PASTOR S PAGE by Pastor Jerry Wahl

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CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH 6817 ANTRIM ROAD EDINA, MN 55439-1704 PHONE: 952.941.1251 OFFICE CLOSED ON MONDAYS Tuesday-Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Welcome! Worship! Witness!

1 CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH 6817 ANTRIM ROAD EDINA, MN PHONE: OFFICE CLOSED ON MONDAYS Tuesday-Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Welcome! Worship! Witness! FEBRUARY 2018 PASTOR S PAGE by Pastor Jerry Wahl The New Year has begun. It is a time when we look forward more than we look back. This season of the church year, we call Lent. It is about traveling together. It is filled with stories of new beginnings, many unknowns and lifechanging surprises. It is a time of anticipation and of uncertainty. Jesus is on the road. He is inviting people to set down their nets and follow. Leave the safe and familiar behind. Say good bye. The curious follow one step at a time. A journey into a new way of life, into the promises of God. Lent is a forty day walk in faithfulness to search and discover God s love and grace. We start with ashes and quiet reflection. We pray, sing and learn about ourselves and our God. Like the disciples before us, we do not know where the road may lead but we do know who is leading the way. A journey is defined as an act of traveling from one place to another. For many the journey is all about the destination. I agree with the elder who says: Each day is a journey, and the journey itself is home. One s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. calvaryedina@calvaryedina.org BLOG: washeisstdas.blogspot.com PASTOR: Jerry Wahl gwahl711@gmail.com cell: CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRY: Rebekah Moir rmoir@calvaryedina.org DIRECTOR OF MUSIC: Daryl Erickson derickson@calvaryedina.org ORGANIST: Cynthia Betz crbetz1@gmail.com ADMINISTRATOR & EDITOR: Susan Burman sburman@calvaryedina.org BOOKKEEPER: Kristin Hueg krislie@hotmail.com CUSTODIAN: Robin Radosevich In This Issue Pastor s Page 1 Children, Youth & Family 2 Congregational Meeting 2 WEBSITE: I like the traveler who says: Just because I don t know where I am going doesn t mean I am lost. Our journey at Calvary Lutheran Church is a gift. We are invited to follow Christ into a changing world and make a difference. Martin Luther wrote about the journey of faith. He said: This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified. Let us journey together this holy season. See you in church. Pastor Jerry Love to Tell The Story 3 February Birthdays 3 Worship & Activities 4 Being the Church 5 Stewardship: Thank you! 6 Midweek Services of Lent 6 Calendar 7 Cong. Meeting Continued 8

2 FEBRUARY 2018 NEWSLETTER page 2 CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRY by Rebekah Moir SPAGHETTI DINNER FEBRUARY 11 TH : SAVE THE DATE! It s our annual Spaghetti Dinner to raise funds for Vacation Bible School. Come enjoy a sit-down dinner immediately following worship. Our eager Sunday School wait-staff will serve up delicious salad and bread, spaghetti with Dottie Fergus s famous homemade meatballs and marinara sauce, and ice cream sundaes for dessert. You do not want to miss this! Invite your family and friends or make it a Valentine s Day celebration with that special someone. The more the merrier! A free-will offering will be taken at the door. This is our one and only fund-raiser for Vacation Bible School each year, so let s fill the fellowship hall and put those Sunday School kiddos to work. We look forward to serving you. See you on the 11 th! MISSION PROJECT On January 20 th, nearly 40 people from Calvary Lutheran and St. Alban s Episcopal met at Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) to pack meals for children in Guatemala. We had a fantastic time! Many thanks to everyone who came out to help. The Calvary Lutheran education program was able to give FMSC a check for $400 from our mission offerings collected in Sunday School opening so far this year. We ll keep you posted as to our next project! CONFIRMATION & YOUTH The confirmation kids went to Sunrise Assisted Living on Saturday, January 13 th for their second discipleship event for the year. The kids led the seniors in a hymn-sing and then worked with them on an art project. This was an opportunity for the kids to carry out the Christian Practices of Communicating Life Journeys, Serving and Witnessing, and Providing Hospitality and Care. Many thanks to Jen Nelson and Tracy Strittmater for bringing the kids over to Sunrise, and to Dan Moir for playing guitar for the hymn sing. Confirmation classes are held on the second Wednesday of the month from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Plans are underway for this year s VBS program! The spaghetti dinner is the big kick-off as we begin to raise funds for Come and See!: God s Great Invitation. If you want to be part of the planning team, let Rebekah know as soon as possible! UPDATE: CONGREGATIONAL MEETING by Becky Rorke, President of Calvary Church Council Thank you to all who attended and participated in Calvary's Congregational Meeting on January 28, What a wonderful meeting! Thank you for coming! In addition to approving Calvary's operational budget for 2018, the congregation unanimously approved the Covenant of Agreement between Calvary Lutheran Church & Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. It described the working partnership and relationship between the two churches. The vision is for Calvary to learn from and leverage the strengths of Shepherd of the Hills. This includes skills in strategic planning, fund raising, and experience in building community relationships. The plan is to partner with their staff through pastoral support, administration guidance and staff meetings to help support our next Pastor. The goal is to have both congregations grow, and flourish, as distinct, mutually supportive, separate ministries. Initial activities are being planned in the first half of the year, so that the congregations, pastors, staff & council members get to know one another. These activities include a joint staff meeting, a joint council meeting, as well as a joint congregational potluck! What fun! (Continued on page 8) Sunday School Schedule 9:00 a.m. Breakfast treats 9:15 a.m. Opening 9:25 a.m. Group Bible Reading 9:50 a.m. Music 10:00 a.m. Arts Block for Kids Dismissal for Adults 10:20 a.m. Dismissal 10:30 a.m. Worship

