Midweek Meditation: Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Dear Calvary family,
Thank you for your courage and conviction to live boldly by faith and in faith as we have prayed and fasted during these last weeks together. Today, we conclude our season of corporate fasting and prayer; however, Pastor Jolita’s and my prayer is that the Holy Spirit will continue to lead you deeper into your faith growth and spiritual development.
This Sunday, as we welcome new members to our church family, we turn our attention to how God in Jesus seeks to make us whole and healthy in mind, emotions, and spirit! To be authentic and genuine in our faith requires intentional spiritual and emotional growth.
Broken relationships, high anxiety, low self-esteem, and despair are way too common in our community and culture. God has another way for us to live abundantly… as we are sanctified and made more holy.
Calvary leadership chose, based on responses to our 2023 survey work, that our core marketing and missional endeavor for this season would be to help folks live emotionally well. Therefore, just as our new website launched last month, we begin an eight-week focus through our sermon series entitled, “Is It Well with Your Soul?”. We will utilize Peter and Geri Scazzero’s book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. My message Sunday will speak to “The Path to Thrive.”
Please consider joining Rhonda Smith and Carl Sutton who will co-lead an 11:11am Sunday eight-week small group discussion which will dig even deeper into Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. (See info below for more information.)
On Mission POSSIBLE with you,
Pastor Michelle
Here’s what’s happening in the life of our Church and how you can get involved:
SANCTUARY OPEN TODAY FOR PRAYER
Today is the last day of the suggested weekly prayer and fasting time. If you’d like to use the sanctuary for your time today, it will be open until 8:00pm this evening.
YOUTH GROUP UPDATES
Sunday, July 28, from 6:00pm until 8:00pm we will meet at Sky Zone in Plainfield. Cost is $28, plus $4 for socks. Questions? Contact the church office. A waiver is required and can be found at https://waiver2.haveablast.roller.app/SkyZonePlainfieldIN/home.
CLASSICS LUNCHEON – “GONE FISHIN’”
Plan now to join us on Tuesday, July 30 at Noon in Fellowship Hall for a yummy fish fry by Karl and Merle Illg! We will also host Deanna Hindsley from the Hendricks County Historical Museum who will discuss the upcoming County Bicentennial! This will be followed by line and social dancing led by Myrna Sommers and friends. Bring a friend, a side or dessert, and $5 to help offset the cost and we’ll see you there! RSVP to the church office or on the sheet on the table in the narthex.
EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY SPIRITUALITY – IS IT WELL WITH MY SOUL?
We begin this eight-week series this Sunday, July 28. In addition to the sermon series itself, we will also have a follow-up class taking place during the Sunday School time at 11:11 in the Learning Academy Office at the end of the classroom hallway near door 5. The Emotionally Healthy Spirituality class is to help you develop a more intentional discipleship that makes space to connect with God, and love others well. Are you a Christ-follower yet struggle to see the full impact of your faith in your life? It’s impossible to be spiritually mature, while remaining emotionally immature. In EHS, we will offer ways to grow past a surface level faith and dive into a life fully integrated with Christ!
PANCAKES FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Put Saturday morning, August 10, on your calendar as we host a delicious Pancake Breakfast to benefit Family Promise. We’d love for you to come for breakfast, but we also need griddles and volunteers! We need five or six electric griddles and about fifteen volunteers. A sign-up sheet is on the Mission Table across from the office or you can contact the office and let us know you’ll help. See you there!
NEVER TO SOON FOR CHRISTMAS PLANS!
Tickets go on sale in August for the always popular “Purdue Christmas Show” for which Lew and Cathi White have organized a bus trip for this event and have considered every detail! The show takes place Saturday, December 7, and the cost will be $109 which includes the admission price and cost of the motorcoach. If you would like to go, please RSVP to the office by Friday, August 16 and include a $50 non-refundable deposit. An information sheet with all the important details is available on the table outside of the sanctuary or attached here.
