CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH

Your Weekly E-Newsletter -- Thursday, November 3, 2022

This Week's Pondering ...

Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend.

Clocks go back one hour on Sunday morning at 2:00 a.m.

“Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generations; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he had done it.”

Psalm 22:30-31

I am writing to ask you to prayerfully consider a gift to the North American Lutheran Church (NALC) to support an initiative of our church called “To Ensure a Legacy of Faith - Today, Tomorrow and Forever”.

Romans 8:24b-25 says “… hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Eleven years into its existence, the NALC now sees what they could not see, but only hope for, at their founding in 2010.

Over 475 congregations and 145,000 members in the US and Canada, of which nearly 70 are new congregations, or “mission starts”
The establishment of a seminary at Ambridge, Pennsylvania with a quality Lutheran faculty
The creation of a consortium of five other seminaries around the country training pastors for NALC congregations
Ever increasing enrollment at those seminaries, with over 50 students currently discerning the call to ministry or enrolled in seminary and in the preparation process, including future pastors like our Intern Ben Blobaum
The creation of a Disaster Response ministry that is active and growing, and which sent over 300 volunteers to places around the country affected by natural disasters in 2022
The creation of 5 regional warehouses to keep needed supplies on hand to deploy quickly to areas affected by a natural disaster
The creation of a partnership with Grand View University in Iowa to support and send NALC young people to their summer program NEXUS, NEXUS helps guide high school students in discerning a potential call to ministry. It also grounds these students in Scripture to help them reflect biblically on their life as it unfolds in the critical years prior to graduation.

The NALC is a “Christ Centered … Mission Driven …Traditionally Grounded … and Congregationally Focused” church body. There is much to be thankful for in being a member of it. That is why I commend to you consideration of a gift – either in one lump sum or pledging over three years, to their “Today, Tomorrow and Forever” campaign. The goal of this campaign is to raise $5 million over the next three years to provide a firm financial foundation under all our ministries. In the materials recently sent to you as part of Calvary’s annual giving appeal, we have asked you to consider this support.

The pledge card you have received has a place for both your gifts to Calvary in 2023 and a place for you to indicate a gift to the NALC campaign. Participation in the NALC campaign will happen through Calvary. We will receive your gifts, track and record them for you, and pass them through directly to the NALC. We will provide information about the goals of the campaign and what your pledges and gifts will support. IThere will be informational videos in our worship services the weekends of November 12-13 and 19-20, with that second weekend being our annual “Commitment” weekend. I will be speaking on the campaign theme verse, Psalm 2, and Romans 8.

While we give to alleviate present suffering or provide for current needs in our church, the NALC is asking us to also look to those things which we cannot see.

100 new mission congregations, many in “ethnic communities” in our country
Spanish-speaking congregations
Oromo language congregations
Urban mission starts
The training of 300 new pastors to serve our growing church, given that nearly that number in the NALC will retire in the coming decade.

Who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we don’t see we also pray that one day we will see it. We give to support a church that will evangelize and pastor and teach a “people yet unborn.” Thank you for what you give to Calvary. Thank you for considering an added gift to the church body we call our own.

Because of a cross,.

Pastor Ken Nelson

Worship Resources

Live Stream Link

Prior Sermons

NALC Daily Devotion

This Week's Reflection from Martin Luther

If you want to abolish sin, you not only wrong sin, but you also want to trespass on the office of Christ and say: I want to be Christ. ... This is the sin supreme! Let Christ be Christ; let Him keep His office. We have enough other sins to answer for.

- Martin Luther

Easter Sermon

April 17, 1530

Online Resources

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.

Calvary's Website

See the monthly calendar by clicking on the image below.

God does not want our giving to be lifeless – God wants our giving to be loving. When it is, we experience the “the joy of generosity” – which is our theme for this year’s Calvary giving appeal.

This year’s appeal also provides an opportunity to support the Vision of the NALC –“to ensure a legacy of faith today, tomorrow, & forever”. If you didn't pick up your stewardship packet last weekend, please watch for it in your mail. Calvary is so blessed by your giving – thank you!

Annual Thanksgiving Pie Social

Join us for a piece of pie and cup of coffee after the Thanksgiving Eve worship on Wednesday, November 23. Worship will begin at 7pm, followed by the Pie Social in Fellowship Hall. Our youth will be helping to serve the yummy treats.

