CALVARY LUTHERAN

TIDINGS 2016

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“It’s going to get worse before it gets better”. Have you ever been told that before? Sometimes medical personnel say something like this to prepare you for a difficult surgery or procedure, acknowledging the risk and pain of what must be endured, to cure or ‘fix’ whatever is ailing us. One could say the same about the times we are going through, even the

November election. As I write this, one political party has already declared the other ‘the enemy’ and vows to make the election a ‘war’—can’t wait to see how the other party ratchets up the rhetoric. (Can you allow me a little cynicism?). Sarcasm aside, we are in a turbulent period, there is no question about that. There are wars and rumors of wars. The earth is convulsing either from natural cycles or because of humanity’s impact on the environment—more than likely a combination of the two. Terrorism continues to raise its ugly head, both international and domestic. Anger over a number of different issues is boiling over into violence, lives are lost and words are spewed with acidic venom. While this is not new and I have written about it before, I want to remind you again of the words that saw Martin Luther through the tumult of clashes with Pope, peasantry and political powers-the words that he turned into a famous hymn beloved by generations of Lutherans, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”

1God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,

though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; 3though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble with its tumult. 4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy habitation of the Most High.

5God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;

God will help it when the morning dawns.

6The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;

he utters his voice, the earth melts.

7The LORD of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Psalm 46:1-7 NRSV

Let these words be your comfort and calm your hearts through the tumult that roils around us.

Pastor Chris

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HOSPITALIZED? PLEASE LET US KNOW If you are hospitalized, please contact (or have a friend or family member contact) the church office and let us know so that we can visit and pray with you. Providing pastoral care is an important part of our ministry, however, we cannot visit if we don’t know, so please don’t hesitate to call or email the church office, so that we can be there for you. Thanks! Pastors Sheryl and Chris

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COUNCIL MINUTES SUMMARY

July 11, 2016

Finance Report –Started month with 10,194.00, ended with $2633.00, but paid 2 quarters of

insurance premium last month - $8350.00. Received $1000.00 towards a carpet shampooer. Still

need another $500.00. Started year with $600.00 towards annual BBQ; will clear roughly

$3500.00 after all bills are paid. Current with mission and social ministries.

Brief Board/Committee Reports:

School of Early Childhood – Income up, have taken in $94,000.00 for 5 months. As of Dec. 1,

anyone making $46,000.00 will go to hourly as required by new federal overtime hours rules.

Will need to figure out wage comparable to what Becky Jo (Director of SOEC) is receiving now.

Parish Education –Since attendance for Sunday School has been down, looking into possibili-

ties for Sunday School, maybe 1 Sunday a month, do adult and children’s Sunday school togeth-

er. VBS starts July 17th with supper from 5:30pm to 6:00pm and VBS from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

Trustees –Replaced window by north door. Water fountain has been fixed. Working on replac-

ing 3 old air conditioners in Daycare area with new ones. Arrangements to clean carpet in

Fellowship room, hallway and reception area with Steve’s carpet cleaning after VBS.

Worship and Music – Computer which runs the Worship PowerPoint isn’t working quite right

and looking into purchasing a new laptop. Actively looking for a Chime Director since Livvy

Michael will be leaving for college.

BBQ – Brought in around $6000.00, $2000.00 will go out for expenses. Fed a record number of

Lakota Center folks – very grateful.

New Business: Grant is resigning from heading up the BBQ for next year. Will be actively

looking for someone to replace him. Do we form a committee or suggest a possible stewardship

approach, will need to have the pastors involved and maybe do a “Temple Talk” at one of the

church services. Jack will take on and speak with pastors.

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SING PRAISE TO THE LORD!

Before Choir practice starts for the fall, we will be having a Kick-off Potluck Picnic at Larry and Beth Janecek’s home at 50169 Hilyard Drive in Mitchell at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 28th.

Anyone interested in being part of the choir this fall is welcome to join us! Bring food to share. Table service and drinks will be provided. Spouses welcome!

ADULT CHOIR PRACTICE

Starts Wednesday, August 31st at 7:00 p.m. in the choir loft. If you like to sing, please come and join us. For questions, contact Becky Martin at 435-3993.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Thank you very much to all of our Calvary families that helped make this year's CaveQuest Vacation Bible School such a huge suc-cess! We reached nearly 70 children with God's message during our evening VBS and our daycare VBS in the morning. Thanks to all of you, we fed our children, provided a fun "cave" experience, and sent all sorts of sciency gadg-ets home with the kids. We also provided fun CaveQuest t-shirts for them all!

Our mission for Operation Kid to Kid will help families in North America who need repairs done to their unsafe homes. Thanks to all who contributed money to this cause! We raised over $233.43! Lots of life lessons were learned and lots of giggles could be heard...especially when Clark visited with his "personal fall stopper"!

JAM starts on September 7th 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall

This is for all Calvary kids & friends ages 4 years through 6th grade. Please join us for dinner at 6 p.m. and then we will have de-votions, music, crafts and fun activities until 7:30 p.m.

Chime Choir— Students in grades 4-6 are invited to be a part of this amazing choir. Practice is a 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. Start date TBA.

Anyone who would like to volunteer to help with JAM, please see Angie Hinze or call her at 631-2768.

CALVARY SUNDAY SCHOOL

Begins September 11 with our Rally Sunday!

VBS Kids will sing this Sunday also!!

We NEED teachers to help out with our pre-school through 6th grade!

Please consider this service to our youth.

There will be a sign up sheet on the youth bulletin board.

EPIC (grades 7-12) will meet at 9:00 a.m. for Bible study!

