Midweek Meditation: Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Dear Calvary Family,
Are you a Christian? Are you a disciple? I would guess you answered the first one easily. Did you have to think about the second one? Did you hesitate to answer “yes”?
But should these two questions be one question? Should they have the same meaning? We know stories how disciples left everything immediately and followed Jesus. Who can do that?
In the next few weeks, we will talk about Jesus’ first disciples, lesser known, but chosen by Jesus to follow, to learn, and to continue what Jesus was doing.
Today, I invite you to pause and pray. Jesus is calling you to be his disciple. You can’t say “I am a Christian but not a disciple.” And you can’t say “I am a disciple who is not following Jesus.” Why are you afraid to say “yes”? Afraid God will take away all that you really like? Doesn’t all that you have belong to Jesus anyway? And if you believe that Jesus loves you, how can you be afraid of what he has for you, if you decide to follow him? For me, I have to be ready, in my heart, to be willing to do what God wants me to do. I battle every day. But I know who is within me, so I know I have power and victory in all the battles I face. Stay strong and make the right choice.
Saying yes to Jesus to be His disciple,
Pastor Jolita
Here’s what’s happening in the life of our Church and how you can get involved:
CHOIR AND HANDBELLS BEGIN AGAIN
Looking ahead, Handbells and Praise Choir will resume rehearsals tonight, Wednesday, September 3rd. Handbells begins at 6:00pm in the Sanctuary and Choir at 7:00 pm in the Choir Room, and we’re looking for new members in all voice sections! Interested? Come by tonight! You may also email Mark at mherris@CalvaryUnited.org for more information.
YOUTH GROUP
This Sunday, we’ll start a series dedicated to empowering our group with strategies for anxiety, depression, coping, and identity. Bring friends and meet us at 6:00 this Sunday evening in Fellowship Hall for friendship, fun, and discussions. The meeting will wrap up at 7:30.
SPECIAL EVENT FOR YOUTH GROUP, BUT EVERYONE IS INIVTED!
Our Youth are heading to “Faith & Football” at the Colts’ 1:00 home game Sunday, November 30 with 50-yard line seats! If this sounds like fun to you, you’re welcome to join us! The cost is $73 per person, plus concessions. If you’d like to come, we need your RSVP and $73 by next Sunday, September 14, to Pastor Jolita.
“FIRST” MONDAY OF THE MONTH PRAYER TIME
Join us Monday, September 8, in the sanctuary at 6:30am for our monthly prayer time. Bring your morning coffee or tea and what’s on your heart.
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY
Women’s Monday Night Bible study will start back on September 8, with a 6-week study on 1 Corinthians by Cindy Bultema: “Live Full, Walk Free: Set Apart in a Sin-Soaked World.” The study guide workbooks will be available the first night for $8. Join us from 6:30-8:30 on Monday night in the Conference Room. Call Beth (317-340-6447) for questions or details.
THE NEXT INFANT & TODDLER FAMILY FELLOWSHIP
Next Saturday, September 13, from 3:00-5:00pm is a fun get-together! Brightly Art Studio and Krista Tschaenn are hosting a family canvas painting! The cost is $25 per family. You must reserve your spot by this Sunday, September 7. RSVP to the office today (office@CalvaryUnited.org) as space is limited.
UPCOMING BLOOD DRIVE
Our Fall Blood Drive is coming up Sunday, September 21, from 8:30am to 12:45pm and we’d love to get all the spots filled! Sign up today, let your friends know, and share this link: https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11609347
SIGN UP TO READ TO THE CLA KIDS
This past school year, we started a new reading time in the Learning Academy, and it was so much fun! We’re going to do it again this year! Sign up at the Mission Table in the hallway the next time you’re at church!
KINDNESS KITCHEN DATE CHANGE
Rather than meeting on the first Sunday (September 7) this coming month, Kindness Kitchen will meet instead on September 21 to bake cookies for the upcoming Fall Family Festival. Plan on joining us at 11:20 in the kitchen for this!
FALL FAMILY FESTIVAL
Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 27! Young families are invited to celebrate the new season from 3:00-5:00pm. To make this another great event, we need volunteers! If you are available to help in some way, sign up at the Mission Table in the hallway or contact the office (office@CalvaryUnited.org).