If you plan on attending, there is a sign-up sheet posted on the OPPORTUNITIES kiosk in the Narthex. There is also a spot on the form to indicate if you are able to bring a pie.

Isn't it always the Butler who dunnit?

We had a great turnout for the Sunset Playhouse theater outing on October 23 to see CLUE on Stage. It was an entertaining performance as we saw the antics of Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlet, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock and, of course, the Butler.

Have you considered being a Calvary Deacon?

Our Calvary Board of Deacons is a unique ministry among Lutheran churches. This important group of individuals cares for the spiritual welfare of our congregation and we invite you to prayerfully consider filling one of our openings next year.

What's the time commitment and what does a Deacon do? There is a monthly Deacon meeting (usually the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.) You'll help serve communion twice a month (on dates that work for your schedule). And you will have a small group of congregation members (an "alpha group") assigned to you to connect with for birthdays, celebrations and times of prayer. It is truly a rewarding experience and makes a significant difference to those we serve. By the end of your term, you will have developed a special relationship with your "alpha group" that will last for years to come.

Deacons serve a three-year term and we still have two openings in 2023. If you are interested in serving in this capacity next year to fill one of these vacancies, please reach out to Diane Grundman, Ernie Kretschmann, Judy Kestly or any of our current Deacons.

ALL SAINTS' WEEKEND

November 5-6, 2022

PRESIDING MINISTER: Pastor Ken Nelson

ASSISTING MINISTER: Scott Langelin

DEACONS:

Saturday: Ernie Kretschmann
Sunday: Linda Thorpe, George Sedivec, Sue Rowe

ACOLYTES:

William Dudzik and Sean Moritz

USHERS:

Caryl Braatz and Brad Meyer

GREETERS:

Diane Grundman
Marilyn Hermann
Everett Lambert

LECTOR:

Lenny Graffin

CHILDREN'S MESSAGE:

Ben Blobaum

ALTAR GUILD:

Norene Giuliani

MUSICIANS: Nicole Moritz, Psallite Choir, Pibal & Prusinsky (spirituals/jazz)

FELLOWSHIP TREATS:

Sheila Kershek

ALTAR FLOWERS:

Don and Fay Heyen in memory of their son Sam

POWERPOINT TECH:

Saturday: Jeanette Kalupa
Sunday: Sue Rowe

LIVESTREAM TECH:

Kyle Jones

UPCOMING SPECIAL MUSIC

Sunday November 13 Peter Thomas, cellist, will be joining our 9:00 a.m. worship.

He is a member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

Sunday, November 27 - The Gutekunst Flute Ensemble will be returning to perform during our first Sunday of Advent service at 9 a.m.

Thursday, December 1 - Holiday Concert featuring Peter Thomas, MSO cellist at 7pm. He's not your ordinary cellist - he will play holiday tunes on his electric cello. You don't want to miss this one to get you in the holiday spirit!

Pastor Don Hougard from Benediction Lutheran Church. Pastor Hougard will share information about Paul Gerhardt (one of Germany's most famous hymn writers) in Fellowship Hall during the Education Hour (10:30 a.m.) on November 13. Hougard is a self-described Gerhardt scholar, having made several pilgrimages to the sites in Germany and researched Gerhardt’s life extensively. He is armed with a plethora of on-site photographs!

THIS SUNDAY

November 6, 2022

All Saints Day

9:00 a.m. worship

All Saints Day will be celebrated with a variety of gospel and blues music at the 9 a.m. worship.

Joining our service will be Michael Prusinsky and Thomas Pibal (saxophone and keyboard musicians).

About our Guest Musicians

Michael Prusinsky is a celebrated vocalist and saxophone player with a career in live music and music education spanning 30+ years. Michael’s soulful energy reaches his audience with a positive and warm vibe. Michael remains true to his rural roots and claims that his 25 years teaching music to young people brings him the most joy of his career.

Thomas Pibal began his musical journey at age six at the piano and his first piano teacher, Kathy Fee, She told his mother that he was one of the fastest-learning students she had ever taught. After several years of piano lessons, Thomas decided he wanted to quit studying music. Fortunately his frustration with method books swiftly led him to discover the music of Scott Joplin and soon after learning pieces like "The Entertainer" and the "Maple Leaf Rag" around the age of thirteen, Thomas realized music was a part of his life that he couldn't live without.

Thank you to all who participated in this year's

TRUNK OR TREAT on Sunday, October 30.

Members of the Brookfield Police and Fire Departments were present and visited with everyone. They were a great addition to this year's event!

