Calvary Crossings the BRIDGE December 2015 to New Life in Ministry
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Join us on Calvary Crossings THE BRIDGE December 2015 to New Life in Ministry Mission Statement: GATHERED to worship, TRANSFORMED by Christ, SENT out to serve. Vision Statement: Jesus calls us to GROW as disciples, to GIVE generously, and to SERVE others every day. Calvary Lutheran Church, ELCA 2508 Washington Ave. SE Bemidji, MN 56601 (218) 751-1893 · Fax (218) 444-5894 [email protected] www.calvarybemidji.org Senior Pastor Rev. Genelle Netland [email protected] Associate Pastor Calvary Staff Wishes You a Christ-filled Christmas & Invites You to Worship With Us! Rev. Andrew Ronnevik [email protected] Sunday Advent Worship CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13, 20 · 8:15, 9:30, & 10:45 AM Associate Pastor of Youth and Family 3:30 PM Family Worship and Baptism Rev. Nate Bendorf Worship together as we prepare for Christ’s coming! Festival (no communion) [email protected] Choir Cantata - Dec. 20 · 8:15 & 10:45 AM 5:30, 8:00, 10:00 PM Worship Visitation Pastoral Team Sunday School Program - Dec. 20 · 9:30 AM with Holy Communion and Candlelight Vicar Anne Meredith-Will [email protected] Wednesdays - 6:30 PM Calvary Lutheran Preschool Program Rev. Bill Beyer Dec. 2, 9, 16 - Holden Evening Prayer Dec. 15 · 10:00 AM, 2:00 & 2:45 PM Almina Beyer (A.I.M.) Dec. 23 - Hymn Sing Dec. 16 · 2:00 & 2:45 PM [email protected] Dec. 30 - No Worship Children’s Ministry Director I N T H I S Sunday, Dec. 27 Joan Meulebroeck 8:15 and 10:45 Worship [email protected] I S S U E No 9:30 Family Express Worship Worship and Music Minister Shar Paquette Enter the Bible .............................. 2 Volunteers needed........................ 9 [email protected] New Member Events .................... 2 Community Christmas Dinner....... 9 Church Administrator Baptismal Festival ........................ 2 Angel Tree .................................... 9 Polly Merhar Centering Prayer .......................... 2 Christmas Caroling ....................... 9 A council report is [email protected] Pr. Bill & Almina Beyer .................. 3 Address Change ........................... 9 available on the website The Bridge .................................... 3 Calvary Crafters Update ............. 10 Administrative Assistant and in the church library. Erin Lundin Financial Report ........................... 4 Worship Sponsors ...................... 10 [email protected] Monthly Mission Partner ............... 4 Surviving the Holidays ................ 10 Year End Gifts to Calvary ............. 4 Special Thanks ........................... 10 Custodians Spiritual Financial Pledge ............. 4 Calvary Alive Meals .................... 10 Russ Sletten, Gene Bright, CJ Merhar 3rd Quarter Financial Update ....... 5 Letter from Council President ......11 Preschool Teachers Adult Ministries ............................. 6 Milestones ...................................11 Wanda Roff Year End Financial Status ............ 6 Calvary Council Appreciation.......11 Diana Stokes Year End Statements .................... 6 Birthdays..................................... 12 Amanda Renbarger Youth Ministries ............................ 7 Service Groups ........................... 12 Preschool Support Staff Preschool Ministry Update............ 7 Calendar ..................................... 13 Marlene Sletten, Tonia Eglinton, Health and Wellness ..................... 8 Christmas Eve Worship Times ... 14 January newsletter deadline: Jacky Sampson, Barb Gray, Calvary Pastors Quilt .................... 8 Lutefisk & Meatball Supper......... 14 8 AM, December 15. Jennifer Berg, Tina Garrison, Celebrity Dinner ............................ 8 Holiday Event Calendar .............. 14 Please e-mail submissions to Jessica Gunning Items for Sale ............................... 8 Office Closures ........................... 14 [email protected] Calvary Alive Welcome ................. 9 May be edited as space requires. WORSHIP “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.” Psalm 150:6 CONTINUE TO ENTER THE BIBLE BAPTISMAL FESTIVAL Our next baptismal festival will be held December 24 at the 3:30 worship service. If you need more information or are interested in December marks the beginning baptism for yourself or your child at Calvary, please contact Erin in of the church year, as we share the church office: 751-1893. the time of Advent waiting for Christ’s coming, as well as the celebration of the festival season of Christmas. It’s tempting to skip Advent so that we can go straight to Christmas, but as a church we seek to live into the season of holy anticipation. Our texts during Advent include Isaiah’s words of comfort to those in exile (Isaiah 40:1- 2015 BAPTISMAL FESTIVAL DATES 11); the return of the exiles to Jerusalem, during the time of the priest Ezra (Ezra 1:1-4; 3:1-4, 10-13); and Zechariah’s song December 24 - Christmas Eve, 3:30 PM after the birth of his son, John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-13, 57-80). 