CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH
| Your Weekly E-Newsletter -- Thursday October 12, 2023 | |
Reflection on this weekend's Scripture reading | |
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As we patiently wait for the pastor God has chosen for us, we will be featuring a devotion or other commentary on a verse or section from the readings for each weekend. Each devotion will note its source.
Our New Testament lesson this weekend is from St. Paul's letter to the Philippians, the 4th chapter, verses 4 to 13. This devotion focuses on verse 13 and was written by David Benke, an LCMS pastor born and raised in Milwaukee. He became pastor of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, and served as pastor there from 1975 to 1991 and from 1998–present.
“Power to Do Everything”
“I can do anything through Him who gives me strength.” -- Philippians 4:13
Everything takes in a lot of territory. To begin a sentence “I can do everything” seems a childish boast. For such a boast to emanate from behind bars makes it even more ludicrous. Yet it was Paul the prisoner who penned these words. What could he do from a jail cell? In retrospect, we know that all Paul managed to do while imprisoned was to oversee and direct the entire gracefully growing mission enterprise called the Christian church!
How does a boast become as expansively inclusive as everything ? Only “through Him who gives me strength,” says Paul.
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “a great man stands on God.” Paul was a great man who knew he was a nobody -- the “chief of sinners.” His ability to “do everything” derived completely from the dynamic power of Christ within him. Christ was his strength pure and simple.
Christ was and is and will be the power of life available for us. Each of us journeys through our customized territory called “everything.” Paul's encouraging challenge is that the entire territory belongs to Christ and can therefore be accomplished in Christ! He is everything in you for everything you do!
Dear Lord, may everything I am and do be dedicated to You. You are my strength and shield!
Amen.
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Day of Pentecost
20th Sunday
after Pentecost
October 14-15, 2023
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PRESIDING MINISTER: Pastor Jerry Wittmus
ASSISTING MINISTER: Larry Bonier
DEACONS:
· Saturday: Ernie Kretschmann
· Sunday: Lenny Graffin, Bill Graffin, George Sedivec
ACOLYTES:
- Amelia Evert and Sean Moritz
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE:
USHERS:
LECTOR:
ALTAR GUILD:
GREETERS:
- Paula Altman, Evelyn Ceci, Carol Corcoran
FELLOWSHIP:
FLOWERS:
- Kay and George Sedivec in celebration of their 52nd anniversary
POWERPOINT TECH:
- Cindy Rooks/Saturday
- Chuck Lukasik/Sunday
LIVESTREAM:
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The Call Committee is excited to announce that we have submitted our complete Congregational Profile! This 10-page document took a lot of effort, discussion, dedication, and prayer. We are happy to share that our profile has been added to the NALC Vacancy list. The video that was created that was included with our Profile submission will be shown during the services this weekend.
Now, we wait and continue to pray for the pastor the Lord is preparing for our congregation.
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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).
Ongoing short-term prayer requests: Bruce Steffens; Sue Rowe; Jan Chesner;. Wolf Knappe (father of Pastor Mark Knappe); Sue Miller (sister of Mary Ellen Thiede); Mark Sturms (cousin of Cindy Zilske); Peter Vang (relative of Ka Thao); Edward Hermann (son of Marilyn Hermann); Courtney Cook (friend of Lenny Graffin); Dennis Krupa, Nate Kreiter, Matti Beilfuss (friends of Rick Kegel); Laura Burger (Calvary member and twin sister of Linda Richmond); Ron Parker (brother of Linda Thorpe); Sharon Anderson (mother of Deron Anderson); Lou Dangler (friend of Evelyn Ceci); Paul Mahn (son of Shirley Mahn); Hunter Green (nephew of Andy and Angie Schatz); Tom Schatz (father of Andy Schatz); Susie Barnhart and Amy Clark (friends of Megan Scott); Delores Seel (mother of Keith Pierce).
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.