Some of the participants posed for a photo with the City of Brookfield EMT's and police officer.

Faith Formation

Adult Bible Study - Lutheran Next Steps

A new Adult Bible Study class - THE LUTHERAN NEXT STEPS meets on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. This eight-week course meets in the Media Room at 10:30 a.m. and will be facilitated by Pastor Ken Nelson. This course was created a few years ago when Pastor Ken was engaged in the “Life to Life Discipleship” initiative of the Navigators and the NALC.

The course is a solid, basic overview of the Christian faith. It encourages participants to increase their Bible reading, includes some memorization of key passages, and will culminate in the opportunity to create and share (in groups of 2 or 3) a personal “faith story” (or what some traditions called “testimonies”). The goal of this study is to present the Christian faith in a straight-forward, Biblically sound way to deepen our knowledge of those beliefs. This will equip participants for those moments when they may be presented an opportunity to witness to someone about our faith and the Lord Jesus.

Pastor Ken's Weekly Bible Study

Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall

Pastor Ken's weekly Bible study is held each Wednesday from 12:30 -1:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. He will lead discussion around the Scripture lessons that will be read in worship the following weekend.

Please bring your Bibles - other materials will be provided. Copies of the text study sheets will be available on the table in the Narthex if you can't attend the Bible study, but would like to refer to it for the weekend worship.

November Mission of the Month

Care Net Pregnancy Center of Milwaukee

Care Net Pregnancy Center is a newer mission for Calvary and we are thrilled to be part of those helping to fund and spread its good work. Several of us have visited and volunteered on site and have witnessed the work of God that this group does. Below is the PURPOSE and MISSION of CareNet:

PURPOSE: To uphold the sanctity of human life and share the love of Christ and the hope of the Gospel with women and their families facing an unplanned pregnancy.

MISSION: To encourage women to choose life by offering spiritual and practical care during and after pregnancy.

In 2021, our Learn to Earn program blossomed!

110 women took 517 classes: To prepare for their babies, to be in fellowship with others and to be encouraged in their faith.

After taking classes, women go shopping in our beautiful Counted Sparrows Boutique. In Matthew 10, Jesus tells his disciples "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God?" We share this truth with our clients that they are valuable to God and are not forgotten by Him!

We believe the beauty of the Counted Sparrows Boutique reflects this teaching

Please consider supporting Care Net in their godly work, as well as possibly volunteering at the site. Click here to be directed to their website for more information. 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.

Community Outreach

Operation Christmas Child delivers great joy and the Good News of Jesus Christ to children in need around the world through gift-filled shoeboxes.

Each box packed full of quality toys, school supplies, and personal care items becomes a tangible expression of God's immense love for the child. For many, it is their first gift ever! Shoebox gifts provide an opportunity to present the Gospel to boys and girls in a clear, child-friendly way.

Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child boxes are available in the church Narthex beginning this Sunday. They must be returned no later than November 13th to the narthex.

Hobby Lobby, a Christian-owned business, has advertised that they have great gifts for this purpose. Look for Operation Christmas Child signs throughout the store for appropriate gifts.

Brochures with suggested items to put in the box are available on the table in the narthex. The "boy/girl stickers" are inside each box for your convenience.

Winter Clothing Collection

Cleaning out your closet as we transition to winter? Calvary's Mission and Outreach Committee is collecting winter coats, sweatshirts and sweaters, caps, gloves and scarves for all ages. Please put your items in the tub in the narthex. Items can be new or gently-used condition.

Thanks for helping those who are without winter clothing.

Hurricane Ian was a large, deadly and destructive Category 4 Atlantic hurricane that caused widespread damage across western Cuba and the southeast United States, especially the states of Florida and South Carolina.

There are several ways you can help the victims of Hurricane Ian:

Provide a FLOOD BUCKET (sample and supply list are in the Narthex)
Provide a HEALTH CARE KIT (sample and supply list list are in the Narthex)
Make a MONETARY DONATION to support relief efforts through NALC Disaster Relief. Please use this link to make that donation.

Please continue to keep the residents impacted by this storm in your prayers

as they recover and rebuild.

