CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH | Your Weekly E-Newsletter - June 27, 2024 | |
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Have a safe July 4th!
The church office will closed on Thursday, July 4 in observance of the holiday.
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This Week's Devotional - Listening for the Promise
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“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23
The prophet Jeremiah had been disobedient to God, and because so, Jeremiah had endured much suffering. And so leading up to these verses, Jeremiah has lamented over his suffering. Boy, has he lamented! “I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath; he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light; surely against me he turns his hand again and again the whole day long” (Lam. 3:1-3).
And those are only the first three verses. Jeremiah continues on for some time about the suffering he had to endure. But now he begins to list off the ways God is faithful, most especially through his unfailing, steadfast love. As human beings, our love fails over and over again. And so it can be hard to imagine that God’s love for us is unbreakable. There’s nothing that can separate us from his love (see Rom. 8:38-39).
I can remember as a kid playing games with my siblings and if something didn’t go right, one of us would call out, “Do over! Can I have a do over?!” In a way, God gives us the opportunity to have a “do over” every day. And that’s what Jeremiah is praising and lifting up in these verses from Lamentations, chapter 3.
God’s mercies are new every morning. There is no end to them. Each day, you and I have an opportunity to have a “do over.” Now it’s a highly good chance, that we will still mess up throughout the day because, well, we’re sinners. We’re not perfect. But along with God’s mercies we also receive his forgiveness.
Jeremiah got to a point where he realized that instead of disobeying God and working against God, if he only did what God asked of him and believed and trusted in God, life was so much better! Did suffering end for Jeremiah? Definitely not! And it doesn’t end for you and me just because we do believe and place our trust in God.
But what it did for Jeremiah, and what it does for us, is it strengthens our relationship with God. God’s mercies are new to us each and every morning; his faithfulness is great!
Prayer: Gracious, heavenly Father, forgive us for not obeying your commands and doing as we please. Have mercy on us. Forgive us of our sin and brokenness, and remind us of your steadfast love for us. Thank you that nothing separates us from your love and that your mercies are new to us every day. May we share this love with others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Sola Worship Resource — Weekly Devotional © 2024, Sola Publishing
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“Patience is faithfulness over time” This is a quote from the devotional that the Call Committee is prayerfully reading and discussing. It is titled "Patience: Waiting with Hope" by Megan Hill.
The author also shares “We may often think of patience as passive; however it actually requires diligent activity". The nine members of the Calvary Call Committee have been doing just this. We are continuing to meet weekly in prayer following our Sunday worship service. We also gather monthly to connect, discern, reflect, pray and focus together.
Yes, there are many openings across the country for Senior Pastors in the NALC. We are happy to share that we have had several pastoral candidates submit their profiles to Calvary since the time we posted our Congregational profile. We have had several first and second interviews. We also have had deep, and sometimes difficult discussions surrounding these candidates. We listened to the feedback from the congregational workshop and the survey. We have prayerfully considered all aspects of each candidate and prayed for God’s direction and to hear His will for the future of Calvary.
Please know we all want to call our next pastor just as much as you do! But God’s timing isn’t that of our own. His timing is holy and perfect. We ask that you, our Calvary family, continue to have patience, filled with diligent prayer for the Pastoral Candidate and the amazing plans that God has for Calvary Lutheran Church.
After all, God is good all the time!
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CELEBRATION RINGERS are hosting a Summer Training Session starting June 30 continuing through August 18! This opportunity is open to kids 7+, young people and folks of all ages. Mini-workshops will be held after church for about 10-15 minutes and we will focus on basic technique and accompanying a familiar hymn. Experienced ringers will come alongside to help and demonstrate techniques. If you’ve ever wanted to ring and wondered where to start, seize the opportunity to make a joyful noise!
HEY KIDS! The organist, Nicole, occasionally needs an assistant. Her legs are too short to reach the random chime button (AKA the Zimbelstern). If you can sit by the organ and hit the button when I nod, you’re hired! Additionally, I need someone to turn the page while I’m playing the postlude. Please text me and let me know if your child is willing to volunteer to be the Organist’s Assistant, and I will communicate the days I need help. Thanks so much!
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Save the date for these upcoming services
with special musical guests.
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Gail Pike, Handbell Soloist
Sunday, July 7
9:00 a.m. service
Nancy Wittmus' sister Gail is a talented handbell musician and she will be sharing her talents with us during the service on July 7.
You won't believe what one person can do with a table of handbells!
