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Winter
Winter Program Guide
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Your guide to the activities at Calvary Church this upcoming season.
God’s Heart Surgery
A powerful look at the work God’s Word does on our hearts.
48 Sympathy Cards
One Calvary member shares how they experienced care in the midst of great loss.
Opportunities to Pray
Calvary’s Prayer Ministry Facilitator reminds us of the many ways we can pray as groups and individuals in this season.
Continuing our Journey Toward Racial Unity
A must-read update from Calvary’s Elders.
Your Winter Plan
This can be a season of isolation, but we have ways to help you say no to that pull.
Answer the Call
Serving at church can be incredibly meaningful, don’t miss out.
Deacon Update
Learn more about how God is working through the deacons at Calvary.
Calvary Kids Ministry
Calvary Kids’ Co-Directors offer an inside look at their ministry to kids birth through fourth grade.
Mercy & Missions Updates
Updates from the Mercy & Missions team.
Calvary Church
707 E Beltline Ave NE Grand Rapids MI 49525
Mailing Address: PO Box 1600 Grand Rapids MI 49501
Ph (616) 956-9377
Fax (616) 956-9723 calvarygr.org
CalvaryChurchGR calvarygr
WINTER 2024 PROGRAM GUIDE
SUNDAY MORNINGS
Worship & Prayer
Sunday Morning Worship Service
Calvary Church Sanctuary
9:00 & 10:45am
Both services are identical. All services are streamed live at calvarygr.org. We are currently studying the book of Ecclesiastes. This series in Ecclesiastes allows us the opportunity to have God deconstruct lies we are prone to believe, while also making space for God to reconstruct His worldview from other passages of Scripture. Join us!
Calvary Church welcomes people of all abilities. Special accommodations including reserved seating and wheelchair assistance are available. Inclusive worship is encouraged for all - in the Sanctuary with additional spaces available for those with sensory sensitivities. Many hearing aids offer hearing assistance by selecting the t-coil setting on your device. You can take advantage of this feature on the main floor behind row 6 of the main seating area. For more information, contact Zach Schmuck (zschmuck@calvarygr.org) .
Pre-Service Prayer
8:30-8:50am | Room 211B
Come pray with the morning’s teaching pastor and other participants that God would bless our worship services. All are encouraged to join.
Boiler Room Prayer
8:50-11:55am | Room 212
Pray over every aspect of the service as the Holy Spirit leads, assisted by a request sheet composed by staff. Open to all, come and go as able.
Adult Sunday Classes
Adult Sunday classes are committed to engaging deeply with the Bible and authentic biblical community. The focus of each class is growing in God’s Word, care, prayer, and community. Visit a few of the classes to see where God may lead you. Questions? Contact Karen (kvanholstyn@calvarygr.org) at ext. 5173.
9:00am Classes
Ambassadors | Chapel
A medium sized teaching-oriented class comprised of senior adults.
Flock | Room 252 | A medium sized teaching-oriented class comprised of senior adults.
Faith Builders | Room 260
A medium sized teaching-oriented class of couples and singles 40s-60s.
Family Tree | Room 251-253 | Does not meet on the 1st Sunday of the month
A medium sized multi-generational sermon discussion class focused on doing life together as we pray for one another and share what God is teaching us through the Sunday sermons. First Sunday is a potluck at someone’s home after second service.
Growing in Relationships | Room 261
Meet 2nd, 4th & 5th Sundays
A large teaching-oriented class of married, single, and remarried adults.
L.A.C.E. (Living After Christ’s Example)
Room 255 | Does not meet on the 2nd Sunday of the month
A small teaching-oriented class for women of all ages and life stages.
Young Marrieds | Room 264 | Designed to create community among newly married and engaged couples learning to keep Christ at the center of their relationship.
10:45am Classes
Faith & Fellowship | Room 264
A medium sized sermon discussion class of all ages and life stages.
Heirs Together | Chapel
A welcoming community of adults who love biblical principles, prayer, missions, revival, member care, and ministry to others.
Journey | Room 265
A large, teaching-oriented class of all ages and life stages.
Koinonia | Room 260
A medium sized sermon discussion class of all ages and life stages who love Jesus.
Legacy Builders | Room 106A
A small discussion style class of all ages and life stages that studies the Bible inductively verse by verse.
Sojourners | Room 252
A medium sized teaching-oriented class comprised primarily of senior adults who are seeking to become more inter-generational.
Kids & Students
9:00 & 10:45am (Nursery - Fourth Grade)
Check-in: All children need to receive their nametags at the check-in area at the bottom of the stairs, then be escorted by a parent or guardian to the room number printed on their name tag.
Inclusion is encouraged for children of varied abilities, K – 4th grade. If extra support is needed, an individualized Care Plan can be developed alongside our facilitator, Pam Cook, (pcook@ calvarygr.org).
Holiday Sundays: December 1 & 29, February 16 - On these Sundays, the only Calvary Kids Ministry available is nursery & preschool.
Students
56: Sunday Class
Unit 3 Passover | Nov 3 - Dec 8
Unit 4 Pillar | Jan 19 - Feb 2
Unit 5 Promise | Feb 16 - Mar 2
10:30am | Room 108 | $5
Registration Required
Join us for our parent and student Sunday class! This year we will be walking through the Old Testament and seeing how it all points to Jesus! We will have art projects, interactive lessons, and in-depth conversations about this deep and fascinating topic! This class is meant to be a supplement to your time worshiping with your fifth and sixth grader in the main service. Register at calvarygr.org/events.
7&8: Sunday Morning Class
Sundays | 10:45am-12:00pm | Room 109
Calvary Church believes that each student (above 4th grade) should be attending Calvary’s Sunday Morning Worship Service. Therefore, this class is not a replacement for, but in addition to, that service. Students must attend the 9:00am service in order to be a part of this class. This class is for students only. The point of this class is to discuss the Sunday morning sermon, offer space for students to ask tough questions, and attempt to draw practical applications for our lives as 7th & 8th grade students.
Adults
What We Believe - Membership Class
Sundays, January 12 – February 9 10:45am-12:00pm | Registration Required
This five-session class is open to anyone wanting to explore what Calvary Church believes and teaches. It is a pre-requisite for membership, but we encourage anyone who wants to become more familiar with what we believe to take the class. The class is open to anyone 12 years of age or older. Questions? Contact Karen (kvanholstyn@calvarygr.org) at ext. 5173. Register at calvarygr.org/classes.
SUNDAY NIGHTS
*Students
We will observe a Winter Break on February 16. There will also be no programming on December 1 and 29, as those are Holiday Sundays.
High School Ministry | Sunday Evenings
6:30pm-8:30pm | Room 208
Registration required at calvarygr.org/hsm
High School Ministry – HSM for short –is Calvary’s youth group for those in 9th12th grade. We exist to connect students to meaningful community with their peers (& awesome adult leaders), and to encourage them to know and follow Jesus for themselves. We also believe in having as much FUN as possible while pursuing those two goals. We strive to be a community that is unified, prayerful, and seeking to serve and we hope you will join us!
During your time at HSM, you will be led in worship through song by an incredible, student-led worship band, enjoy a fun game or activity, hear a relevant message from God’s Word, and conclude our time together in small group discussions.*
*Small groups meet during HSM from 7:45-8:30pm in breakout rooms in or near our student space.
Overtime Hangout | Sunday Evenings After HSM (8:30pm-9:00pm) | Room 208
We hope you’ll join us for “Overtime” hangout each Sunday after HSM, where the goal is simply to have a blast building community through a variety of planned activities.
Holiday Sundays: December 1 & 29, February 16 - On these Sundays, HSM will not meet.
Adults
Rooted
Sunday, January 26 – March 30 4:00-6:00pm | $20 Register at calvarygr.org/rooted
Are you looking to better connect to community here at Calvary? Rooted is a new experience designed to connect you to God, the church, and your purpose. Together, in groups of 10-15 people from all walks of life, you’ll explore the Bible, engage in prayer and serve experiences, share stories, and practice rhythms essential to a healthy spiritual life. These spiritual rhythms aren’t new, or something the church recently created, every one of them is found in Acts 2 where the early church began. Limited childcare available (toddlers-elementary)
NOTE: Rooted is a 10-week experience. Commitment is key to the experience and success. We ask that you ensure you can attend 70% (7 out of 10) of the gatherings. This is a kindness to you and the rest of the group.
WEDNESDAY
NIGHTS
The Fall semester ends on December 18 and the Winter/Spring Semester will begin on January 8. Wednesday Night programming will observe Winter Break on February 19.
The foundation of the Wednesday Night experience at Calvary is the Wednesday Fellowship Dinner. A hearty, healthy meal featuring a rotating entree, pizza or chicken nuggets, and a salad bar. More than just solving the equation of what you’ll have for dinner on a busy weeknight, WFD is a low-stakes opportunity to gather around the table with your church friends. It’s a casual time for community that you don’t have to organize or plan - just show up! Every week is a chance to meet someone new or deepen an exisiting relationship. The menu is available at calvarygr.org/events.
4:30-6:30pm
Gathering Place
Cost: $7
$28 max per immediate family
Kids & Students
Kids-N-Action
Wednesdays | 6:30-7:45pm | Cost: $5 Register at calvarygr.org/kna
Children from birth through 4th grade are invited to join us on Wednesday evenings for our Kids-N-Action programming! It is our desire that children understand what God says in the Bible, believe it, and put it into action in their daily lives. KNA is designed to foster social interaction through Bible stories, electives, and small groups while facilitating spiritual growth in learning how to put your faith into action!
If your child is in Pre-K, this program is only available to kids whose parents are in a class/study or volunteering at Calvary on Wednesday nights.
Fifth & Sixth Grade
Wednesdays | 6:30-7:45pm
Meet & Pick Up: Room 108
Registration required at calvarygr.org/56
Join us for our Wednesday night programming in 56! We have large group worship, small group discussions, free time activities, and are studying the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in our series, Dispatched. Each week, we look into how God is dispatching us to help build up His kingdom in the places He has us.
Seventh & Eighth Grade
Wednesdays | 6:30pm-7:45pm | Room 208
Registration required at calvarygr.org/78
Join us each Wednesday Night where students will get an opportunity to connect with friends, spend time worshipping God through song and by diving into His Word, play a fun game, and get a chance to dig even deeper with their peers in adult-led small groups (broken up by grade and gender).
