CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Your Weekly E-Newsletter -- Thursday, July 28, 2022
Ben Blobaum's Pondering This Week ....
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher… “all is vanity.” I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me; and who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun
(Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:18-20).

 
I once knew someone who had a bumper sticker on his car that read, He who dies with the most toys wins. The writer of Ecclesiastes, however, thinks this view absurd. Reflecting on the fate of fallen humanity absent God’s establishment of, and faithfulness to, his covenant with Israel, the writer observes that it makes no apparent difference whether one is foolish or wise, rich or poor; for, ultimately, the same fate awaits all alike – death. He concludes, therefore, that all of humanity’s striving and toil are for naught; he who dies with the most toys does so in vain.
 
Together, the view expressed on the bumper sticker and that in Ecclesiastes, represent the two logical and opposing extremes of nihilism – the belief that all reality will ultimately end and come to nihilo (“nothing”). For the nihilist, death is final and absolute, and human life is therefore empty of objective meaning. Given the finiteness and apparent purposelessness of existence, the nihilist is thus consigned to one of two concluding prospects: either to live for self-indulgence, accumulating as much wealth and pleasure for oneself as possible, or to, like the writer of Ecclesiastes, altogether despair.
 
Save for the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, nihilism would be the only sensible religion in a fallen world, for if Christ were not raised from the dead, then neither do we have the hope of resurrection at the Last. Death would indeed be final. Thus, as the Apostle Paul demonstrates to the resurrection-deniers in Corinth, “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain … [for] then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished…and we [Christians] are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor. 15:14-19). In sum, if Christ is not raised, then the nihilism of the writer of Ecclesiastes is vindicated.
 
Christ’s resurrection is the basis for all our Christian hope. Indeed, we might explain Christian faith and hope thusly: to be a Christian is to trust Christ’s promise of resurrection to be more reliably certain than the otherwise apparent finality of death. And it is because the resurrection of Christ is true that our lives need no longer be dominated by anxious competition for material acquisition nor by fatalistic despair. The incarnate life, death, and, ultimately, resurrection of Jesus is God’s gracious and glorious answer to the otherwise inevitable futility and meaninglessness of sinful human existence.

And, so, praise be to God that, at last, there is something new under the sun: Christ is risen!


Ben Blobaum
Pastoral Intern
Worship Resources
This Week's Reflection from Martin Luther
on this weekend's Scripture lessons
For we are so inclined by nature that no one desires to see another have as much as himself, and each one acquires as much as he can; the other may fare as best he can. And yet we pretend to be godly, know how to adorn ourselves most finely and conceal our rascality ... yea, we even dare impertinently to refer to it, and boast of it, and will not have it called rascality, but shrewdness and caution.

Martin Luther Large Catechism, Ninth & Tenth Commandments
Online Resources

Eighth Sunday
After Pentecost
July 30-31, 2022
PRESIDING MINISTER: Pastor Ken Nelson
ASSISTING MINISTER: Pastor Jerry Wittmus
DEACONS:
  • Saturday: Larry Bonier
  • Sunday: Linda Thorpe, Terry Bzdusek, Judy Kestly
ACOLYTES:
  • William Dudzik and Mallory Zipp
USHERS:
  • Brad Meyer and Jon Sayas
GREETERS:
  • Diane Grundman, Marilyn Hermann, Everett Lambert
LECTOR:
  • Karen Pierce
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE:
  • Scott Anderson
ALTAR GUILD:
  • RoJean Holler
MUSIC:
  • Nicole Moritz, Nancy and Hope Wittmus (Sunday only)
FELLOWSHIP TREATS:
  • Dave and Paula Altman
ALTAR FLOWERS:
  • Keith and Karen Pierce in celebration of their 34th anniversary
POWERPOINT TECH:
  • Saturday: Cindy Rooks
  • Sunday: Sallie Schulz
LIVESTREAM TECH:
  • Kyle Jones
Our Church Family
Ben Blobaum, 7/28
Chuck Giuliani, 7/29
Melissa Griese, 7/29
Harriet Polzin, 7/30
Megan Schatz, 7/30

Karla Zimmerman, 8/2
Helga Willett, 8/5
Donna Schroeder, 8/6
Linda Berger, 8/7
Sophia Peters, 8/7
Deron Anderson, 8/9
Darrel Schwenn, 8/9
Donna Siderits, 8/9
Wayne Wegner, 8/9
Mark Wirtz, 8/9
Cable and Sarah Gall, 7/29 (16 years)
Keith and Karen Pierce, 7/30 (34 years)

Brad and Sue Meyer, 8/3 (20 years)
Doug and Sue Ranger, 8/3 (3 years)
Curtis and Judy Klade, 8/4 (60 years)
Philip and Jill Voss, 8/4 (10 years)
Garry and Carolyn Gillespie, 8/5 (55 years)
Bill and Jane Krause, 8/6 (56 years)
Josh and Emily Brooks, 8/9 (8 years)
Matt and Heidi Powers, 8/10 (3 years)
Jim and Ruth Brostowitz, 8/13 (39 years)
New prayer requests: Nash Brodzeller (grandson of Larry Bonier)

Ongoing short-term prayer requests: Lorna Reiter; Pat Corcoran; Tom Kurtz; Everett Lambert; Sue Rowe; Pat Treutelaar; Beverly Lawson (Calvary member and mother of Julie Matthes); Julie Niederbaumer (friend of many Calvary members); Alex Vincent (son of a friend of Grace Gunnlaugsson);  Sarah Green (sister of Andy Schatz); Jim Rupnow (friend of Sue Rowe); 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: Ginny Cox; Don Heyen; Shirley Mahn; Myrna Mavroff; Donna Polizzi; Donna Schroeder; Nadine Schuelke; Bob Smith; Gloria Strei; Ruth Young; Janet Zastrow

