Midweek Meditation: Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Dear Calvary family,
When you pray do you feel like you are writing a letter? Or maybe writing an email? When you push send (say “Amen”), do you wonder when you will get the answer? Do you wonder if it got into the spam folder? Is it in the junk folder? Or maybe God’s email box is overloaded…
Prayer is not like that. God is listening while you are praying and He is at work while you are praying. Lately, I am working on how to pause during my prayer litany. I am learning how to listen to God’s voice. I pause my prayers and I turn to the Bible. I read it as my prayer. I read it as my answer to prayer.
This Sunday we turn our attention to Jonah and his prayer from the belly of a big fish. I will ask you not to worry about how it can be true? Don’t worry about the fact that maybe our brain is not capable of grasping that. As for me, God could have made a special edition of a fish just to accommodate His plan and get attention from Jonah. God knows that sometimes we need special arrangements so God can direct our attention to what matters the most.
Focus on how Jonah prayed. Listen to how this prayer could be your prayer. Pray with it. And at the end we will all learn that it is not how we do it, what we say or don’t say. It is what we believe and know about God and what He can do! Stay in prayer.
Jonah ends his prayer: "Salvation belongs to God" and you belong to Him!
Still praying,
Pastor Jolita
Here’s what’s happening in the life of our Church and how you can get involved:
OUR NEW LEARNING ACADEMY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Please join us in congratulating Melissa Sturgill as our new Learning Academy Assistant Director. Melissa has been a teacher here for 24 years and will be a fantastic addition to the CLA Leadership.
CHILDREN’S CHOIR OPPORTUNITY
We would love to have the children up to age 11 celebrate with us again during the service on Sunday, May 12 for Mother’s Day. Rehearsals will be following the worship service for approximately fifteen minutes this Sunday, April 28 and next Sunday, May 5. Meet Dr. Mark at the front of the sanctuary and the group will continue to a classroom in the Learning Academy hallway.
CHURCH GROUNDS WORKDAY SATURDAY, MAY 4
Circle Saturday, May 4 on your calendar to help with the Spring To-Do List and work with your church family to cleanup our church home. We will meet from 9:00am until Noon and appreciate any help you can share. The chore list includes spreading mulch, moving the picnic tables back to the shelter, replanting a couple of small trees, spreading seed in a couple spots, weed-eating, and weeding and tilling the vegetable garden. See you then!
PRAYER STATION AND Q&A
As General Conference continues this week, the prayer station is available at the front of the sanctuary to the left in front of the crosses. You are welcome to take a few moments before or after the service to pray for those attending and the discussions that will be happening. There you will find lists, a map, and Bible verses to help direct your prayers.
Additionally, a second Question-and-Answer session will be held following the service on Sunday from 11:00 to 11:30am.
FUNDRAISING HELP FOR OUR MOUNTAIN T.O.P. TRIP
Our group that is heading to Tennessee in June is offering some ways for our congregation to help defray the cost: A 12” hanging basket for $20, Prime carwash tickets for $9, $14, and $22, and a Dine-to-Donate opportunity at Arni’s on May 15. Stop by the table in the narthex on Sunday where you can purchase the basket or carwash tickets! A flyer to present at Arni’s is attached to this email or available at the table as well.
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
Next Thursday, May 2, is the National Day of Prayer.
LOOKING FOR SUPPORT?
Reach out to our Stephen Ministers. Our Stephen Ministers provide quality one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people in our congregation and community experiencing life difficulties. If you are interested in finding out more or connecting with someone, email or call the church office.
CALVARY CLASSICS LUNCHEON
Our Tuesday, April 30 lunch at noon is Afternoon Tea-themed. Finger Sandwiches and Chicken Salad Croissants are on the menu. You are welcome to wear a hat, bring a friend, your favorite bite-sized appetizer or dessert, and a $5 donation to offset the costs. An RSVP sheet is available if you’d like to let us know you’re coming. See you in Fellowship Hall!
GARDEN OF EATIN’
The produce garden we have out back has been an active mission of ours for approximately ten years. Every week during the growing season, we bring bags of freshly picked produce to our Brownsburg food pantries. The last couple of years, the Girl Scouts and their leaders who meet here at church have worked on it, but this year we need to have others from our congregation tending it again. If you’d like to put your green thumbs (or somewhat green thumbs) and your other fingers to work planting, weeding, watering, or harvesting, please contact the office (office@calvaryunited.org). This is mission work that can happen around your schedule! We look forward to working with you on this!
