CALVARY COMMENT. March Giving All Three. from the Pastor Reflecting on Our Redemption

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1 CALVARY COMMENT March 2017 Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod English District 208 Woods Drive, PO Box 374 Mechanicsburg, PA The Rev. Luke T. Zimmerman, Pastor Church Office: Preschool: Parish Web Site: Stewardship Corner Givg All Three Can we give of our time and talents stead of our treasures? Or perhaps it is the other way round: Can we give our treasure and not of our time and our talents? But these are the wrong questions. The right question is, can we give of our time and our talents addition to our treasure? Yes, deed, we are called to give of all three. The thgs that God gives us are not to be pitted agast one another. They are given to us and we are to press them all to God s service for benefit of His church and our neighbors need. Thus we give all three. Excerpt from LCMS Stewardship Newsletter Article from the Pastor Reflectg on Our Redemption This year, the start of March cocides with the begng of. Ash Wednesday falls on March 1. This will be marked by our congregation by holdg the Dive Service with the Imposition of Ashes for those who wish to receive them. By participatg this rite, Christians are remded of their mortality, which isn t the most comfortable topics to discuss. Yet we can t avoid it, no matter how much we may want to., that uncomfortable topic is presented to us, whether we are the prime of our lives or fallg victim to various ailments and illnesses. Each time that pastors place ashes on foreheads, that remder of mortality is spoken: Remember that you are dust, and to the dust you shall return. That statement cuts everyone down; the fate of all is made clear. The LORD s judgment agast Adam for his s is repeated: By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return. (Gn 3:19) The repetition is not just for rememberg the curse that Adam suffered; it stands as the judgment imposed for our participation similar rebellion agast the LORD s will. The Ash Wednesday statement is a confirmation of the guilt that all mankd bears and the mortality that comes because of it. When writg of that condition, the Apostle Paul weaves together a series of citations from the Scriptures together that vividly describe humanity its fallen state: ne is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; their paths are ru and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Ro 3:10-18) That is the condition worthy of dive judgment. The season of helps to keep us from avoidg or ignorg this. The extra hearg of the Dive Law brgs a greater understandg about the ugly truth. It also shuts down the excuses that we might try to offer, cludg explanations that attempt to remove culpability: w we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, contued on page 2 1

2 and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human beg will be justified his sight, sce through the law comes knowledge of s. (Ro 3:19-20) Because our s and guilt are exposed, the realization of our condition can happen our hearts and mds. That leads us to rightly receive the remder of our mortality: Remember that you are dust, and to the dust you shall return. But is a season. We are not left to live all our days the despair that the Ash Wednesday sentence may brg. Yes, the Dive Law does condemn. But that is not all that we hear from the LORD, not even. Even on Ash Wednesday, we will beg to hear the repeated call that the LORD issues to us through His prophets, not just the statement of judgment: Yet even now, declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fastg, with weepg, and with mourng; and rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and aboundg steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. (Joe 2:12-13) This vitation draws us to what the LORD graciously provides the work that Jesus performed for the atong of the world s guilt. What has Jesus provided for us? He has come to brg us a remedy for our fallen condition. His purpose of livg the world was to brg righteousness to where only evil once dwelt. Jesus gift is to grant us a new character, as the Apostle Peter wrote: His dive power has granted to us all thgs that perta to life and godless, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the dive nature, havg escaped from the corruption that is the world because of sful desire. (2Pt 1:3-4) That is marked by a change how we act and live this lifetime. Vice begs to be replaced by virtue. s: Remember that you are dust, and to the dust you shall return. But the sentence that begs the Season of will be superseded by other statements. That starts with the declaration from the Psalter that begs Easter: I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. The LORD has discipled me severely, but he has not given me over to death. (Ps 118:17-18) It contues with the prophetic words of Job: I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my sk has been thus destroyed, yet my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. (Job 19:25-27) And it is capped by the thanksgivg offered by the Apostle Paul: The stg of death is s, and the power of s is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Co 15:56-57) Why is the Ash Wednesday sentence superseded? Because we receive the benefit of Jesus work: All have sned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God s righteousness, because his dive forbearance he had passed over former ss. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith Jesus. (Ro 3:23-26) We have the hope that the mortality earned by our s will be reversed by the life that has been earned by Jesus sacrifice and conquerg of death. So, we our confronted with our mortality, hearg what the LORD says about returng to the dust. But we also have the hope found the Easter promise that Jesus makes, as we share His dive nature: I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes me shall never die. (Jn 11:25-26) The work of Jesus also reverses the Ash Wednesday sentence. Yes, we suffer the judgment leveled agast our STEWARDSHIP IN ACTION The newly-elected Stewardship Board has met to discuss options for the year ahead. It was decided to focus on An Offerg of Time. Thgs that need to be done around the church will be posted on a board (to be created) the Narthex. These will be short-term needs many areas examples might be settg up the social hall, brgg items for a dner, or help with a special project. Our goal is to have it operation by the end of March. Perhaps you have time to give for a specific need. 2