Non-members: Wendy (friend of Jonni Roush); Isabelle George (wife of Judy Sayas' cousin); Joe Dentice (father of Tony Dentice); Dick Girnau (friend of Mary Ellen Thiede); Carmen (friend of Lisa Grossman); 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); Ray Anderson (friend of the Grossman's); 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); Tom Frank (brother of Mary Ellen Thiede); Nancy Myers (friend of Judy Sayas); 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); John Nielson (brother of Judy Kestly); Susan Petropoulos (sister of Wayne Johnson); Tom Dallman (husband of Lucy Dallman); Eric (friend of Larry Bonier); 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.
WNALC Annual Meeting - Watch it Virtually!
If you'd like to join Marcella Nelson and watch the live feed with her, please contact her via phone/text at
(701) 833-5157.

Women of the NALC
Annual Gathering


August 2nd 2:00 p.m. (CST)

Join women from NALC churches from across the continent to virtually watch the Annual Gathering. It's easy to register and the link to the live feed will be sent to you after you register.

Register below:
It's Recruitment Time!
We have several areas where members are encouraged to jump in and participate to share their gifts with our Calvary family.

We need members of the Psallite Choir and Celebration Ringers. If you're interested or would like more information, please contact Nicole Moritz at music@calvarylc.com or (414) 625-0318. Regular practices for both the vocal and bell choirs will resume in early September. A two-day class "Everything You Wanted to Know about Music, But Were Afraid to Ask" is being planned for August 31-September 1 from 5-7 p.m.

Sunday School teachers are needed for the 2022/23 school year. You can sign up to be a teacher or a substitute to fill in when one of the teachers is not available. You are provided everything you'll need to teach your class. Sunday school is held every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. For more information, please contact Kyle Jones at youthdirector@calvarylc.com or (954) 663-6988.
Church Life Events
Calvary members and guests attended the "Doo Wop Daddies" performance at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for Starry Nights on Friday, July 22.
It was a great evening for fellowship and music!

Special thanks to the Church Life Committee and Tom Sadowsky for taking all of the chairs over to the venue on Friday morning to save space for our group.
Sunday, October 23, 2:00 p.m.
Sunset Playhouse Theater
"CLUE ON STAGE” 


Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie which was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, CLUE is a hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery.

The tale begins at a remote mansion. Six mysterious guests have assembled for an unusual dinner party where murder and blackmail are on the menu. When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects. Wadsworth, the butler, leads Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock, and Colonel Mustard in a race to find the killer while the body count stacks up. Will you figure out WHO did it, WHERE they did it, and with WHAT?

Tickets will go on sale in September. More information to come!
Financials and Worship Attendance July 23-24, 2022
Faith Formation
Water Games, Pizza and Fun!
Fun on the slip 'n slide.
A friendly water balloon fight - kids vs. dad!
You go girl!
Families gathered outside on Sunday, July 24 for some good old fashioned water games (slip 'n slide, water balloons and more!) The morning started out a little cloudy, but it warmed up and the sun came out. Lunch of pizza was served following the water fun.

Thank you to Kyle Jones and Cindy Rooks for organizing this event!
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.
Community Outreach Efforts
School Backpack Collection for NALC Disaster Response

Calvary will be collecting school backpack supplies for the month of August. These are distributed to families who have experienced natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and fires.   The empty backpacks and lists of items are in the narthex. If you have a gently used backpack to fill and donate feel free to use that as well.  

Copies of the school supply shopping list are on the table in the Narthex.
 
The Vacation Bible School kids will also be encouraged to donate back pack supplies. If your child is in VBS, we encourage them to donate their items at VBS.  
 
Mission of the Month Ministries
HOPE STREET MINISTRY
a Greenhouse for People on 26th and Capitol

Hope Street Ministry helps broken men, women and children cultivate hope and provides protection from the outside elements, and most importantly, supports growth together in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Hope Street Ministry is home to about 40 men, women and children whose lives have been profoundly affected by the toxic environment they grew up in, their own poor choices, or drug and alcohol abuse.

Empowered by the active Grace of Christ, the staff, volunteers, and members create a nurturing community for people to live, learn and develop new habits to flourish.

Their programs include:

  • Integrative Wellness: Improving diet, sleep, exercise and managing stress 
  • Addiction support with AODA counselors and group work
  • Forgiveness 
  • Education with GED assessment and tutoring
  • Family Dynamics - relational boundaries and parenting skills
  • Life Skills and Job Preparedness
  • Healing from Trauma-including sexual abuse

To support this important Mission for the Month, you may include it in your weekly offering envelope or designate the donation for Mission of the Month in your online giving.
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

Fellowship Hall
(Note location change)
Thursday, July 28
6 p.m.

Thursday, August 25
6 p.m.
Pastor Ken Nelson's home

Come for fellowship, food and devotion time. Dinner will be provided.
Invite a friend.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ernie Kretschmann at kretschmann@att.net.

A few reminders ....
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. 
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 printed copies available in the church office.

Any corrections or updates should be submitted to
Cindy Zilske at office@calvarylc.com.
What is a Calvary Deacon?

The Board of Deacons cares for the spiritual welfare of our congregation by praying for you regularly, assisting with distribution of Holy Communion, being available to the members of their "alpha group" for prayers, providing support or information about Calvary, and encouraging a strong spiritual life among our Calvary family.

Deacons serve a three-year term and we will have four 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 or Judy Kestly. It is a rewarding experience and makes a significant difference to those we serve.
Sunday mornings at 9 a.m.

The link 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 2022 is 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.
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.
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