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Polka Service
Sunday, July 14
9:00 a.m. service
Chris Dudzik and his dad John will be providing the music for a polka worship on Sunday July 14 at 9 a.m.
It's an uplifting and joyful way to praise God during our liturgy!
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In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”. Acts 20:35 | |
THANK YOU to the Calvary members who took time last Saturday to participate in the "build a bed" event for Sleep in Heavenly Peace. A total of 42 bed components were completed. Volunteers did a wide variety of tasks, including cutting, prepping and sanding boards, assembling headboards and hot stamping the SHP logo on each bed. | |
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THANK YOU to Tom Thiede for doing some touch-up painting in the building. Tom loves to paint and we are blessed to have him help with painting projects around the church.
THANK YOU to Chet Elliott, Rick Kegel, Ernie Kretschmann, Tom Sadowsky and Jon Voerman for installing the new double ovens in the church's kitchen.
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Our Little Library Needs Books
Did you know that we have a "Little Library" near our playground? It's definitely being used because there are very few books in it.
Do you have any gently-used books (kids, teens or young adults) that you'd like to donate to the Little Library? You can drop them off in the church office or take them directly to the library box by the playground.
Thank you in advance!
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6th Sunday after Pentecost
June 29-30, 2024
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PRESIDING MINISTER: Pastor Jerry Wittmus
ASSISTING MINISTER: Ed Ramthun
DEACONS:
Saturday: Pat Foy
Sunday: Judy Kestly, Bill Graffin, Sue Rowe, Lenny Graffin
ACOLYTE: Noah Ciszewski
LECTOR: Karen Pierce
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Karen Pierce
USHERS: Caryl Braatz and Mary Ellen Thiede
ALTAR GUILD: Mary Ellen Thiede
GREETERS:
- Wayne and Bonnie Johnson
- Scott and Peggy Langelin
FLOWERS:
- Dave and Paula Altman (47th anniversary)
- Bob and Ann Jazgar (60th anniversary)
FELLOWSHIP TREATS: Calvary
POWERPOINT OPERATORS:
Saturday: Sue Rowe
Sunday: Sallie Schulz
LIVESTREAM OPERATOR: Chris Dudzik
HYMNS THIS WEEKEND: "Let the Whole Creation Cry", LBW 242; "I Am Not My Own" (click HERE to listen to hymn); "Lord You Have Lavished on Your Land"
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New prayer requests or any updates to this current list should be directed to Cindy Zilske in the Church office - office@calvarylc.com
Prayers of sympathy and God's peace to: the family of Angie Schatz on the passing of her great aunt Marion Eggert.
New prayer requests: None
Ongoing short-term prayer requests: Jessica Dudzik, Jon Sayas;Janet Zastrow; Judy DeBruine; Pat Treutelaar; Sue Dindorf; John Schwartz; Evelyn Ceci; Jonni Roush; Laura Burger; Sue Rowe; Sheila Funk (sister of George Rooney); Jeff Edwards (friend of Ernie Kretschmann); Zander Crowe (great-grandson of Janet Zastrow); Brian Nowak (cousin of Ernie Kretschmann's niece); Debbie and Karen (friends of Linda Thorpe); Diane Rutsch (friend of Mary Lau); Bob Lillith (nephew of Juanita Osowski); Eric Dix (Linda Thorpe's son-in-law's brother); Mary Nelson (friend of Linda Thorpe); Creig Moritz (brother of Bryant Moritz); Taylor (granddaughter of Lenny Graffin); Edward Hermann (son of Marilyn Hermann); Larry Larsen (brother of Kris Larsen); John Kretschmann (brother of Ernie Kretschmann); Jean (friend of Linda Thorpe); Sandy (friend of Linda Thorpe); Matti Beilfuss (friend of Rick Kegel); Lou Dangler (friend of Evelyn Ceci); Paul Mahn (son of Shirley Mahn); Amy Clark (friend of Megan Scott)
Please continue to pray for: God’s guidance and support for our Call Committee, and that the Holy Spirit is working in the heart of the pastor He wishes to call as the next pastor of Calvary.
Serving in the Military: ITC Agustin Juarez (son-in-law of Ken Miller, serving in the U.S. Navy); 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); Nicole Wahlgren (serving in the U.S. Army National Guard); all military chaplains; and all veterans suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder.
