Midweek Meditation: Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Dear Calvary Family,
In a recent swim meet, one of our kids swam 200 meters. The timer messed up his count and when he was done swimming, she made him do one more 50-meter length of the pool. It embarrassed our son and messed up his time. I was sitting upstairs in the bleachers and I saw that she made a mistake. I was so mad that I jumped three bleachers down, as close as I could to the pool and I was screaming, “You are wrong!” At that moment, I had lost it. Yes, she was wrong. Yes, it was my child. But have mercy on me, God. It is just swimming. We all make mistakes.
How do we react? How do we love? How do we acknowledge the mistakes but continue to love? I know she was wrong, but I think I was wrong, too, in how I addressed it. How do we show love when all we feel is to scream? What did I show to people around me when things went wrong?
Jesus says, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.” I would like to take it as a suggestion, to apply it my way… as my choice. But it is a commandment: To love. I can correct and speak only when I have love. It starts with me. It starts with God’s love changing me… so I can love like Jesus. Still just a beginner…
Beginner of
Loving like Jesus
Pastor Jolita
Here’s what’s happening in the life of our Church and how you can get involved:
KINDNESS KITCHEN
This Sunday is the first Sunday of the month and time for our Kindness Kitchen! This month we’re making Breakfast Burritos and we need help to wrap, pack, and pray. See you in the kitchen around 11:15!
FIRST MONDAY PRAYER TIME
Plan now to join us this Monday, February 3, at 6:30am in the Sanctuary for our First Monday of the Month Prayer Time. Bring your coffee or tea and what’s on your heart.
SEEKING LENT DEVOTIONAL WRITERS!
Calvary will again offer Lent devotional for 2025, personally written by our Church family! We are seeking writers of ALL ages and stages! We would love to hear from you!
The writing should encourage, uplift, deepen, or inspire the reader in his/her walk with Christ.
Here are some suggested writing prompts:
-Share a personal story of when God spoke to you through answered prayer, delayed grace, a difficult season, or a time of blessing.
-Celebrate how another believer helped you draw closer to Jesus.
-Tell us about how and when God’s grace was evident in your life.
WRITING GUIDELINES:
Author’s name
Title
Scripture reference (book, chapter, and verse)
275-word minimum, maximum 300
1-2 sentence prayer
Must be sent in a digital format: either WORD document or body of an email to
mknight@calvaryunited.org
Be prepared for editing by our editor(s)!
DUE: February 12, 2025
If this appeals to you, please let one of the pastors know or contact the office.
HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR SCHOLARSHIPS
There are scholarships available for students who are members of Calvary and/or attended Calvary Learning Academy, including a new scholarship for students who are interested in a career training path rather than a traditional 4-year college path. This scholarship is the James C. Snapp II Vocational Scholarship. Find out more and apply at CalvaryUnited.org/scholarships or through your counselors’ office at your high school. Brownsburg High School’s deadline is February 11.
EVENING NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS
Our neighbor church, Pittsboro UMC, is hosting “2025 Night to Shine” at the Lizton Lodge on Friday, February 7 from 6:00pm-9:00pm. This is a prom-like event for students with special needs offered through the Tim Tebow Foundation. They have a need for many more volunteers! If you are able to donate some time on that Friday evening, please click here to sign up: https://pittsboroumc.org/night-to-shine-2025/
YOUTH GROUP UPDATES AND REMINDERS
-Youth will meet at 5:00 for Handbells this Sunday followed by Youth Group at 6:00pm.
-Next week, plan on a Superbowl Party from 5:00-8:00pm at the Striegels’ (6485 Southern Oak in Brownsburg) on February 9. No need to bring food or drinks, just a friend from outside of church!
-On Sunday, March 2, following Sunday School will be Pizza & Pickleball! We will have lunch and head out to play. Details will be coming soon.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR A FANTASTIC SERVICE FEBRUARY 16!
The Youth and Children of our church will be leading worship on this date. Plan now to be here to support them in their faith examples. We will also be distributing 3rd grade Bibles. Following the service at 11:15 will be a “Pancake Brunch”.
PANCAKE BRUNCH
Following the Youth and Children worship service, there will be a Pancake Brunch also hosted by our youth as a fundraiser for their annual mission trip to Mountain T.O.P. Tennessee. The youth and their leaders will be making and serving pancakes and other breakfast items for a freewill donation. Other volunteer help would be appreciated! Sign up at the Mission table in the hallway!
