Midweek Meditation: Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Dear Calvary family,
Praise be to God for our Fall Festival! Thank you to all those who helped and for all the support we received for this event. It was so good to see the church filled with families! I continue to pray and search for what it looks like to worship and to bring these families into worship together, growing in faith together, and being able to support them in their busy lives. God, guide us to change when we need to change and to stay strong to what you called us to be.
We continue to pause, reflect, and dig deeper into the Lord’s prayer. As long as we live, we will discover how deep and how powerful this prayer is. “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”. There is a strong connection between forgiving and being forgiven. We should notice that it is the “debtors” that are forgiven, not the “debts”. I think we need to start with how much I know that I am forgiven and how much I have forgiven myself. How do I live my life? Am I tolerant or am I forgiving? Join in prayer today and join in worship on Sunday!
Forgiven and forgiving,
Pastor Jolita
Here’s what’s happening in the life of our Church and how you can get involved:
CRAFT FAIR
Our 3rd Annual Craft Fair is just a few days away so it’s time to get things lined up! The Craft Fair is next Saturday, October 12. Many volunteers are needed the day of, but also in the days leading up to this! This is a major fundraiser for our church… and we need everyone’s help! Please click on this link to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F45ABAC2AA3F85-50481635-craft#/ Please click on this link to donate baked goods for the Bake Sale: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F45ABAC2AA3F85-50481828-craft#/ If you’ve signed up for the bake sale and need disposable pans, please stop by the office and help yourself.
YOUTH GROUP UPDATE
The Youth Group will NOT be meeting this Sunday, the 13th,or next Sunday, the 20th, due to Fall Break. Youth group will resume on the 27th.
YOUTH HANDBELL CHOIR
Mark your calendar for Sunday, October 27, because starting at 5:00pm students in 3rd through 12th grade can join this group! Rehearsal will last until 6:00pm and we will be focusing on music for the Advent and Christmas season. As a sidenote, vocal choir will start back up in January.
CRITICAL NEED FOR TEACHERS FOR ELEMENTARY SUNDAY SCHOOL
Our two current teachers for this class will be unavailable for several months. We need you! Please consider sharing one hour after services for one month. January, February, and March need to be filled. You are welcome to join Lois and/or Jo in the classroom in the next couple of weeks to find out more, or call the office.
OCTOBER IS PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH
We want to join together in expressing love, appreciation, and encouragement to our wonderful pastors, Rev. Michelle Knight and Rev. Jolita Erbele. We also are including Dr. Mark Herris, our Director of Music and Worship. While the Staff Parish Committee has some treats planned, like lunch on the 30th, we would like to celebrate them in other ways as well. We hope all of our church family will take various opportunities throughout the month to show Michelle, Jolita, and Mark your appreciation. Here are some possible ways to do this:
-Three baskets will be in the Narthex throughout October to drop off notes and cards. There are many cards for Pastor Appreciation in the stores already this month or there will be some cards available next to the basket. Don’t leave out the children, as cards and pictures from them would be cherished! They can be added to the mail basket, too.
-On Sunday, October 6, we recognized our retired clergy.
-On October 27, we will have a special prayer during the service. We would also love any photos you might have of the pastors and Mark to include on the screens that morning. Following the service, we will continue the celebration in Fellowship Hall with cake! Plan now to join us for this church-family time!
-Any personal gifts, surprises, or acts of kindness for them would be thoughtful as well! If you might not be sure how to express this, but would like to be a part of some, the Staff Parish Relations Committee is planning some gifts, and you are welcome to contribute financially toward those. Contact Christy Bailey for details and to donate: drobbc@aol.com or 317-529-6172.
-Above all else, we ask especially for daily prayers for our pastors during this month – for strength, wisdom, good health, energy, and blessings.
Let’s make sure they feel the love from their Calvary family next month! Thank YOU for being a part of this wonderful family!
~The Staff Parish Relations Committee
BUILDING AND GROUNDS CLEAN-UP
We will be taking the time to tackle the Fall To-Do list from 8:00am until noon next Saturday, October 19, and the following Saturday, October 26. On the 19th, we will be cleaning up the garage loft space, no matter the weather. Outside Grounds work will be weather permitting. On the 26th, we will continue the various outdoor chores, again weather permitting. Please consider sharing your time and effort even if you only have an hour or two available on those days in that time frame. Chores will include touching up paint in various areas, trimming small trees and shrubs, weed-eating, and filling in holes in the lot. The more the merrier and the more we can accomplish!
MONTHLY MISSIONS
Our October Mission giving supports the Pastor’s Discretionary account. This money is used to assist others as the pastor sees fit for situations that are unforeseen.
WOMEN’S RETREAT AT CALVARY
This year’s retreat is on November 2, 2024, and Asheritah Ciuciu, an author and speaker known for her dynamic online ministry, will be presenting her message entitled “Delighting in Jesus.” This message encourages us to embrace God’s profound invitation to a life filled with joy and delight by encountering Jesus in the daily rhythms of life. Remember to mark your calendars and extend an invitation to your family and friends! Register online at https://calvaryunited.org/womens-retreat/ or download a registration form. Forms are also available in the Calvary office.
SHIELDING THE COMMUNITY
The Brownsburg Police Department is hosting a presentation and panel for residents of Hendricks County to educate and empower with knowledge regarding scams and how better to protect yourself against them. The event is October 29 from 10:00am until Noon at Eaton Hall (61 N. Green St). To reserve a seat, call 317-852-1109, ext 2127 or email KCummins@BrownsburgPolice.org.
CONCERT AT AVON UMC
Avon UMC is hosting Carrie Newcomer with pianist Gary Walters in their sanctuary on Saturday, November 16. Doors open at 6:30 and the cost is $20 per person. If you’re interested, visit this page https://onrealm.org/AvonUMC/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=MjliZDc3YTAtYmQ3MS00Njk1LTg1YTAtYjFkYTAxMDNjMTU1 or contact Avon UMC at 317-272-4068.
WORSHIP:
-Sunday, October 13, 10:00am Rev. Jolita Erbele (Pastor Michelle will be on vacation.)
“Pray This Way: Forgiving and Forgiven” Matthew 6:12 (ESV)
-Sunday, October 20, 10:00am Rev. Michelle Knight (Pastor Jolita will be on vacation.)
“Pray This Way: Our Father Leads and Delivers” Matthew 6:13 (NRSV)
SAVE THE DATE:
-Craft Fair – Saturday, October 12, 9:00am to 3:00pm throughout and around Church
-Lunch Bunch – Wednesday, October 16 at Noon at Green St. Pub & Eatery
-Euchre – Saturday, October 19 at 6:00pm in Fellowship Hall
-No Youth or Children’s Sunday School – Sunday, October 20, due to Fall Break
-Classics Luncheon – Tuesday, October 29 at Noon in Fellowship Hall
-Women’s Retreat – Saturday, November 2, 9:00am-3:00pm throughout Church
-New Member Conversations – Sunday, November 3 and Sunday, November 10, 11:11-Noon in Fellowship Hall
-First Monday of the Month Prayer Time – Monday, November 4, 6:30am in the Sanctuary
-Charge Conference 2024 – Saturday, November 23, 10:00am in the Sanctuary