Adults
The Conversation
Wednesdays | 6:30-7:30pm | Room 215
This is an ongoing group that you can “jump into” at any time. In The Conversation, our goal is to create a spontaneous community comprised of anyone who might walk into Calvary. Together we will seek out scriptural truth, transparency in our lives, truth in repentance, and take time to just fully love on one another by the power of Jesus Christ our Lord! There is no script or study we follow, we let the Holy Spirit take control and follow His prompting.
Discipleship 101
February 26 – April 2 | 6:30-7:45pm Room 252-254 | $5 Register at calvarygr.org/classes
As followers of Jesus we are given an incredibly important job… “go and make disciples of all nations.” Are you ready to help others grow spiritually? This class will provide a helpful resource guide for discipleship that covers essentials like how to help someone write their testimony, share the Gospel, pray and read the Bible. We’ll talk about accountability, stewardship and multiplication. Come as a refresher or if you are just beginning to live out the Great Commission.
Embrace Life
Wednesdays | 6:20-7:45pm
Embrace Life at Calvary Church is a group for single moms who have children or are pregnant. Childcare + Dinner are included; dinner starts at 5:30pm and class starts at 6:20pm. If you are ready to thrive in motherhood, and learn more about God’s love and plans for you and your little ones, register at calvarygr.org/embracelife.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
Intercessors / Prayer Chain
Wednesdays | 6:30-7:45pm | Room 212
Open to anyone interested in praying for Calvary Church, its congregation, pastors, staff, volunteers and programming. Meet in person to pray over requests emailed weekly. Submit prayer requests to Cindy (cmarrell@calvarygr.org).
A Man & His Story
Wednesdays, January 8 – February 12
6:30-7:45pm | Room 265 | $10 Register at calvarygr.org/classes
Understand how your past shapes who you are today and enjoy God’s best for your future. A Man and His Story is part of the Authentic Manhood 33 series of six-week sessions that gives men a vision for manhood as modeled by Jesus in His 33 years on earth.
A Man & His Traps
Wednesdays, February 26 – April 2
6:30-7:45pm | Room 265 | $10 Register at calvarygr.org/classes
Identify the deep idols of your heart and develop a “Battleplan” built on God’s grace. A Man and His Traps is part of the Authentic Manhood 33 series of sixweek sessions that gives men a vision for manhood as modeled by Jesus in His 33 years on earth.
Parenting
Wednesdays, January 8 – March 12
6:30-7:45pm | Room 261 | $15 Register at calvarygr.org/classes
Parenting is hard! There are so many different opinions out there about the right or wrong way to parent and yet we still find ourselves often asking, am I doing it right? Parenting by Paul David Tripp is an excellent resource to remind us that God does have a plan for parents and His grace abounds within the difficulties that parenting brings. Come join us for discussion and real talk about the highs and lows of parenting this generation.
Unshackled Wednesdays | 6:30-7:45pm | Room 256
Unshackled is a weekly Bible study designed for men who are transitioning out of the jail/prison system and looking to build a firm, biblical foundation to help them grow and maintain their walk with Christ. Questions? Contact Lou DeGraaf (ldegraaf@calvarygr.org).
Using your Spiritual Gifts
Wednesdays, January 22 – February 12
6:30-7:45pm | Room 251-253 Register at calvarygr.org/classes
You have been given a special gift by the Holy Spirit in order to build up the church body! Come and discover your spiritual gift and how you can use it. In this course you will be equipped with a greater understanding of how spiritual gifts work in the church and the next steps to using your gifts for God’s glory.
Wednesday Women’s Bible StudyWinter/Spring Semester
Begins January 8 | 6:30-7:45pm Limited Space.
While the children are in Kids-N-Action, moms and working women come together for growth in God’s Word, prayer, and community. We invite you to join us on Wednesday evenings as we study the book of 1 & 2 Samuel, a heart-transforming journey to know better God’s heart, encouraging our hearts to become more like His.
The same study is offered on Monday evenings for both men and women, see page 8; and for women only on Tuesday mornings, see page 11.
What We Believe
Wednesdays, March 5 – April 2 6:30-7:45pm | Room 251-253 Register at calvarygr.org/classes
This five-session class is open to anyone wanting to explore what Calvary Church believes and teaches. It is a pre-requisite for membership, but we encourage anyone who wants to become more familiar with what we believe to take the class. The class is open to anyone 12 years of age or older.
Worship on Wednesdays
6:00-7:35pm | Chapel Come join us for Christ-centered worship, fellowship, and learning from God’s word. All are welcome!
KIDS & STUDENTS
Calvary
Kids
Birth-Fourth Grade
Contact: Brooke Hensler bhensler@calvarygr.org | ext. 5085
Kids-N-Action
Wednesdays | 6:30-7:45pm
See page 5 for details.
Family Game Night
Friday, January 17 | 6:00-7:30pm Gathering Place | Cost: $20 Per Family
Get ready for a night of laughter, excitement, and family-friendly competition at Family Game Night! We’ll have a selection of board games, card games, and group activities for all ages, but feel free to bring along any of your family’s favorite games to share with others. This is the perfect chance to discover new games and bring out the classics! Parents, you must attend this event with your child(ren).
Registration is required at calvarygr.org/ events. You will enter your family count at registration.The cost is $20 per family and covers the cost of dinner.
Family Winterfest
Saturday, February 22 | 9:30am-12:00pm Room 208 (Entrance D) | $20 per family
We may not be able to bring the sunshine to Michigan, but we can give a warm smile and a hot cup of coffee! Take a break from the winter cold and join us for a morning of fun. Bring your whole family out for games, inflatables, face painting, snacks, and of course, coffee! Register at calvarygr.org/events by February 20.
Fifth & Sixth
Fifth-Sixth Grade
Contact: Darcy Walukonis dwalukonis@calvarygr.org
56: Wednesday Nights
Wednesdays | 6:30-7:45pm
See page 5 for details.
Dads of 56 Bible Study
Mondays | 6:30-8:00am | Gathering Place
If you are the father of a current 5th or 6th grader, join us for a weekly Bible Study held on Monday mornings. We will start off each week spending time in fellowship and in Scripture-saturated conversations. All are welcome!
Underground Church
Friday, January 10 | 6:30-8:30pm
Meet & Pick Up: Room 108 | Entrance F Register at calvarygr.org/56underground
Join us for a thrilling game like hide and seek, but with a twist! As a persecuted pastor in hiding, we’ll need to outsmart the authorities to find our secret sanctuary. Stay in the shadows, gather your courage, and join the resistance.
Pajama Movie Night
Friday, February 7 | 6:30-8:30pm | Free Meet & Pick Up: Room 108 | Entrance F Register at calvarygr.org/56movienight
Hold the presses, movie buffs! Calling all popcorn aficionados! Mark your calendars for a cinematic adventure. Gear up for a night under the glow of the silver screen, where popcorn flies and laughter fills the air as we journey through a classic tale of a handpicked movie. Gather your squad, grab your comfiest PJs, and prepare to be transported to a world of wonder. It’s more than just a movie night – it’s a chance to bond with friends, share popcorn-fueled giggles, and create memories that’ll last longer than the closing credits. So don’t miss out on this epic evening of entertainment and camaraderie!
Seventh
& Eighth
Seventh-Eighth Grade
Contact: Darcy Walukonis dwalukonis@calvarygr.org
78: Wednesday Nights
Wednesdays | 6:30-7:45pm
See page 5 for details.
Christmas Movie Night & Ugly Sweater Competition
Friday, December 20 | 7:00-9:00pm
Meet & Pick Up: Room 208
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Do you love watching Christmas movies with friends? Do you have the most amazing ugly Christmas sweater? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you will not want to miss this event! Join us as we watch a holiday classic while eating Christmas cookies and drinking hot cocoa, all while wearing our ugliest Christmas sweater.
Craig’s Cruisers
Friday, January 10 | 6:00-9:00pm | $25 5730 Clyde Park Ave SW, Wyoming Register by Tuesday, January 7 at calvarygr.org/78cruise
Craig’s Cruiser’s is by far our most anticipated event of the whole year! If you’ve been, you understand why. Join us as we head back to Craig’s Cruisers this year and again enjoy their all-you-caneat buffet, trampoline park and unlimited activities! Whether you enjoy Laser Tag, Roller-Coasters, Trampoline Parks, Bumper Cars, Go-Karts, or just chilling at the buffet, you will not want to miss this event. There is absolutely something for everyone and we can’t wait to have you join us!
Winter Retreat
February 7-9 | Cost: $155 Register by January 28 at calvarygr.org/78winter
Join us as we head back to Spring Hill for this year’s 7&8: Winter Retreat! We truly believe that retreats are where students form and strengthen friendships, are challenged to grow in their relationship with Jesus, and also just provide a place to have tons of fun! So, whether you love swimming, snow tubing, basketball, high ropes course, 9-square, sipping hot chocolate, playing board games or just being with your friends, this is for you!
High School
9th-12th Grade
Contact: Darcy Walukonis dwalukonis@calvarygr.org
HSM Sunday Nights
Sundays | 6:30-8:30pm
See page 4 for details.
Lumberjack Christmas Party
Sunday, December 15 | 6:30-8:30pm
Join us for a festive Lumberjack Christmas Party that promises to be a roaring good time! Embrace the spirit of the season in your coziest flannel attire as we gather for an evening filled with holiday cheer and hearty traditions. Warm up with mugs of rich hot chocolate, and don’t forget to fuel up with a hearty lumberjack breakfast. Come for the fun, stay for the food, and leave with holiday cheer that’ll last all season long!
World of Winter Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, January 11 | 6:-00-8:00pm
Drop off and Pick-up: Rosa Parks Circle 135 Monroe Center St NW
New year’s resolution checklist: 1) Pass all my classes 2) Make new friends 3) Beat those friends mercilessly in a scavenger hunt around downtown GR! Come join us as we see over 100 art installations and see points of interest on a scavenger hunt around the downtown area. Once the hunt is over and the icy Michigan winter chill has set in, warm up with hot chocolate and conversation back at Rosa Parks Circle. Bonus! Some of us will stick around to ice skate, or laugh at people who try.
Winter Retreat
February 7-9 | Cost: $155 Register by January 28 at calvarygr.org/hsmwinter
Experience the joys of winter with friends at our SpringHill Winter Retreat! Whether you enjoy flying down the tubing hill, competing in tournaments, working with friends to get out of escape rooms, or just relaxing over a board game while
drinking cocoa, there is something for you at this retreat. Take a break from the normal rhythms to come rest and deepen relationships with friends, hear from awesome speakers, and worship in community on SpringHill’s beautiful campus!
