CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH
| Your Weekly E-Newsletter -- Thursday December 21, 2023 | |
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Upcoming Advent and Christmas Worship Times
Saturday, December 23 - 5 p.m. Service
(Fourth Sunday of Advent)
Sunday, December 24 - 9 a.m.. Service
(Fourth Sunday of Advent)
Sunday, December 24 - 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (will also be available via Live Stream)
Monday, December 25 - 9 a.m. Christmas Day Service
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Special thanks to the Gunnlaugsson's for the burlap nativity scene that was used by the children for last Sunday's Family Program. It will remain on the altar through the Christmas season.
Thank you to those who purchased a poinsettia plant to adorn our Sanctuary this year. Plants can be taken home anytime after the Christmas Day 9 a.m. service.
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Reflection on this weekend's Scripture reading | |
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"The Smells of the Stables"
A stable? What a place to give birth to the Messiah! The smells and sounds of a barnyard were our Savior's first human experience. Like other babies, he may even have cried at the sounds of the animals and the strangers parading around His temporary crib.
If so, they would have been the first of many tears. Jesus would come to know human loss and sorrow, the doubts his brothers and family had about him, and the pain his mother experienced as she saw him tortured and killed.
All these hardships - and so much more - awaited the baby trying to sleep that first night. Yet from his very first moments, Jesus was "God with us" (Matthew 1:23), and he knew what it meant to be human. This would continue for over three decades, ending at his death on the cross.
Because of his love for you and me, Jesus became fully human. And being human allows him to identify with us. Never again can we say that no one understands us. Jesus does.
May the Light that entered the world that night cast its brilliance into the deepest corners of our souls this Christmas, giving us the peace on Earth of which the angels spoke so long ago.
Prayer: Father, help our hearts to know the love of Christ and to honor him with our unyielding devotion in this and every season. We love you.
Source: "Our Daily Bread" Devotional Collection
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The end of 2023 is fast approaching. Have you --
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returned your 2024 pledge card?
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planned to make your remaining 2023 contributions by Sunday, December 31, 2023?
The Office will be closed on Monday, December 25, and Monday, January 1.
Wishing you a very blessed Christmas and a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!
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4th Sunday of Advent
December 23-24, 2023
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PRESIDING MINISTER: Pastor Jerry Wittmus
ASSISTING MINISTERS:
Saturday: Kevin Wahlgren
Sunday: Lee Tyne
DEACONS:
Saturday: Larry Bonier
Sunday: Diane Grundman, George Sedivec, Judy Kestly
ACOLYTES:
- Amelia Evert and Xavier Griese
USHERS:
- Caryl Braatz and Jim Brostowitz
LECTOR:
ALTAR GUILD:
GREETER:
FELLOWSHIP:
FLOWERS: Christmas Poinsettias
POWERPOINT OPERATORS:
Saturday: Cindy Rooks
Sunday: Chuck Lukasik
LIVESTREAM OPERATOR:
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Christmas Eve 4 pm
Christmas Day 9 am
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PRESIDING MINISTERS:
Pastor Jerry Wittmus (Christmas Eve)
Pastor Mark Knappe (Christmas Day)
ASSISTING MINISTER:
Christmas Eve: Lee Tyne
Christmas Day: Scott Langelin
DEACONS:
Christmas Eve: Bill Graffin, George Sedivek, Lenny Graffin
Christmas Day: Mary Ellen Thiede
ACOLYTES:
Christmas Eve: Amelia Evert and Sean Moritz
Christmas Day: None
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE:
Christmas Eve: Angie Schatz
USHERS:
Christmas Eve: Mary Ellen and Tom Thiede
LECTOR:
Christmas Eve :Jon Sayas
Christmas Day: Peggy Langelin
ALTAR GUILD:
Jan Lukasik
GREETERS:
Christmas Eve: Keith and Karen Pierce, Joanne Schultz, Linda Thorpe
Christmas Day: Keith and Karen Pierce, Carol Roe
FLOWERS:
Christmas Poinsettias
POWERPOINT OPERATORS:
Christmas Eve: Matt Schatz
Christmas Day: Sue Rowe
LIVESTREAM OPERATOR:
Christmas Eve: Sam Sayas
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Annual Meeting Date
January 28, 2024, 10:30 a.m. - Congregational Annual Meeting (Contingency date in event of bad weather is February 4, 2024)
January 21, 2024, 10:30 a.m. - Informational Meeting
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--- Church Council Meeting Update --- | |
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Below are the bullet points from the Council meeting held on Tuesday, December 19th:
- Discussed presentation of 2024 Draft Budget and 2023 year-to-date results
- Requests for continued prayers for the Call Committee as they patiently await being contacted about potential candidates for Calvary's next pastor
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Approved the proposed incoming 2024 slate of new Deacons
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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: None
Ongoing short-term prayer requests: Laura Burger; Kris Larsen; Richard and his wife (friends of Joanne Schultz); Justin Rowe (son of Sue Rowe); Kathy (friend of Judy Sayas' sister); Christine (cousin of Judy Sayas); Peggy (niece of Judy DeBruine); Sandy (friend of Linda Thorpe); Gerald van Zyverden (nephew of Lisa Grossman); Jim Walters (cousin of Krista Dentice); Lynn Weber (godmother of Angie Schatz); Karly Bambanek (friend of Joanne Schultz); Wolf Knappe (father of Pastor Mark Knappe); Sue Miller (sister of Mary Ellen Thiede); Peter Vang (relative of Ka Thao); Edward Hermann (son of Marilyn Hermann); Courtney Cook (friend of Lenny Graffin); Nate Kreiter, Matti Beilfuss (friends of Rick Kegel); 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: 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); 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; Ron Foster; Bev Lawson; Shirley Mahn, Sue Rowe; Nadine Schuelke; Gloria Strei; Pat Treutelaar; Janet Zastrow
Non-members: Mark Sturms (cousin of Cindy Zilske); Ron Parker (brother of Linda Thorpe); 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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Margaux Baumgarten, 12/21
Dean Schmelzer, 12/22
Rick Treadwell, 12/22
Ed Witzke, 12/23
Lynnette Anderson, 12/24
Mike Anderson, 12/24
Wayne Dieck, 12/25
Joe Grundman, 12/25
Hannah Ware, 12/27
Trinity Cebertowicz, 12/27
Lenny Graffin, 12/28
Gabrielle Hanke, 12/29
Judy Klade, 12/31
Sallie Schulz, 12/31
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Al and Rhonda Rodriguez, 12/23 (51 years)
Ron and Jean Holman, 12/26 (70 years)
Bob and Donna Siderits, 12/26 (63 years)
Jeremy and Nicole Nowicki, 12/28 (13 years)
Ben and Amy Blobaum, 12/29 (3 years)
Rick and Carol Treadwell, 12/29 (50 years)
Ken and Amanda Olstinski, 12/31 (2 years)
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Community Outreach Opportunities | |
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Mittens, Gloves, Scarves and Hats, oh my!
