Midweek Meditation: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Dear Calvary Family,
Last weekend, our family went to Chicago. We visited the Field Museum and we went to Medieval Times. And of course, we also went to a Lithuanian restaurant (Grand Duke, just in case you want to have delicious food) and a Lithuanian store. It was a very short getaway vacation over the weekend. On Sunday, we went to the Incarnation UMC. Why would I wake up kids, who are on vacation, to get ready and go to church? Why would anyone go to church on any given Sunday? God loves us, God is good, and I would rather not go to church (for whatever reason it is). We can watch it online later… while we are driving. We will be okay to just go next Sunday instead. Why trouble and make it a priority?
Do you go to your kids’ performances? Grandkid’s game? Do you go to their races and meets? Do you go to your nieces’ or nephews’ matches? I do. Why? Because I love them and want to be with them and to show my love. Of course, they know I love them, but what does it say if I am there with them and for them? It says that I truly care and I put a priority on being with them.
Worshiping God in a body of Christ, gathering together with all the believers to sing our praises, hearing when someone reads the word of God out loud, and being physically present with the family of faith shows to God our true love and our priority of what is important. Faith in God and love for God is not a private affair.
If you can, join us in person to worship God, who promised to be among the gathering of the believers, “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25 NRSVue)
I believe in the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
Pastor Jolita
Here’s what’s happening in the life of our Church and how you can get involved:
EASTER BREAKFAST PITCH-IN
Between the Sunrise Service at 7:00am out in the Shelter and the traditional Easter Service in the sanctuary at 10:00am we invite you to join us for breakfast in Fellowship Hall! Along with joining us for breakfast, we also invite you to share your favorite dish! Visit this website to sign up to bring a dish or to help in some other way that morning. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F45ABAC2AA3F85-56094893-easter
INFANT-TODDLER FAMILY FELLOWSHIP
Parents of children 0-4 years old are invited to a special Family Time together this Saturday, April 12, 3:00pm. Children ages 2-4 will have time together in Fellowship Hall doing activities, children 0-2 will play in the nursery, while parents will spend time together in the Youth Room. The afternoon will wrap up with 30 minutes of everyone being together. If you’re a parent of a young child, mark the date on the calendar! If you know someone who is, please share this!
YOUNG FAMILY EASTER CELEBRATION
On Saturday, April 19, at 3:00pm, Calvary’s outreach team will be having an Easter Celebration for young families in the community. We are planning on 150-200 children to be in attendance. We hope to hold the event outdoors as well as indoors. Activities include: an Easter program in the sanctuary, farm animals, a family scavenger hunt in our woods, cookie and egg decorating in fellowship hall, and crafts which include making a “resurrection garden”. The playground will also be open. Each child will receive a bag of Easter treats and a gift at the end of the scavenger hunt. We will need lots of volunteers for each station, setup, and cleanup. A sign-up sheet is on the mission table or contact the office. We are also accepting individually wrapped Easter candy and treats if you would like to donate something. The treats may be left in the office. Plan on joining us, mingling, and enjoying the youthful energy! Questions contact Anne Inman 317-504-9268 or anneinman1@hotmail.com.
HELP WANTED
Staff Parish Relations Committee seeks a Calvary member who is an adult with daytime flexibility to serve as our Membership Secretary, currently a non-paid position. This person should have organizational skills, be detail-oriented and personable, as well as comfortable with correspondence and willing to learn the membership database. Training is free; eternal reward unlimited. See Shirley Hadley or contact her at ShirleyHadley1939@gmail.com.
CURIOUS ABOUT THE COLUMBARIUM?
We will have a table set up in the narthex on Sunday, April 27 with information about the Columbarium niches and the Memorial Garden area. Stop by after the service with your questions!
APRIL MISSIONS FOCUS
Our monthly mission focus is Mental Health Programs. Because the need is so great, we will be working with the Willow Center to build a program for Teens and Adults. Contributions to this will help defray the cost for instructors and workshop materials.
KINDNESS KITCHEN
Our church often shares food in various ways, and one way is the monthly “Kindness Kitchen”. This past weekend, our group provided shelf-stable complete meals in a bag (see the attached picture) at various Blessing Boxes around town. Want to learn more? Call the office or chat with Karen Striegel. Our next kitchen time is May 4 at 11:20.
LOVING THE GREEN GRASS AND SIGNS OF SPRING?
Then we’d love to have you help with the mowing! We have a riding mower in the garage and are in need of a few people to take turns outside here throughout the growing season. If this is an area where you can share some time, please contact Kevin Kowalski at k_kowalski@sbcglobal.net or 317-417-4714. Thank you!
EASTER FLOWER ORDERS
As we’ve done in the past, we will celebrate Easter morning with potted tulips and lilies. These flowers are available for you to purchase in honor or memory of a loved one and take home following the 10:00 service. Simply fill out the form included here (or in the bulletin on Sunday) and place it in the offering box on Sunday, or drop it in the church mailbox, or bring it to the office by this Sunday, April 13. An insert mentioning those being honored and remembered will be included on Easter morning.
YOUTH MISSION TRIP FUNDRAISERS
We are in the process of raising money for Youth Missions. Thank you to everyone who has generously helped so far in various ways!
We are still selling hanging baskets again for Mother’s Day. The 2-gallon basket is filled with bright flowers and available for $25. You may place an order at the hallway table or by contacting the office. The flowers will need to be ordered by this Sunday, April 13, and will be available for pick-up Sunday, May 4.
