Midweek Meditation: Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Dear Calvary Family,
In this second portrait that Jesus gifts us to reveal who He is, He tells his disciples “I am the light of the world”. None of us needs lessons on how dark and desolate the world would be without light. That is what it was in Genesis 1 before God changed that by creating sun to light up the day and the moon the night. Jesus was part of that trinity and pronounces himself the master source from where all get their light. He had said as much in chapter 3: “The light came into the world, but people preferred darkness.”
The import is that most of us, consciously or unconsciously, are so accustomed to darkness that light dazzles us to blindness. Darkness is the cover we need to pursue stuff that we know to be incompatible with ‘The Light”. In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus tells us that we are “the light of the world and that we cannot light a lamp and hide it under the bushel.”
Aha, so the cause of the darkness in the world is not lack of light but that we who have been lit have hidden it? Is that why the nocturnal, light-intolerant folk continue to multiply, because we cover the glow lest it makes them and us see what we don’t want to see? Have the eyes of our soul lived in darkness so long that they are so used to it and keep ignoring what light is? What evil is thriving today because we have lost the sense of light and normalized darkness? What will it take for us to reconnect our spiritual wires back to the transformer, Light of the world, and become luminous again to a pitch dark world that desperately depends on us for love and justice?
With the eyes of our hearts enlightened by the Hope who is Jesus Christ,
Pastor Kamau
Here’s what’s happening in the life of our Church and how you can get involved:
PASTOR KAMAU VACATION
Pastor Kamau will be on vacation through today (August 5) as he and his wife celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary this week.
BLESSING THE PLAYGROUND
Ahead of the Calvary Learning Academy starting next week, we will take a few minutes to head out to the playground after the service this Sunday, August 9, to bless it together. Plan now to join us in that celebration before heading to Sunday School.
COMMUNITY LUNCH – SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS
On the second Saturday of each month, we host our Community Lunch for members of the community who have been invited at the Blessing Boxes around town and through our local food pantries. We’d love to have you volunteer by donating, helping, and/or socializing at our next one on Saturday, August 8, from 11:00am til 1:00pm! Check out the Missions table for details. Hope to see you there!
COMMUNITY LUNCH – SNACK BAG NEED
At the Community Lunch, we like to send everyone home with a snack bag. We are in need of granola bars, beef sticks, and trail mix for that. If you are able to help out in this way, please drop them off in the church office or in the church kitchen. Thank you for your generosity!
CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL
Our Children and Youth Sunday School Classes will resume this Sunday, August 9, 2026! If you are interested in helping as a Sunday School teacher with either group, please contact the office today. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
SUMMER CHOIR
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord! Summer Choir is a wonderful, low-commitment opportunity to sing together during the summer months. We will meet on alternating Sunday mornings at 9:00 am to learn an anthem that we will sing during the 10:00 am worship service. There are no Wednesday evening rehearsals through the summer. The upcoming Sundays are this Sunday, August 9, and August 23.
Please note that there will be no Summer Choir September 6. We will resume our regular Wednesday evening rehearsals on September 9. Signing up is not required during the summer! Feel free to invite friends to join us as well. Everyone is welcome.
WOMEN’S MONDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY
This group will start back with a new study by Lisa Harper on Monday, August 31. “A Jesus Shaped Life” is a seven-week study of how Biblically sound doctrine deepens our relationship with God and each other. With video teaching and workbooks, we explore topics as “Why Theology Matters?”, “The Trinity”, “The Authority and Accessibility of King Jesus”, “Holy Spirit”, “Imago Dei”, and more. We will meet August 31 through October 19 from 6:30 to 8:30pm in the Church Conference Room. Contact the church office if you plan to attend and if you need a study guide ($15).
MONDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY RESUMES IN AUGUST
Pastor Michelle’s Monday Morning Bible study will resume August 31. We will study Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. It will be a 12-week class (August 31 to November 30, skipping September 7 and October 12) from 10:00am-11:30am in the Conference Room. Let us know if you need a book ordered. Cost for the book is $20.00. If paying by check, please include “Monday morning Bible study book” in the memo.
AUGUST MISSION FOCUS – FAMILY PROMISE OF HENDRICKS COUNTY
Our mission focus for August is Family Promise, an organization that is very important to us and to Hendricks County. Every month, more than 350 families contact Family Promise of Hendricks County seeking help with housing and other basic needs. Family Promise is Calvary’s go to resource when we receive crisis calls. Thanks to your generosity, Calvary has made a real difference through financial support, food deliveries, furniture donations, gas cards, bicycles, Christmas gifts, volunteer service, fundraising events, and countless acts of kindness and prayer. The need continues to grow. During the month of August, we invite you to make a special mission gift to Family Promise. Your generosity will help families move from crisis to stability and from homelessness to hope. If you would like to receive the bimonthly Family Promise newsletter, contact Anne Inman at anneinman1@hotmail.com. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Christ.