Young Adults
College & Career (Ages 18-30)
Contact: Abby Nuenke anuenke@calvarygr.org
Tuesday Nights
Tuesdays | 8:00-9:30pm | Room 208 (Entrances D & E)
We exist to help Young Adults know God and actively live out their faith where they live, work, and play. So, come encounter Jesus in a community of young adults through worship music, teaching, testimony, and friendship. Doors open at 7:30. For updated information on events and other happenings at YA, head to our linktree: https://linktr.ee/ya.calvarygr.
Cannonsburg Tubing
January 31 | 6:00-9:00 pm | Cost: $25
6800 Cannonsburg Rd NE Registration Required by January 28
Calling all adventure lovers! Join us for an epic snow tubing night with all your friends from Young Adults! Whether you’re a snow pro or a first-timer, this is your chance to hit the slopes, enjoy the winter wonderland, and make unforgettable memories. Join us after in the Cedar Lodge for a cozy hot chocolate party to warm you up!
Muskegon Ice Skating Trail
February 22 | 1:00-3:00pm | Cost: $10
Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park 462 Scenic Drive N. Muskegon, MI 49445
Hey, young adults! Get ready to glide into winter fun at our Muskegon Ice Skating Trail event. Lace up your skates and enjoy a magical afternoon on the ice surrounded by beautiful trails and great company. Carpool option available, reverse a space in the van at https://linktr.ee/ya.calvarygr
ADULTS
All Adults
Contact: Karen VanHolstyn kvanholstyn@calvarygr.org
Monday Night Bible StudyWinter/Spring Semester Mondays, Beginning January 6 7:00-8:30pm | Gathering Place | $10
Men and women come together for large group teaching and gender specific small group discussion of the lessons.
Our study this year, King of our Hearts – A Study of 1 & 2 Samuel, will lead us on a heart-transforming journey to know better God’s heart, encouraging our hearts to become more like His. Questions? Contact Karen (kvanholstyn@ calvarygr.org) at ext. 5173.
Freedom in Christ for Men & Women
Thursdays, January 30 – April 3 | 6:308:30pm + Saturday, March 22 from 9:30am-4:30pm | $10 Register at calvarygr.org/classes
Join us for a 10-week life changing course designed to help every Christian become a fruitful disciple and live into freedom in Christ. We’ll look at what the Bible says about who you are in Christ and how to break free from whatever is holding you back from walking in freedom. If you are ready to take your walk with Christ seriously, this class will give you the tools to walk in victory. Note: The Saturday workshop is an important part of the class. Also, breakout groups are gender specific.
Forever Hope
Adoptive & Foster Care
Contact: Lou DeGraaf ldegraaf@calvarygr.org
Adoptive & Foster Moms Book Discussion December 18, January 15, February 26 9:30-11:30am or 6:15-7:45pm Calvary Kids Family Room
Join other adoptive/foster moms for inspiring discussions. We will be reading Reclaim Compassion: The Adoptive
Parent’s Guide to Overcoming Blocked
Care with Neuroscience and Faith by Lisa Qualls and Melissa Corkum. Questions? Contact Sheri Schmidt (sschmidt@calvarygr.org) ext. 5524
Men
Contact: Carla Julien cjulien@calvarygr.org
Basketball
Mondays | 6:30-9:00pm | Gym
Men’s open gym pick-up basketball. This is a great opportunity for men (age 19+) to enjoy some fellowship over a good game of basketball. For more information contact Mike (mensbball@ calvarygr.org).
Men at Noon
Tuesdays | 12:00pm
This group of men meet weekly throughout the whole year to do an inductive Bible study. Contact Russ (menatnoon@calvarygr.org) for more information.
Men of 7:24
Saturdays | 8:00-9:00am Room 265 (Entrance K)
Journey through Philippians with two purposes; to enable each man to discover what God is saying to him, and to grow and mature as an active disciple of Christ Jesus. Contact Denny (menof724@calvarygr.org) for more information on this group.
Men of 6:10
Wednesdays | 6:00-7:30am | Room 265
Inductive study of the book of Job meets on Wednesdays. Contact Earl (menof610@calvarygr.org) for more information.
Men of Prayer
Third Tuesday | 6:30-7:30am | Room 253
We need prayer warriors now more than ever! Join the praying men of Calvary church for a one-hour prayer meeting on the third Tuesday of the month. There
will be a brief devotional, worship, and a time of inviting the Lord’s presence in united prayer. Coffee will be available and you will be out by 7:30am. Will you give up one hour a month to make a lasting impact? See you there.
Lions vs. Packers Watch Party
December 5 | 7:00-11:59pm | Room 208
Calling all Lions fans and Cheese heads! Whether you are drinking the Honolulu blue Kool-Aid, or are a Packer for life, come out and enjoy the game with your brothers in Christ! We will have a light dinner, games and a devotional before kickoff. Register at calvarygr.org/men. This helps us plan for food and seating. Bonus! When you register, you can guess the final score for a chance to win a prize.
Men’s Breakfast
December 14 | 8:00-9:30am | $5
What does it look like to love like a man? Well Jesus was a man who walked this earth for 33 years and gave us the example of a man who lived, loved and acted like a man. Come join us for breakfast and the encouragement of other men as we dive deeper into what it means to love like the man, Jesus. Register at calvarygr.org/men, and bring a friend. We will see you soon.
Men’s Breakfast
January 11 | 8:00-9:30am | $5
Leadership at home can be one of the most difficult places to live into God’s calling for leadership in our lives. This is the place where people know you best and there is no place to hide your struggles. We want you to join us for encouragement and reassurance that leadership in the home although difficult is certainly God’s plan for all men. We hope you join us for some food and conversation around this tough topic. Register at calvarygr.org/men.
Sportsmans Banquet
January 25 | 5:00-8:00pm | $30
Calling all outdoorsmen! Get ready for an unforgettable evening at this year’s Sportsman’s Banquet! Jim VanSteenhouse, aka the Bear Man, will be our keynote speaker. You will not want to miss his amazing testimony of how God spared his life from the jaws of a grizzly. We will have fun for the whole family including games, prizes, and an amazing gourmet meal from our award-winning culinary team. Your registration will enter you into a drawing to receive one of many prizes including a Lake Michigan fishing charter or guided fishing trip and lodging in Ontario, Canada!! Grab your hunting and fishing buddies and sign up today at calvarygr. org/men. There is a $5 early bird discount if you sign up before January 1. This event will sell out! Register at calvarygr.org/men
Men’s Breakfast
February 8 | 8:00-9:30am | $5
Feelings, Facts, and Flesh. How do these three things dictate the way that we live and interact with others in our lives. We are called to live according to God’s word, but there are times when it seems like those lines get blurry or we struggle to know what to do. How can we live in such a way that God is always directing our path? Come join us for breakfast and a teaching in God’s word on this subject. Register at calvarygr.org/men.
OASIS (Senior Adults)
Contact: Carla Julien cjulien@calvarygr.org
Oasis Bible Study
Wednesdays | 9:45-11:00am
Gathering Place
Job 12:12 states, “Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old.” Are you convinced of this? We recognize the journey of getting older comes with blessings, lessons and challenges, but do you feel any wiser? As followers of
Jesus, were not to approach aging with dread, but as a gift from God. “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.” (Proverbs 16:31) And a righteous or God-honoring life can only come by the sanctifying work of the Spirit. A work constructed through His guidance. This study will offer us guidance, as we learn to fear the Lord, trust in Him, and to live wisely and well, in God’s care, and in our relationships with others and the world.
Old Fashioned Christmas & Luncheon
December 9 | 10:00am
Gathering Place | $13
Come join us for a delicious lunch and joyous time of celebrating the birth of our Savior, Emmanuel, God with us! With special guest, Mark Welling and the Calvary Christmas Carolers. Contact Carla (cjulien@calvarygr.org) to purchase your ticket by December 1.
February Luncheon
February 3 | 10:00 | Gathering Place | $13
We will have a topical speaker, great fellowship and a delicious lunch. Contact Carla (cjulien@calvarygr.org) to purchase your ticket by January 26.
Soup & Games
February 22 | 11:00am-1:00pm Room 108 (Entrance F)
Bring your favorite board game and soup or appetizer. This will be a great time of food, fun and fellowship. R.S.V.P to Carla (cjulien@calvarygr.org).
OASIS Singles
Oasis Singles First Sunday Lunch
December 1 | 12:30-2:30pm PF Chang’s (2064 E Beltline Ave NE)
Meet for a tasty lunch and good fellowship right after the second church service. Cost of lunch will be on your own. R.S.V.P. to Gladys (oasissingles@ calvarygr.org).
Singles Christmas Gathering
December 7 | 5:30-10:00pm
Gladys’s House
Enjoy dinner and fellowship with friends as the Advent season begins. R.S.V.P. to Gladys (oasissingles@calvarygr.org) by December 4.
New Year’s Eve Dinner
December 31 | 5:00-8:00pm
First Wok (6740 0ld 28th St SE)
Join us for dinner and say goodbye to 2024 and hello to 2025. The cost of dinner will be on your own. R.S.V.P. to Gladys (oasissingles@calvarygr.org) by December 27.
Oasis Singles First Sunday Lunch
January 5 | 12:30-2:30pm
HopCat (2183 E Beltline Ave NE)
Meet for a tasty lunch and good fellowship right after the second church service. Cost of lunch will be on your own. R.S.V.P. to Gladys (oasissingles@ calvarygr.org).
Comedy Night & Taco Bar
January 11 | 5:00-9:00pm Room 208 (Entrance D)
This will be a delightful evening of laughter and Mexican food. R.S.V.P. to Gladys (oasissingles@calvarygr.org) by January 8.
Super Bowl Party
February 9 | 5:30-10:00pm
Gladys’s Home
Bring your favorite snack to share. R.S.V.P. to Gladys (oasissingles@ calvarygr.org) by February 5.
Widows
Ministry
Contact: lbok@calvarygr.org
Widows & Widowers
Christmas Luncheon
December 8 | 1:00-3:00pm
Gathering Place | $5
Guest: Chris Knobloch & Family
God’s Helping Hands, Inc. is a nonprofit organization located in West Michigan
that shares God’s message through live presentations, professional full-stage puppetry, ventriloquism storytelling and much more.” To reserve your spot, please register at calvarygr.org/widows before November 29. Questions:? Contact Lynnell at (616) 956-5520.
Valentine Luncheon for Single Women
February 9 | 1:00-3:00pm
Gathering Place | $5 Guest: Paula Kerr
If you’re widowed, divorced or have been single your whole life, this special Valentine Luncheon is for you and we would love to have you!