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; Wayne Dieck; Ron Foster; Grace Gunnlaugsson; Bev Lawson; Shirely Mahn, Nadine Schuelke; Gloria Strei; Pat Treutelaar; Janet Zastrow
Non-members: Mary (sister-in-law of Jane Taufner); Lauren (granddaughter of Scott and Peggy Langelin); 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); Monica Barchus (niece of Ernie Kretschmann); Michael Rossa (Lucy Dallman's son); Karen (friend of Lydia Trudell); Susan Petropoulos (sister of Wayne Johnson); Tom Dallman (husband of Lucy Dallman); Laura Lynn (friend of Pastor Jerry and Nancy Wittmus)
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Gideon Himsel, 10/12
Elise Baumgartner, 10/16
Randy Wizner, 10/16
Adam Kershek, 10/19
Sandra Sanchez, 10/20
Deb Wolff, 10/20
Herb Grospitz, 10/21
David Kretschmann, 10/21
Natalie Anderson, 10/22
Vivian Peters, 10/25
Dave Cason, 10/26
Connor Morris, 10/29
Erik Zipp, 10/29
Lisa Grossman, 10/30
Nicole Kalupa, 10/30
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Pat and Joyce Foy, 10/14 (23 years)
George and Kay Sedivec, 10/16 (52 years)
Erik and Erica Zipp, 10/20 (16 years)
Lesly and Roger Evert, 10/22 (12 years)
Matt and Hannah Ware, 10/26 (4 years)
Mark and Sheila Kershek, 10/27 (28 years)
Bob and Diana Streicher, 10/28 (34 years)
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Ben Blobaum Update
Ben, Amy and Josiah Blobaum are settled in their new community of Flanagan, IL.
October 8 was Ben's first service, and it is available to watch on St. John's Lutheran Church's Facebook page. This is where their weeky livestream services are available. Ben's ordiination on November 5 will also be recorded and you will be able to view it via their livestream.
A link to the church's Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/stjohnsflanagan/
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Congregation Participation Requested
“Freely you have received, freely give” from Matthew 10:8 is this year’s theme for the stewardship campaign. As you know, Pastor Ken has composed wonderful inspirational letters which went with the campaign materials each year.
This year, the Stewardship Committee would like the congregation to share a short paragraph on why giving is important to them and/or their family. We know God has given us many gifts. What are our gifts to God? These paragraphs will be included in the letter and/or displayed in the Narthex.
Paragraphs should be sent to Cindy Rooks at Finance@Calvarylc.com or the Calvary office by Sunday, October 15. Know that sharing your paragraph is another gift to God. Thank you!
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Worship Bags for younger children are available in the Narthex near the coat closet. Please take one for your younger child(ren) to use during the service.
Bags should be returned to the basket near the stand after the worship service.
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October Youth Group Events:
Elementary School (1st - 5th grade)
Monthly Youth Group, Sunday October 22, 11:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Middle School (6-8th grade)
Monthly Youth Group, Sunday, October 15, 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Corn Maze, Saturday, October 21, Noon - 5:00 p.m.
High School (9-12th grade)
Monthly Youth Group, Sunday, November 12, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Trunk or Treat
Sunday, October 29
11:15 a.m. - Noon
Church Parking Lot
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Friends are always welcome to join us for any Youth & Family Ministry events! | |
If you didn't get a chance to pick up the bulletin with upcoming Youth & Family Ministry events, you can link below to see all the fun activities planned for us. Paper copies are also on the Opportunties kiosk in the Narthex. | | |
NALC Mission District Convocation Weekend | |
Thank you to everyone who helped with last weekend's Mission District Convocation. We were so pleased to have the Reverend Bishop Dan Selbo with us for the weekend, and especially for delivering the sermon during worship. | | | | |
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Organist James Kealey (left) welcomed the attendees prior to his concert on Friday, October 6th. His talent playing our Dobson organ was amazing!
Chris Dudzik and his accordian-playing father (above) provided music for last Sunday's service.
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October Mission of the Month
Broomtree Ministries and Shepherd's Canyon
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October's Mission of the Month supports two ministries focused on providing pastoral retreat ministries.