Using the teacher s desk as the altar with some chairs, they began to build a protestant church in a predominantly Catholic community.

3 FEBRUARY 2018 NEWSLETTER page 3 LOVE TO TELL THE STORY. February Birthdays! Sanctuary Stained Glass Did you know that Calvary s story began in the 1930 s when Wooddale Lutheran Church located in St. Louis Park began to hold Sunday evening services at the Cahill School House at West 70 th Street and Cahill Road? Using the teacher s desk as the altar with some chairs, they began to build a protestant church in a predominantly Catholic community. Over the next years, a desire to have their own church building, led to purchasing a lot across the street from the Cahill School House. On February 28, 1938,19 members organized a congregation separate from Wooddale Lutheran Church with the name: Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cahill (see picture). Members helped dig the hole for the basement where the first worship was held on May 19,1938. From this, today s Calvary Lutheran Church located a few street down the road continues the story. As we remember our 80 th Anniversary, several other churches in Minnesota will celebrate and remember their stories. MINNESOTA S FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH CELEBRATES 178 YEARS! Church of St. Peter, Mendota Heights (1840). Father Lucien Galtier arrived in 1840 to minister to settlers and Sioux living on the banks of the Minnesota River near Fort Snelling. While the first church was a log cabin, the stone church chiseled from a local quarry (1853) is still in use. (stpetersmendota.org) MINNESOTA S FIRST MORVAIAN CHURCH CELEBRATES 160 YEARS! The Moravian Church of Lake Auburn, Victoria(1858). In the year that Minnesota became a state, this faith community was established by members of the Pennsylvania Moravian Church who migrated to Carver County where land was cheap. They worshipped in a log church until the current church was built in (Lakeauburnchurch.embarqspace.com) MINNESOTA S FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHURCH CELEBRATES 155 YEARS! Pilgrim Baptist Church (1863). Started by Rev. Robert T. Hickman, a slave & preacher, who led 50 slaves from Missouri to Minnesota via the Underground Railroad during the height of the Civil War. The first church was on Sibley Avenue & the current church (1928) is on Central Avenue in St. Paul. (pilgrimbaptistchurch.org) We each have our story.. We each have our journey. Looking for your favorite poem, Bible verse, music, song or picture. Do you have a memory or a mentor that made a difference to your faith and life? This space is yours! Please share your story. See Susan Burman in the Church Office or send it to sburman@calvaryedina.org. 2/6 Caitie Morris 2/21 Lois Younggren 2/9 Allan Rust 2/21 Jacquelin Powell 2/10 Bonnie Rust 2/22 Lana Wallace 2/19 Virginia Rine 2/26 Nonie Lindberg 2/21 Gary Lehr

All are welcome into our faith family! CLC COFFEE HOUR following Sunday Worship Thank you to the ExecutiveTeam! They hosted our Coffee Hour throughout January.

CHECK OUT OR REVISIT OUR CHURCH WEBSITE: http://www.calvaryedina.org!