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: Jan Chesner; Pat Corcoran; Wayne Dieck; Bev Lawson; Shirley Mahn; Nadine Schuelke; Jan Tschetter
Non-members: Kathy (friend of Judy Sayas' sister); Christine (cousin of Judy Sayas); Jan Sperry (friend of Judy Sayas); Drake Ferber (Judy Sayas' neighbor's son); Ron Parker (brother of Linda Thorpe); Lauren (granddaughter of Scott and Peggy Langelin); Dennis Reich (friend of John and Mary Lau); Curt (friend of Larry Bonier); Pastor Mark Gehrke (son of Lois Gehrke); Barb Anderson (friend of Lisa Grossman); Monica Barchus (niece of Ernie Kretschmann); Michael Rossa (Lucy Dallman's son); Karen (friend of Lydia Trudell); Susan Petropoulos (sister of Wayne Johnson); Tom Dallman (husband of Lucy Dallman); Laura Lynn (friend of Pastor Jerry and Nancy Wittmus)
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Harold Rose, 6/30
Ruby Himsel, 7/2
Jeffrey Griese, 7/3
Sophia Liu, 7/3
Kyle Gall, 7/4
Elliot Jones, 7/5
Judy DeBruine, 7/6
Mady Peters, 7/6
Chris Cason, 7/8
Katie Rooks, 7/8
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Bob and Ann Jazgar 6/27 (60 years)
George and Carol Rooney, 7/1 (57 years)
Dave and Paula Altman, 7/2 (47 years)
Jackson and Tiffany Schlieve, 7/12 (10 years)
Wayne and Bonnie Johnson, 7/15 (35 years)
Scott and Peggy Langelin, 7/18 (43 years)
Jerry and Nancy Wittmus, 7/18 (37 years)
Cable and Sarah Gall, 7/29 (18 years)
Keith and Karen Pierce, 7/30 (36 years)
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- The humidifier system has been repaired and the new ovens have been installed in the kitchen.
- Two delegates are needed for the next NALC Convocation to be held on August 9. If you are interested in serving, please contact Keith Pierce.
- The mortgage on the church is now paid in full.
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Pastor Jeannette Thorp, who previously served in 2015 as an interim pastor at Calvary, will be serving as our guest pastor on June 22-23, July 27-28 and August 25-26.
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NALC Youth Gathering June 30 - July 5
Interim Youth Director Angie Schatz will be taking nine youth to the first NALC Youth Gathering in San Antonio, TX. She asked those youth and chaperones who were at worship on Sunday to come forward for a blessing.
Please keep Angie, chaperones Melissa Griese and Jon Sayas, and the youth in your prayers this week as they travel to Texas for a time of worship, study of God’s Word, engagement in large and small group sessions and service to the community through mission events. And there should be plenty of time for fellowship and fun!
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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
July 29- August 2, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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Ahoy! We are going into an amazing undersea adventure where we will experience the ever-flowing, never-ending love of God. At SCUBA VBS, kids will be immersed in the Word and discover what living water is really all about! Each dive site is supervised by masters of their trade, leading fun-filled activities guaranteed to help kids dive deeper into their personal friendship with God!
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED! If you can help, please sign up on the Registration Page.
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For more information, click HERE for details. Registration is now open!
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June Mission of the Month | |
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NALC International Mission
through the World Mission Prayer League
The World Mission Prayer League (WMPL) is an official ministry partner of the NALC. WMPL grew out of a God-given burden to pray for the unreached interiors of Africa, Asia, and Latin America in the 1930’s. A band of students, pastors and friends in the Minneapolis area joined together in prayer that the Lord of the harvest would send laborers into his harvest.
WMPL says of itself … we are committed to pray, as Jesus commands his followers in Matthew 9:38 – “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” We are a … community of men and women who are committed to prayer - the “working method” of our mission.
The World Mission Prayer League exists to see that populations with limited or no access to the Gospel experience the love of Christ and that believers and communities of believers in the Americas and elsewhere engage in active and collaborative participation in living out their roles in the great commission.
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Our Mission of the Month offerings will:
- Directly support the work of the World Mission Prayer League;
- Support a “Ministry Fund” for our missionaries and support for orphans whose parents died of COVID.
We hope you will learn more about WMPL – their website is www.wmpl.org, and generously support the mission work Calvary does in India through this wonderful Lutheran ministry.
To support this important Mission of the Month, you may include it in your weekly offering envelope (designate donation next to Mission of the Month) or select the donation as "Mission of the Month" in your online giving.