Wouldn't you like to help in making possible a counseling ministry for the restoration of hurting clergy couples and other professional church workers? Is there a need for such a ministry? Absolutely! Check out the facts below.
- 20% of pastors are "in crisis" - they are just "hanging on," coping with the issues they face day-to-day
- Among Protestant clergy, an incredible number quit the ministry every month!
- Only 50% of pastors entering the ministry today will make it five years
- 8O% of pastors say that the ministry has had a negative impact on their family
- Upwards of 70% of pastors fight depression
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Broom Tree Ministries provides spiritual retreats for pastors and their spouses. The retreats are designed to provide uninterrupted time with God in rest, reflection, and beauty. Broom Tree prioritizes good food and lots of time with spouses. Our guests consistently experience "aha" moments that bring clarity and challenge for the next season of ministry. Since 1997 we have been strengthening the church one pastor at a time.
Broom Tree retreats are held in Michigan and more information
can be found at
http://broomtreeministries.org
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Each Shepherd's Canyon seven-day retreat includes up to four client couples (singles are welcome), two counselors - male and female - and a retreat chaplain.
Our twelve retreat therapists have a combined 250 years of counseling experience! All counseling is Bible-based. Shepherd's Canyon Retreats are held at Standing Stones Retreat Center near Wickenburg, AZ.
Learn more about Shepherd's Canyon at www.StandingStonesAz.org.
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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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Pre-Service Hymn Sing!
Sunday, October 22
8:45 a.m.
In lieu of Prelude music, would you like to get a chance to sing your favorite hymn or worship song as your prepare for service? You can bring your hymn request with you, or email to Nicole in advance at music@calvarylc.com.
Nicole will also offer some brief "Tips and Tricks" for better singing so that we can all be more confident. We can all learn to sing on a higher level than we currently do - there are many ways to do that. She'd like to give you some "tricks" to think about the next time you sing ... let's unite our voices and sing to the glory of God!
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Facing tough times? Need a Christian Friend?
Stephen Ministry is here to help. Free, just like God's love.
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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.
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Women's Book Group
November 13, 2023 - 12:30 p.m.
Media Room
"Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman"
A new, fascinating account of the life of Agatha Christie from celebrated literary and cultural historian Lucy Worsley.
"Nobody in the world was more inadequate to act the heroine than I was."
Why did Agatha Christie spend her career pretending that she was “just” an ordinary housewife, when clearly she wasn’t? Her life is fascinating for its mysteries and its passions and, as Lucy Worsley says, "She was thrillingly, scintillatingly modern." She went surfing in Hawaii, she loved fast cars, and she was intrigued by the new science of psychology, which helped her through devastating mental illness.
So why - despite all the evidence to the contrary - did Agatha present herself as a retiring Edwardian lady of leisure?
She was born in 1890 into a world that had its own rules about what women could and couldn’t do. Lucy Worsley’s biography is not just of a massively, internationally successful writer. It's also the story of a person who, despite the obstacles of class and gender, became an astonishingly successful working woman.
With access to personal letters and papers that have rarely been seen, Lucy Worsley’s biography is both authoritative and entertaining and makes us realize what an extraordinary pioneer Agatha Christie was—truly a woman who wrote the twentieth century.
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Worship Attendance/Giving and Giving Options | |
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.
For an update on the NALC's 20/20 Vision campaign, click on the link below to watch an update from Bishop Selbo. This video highlights the work we are doing, the ways in which gifts to the initiative are already being used, and the impact future gifts will have in our shared witness and mission.
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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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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!
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Monthly Men's Gathering
Fellowship Hall
Thursday, October 19, 2023
6:00 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact Ernie Kretschmann at erniekretschmann@gmail.com
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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. (If you'd prefer, you can leave the flowers at church to be enjoyed in the church office.)
The 2024 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 for 2023 has been posted on the bulletin board. Thank you for your support!
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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!
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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 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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