Check it out on Comcast Cable TV Channel #15 on Mondays @ 8:30 p.m., Thursdays @ 9:30 p.m. & Sundays @ 3:00 p.m. MEN s BREAKFAST & FELLOWSHIP Join us on Saturday, February 10 th (8:30 a.

WOMEN ogether WOMEN s BIBLE STUDY & COFFEE FELLOWSHIP The Women s Bible Study meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the Library.

The Women s Coffee Fellowship will meet on January 21 st! Come & join our conversation! CALVARY BOOK CLUB The next meeting is Tuesday, February 20 th in the library (5:30 p.m.).

A primary theme is Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Critics describe the book as moving and memorable. Please join us for a thoughtful discussion.

4 FEBRUARY 2018 NEWSLETTER page 4 OUR WORSHIP & ACTIVITIES WORSHIP ON SUNDAYS at 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion is on the first and third Sundays of the month. On the 3rd Sunday of the month, we explore hymns from peoples & places around the world. Together, we live into the universal love of God in Christ Jesus. All are welcome into our faith family! CLC COFFEE HOUR following Sunday Worship Thank you to the ExecutiveTeam! They hosted our Coffee Hour throughout January. The Education Team are our hosts for February during our weekly time together. THANKS! If you can help with a food item or financial assistance, please see them. CHECK OUT OR REVISIT OUR CHURCH WEBSITE: CALVARYS TV Ministry SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE BROADCASTS Our Sunday Worship Service is broadcast through Southwest Community Television. Check it out on Comcast Cable TV Channel #15 on 8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. MEN s BREAKFAST & FELLOWSHIP Join us on Saturday, February 10 th (8:30 a.m.) for the Men s Breakfast! Looking for Hosts so check out the poster in the Narthex! Look at life on the funny side up! WOMEN ogether WOMEN s BIBLE STUDY & COFFEE FELLOWSHIP The Women s Bible Study meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the Library. The next Bible Study is Wednesday, February 7 th at 10:00 a.m. The discussion is the Bible Study from the Gather Magazine (Women of ELCA). The Women s Coffee Fellowship will meet on January 21 st! Come & join our conversation! CALVARY BOOK CLUB The next meeting is Tuesday, February 20 th in the library (5:30 p.m.). We will discuss Lilac Girls A Novel by Martha Hall Kelly. Inspired by actual events and real people, the book tells the story of 3 women during WWII. A primary theme is Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Critics describe the book as moving and memorable. Please join us for a thoughtful discussion. Ash Wednesday, February 14 th Soup Suppers Start! Join Us at 5:30 p.m. Council members will host each supper. Volunteers can assist in a number of ways. If you wish, you may make/bring soup. Other items needed include cookies or bars, and milk. We need help with set up and clean up. See the Sign-up Sheets. We appreciate your support! We look forward to being together as a church family each week during Lent. If you have questions, contact Alison Graber, Fellowship Committee Chair. DEADLINE FOR THE MARCH issue of the CALVARY CALLER is TUESDAY, February 16 th

We have posted the new list on our bulletin board for your information.