It doesn’t matter if your 29 or 99; many of us have felt frustrated with our bodies at one time or another, whether its struggling with eating, exercise habits, trauma, chronic illness or injury. Paula will guide how we view our bodies from superficial to a spiritual viewpoint in loving our bodies in a way of receiving God’s love for us. The truest thing about you is that you are made and loved by God and the truest thing about Him, is that He cannot make bad things. For more information or to register go to mycalvarygr.org by January 31. Questions? Contact Lynnell Bok (616) 956-5520.
Women
Contact: women@calvarygr.org
Tuesday Morning Women’s Bible Study King of our Hearts–A Study of 1 & 2 Samuel Winter Semester Begins January 7 Tuesdays | 9:15-11:15am |
Join other women for Calvary’s Adult Bible Study, “King of our Hearts – A Study of 1 & 2 Samuel,” a heart-transforming journey to know better God’s heart, encouraging our hearts to become more like His. May we be like David whom God called “a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).
You will be placed in a small group where you will discuss the lessons
and then come together as a large group in the Gathering Place for teaching. Throughout the year we will have optional small group socials and opportunities for “Table Talks” as well. Register at calvarygr.org/events.
Tuesday Kids is a wonderful place for children ages birth to six years old. Moms must be in attendance at Bible Study at Calvary while children are in class.
Wednesday Women’s Bible Study
Winter Semester Begins January 8 6:30-7:45pm
See page 6.
Embrace: Women Embracing Motherhood Together
First, Third & Fifth Thursdays Winter Semester Begins January 16 9:00-11:15am | Gathering Place
Embrace is a warm community where faith is strengthened through friendships, mentoring and sound teaching for Moms with babies and young children. The Embrace theme this year is Freedom. We would love to have you join us for fellowship, mentoring, devotions, breakfast and insightful speakers. While you are enjoying a time with other Moms, your children will be lovingly cared for in our Embrace Kids nursery. Children must be registered in order to take advantage of this opportunity.
For questions or to register, email embrace@calvarygr.org.
Generations
January 31 | 6:00-8:00pm Gathering Place
Join Calvary women (ages 8 – 108) for an inspirational evening featuring chili, dessert, and face to face, heart to heart conversation! Our topic will be, “Let’s Go with the Gospel Flow.”
Come and be part of building a multi-generational community of women, one conversation at a time. Learn together how to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ authentically as God’s servants
today. Hear Calvary women of different ages and stages share their stories of Christ’s power to shape them.
Register at calvarygr.org/generations for this free event. If you have questions or would like to serve, contact Heather Case (generations@calvarygr.org).
Blessed2Bless
January 13 | 11:30am-12:30pm Room 215 (Entrance C)
As we continue to step out in faith into our neighborhoods, workplaces and friend groups with simple Bible studies, you may need encouragement to carry on or maybe God has been prompting you to take the first step. Blessed2Bless gatherings are for prayer and encouragement as we continue to reach out.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Second & Fourth Thursdays, Beginning January 9 10:00am-12:00pm | Room 215 (Ent. C)
Do you enjoy knitting or crocheting? We would love to have you serve with us in the Prayer Shawl Ministry. We meet the second and fourth Thursday each month for a time of prayer, devotions and fellowship while creating prayer shawls. You can join us in person or work from home and we supply yarn and patterns.
Homeschool Moms
First Fridays | 9:30-11:30 | Room 139
Calvary’s Homeschool Moms meet once a month for a time of prayer and building community. We invite you to join us on the first Friday of the month, October through May. Children are welcome and we provide care, activities and a place for studying. For additional questions, contact Andrea Reiffer (areiffer@calvarygr.org) or women@calvarygr.org.
CARE & SUPPORT GROUPS
Contact: care@calvarygr.org
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings
Sundays – Women’s Stag 5:00-6:00pm | Room 112 (Entrance G)
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays
7:30-8:30pm | Rm 112 (Entrance G)
Monday-Friday 12:00-1:00pm | Rm 112 (Entrance G)
Al-Anon
Thursdays | 7:30-8:30pm | Room 110 (Entrance G)
Tuesday Women’s Meeting
7:00-8:00pm | Room 114 (Entrance G)
Al-Anon is a program of recovery for the families and friends of alcoholics, whether or not the alcoholic recognizes the existence of a drinking problem or seeks help.
Avenue
Help for men who are struggling with pornography and/or sexual brokenness. Contact avenue@calvarygr.org.
DivorceCare
Tuesdays, Beginning January 14
6:30-8:00pm | Room 263 (Entrance K)
A 13-week support group for those processing through the journey of divorce. Register at divorcecare.org
GriefShare
Tuesdays, Beginning February 18
6:30-8:00pm | Room 252 (Entrance K)
A 13-week support group for those grieving the loss of someone close. Register at griefshare.org
Hannah’s Heart
Support for those grieving a miscarriage or the loss of an infant. Contact: Deb Donker at (616) 363-7818 or Judy Wetters at (616) 433-1533.
LGBTQ+ Family Support
Sundays, Beginning January 5 6:30pm | Room 252 (Entrance K)
This group is for parents and grandparents of children of all ages who self-identify as LGBTQ+. It will be led by three Calvary parents with LGBTQ+ children. Questions?
Contact: lovingwell@calvarygr.org or care@calvarygr.org.
Mental Illness Support Group
Second Thursday | 6:30-8:00pm | Rm 255
If you are caring for a loved one with mental illness, this support group is designed to give you encouragement, training and fellowship with others walking a similar journey. Contact mentalhealth@ calvarygr.org with questions.
Our Journey of Hope Cancer Care
If you, or somebody you love, are on a journey with cancer, you are not alone. Statistically speaking, Calvary Church will have several hundred people fighting cancer on any day. Include their caregivers and the number doubles. Extending outside our church community, the number is even more significant. Cancer is a life-changing diagnosis that will either draw people closer to God or weaken their faith. Those who are not believers may be open to a connection with God. The goal of the Calvary Church “Our Journey of Hope®” ministry is to walk alongside patients and caregivers offering physical and spiritual support. The trained volunteers seek to discover the needs of the patients and caregivers and either meet them directly or through other church or community programs. Volunteers provide Bible verses and words of encouragement through home
meetings, phone calls, cards, emails, and text messages. They build friendships where fears, questions, and concerns can be shared.
When volunteers first connect with patients or caregivers, they explore the range of needs and work towards finding ways to meet them. Every situation is unique.
To register for cancer care help, visit calvarygr.org/cancercare. Fill out the online form and then submit it. You will be contacted by a Cancer care volunteer within a few days.
The ministry will again offer the 14hour volunteer training program in February/March 2025. Call the Calvary Care department for more information at 616-956-9377 or contact Rod Jones at 616-334-7423.
PRAYER
Contact: Cindy Marrell (cmarrell@calvarygr.org)
Prayer Walk for Fall Ministries
December 4 | 12:00-1:00pm
The Prayer Walk Guide is actually a great summary of the fall ministry activities and can be used anywhere. You can stand or sit before the Lord where or whenever it fits your schedule. We would love your help to commit ministries and activities, each lesson, discussion to God by walking and praying around the church. You can find a prayer guide in the brochure rack near the Prayer Garden. The guide, with map showing both indoor and outdoor stations and prayer points, will also be available near the reception desk inside Entrance H. Look for the Prayer Walk yard signs inside.
Elder Prayer
First Tuesday | 6:15-7:15pm
Contact: Cindy Marrell at ext. 5997
Are you seeking healing? Do you need others to come alongside you right now? Experience the encouraging power of prayer with the Elders. Schedule a time and let us come before the Lord with you in this season.
Jerusalem
Second Sunday | 10:15-10:40am Room 110
Pray for the Jerusalem Project. Sign up for our monthly prayer email, contact: jp.prayer@calvarygr.org.
Pastors’ Prayer Partners
Sundays | One Service Monthly
Receive weekly updates from the Pastoral Staff via email or postal mail. Your role is to pray with a team of prayer warriors during one service a month and pray in your own home regularly.
Prayer For the Persecuted Church
Fourth Sunday | 10:15-10:40am Room 110
Pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering for their faith. Register for our prayer list by emailing a request to prayerforpersecuted@calvarygr.org
Third Monday Missionary Prayer
Third Monday | 11:30am-12:30pm Room 255 (Entrance K)
Join us in person, with virtual option, to hear updates and pray for our missionaries around the world. Prayer points and Zoom link can be emailed. Contact: Susan Mangione (thirdmondayprayer@calvarygr.org)
WORSHIP MINISTRY
Contact: Christie Thompson cthompson@calvarygr.org
Baptism
Baptism is a great way for us to celebrate with you the change that God has brought in your life. Baptisms take place during our morning worship services. We have several dates coming up in the winter and spring. If you feel the Lord prompting you to be baptized, contact Christie Thompson (cthompson@calvarygr.org).
Communion
We aim to observe the ordinance of communion once a month, typically on the first Sunday. At these times, we will also collect an offering for Calvary’s Benevolence Fund. If you would like to join the team of communion servers email Christie Thompson (cthompson@ calvarygr.org).
Thanksgiving Eve Dinner
November 27 | 6:00-7:30pm
Gathering Place | Free
A night of sharing thanks over a delicious Italian meal prior to Thanksgiving Day. Space is limited, registration is required at calvarygr.org/thanksgivingeve
The cost is free but we are extending a way to give back this Thanksgiving by asking you to bring unwrapped products to help stock our Calvary Food Pantry. Details available upon registration.
Christmas at Calvary
December 14, 4pm and 7pm
This Christmas season as the world darkens, both physically and spiritually, we want to celebrate the coming of Jesus as the Light of the World. Come enjoy an amazing Christmas concert with your friends and family as you celebrate the birth of Jesus together. Enjoy an hour of beautiful music from Calvary’s Choir and Orchestra amidst fun elements like a carol sing and nativity. All mc’d by Calvary’s favorite Fifth & Sixth Grade Minister, David Prichard. Register at calvarygr.org/cac.
Christmas Eve Services
December 24
5:00pm, 7:30pm & 10:00pm These identical Christmas eve services will focus your heart on the birth of Jesus. All three services are candle light services with Scripture, songs, and a time for joy as we celebrate together.
Emergency Awareness
WINTER SEVERE WEATHER ADVISORY
As we approach the winter season, it’s important to stay informed about potential weather-related closures due to snow and ice.
