CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH | |
Your Weekly E-Newsletter - November 27, 2024 | |
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Order your Christmas Poinsettias Today!
Order forms are on the table in the Narthex for this year's poinsettias to decorate the altar on Christmas. Shady Lane Greenhouse in Menomonee Falls provides these top quality plants. You have a choice of red, white or pink plants at $25/each.
Order forms are due by December 11 and can be dropped off in the church office or placed in the offering baskets.
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Thank you to all who have previously donated books for our church library, which is located in the Narthex by the angel windows.
If you have books to donate, please drop them off in the office so that they can be reviewed and logged before placement in the Library.
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REMINDER: If you haven't returned your pledge card, please place it in the offering baskets or drop it in off the church office. Extra pledge cards are on the table in the Narthex. Thank you! | |
This Week's Devotional - Listening for the Promise | |
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“Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”
- Psalm 25:5 -
The Light of Salvation
Have you ever noticed that a lamp appears brighter at night than it does during the day? It isn’t that the lamp is brighter, but that the light from that lamp is diminished by the light that surrounds it. The lamp overcomes darkness much better than other light. That’s why faith and the Gospel stand out so much more clearly when the world is in chaos.
We don’t think much about God so much when things are going well. We pray and worship and offer thanks, but we don’t fall on our knees in hopeful expectation of God’s grace. However, we see our need for Him when we face a crisis and turn to Him in desperate prayer and expectation. Christ is not a softer light in the good times, but His light does not seem quite as bright when we need Him most.
Darkness has existed from the beginning of time. The world is constantly in flux and goes from bright moments of hope and peace to times filled with hatred and war. We begin Advent in darkness as a reminder of our life without Jesus. The light of our Advent wreaths shines brighter and brighter as we light one new candle each Sunday. That’s how it is in our texts throughout this season. We begin with a promise, watch as God prepares the world for the coming of our Lord, and then end on Christmas Day with the fulfillment of the promise: Jesus Christ is born. The true Light comes into the world.
As we enter this season of waiting and wonder, let us keep our hearts and minds on the One for whom we wait, looking to His faithfulness, mercy, and grace. Jesus is coming! He is the child in the manger and the King in the clouds. He is the fulfillment of all God’s promises of salvation and the restoration. Jesus is the Light that will never be overcome, He banishes the darkness of our chaotic world.
Sola Worship Resource — Weekly Devotional © 2024, Sola Publishing
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First Sunday of Advent
November 30 - December 1, 2024
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PRESIDING MINISTER: Pastor Jeanette Thorp
ASSISTING MINISTER: Saturday: Ed Ramthun Sunday: Pat Foy
DEACONS: Saturday: Ed Ramthun
Sunday: Lenny Graffin, George Sedivec, Darlene Louison
ACOLYTES: Noah Ciszewski and Sean Moritz
LECTOR: Ken Miller
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Larry Bonier
USHERS: Scott and Lisa Grossman
ALTAR GUILD: Mary Ellen Thiede
GREETERS: Bill and Lenny Graffin, Phil Hanson
FELLOWSHIP TREATS: Diane and Joe Grundman
FLOWERS: Lukasik family in memory of Ben Lukasik
POWERPOINT OPERATORS:
Saturday: Cindy Rooks
Sunday: Sallie Schulz
LIVESTREAM OPERATOR: Sue Rowe
This weekend's hymns: LBW #35 "Hark the Glad Sound"; "Jesus, Come, Quickly Come"; WOV #744 "Soon and Very Soon"
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Advent Devotionals Available | |
Two options for Advent devotionals are available on the table in the Narthex. The first Sunday of Advent is just around the corner - Sunday, December 1st.
Please feel free to pick up your copy when you're here!
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New Entry Door Policy
Church Council, along with representatives from the Brookfield Police Department, recently conducted a review of our building security. As a result of this review, the door by the nursery (Door #2) will remain locked at all times on Sundays, beginning this weekend. (This door will always be available as an exit door.)
Please use one of the other doors to enter the church.
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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
New Prayer Requests: Ann (cousin of Mary Lau); Jeff Edwards (friend of Ernie Kretschmann); Brenda Schmidt (relative of Judy Kestly's friend)
Ongoing short-term prayer requests: Linda Richmond; Shirley Mahn, Ka Thao; Nadine Schuelke; Sue Dindorf; John Schwartz; Laura Burger; Micaela (daughter of Scott and Lisa Grossman); Paul Queck (sponsor of Ka Thao); Chris Bogusch (son-in-law of Pastor Jerry and Nancy Wittmus); Nate Kreiter (friend of Rick Kegel); Bonnie Nelson (former Calvary member); Barbara Runge (friend of Jeanette Kalupa); Nancy Berth (friend of the Calvary Knitting Group); Jack Banker (brother-in-law of Mary Lau); Brian Nowak (cousin of Ernie Kretschmann's niece); 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); 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.
The Hindi-speaking Yadav Hindus in India, who have limited or no access to the Gospel, with our partners at the World Mission Prayer League.
The victims of hurricane Helene.
