April 24, 2024

Lift me, Lord,

Out of fear into hope

Out of frailty into strength

Out of foolishness into sense.

Lift me, Lord.

You came down to lift us

You descended to hell to lift us to heaven

You entered death to raise us to life.

Come, Lord, raise me up, I pray you.

-- from The Book of a Thousand Prayers

A Message from the Rector

Dear Friends in Christ,

In the book Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, Robinson reflects on the things that made him fearful and anxious surviving alone after his shipwreck and marooned on an island. He says, “Fear of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger itself.”

He is telling us that we tend to worry more about danger than we need. Perhaps you have something you are facing, a major crisis seems to be on the horizon and you are just paralyzed with fear about what may or may not happen. Perhaps it’s keeping you up at night and you are terrified. Whatever that crisis is, fearing it is ten thousand times more terrifying than the crisis itself. What would it feel like to let go of that fear – to unburden your fear, perhaps to a friend? Just imagine the release you can feel, letting go of the paralyzing fear. The Bible says in the New Testament lesson we will read this coming Sunday, “perfect love casts out fear.” (I John 4:18) Let fear go so you can embrace the love, strength and energy you need to face whatever that crisis is. 

Father Robert Harvey

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.

Sher See's Pop-Up Sale takes place alongside the African crafts

Sher See, Mom of the Myanmar family sponsored by Matthew 25/Circle of Care, will offer her wares for sale at Calvary during the same times as our Annual African Team Ministries Sale. She will offer:

• Crocheted traditional Karen women's hats and rose pins (perfect for the Pre-Derby Party on May 3)
• Karen style shirts & totes/purses.
• Embroidered pillowcases & table cloths.

Sher See will also take custom orders if you would like a particular item in a certain color, embroidery, fabric or custom wording.

Both African Team ministry items and Sher See's 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, derby pie and Mint Julep mocktails. (You may BYOB to make your mocktail a cocktail). 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 (but not required) to get into the spirit of the party by wearing hats or fascinators that you might see at a Kentucky Derby race. We will have a hat contest with different categories: Elegant, Do-it yourself craft hats, Most Horsey theme and Dapper Dan, best men’s ensemble. 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 by clicking 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.

Thanks to the Clean Up Crew!

Many thanks to the 21 adults and 5 children who pitched in to help at last Saturday's Spring Clean Up. Special thanks to Paul and Linda McKenna for organizing the indoor/outdoor tasks and volunteers. More photos may be viewed on Calvary's Facebook page - please like and share!

Pledge Statements

First quarter pledge statements will be mailed this week. These will list all donations received through March 31. Please contact the office if you have any questions or corrections.

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

In the hour of my fear I will put my trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust and will fear not;

what can flesh do to me?

Psalm 56: 3-4