Find out more at https://familypromisehendrickscounty.org/
CLASSICS LUNCHEON
Take a little gastronomical vacation abroad without leaving the ‘Burg and enjoy some Italian food together on Tuesday, August 25, at noon in Fellowship Hall. Bring a friend and your favorite Italian side or dessert! We’d love to know if you’re coming, so RSVP with the office or at the Mission table the next time you’re at church.
FIRST “MONDAY” MORNING PRAYER
Because the first Monday in September is Labor Day, we will have our Morning Prayer day the next day, Tuesday, September 8, at 6:30am in the Sanctuary. Bring your morning drink and join us in the sanctuary at 6:30am for a special time of prayer to start the day, the week, and the month.
BLOOD MOBILE
Make a note: The Versiti BloodMobile will be back on site Sunday, September 27 from 8:30am until 12:30pm. You can sign up here today https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11620261 Thank you for giving in this special way!
OUR CUP RUNNETH OVER: CALLED, GIFTED, SENT
Bishop Tracy S. Malone is hosting a special event for laity at Avon UMC Saturday, October 17, 9:30am to 4:30pm. This free event will include worship, food, a time of structured discernment, prayer, and conversation with the bishop. While this is a free event, registration is required. To register or for more information, visit https://inumc.swoogo.com/laityday or contact Joel Troxell at 317-924-1321 or joel.troxell@inumc.org
PLAN NOW TO BE “REKINDLED”
Our next Women’s Retreat is set for Saturday, November 7, and its focus is “Rediscovering What Matters Most”. Mark your calendar for this time of Biblical teaching, worship, encouragement and spiritual renewal as we discover what matters most.
BAKING DISHES FOUND
Various containers and baking dishes have been left in the kitchen. If something might belong to you, please check the “Lost and Found” box outside of the church office.
CANS OF SODA
The Craft Fair may seem like a long way off, but hopefully you’ve got it on your calendar already! (October 10!) We are once again planning to sell donated 12oz cans of (only) Coke, Diet Coke, and Sprite. If you would like to donate, why not take advantage of the sales that happen around Labor Day? We will collect and store your donations here. Thank you for helping in this way!
THE GARDEN OF EATIN’ NUMBERS
The twenty-three garden beds out back have been producing well! Matt Striegel and Girl Scout leader, Abby Danner, have been devoting hours to harvesting, weeding, and watering! When you see them, be sure to thank them! If you’re interested in numbers, these are the approximate amounts contributed to the Cornerstone and Messiah Lutheran Saturday food pantries so far this year as of last week: 16 pounds of Radishes, 23 pounds of Lettuce, 55 pounds of Carrots and 3 pounds stew carrots, 14 pounds of Potatoes, 4 pounds of Onions, 45 pounds of Yellow Squash, 4 pounds of Swiss Chard, 8 pounds of Beets, 10 pounds of Cucumbers, 10 pounds of Peppers, 4 pounds of Tomatoes, 8 heads of Cauliflower.
WORSHIP:
-Sunday, August 9, 10:00am (Traditional) I AM: Portraits of Jesus “I AM the Light of the World”
John 8:12-30 Rev. John Kamau Nyota
-Sunday, August 16, 10:00am (Contemporary) I AM: Portraits of Jesus “I AM the Door”
John 10:7-10 Rev. Michelle Knight
SAVE THE DATE:
-Community Lunch –Saturday, August 8, 11:00am-1:00pm in Fellowship Hall
-Children’s and Youth Sunday School resumes – Sunday, August 9, 11:00am
-Men’s Ministry Breakfast – Saturday, August 15, 8:30am in Fellowship Hall
-Euchre – Saturday, August 15, 6:00-8:00pm in Fellowship Hall
-Classics Luncheon – Tuesday, August 25, Noon until 2:00pm in Fellowship Hall
-Office Closed – Monday, September 7
-First “Monday” of the Month Prayer Time – Tuesday, September 8, 6:30am in the Sanctuary
-BloodMobile – Sunday, September 27, 8:30am-12:30pm in the parking lot
-Craft Fair – Saturday, October 10, 9:00am-3:00pm throughout the building
-Women’s Retreat – Saturday, November 7, 9:00am-3:00pm in the Sanctuary