Pastor’s Ponderings

Happy St. Nicholas Day! In many parts of the world, December 6 is the feast day of Saint Nicholas of Myra. It is celebrated as a Christian festival with particular regard to Saint Nicholas' reputation as a bringer of gifts, as well as through the attendance of church...

What qualities do you value most? What values do we share as a congregation? And what values do we hope to see more of in our life together? Identifying our values as individuals and as an organization helps us know who we are and where we are headed. Values shape our...

The children sang last Sunday morning at the beginning of the worship service. It was wonderful to see and hear them. The song they sang has stayed with me this week, especially as we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday.   “Count your Blessings” by Johnson...

I hope you are enjoying the lovely weather we’ve been having. The colors of the leaves and clouds and sky are dazzling to see. Even though the leaves need to be raked and cleared away, the world is full of brilliant colors that take the breath away.   I remember...

Last Sunday, we welcomed back the members of the Grateful Hearts class. It was great to see them with us again in the parish hall and the sanctuary. I want to offer my thanks to all those who are working to restart the Grateful Heart class here at Calvary Church. The...

There was a lot taking place in the Parish Hall last Sunday. Over 10,000 meals were put together in under four hours. More than 75 volunteers were busy giving their time – and chatting with new friends. And we all got to try on some lovely red hair nets! It was a...

This Sunday is Mission Sunday!    Every Sunday, we worship with our hearts and voices. This Sunday, we will add it in our hands as well. Please plan to join us for a time of volunteer service right here in our Parish Hall. Worship in the Sanctuary will be at 9:00...

Last Sunday, we welcomed four new people into the membership of the congregation. (Their names are listed below.) It is a joy to welcome them into the church family. We are also glad to have others who join us for worship regularly and new guests that we see on Sunday...

This morning in the Tuesday Bible study, we looked at Luke 11:27 -28.   A woman in the crowd listening to Jesus spoke up: “Happy is the mother who gave birth to you and nursed you.” But he said, “Happy rather are those who hear God’s word and put them into...

I am always interested in reading and entering the worlds that can be found in books. I like to read what other people are reading. It’s a great way to learn different views of the world or learn new things. Here’s an update on what I’ve been reading recently:  ...