and Legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer


Thursday, April 20

6:00 p.m. Supper

Film to follow


ALL ARE INVITED TO ATTEND!


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.

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