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CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH

Your Weekly E-Newsletter Thursday, August 19, 2021

This Week's Pondering ...

Pastor Ken Nelson, Senior Pastor

“But you dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith, and pray in the Holy Spirit.” Jude 1:20

I returned from the bi-annual convocation of the North American Lutheran Church recently and wanted to share a bit of how our church is doing. I chose the verse above from Jude because our national church body is growing, and while the growth is modest, it is steady and for that we ought to give thanks. The Core Values of the NALC are that we are:

Christ Centered – affirming the gospel of Jesus as the way of salvation and the Bible as the authoritative word of God in all matters of faith and life.
Mission Driven – affirming that making and nurturing disciples of Jesus is our primary work under the Great Commission of Matthew 28
Traditionally Grounded – affirming that we understand ourselves to be members of the "one, holy, catholic and apostolic church” as stated in the Nicene Creed and affirmed throughout history by all Christians.
Congregationally Focused – affirming that the primary mission of the national church is to be in service with the local church where word and sacrament ministry is carried out.

Nearly 450 attendees were part of this year’s convocation in Corpus Christi, Texas. I’ll highlight a few of the activities and decisions below.

The delegates voted in support of Executive Council decisions to re-locate a central NALC office in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This could happen as early as January 1, 2022. If adequate and affordable office space cannot be found be the end of the year, the board cited options for temporarily re-locating to an NALC congregation in the area. A central time zone and excellent airport connections were factors in this decision. It is expected that eventually all national church office staff will re-locate to the Dallas area.
The delegates voted in support of the Executive and Presiding Bishop proposal for a “continental restructuring” of the NALC to establish geographic regions and appoint assistants to the bishop for each region. Wisconsin/Upper Michigan mission district will be part of the Midwestern region which will include Michigan, all of Ohio (which has a lot of NALC congregations) and Iowa.
We heard a wonderful presentation by Melissa Ohden on behalf of the NALC Life Ministries. Melissa, who survived an abortion attempt in 1977, works in an abortion survivor’s group to provide support spiritually, emotionally and in many cases physically as these survivors often have lingering, life-long complications from the trauma they underwent during the abortion attempt. She also works to address national abortion policy and counsels the NALC Life Ministries leaders in how to share the life message in our congregations.
We have a new General Secretary of the NALC, a position that serves as the chief administrative officer of our church body – Pastor Amy Little. Pastor Little has served congregations in Ohio for over 20 years and will assume her duties in the coming months – being among the first of our churchwide staff to locate to Texas.
The NALC grew to 465 congregations in the past year with nearly 145,000 baptized members, up from 37 congregations at our inception in 2010.

Growth rates are modest year over year, but nevertheless the church body is growing. We were encouraged to hear that as many as 60 pastors of other Lutheran bodies have inquired about joining the NALC, and our seminary system reports 35 candidates for ministry somewhere along the line of the approval for ordination process. The church has 720 pastors in total who are “rostered” for Word and Sacrament ministry – 471 active and 249 either officially retired or on leave from call.

In terms of demographics our congregations are:

119 “rural” congregations
204 small town/rural
14 large town
61 suburban
52 city

In terms of size, our congregations are:

9% of our congregations average over 200 in worship
24% average 100-200
67% average under 100 – about evenly divided between under and over 50.

In terms of growth, about 34% of our congregations saw an increase in worship attendance since 2016, and 66% saw a decrease. Much of this is owing to the significant changes in the “frequency” and regularity of worship attendance in America, and also shows the effect of “online” worship options, which have grown significantly in the last decade.

Financially, the NALC is doing well. Contributions from congregations grew by over 5% in 2020, despite the pandemic, allowing the church to end the year with a surplus of almost $218,000. However, much of that is owing to a major reduction in travel expenses among staff and the fact the NALC did not have an on-site convocation in 2020. Nevertheless, the growth in giving is encouraging, and allows our church to budget revenues of over $2,000,000 for the upcoming year of 2022.

The financial picture of the other activities of the church is not as positive – the seminary fund is expected to decrease by over $300,000 in 2021, and while it still has a reserve of over $660,000, the trend is for that reserve to be depleted in about three years unless major contributions are received to offset increased costs of our seminaries due to increased student enrollment. The same trends are evident in our other designated funds – the Great Commission Society, which supports mission start congregations and Disaster Response, is growing in its scope but requests for assistance are always there.

Please continue to hold our presiding Bishop Pastor Dan Selbo in prayer, along with our entire church wide staff in this transitional time in the life of the NALC.

Pastor Ken

Douglas Family Farewell - Sunday, August 15

Caleb, Lynnae, Eli, Nathaniel, Joel and Sophia Douglas attended their last service with us on Sunday, August 15th. They will be heading east this weekend, where they will get settled and Caleb will begin a new call as the Pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Export, PA.