STEWARDSHIP—EVERYTHING BELONGS TO GOD

‘It is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.’ 1 Corinthians 4:2

In Chapter 4 ‘Faithful Living’ of Giving to God by Mark Allan Powell argues that everything we have belongs to God. He goes on to say two attitudes we should have are gratitude and trust. Everything we have is an unwarranted gift from God, and we should be grateful for what we have been given. We should also trust that God will provide and we should not worry about the necessities. God will provide them.

God entrusts us to be wise money managers when it comes to finances. We should develop a budget so that we can spend our money wisely and pleasing to God. Powell also says we should not be hoarders or squanderers of our money. To be faithful stewards we should spend our money in God-pleasing ways. Christian stewardship is being frugal with every-thing in moderation distinguishing between luxury and necessity. Wealthy Christians should not feel guilt for having wealth as it is God’s blessing. Deliberate spending as within a budg-et will allow us to enjoy the pleasures of life—also a gift from God.

Powell says: the most important point is that we should recog-nize faithful stewardship is not just giving to churches, charities and worth causes, but what we do with the rest of our money. We should use it in ways that are pleasing to God.

August Mission Project

Our Mission Project for August is DOVES. Domestic violence is alive and well in our local communities. Scottsbluff/Gering provides access to a 24 hour crisis hotline and a shelter where those trying to escape abuse may find refuge. The shelter is al-ways grateful for donations for the shelter and to help people set up new households. Some items needed include, non-perishable food items, cleaning supplies including brooms, mops, buckets, paper towels, and sponges. Other items needed: dishes, pots/pans, silverware, and kitchen utensils, toys, books, puzzles for the kids, sanitary products, shampoo and toothpaste, hair brushes and personal items. Don’t forget those motel groom-ing items when traveling!! NO CLOTHING.

WOMEN’S SUMMER STUDY SCHEDULE August Study Groups Meet

Our August study finishes our three part series titled The Heart of the Matter. In our last session we will about the healing words of reconciliation. We will have a combined study group on Saturday, August 6

th at

9:00 am at Perkins. We will share breakfast or coffee (your choice) and Bible Study.

All Ladies are welcome to join us!

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We ENCOURAGE every family of Calvary

to support our area Food Pantry and Backpack Program. The pantries provide important services to those in need and

can really help aid those families who are less fortunate.

This month’s Food Pantry item:

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY

This month’s Backpack Program item: PEANUT BUTTER 16 OZ.

SEPTEMBER’S items will be:

SOUPS SMALL CEREALS

We would like to thank everyone for the good wishes, cards, phone calls and for those who came to

the reception for our 65th anniversary.

It made for a very special day. A big thank you to Becky, Syl and

Gail for all of their work. God’s blessing to each of you.

Wes and Elnora Sell

Continued prayer for healing and a return to good health:

Jean Collins, Kathy Johnson, Joyce Fulk, Clyde Kleager,

Nancy Fuhrman, Kent Zweifel, and Lillian Blehm.

Our military: pray for those serving in areas of terror and

violence and for those waiting for them at home.

If you have Prayer Chain Request, please contact Nancy

Steele through her e-mail—nancylsteele@embarqmail.com

or phone her at 632-7558.

Art Hamburger 8/1 Barb Gorr 8/14

Lansen Fleenor 8/2 Michelle Smith 8/15

Deanna Zweifel 8/2 Trevor Brill 8/16

Travis Miller 8/4 Debra Cornell 8/16

Jo Heidingsfelder 8/4 Molly Bueide 8/17

Sheila Miller 8/4 Duane Dutenhoeffer 8/24

Craig Smith 8/6 Stephanie Todd 8/25

Gracee Michael 8/7 Whitney Belgum 8/28

Becky Michael 8/9 Ashley Sturgeon 8/28

Mike Bueide 8/11 Ashley Sturgeon 8/28

Carolyn Jensen 8/12 Allan Chatterton 8/28

Andrea Dorn 8/13 Kacey Fleenor 8/29

Rick Keller 8/30

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DO I REALLY NEED CARE

Am I confused about events in my life?

Do I feel like I have lost control of my life and my problems?

Do I doubt God’s presence and love for me?

Am I hurting?

Am I feeling lonely?

Do I ever feel like I just want someone to listen?

If you are going through a painful situation and would just like to have someone to talk to,

contact Marsha Bueide (635-1469) or Nancy Steele (632-7558) to connect you with an available

Stephen Minister from Calvary. If you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, please contact

Calvary’s Church Office Phone number: (308) 632-8023 or 632-8024

Contact the Office by E-mail at: office@calvaryelca.org

Send physical mail/offerings to: 17 E. 27th Street, Scottsbluff, NE 69361

Pastor Chris:Kester Beyer (402) 694-9189 pastorchriskb@gmail.com

Pastor Sheryl:Kester Beyer (402) 694-9182 pastorsherylkb@gmail.com

Pastors’ home phone: (308) 631-7656

Youth & Family Ministry Dir. Angie Hinze : 631-2768 angie@calvaryelca.org

Nancy Steele, PMA 632-7558 nancylsteele@embarqmail.com

School of Early Childhood: Becky Jo Wylie (308)-635-7666 beckyjo@calvaryelca.org

Deadline for weekly announcements is Wed. at 5 PM. Deadline for newsletter is the 20th of each month. Please send your items to Noni in the church office.

Find us on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/calvarylutheranscottsbluff

WEBSITE

www.calvarylutheranscottsbluff.org

WHEN YOU MISS WORSHIP:

Its all online!

The worship bulletin, sermon podcasts, as well as the ‘Taking Faith Home” inserts are all available on our website.

Just go to www.calvarylutheranscottsbluff.org and click on the worship tab.

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CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH

ELCA

The Tidings Newsletter

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