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Ins ide th i s
i s sue . . . • Words from Pastor
Love
• September Birthdays and Anniversaries
• Ladies’ Guild, Quilters, Couples’ Club
• Preschool News & Lutheran Hour
• Rally Day / Sunday Schoool / CEC News and important parent meetings
• Food Pantry, LWML Happenings
• October Fish Fry, Women’s Bible Class resmumes
• Prairieview Fall Festival
• Bake-less Sale & August Council Minutes
mighty forgiveness of sins and the gift of eter-nal life.
Our ability to remain faithful comes from sticking close to Jesus Christ. Katerina Von Bora, wife of Martin Lu-ther said, “I will stick to Christ as a burr to a topcoat!”
By God’s grace through Jesus Christ, each and every day we can claim a new life, as we look forward to the life to come. By the beautiful and renewing power of the Holy Spirit through God’s Holy Scriptures and Holy Sacraments do we continue to fight the good fight of faith, and remain faithful even unto the point of death. By committed weekly worship in God’s house with our fellow family members in Christ do we refortify our faith and revive our souls. By the personal priority of daily prayer and daily devo-tion can we calm and shepherd our thoughts.
Prayer: God grant me strength to be faithful even unto death. In Je-sus my Everlasting Sav-ior, Amen!
Pastor Love
James Crane worked on the 101st floor of Tower I of the World Trade Center. He is blind so he has a gold-en retriever named Dai-sy. After the plane hit 20 stories below, James knew that he was doomed, so he let Daisy go, out of an act of love. She darted away into the darkened hallway. Choking on the fumes of the jet fuel and the smoke James was just waiting to die. About 30 minutes later, Daisy comes back along with James’ boss, who Daisy just happened to pick up on floor 112. On her first run of the building, she leads James, James’ boss, and about 300 more people out of the doomed building. But she wasn’t through yet, she knew there were others who were trapped. So, highly against James’ wishes she ran back in the building. On her second run, she saved 392 lives. Again she went back in. During this run, the building collapses. James hears about this and falls on his knees into tears.
Against all known odds, Daisy makes it out alive, but this time she is carried by a firefight-er. “She led us right to the people, before she got injured” the fireman explained. Her final run saved another 273 lives. She suffered acute smoke inhalation, severe burns on all four paws, and a broken leg, but she saved 967 lives.
The next week, Mayor Giuliani rewards Daisy with the Canine medal of Honor of New York. Daisy is the first civilian Canine to win such an honor.
Praise God for this beautiful example of f a i t h fu lness even among His simpler creatures. Being faithful in a fallen and continu-ally falling world is cer-tainly not easy.
We draw strength from the Son of God Himself, who left His throne above and was faithful even unto death on a cross that we might have the gift of eternal life. Only because of Jesus Christ faithful-ness unto death do we have the greatest gifts of all, the gift of the al-
FAITHFUL IN A FALLEN WORLD
Calvary Ev. Lutheran Church and Preschool
120 E. Hickory St. Watseka, IL 60970
Regular Office Hours Mon — Fri 9 AM — 3 PM
STAFF: Rev. Don Love............. Pastor Margo Legan .......... Preschool Director Julie Ahlden ........... Preschool Teacher Benjamin Light ............. Office Manager
Office ............... 815-432-4136 Preschool ......... 815-432-4137 Fax/Fellowship Hall .................. 815-432-3535 Parsonage........ 815-432-5381 Pastor’s Cell..... 815-922-0397
See the newsletter in full, glorious color! At calvarywatseka.com
SEPTEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER
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QUILTERS will be taking a break until Thursday, Sept 13. They will then resume their weekly 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Thursday timeslot.
We received a letter from the two congregations of Faith
Lutheran Church of Merrill, WI and St John Lutheran
Church of Athens [Hamburg], WI. They have extended
a Divine call to Pastor Love, and they write:
“As Pastor Love considers his decision, we ask you to join us in
praying that the Holy Spirit may guide him and that the will
of God may be done.”
I would like to thank Pastor Love and all of my church fami-ly for all of the prayers, cards, and visits. It was very much
appreciated; and, frankly, overwhelming. God bless you all. - Roy Koester
Attent ion Ladies ’ Gui ld ! Ladies ’ Gui ld Salad Luncheon
Tuesday, Sept 11, 2018 at 12:30 PM Please bring a salad to share. Table service and drinks fur-nished. Officers are in charge – Short meeting to follow. All ladies are welcome to join us!