Pastor Ken said a few words before offering a blessing to them. A reception in Fellowship Hall followed the service.

Godspeed to the Douglas family - we will miss you all!

August 21-22, 2021

Printed copies of the weekend's readings will be available on the table in the Narthex

Presiding Minister: Pastor Ken Nelson

Assisting Minister: Pastor Jerry Wittmus

Lector (Sunday): Larry Bonier

Altar Guild: Jan Lukasik

Children’s Message (Sunday): Natalie Anderson

Deacons:

Saturday: Terry Bzdusek and Larry Bonier
Sunday: Diane Grundman and Glori Kurth

Usher (Sunday): Jane Krause and Ed Ramthun

Altar Flowers: Bob and Mary Smith in celebration of their 51st wedding anniversary

PowerPoint Tech:

Saturday: Lydia Trudell
Sunday: Chuck Lukasik

LiveStream Tech: Kyle Jones

In accordance with current

CDC Guidelines, we strongly recommend all persons, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask while inside our facility.

Would You Like to Serve as an Usher?

We have a need for a few additional ushers as Calvary returns in September to the practice of circulating the offering baskets through the pews. We have a good number of returning ushers, but we’re asking you to consider serving in this way this year.

The basic responsibilities of an usher are:

Standing at the doors to the sanctuary to welcome worshipers and answer any questions
Circulating the offering baskets through the pews at offering
Inviting people to come to the altar for Holy Communion
Making sure the offerings are put in the safe after worship
Checking the pews after worship for any papers, etc. left behind

As a new usher, you will serve with an experienced usher or two for the first couple times you serve. You will be on a team that will serve one Sunday every 7-8 weeks. Schedules are sent out for three-month periods.

If you’d like to serve as an usher this fall, please sign up on the sheet on the narthex window or email Grace Gunnlaugsson (gracemg@mac.com). Grace is happy to answer any questions as well.

Thank you for giving this opportunity some thought and prayer!

Fellowship Time

Monday Afternoon Movie - September 20 at 1:00 p.m.

We’re moving movie time from the morning to the afternoon, but keeping it on the third Monday of the month. We’ll begin our “season” on Monday, September 20 at 1:00 pm in the Media Room as we watch a lovely old film (if you call 1961 a long time ago), “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. Snacks and water will be available. Bring a friend!

Wikipedia reminds us: Breakfast at Tiffany's is a 1961 American romantic comedy film, adapted from Truman Capote's 1958 novella of the same name, and starring Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, a naïve, eccentric café society girl who falls in love with a struggling writer (George Peppard). It also featured Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, Martin Balsam and Mickey Rooney in supporting roles.

Hepburn's portrayal of Holly Golightly is generally considered to be one of her most memorable and identifiable roles. She regarded it as one of her most challenging roles, since she was an introvert required to play an extrovert. You’ll want to sing along as she treats us to “Moon River” – so go ahead!

Worship Attendance - August 14 & 15, 2021

Our Church Family

Kim Krause, 8/20

Betty Ring, 8/20

Madeline Voss, 8/20

Maxine Weisbrodt, 8/20

Eleonora Ramthun, 8/21

Olivia Peters, 8/22

Marcella Nelson, 8/25

Jessica Himsel, 8/26

John Schwartz, 8/26

Sara Kalupa, 8/27

Shirley Mahn, 8/27

Kathleen Firzlaff, 8/28

Julie Matthes, 8/29

Bob Jazgar, 8/30

Jan Chesner, 8/31

John and Lindsey Peters, 8/22 (12 years)

Bob and Mary Smith, 8/22 (51 years)

Gerhard and Sallie Schulz, 8/23 (46 years)

Carol and Ed Witzke, 8/24 (53 years)

Reid and Allison Meyer, 8/26 (4 years)

Prayers of sympathy and God's peace to: the family of Calvary member Jeanette Ketelsen, who passed away on August 15, 2021.

New prayer requests: Donna Schroeder; Christians in Afghanistan

Ongoing short-term prayer requests: Megan Schatz; Mary Smith; Ginny Cox; Father Patrick Malone (Holy Cross Anglican Church); Delores Seel (mother of Keith Pierce); John Nielson (brother of Judy Kestly)

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, 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: Don Heyen; Bill Jordan; Shirley Mahn; Nadine Schuelke; Marge Skarie; Donna Polizzi; and Janet Zastrow.

Non-members: Dennis (brother of Leah Morris); Nancy Myers (friend of Judy Sayas); Mark Sturms (cousin of Cindy Zilske); Paige Yeager (friend of Sallie Schulz's family); Shirl Gordon (friend of Cindy Rooks); Debbie and Jens Douglas (sister-in-law of Lynnae Douglas); Rose Luther (friend of Nicole Moritz); Judy Grospitz; Jan Janchan (friend of Jonni Roush); Monica Barchus (niece of Ernie Kretschmann); Michael Rossa (Lucy Dallman's son); Karen (friend of Lydia Trudell)

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

Faith Formation - VBS '21 Is in the Books!