TEEN RESPONDERS WORKSHOP
We are encouraging parents, grandparents, guardians and their teens to attend this very important workshop Sunday, February 23 from 2:00-4:30 in Fellowship Hall! The goal of this workshop is to give area teens the knowledge, skills, and resources to care for their own mental health and respond to peers in crisis. We know that it shouldn’t be the burden of teens to care for their friends in crisis, however they are often the first ones to respond. The Teen Mental Health Response Workshop is designed to help teens have the tools, skills, and resources to care for themselves and respond to their peers in crisis in ways that are healthy and effective. The workshop will be led by licensed mental health professionals and is for students in 6th-12th grade and for adults with teens in their lives.
We will have an adult workshop happening simultaneously but in a different room in the church building, which helps adults be empowered to care for themselves and respond to the mental health of the teens in their lives.
The three main topics include: Boundaries & Self Care, Healthy Coping Strategies, Responding to a Friend in Crisis. To register, visit https://calvaryunited.org/events/teen-responders-workshop/.
ADULT SOUNDBOOTH HELP
An adult supervisor is needed for the A/V booth at the back of the sanctuary during the regular Sunday services. If you’re willing to share your time in this way, please contact Mark (mherris@calvaryunited.org).
FOOD PANTRY TEAM
The Food Pantry Proxy Team is seeking additional volunteers to deliver food from Hendricks County pantries to our 3 families who reside in the Clermont Mobile Home Park. Each week, a team member picks up food from a local pantry in Avon, Danville, or Plainfield and then delivers to the families. Pick-up times vary depending on the pantry assignment but include weekday daytime and evening hours and Saturday morning hours. Time commitment is approximately 2 hours/month for the delivery, and the food for each family usually includes 1 large box and 1 or 2 grocery bags. The pantry schedule is emailed each month for team members to volunteer, and you’ll start by going along with an experienced team member to see how the process works. Please contact Beth Mann at cbmann@sbcglobal.net if interested.
READING TO OUR PRESCHOOL STUDENTS
Love to read? Love a good children’s book? Volunteer to read to one of our Learning Academy classes! This semester’s sign-up sheet is on the mission table in the hallway. Sign up soon!
PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION
Registration for our Calvary Learning Academy opens for members and current families on February 3. Visit https://calvaryunited.org/registration/ for more information and to register.
INFANT-TODDLER FAMILY FELLOWSHIP
Parents of children 0-4 years old are invited to a special Family Time together Saturday, March 1, 3:00-5:00pm. Children ages 2-4 will have time together in a classroom doing activities, children 0-2 will play in the nursery, while parents will spend time together in Fellowship Hall. 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! If you are willing to help in the nursery or in the classroom, please contact Pastor Jolita (jerbele@CalvaryUnited.org).
A CALVARY COOKBOOK FUNDRAISER
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 and bring it to church on Sunday, February 23! We would love to have a recipe from everyone! There will be a collection box for the recipes on the Mission table in the hallway or email it to the church office (office@CalvaryUnited.org).
FEBRUARY MISSIONS FOCUS
Our monthly mission focus is “Outreach”. This fund helps to cover all the various community-related events that will take place this year, such as the Easter Celebration, Fall Festival, the Living Nativity, and many other things.
INDIANAPOLIS BRASS CHOIR
On Sunday, March 2 at 4:00pm, we will host the Indianapolis Brass Choir here. This is a large brass ensemble of about 30 who volunteer their time and talent to provide music and aid local charities. Our freewill donation will support Family Promise of Hendricks County. Hope to see you there!
WORSHIP:
-Sunday, February 2, 10:00am (Traditional) Service of Holy Communion and Scouting Sunday
Series: Reaching, Jesus Style “Show Jesus as Good News” John 13:34-35(NRSVue) Rev. Jolita Erbele
-Sunday, February 9, 10:00am (Contemporary) Series: Reaching, Jesus Style
“Good News” John 1:35-42(NRSV) Rev. Michelle Knight
SAVE THE DATE:
-First Monday of the Month Prayer Time – Monday, February 3, 6:30am in the Sanctuary
-Euchre – Saturday, February 15, 6:00-8:00pm in Fellowship Hall
-Youth and Children’s Service – Sunday, February 16, 10:00am and Youth Mission Trip Pancake Brunch 11:15am-1:00pm
-Teen Responder Youth Mental Health Workshop – Sunday, February 23, 2:00-4:30pm in Fellowship Hall and throughout the building
-New Member Conversations – Sunday, February 23 or Sunday, March 2, 11:11am in Fellowship Hall
-Infant-Toddler Family Fellowship – Saturday, March 1, 3:00-5:00pm in Fellowship Hall
-Indianapolis Brass Choir Performance – Sunday, March 2, 4:00pm in the Sanctuary
-Ash Wednesday – Wednesday, March 5, 7:00pm in the Sanctuary
-Child Protection Guideline Training – Sunday, March 16 at 11:00am in the CLA Office OR Thursday, March 20 at 6:30pm in the Youth Room