Our Church Family

Mary Lau, 11/3

Sue Wizner, 11/3

Susie Bonier, 11/4

Ed Ramthun, 11/5

Jean Reinemann, 11/6

Kent Klade, 11/7

Lesly Evert, 11/8

Karen Pierce, 11/12

Peggy Langelin, 11/14

Chuck Lukasik, 11/14

Craig Schmidt, 11/15

Paula Altman, 11/16

Gael Hirth, 11/17

Darlene Louison, 11/17

Rich Baumgartner, 11/18

Bob Branston, 11/21

Pat Dieck, 11/23

Jacklyn Warber, 11/23

Terry Bzdusek, 11/24

Bonnie Johnson, 11/26

Allison Mayer, 11/26

Sarah Galll, 11/27

Harold and Shelby Rose, 11/11 (55 years)

Matt and Heather Wirtz, 11/19 (6 years)

Bill and Lenny Graffin, 11/24 (33 years)

Elton and Joanne Juno, 12/4 (36 years)

Al and Rhonda Rodriguez, 12/23 (50 years)

Ron and Jean Holman, 12/26 (69 years)

Bob and Donna Siderits, 12/26 (62 years)

Jeremy and Nicole Nowicki, 12/28 (12 years)

Rick and Carol Treadwell, 12/29 (49 years)

Ken and Amando Olstinski, 12/31 (1 year)

Ongoing short-term prayer requests: Grace Gunnlaugsson; Jonni Roush; Sue Rowe; Pastor Tim Peterson (friend of Ken and Marcella Nelson); Torrie and her unborn daughter (cousin's daughter of Lisa Grossman); Tom Bruns (brother of Carol Rooney); John Gregory (friend of Scott and Lisa Grossman); Elizabeth Stem (niece of Evelyn Ceci); Dennis Heimdahl (son-in-law of Marilyn Hermann); Julie Niederbaumer (friend of many Calvary members); Sarah Green (sister of Andy Schatz); Laura Lynn (friend of Pastor Jerry and Nancy Wittmus); Gerry Fosdal (friend of Linda Thorpe)

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; Don Heyen; Tom Kurtz; Beverly Lawson; Shirley Mahn; Myrna Mavroff; Donna Polizzi; Donna Schroeder; Nadine Schuelke; Gloria Strei; Pat Treutelaar; Ruth Young; Janet Zastrow

Non-members: Lauren (granddaughter of Scott and Peggy Langelin); Isabelle George (wife of Judy Sayas' cousin); 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); Joseph Franko (friend 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); Delores Seel (mother of Keith Pierce)

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

Financial Update and Worship Attendance - October 22-23

Women's Book Group

Tuesday, November 14

Brookfield Public Library

Harnischfeger Activity Room

12:30 - 2:00 p.m.

GARLIC AND SAPPHIRES is Ruth Reichl's riotous account of the many disguises she employs to dine anonymously. There is her stint as Molly Hollis, a frumpy blond with manicured nails and an off-beige Armani suit that Ruth takes on when reviewing Le Cirque. The result: her famous double review of the restaurant - first she ate there as Molly; and then as she was coddled and pampered on her visit there as Ruth, New York Times food critic.

What is even more remarkable about Reichl's spy games is that as she takes on these various disguises, she finds herself changed not just superficially, but in character as well. She gives a remarkable account of how one's outer appearance can very much influence one's inner character, expectations, and appetites.

A few reminders ....

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, etc.

We can also include other limited-time event payments such as the Disaster Response Training and the WI & Upper MI Mission District Convocation being held at Calvary on October 28 and 29.

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, please contact Cindy Rooks, Finance Secretary, via email at finance@calvarylc.com or (262) 786-4010.

Online Giving Link

Hospitality Treat Sponsors

Are Needed!

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 for 2023 has been posted on the bulletin board. Thank you for your support!

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

Thursday, November 17

6 p.m.

Fellowship Hall

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mark Trudell at mtrudell@reagan.com.

Updated Church Directory Available

The Calvary Church Directory is available electronically or in paper format. If you'd like an electronic copy, please send an email to communications@calvarylc.com requesting it. There are also printed copies available in the church office.

Any corrections or updates should be submitted to

Cindy Zilske at office@calvarylc.com.

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.

NEW! 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!

Sunday mornings at 9 a.m.

The link to the Live Stream is available on the home page at www.calvarylc.com

Sanctuary Flowers

We invite you to sign up for flowers to beautify our altar each weekend.

The sign-up sheet for 2023 is now posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex.

Flowers are $35 and you may take them home following the 9 a.m. worship on Sunday morning. If you'd prefer, you can leave the flowers at church to be enjoyed by the office staff.

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.

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