2016 BAPTISMAL FESTIVAL DATES We celebrate Christmas Eve with the Christmas story of Luke 2, and on Dec. 27, we begin a three-month journey through the January 10 - Baptism of Our Lord Gospel of Mark, with a reading about the beginning of Jesus’ February 14 ministry (Mark 1:1-20). March 27 - Easter Sunday May 29 - Memorial Day Weekend Dec. 6 Isaiah 40: 1-11 June - July (Contact the Church Office) Dec. 13 Ezra 1:1-4, 3:1-4, 10-13 August - Outdoor Service at Lake Andrusia Dec. 20 Luke 1:5-13, 57-80 September 4 - Labor Day Weekend Dec. 24 Luke 2:1-14(15-20) October 23 Dec. 27 Mark 1:1-20 November 27 - Thanksgiving Weekend December 24 - Christmas Eve, 3:30 PM NEW MEMBER EVENTS If you or others you know are interested in learning about membership, please come to one of our new member CENTERING PRAYER orientation sessions. If you would like to serve on the new member ministry team or as a new member sponsor, please contact Pr. Andrew. Join us for quiet prayer on the four Mondays of Advent: Nov. 30, Dec. 7, NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION Dec. 14, and Dec. 21. We’ll gather in Prospective new members are asked to attend a one-time, room 1 at 4:45 to light a candle, hear a one-hour orientation to meet others and learn about Calvary. brief Scripture reading, and be together New Member Orientation will be held at Calvary Lutheran for 20 minutes of silent prayer. Church. Wednesdays (5:15 - 6:15 PM): Feb 3, Mar. 2, Apr. 6, or Sept. 21, Oct. 5 Sundays (9:30-10:30 AM): Feb. 7, Mar. 6, Apr. 3, or Sept. 18, Oct. 2 VISITATION MINISTRY CONNECTION DAY Do you know someone who would At these Saturday evening events, get ready for New Member be open to a visit from a Calvary Sunday, meet your sponsor(s), and enjoy fellowship and a neighbor – maybe someone new in potluck meal. Held in the lounge from 5:30 - 7:00 PM. The your neighborhood, someone who’s next Connection Day will be held on Saturday, April 23. visited Calvary, a new co-worker, or someone searching for meaning and NEW MEMBER SUNDAY community? Talk to Pr. Andrew, Ron New members affirm their faith and are welcomed during Gladen, or Larry Overbeek, and we’ll Sunday morning worship services. The next New Member begin this good work of getting to Sunday will take place on April 24. know our neighbors. 2 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, spirit, TRANSFORMED body, finances, relationships, and commitment to God. PENNIES FOR HEAVEN By Chaplain Luther The pert little five year old blonde lass fell in behind the ushers as the offerings were brought forward at the Thanksgiving worship. She had a joyous smile on her face as she carried an obviously heavy bag. Coming to the altar, I, the pastor leaned down to inquire of her gift. “These are all my pennies. They’re for Jesus!” she said in an excited voice. The smiles and chuckles from the congregation added unusual joy to the offering. I asked her Mother if she might come and explain the ‘pennies for heaven’ gift that created an unusually happy outburst. In December, Pr. Bill and Almina Beyer will officially wrap up their roles as visitation pastors for Calvary Lutheran. Pr. Bill Her Mother shared how Jodie had been saving pennies from her and Almina started volunteering their services in 2007 when toddler days and kept them in a safe place in her room. She would Pastor Genelle was on sabbatical. Soon, they became our inquire of the family members if they had pennies for her collection. visitation team and visited Calvary members and many, many Friends and neighbors heard of the little lady’s financial management. more children of God. With Pr. Bill’s passion for the gospel And the amount of pennies grew. Jodie had been very concerned and Almina’s portable keyboard, they will be a hard act to that her Dad never came to church as he was always too busy. follow. But we rejoice with them that their ministry continues, But she wouldn’t reveal her plans for the pennies. She and her now at Trinity Lutheran in Cass Lake serving as their interim Mom were faithful in attendance and that day Dad had accompanied pastoral team. They are not leaving Calvary! They will be them to the Thanksgiving worship. He had watched as his daughter back ready to serve the Lord because that is exactly what they proudly brought her gift forward knowing that somehow this was her were born to do! Thank you Pr. Bill and Almina Beyer! You way of letting Dad know all his efforts working were keeping him are a blessing! from something far more important. THE BRIDGE There was over $140 in pennies of which she had carried just a portion forward. When I asked Jodie if there was a reason she had chosen this particular day to bring her gift, her response: “Do Join us on you think Jesus would help me get a new pair of cowboy boots?” Mysteriously, a pair of cowboy boots appeared that next week for THE BRIDGE Jodie. But the real miracle was Dad never missed a worship service to New Life in Ministry following that powerful witness of a young daughter.