YOUTH GROUP UPDATES AND REMINDERS
Youth Group will meet this Sunday, April 13, but not in the evening. The Youth Group will meet right after church at 11:15 instead of attending Sunday School to rehearse their skit again ahead of Easter morning.
LEGO CAMP REGISTRATION UNDERWAY FOR PARTICIPANTS AND VOLUNTEERS
LEGO Camp is happening Monday, July 21 through Wednesday, July 23 from 8:00am until 1:00pm. We need many people involved in volunteering as we expect approximately 150 campers this year. Registration forms for both volunteers and campers are available on the Mission Table in the hallway across from the office. A registration form for campers is also available here: https://calvaryunited.org/summer-camp/.
LENTEN BREAKFAST SERIES
Like last year, area United Methodist churches will gather for the six Saturdays prior to Easter for a “Life Together” Breakfast series. Each week, a different church will host the time to worship, fellowship, and share a meal, “drawing closer together and to the heart of God”. Saturday, April 12, will be hosted by Bridgeport UMC from 7:30am until 8:45am.
A CALVARY COOKBOOK FUNDRAISER – DEADLINE EXTENDED TO SUNDAY, APRIL 27
To help raise money for Missions and Outreach, we would like to sell a cookbook at the Craft Fair this year. Think about a favorite recipe you can share! We would love to have a recipe from everyone and are hoping for a minimum of 150 recipes! You may place it in the collection tray on the Mission table in the hallway or email it to the church office (office@CalvaryUnited.org). Thank you! We can’t wait to see this come together!
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
Thursday, May 1, is the 74th annual National Day of Prayer. Join others in Hendricks County at IU West Hospital in the main dining area near the main entrance at 7:30am until 8:15am for prayer representing the various areas of the county. If you’d like to share in breakfast as well ahead of the prayer time, the cost is $11 and begins at 7:00am. Reserve seating is available: email NDP.HendricksCounty1@gmail.com.
BINGO & RAFFLE FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Brownsburg Sertoma is hosting a Bingo Night with a Reverse Raffle on Friday, April 25, 7:00-10:00pm at the American Legion. (Doors open at 6:30pm.) Proceeds from the evening will go to Care to Change Counseling which provides youth mental health services and Family Promise of Hendricks County. For more details, visit BrownsburgSertoma.org and scroll to the bottom of the page for the flyer.
NEED ANOTHER FUN NIGHT OUT?
Support the Brownsburg Older Adult Alliance and head to the American Legion Saturday, April 26 for some stand-up comedy. Tickets are $25 ahead of time (available at Rockstar Pizza or online) or $30 at the door. Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 8:00. See the flyer attached here for more information.
YOUNG ADULT GROUP
Avon United Methodist Church has formed a group for Young Adults in their 20s and 30s that meets the last Sunday of the month at 11:15am there. They are inviting other young adults from area churches to join them. If you are in your 20s or 30s and would like to enjoy fellowship and grow in faith with others in the same phase of life, plan to join them there April 27. If you have any questions, contact Avon UMC’s office at officeassistant@avonumc.com or 317-272-4068.
WORSHIP:
-Sunday, April 13, 10:00am (Blended contemporary and traditional) Apostles’ Creed Series Palm Sunday
“Communion of Saints” Hebrews 10:23-27 (NRSVue) Rev. Jolita Erbele
-Thursday, April 17, 7:00pm Maundy Thursday Service at Pittsboro United Methodist Church (227 E Main St)
“Forget Not” Luke 22:14-23 (NRSV) Rev. Michelle Knight
-Friday, April 18, 7:00pm Good Friday Service
“Who’s Forgiving Whom?” Luke 23:33-43 (NRSVue) Rev. Jolita Erbele
-Sunday, April 20, 7:00am Easter Sunrise Service in the Shelter
“Bring You to God” 1 Peter 3:18 (NRSVue) Rev. Jolita Erbele with skit presented by the youth
-Sunday, April 20, 10:00am (Traditional) Apostles’ Creed Series Easter Sunday
“I Believe in the Resurrection of the Dead” John 20:1-18, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (NRSV) Rev. Michelle Knight
SAVE THE DATE:
-Infant-Toddler Family Fellowship – Saturday, April 12, 3:00-5:00pm in Fellowship Hall
-No Youth Group in the evening – Sunday, April 13 (meeting at 11:15 instead), and Easter Sunday, April 20
-Maundy Thursday Service – A joint service at Pittsboro UMC, Thursday, April 17, 7:00pm
-Good Friday Service – Friday, April 18, 7:00pm in the Sanctuary
-Family Easter Celebration – Saturday, April 19, 3:00-5:00pm throughout the church
-No Euchre – Saturday, April 19. We will resume Saturday, May 17, 6:00-8:00pm
-Easter Sunrise Service – Sunday, April 20, 7:00am in the Shelter
-Easter Breakfast – Sunday, April 20, 8:00-9:30am in Fellowship Hall
-Traditional Easter Service – Sunday, April 20, 10:00am in the Sanctuary
-No Children or Youth Sunday School – Easter Sunday, April 20
-Classics Luncheon – Tuesday, April 29, Noon in Fellowship Hall
-National Day of Prayer – Thursday, May 1
-First Monday of the Month Prayer Time – Monday, May 5, 6:30am in the Sanctuary