The "Mitten Trees" are up and ready for your donations of hats, mittens, gloves and scarves! You'll see the two trees in the Narthex already adorned with some beautiful items from the Calvary Knitting Group.
Thank you to the Mission & Outreach committee for sponsoring this annual collection which will be donated to keep those less fortunate warm this winter.
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RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
DECEMBER 28, 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Fellowship Hall
Donors are Needed!!
The Church Life Committee is pleased to partner with students from Brookfield Central High School in hosting a Community Blood Drive.
How can you help? The Red Cross is looking for donations of Christmas cookies or baked goods to offer to participants at the conclusion of their donation. If you are able to provide anything, please send an email to communications@calvarylc.com so that we can advise the Red Cross.
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If you'd like to sign up to donate blood, please click on the SIGN UP button below.
All donors will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt and be entered for a chance to win a $25 Lou Malnati's gift card! Plus, thanks to Prime Video & their new film CANDY CANE LANE, you will get a chance to win a $1,000 Amazon.com Gift Card and 65" Amazon Fire TV! There will be 12 winners!
Terms: rcblood.org/Amazon.
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Next Church Life Event:
"The Savannah Sipping Society"
Sunset Playhouse Theater Outing
Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.
In this delightful, laugh-a-minute comedy, four unique Southern women, all needing to escape the sameness of their day-to-day routines, are drawn together by fate—and an impromptu happy hour—and decide it’s high time to reclaim the enthusiasm for life they’ve lost through the years.
Sign up and ticket sales will be promoted in January.
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December Mission of the Month | |
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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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n December we raise up a vital Mission of the Month supporting the training of pastors for service in the North American Lutheran Churches. We have been blessed to have Ben Blobaum with us this year as a pastoral intern. Ben is a graduate of the North American Lutheran Seminary in Ambridge, PA.
Why is this important? The NALC is growing and the need for pastors trained for our Synod is crucial to us and congregations like ours in the NALC. Current pastors in other Synod traditions have received training in preparation for serving in NALC congregations; however, many of those pastors are nearing retirement.
The NALC has grown from 17 congregations at inception to over 500. Initially there was only one seminary in Ambridge, PA; however, due to growth and demand, the Lutheran Institute of Technology (ILT) in Brookings, SD also trains pastors for the NALC. The ILT is an online institute with undergraduate, graduate and seminary programs.
Please consider supporting these seminaries n their godly work. Click here to be directed to the NALS website for more information.
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Little Lutherans
PJ's and Prayers, Friday January 26, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
PJ's and Prayers, Friday, March 8, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Elementary School (1st - 5th grade)
Tubing at the Rock!, Sunday January 21, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Youth Group, Sunday February 11, 11:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Roller Skating, Sunday March 17, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Middle School (6-8th grade)
Monthly Youth Group, Sunday, February 25, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Winter Retreat, Camp Timber-Lee, January 5-7, 2024
Snow Tubing, Sunday February 4, 11:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
High School (6-12th grade)
Winter Retreat, Camp Timber-Lee, January 5-7, 2024
1st & Bowl, Sunday, January 28, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Youth Group, Sunday February 4, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Mini-Golf, Sunday March 3, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Youth Group, Sunday March 10, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
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 Opportunities kiosk in the Narthex.
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Women's Book Group
Monday, January 8
12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Media Room
The Personal Librarian
by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray
The remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan's personal librarian—who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true, from New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict and acclaimed author Victoria Christopher Murray.
In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture on the New York society scene and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps build a world-class collection.
But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle's complexion isn't dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white — her complexion is dark because she is African American.
The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths to which she must go—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.
There are six books and a sign-up sheet located on the back counter in the media room.
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Worship Attendance and Giving | |
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
All men are invited to attend!
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Monthly Men's Gathering
Fellowship Hall
Thursday, January 18th
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 2024 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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