5 FEBRUARY 2018 NEWSLETTER page 5 BEING THE CHURCH..Our hearts and hands in the World & Community ADULT MINISTRY AT CALVARY! Part of Calvary s Ministry is to meet the needs of the people. Each of us are uniquely made by God, with unique gifts, needs and concerns. Beginning in 2018, we have set up two different types of ministry. We have posted the new list on our bulletin board for your information. Our Homebound Ministry includes adults who have short-term or long-term needs/concerns with limited ability to attend church activities. They may be receiving care in residences for transitional care, assisted Living or tong-term care. Our Visitation Ministry includes those who may be hospitalized or need encouragement or comfort. They may be independent adults who attend worship or church activities when possible. Anyone needing a sense of belonging may be included. Pastor Don Schultz and others will assist Calvary in carrying out our call to minister to others. Check out the revised lists for Homebound Ministry and Visitation Miniistry on the bulletin board. If you have questions or would like more information, please see Bonnie Rust, Social Ministry Coordinator. FROM HEARTH TO HEART...The Traveling Bread Bread has been on a journey since it was first made, over 30,000 years ago. Bread at Calvary has it s own journey! On Sundays, you may see a basket of bread, rolls, and muffins. You may wonder, where did it come from? We enjoy banana bread or brownies with our coffee or juice. These breads come from our local Breadsmith located at 50th & France as part of Breadsmith s initiative to pass forward unsold bread to local non-profit organizations, food pantries and soup kitchens. About 200,000 lb. of bread are donated to those in need each year. Calvary shares in this journey. BOB RORKE: For about a year now, Becky and I (with back-ups, Don & Carol Dubay) go to Breadsmith on Monday evenings to pick up the unsold bread. Usually, two other groups are picking up bread for their organizations. We have gotten to know them and the path their bread takes. The manager of Breadsmith wheels out a large basket filled with large plastic bags of baguettes, round loaves, wheat or white loaves, and rolls. Brown paper sacks of muffins or sweet breads are brought out. We never know what will be in the bags. The groups split up these left-over breads and say goodbye until next week. Becky and I fill the backseat of our Suburu with the large bags of bread. We bring it to Calvary and place some of the bread and goodies in our freezer for Sundays and other uses. The rest of the many, many loaves, we leave in the kitchen for Saint Patrick's Church. I had no idea how much of an impact our quiet, weekly trips to Breadsmith make until we received a letter from Saint Patrick's Church telling us where the bread goes after it leaves our kitchen. That letter filled with thanks inspires me. SUSAN BURMAN: On Tuesday mornings, the quantity of bread received is reviewed and compared to any special needs for the week. The journey continues when Maura from St. Patrick s Church arrives to pick up the remaining bread. Together, we load the bags of bread into her car and the bread travels down the street and is placed in large commercial freezers. St Patrick s uses the bread for their Community Meals. Volunteers transport loaves to other agencies such as Mary s Place and Loaves & Fishes. The journey continues as the bread replenishes others rather than take up space in a landfill! BONNIE RUST: We use the bread for Sunday coffee hours, Our Saviour s meals, Lenten suppers and it s also available on Sunday mornings for members and guests. We encourage donations for the bread but it is not required. Please, enjoy this wonderful bread. From a friend, I heard about Breadsmith s program to pass forward unsold bread and shared it with the Church Council. Upon review, the Council approved this ministry. With the help of Bob, Becky, Don & Carol, the bread journey begins at Breadsmith, continues at Calvary & St. Patrick s and out to others. Bread is a staple food that crosses generations and cultures! Isn t it amazing how bread can travel and make a difference to many! Thank you to Breadsmith and all the volunteers!

6 FEBRUARY 2018 NEWSLETTER page 6 Stewardship Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! By Marty Fergus, Stewardship Coordinator I have been greatly moved by the strong support for Calvary Lutheran Church (CLC) shown by our members, both through their financial contributions and by the offering of their time & talents. Every year almost half of our households increase their pledges compared to their previous year s pledge. A number of members who were unable to increase their pledges explained to me why, and expressed regrets that they could not do so. Over the last four years the average pledge has increased every year, from $2,057 four years ago to $3,107 for Pledges for 2017 totaled $125,996 while actual weekly offerings from pledged members last year exceeded this amount, totaling $135,239. This does not include additional giving from pledged members for special offerings (e.g., Lent, Easter, Christmas, VBS, VEAP, Sunday School Mission Project, Cornerstone Fund, Memorial Fund, Endowment Trust Fund), which totaled another $22,297. Weekly offerings from those who did not submit a pledge for 2017 totaled an amazing $77,877 for the year. Forty-one households pledged a total of $127,396 in support of the work of CLC for Thirty-seven Calvary members completed a time & talent survey for 2018, the vast majority volunteering for multiple activities. If asked how I would assess the financial contributions made by Calvary s members over the years, I would fall back on the words of the apostle Paul: For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means. (2 Corinthians 8:3 NRSV). In a similar fashion, if asked to evaluate the offering by our members of their time & talents, I can testify that it reflects well the admonition found in 1 Peter: Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. (1 Peter 4:10 NRSV) I can only conclude by saying: To the members of Calvary, thank you, thank you, thank you for your generous support of our congregation and its mission! MID-WEEK SERVICES of LENT: Table Talk Worship with Soup! We will start our journey of Lent on Ash Wednesday (February 14 th ) with our Soup Supper (5:30 p.m.) followed by Worship with Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes in the Sanctuary (6:00 p.m.) Throughout Lent, we will come together for Table Talk Worship with Soup! every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. In the tradition of Martin Luther s teachings around the table, we will gather, eat and begin our journey to the Cross. New this year, our Worship will begin at 5:45 p.m. while we enjoy our soup and bread together. As in the past, we will follow the Holden Evening Prayer. Our guide is the Gospels and the questions posed by Jesus. Each Wednesday, together, we will ponder a new question. Jesus questions empower us to shift our hearts and minds to see in new ways, to transform, to move forward and act differently. Join us on the journey! Join us on February 14, February 21, February 28, March 7, March 14, and March 21!

m. Meals on Wheels 9:30 p.m. Cable 8:30 a.m. Men s Breakfast 11 Transfiguration of Our Lord 12 13 14 15 16 17 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship 11:30 a.m. SPAGHETTI DINNER & VBS FUNNDRAISER 3:00 p.