3 Church Council Report: February 2017 Pastor Zimmerman presented a 2016 congregational statistical report, announced that Rev. J. Derek Mathers, assistant to the Bishop & District Mission Executive will visit March 4 & 5, and set July 31-August 2 as dates for the Contug Education class. Deacons: Board Representatives were set: Ardner, Stewardship and Jamie Bracket, Education. Woody Flickger resigned as a member of the Board of Deacons, leavg two positions open for Deacons and Board Representatives: Youth & Evangelism. The Deacons are falizg Carg Deacons assignments and begng a study on the Smalcald Articles. Education: Ray Miller distributed the Education Board report submitted by Christe Kraus who resigned as Board Chair and Supertendent of Sunday School. Currently, Calvary is compliance with and tends to rema so with PA Act 153 concerng volunteer clearances. Stewardship: Durg the next year, the Board will focus on An Offerg of Time. Kay Ardner also distributed the December 2016 StewardCAST for the Council to read. Trustees: Matt Goheen reported that the Board negotiated a three-year trash contract with Republic Services. They are researchg service for WiFi repeaters with the buildg and trag on use of the defibrillator. The Staffg Committee is updatg the Parish s organization chart, addressg current parish positions and preparg a draft organist job description. Board Member Appotments clude Marcia Rebuck and Paul Anderson for Stewardship; Natalie Anderson and Troy Ste (Youth Reps) with Andrea Douden and Kim Brackett for Youth. & Lynne Wicker will coordate the eveng of March 8 when we host members of the Indianapolis Youth Choir at our en Service. March Voters Assembly is scheduled due to no busess to transact. Auditory Communications Committee was dismissed, havg completed its task. Upcomg Dates Wednesday, March 1, 2017 Ash Wednesday Service 7:30 pm Wednesday, March 8, 2017 Choir of Lutheran HS Indianapolis Tour Stop Wednesday, March 8, 15, 22, 29, April 5 en Eveng Prayer 7:30 pm Sunday, April 9, 2017 Palm Sunday Sunday, April 16, 2017 Easter Sunday Saturday, May 20, 2017 Phila. Zone Rally at Calvary 9:30 am 2 pm Sunday, May 21, 2017 Armed Forces Sunday Picnic Sunday, June 4, 2017 Pentecost & Confirmation Preschool News This month we will celebrate the 100 th day of Preschool by havg an ice cream sundae party! We are also gog to fish the Alphabet and our color for March will of course be green. The whole second half of March we are gog to be talkg about the death and resurrection of Jesus. Our first Bible story for the month will be about Zacchaeus. The children will be makg hand/arm prt trees with Zacchaeus the branches. We will also be makg Dr. Seuss crafts this week and learng about the letter Ww. Week two of March we will learn how Jesus raised Lazarus. We will be makg clothes p dolls of Lazarus. This will also be Xx week. The third week of March will be a busy one Preschool. Our Bible story will be of Jesus enterg Jerusalem. The children are gog to make palm branches that will read Jesus is my Kg. Our letter this week will be Yy. We will also be celebratg St. Patrick s Day by wearg green and havg an ice cream sundae party for the 100 th day of Preschool! Our next Bible story will be The Day Jesus Died. Our craft for this story is gog to be makg a fgerprt cross. The letter for this week will be Zz. Our fal Bible story for March and I thk the best way to end the month will be He s Risen! He s Alive! The children are gog to learn the Jelly Bean prayer this week. They will also be makg a watercolor scene of the day Jesus rose. In Christ s Love, Mrs. Valora 3