COUPLES CLUB will meet Sunday September 16th at 11:30 am at Monical’s Pizza for a planning meeting. Please join us to plan our activities for this coming year! Please call or text Gretchen by September 14th if you will be attending (815-471-2906).
Melva Davis (82!) 09/01
Owen Swartz 09/01
Leona Vitous (84!) 09/01
Jacob Wessels (20!) 09/02
Sally Allhands 09/04
Deanna Martin 09/04
Beth Schaumburg 09/04
April Whittington 09/04
Tina Douglas 09/07
Tyler Allhands 09/08
Kyli Rabe 09/08
Jim Williams 09/08
Lela Hofer (95!) 09/09
Henrietta Lynch (96!) 09/09
K. Rick Elliott 09/11
Coy Hamilton 09/11
Kolby Lefeave 09/11
Ruth Bannister (70!) 09/12
Jeffrey Bell 09/12
Tonya Smith (30!) 09/12
Myka Eckert 09/13
Tonya Gaffield (50!) 09/13
Kay Skates 09/13
Michelle Atwood 09/16
Brayden Shephard 09/16
Donald West 09/16
Isaac Anthony 09/18
Aaron Inman (10!) 09/18
Madelyn Pfingsten 09/18
Bev Chase 09/19
Mark Kollmann 09/21
Rebecca Wright (40!) 09/22
Alverda Voigt (90!) 09/23
Judah Williams 09/23
Shirley Biernat 09/24
Katelyn Gaffield 09/24
Roland Kuhlman 09/25
Eric Love 09/27
Ralph Wilkening (86!) 09/27
Mike Wright 09/27
Nancy Elliott 09/28
Lukas Lefeave (1!) 09/28
Mike Townsend (83!) 09/28
Linard Kessinger (94!) 09/29
Betty Regnier (60!) 09/29
Dalton Day 09/30
Shelby Jean Townsend (81!) 09/30
September Birthdays! Jim & Catherine Williams 09/04/1976
Ryan & Abby Swartz 09/07/2002
James & Connie Bruns 09/13/1980
Jeremy & Tina Douglas 09/20/1992
Arnold & Mary Pfingsten (66 years!) 09/20/1952
Tia & Joshua Hoy 09/21/2002
Edward & Mary Varner (51 years!) 09/23/1967
Tyler & Michelle Atwood 09/25/1999
Tricia & Steven Shephard 09/26/2009
Tim & Nancy Wessels 09/26/1992
Don & Phyllis Ehmen (62 years!) 09/29/1956
September Anniversaries!
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Wow! Back to school time! It’s hard to believe we haven’t had Preschool in three months! We have been working hard in our classrooms getting things set up and ready for the student’s first day! We have a very full house this year with limited openings. We are blessed to have so many students coming so we can share the LOVE of Jesus with them! We ask that you please pray for us and for the students and their families as we all start fresh this fall!
Serving Him, Margo and Julie
LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES CALLS NEW FULL-TIME SPEAKER LHM is pleased to announce that the Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler of St. Louis, Missouri, has accepted a call to serve as Speaker of The Lutheran Hour radio program. Zeigler succeeds to the microphone following the departure of Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz, who accepted a call in 2017 to serve as executive director of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty. He will officially begin his ministry with LHM on Oct. 1 and will broadcast his first sermon on Reformation Sunday (Oct. 28).
With the all the recent efforts around calling Rev. Dr. Zeigler, LHM has elected to dig into the archives this month instead of August. The classic sermons to be revisited include…
Sept 2 - "Eager to Preach the Good News" Dr. Oswald Hoffmann (Romans 1:14-17) In a classic message from 1968, Dr. Oswald Hoffmann says, "The Good News (of Christ) is really good; good enough to believe, good enough to trust." Sept 9 - "The Changeless Christ for a Changing World" Dr. Walter A. Maier (Hebrews 13:8) In a classic message first heard in 1937, Dr. Walter A. Maier tells how Christ comes to us in our world of change and decay with a message of unchanging hope. Sept 16 - "The Mystery of God" Dr. Oswald Hoffmann (Isaiah 55:6-9) The undeniable hiddenness of God becomes the openness of God when you see His Son, Jesus Christ. Sept 23 - "Come, Lord Jesus" Rev. Dr. Dale A. Meyer (Exodus 16) In a classic message from 1998, Dr. Dale Meyer explains how a common table prayer reminds us of our dependence upon God and His gifts. Sept 30 - "Cut Off-for Us" Dr. Lawrence R. Rast Jr. (Mark 9:38-50) Sin is serious because it cuts us off from God. Guest speaker Dr. Lawrence Rast says Jesus was cut off from God, in our place. September airings of The Lutheran Hour on WIBK are sponsored by Calvary. Tune in Sundays at 8
AM to AM-1360 or FM-96.9.