WOMEN’S RETREAT REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
November 8 may seem a long way off right now, but it’s not too far out to start planning for a beautifully fulfilling day! Registration for the 9:00am-3:00pm event is now open. Invite your friends and family and head to https://calvaryunited.org/womens-retreat/ to sign up today.
SEPTEMBER MONTHLY MISSION
Our mission focus for September is Sheltering Wings, another organization that is very important to us and to Hendricks County. Sheltering Wings provides emergency housing and services for survivors escaping domestic abuse, building stable and independent lives through essential programs offered in a supportive and Christ-centered environment. Find out more at https://shelteringwings.org/about-us/.
FAMILY PROMISE DONATIONS… RITTER’S ANYONE?
If you’re interested in a fun and tasty way to donate, stop by Ritter’s in Brownsburg on North Green Street on Monday, September 8, anytime between 11:00am and 10:00pm, showing them the attached flyer. (A paper flyer can also be picked up on the Mission Table at church.)
CALVARY IS TEAMING UP WITH WAWA FOR FAMILY PROMISE
The Wawa Grand Opening is September 18th. Our Church’s Missions Team was selected by the National Wawa Food Donation Program as a donor agency for the new Brownsburg Wawa location. Our team will distribute Wawa’s surplus food daily to Family Promise of Hendricks County. The donated food will serve the clients at the Family Promise Resource Center, Almost Home Shelter, Butterfly Transitional House, and our 3 Clermont Trailer Park families. This is a unique and amazing opportunity to serve those facing food insecurity in our community. Daily donations of Wawa’s popular items may include refrigerated breakfast sandwiches, hoagies, wraps, and frozen foods. Americans throw away more than 25% of the food we prepare: about 96 billion pounds of food waste each year, according to the US Department of Agriculture. This is another shining example of how Calvary is making a tangible difference in the lives of those around us. If you’d like to help with that, contact Anne (anneinman1@hotmail.com). John 6:12 (NIV) – When they all had enough to eat, Jesus said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”
LEGO CAMP
A special thank you again to our 30 adult volunteers, 20 youth leaders, and the many members who contributed LEGOS and financial resources to make LEGO Camp happen! Work is already underway planning LEGO CAMP 2026…”Being Rebuilt in Christ”! Our LEGO Camp was shared on the INUMC website and newsletter. Check it out here: https://www.inumc.org/2025/08/11/building-faith-and-fun-lego-camp-at-calvary-draws-150-kids/
CALVARY COOKBOOK
The Kindness Kitchen Cookbook is coming soon! Interested? Pre-order one today… no payment until pickup! Email the church office (office@CalvaryUnited.org) and we’ll add you to the list.
WORSHIP:
-Sunday, September 7, 10:00am (Contemporary) Service of Holy Communion
“The Story of Jesus’ Disciples and Us: The Call of Discipleship”
Mark 1:16-20 (NRSVue) Rev. Jolita Erbele
-Sunday, September 14, 10:00am (Traditional)
“The Story of Jesus’ Disciples and Us: Lesser-Known Bartholomew”
Acts 1:12-14 (NRSV) Rev. Michelle Knight
SAVE THE DATE:
-“First” Monday of the Month Prayer Time – Monday, September 8, 6:30am in the Sanctuary
-Women’s Bible Study resumes – Monday, September 8, 6:30pm in the Conference Room
-Infant and Toddler Family Fellowship – Saturday, September 13, 3:00pm, Fellowship Hall
-Euchre – Saturday, September 20, 6:00-8:00pm in Fellowship Hall
-Blood Drive – Sunday, September 21, 8:30-12:45 in the BloodMobile
-Kindness Kitchen – Sunday, September 21, 11:30am in the Kitchen
-Church Grounds Clean-Up – Saturday, September 27, 8:00am until Noon
-Fall Family Festival – Saturday, September 27, 3:00pm
-Classics Luncheon – Tuesday, September 30, at noon in Fellowship Hall
-Calvary Craft Fair – Saturday, October 11, 9:00am-3:00pm
-Church Grounds Clean-Up – Saturday, October 25, 8:00am until Noon
-Women’s Retreat – Saturday, November 8, 9:00am-3:00pm, Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall