Have you tuned in to Fr. Robert Harvey's
Seeds of Hope
messages on WECK radio? You can also access them on
Calvary's website here
. His explanation for these messages is given in an Amherst Bee article: "I wanted to put a message of hopefulness and inspiration out on the airways mostly in a time when we seem to have so much terrible news happening all around us." Many of these positive messages are accessible to school-age children, so your family may wish to listen to them together. Fr. Harvey also welcomes suggestions for more quotes for future recordings.
As our Sunday School program year winds down, please think of what you have liked this program year. What are your thoughts on the Last Sunday of the Month Children's Service, the Christmas Pageant, or any of the other special events of this year? Where can CYM improve in its programming? Please pass along your thoughts to any of our CYM members, or email me at emsityar@yahoo.com.
Happy Mother's Day! May God bless all of our mothers, wherever they may be. And may God grant all who minister to children the blessings of His love, grace, and wisdom.
Emily Sityar
CYM Co-Chair
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Upcoming Events in May and June
5/5: Calvary Common Ground Presentation, Noon - 2 pm: Youth are needed to help out.
5/12: Mother's Day: Sunday School children will hand out flowers to all women and girls
at the 10 am service, following regular Sunday School.
5/15: CYM General Meeting at 7 pm: Please note new date and time.
5/26:
Last Sunday of the Month Children's Service -- please sign up to participate
6/2: Paper Towel Collection Day for CYM-Pet Ministry Project
6/9: Last Day of Sunday School. Pentecost Picnic Fun
Check out the CYM Bulletin Board in the Sunday School Hallway to sign up for:
- Last Sunday of the Month Children's Service
- Special Event Volunteers
- Recycling Bin Volunteers
Thanks to all our participants and volunteers!
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REFLECTION:
Prayer
In our house, we say a prayer every night when we sit down to dinner. It is a special time when we as a family all hold hands and pray for each other and others in our family. Prayer is important in our family. It is a way to know that God is always close and in our hearts.
Prayer can happen at any time. Sometimes we say a prayer when we are thankful or happy. Prayer can help us through tough times when we are sad or afraid. When we need the support of God, our words of hope come out in the form of prayer.
During this Easter season, many prayers will be said as we remember the path that Jesus walked for all of us for the forgiveness of our sins. It is through prayer that we share our love for God, for Jesus, our family and our community in Calvary. It is prayer that brings us together as one.
Sarah English
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Pizza & Game Night was April 12
Thanks for the food, fun and fellowship!
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Lenten Offerings
Last month, Calvary held two Lenten donation drives: the United Thank Offering and the Calvary Ark Project for Episcopal Relief and Development. Thanks to all the children and families who took time during Lent to make thank offerings for their personal blessings by filling their UTO blue boxes. The UTO blue boxes brought in $193.39 of Calvary's total of $1592.39 UTO collection. 
The Children's Offertory Collection funded several items for the Calvary Ark Project. The Sunday School donated a cow, which cost $635. Students from each Sunday School Class chose a smaller priced gift to donate: Clean Water from the Beginner's Class, a Disaster Kit from the Primary Class, and 2 Shares of a Flock of Chickens from the Intermediate Class. Thank you to all the children and parents who have contributed to the Children's Offertory basket at Children's Chapel throughout the year.
Please thank your children and help them to be proud about their part in bringing good blessings to others.
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Pat Zebrowski will be our Children's Chapel leader in May. Come bring your voices and join us in prayer and song at 9:30 am!
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Nursery (infant - 3 years)
Kelly Blackey
Madeline Fleming, assistant
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The nursery has been active the last few months. Maddie and I are looking forward to having the nursery grow with more babies from the congregation...don't forget we are able to support ages 6 weeks to 3-4 years old. We also are in need of a third person (aged 18 and up) to work in the nursery to ensure that we always have two people in case someone is not able to be there - Safe Church would be required.
Come down to the nursery to see what it is all about and to volunteer to help with these wonderful little children.
-Kelly Blackey and Maddie Fleming
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Beginners Class (Pre-K, K & 1)
Dr. Sarah English
Assistant: Andria McCarthy
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Greetings from the beginner class! During the last few weeks our class has been exploring the events that have led to Easter Sunday. Now we are moving from the theme of Lent and Easter to exploring the idea of music in the church. We are looking forward to continuing our learning and having a wonderful time together!
-Sarah English and Andria McCarthy
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Primary Class (Grades 1-3)
Cinda Stone, Natalie Bottomley & Wes Stone
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May is here and flowers are blooming! It feels like spring is here to stay. Yay!
I am looking forward to seeing all of your shiny faces in class this month so we can continue our journey in faith.
As we know, Jesus died on the cross, was placed in a tomb and was resurrected. Not all of his disciples believed that it really happened.
We will learn about Thomas and what Jesus did to help him to believe that He was indeed resurrected. Jesus showed great love towards Thomas to help him believe.
In this story we learn about faith and love.
On May 12th we have a fishy story to talk about. We will also talk about Mother's day.
The following Sunday we will find out who the Good Shepherd is.
What do shepherds do? This lesson is going to be fun.
I hope you all come to class!
See you around the 'campfire'!
Primary class teachers,
Cinda Stone, Natalie Bottomly and Wes Stone
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Intermediate (Grades 4-6)
Sue Schroeder, Patty Rooss & Carl Zebrowski
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Easter season offers the Intermediate class opportunities to grow their faith. For one thing, they will be able to celebrate the way Jesus gives Thomas what he asks for instead of shaming him for packing doubt alongside his faith. For another, students can identify with the disciples when Jesus appears to them in an unexpected time of disappointment, when they cannot catch fish. Once their nets fill to overflowing, they recognize Jesus is present, a shepherd who cares even at surprising times. Finally, students will use imagination to unpack Jesus' request to replace violence with love in our world.
-Sue Schroeder and Patty Rooss with Carl Zebrowski
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HELP WANTED: Nursery Assistant
Calvary is seeking to hire a Nursery Assistant to work from 8:45 am to 11 am on Sundays (9:45 am to 11 am Sundays during July and August) and at other church events. We need adequate staff coverage in order to provide a safe and caring environment for our youngest parishioners. Applicants should be at least 18 years old and will be required to undergo a background check and safe church training. Please contact the office or Fr. Harvey if you wish to apply or have suggestions for recruiting applicants.
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Youth Helpers Needed for Calvary's Common Ground
May 5
Calvary's Adult Education Committee is hosting a Common Ground presentation on "Climate Change & Energy Conservation Alternatives" by speaker Walter F. Simpson, UB's Former University Energy Officer on Sunday May 5, from noon to 2 pm. The committee is looking for young adults from age 12 to 21 years old to help set up, serve, and clean up for this event. Some older adults will be helping out, but it would be wonderful to get more young people involved and possibly reconnected to our church and to one another. There's also the opportunity for earning community service hours if needed. Please contact Emily Sityar emsityar@yahoo.com if your young adult is available to help out on that day
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Paper Towels for
Pet Appreciation Week
CYM and Calvary's Pet Ministry are hosting
a Paper Towel Drive for local pet shelters and rescue organizations for Pet Appreciation Week June 2-8. Paper towels are the most requested item for many animal organizations. Please have your child bring in 1 roll of paper towels by Sunday June 2.
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Bottle & Can Drive
Thanks to everyone at Calvary who have been donating their bottles and cans to CYM's drive and to those who have been bringing the bottles and cans to our redemption centers.
Not all beverage bottles are redeemable. Please look for the "NY 5ยข" refundable deposit on the label. We do not get any money for bottles or cans of iced tea, lemonade, kombucha, wine, hard cider, or Canadian beverages.
Please
sign up on the sheet posted on the Sunday School Bulletin Board to empty our bins and bring the bottles and cans to either of our two redemption centers
:
- The Integrity Bottle & Can Redemption Center at 2790 Sheridan Drive, or
- The Millersport Recycling Bottle & Can Redemption Center at 803 Millersport Highway.
Remember to tell them to credit your returns to "Calvary Episcopal Church."
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For Older Youths
Instead of a traditional Sunday School class this year, those in grades 7 and up are encouraged to participate in the life of Calvary in various ways.
They are welcome to join us at Children's Chapel and, with appropriate Safe Church training, they can assist in the Nursery, Sunday School, or any of our CYM Special Events. Other opportunities would be to serve as an acolyte, join the Middle School Youth Group, or participate in the hand bell group. High School students needing community service hours can find plenty of opportunities within Calvary's various ministries and events.
We know how busy you may be with school, sports, scouting, jobs, etc, but please remember that you are always welcome and needed here at Calvary.
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I will go to the altar of God / To the God of my joy and gladness.
Community Service
Acolytes actively assist the clergy in leading the worship of God. Acolytes often find their service is not only fun, but also spiritually fulfilling. They learn to serve with dignity, humility, and care, always with love of Christ. We welcome you to this ministry if you are in 4th grade or higher. We work with your schedule: it's not an "every Sunday" commitment, and you will get training and practice so that you will feel comfortable at the altar.
It's possible that being an acolyte could count for community service. If you and your parents would like to learn more, please contact Doug Sandburg II at
dougks@inbox.com.
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Events in the Community
Stay tuned for more information!
- 6/1: Williamsville Village Homecoming on Main, 1-4 pm
- 7/20: Williamsville Village Garden Walk
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Upcoming Diocesan
Youth & Family Events
- Sr. High Event: May 10-11 at St. Patrick's in Cheektowaga, 7pm for youth grades 8-12
- Journeys: May 17-18 at St. James' in Batavia, 7 pm for junior high youth
- Star War's Night at the Bisons Game: Saturday June 8
- Sleep Away Camp 2019: August 11-14 for youth that will enter 3rd through 10th grades in the fall. Scholarships are available.
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They are like trees planted by streams of water,
bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither;
everything they do shall prosper.
[Psalm 1:3]
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If you have not already done so, please download and return the
photo waiver.
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