My Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 What seemed to be a long Lenten season finally ended with the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday morning!  Then, we finally reached the “birthday” of the church on Pentecost Sunday and began the long “Ordinary Time” of the church or “Sundays after Pentecost.”  This is the time for us to allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us and grow in the power of the spirit.

 As Deacon Ed puts together a “new” brochure on Calvary’s Ministries, we found a brochure that was done back in the 1990’s. It occurred to us that many people either do not know about some ministries of the church are or do not think that a certain activity is actually a ministry. 

 Ministry is defined in many ways such as “giving of oneself to the uplift of another.”  It is also defined as “volunteering in a certain area to improve the wellbeing of another.”  Then, it is also defined as performing a “task that enlightens and benefits the ‘whole.’”

 

After School Program	Episcopal Church Women
Men of Calvary	Pastoral Care Committee
Bible Study	Children's Chapel
Church Leadership Conference	Day School and its activities
First Sunday Fellowship	Hospital / Nursing Home Ministry
J.O.Y. Activity Group	Soup Kitchen volunteers
Sewing Class / Caleb Ministries	Summer Lunch Program
Sunday School (Christian Education)	Thanksgiving Baskets
Evangelism Committee	Vacation Bible School
Strategic Planning Committee	Youth Activities
Worship Services	Men's Chorus

Then, we had special events such as:

Berean Baptist Church Disciples Alive Choir	Immunization Carnival and Health Fair
Church Picnic	ECW Harvest Festival lWeekend
ECW Valentine Tea	Lenten Series
Men of Calvary Pancake Supper, Prayer Breakfast      and Father's Day Concert	Spiritual Renewal Week
Rockaway Revue	Stewardship Committee

Added to the special events are the ECW Oyster Roast and Fish Fry, the Crab Crack and Christmas Jazz Event.

Additionally, we have the Acolytes, Altar Guild, Bible Study, Chalice Bearers, Choir, Lay Readers, Ushers, Adult Bible Study, The Trio.

Further, Mr. Lonnie Hamilton III oversees the CHDO - the revitalization of homes in our community to allow our neighbors to have more affordable homes.

That is a great many ministries!!!  Most of them are still alive and active.  Look them over and see how many you participated in at that time and still participate (outside of illness and physical disabilities)?

Since then we have added:

Daughters of the King / Junior Daughters of the King	Project C.H.E.S.S.
Family and Friends Weekend	Thursday Night Adult Bible Study in conjunction with Deacon Ed's outreach ministry project.
Praise Dancers	Mime Ministry
Melody Chimes Ensemble	Christmas Baskets and dinner
Thanksgiving dinners for the elderly of our congregation and community

Often we look at other churches and "marvel" at the activities and fail to uplift and participate in the ministries of our own church!  However, there is an old saying,  "when the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, it means that that person has a higher water bill."

I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT CALVARY IS ALIVE AND KICKING!

We minister in the Name of our Lord in many ways and continue to give honor and glory to our Lord as we sing, work and do other things to demonstrate  "love to our brothers and sisters"  in the Lord.

Remember Luke 12:48:   "Where much is given, much will be required."

On another note, you received the first quarter financial statement from the Vestry and Treasurer, and the next quarter update will go out in July.  We thank you for your stewardship in many ways as we "overcome" and "climb."

What a might God we serve!

God bless you and see you Sunday!

Fr. Ted