7 FEBRUARY 2018 NEWSLETTER page 7 Photo Caption MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY :00 a.m. Deadline for Bulletin 9:30 p.m. Cable 4 5 th Sunday of Epiphany :00 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship & Holy Communion 11:30 a.m. Coffee Hour 3:00 p.m. Cable Office Closed 8:30 p.m. Cable 10:00 a.m. Women s Bible Study 6:30 p.m. Bell 7:15 p.m. Choir 9:00 a.m. Deadline for Bulletin 11:15 a.m. Meals on Wheels 9:30 p.m. Cable 8:30 a.m. Men s Breakfast 11 Transfiguration of Our Lord :00 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship 11:30 a.m. SPAGHETTI DINNER & VBS FUNNDRAISER 3:00 p.m. Cable Office Closed 8:30 p.m. Cable 6:30 p.m. Exec. Meeting 7:00 p.m. Council Meeting ASH WEDNESDAY 5:30 p.m. Soup Supper 6:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service 6:30 p.m. Confirmation 9:00 a.m. Deadline for Bulletin 9:30 p.m. Cable 18 1 st Sunday of Lent :00 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship & Holy Communion 11:30 a.m. Coffee Hour & Crafters Office Closed 12Noon: Deadline for Newsletter 5:30 p.m. Book Club 10:00 a.m. Women s Coffee Fellowship 5:30 p.m. Table Talk Workship & Soup Supper 9:00 a.m. Deadline for Bulletin 3:00 p.m. Cable 8:30 p.m. Cable 6:30 p.m. Bell 7:15 p.m. Choir 9:30 p.m. Cable 25 2 nd Sunday of Lent :00 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship 11:30 a.m. Coffee Hour & Crafters 3:00 p.m. Cable Office Closed 8:30 p.m. Cable 5:30 p.m. Table Talk Worship & Soup Supper with Bishop Ann 6:30 p.m. Bell 7:15 p.m. Choir ONE ANOTHER! John 13:34

8 FEBRUARY 2018 NEWSLETTER page 8 UPDATE: CONGREGATIONAL MEETING from page 2 A report from the Call Committee shared that the Ministry Site Profile will be reviewed and approved by the Council at the February 13th meeting. Following any requested revisions, the document will be submitted to the ELCA that week. Bishop Ann will be coming to Calvary on February 28th to meet with the congregation and discuss our plans for our future Pastor. Join us for the our Midweek Soup Supper and Worship at 5:30 p.m. and join the conversation. WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT CALVARY? Prior to adjourning the Congregational meeting attendees were asked to write down their answer to the question: "What are you most excited about regarding Calvary s future? We received 22 responses to the question that centered around four main themes of "Future", "Community", "Congregation", Worship/Music". A few select responses include: What is exciting to me is the great, dedicated people who care strongly about this church. There is hope and joy among the members. Give thanks to God for this! A path with sufficient structure but still retains flexibility to adapt. This past year, we spent looking at facts and situations more objectively. It was very useful to get us where we are today, looking to the future. Enthusiasm in our congregation is getting out into the community. Letting more community members be aware we are here. I m inspired by the worship at Calvary and am excited to be a part of the music ministry team. If you are interested in reviewing all the responses, please stop by the office and get a copy from Sue in the Church Office. It will warm your heart and make you smile and thank God for his guidance in bringing our church to this important spot in time, on the cusp of transformation! Thanks be to God! Our Mission: Calvary Lutheran Church welcomes all who desire to grow in the love and compassion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, worship the triune God, and witness in service to our community and the world.

by Pastor Wade Wacholz

by Pastor Wade Wacholz CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH 6817 ANTRIM ROAD EDINA, MN 55439-1704 PHONE: 952.941.1251 OFFICE CLOSED ON MONDAYS Tuesday-Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Welcome! Worship! Witness! January 2019 PASTOR S PAGE by