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Women's Book Group
Monday, September 9, 2024
12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Media Room
"A Fever in the Heartland"
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Copies of the book are available in the church office. If you'd like to borrow one, please sign it out on the sheet next to the books.
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The Roaring Twenties--the Jazz Age--has been characterized as a time of Gatsby frivolity. But it was also the height of the uniquely American hate group, the Ku Klux Klan. Their domain was not the old Confederacy, but the Heartland and the West. They hated Blacks, Jews, Catholics and immigrants in equal measure, and took radical steps to keep these people from the American promise. And the man who set in motion their takeover of great swaths of America was a charismatic charlatan named D.C. Stephenson.
Stephenson was a magnetic presence whose life story changed with every telling. Within two years of his arrival in Indiana, he’d become the Grand Dragon of the state and the architect of the strategy that brought the group out of the shadows – their message endorsed from the pulpits of local churches, spread at family picnics and town celebrations. Judges, prosecutors, ministers, governors and senators across the country all proudly proclaimed their membership. But at the peak of his influence, it was a seemingly powerless woman – Madge Oberholtzer – who would reveal his secret cruelties, and whose deathbed testimony finally brought the Klan to their knees.
"A Fever in the Heartland" marries a propulsive drama to a powerful and page-turning reckoning with one of the darkest threads in American history.
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Weekly Men's Breakfast
Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m.
Maxim's Restaurant
18025 W. Capitol Drive
Brookfield
All men are invited to attend!
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Monthly Men's Gathering
Fellowship Hall
Thursday, July 18
6:00 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact Ernie Kretschmann at erniekretschmann@gmail.com
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Worship Attendance and Giving | |
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We had technical difficulties with last weekend's livestream connection. The company that houses our livestream links through the email notice had issues and is looking into the solution. If you are not able to connect through the Sunday morning email, please use this link: LIVESTREAM
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Live Stream Attendance Link | |
If you watch our services via the Live Stream, please take a minute to let us know. There is now a link called "Online Worship Attendance" on the page where you access each week's service.
We appreciate your taking the time to complete this each week. It helps us know that our Live Stream is being viewed.
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Online giving provides options!
While cash and checks are always welcome, the “Give Online” button on the Calvary Lutheran Church website provides another option. And, with the expansion of our vendor’s software, the options are now expanded and customized. In addition to giving to the General Operating Fund, Building Fund and Mission of the Month, you can now specify contributions for Altar Flowers, Sunday Morning Fellowship Treats, NALC, etc.
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Please note that contributions to the Mission of the Month are allocated to the organization for the month in which the donation is made
If you have any questions or would like to make a pledge, please contact Cindy Rooks, Finance Secretary, via email at
finance@calvarylc.com or (262) 786-4010.
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Giving to the NALC Campaign | Just a reminder that contributions to the NALC's 20/20 Vision Campaign need to be designated as "NALC" either on your giving envelope or on your check. If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Rooks at finance@calvarylc.com. | | |
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NALC Monthly Newsletter
Stay up to date on happenings in the NALC by reading their monthly newsletter, NALC News.
Click the link below to view the current issue.
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Your 2024 Board of Deacons
Front row (l-r) Lenny Graffin, Sue Rowe, Darlene Louison, Joanne Schultz, George Sedivec
Back row (l-r); Ed Ramthun, Judy Kestly, Andy Foy, Pat Foy, Ruth Brostowitz and Bill Graffin.
Not pictured: Everett Lambert
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Your 2024 Church Council
Front row (l-r) Joanne Schultz, Peggy Langelin, Jan Lukasik
Back row (l-r); Ernie Kretschmann, Andy Schatz, Scott Langelin, Pat Dieck, Keith Pierce
Not pictured: Chris Dudzik
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Do you need a new Church Directory? | |
The Calvary Church Directory is available electronically or in paper format. If you'd like an electronic copy, please send an email to Sue Rowe at communications@calvarylc.com.
There are also printed copies available in the church office.
If there are any changes to your phone, email or address, please advise the Church office. Any updates should be submitted to Cindy Zilske at office@calvarylc.com.
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Sanctuary Flowers
A wonderful way to celebrate a special occasion or remember a loved one is by sponsoring flowers at our altar. The cost is $35 and you may take them home following the Sunday morning worship.
The 2024 sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex, near the door to Fellowship Hall.
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We invite you to provide
Hospitality Treats on Sunday
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.
The sign up sheet is posted on the bulletin board. Thank you for your support!
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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.
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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.
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