4 Celebrate March Birthdays 1 Jayl Werner 2 Zachary Bolster 12 Natalie Anderson 12 Paul Garell 18 Paul Raymond 18 Ailsa Wilson 19 Kaleb Ste 20 Alicia Rogers 23 Ian Lukens 27 Sondra Flom 29 Jane Lowell 30 Lory Werner March Anniversaries 6 Jeff & Karen Unitis Updated Church Directory A 2017 version of the Church Member Contact Directory is cluded this newsletter. It is designed to be serted to the Pictorial Directory from Any future corrections should be given to Donna Foster or to Lda Bryson the church office. We update the master list regularly. Philly Zone Sprg Rally Date Calvary will host the Sprg 2017 Philadelphia Zone Rally on May 20. All ladies at Calvary are vited to attend and hear about the missions that we support. There will be an gatherg (more fo next month), food, fellowship, and a busess meetg of the Zone to elect officers. The event will start at 9:30 am and end by 2:00 pm. Set aside time to jo your sisters Christ from our region. Callg Brothers Christ Together A Men s Group at Calvary was revived We began meetg on the second Saturday of the month at 9:30 am the Adult Classroom. Our meetgs cluded devotions and prayer, video-based studies from the Lutheran Hour Mistries, and a time for sharg concerns with our fellow believers. Currently, we are gog through the series How We Got the Bible. This talks about how the books of the Bible were written and how the current list of Bible books were selected. There are still several sessions left this series. We are lookg to possible service projects where men can use their talents and abilities to help neighbors the church and community. All men at Calvary are vited to jo the group. Our next meetg is March 11 at 9:30 am. 4

5 MARCH 2017 PARISH CALENDAR SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Ash Wednesday Dive Service: 7:30pm 1 st Sunday (Invocabit) Sunday School & Bible Class: 9:00am Dive Service: 10:30am Altar Guild: on Jr. Catechism Instruction: 5:45pm Bible History Class: 7:30pm Midweek Supper: 6pm Eveng Prayer: 7:30pm Men s Group: 9:30am 2 nd Sunday (Remiscere) Sunday School & Bible Class: 9:00am Dive Service: 10:30am Operation Barnabas: on 12 Church Council: 7pm 13 Jr. Catechism Instruction: 5:45pm Bible History Class: 7:30pm Midweek Supper: 6pm Eveng Prayer: 7:30pm LWML/Ladies Aid Society: 9:30am Daylight Savgs Time Begs 3 rd Sunday (Oculi) Sunday School & Bible Class: 9:00am Dive Service: 10:30am Newsletter Submission Deadle 19 Bd. of Deacons: 7pm 20 Jr. Catechism Instruction: 5:45pm Bible History Class: 7:30pm Midweek Supper: 6pm Eveng Prayer: 7:30pm Annunciation of Our Lord 4 th Sunday (Laetare) Sunday School & Bible Class: 9:00am Dive Service: 10:30am Jr. Catechism Instruction: 5:45pm Bible History Class: 7:30pm Midweek Supper: 6pm 29 Eveng Prayer: 7:30pm APR 1