Thank you to our parents for sharing your children and grandchildren with us during the last week of July for Vacation Bible School at Calvary. And special thanks to the volunteers who helped throughout the week.

We learned so much about what it means that God treasures us: he knows us, he hears us, he comforts, he chooses us, and he forgives us through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus.

To watch a video recap with lots of pictures from the week, please click the button below.

VBS Recap in Pictures

Music Ministry

Nicole's Notes

No matter what Coronavirus throws our way, I’m pretty sure I will always be looking for soloists. If you enjoy singing or playing solos, there’s no reason for you to wait for me to contact you! Please feel free to approach me with music you’d like to sing or play. It would be great if we had someone besides “Nicole again” singing the Psalm. Some of the settings available are familiar tunes, others not so much, and still others are chanted (easy). If you crack open the Hymnal Supplement (thin burgundy book) you’ll see there are a number of Psalm and Scripture settings, some of which may be familiar. I can let you know the Psalm a few weeks in advance if you’re up for learning new material. Pianists and instrumentalists are welcome to provide prelude music and music during Communion. Short notice is usually fine.

Psallite Choir will take a short respite after August 29 and resume after Labor Day. We are thankful for those who sang during the busy summer months!

Celebration Ringers will resume Wednesday night rehearsals on September 8 at 5:30 p.m.

NEW: Bell Camp Blast Off! will be held on August 25 and 26 from 5:30 -7:30 p.m. This two-day session will cover many aspects of music literacy, not just bell technique. It is open to anyone wishing to read music or advance their music knowledge.

Women's Ministry

WOMEN'S BOOK GROUP

Monday, September 13

1:00 p.m. in Media Room

For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called "Marsh Girl". But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand.

Where Crawdads Sing is an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story and a surprising tale of possible murder.

Men's Ministry

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, August 26, 6:00 p.m.

Fellowship Hall

Come for fellowship, food and devotion time. Dinner will be provided. Invite a friend. Social distancing will be respected and practiced.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ernie Kretschmann at kretschmann@att.net.

August Mission of the Month & Community Outreach

Opportunity International is helping to end extreme poverty in our lifetime. They believe that empowering individuals to work their way out of poverty and give their children a quality education is the most sustainable way to transform their lives, their families, and their communities.

Opportunity International serves 10 million hardworking families in 23 countries around the world. They have big plans for the world: A place without poverty where people can live with dignity and purpose. Their clients have ambitious dreams for their futures, but lack the opportunities needed to make those dreams a reality. They go where others won’t to give these inspiring people access to business loans, savings accounts, financial training, and community support—all which empower these entrepreneurs to work their way out of poverty and build a new sustainable future for themselves and their families.

To date, they have created or sustained more than 20 million jobs by giving entrepreneurs the tools they need to thrive. With our support, they will reach millions more clients—and those clients will change the world.

•Vision: Their vision is a world in which all people have the opportunity to achieve a life free from poverty, with dignity and purpose.

•Mission: By providing financial solutions and training, they empower people living in poverty to transform their lives, their children’s futures and their communities.

•Motivation: They respond to Jesus Christ’s call to love and serve the poor. They seek to emulate the Good Samaritan, whose compassion crossed ethnic groups and religions. They serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

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.

It's that time of year! Local merchants are starting to offer discounted school supplies and it's the perfect time to stuff a backpack or two for NALC Disaster Relief. There is a bin in the Narthex with empty backpacks and shopping lists are on the table. A copy of the list is also included here for your reference.

Health Care Kits are also being collected and those supplies are also listed.

Please return filled backpacks to the bin in the Narthex no later than September 1st.

NALC Disaster Response School Supply & Health Kit Collections

A few reminders ....

Fellowship Time Treats If you'd like to provide treats (donuts, bagels, etc.) for Sunday hospitality time following worship, there is a sheet on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. You may bring the treats (3-4 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. For the time being, we are asking that any donated food be something that can be easily cut and placed on individual plates for serving.

Sanctuary Flowers

We invite you to sign up for flowers to beautify our altar each weekend. The sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex.

Flowers are $35 and you may take them home following the 9:00 am worship on Sunday morning. If you'd prefer, you can leave the flowers at church to be enjoyed by the office staff.

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.

WORSHIP LIVE STREAM AVAILABLE EVERY SUNDAY!

Can't make it to worship? We are live streaming the 9:00 a.m. service on Sunday mornings, and it's almost like you're with us in person.

You can access it at any time from the home page of our website (www.calvarylc.com), or by using the link below. You'll also receive a link on Sunday mornings via email.

Link to Weekly Live Stream

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.