Lots of NEW Updates this week
From the Rector
Blessing of the Animals: October 4
Outdoor Pop-up Picnic: October 11
Calvary Feast Day Photos
Saturday 10/24:
Calvary's Anti-Racism Journey: StorySharing via Zoom
Godspeed Bradley and Family: Saying Goodbye to our Family Musician this Sunday 9/27
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Habitat for Humanity:
Safe One-Hour Outreach Opportunity - October 10
Parish Outdoor Workdays: October 24 & 25
Benevolence Fund
El Hogar Virtual Fundraiser
Current Worship Schedule
Virtual Coffee Hour Link
Prayer List
Virtual Sunday School for Children
Holy Communion returns October 18
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From the Rector
Dear Calvary Parishioners,
Fall looks so different this year, and it is hardly the “Ordinary Time” to which we’re accustomed in the church. The pandemic has shaped our patterns in ways we could not have imagined a year ago.
As rector, I want to urge you to lean into your Baptismal Covenant in these days to come. Access to a neurotic news cycle 24/7 threatens to tear at our sanity. As Christians, we are called to listen to the voice of Jesus above all of the other voices. How much news are we watching versus praying, reading scripture, or even just being in relationship with the people in our households?
What if we devoted no more than one hour a day to the news, and at least one hour to some form of responding to God (including being present to a family member or friend, praying, reading scripture)?
The promises we make in baptism include the call to, “resist evil,” “share Good News,” and “continue in the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers.” What does that look like in a pandemic?
We have been very intentional at Calvary this fall to create a robust assortment of offerings that includes everyone in the safest way possible depending on your situation. These offerings include (in this list and below):
- Online worship each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and Monday mornings at 8:15 a.m.
- Safe Indoor Worship (ALL AGES WELCOME) via the 1:00 p.m. Matinee, with sign-ups so you can see how many people to expect
- Adult Christian formation via Zoom
- Youth Group via Zoom
- Children’s Sunday School via YouTube & Zoom
- Safe outdoor fellowship and prayer opportunities
- Safe service opportunities on church grounds and to the greater community
I am thrilled to also announce that Bishop Breidenthal has officially authorized the reinstitution of Holy Communion, confirmations and reception commencing on Sunday, October 18, 2020 throughout the Diocese of Southern Ohio. See link at the bottom of this page for more details. We will announce what this means for Calvary in more detail as October 18 draws nearer.
We are committed to offering safe ways to connect as a Christian Community during this time for everyone.
May we continue in the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers.
Faithfully,
The Reverend Allison English
Rector
Featured below - Attendance Chart - All Services 2020 vs. 2019
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Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 4
1:00 PM
(will serve as our "Matinee" service)
- Outdoors
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Socially-distanced (will look different from the photo to the left!)
- In masks
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Outdoor Pop-up Picnic
Sunday, October 11
5:00 p.m.
Mt. Storm Park
You're invited to this safe outdoor gathering of members of Calvary Church. Bring your own chairs, picnic blanket, food, and drink. Please plan to wear masks when moving about and keep a safe distance from other families.
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Calvary Feast Day Photos, courtesy of Howard Helvey can be found HERE
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Calvary's Anti-Racism Journey
StorySharing
Saturday, October 24
10:00 AM-Noon
The shortest distance between two people is a story. Storytelling has been passed down through the ages as a way to educate, empower, and edify listeners of every age, culture and educational level. Often something new is born in the sacred interaction between the listener and the teller. Indeed, as Jesus demonstrated in countless interactions, God is quite likely to show up in the space between us when we share our stories.
By listening to another person’s stories—about God, about their greatest hope, about their deepest pain—we learn about their experience and reflect anew on our own.Think of a moment when you heard someone apply a biblical story to his/her life, and suddenly the scripture took on new meaning for you. The fact is, hearing stories connects us to each other in ways that mere text cannot. The oral tradition of storytelling cuts across divides to expose a timeless truth, and promotes the work of personal reconciliation, formation and transformation.
Telling and listening to stories is perhaps the most powerful act of reconciliation. Won't you come and share yours?
We are working to create a safe space for sharing and learning.
The StorySharing session will NOT be recorded or available at a later time.
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Take Debby Irving's 21-Day Challenge
For 21 days, do one action to further your understanding of power, privilege, supremacy, oppression, and equity.
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Godspeed Bradley Kauffman & Family
For the past nine months we have had the privilege of experiencing the leadership of Bradley Kaufmann and his daughter Lucca in the Online Worship and Family Worship Services at Calvary.
