April 17, 2024

You meet me in gentleness.

You come close.

You take my coldness

and warm me from the inside.

As my cold heart melts, Lord,

let your streams flow through me

that I may play my part

in the renewing of the earth.

-- from The Book of a Thousand Prayers

A Message from the Rector

Dear Friends in Christ,

For most people Easter is now in the rearview mirror. But in the Church the celebration of Easter continues for several more weeks. The Easter season gives us a time to focus on the deeper meaning of the resurrection. Central to our Easter faith, resurrection then is about hope for today and in the future.

• The message of Easter encourages us to look beyond our current struggles and challenges, reminding us of the victory Jesus has won over sin and death. His resurrection assures us that no situation is beyond God's redeeming power.
• Easter is a time to renew our commitment to Christ, reflecting on the magnitude of his sacrifice and the transformative power of his resurrection. It's an opportunity to deepen our faith and live out the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives.
• Just as Jesus rose from the dead, we too are called to experience spiritual rebirth and renewal. Easter inspires us to embrace new beginnings, letting go of past mistakes and moving forward with hope and grace.
• The Easter story is one of love, sacrifice and victory. It compels us to share this message of hope with others, spreading the light of Jesus' resurrection in a world in need of encouragement and salvation.
• Let us strive to live every day in the light of the resurrection, allowing the hope and joy of Easter to permeate our lives. In doing so, we bear witness to the power of Jesus' resurrection and his promise of eternal life.

The Christian quote "He is not here; He has risen, just as He said," speaks directly to the heart of Easter. It reminds us of the incredible power of God's love and the hope that comes with Jesus' resurrection. As we celebrate Easter, let us hold fast to this message of hope, allowing it to renew our faith, inspire our hearts and guide our lives.

Father Robert Harvey

Fellowship Ministries

The Fellowship Committee at Calvary will have a hybrid meeting on Thursday, April 18 from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Light snacks will be provided for those attending in person. Come in person or join by Zoom with this link or by calling 646 558 8656 and using Meeting ID 881 0659 2156 and Passcode 899175.

The main focus for our April meeting will be working on our games and decorations for the May 3 Derby Eve social event and to begin planning for the June Church Picnic. If you have not attended a meeting in the past, but would like to help with either the Derby Eve Social Event or the Church picnic, please know that you are most welcome to attend. It’s a great way to get to meet people and get involved. If you have questions or suggestions please contact lorriearchdeacon@gmail.com 

Clean Up Day

Grab your yard tools and come to Calvary on Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. until noon. Let's make the buildings and grounds beautiful for spring!

Calvary will provide cleaning supplies and trash bags; volunteers, please bring your garden/cleaning gloves and tools. Inside tasks include cleaning the pews and kneelers with Murphy's oil soap. The reception room and restroom by the front desk will be cleaned as will the basement restrooms. Outside work will include having adults and children pick up all sticks and branches. Adults will power wash the Churchyard benches and edge the sidewalks. There will be pizza and pop when we are done.

All of the above depend on the number of volunteers and the weather. Let Paul McKenna know if you can help.

Warden's Forum

The next Warden's Forum will take place at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 21. Come in person or join by Zoom with this link or by calling 646 558 8656 and using Meeting ID 814 1129 2286 and Passcode 289958.

Minutes from the March 19 Vestry Meeting are posted across from the Reception Desk, in the notebook in the reading area, and available for download here.

Sunday School Families Photo Scavenger Hunt

When: Saturday, April 27th, 10 a.m. - noon (rain or shine)

Location: Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, 93  Honorine Drive, Depew.

This is a parent-chaperoned event: each child must be accompanied by a parent. Please bring a brown bag lunch. Each parent needs to have a camera phone. We will gather at the entrance near the picnic pavilion for instructions at 10 a.m. No food or pets are allowed in the nature preserve. You may, however, bring a bottle of water. Wear shoes that are appropriate for muddy trails.