Building Closures:
If travel conditions pose a safety concern, Calvary may decide to close the building. Any closures will be posted on Calvary’s website. If you’ve signed up for text or email notifications, you may also receive updates directly to your mobile device.
Group Cancellations:
Some groups may choose to cancel their programming even if the building remains open. These cancellations will also be posted on the Calvary website and communicated by the group leader.
Safety First:
Travel conditions can vary throughout West Michigan. If you feel that it is unsafe for you or your family to travel, even when the church is open, please prioritize your safety and stay home.
FIRE SAFETY
• If the fire alarm sounds, exit the building calmly and orderly.
• Family reunification will occur outside at designated locations.
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
• Report all medical situations to the Emergency Response Team (ERT).
• Use Help Phones located throughout the facility for assistance.
SECURITY CONCERNS
• Report any suspicious activities to the Emergency Response Team (ERT).
• Help Phones are available throughout the facility for immediate reporting.
God’s Heart Surgery
“The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7b
In 2021, my husband had major heart surgery to repair his mitral-valve. Before he went under the anesthesia, he remembers being wheeled into a large room with a whole lot of equipment and people. On one wall was all the equipment to recirculate the blood and a doctor called a Perfusionist. On the other side of the room there was a rather large station where the Surgeon worked the robot that did the surgery. All-together he was in surgery around 8 hours. It was quite long ….and felt even longer for me in the waiting room...But thankfully he lived to talk about it!
When I consider heart surgery and the incredible complexity of the heart, I often think of Hebrews 4:12-13 which says, “The Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Think about that… the Bible is God’s Word to us and it is living and active. At this very moment nothing is hidden from God. He sees everything!
He sees right into our hearts. As we open His Word He’s performing surgery on us. He is judging the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts. Our Surgeon, God Himself, performs this heart transformation with skill and precision and great love for His patients.
This year in our Calvary Bible Study, we are going through the Old Testament books of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 Kings 1-11. God has given this historical narrative to reveal, first and foremost, who He is and then to reveal more about who we are as we seek to fully live with Him as King of our Hearts.
Our Pre-Op Evaluation of Israel in this narrative revealed the following… Israel was extremely unhealthy - When we opened 1 Samuel they were in a dark place. After entering the Promised Land, the people struggled to love the Lord their God with all their heart. They turned to idols instead of the Living God and as it says in Judges, “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” The book of Judges covers the 330-year period leading up to 1 Samuel and records 12 Judges who God raised up to deliver Israel in periods marked by political, moral and spiritual anarchy and deterioration. Despite this rebellion, God never failed to open His arms in love to
His people whenever they repented from their wicked ways and called upon His name. Through these 12 judges, God brought rescue and honored His promise to Abraham to protect and bless His offspring.
In this desperate situation, the best Doctor was on call - Just when it seemed that the nation would cave in on its own rottenness, God intervened. In response to Hannah’s prayers He gave her a baby boy named Samuel. Samuel grew to become the last of the Judges, one of the greatest Prophets and a Priest who anointed the first Kings of Israel, Saul and David. Samuel pointed the nation to a God who created all things, sees everything and is sovereign over all. In the Old Testament, His name is in all caps, LORD. This is the English word for Yahweh, God’s most holy name. The was the name He gave to Moses at the burning bush revealing that He is the self-existent Creator. As we have grown in our understanding of this all-powerful, all-knowing God, we have also reflected on what He has revealed about the heart of man.
We’ve seen many contrasting hearts in this narrative... the hard hearted, the half-hearted, the compromised… and the heart God has always looked for in us - wholehearted devotion. When God rejected Saul as King, 1 Samuel 13:14 tells us, “He had already sought out a man after His own heart.” That man was King David, who stumbled and failed in many ways but still humbled himself before God and recognized Him as the King of Kings.
This great Doctor had a perfect plan - the Old Testament is fascinating because in addition to history, God has revealed who He is, our need for a Savior, and His pre-arranged redemptive plan. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God said of a future day, “I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone, and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27). This narrative starts 1,000 years before the fulfillment of this promise when God became flesh in Jesus. The Bible tells us that He was born to die for our sins. He was buried, raised to life, and sits in Glory alive this very day. The name Jesus means, “Yahweh saves.” When we receive God’s gift of Jesus, He removes the heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh. He literally does a heart transplant!
In January, we will begin our second Bible Study book covering 2 Samuel – 1 Kings 11 (when David became King through Solomon’s reign). We invite you to join us for the rest of this exciting adventure in the Old Testament and in our quest to place the King fully on the throne of our hearts!
Susan Sorensen Minister & Team Leader, Adult Ministries
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” - Psalm 119:105
For the winter/spring semester, there is no registration fee for Bible Study! A generous donor has gifted all who attend our Study with a memorial to his wife, Patricia Lipinski, who loved Bible Study and the joy of growing in God’s Word. Thanks be to God!
ADULT
3unique WAYS TO PARTICIPATE
MONDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY BEGINS JANUARY 6 · 7:00-8:30PM
Combines small group discussion with 20 minutes of large group teaching for both men and women. Small groups are gender specific.
TUESDAY MORNING
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY BEGINS JANUARY 7 9:15-11:15AM
Combines small group Bible Study discussion with large group teaching and testimonies in the Gathering Place. Tuesday Kids is a free program for children while moms are in the study.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY BEGINS JANUARY 8 6:30-7:45PM
Limited availability
While children are in Kids-N-Action, moms and working women come together for growth in God’s Word, prayer and community.
REGISTER
For those of you joining us for the first time in the winter/spring, please register at mycalvarygr.org so that we can add you to a small discussion group (there are separate registrations for MNBS, TBS and Wed night)
48 Sympathy Cards
GOD’S CARE IN THE MIDST OF LOSS
I have been imagining my life when I get really old or sick. When I need help with hygiene and daily tasks. When I feel pain and weakness. I am housebound. All my friends have died. Sickness and death. I think about these future realities.
Four months ago I lost my youngest sister and my last sibling, Sue. We were so close. We talked every day on the phone. At the end of her life when Sue couldn’t speak, sometimes she would call me. I’d hear her breathing in the phone. She needed to know that I was there. I was. In my heart, I still am. Sue and I talked about husbands, jobs, kids, grandkids. Sue had cancer, so we also talked about suffering and death. Both her own and that of others in our family. Two years ago, we lost our brother Toney to suicide. He suffered from severe depression. We prayed for him on the phone. We’d try to figure it out. What had caused this depression? Was it hereditary? Would we get it?
Our mom had died of Alzheimer’s, five years ago in my home. Mom lived in Florida with Sue until we moved her all the way across the country to live with me. Caring for her was hard. Only I knew what Sue had gone through with Mom. Only Sue knew what I had gone through. Our other sister Sandy had died 20 years ago, in her 40s. She suffered from alcoholism. I didn’t have much of a relationship with her. Sue did, and took care of Sandy when she was dying. On the phone, Sue and I talked about alcoholism. Only Sue and I remembered this beautiful and difficult sister.
Our dad died of a heart attack when I was 20. Sue was a little girl, only 11 years old, growing up without her daddy. 50 years later, sometimes we still talked about Dad, and how his death affected us so differently.
Sue was my sister and my confidante, the only other person who knew the Flack family from the inside. Mom, Dad, Sandy, Toney, Sue! All gone! I was the oldest of four children from a family of six. But now it’s just me!
Like Naomi. Remember the Bible story of Ruth and Naomi, how Naomi first lost her husband. Then one son. Then another son. Naomi’s name meant “Pleasant,” but after her losses she wanted to be called “Bitter.” That is grief.
I have lost my entire family of origin. And now I’m learning about my grief at Griefshare here at Calvary Church. It’s a support group for those who have lost someone they loved. We huddle together and talk. We watch an insightful video each week. We learn about moving through grief. We learn from each other.
I also learn about loss and God’s care, from serving at a ministry at Calvary called “Oasis@Home.” We meet with the very old, the sick, the housebound. Some have loving families. Some have just us. We pray with them, read the Bible to them, laugh with them. We bring them chocolate or play games. With some, we just sit. We remember them.
I have written a little of my story here. Each one of our 40 shut-ins from Calvary has a story, too. They were once young moms and dads, taught Sunday School, went to jobs. They had houses and cooked food and drove cars. But now they can’t do any of these things.
“That will be you one of these days,” Grief shouts to me. Yet I'm seeing firsthand how God is sustaining Calvary’s sick and aged saints through me and through you. I might someday be bedbound in a nursing home like Barb, or without family like Pat, in a wheelchair like Kathy or confused like a lot of our people. We are the body of Christ now so these people aren’t forgotten. And I won’t be forgotten. Neither will you. Psalm 71:18 says “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation.” Our shut-ins need me and my generation, and my generation is counting on the next to step up.
Oasis@Home has 40 volunteers who make visits. We joke with each other, “I’ll come visit you if you’ll come visit me.” Then we laugh nervously. “I don’t want to be very old or sick,” we think. What I know for certain is that if and when I face this, God will be with me. And He will send you or others who love Him, to visit and care for me. I’ll be ok.
Like Naomi, someday God may send me a Ruth. Like Ruth, you might get a Boaz. God uses His people to redeem stories. Recently someone said, “The worse your story, the warmer your welcome!” I miss Sue and my whole, messy, wonderful family of origin. My story is worse right now and I’m sad. But I am getting that warm welcome from brothers and sisters at Calvary Church. When Sue died, you sent me 48 sympathy cards! Behind each card is a reminder that the family of God loves me and will care for me, now and in the days to come.
BY
Leslie Iverson ARTICLE WRITTEN
Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Cindy Marrell Facilitator, Prayer Ministry
Opportunities
TO PRAY
Be blessed while you bless others through prayer!
We would love your help to commit ministries and their activities, gatherings, lessons and discussions, to God in prayer. The Prayer Walk Guide is a great summary of ministry activities and can be used any time. You can stand or sit before the Lord where or whenever it fits your schedule. Maybe even come walk and pray at the blue Prayer Walk yard signs:
• Wednesday, December 4, at 12:00pm. Look for the signs in the Crosswalk. • Sunday, January 5, between 9:00-11:45am or 5:00-5:45pm in Room 211.
Look for the Prayer Walk ministry guide, with map showing both indoor and outdoor stations and prayer points, available inside Entrance C by the Prayer Garden entrance and near the reception desk at Entrance H. Current requests from our missionaries and another list for the Jerusalem Project are also found in both.
