We end every service at Calvary with the words "May the Lord bless you and keep you." I love this old tradition; it goes back for thousands of years. God told his ministers to dismiss his people with these words and then said, "And I will bless them" (Numbers 6:22-27). What a promise! This is my desire my family, my friends, and YOU!
You will read in this week's link about a blessing that came my way unexpectedly. Upon the completion of my doctoral work, I was offered a research associateship with the Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide (CCCW) at the University of Cambridge. What this means is that I will spend most of my life as the senior pastor at Calvary Church preaching and providing vision for our church community. It also means that I will spend a few weeks "across the pond" (as they say) each year in a community of scholars who are writing for the larger church. I feel very called to be a pastor and I love being YOUR pastor. I am also excited about the opportunity to write. And the offer came right in the midst of some personal challenges I have been going through. Don't you just love it when God does that—brings blessing in the midst of trials?
I want to thank YOU for loving your bookish pastor. I pray that my studies will bless you—you are my first love!—and the larger church. And I hope that God will bless us together for many more years to come, even in those time when we enter “the land of our suffering,” to borrow from songwriter Matt Redman.
May the Lord bless and keep you and me and those we love.
Easter is huge for our church. So many visitors will enter our doors, and we want them to discover the hope of Jesus Christ and keep coming back for more! You can make a difference in our community this Easter.
PRAY that God will change lives forever through the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
INVITE two people to join you for Easter weekend services.
COMMIT to attend the 6:45a sunrise service on Easter morning. Would you help make room for visiting families to hear the gospel? We expect over 2000 people to attend Calvary on Easter Sunday. If 500 Calvary regulars commit to come to the sunrise service, there will be room in our later services for newcomers. How big a deal is this? Five hundred is how many people attend our fullest services—the 9:45a—on a typical Sunday.
SERVE our Calvary families and guests in Calvary Kids. We need a lot of people to care for little ones. Contact April Millard to say, I’m ready to serve our kids on Easter weekend!
Congratulations, Pastor!
Congratulations to Pastor Lionel, who is the newest research associate with Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide in the UK! He’ll spend a few weeks a year in Cambridge—in the library, of course!—and have access to the academic support of a world class institution as he continues to write about the global church.
Making Love Last
Begins SUNDAY 3.11 at 11:15a
Making Love Last prepares couples for a lifetime together. Designed for couples who are engaged or seriously dating, this three-week series presents a compelling picture of marriage as God’s gift. Led by Pastor Jon Nitta.
Discovering Serve Teams
SUNDAY 3.11 at 9:45a
Find your fit and start serving at Calvary. Discovering Serve Teams introduces you to serving at Calvary and helps you use your passions, talents, and skills for the church family and guests. Led by Volunteer Connections Coordinator Lynette Green.
Bunco Fundraiser
FRIDAY 3.9 at 6:30p
Play Bunco, win prizes, support Every Child Ministries’ work with African children. It’s a win-win-win! Our global partner ECM is holding a fundraising event at Calvary next month. Tickets are on sale now here or buy tickets between services at Calvary on Sunday 2.25.
Medical Mission Trip
Applications are due on 2.28 for the medical team mission trip to Haiti. All medical professionals are invited to be part of the team and specialists are especially needed.
Prayer Team
The Local Outreach prayer team is specifically focused on the prayer needs of our community and local partners. We meet quarterly to pray together and would love to have you join us.
Jonah
begins SUNDAY 2.25
Calvary Students are starting a new teaching series from the book of Jonah. What happens when God wants to use a normal guy dealing with some hurt and anger issues to save people? This is not the children’s story you remember.
Monthly Gathering
FRIDAY 3.2 at 7p
Young adults gather at Calvary on the first Friday of the month for food and conversation on everything from how can you make a difference in the world to how do you handle loneliness. Come join us.