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PRAIRIEVIEW FALL FESTIVAL will be held September 7 & 8. Calvary will again be in charge of the purses & scarves booth; however, you
may donate to all of the other booths, too:
Used books Jewelry Produce
Jams & jellies Plants
Baked goods
Donations may be left in the marked bin located in the Great Room. They ask for no crafts as Prairieview, Faith Place, & Luther Place all make crafts to sell.
Thank you to those who donated our silent auction items! Any questions, please call Betty Thompsen at 815-236-5663 or Carole Wellborn at 815-432-3056.
Together in Concert Matt Maher & Zach Williams
Oct 27, 2018 – 7 PM – Centennial Chapel @ Olivet Nazarene University Tickets are on sale now (and going quickly) for the ONU Homecoming concert featur-ing contemporary Christian musicians Matt Maher and Zach Williams. Tickets start at $20. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit chicago.shine.fm/concerts
Rally Day 2018 – Jesus Rocks!
“On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand”
Our theme for this year’s Rally Day is Jesus Rocks—which is Sunday, Sept 9th from 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM. There will be donuts and juice immediately following the service. Everyone is welcome! In lieu of the balloon launch, and to continue with our theme, this year we will be doing rock painting!! Please come for an hour of fun and fellowship!
Parent Planning Meeting – Sept 9th 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM Parents: We will be holding a planning meeting during the Rally Day activities. Please plan to attend and
bring your best ideas to brainstorm our future youth events!
There will be a SHORT Sunday School teacher’s meeting on Wednesday, September 5th at 7 PM in the church basement. Please plan to attend!
We also need a few more volunteers to teach 6th – 8th grade Sunday School on a rotating basis. If you can help, please call Perry Regnier (815-955-2201) or Tammy Orr (815-383-0204). Thank you!
CALVARY’S CEC CLASSES will resume on Wednesday, September 12th at 4 PM! Our instructors are looking forward to working again with our youth! This year’s teacher’s include…
3rd/4th grade: Susan Fortin 5th grade: Wayne Janssen 6th grade: Kerry Bell 7th/8th grade confirmation: Pastor Love
As a reminder, please plan to attend the Rally Day service on Sunday, September 9th. 2nd graders in Sunday School will receive Bibles and crosses, 3rd graders in CEC will receive catechisms, and
7th graders entering confirmation will receive study bibles.
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Ladies, mark your calendars! The Calvary Women's Bible Study group led by Marilyn Smith will resume meeting Monday, September 24 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. You are invited to join together in studying an exciting new Bible Study titled "Where Love Abides," written by Donna Pyle, who has a passion for studying and teaching God's word. It is based on John 15: 1-17 and is published in partnership with the LWML. In this scripture from John, Jesus talks with His disciples about God's vineyard. Donna takes an in-depth look at what it means to abide in Jesus, the True Vine, to bear lasting fruit. The study includes a DVD presentation by Donna, with a follow-up study in an accompanying workbook. A Lutheran author, Donna has written four books as well as many other Bible Studies.In great appreciation to Thrivent, these materials are being funded by a Thrivent Action Team grant. Hope to see you there.
Our Savior-Milford will be hosting their annual OUR SEASONS VINTAGE BAZAAR on Saturday, September 29, 2018 from 8 AM to 12:30 PM. Featured booths will include Mom’s Kitchen (Freshly Baked Breads/Canned Goods/Candies etc.), Children’s Corner, Holiday Happenings, Serendipity, Nana’s Attic, Wood Carvings by Darrell ‘Pod’ Janssen, and Whaley Woodcraft by Jerry Whaley!! Items for sale will include fresh baked Cinnamon Rolls and Coffee, Sweet Treats, Homemade Candies, Jewelry, Christmas Ornaments, Holiday Decorations, Handmade Crocheted, Knitted, and expertly Sewn Items, Antiques of all kinds, Woodworking creations plus something for you and gift ideas for everyone!! Mark your calendars and see you there!