Another way “to keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” is to join a group. You can find a variety of prayer groups and their facilitators at calvarygr.org/prayer. They meet to pray for everything from our church body’s individual needs (on Wednesday nights) to prisoners to the persecuted church, to widows, to orphans, to leadership and to Sunday services. There’s a place for you in at least one of those groups! Come experience for yourself the joy in His presence when you pray with others.
Bring a prayer list or take your own supplications to the Lord in our sweet Prayer Garden. There’s always room! Prayer Garden Hours: Sunday 8:30am-12:30pm and 3:30-8:30pm, Monday-Thursday 8am-8pm, Friday 8am-5pm, plus any time there’s an event. The exterior Garden is always accessible.
Let us know if you have a need for prayer by using the link at calvarygr.org/prayer.
Far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you (1 Samuel 12:23).
Blessings!
Toward Racial Unity Continuing our Journey
We want to thank you for your prayers over Jim’s sermon series this summer on The Biblical Theology of Race and Ethnicity , and for those of you who joined us at the night of prayer we had together at the conclusion of the sermon series. We were moved by the number of people who came to devote themselves to prayer, to seeking and inquiring of the Lord, and to sharing how God was speaking and moving in them through the stack of cards we collected that night.
God is clearly at work, and He is moving in our church in powerful ways: bringing conviction over sin (including generational sins), bringing healing from past wounds of racism, inspiring hope in the power of the gospel to bring unity & reconciliation, and moving us to take steps (individually & collectively) to live out what we’ve learned. God is building in us a desire to look even more like the church He wants us to be. We are a continual work in process, and our goal is to become more like Jesus, both individually and collectively (Ephesians 4:13). As we’ve said many times, this is not the end of the road, but rather the beginning of a greater journey the Lord has us on.
As Elders, we are unified in our desire to be the people and church He desires, to explore ways we can become more like Jesus in our heart, attitudes, motivations & actions regarding ethnicity and race, to be a gospel-centered community committed to racial reconciliation, restorative grace, and radical love — for one another within our church
and for our neighbors in the community. As part of this new journey, Dave Ellis (Elder Chair) and Scott Bowman (Elder) participated in a five-day Biblical Unity Vision Trip with a sister church. The theme and mantra of the trip was “gospel unity creates racial harmony.” They saw gospel unity happen in powerful ways, and returned inspired and motivated by the incredible potential if we allow the Lord to continue to work in us at Calvary.
We would like to invite you to join us on December 8 at 6pm (location and details to follow) to hear more about how God is moving in our people (highlighting what has been shared with us through our times of prayer), to hear more about the Biblical Unity Vision Trip and insights we think pertain to us at Calvary, and to continue to pray and seek the Lord together about our next steps in this important journey. We want to continue to be Spirit-led in everything we do, and so we will spend time together praying, seeking the Lord, and inquiring of Him.
If you’re unable to join us but are interested in remaining informed, or if you want to share in advance how the Lord has been speaking to you in the area of racial unity, please email us at elder.chair@calvarygr.org.
We’d love to hear from you!
- Calvary Church Elders
Join us December 8 at 6:00pm
WinterYOUR PLAN
YOUR PLAN saying no to isolation this season R
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:23-25
Joshua VanderLeest Director of First Impressions
Let’s be honest, if you’re anything like me, you might have used this verse in the past to “gently” nudge someone into attending church, perhaps even making them feel a bit guilty about it. In doing so, I overlooked the profound encouragement this verse offers about the importance of community. These verses acknowledge the tough realities of life, including the challenges we face in our Christian walk. Loving others isn't always easy; we don’t always pursue good deeds; and many of us tend to isolate ourselves. These tendencies not only hinder our productivity but also impact our wellbeing. In His kindness, God encourages us to do what we might resist - to surround ourselves with those who can uplift, love, and support us.
As winter approaches, the temptation to isolate ourselves often grows stronger. My encouragement to you is to have a plan. Here are some suggestions from our hospitality department, tailored to your current stage in life.
Looking to build friendships and find community?
Building connections takes time, but it’s essential for a strong Christian journey. Committing to a group may require a sacrifice, but I believe that doing so will lead you to the community you seek. For adults, options like Adult Bible Study, Rooted Small Group Experience, and Sunday Schools offer extended opportunities to form meaningful relationships with fellow believers. And if you're not yet an adult, we have groups for every age!
I have a solid community but want to grow in my faith.
Calvary offers a fantastic selection of rotating 5-week classes throughout the year, covering topics like marriage enrichment, spiritual gifts, prayer, and discipleship. If you’re eager to grow, you’ll find plenty of opportunities available.
I feel called to serve.
If you’re open to serving, we can help you find a fitting role. At Calvary, we ensure that all service opportunities also foster community. Serving is a wonderful way to use your gifts and connect with other amazing people. Our welcome teams, kitchen teams, and Calvary Kids are always looking for more help. If you have a particular passion for missions, refugees, or teaching, we have plenty of roles available.
Earlier, I talked about having a plan. While I can't cover every suggestion in this article, you're in luck—this magazine serves as your planner! The first few pages of Calvary Life detail all the ways you can get involved in the coming months. Take some time, either alone or with your loved ones, to circle the activities that interest you. Create a plan, and I promise you’ll discover the community or purpose you’ve been seeking.
If you need more assistance, it would bring me great joy to personally help you find your place. Reach out at jvanderleest@calvarygr.org or call (616) 956-5637.
Answer THE CALL
Ministry involvement at Calvary Church is in full swing this time of year and with the breadth and depth of what God is doing in His church, we are blessed to have so many people within our congregation join us to serve the Lord and love others while utilizing their gifts, talents, treasure and testimony. The staff at Calvary Church is extremely grateful for all of you who have partnered with us as living sacrifices, while being vessels to share the Good News of the Gospel. We simply cannot engage in this level of ministry without the commitment of so many and God is faithful with bringing so many co-laborers to the harvest. I would like to encourage those of you who have not yet committed to serving in ministry to know that God has a plan for your life of such great significance and impact which is all for His glory. He has made you in His very image, He has given you unique and amazing spiritual gifts and He is calling you to be a part of the great adventure of building up and unifying the Body of Christ through acts of service and love. God has a story to tell through your own testimony and He will use it in a way to touch the lives of so many people around you. It may seem scary or you may think that you have nothing to offer but that is all a lie from the evil one. When we boldly step into the gap and answer the call of the Lord to engage in His kingdom work, not only will we have the great opportunity to bless others, but in God’s great providence and power, He showers us with blessings from heaven. Calvary Church is your church. This is your home that the Lord has brought you to in order to grow in faith, community and worship. It is our true and proper worship when we stand up and say, you chose me Lord and appointed me so that I might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last (John 15:16).
God has been so good to me in His loving kindness. He has grown my own faith, matured my ability to trust Him in all things and opened doors to serve that have given me an eternal purpose where I continue to know God, to love God and to glorify His holy name with my life. I have such a deep yearning for others to experience God’s personal and prophetic call over their own lives as they walk in humble obedience. I stand alongside those currently or previously in ministry service, praising His name for allowing us the great privilege and honor to participate in the eternal plans of the heavenly realm.
Where is God calling you to? If you would like to begin the most exciting adventure as a co-laborer in Christ, you can access our volunteer application at calvarygr.org/ volunteerapp.
What does it mean to be a spiritual leader? This is the question that J. Oswald Sanders endeavors to answer in his book, Spiritual Leadership. The subtitle of this book is rightly named “Principles of Excellence for Every Believer.” This is because God calls us all to spiritual leadership at some point in our lives. Whether that may be through becoming a parent, facilitating a small group, volunteering in Calvary Kids, joining a committee, teaching a class, or serving as an elder or deacon.
In this book, we see that the more a person grows in maturity, the more responsibility he or she is ready to receive. Paul gets at this idea when he counsels against making a new believer an overseer in 1 Timothy 3:6. If too much responsibility is given too quickly, then the person is more susceptible to the snare of Satan. One mark of maturity is steadfastness, which is often produced through patience in suffering. In spiritual leadership, patience in suffering can be experienced through the consistent call to sacrifice oneself daily.
God applies His discipline to empower us to do this. And just like Jacob limped away from his encounter with God, the spiritual leader accumulates scars. While God’s discipline is often not pleasant at the time, we can say with Job, “When he has tried me, I shall come out as gold” (Job 23:10).
Another way steadfastness is produced is through impossible situations that require prayers of great faith. The cycle of praying through unmanageable circumstances create a stability that is the foundation of maturity.
Neil Kassuba Facilitator, Serving Ministry
If you would like to talk more about the many great opportunities we have available to partner with us in ministry at Calvary Church, I would be delighted to talk, get to know you further and see where God may be leading you to join us in His plan. Please reach out to me, Neil Kassuba – Serving Ministry Facilitator, at nkassuba@calvarygr.org or 616-956-9377.
Spiritual leadership is to be desired in that it beams a light far brighter than worldly leadership, because God fashioned it to emanate His character and the qualities that enable Him to be worshipped well. Learn more about this through Spiritual Leadership, and the many other books available to check out in the Calvary Library.
By Luke Walsh, Pastoral Resident. Luke has been serving in Operations (which oversees the Library) to complete his residency’s first module.
Deacon Update
Do you receive encouragement by seeing how God is moving in our midst?
Does your heart break for what breaks God’s heart? Are you motivated to act by real life stories or data, statistics and numbers? Do you want to support, pray or contribute toward a ministry but not sure how or to what? Over the next several issues of Calvary Life various articles will be submitted by the Deacons recapping how God is working in and through their various ministries. These articles will highlight praises, laments, progress, challenges and specific needs. Mathew 5:16 says, ”In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” These articles are not to spotlight the work of the individuals but to shine the light on God’s grace working through ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary blessings so that God can be glorified. My hope is that God will speak to you in a unique way as you read and learn more about the Deacon ministries here at Calvary Church.
BENEVOLENCE
If you’ve read this year’s financial report from the annual meeting, you may have noted that $1,015,963 was donated to the Benevolence Ministry this past fiscal year. But what exactly do these funds pay for and who receives them? The benevolence committee meets weekly to discuss and approve requests that come in from both attendees at Calvary and people from the greater Grand Rapids area. In the past year your generous giving to benevolence has provided housing for families and individuals living on the street or in cars, recovery housing expenses for those battling substance abuse, and deposits and first month’s rent for those who lack the resources to secure permanent housing. Past due rents have been paid when individuals lost their jobs, and eviction proceedings have been addressed.