Bradley brought to Calvary his prolific expertise in hymnody and church music as the general editor and project manager for the Voices Together project, a major hymnal revision for the Mennonite Church.
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His creativity, intuition, and collaboration with Howard Helvey and Sally Engelbert over these past nine months have added a rich layer to our shared life of worship.
The Kaufmann/Kanagy family has relocated to Goshen, IN in the past month for a job opportunity. Blessedly, our online platform is making it possible for us to include Bradley for a few more weeks in worship so we can properly say goodbye.
In Episcopal Churches I have served and attended, the congregations have a tradition of supporting staff and clergy members transitions from one ministry to the next with a cash gift, known as a "purse."
If you would like to make an offering to support Bradley and his family as they transition to Goshen, please write a check and indicate the gift and send to Calvary or CLICK HERE to give online, making sure to write "Family Musician Gift" in the memo. |
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Saturday, October 10
We need a lunch drop-off volunteer!
The Habitat for Humanity HOPE Coalition has asked Calvary to help pick up and distribute individually-packaged lunches for the "Rock the Block" volunteers on October 10. They are anticipating about 45 volunteers working in a few neighborhoods in the city.
If you are able to help and interested in volunteering an hour or so of your time on October 10, please contact Kerrie Yates and Rev. Allison at jkyates2805@yahoo.com and allison@calvaryclifton.org
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From the Facilities Manager & Junior Warden:
Please do not put any organic material in either the trash or recycling bins.
An area near the gravel pad at the base of the parking will be designated for compost, or you can take it home for your own composting if desired.
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From the Junior Warden
"Put the Beds to Bed"
Parish Workdays
Save the date
Saturday & Sunday
October 24 and 25
Members who have adopted flower beds around the church are invited to “put them to bed” in preparation of the winter. Be safe and socially distanced during these workdays. Mulch is still available in the Boy Scout trailer for this purpose. Some tools are available as well. Thank you for your service, the church and grounds look very inviting; we are awaiting all of our return.
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El Hogar esperanza virtual fundraiser |
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The Rector and Vestry of Calvary Parish have established The Benevolence Fund.
Please notify the rector of any need for housing, medications, or utilities expenses you will struggle to meet Rev. Allison. The Benevolence Team will blindly review requests and one-time payments will be made.
If you find yourself in a challenging position during this time, please reach out to Rev. Allison. Your conversation and concerns will be held in the strictest confidence.
Funds are available to cover mortgage payments, utility bills, and medical expenses for members of the church.
To donate, please send checks to:
Calvary Episcopal Church
3766 Clifton Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45220
(in memo: Benevolence Fund)
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Per Bishop Breidenthal's instruction, we are in Phase 2 of a three-phase re-open plan. We are allowed to worship in person with significant safety restrictions.
Current Weekly Worship Schedule:
10:30 AM ONLINE service
1:00 PM IN-PERSON service with safety protocols, mandatory mask-wearing, and temperature checks at door. 44 spaces available click here to reserve your space.
Worship is available and will continue live on Facebook and our website starting with announcements at 10:20 AM. Look for the Online Worship Guide in your inbox each week.
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Sunday Virtual
Coffee Hour
Virtual Coffee Hour will take place via Zoom this Sunday, following the 10:30 service. To join the coffee hour follow this link. For instructions on how to access the meeting, click here ,
You can also access a Facebook group to talk with other Calvary members and get updates from the parish. To join that group, click here
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This week we pray:
For those on our Parish Prayer List
Bishop Tom Breidenthal, Amelia Engelbert, Miriam McKenney, Mary Kate DeWees, Anne Greenwald, Kate Smith, Elizabeth Bible, Eddie and his family, Kelli, Susan Gerke, Martin Hammer, Tom Gardner, Rachel, Paul Hinckley, Rich & his family, Mary Ann McDonald, Mary Reich, The Waylon Family
Expectant Parents
The Reverend Olivia Hamilton & Molly McHenry
(awaiting adoption process completion)
For Homebound Parishioners
Mary Ann Bragg, Richard Sininger, Joan Sievers, Paul McCauley, Hazel Ison, Hedda von Goeben
Prayer requests are spoken aloud in worship for two weeks / kept on prayer list for two months. Keep us updated for long-term requests.
If you have a pastoral need, please contact the
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Virtual Sunday School begins soon.
Contact Sally Engelbert here to learn more about the classes and how yo uand your children can attend. |
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Donate to Calvary Episcopal Church
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