STUDY OF THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS
Pastor Michelle will be leading a discussion of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis on Thursdays in August. Plan now to join us at either 10:00am or 6:30pm in the Youth Room. August 1 will cover the Introduction and Letters 1-7; August 8 Letters 8-15; August 15 Letters 16-23; and August 22 Letters 24-31. A study guide is on the counter in the office.
ALSO STARTING IN AUGUST: GRIEF SHARE FALL 2024
What is Grief Share? It’s a place to find a safe, comforting place where you can talk with others about your grief. You’ll find support, direction, hope, and guidance on how to make it through over the course of 13 weeks. The cost is $20, but don’t let the cost deter you as scholarships are available. Two session times are available: Tuesday mornings from 10:00 until noon beginning August 20 or Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 beginning August 21. For more information, contact Jill at ShepherdsKid1@gmail.com or register at GriefShare.org/FindAGroup.
OUR WEBSITE CALENDAR
The Church Calendar is now available on our updated website! If you visit CalvaryUnited.org, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and there you’ll see in the list “Member Calendar”. Click there to find out what is happening when here at church.
LISTENING ASSIST
If you find it difficult to hear things on Sunday morning, we have installed a new system that can help with that. You can use your own phone and headset or borrow a unit from the sound booth. Please stop by the sound booth as you come in and we will assist you.
ALTAR GUILD COORDINATOR WANTED
After several years of service, and with our heartfelt appreciation, Laura Portish is stepping down from this position. If you would like to find out more about stepping into this role, please contact the office today!
COLUMBARIUM COMMITTEE MEMBERS NEEDED
The Columbarium Committee is also looking for new members. Meetings are usually once a month on Tuesdays. If you’d like more information, please contact the office or note your contact information on the table in the narthex on Sunday.
NURSERY ATTENDANTS NEEDED
If you are willing to share the occasional Sunday morning caring for the youngest among us, please contact the church office. We are in need of more volunteers to help in this way.
MEMORIAL GARDEN WATERING HELP NEEDED
Our newly planted flowers and trees around the Columbarium will be in need of some watering throughout the summer. If you are able to help with this occasionally, please contact the church office or add your name to the sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex. Thank you for helping keep the garden healthy and beautiful!
DONATIONS FOR CRAFT FAIR
October may seem like a long way off yet, but the soda sales are heating up with tomorrow’s holiday and Labor Day around the corner! At the 3rd annual Craft Fair, we’ll be selling soda, and we can start accepting donations for that immediately. We will need cases of water, Coke, Diet Coke, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, and Sprite. (Please no caffeine-free or flavors as we’d like to keep ordering and serving simple.) Cases may be dropped off anytime during office hours or on Sundays. Thank you!
JULY MISSION FOCUS
Our Mission gifts this month will support the Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home. The Home serves youth who have experienced neglect, various forms of abuse, violence, and trauma. It offers a safe, healing environment with various forms of counseling and care and spiritual development. More information can be found at iumch.org.
WORSHIP:
-Sunday, July 28, 10:00am Rev. Michelle Knight
“Is It Well with Your Soul? The Path to Thrive” 1 Samuel 15:7-24 (NRSV)
-Sunday, August 4, 10:00am Rev. Jolita Erbele Service of Holy Communion
“Is It Well with Your Soul? Know Yourself that You May Know God” Matthew 4:1-11 (ESV)
SAVE THE DATE:
Classics Luncheon – Tuesday, July 30 at Noon in Fellowship Hall
First Monday of the Month Prayer Time – Monday, August 5, 6:30am in the Sanctuary
Pancake Breakfast to support Family Promise – Saturday, August 10, 9:00am to 11:30am in Fellowship Hall
Lunch Bunch – Wednesday, August 21, Noon at Green Street Pub & Eatery
Outdoor Worship and Church Picnic – Sunday, September 8, 10:00am in the Shelter
Fall Family Festival – Saturday, October 5, 10:00am
Craft Fair – Saturday, October 12, 9:00am to 3:00pm
Women’s Retreat – Saturday, November 2