March 19, 2025

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

- Collect for Second Sunday in Lent, BCP p.218

A Message from the Rector

Tucked away each year in the days of Lent is a holiday many of us forget. No, it’s not St. Patrick’s Day. Today, March 19 is St. Joseph’s Day. He was the earthly father of Jesus.  While Americans celebrate Father’s Day in June in Italy they celebrate Father’s Day today. St. Joseph is commemorated throughout Italy in general and Sicily in particular where St. Joseph has long been regarded as the island’s Patron saint. 

St. Joseph symbolizes love, compassion, kindness, generosity and acceptance. He is the patron saint of carpenters and labors because the Bible tells us he was a carpenter. He is a man who seems always to have stood in the background and the shadows. What we know of him is that he takes his young bride (Mary) who is with child (Jesus). He knows the child is not his but he marries her anyway. In that time and in that culture this was unheard of. Joseph provided a home for Mary and raised Jesus as his own son.

For his devotion and dedication to Mary and Jesus Joseph is rewarded with anonymity. We know very little about Joseph after the birth of Jesus. What we know of Joseph we have to see through Jesus, the influence of a father on his son: down-to-earth common sense, an appreciation for labor and laborers and a commitment to the earth of which we are all formed.

Lent, then, is the appropriate season to recall Joseph. It is he who reminded Jesus, and by extension us, that we are dust and to dust we shall return. Joseph taught Jesus to live and love as one of us, as a frail human, one with us. Mary may have encouraged his devotion to God, but it was Joseph who forged in Jesus an unwavering commitment to the human race.  

Today we thank God for old man Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. He still has much to teach us. God bless him. 

Father Robert Harvey

Wednesday Potluck and Lenten Study Series

Calvary’s annual Wednesday Potluck Series continues tonight through April 9. Bring a dish to pass and join us for dinner at 6 pm, and then stay for the Lenten Study Program beginning at 7 pm.

This Lent, we’re going to look at what the Bible has to say about kindness and how it applies to daily living. Here are the dates and the topics:

• Wednesday, March 19 – Kindness at work (the parable of the workers in the vineyard: Matthew 20:1-16)
• Wednesday, March 26 – Kindness online/social media (the parable of the rich man and Lazarus: Luke 16:19-31)
• Wednesday, April 2 – Kindness when out on errands, community, church, etc. (the parable of the Good Samaritan: Luke 10:25-37)
• Wednesday, April 9 – Practicing random acts of kindness (I Corinthians 13:4 (“Love is patient; love is kind . . .”)

Hope you can join us for this Lenten study as we together learn more about the importance of kindness. 

Friends of Night People

Calvary Team 1 volunteers will be serving dinner at Friends of Night People on tomorrow, March 20. Sign up in the Reception Room. Volunteers meet at Calvary's parking lot at 4 p.m. to carpool and return by 8 p.m. Click here to watch training videos for volunteers. For more information, contact Ro Cherpak (716) 863-4267 or Chris Coburn Miller (716) 597-5263.

Calvary's Lenten theme of Kindness extends to "kindness in the community." At our last service date, we learned that Friends of Night People is in need essential items, so Outreach is running a Lenten Collection Drive for socks, underwear, and small hygiene products/travel-sized toiletries, primarily for men. The drive runs from Sunday March 23 through Palm Sunday April 13.

Thank you for helping those experiencing homelessness and poverty in our community.

Our Little Roses Luncheon March 22 at Calvary

Church of the Advent is organizing a Luncheon fundraiser at Calvary's Hughson Hall on this Saturday March 22. The money raised will benefit the girls at Our Little Roses home for girls in Honduras.

Doors open at noon; luncheon starts at 1 pm. The buffet menu includes chicken, rice, salad, plantains, tortillas, refried beans, chips, and tres leches cake. There will be a 50/50, basket raffle and Honduran items for sale.

Tickets are $25 (pre-sale only). Contact Ellen Marshall 716 689-2133 for more information. Tickets must be purchased by March 19.

Sunday Lenten Forum about the Future of the Partnership

In 2018, the dioceses of NWPA and WNY voted to collaborate, sharing one Bishop and one staff. A study has been conducted about the effectiveness of this experiment, and Calvary will explore the findings during the Forum time at 9 a.m. on Sundays in Lent.

In May, Calvary's convention delegates George Faeth, Janet Newall, and Joan Scalfani will have the opportunity to vote whether or not to continue the Partnership or whether to go back to having our own bishop independently.