Calvary’s people through benevolence have repaired cars needed for individuals to get to work, as well as given bus passes, gas cards, and drivers’ training fees. Medical bills, funeral expenses for loved ones, dental work, counseling, therapy, and hearing aids were provided. We have repaired roofs, HVAC systems, and other home needs; provided and moved donated furniture; given air conditioning units and necessary appliances. Calvary also has a food pantry on the west side of our building that is one of the nicest in the city and is funded by your benevolence contributions.
In addition, benevolence members have mentored and prayed with our neighbors in need, have encouraged financial Bible studies, Wednesday night dinners and attendance at the Conversation, invited church attendance, referred to job placements, and witnessed marriages and commitments to follow Jesus! Benevolence provides the renewed hope that God and the members of Calvary deeply care about them.
We are all familiar with Jesus’ instruction to care for the hungry, the imprisoned, and the unclothed in Matthew 25:3740, but God’s love for those in need or are strangers in our midst dates back to Deuteronomy 10:18: “[God] defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.” Psalm 146:9 says, “The Lord watches over the strangers, He upholds the orphan and widow…”
Thank you, Calvary, for providing the funding to be the hands and feet of Christ, addressing the needs of our neighbors according to God’s desire.
- Roger Zinnecker, Deacon of Benevolence
OASIS@HOME Helping Others Serve Jesus
On May 12, Tom Olsson preached a sermon from Matthew 24, which he titled “Opportunity and Action.” He reminded us that God provides us, as followers of Jesus, with unique abilities and opportunities. We learned that God expects us to use them to serve His Kingdom in this world. At the end of the sermon we were encouraged to fill out a form in the bulletin with ways we could serve. Some friends of ours were sitting near us with their 7 year old daughter, Evie. Evie shared with them that she would like to serve Jesus too. Evie loves to visit with others and she loves to sing. As it happens, I have been going weekly to take my friend Joyce to the “Hymn Sing” at her facility in Jenison. This is a wonderful place with many godly saints who love to sing praises to their Lord. The vast majority come with walkers, wheelchairs and a multitude of infirmities. It is such a joy to be present with these very special people. Many sing without the need for music, because they know all the verses of all the hymns. They often sing in worship with their eyes closed. It is truly a sacred time for me. When Evie’s parents shared with us Evie’s desire to serve, my wife and I
Todd Bowman Deacon Chair
offered to take her with us to the hymn sing, and Evie was excited to join us. When we entered the room, the eyes of the residents brightened as they were truly delighted to have us with them. She even knew several of the hymns since her grandmother had taught her. After the hymn sing she joined us as we visited with Joyce and another resident, Lois, who is a former Cavalry member, now 106 years old. She has gone with us twice this summer to visit and is a huge blessing by her presence and desire to serve. Evie said that she enjoyed meeting new people, talking with them and hearing their stories. She loves to worship Jesus and learn new songs and hymns.
Those of us in Oasis@Home ministry are always looking for ways to bless those that we visit and encourage others to join us in loving our spiritual family when they can no longer come with us to church. The earlier we can encourage our children, grandchildren and others to love Jesus and serve Him by encouraging others, the more likely it will become a lifestyle. I am confident that God was pleased and honored by Evie’s visits and her desire to serve. She hopes to go again when the school calendar allows it.
- Brian Swanton, Deacon of Bereavement Care
FOOD PANTRY
Calvary Church has a unique ministry located on our lower level at Entrance J. It is our Food Pantry.
Many volunteers order food, pick up food items and stock teh Food Pantry shelves. This food includes meat, eggs, milk, cheese, canned goods and fresh produce for the patrons. Last month the pantry served 164 individuals and / or families. This translated into 480 people fed and over 250 bags of food given out.
Our monthly benevolence offerings are used to purchase the food items that stock our shelves. Our Food Pantry is open to members of our church and also to people in our community. All the items are provided at no cost to the shoppers.
While we purchase food items, we rely on donations for nonfood items. We always need the following: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, laundry soap, dishwashing soap, cleaning supplies and feminine hygiene products. You can leave these donations at Entrance J, Monday through Thursday.
If you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity, we are here to help. Contact Sara Blue (sblue@calvarygr. org) to get on our list to shop at the Food Pantry.
- Ellen Bruinsma, Deacon of Food Pantry
CALL FOR ENTRIES CALL FOR ENTRIES
ART ON DECONSTRUCTION
AND ECCLESIASTES
The Calvary Church Art Committee announces a call for entries for artists from the congregation (for those who call Calvary home) to submit works of art for an exhibition at the Calvary Church Gallery from March 1 - June 15, 2025.
In our current sermon series on Ecclesiastes, we are learning about Solomon's deconstruction period and God's unchanging truth. The Art Committee requests artists submissions that relate to a time God worked in their life to deconstruct previously held beliefs about life, faith, or self, and how God reconstructed those beliefs to align with the Truth of His Word. Artists may also share a more general response to Ecclesiastes.
Artists of all levels from emerging to established, 14 years and older, are encouraged to submit up to three entries in digital form between January 7 - February 7, 2025 by electronic means at “info@calvarygr.org” mentioning Art Committee in the subject line. Additional details can be found at calvarygr.org/art.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Those artists selected for the exhibition at the church will be notified and will need to drop their work off at an arranged date and time, and pick it up following the exhibition. Specific instructions will be provided, and work must be ready for installation.
There are no restrictions on medium or content for submissions. Artists may submit images of painting, drawing, fiber art, sculpture, photography, printmaking, digital art, assemblage, and/ or mixed media. A maximum of one work per artist will be selected for inclusion in the exhibition.
Each artist should submit the following:
• a high resolution jpeg image for each submission
• title, medium, date, and size for each submission
• an artist statement of 200 words or less
• a verse from the book of Ecclesiastes for reference
The committee will accept submissions from January 7- February 7, 2025.
We partner with families to raise kids who will for the rest of their lives. trust, love, follow Jesus and
SUNDAY MORNINGS
On Sundays, we continue to use the Gospel Story Curriculum, by Marty Machowski, for our toddlers to fourth grade students. Over the last couple of years, we have journeyed our way through the Old Testament and are now exploring the life of Jesus and His disciples in the New Testament. Your family can follow along by using the Gospel Story Bible and/or the daily devotional that accompanies the curriculum.
Each Sunday includes a worship service for kids, handson-activities like games, skits, and Bible crafts that help the children connect with and retell the Bible stories. We encourage prayer in our classrooms by including a classroom prayer journal for the teachers to take down praises and prayer requests. Our children continue to memorize Bible verses and recite them to earn lapel pins for their lanyard on Sundays.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
Over the summer the CK staff team completed an Attributes of God study together to help prepare us for Wednesday night programming. We are pleased to share with you that we using
We Need You!
Divine Attributes
Moral Attributes
Creator Faithful
Infinite Forgiving
Holy Good
Just Gracious
All-Powerful/Omnipotent Jealous
All-Present/Omnipresent Love
All-Knowing/Omniscient Merciful
Self-Sufficient/Trinity Protector/Shepherd
Sovereign/Wise/In control Righteous
Unchanging Truthful
Foundation Worldview Attributes of God curriculum and have adapted it to teach 20 Attributes of God. We are looking forward to growing in our relationship with Jesus and learning about God’s Attributes right along with the children!
A fun part of our Wednesday night program is our Ping Pong Ball Incentive Program. Kids earn balls by reciting memory verses, bringing their Bibles, bringing a friend, or explaining an attribute of God and what it means to them. They get to drop the balls into a box and when the balls reach a goal line, the whole group of kids earns a reward!
Check out our Faith in Action wall as well – you will read testimonies and see photos of how kids at Calvary have put their faith into action! If you are a parent and would like to submit a photo and story of your child putting their faith into action, email us at calvarykids@calvarygr.org and we’ll highlight your child’s story!
We minister to over 250 kids each Sunday and again on Wednesday nights and it takes many disciple makers to pour into the hearts of our children. We are looking to divide our classrooms up and increase our adult to child ratio to be more effective in our relational discipleship! Would you consider joining our Sunday morning or Wednesday night team? Please reach out to either Michelle Smith, Birth-Preschool age, at msmith@calvarygr.org or Ann Bagley, KindergartenFourth grade, at abagley@calvarygr.org.
Michelle Smith Co-Director, Calvary Kids
Ann Bagley Co-Director, Calvary Kids
DISCIPLESHIP 101
A Testimony
Discipleship 101 has been immeasurably helpful to me in this season of growth and understanding of the Lord. One of the things he calls us to do in the Great Commission is to disciple all nations, i.e. to help bring people to God. This class is a great foundation for just that. In it, I learned how I can approach those with questions related to the Bible respectfully, and thoughtfully so as not to turn anyone away from the Lord. In addition to making first contact, we also discussed how to foster that growing relationship, and how you can be instrumental in helping to grow the relationship your partner has with God over the long term. If you aren’t sure, or even if you just want a refresher and feel called to spread the love of God’s word, I’d highly recommend this class as it has helped me disciple in my day-to-day life and is already bearing fruits!
-Tim Clark
A G I F T F R O M
C A L V A R Y C H U R C H
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Saturday, December 14 at 4:00 & 7:00pm
This Christmas season as the world darkens, both physically and spiritually, we want to celebrate the coming of Jesus as the Light of the World. Come enjoy an amazing Christmas concert with your friends and family as you celebrate the birth of Jesus together. Enjoy an hour of beautiful music from Calvary’s Choir and Orchestra amidst fun elements like a carol sing and nativity. All mc’d by Calvary’s favorite Fifth & Sixth Grade Minister, David Prichard.
Following each performance there will be a free-will opportunity to support Calvary’s Benevolence Fund – a ministry to those in financial need within our community. You will also be able to enjoy cookies and cocoa afterward in the Gathering Place with your fellow attendees.
Admission is free, but we ask that you register in advance at calvarygr.org/cac.
At the end of the calendar year, we take extra time as a church to focus on the Jerusalem Project – Calvary’s ministry that partners with established churches, trains church leaders and plants new churches
This past year, the Jerusalem Project partnered with local congregations in new seasons of ministry, whether seasons of rejoicing or suffering We also welcomed two new pastoral residents at Calvary! And we celebrated three new church plants projects this year
Join us in celebrating the new seasons of ministry being cultivated in local churches around the world Learn more about how the Jerusalem Project is cultivating new seasons through our year-end mailer, arriving at your home in late November.
To learn more about the Jerusalem Project, please scan the QR code.
Give
Giving directly to the Jerusalem Project allows us to impact local churches Help us continue to support established partnerships and programs, as well as embrace new opportunities opening up in local communities around the world.