6 SERVING IN MARCH 2017 If you are unable to serve as scheduled, please fd a substitute and notify the church office. If you would like to serve, please see the contact person. Matt Goheen ASSISTING MINISTERS ACOLYTE READER USHERS GREETERS ALTAR GUILD ALTAR FLOWERS COFFEE SOCIAL COUNTERS TRUSTEE OF THE MONTH CONTACT --> Pastor Zimmerman MAR 1 Ardner Ash Wednesday Pastor Pastor Zimmerman Zimmerman Ardner ne Assigned Polly Pass M. Tamara Lukens Tamara Kim Lukens Brackett ne Sara MAR 5 1 st Sunday Ardner A. Brackett Tamara Lukens M. Open Sara MAR 12 2 nd Sunday Jamie Brackett K. Ste Ray Miller M. Open Sara MAR 19 3 rd Sunday Ardner R. Anderson Elsa Diane Trimmer M. Open Sara MAR 26 4 th Sunday Jamie Brackett T. Ste Jamie Brackett Earl & Mary Ellen Soliday M. Open Sara

7 PARISH CASH FLOW REPORT (January 1-31, 2017) INCOME General Offerg $15, Mission Offerg Buildg Fund 1, Plate Offerg 1, Memorial My Neighbor 0.00 IniFal Offerg en Offerg 0.00 Thanksgivg Offerg 0.00 Advent Offerg 0.00 Christmas Offerg Buildg Use 0.00 Ascension Day 0.00 Refund Income 0.00 Easter Offerg 0.00 Other Income 2, Epiphany Ash Wednesday 0.00 Good Friday 0.00 Maundy Thursday 0.00 Thrivent Choice Dollars 0.00 Lutheran Witness Sunday School 7.00 OperaFon Barnabas Youth Group Preschool 9, TOTAL INCOME $32, EXPENDITURES 1000 Pastoral Expenses $7, (Salary & Benefits) 2000 Personnel Expenses 1, (Secretary, Organist) 3000 Real Estate Expenses 2, (Insurance, U8li8es) 4000 OperaFng Expenses 1, (Matenance, Supplies) 5000 Mistry Expenses (Board Ac8vi8es) 6000 Mission Support 0.00 (District Pledge, New Hope, Semarian) 7000 Mortgage Payments n-budgeted Expenditures 7, (Revolvg, My Neighbor, Memorial, Preschool) Budgeted Disbursements $14, n-budgeted Disbursements $7, TOTAL EXPENDITURES $21, NET CASH FLOW +$10, OPERATION lcms mistry to the armed forces IN SERVICE TO OTHERS Four Operation Barnabas Committee members (, Tam, Brian and Sara) attended the Stand Down for Homeless Veterans held January 27-29, These members served as Ambassadors durg the weekend. Prior to the Stand Down, and Tam were volved trag an additional 35 Ambassadors. The Ambassador corps then assisted one of the 56 homeless veterans (cludg 5 female vets) who attended the event all day Saturday, on a one on one basis. Operation Fal Dignity This itiative volves the identification and burial of unclaimed veteran cremas. The Committee is partnerg with Missg America Project (MIAP), a national organization workg to identify and bury unclaimed veteran cremas. As part of the partnership, will be a traed MIAP volunteer which will enable him access to the MIAP database and assist the process to identify and ter unclaimed veteran cremas. We are planng for the followg activities: Summer bags for the Homeless Female Vets Armed Forces Sunday. Picnic after service June 2017 Veterans Outreach Event 5

8 CALVARY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 208 Woods Drive P. O. Box 374 Mechanicsburg, PA Address Service Requested Next Calvary Comment Deadle is Sunday, March 19, If possible, send fo to Tour Stop at Calvary for Lutheran HS Calvary Lutheran Church will host the Lutheran High School of Indianapolis Choir on Wednesday, March 8. We will provide the sgers and church members with dner that eveng at 6:00 pm, followed by our Wednesday en Eveng Prayer Service at 7:30 pm at which the choir will perform some of their selections. We d love to have a full house for our visitors. 6