T-SHIRT ORDERS
You may have noticed in various places that our church’s logo has been re-worked. To go along with the updated logo, we are going to place an order for t-shirts. These are perfect whether you love t-shirts or know you’ll be representing Calvary in service around town! To place an order, please email (office@calvaryunited.org) or call (317-852-2541) or stop by the office and let us know the size and quantity you’d like. Sizes Youth Small through Adult Extra-Large are $15 each and sizes Adult XXL and up are $17 each. Orders need to be in by Sunday, May 5.
SPAGHETTI DINNER FUNDRAISER
Mark your calendar for a night off from cooking! The Mission and Kitchen Ministry Teams are teaming up to host a Spaghetti Dinner Friday, May 17, from 5:00-8:00pm to raise funds for our LEGO Camp this summer. Plan now to eat-in or carry-out for home dining! More information to come.
GREAT SUMMER MISSION OPPORTUNITY
Our next mission trip to Mountain T.O. P. in Tennessee for youth in 7th grade and up, as well as any adults, is June 16-22. The service projects to choose from include painting, building, yardwork, or day camp (like VBS) with younger area kids. If you missed the informational meeting, but are interested in this, please contact the office. Deadline to register is this Sunday, April 28.
“LEGO & LET GOD…Building your Faith Brick by Brick”
Speaking of summer opportunities, registration for our three-day LEGO Camp taking place July 15-17 is available now at https://calvaryunited.org/lego-camp or forms are available on the table in the Narthex. Volunteers and participants in Kindergarten through 12th grade are encouraged to register today!
Each day we will have a prayer, a devotional, music, daily LEGO thematic challenges, outdoor games, and snacks.
Gather up old LEGO elements you or your family might have at home. (We will not be able to return them to you.) Bargain shoppers be alert online, at garage sales, and at Goodwill! Collection bins are in the narthex. We are also accepting financial donations to purchase LEGO sets as well. Please note “LEGO Camp” on your check. If you have any questions, please contact Anne at anneinman1@hotmail.com.
APRIL MISSION FOCUS: MISSION GUATEMALA
Our mission giving this month is for Mission Guatemala, a non-profit organization founded by Pastor Tom Heaton in 2009 to help meet the basic needs and improve the quality of life of impoverished Guatemalan peoples through health, education, nutrition, and missionary service. More information may be found at MissionGuatemala.com.
BOAA’S ANNUAL COMEDY SHOW FUNDRAISER
The Brownsburg Older Adult Alliance is hosting a comedy fundraising event at the American Legion on Main Street, Saturday, April 27 at 7:00 PM. You can purchase advance tickets for $25 at bburgoaa.org or $30 at the door. More information at bburgoaa.org.
WORSHIP:
Sunday, April 28, 10:00am Rev. Jolita Erbele Powerful Prayers Series
“A Prayer from the Belly of a Fish” Jonah 2:1-10 (NLT)
Sunday, May 5, 10:00am Service of Holy Communion and Confirmation Sunday
Rev. Michelle Knight Powerful Prayers Series
“A Confirming Prayer” Numbers 6:24-26 (NRSV)
SAVE THE DATE:
General Conference Session – Tuesday, April 23 through Friday, May 3
General Conference Prayer Station – Sunday, April 28, before the service in the Sanctuary
General Conference Question & Answer Session, Sunday, April 28, 11:00-11:30am in the Sanctuary
Classics Luncheon – Tuesday, April 30 at Noon in Fellowship Hall
Confirmation Sunday – May 5, 10:00 am in the Sanctuary
First Monday of the Month Prayer Time – Monday, May 6 at 6:30am in the Sanctuary
Dine-to-Donate for Mountain T.O.P. Mission Trip – Wednesday, May 15 at Arni’s in Brownsburg
Lunch Bunch – Wednesday, May 15 at Noon at Arni’s in Brownsburg
Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser for LEGO Summer Camp – Friday, May 17 5:00-8:00pm in Fellowship Hall or carry-out
Euchre – Saturday, May 18 at 6:00pm in Fellowship Hall