There is a sign-up sheet in the Reception Room. Please sign up by Thursday, April 25th at noon.

Good Grief

The next Good Grief Support Group Meeting will be Saturday, April 27 at 9:30 am 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: 984-7015.

African Team Ministries Crafts Sale

Calvary's Outreach Committee is sponsoring an African Team Ministries crafts sale before/after church services during the weekends of April 27-28 and May 4-5. The sale will feature jewelry, musical instruments, soapstone and wooden carvings and other crafts created by artisans in East Africa. All proceeds support African Team Ministries' efforts in East Africa to provide Drip Irrigation Kits for the families in the drought and famine areas who receive emergency food relief. This will enable them to grow food all year round instead of only when it rains. More than 250,000 people died during this recent drought and famine. African Team Ministries has been serving the churches in East Africa for more than 20 years, also resettling displaced people, supporting orphans, and providing AIDS education and prevention as well as literacy training.

Alongside the African Team Ministries sale, Sher See Say, the mother of Calvary's Karen refugee family, will be selling her own crocheted and embroidered works. All of these items make great gifts for any time of year, including Mother's Day. So please come support our sale!

"Derby Eve" Fellowship Event

Friday, May 3, 2024 from 6 - 8:30 p.m.

Come to an evening of special Kentucky Derby themed fun! Our dinner will feature fried chicken, ham and biscuits, coleslaw, sautéed green beans, and derby pie. Mint julep mocktails, wine, beer, and iced tea will also be provided. This is a “free will offering” event.

Following dinner, we will also have games with a “horse” or derby theme for you to enjoy. You are encouraged to get into the spirit of the party by wearing hats that you might see at a Kentucky Derby race. In order to accurately plan for our food and beverage quantities, we ask that you sign up for this event by April 29, either on the sign-up sheet in the Reception Room or click here to sign up online.

Calvary has supported FONP for many years providing volunteers to serve meals and donating clothing and other items needed by FONP. Our next date to volunteer is May 16th.

We will be collecting powdered drink mix, as requested on their Annual Wish List for the month of May, as well as socks, a constant and critically needed item. Please consider donating. There will be baskets in the reception room for your donations and they will be presented to FONP on May 16th.

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, contact Ro Cherpak at 718 863 4267 or Chris Coburn Miller at 716 597 5263. There will also be a sign up sheet in the Reception Room.

Thank you for your kind and generous support.

Diocesan Partnership and Church News

• Sign up for Diocesan Partnership newsletters read recent editions here.
• A report on the Partnership offers updates on the work of our two dioceses.
• 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. 

Episcopal Night with the Buffalo Bisons on May 25

Join friends from the diocesan partnership on Saturday, May 25 for Star Wars night at the Buffalo Bisons. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m. The evening will include character meet and greets and a light show following the game. Tickets are $13 and we have 100 available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Request tickets online and you will receive a follow-up email with payment directions and confirmation. Please email Missioner for Children and Youth Wendy Schumacher with questions.

Summer Camp Registration Open

The Diocesan Partnership will offer summer camp for youth entering 3rd grade through graduating seniors during August 11-14 at Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center in Bemus Point, New York. The cost to attend this camp is $240 and scholarships are available. Contact Wendy Schumacher for more information. Click here to register..

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, which is an in-person service, 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.

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 2024:

• Worship & Music - Fr. Robert & Nancy Bolton
• Christian Formation - Kelly Blackey
• Gathering Socially - Lorrie Archdeacon & Laurie Kaiser
• Reaching In - Ted Andrews
• Reaching Out - Larry Bernhard & Sandra Handy
• Spreading the Word - Howard Craig
• Property - Michael Bommer
• Giving / Development - Dennis McCoy
• Church Finances - Guy Whalen

Attendance

God our Deliverer, by water and the Holy Spirit we have been buried with Christ and raised to the new life of grace: Give us inquiring and discerning hearts, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. Amen.

from Daily Prayer for All Seasons