The LWML Fall Rally will be held at St. Paul’s-Woodworth on Tuesday, Sept 18th from 8 AM -
Noon. Calvary’s LWML will also meet the next day, Sept 19th at 6:30 PM in the church basement. As always, all ladies of the congregation are
welcome!
REFILL THE FOOD PANTRY DRIVE SPONSORED BY THE EVANGELISM CMTE.
AUG 25TH – SEPT 9TH Envelope drive: Because more food can be purchased by the Food Pantry with financial donations, there will be an envelope drive on display and a
drop box for collecting donations located near the Evangelism table in the narthex. On Rally Day, Sept 9th: anyone from Sunday School age to youth and older are asked to bring either a jar of peanut butter or a jar of grape jelly for the food collection box. The Board of Evangelism will transport all collections to the Food Pantry.
Have a blessed gathering: $$’s and PB+J!!
CALVARY’S FISH FRY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19th
Note the date change. Calvary’s fish fry is a week earlier this year so as not to conflict with St. Paul-
Woodworth’s fish fry.
Calvary-style cod fish and all the trimmings will be served from 4:30 to 7 PM.
Dessert donations should be in the fellowship hall by 4 PM that day.
A free-will offering will benefit Calvary’s Preschool.
A bake sale sponsored by New Hope Lutherans for Life will also run during the fish fry.
MISSION GRANTS: 2018 – 2019
A mission goal of $95,000 for 2018 – 2019, twenty-five percent (25%) to be sent to National and seventy-five (75%) to be used for District-approved, prioritized mission projects.
The Mission Grants are listed in the order in which they will be paid. 1. Student Aid for Church Workers ------- $30,000 2. Camp Cilca Christian Growth Center - $15,000 3. Food Banks: Fort Wayne and St. Louis Seminaries ---------------------------------- $10,000 4. Removing Barriers (Camp CILCA) ---- $12,000 5. Deaconess Kim Bueltmann, Refugee Outreach Facilitator ------------ $ 4,250
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Calvary Lutheran Church Church Council Board Meeting 7:00 PM – August 18, 2018
The meeting was called to order by President Denney Smith at 7:00 pm with 12 council members present, plus 2 guests. Pastor Love led the group in an opening devotion and prayer based on 1 John 5:2-3 - True love is seeking God’s will. Board and Committee Reports Financial Secretary’s Report James Bruns reported total receipts for July, 2018 of $18,582.30 and the total receipts for the year as $143,381.78. A copy of the complete report is kept on file. Treasurer’s Report Haley Anderson reported that the General Fund has a balance of $56,948.81 as of July 31, 2018. A copy of the complete report is kept on file. Board of Elder’s Report Head Elder Ron Thompson said the board had no report. Board of Evangelism Report Chairman Susie Boomgarden reported that on July 31, three board members, their husbands and Pastor and Kim Love had a casual gathering at the Boomgarden farm. The full board then met on August 8. Upcoming events are: Refill the Food Pantry Day, envelopes only, from August 25 to September 9, 2018; Rally Day – Sept. 9 - Bibles will be distributed to second graders; Mission Festival September 28 & 29 - serve cookies; Fish Fry in October - Brochures about Calvary will be provided; and December - Operation Shoebox Gifts for Children. Board of Christian Education Report In the absence of the board members, Tammy Orr reported that on Sunday, Aug. 19 the children of all ages will be encouraged to bring their book bags to the divine service. Pastor will invite them to come forward for a blessing and a prayer for the 2018-2019 School Year. Each child will receive a cross to attach to their school book bags. Sunday, Sept. 9 is the Sunday School Rally Day with the theme, “Jesus Rocks”. Many exciting things are planned for this day. There is still a need for a few more Sunday School teachers for the older children. Nancy Reynolds has volunteered to co-chair the Sunday School Superintendent position with Tammy Orr. Angie Potts will continue to help with special projects. Susan Fortin has volunteered to teach the 3rd and 4th grade CEC classes. She and Tammy will sort through the wonderful curriculum materials collected by Kathy Long. Wayne Janssen will teach the 5th grade with Denney Smith serving as his substitute. Kerry Bell will teach the 6th grade. Pastor Love will conduct the 7th and 8th grade Confirmation class.