Serving in the Military: Marshall Owen (nephew of Ken Miller serving in the U.S. Marines); 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 (grandchild of Ardath Olson serving in the U.S. Air Force); 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; Jonni Roush; Sue Rowe; Pat Treutelaar; Jan Tschetter; Janet Zastrow
Non-members: Jean Asleson(friend of Linda Thorpe); Kathy (friend of Judy Sayas' sister); Christine (cousin of Judy Sayas); Jan Sperry (friend of Judy Sayas); 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); Monica Barchus (niece of Ernie Kretschmann); Michael Rossa (Lucy Dallman's son); Karen (friend of Lydia Trudell); Tom Dallman (husband of Lucy Dallman); Laura Lynn (friend of Pastor Jerry and Nancy Wittmus)
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Diane Grundman, 12/1
Nicole Moritz, 12/1
Shelby Rose, 12/2
John Foley, 12/5
Nadine Schuelke, 12/11
Caleb Liu, 12/14
Brian Kretschmann, 12/15
Amanda Olstinski, 12/15
Bob Smith, 12/15
Ray Chesner, 12/17
Donnie Dentice, 12/17
Pat Treutelaar, 12/18
Ingrid Nelson, 12/19
Judy Sayas, 12/19
Ron Holman, 12/20
Carol Rooney, 12/20
Margaux Baumgarten, 12/21
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Al and Rhonda Rodriguez, 12/23 (52 years)
Ron and Jean Holman, 12/26 (71 years)
Bob and Donna Siderits, 12/26 (64 years)
Jeremy and Nicole Nowicki, 12/28 (14 years)
Rick and Carol Treadwell, 12/29 (51 years)
Amanda and Ken Olstinski, 12/31 (3 years)
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Faith Formation/Youth Ministry | |
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The Great ADVENTure!
Friday, December 6
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Join us for a GREAT evening ADVENTure as we explore the true meaning of Advent and Christmas. We will visit all 5 of the advent candles and learn their meaning. We will have crafts, activities, and stories to go with each stop. This event is for families of all ages.
Please RSVP using the button below to ensure enough supplies for all.
For unto us a child is born.—Isaiah 9:6
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Garcade
Sunday, December 15
11:30 – 2:30 pm
Hang out with us for “All You Can Play” classic retro arcade games and pinball.
No skill (or quarters) required! Age: Grades 6-8
Cost: $5 per person
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Holiday Gift Wrapping!
Saturday, December 14
9:00 am - Noon
Looking for some help? The Calvary youth are here for YOU! We will lovingly wrap each gift, and tie it with a beautiful bow! The youth will even carry your gifts to and from your car!
Items need to be dropped off at Calvary on December 14 between 9 a.m. and noon. All you need to do is complete and attach the gift tags and we will do the rest. Gifts can be picked up on Saturday December 14 from Noon to 1 pm, or on Sunday morning following our worship service.
All proceeds go to the Youth Summer Programs.
Cost: It's up to you! Donations are greatly appreciated.
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Weekly Bible Study with Pastor Jerry Wittmus
Pastor Jerry's weekly Bible Study is held on Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. You will be studying the scripture readings for the coming weekend. Study text will be placed in the Narthex prior to the Study.
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Women's Bible Study
First and Third Tuesday of the Month
Janet Zastrow has resumed a Women's Bible Study on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. The Study is based on the book "The Battle Plan for Prayer".
"The Battle Plan for Prayer" begins with prayer’s core purpose, its Biblical design, and its impact throughout history. Participants will be guided scripturally through the fundamentals of how effective prayer works. They will be inspired towards a closer, more intimate relationship with God, while being shown how to develop specific prayer strategies for each area of life. Prayer can accomplish what a willing God can accomplish. It should be our first plan of attack in all of life’s battles, not our last resort. If you want to experience the joy of mightily answered prayer, then it’s time to engage with God at another level.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Janet Zastrow at janetzastrow@att.net.
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Care Net Pregnancy Center is a newer mission for Calvary and we are thrilled to be part of those helping to fund and spread its good work. Several of us have visited and volunteered on site and have witnessed the work of God that this group does. A representative from CareNet will be with us on Sunday to share more information on the important work they are doing.
Mission: To share the love of Christ and the hope of the Gospel with women facing an unplanned pregnancy.
Services: Pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, life-affirming options counseling, material support for mom and baby, classes and groups for pregnant and new moms and post-abortion counseling.
Last year they performed 904 pregnancy tests and 967 ultrasounds. They gave out over 60,000 diapers and met with 1,474 different women.
So far this year they have had over 160 women take classes, and each woman takes an average of about 10 classes.
Approximately 70% of women considering abortion choose life after visiting Care Net.
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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, December 9
12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Media Room
"The Bridge of San Luis Rey"
by Thornton Wilder
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“On Friday noon, July the twentieth, 1714, the finest bridge in all Peru broke and precipitated five travelers into the gulf below.” So begins The Bridge of San Luis Rey, one of the great achievements in American literature, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and a novel still read throughout the world.
By chance, Brother Juniper, a Franciscan monk, witnesses the tragedy. He then embarks on a six-year-long quest to determine whether it was divine intervention or happenstance that led to the deaths of the five victims–the Marquesa de Montemayor, obsessed with regaining the affections of her estranged daughter; young Pepita, a humble and lonely orphan assigned by the local Abbess to be the companion of the aging Marquesa; the grief-stricken Esteban, mourning the untimely death of his identical twin, Manuel; Uncle Pio, who has recently taken seven-year-old Jaime into his care as a way of maintaining a lost relationship with the boy’s mother, Camila, once the greatest actress of her day.
Brother Juniper’s search for answers leads him to more questions, and, ultimately, to his own death. “There are a hundred ways of wondering at circumstance,” Wilder writes, challenging the reader to question and to wonder about a story that novelist Russell Banks says in his Foreword is “as close to perfect a moral fable as we are ever likely to get in American literature.”
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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, December 19
If you have any questions, please contact Ernie Kretschmann at erniekretschmann@gmail.com
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Worship Attendance and Giving | |
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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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 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. THE CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON THANKSGIVING, NOVEMBER 28.
Please check in with the office staff so we know that 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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