Help our delegates discern the path forward. This week's topic covers "Partnership Finance" with information, scriptural reflections, and discussion questions here. The forum will be held in person or join by Zoom here or by calling 646-558-8656 using Meeting ID 861 5122 9478 and Passcode 328426.

Good Grief

The next Good Grief Support Group Meeting will be Saturday, March 29 at 9:30 a.m. in the Reception Room. The group offers fellowship and support to anyone who has suffered any type of significant loss. For more information, contact Ellen Marshall, 716-689-2133.

Children's Service

The next Children's Service will be Sunday, March 30. Use this link to sign up children and youth to serve as crucifer, readers, prayer leader, or ushers! Crucifers can sign up every week at this link as well.

A Conversation with Joan Jennings Scalfani

Calvary parishioner Joan Scalfani discusses her life experiences and her faith in the latest video interview in Calvary's series. Click here to view it. Watch more videos from Calvary's YouTube channel. Older interviews are available on Calvary's website.

Easter Flower Donations

The beauty of our worship at Easter is a gift we offer to God and each other. Consider donating toward Easter flowers in memory or in thanksgiving for loved ones. Download this form or write a note to mail or put in the offering plate with a check, or make your donation online and write "Easter Flower Donation" on the memo line. To be sure your loved one's name is publicized this Easter, please submit your names and contributions by Monday, April 14.

Holy Week Schedule

Palm Sunday

April 12, 4 p.m. Holy Eucharist with palms and reading of the Passion

April 13, 8 a.m. Holy Eucharist with palms and reading of the Passion

April 13, 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with palms and reading of the Passion

Maundy Thursday

April 17, 7 p.m. Maundy Thursday Liturgy

April 17, 8 p.m. Overnight Vigil

Good Friday

April 18, Noon Good Friday Service

April 18, 7 p.m. "At the Foot of the Cross" Great Music for the Passion

Holy Saturday

April 19, No services

Easter Sunday

April 20, 8 a.m. Festal Holy Eucharist

April 20, 10 a.m. Festal Holy Eucharist

Warden's Forum Postponed

In order to accommodate the Diocesan Partnership's Lenten Forum taking place Sunday mornings up to Holy Week, the next Warden's Forum will take place Sunday, April 27. Discussion will highlight the results of both the March and April Vestry meetings.

Thanks for Your Donations

Many thanks to everyone from Calvary and Pixie Village who donated books for School 30's Our Stories Book Drive. Thank you for helping School 30 students become better readers!

Episcopal Church Lent resources - available online

 Click here for a full list of new and updated resources for individuals, small groups, and congregations. Or click on the individual links in the brief descriptions below:

• Lent 2025 at Calvary
• Lent Madness
• Lent devotionals and meditations
• Lent lesson plans for younger children, older children, and adults
• “Life Transformed: The Way of Love in Lent” – adult forum sessions with videos
• “Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community” podcast series
• 40-day gratitude challenge via text, offered by United Thank Offering (UTO)

2025 Areas of Ministry & Vestry Liaisons

Each area of ministry at Calvary is assigned a Vestry member liaison. The liaison serves as an intermediary between the committee and the whole Vestry. These are the liaison assignments for 2025:

• Worship & Music - Fr. Robert, Nancy Bolton and Janet Newall
• Christian Formation - Emily Sityar
• Fellowship - Laurie Kaiser
• Pastoral Care - Ted Andrews
• Outreach - Larry Bernhard
• Communications - Howard Craig
• Property - Bryan Gorney
• Giving/Development - Dennis McCoy and Janet Metcalfe
• Finance - Guy Whalen

Diocesan Partnership and Church News

• Sign up for Diocesan Partnership newsletters and/or read recent editions here.
• For more news about the Dioceses of WNY and NWPA and to sign up for emailed newsletters, go here.
• The Episcopal Church website offers resources for individuals, congregations, and various ministries. 

Worship at Calvary

In-person worship

• Sunday 8 a.m. Holy Communion
• Sunday 10 a.m. Holy Communion. This worship service is also live streamed.
• Saturday, 4 p.m. Holy Communion
• Wednesday, 7 a.m. Holy Communion

Online worship

• Sunday 10 a.m. Holy Communion is also live streamed. The link to Calvary's 10 a.m. service can be found on the Calvary website or streamed on Facebook and YouTube. All three places will have the recording to watch later.

Attendance

Give us, we pray you, gentle God,

a mind forgetful of past injury,

a will to seek the good of others

and a heart of love.

–from A New Zealand Book of Prayer