Calvary’s LWML will be having a BAKE-LESS BAKE-SALE September 9th and 16th. The proceeds will be going to the Feed the Children Backpack Program in Danville, Illinois.
Rose Gates, a member of Trinity Lutheran in Danville, started this program in 2010 when
she learned that many children go hungry on the weekends. She strongly believed that this should not be happening in our country.
Out of the need she saw, she started Feed the Children Backpack Program. During the school year volunteers fill the backpacks with nonperishable food items and the backpacks are sent home with children on Fridays. The children in need have been identified by teachers and social workers and are from seven different schools in the Danville area.
The Danville Zone of LWML of which Calvary LWML is a part of, are collecting monetary donations this fall to be used to buy food for this backpack program. Thank you for helping us support this much-needed program! Trudy Bell
7 Preschool Board Report Margo Legan reported that Julie Ahlden, teacher for the 3 yr. olds was having a Meet the Teacher night on Aug. 14th, and Margo Legan, teacher of the 4 yr. olds was conducting hers on Aug. 28. At this time, Margo has one opening in her class, with 39 students registered and Julie has 7 openings in her class, with 27 registered. Class limit is 40 and 34, respectively. Classes start on Sept. 4th and 5th , 2018. Margo thanked Murray Schaumburg for helping spread the new mulch on the playground. Board of Youth and DCE Committee Report No report was given by the Board of Youth. The DCE Committee met on Monday, Aug. 6. Board of Property Report Randie Orr reported that Bobbie Marquis said that the tree and stump removal approved at the last council meeting would be completed by September 4, 2018 before preschool starts. In response to a request by Roger Lebeck, Murray moved and James Bruns seconded the motion that one of the three fireproof filing cabinets located in the Preschool area be donated to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Woodworth, IL. The motion passed. James Good Charitable Trust Committee Wayne Janssen reported that they had provided assistance to one individual. He and Robert Lubben will meet to consider a request made by a Calvary member. Pastor Love’s Report Pastor Love reported that 9 kids had attended the Turkey Run outing and had a lot of fun. A water wars and cook-out will be held at the parsonage this coming Sunday, Aug. 19 hosted by Pastor and Kim. Pastor will be traveling to Faith Lutheran Church in Merrill, WI and St. John Lutheran Church in Hamburg/Athens, WI on Thursday, Aug 16 to visit the churches that have extended a call to him. He will return in time for weekend services. Pastor will be on vacation from Aug. 20 - Sept. 2, 2018. Pastor Lynn Podoll will conduct services on Aug. 25 and 26. Pastor David Putz will conduct services on Sept. 1 and 2. President’s Report No report was given. Unfinished Business Missy West reported that the church van will be used again this school year to transport children to St. Paul’s Woodworth School. 11 children from 7 families want to ride on it. At the parent’s meeting, two volunteered to drive the van. More drivers are needed. Notices requesting drivers have been placed in the Faith Lutheran Church bulletin as well as ours and Woodworth’s. In order to drive the van, a person needs to take a driving test to become certified. Missy and Margo both reported that the van is easy to drive and the driving test went well. There is one driver from Calvary at this time. Leon Pfingsten will drive the van on Wednesday mornings. More drivers are needed. Missy encouraged everyone to consider volunteering for this important mission. Murray Schaumburg, reported that Woodworth has scheduled a Fish Fry on the fourth Friday in October, the usual date for Calvary’s Fish Fry. Woodworth said they would be unable to change their date as it has already been announced. Murray will check with Bev Chase to see if moving Calvary’s Annual Fish Fry up to the third Friday, October 19, 2018 will work for her. (Note: Bev has been in charge of the kitchen, scheduling the workers, buying the paper products, ordering all of the beverages and the food, except for the fish, the past several years. Murray has been in charge of ordering the fish, oil and batter, as well as lining up the deep fat fryers and the men to fry the fish.) Adjournment Richard Boomgarden moved for adjournment. Robert Lubben seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm. Closing Prayer Pastor Love led the council in praying the Lord’s Prayer. Respectfully Submitted, Marilyn Smith, Secretary