Give Online: Contribute a one-time or recurring gift at calvarygr.org/give
Give By Text: Text the word “JERUSALEM” to 616-294-0700
Give In-Person: Designate a gift for the Jerusalem Project on your offering envelope and place it in the offering boxes, located at the back of the Sanctuary and in the Crosswalk.
MERCY AND MISSIONS
by Tom and Laurel Taylor
CarePortal is where the rubber meets the road. It is a faith based ministry, an opportunity for churches, individuals, or families to meet the needs of community members who may or may not be a part of the church body. It is an opportunity to satisfy the mandate to clothe the naked, to feed the poor and to visit with the lonely. CarePortal is as its name suggests, a portal for providing care to those in our community. Christ calls his followers to do just that! To minister to the hungry, the unsheltered, the refugee, the homeless, to single moms short on provisions.
Our family has had the privilege to bless individuals and families like those mentioned above through CarePortal. One such family from the Middle East, a widowed mom with 3 children, whose hourly wages are consumed each month on essentials, submitted needs for bedding and a dining table. The kids had been sleeping on floors and doing homework from their laps! We, and others, were able to provide for and deliver these material needs to this family on 2 different occasions! Such an expression of relief and gratitude poured out from this mom! And what a blessing to us knowing that we soothed a hardship for this family.
The people of CarePortal strive to bring love into the lives we touch. Providing physical needs brings emotional relief. We witnessed the power of generosity unfold before our eyes! And in the end we also found spiritual growth in our lives as we were blessed by the love shared. It’s a real human experience where anxieties can be healed and abundant joy received through the power of serving others. CarePortal is an avenue to connect with and bless others, to the glory of God!
We would love to add to our current team and invite you to consider joining us in coming alongside at-risk children and families in the Grand Rapids area. Needs such as a bed, car seat, rent assistance, and more can provide critical immediate relief and restore a family back to a strong and healthy state.
Sheri Schmidt Director, Adoption & Foster Care Ministry
If you would like more information about CarePortal, adoption or foster care, please contact Sheri Schmidt (sschmidt@calvarygr.org)
MEANING & PURPOSE IN LIFE
You may find some legitimate enjoyment and pleasure in things such as sport, hobbies, games, and other restorative blessings that God grants to us. Yet, even as Christians, if we focus on these too much, we will likely find a gnawing sense of emptiness. Our hearts long for meaning and purpose in life, and our hearts will indeed find that meaning when we look beyond ourselves and endeavor to align with God’s purpose and mission, namely that he would be worshipped and glorified by all the people groups of the nations that he has created.
John Piper puts it this way, “God is pursing with omnipotent passion a worldwide purpose of gathering joyful worshippers for Himself from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. He has an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the supremacy of his name among the nations.”
PERSPECTIVES DISCIPLESHIP COURSE
Perspectives is an inspiring and comprehensive discipleship course that has significantly impacted hundreds of thousands of people over the last 45+ years. It’s not about how to become a missionary, rather it’s a course rooted in Scripture which opens our eyes to various perspectives on God’s global purpose, and clarifies the amazing opportunity and privilege we have to co-labor with God toward that purpose, no matter where we live. What could be more meaningful?
We will look at God’s global purpose from four vantage points or “perspectives.” The Biblical and Historical perspectives establish the foundation that, since the beginning of time until now, God has been persistently at work to make his name known among the nations. And the course finishes by examining the Cultural and Strategic perspectives which highlight the different ways we can join with God in accomplishing his global purpose.
16 weeks of great content presented by 15 different presenters from around the country including people of Nepalese, Romanian, Korean, and Kenyan backgrounds!
Perspectives Discipleship Course
Jan 9 – May 8 | Thursday evenings Calvary Church | 6:00-9:00pm
To register, go to perspectives.org and click on “Find a Class.” Then type in “Grand Rapids” in the search bar and our class will appear. Click on our class and you will go to the details page where you can click on “Register Now” to sign up and pay for the class. You will notice that the detailed page says we are starting on January 16, but this is the date of our first guest presenter. The class will actually start on January 9th with our introductory session. You won’t want to miss it!
Course Levels: this class can be taken at three different levels with varying amounts of benefits and requirements. We recommend you take the certificate level unless you are a college student in a program where this could be used toward your graduation.
Scholarships: Calvary is offering partial scholarships for this course, so if this is something that would be helpful to you, please contact Larry Milks at lmilks@calvarygr.org
Attention College Students: this course can be taken for 3 credits with Trinity International University and potentially transferred into your current program of study. See details on the registration page.
Money Life PERSONAL FINANCE STUDY
Take concrete steps to financial freedom!
Crown Financial’s Money Life Personal Finance Study teaches you how to handle your finances with confidence and faith. Covering essential topics like debt, budgeting, saving, work, generosity, investing, honesty, and legacy, this course provides the practical steps and biblical principles you need to achieve financial freedom. Whether you’re aiming to pay off debt, establish a spending plan, or grow your investments, the Money Life personal finance study is here to guide you every step of the way.
In these challenging times, with financial struggles often compounded by work and health concerns, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But remember, God is the ultimate provider who will never abandon us. Join the Money Life Personal Finance Study to discover how millions worldwide have experienced true financial freedom through faith.
Register at mycalvarygr.org
SECTION 1
January 5 - March 23 9:00am | Room 112 A-B
SECTION 2
January 5 - March 23 5:00pm | Room 114
The Money Life Study will help you
Find hope and deepen your faith
Grow in your generosity Ditch debt permanently
Create a solid, reasonable financial plan
Make confident financial decisions
Develop new attitudes and habits related to money and possessions
Save and invest for the future
Impart financial wisdom to your children
PRAY FOR OUR Muslim Friends
• Pray for the Gospel to impact families: pray that the Gospel will have an impact on Muslim families and they will hear and understand the truth about Christ. May our Muslim friends understand the error of Islam and be drawn to the Word of God (Ps. 119:60)
• Pray for Muslims to see the hopelessness of false beliefs: Pray that God will open the eyes of Muslims to the hopelessness of false beliefs and direct them towards opportunities to hear the message of Christ.
• Pray for Christians to be loving witnesses: Pray that Christ followers will be loving witnesses to hear the message of Christ, and may they give bold testimonies to their Muslim friends.
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth: pray that the truth of Jesus who lived a sinless life, died on the cross, raised form the dead on the third day and is seated on the right hand of God, be so clear and it draws Muslims to accept Him.
• Pray for the women and the children in the Muslim households wherever they are, God would raise up friends, true Christian friends, who will lovingly share faith in the context of Christ-led friendships.
• Pray that Muslim families experience with Christians would typify the hospitality God extends to all of us (John 13:34)
• May the families know that God loves them (Ps. 139:1-18; Rom. 8:35-39) and that HE hears them too (Gen. 21:14-21)
• Pray that Muslim families will know Jesus as Father, Redeemer, and Coming King (Heb. 9:28; Rev. 1:5)
• Pray that Christ would visit our Muslims in dreams and visions, and draw them to himself with signs and wonders (Acts 2:17, 22)
• Pray for the local church to stand out in its efforts to receive Muslim families and patiently invite them to belong (Is. 43:1; I Cor. 3:23)
Compassionate and merciful Father, our father in heaven, glory and majesty belong to you. We bring forward our Muslim friends, for although they call you merciful and compassionate, they have never understood the depth of your great compassion and mercy manifested on the cross. Please Father grant them the desire to know Jesus, and experience His redemptive power. Fill them with your Holy spirit and encourage them to ask more questions to find you.
Lord, please keep us true to commit to pray on their behalf for your miraculous acts among our Muslim friends, and may they find you and drink from the eternal fountain of your mercy and grace.
JOIN OUR SUNDAY
Van Crew
Hey there, road warriors! Looking to add some purpose to your Sunday drive? We’ve got just the gig for you!
We’re on the hunt for friendly drivers to help us pick up international students from Calvin University to join worship on Sunday morning. If you like to drive and have a heart for making newcomers feel welcome, we want YOU!
What you need:
• Ability to drive at least one Sunday per month
• 21+ or older
• Desire to be a part of a warm, welcoming team
• Complete the online volunteer form and driver’s certification application Join our squad and let’s make Sundays brighter together! To hop on board, scan the QR Code to start the application process.
Let’s roll out the welcome mat and spread some joy on the road!
Have questions? Email Vida Wilson (vwilson@calvarygr.org).
PRISON MINISTRY
God has done some amazing things this past year or so in the Michigan Department of Corrections Facilities that Ardo Draper, Minister and Director of Prison Ministry, visits in Ionia and Muskegon counties. Believers in these prisons are stepping up to lead others in worshiping and study of God’s word, and there have been numerous baptisms this summer. We believe God is at work planting Christ’s church in each of these facilities, and we know that the gates of Hell will not prevail against this.
We want to come alongside our incarcerated brothers by developing an intensive prayer team for each of the prisons. We recognize that for them, Satan uses not only the same weapons he uses to discourage and defeat us, but many others as well. We believe that prayer for the specific circumstances in each prison can serve to bless and encourage our brothers and give them the strength to fight the battles they face. Just as Joshua needed Moses to pray, and Moses needed Aaron and Hur to keep his hands lifted to the Lord (Exodus 17:8-13), we need your help in this.
If you would like to join one or more of these prayer teams and receive regular updates for prayer, reach out to Jen Engels (jengels@calvarygr.org). She will send you a brief survey so we can put you in the prayer group that best fits you.
Ardo Draper Minister & Director, Prison Ministry
RenewedMission
Jaime Clore was commissioned from Calvary Church as a single, church planting missionary to Spain in 2013. Since that time, Jaime has proven to be a gifted evangelist and relationship builder that is trusted by leaders in the national church and other global workers in the area.
For some years the Missionary Care and Support Team had been praying for God to bring Jaime the gift of a wife who also would have a heart for ministry in Spain. This prayer was answered! Annika and Jaime first met serving together in Spain, while Annika was on a short-term trip in 2022. They married in November 2023 and the Lord blessed them with a baby girl, Amy Grace, that was born on September 2, 2024. They were recently presented to the elders with a new agency (Commission to Every Nation) for renewed commissioning, in December.
At the invitation of Sarriko Church (a Spanish national church) and Bilbao International Church, Jaime and Annika Clore will be ministering together among the Basque and Spanish people. In this partnership with the churches, they are joining a newly formed team to begin a church planting work in an unreached area of greater Bilbao (Leioa).
Please be praying for the Clores as they move into this new work.