Calvary CourierJanuary 2016

Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church

Upcoming EventsChurch Council Installation Sunday, Jan. 3

Wednesday Night Bible Class Jan. 6, 13, 20, & 27 | 7:00 p.m.

Thursday Morning Bible Class Jan. 7, 21, & 28 | 9:30 a.m. No class on Jan. 14

Ladies Guild Thursday, Jan. 14 | 9:30 a.m.

Voters’ Meeting Sunday, Jan. 31 | 10:30 a.m.

Books & Crannies Sunday, Jan. 31 | 3:00 p.m.

Guinea Pig Potluck/Bingo Sunday, Jan. 31 | 3:30 p.m.

There is a cartoon about a Grinch who tried to ruin Christmas. Consider the fol-lowing ten possibilities that could have ruined that first Christmas long ago. And rejoice in God’s gracious and guiding hand which prevented Christmas gone bad. What do they mean to you?

1. God should have distanced himself from a wicked and worthless world. In the centuries since God created earth and its inhabitants, humanity proved ourselves to be incapable of getting along—with each other, and with God himself. Even God’s chosen nation of Israel rejected him in favor of worshiping idols and signing trea-ties with powerful allies. Yet the same loving God who stepped out of eter-nity once to lavish humanity with a lovely creation stepped out of eternity again, this time to save us from our-selves by sending his Son to be Savior.

2. The family line of the promised Sav-ior became corrupted by scandal. Oops, this actually did happen. And instead of trying to cover it up, God’s Word features it in the genealogy of Je-sus as the “Son of David” in Matthew 1. Genealogies in those days didn’t normally include women. Not only do women appear in the genealogy of Je-sus, but these women drag the family name through the dirt. Promiscuous sex with a father-in-law. Prostitution. And even a foreigner whose non-Is-raelite blood tainted Davidic purity. I guess anyone can get into God’s fam-ily. Exactly.

3. Mary wasn’t a virgin. Had this actu-ally been the case, it would have been much more than a PR nightmare for biblical prophecy. God’s sinlessness as Savior depended not only on him rejecting temptation throughout his earthly life, but being born miracu-lously without the curse of original sin passed on through the normal repro-ductive process. Thank you, Joseph and Mary, for your faith-filled follow-

Ten Bible Answers to Christmas Gone Bading of God’s commands that prohibit premarital sex.

4. Joseph, stressed out by these new developments, runs away and hides. Not to worry, the angel reassured Jo-seph, “Son of David, do not be afraid.” Like his ancestor, David, Joseph could trust in God’s words and ways when facing giant-like distress.

5. An invasive government wields its power resulting in our cost and in-convenience. The first name we typi-cally hear in the Christmas story be-longs not to a pious follower of God but to the pagan empire of the day. “Caesar Augustus issued a decree…” Governments may interfere in our lives, and yet their decrees always serve the higher purpose of the ulti-mate Authority, God himself.

6. Undesirable travel plans might have threatened Joseph and Mary’s first Christmas, instead, they fulfilled ancient prophecies calling for the Savior to be born in Bethlehem, not Nazareth, not Jerusalem. Off they went to this little town right at the inopportune time of Mary’s due date. How inconvenient! How divinely or-chestrated. God knows what he’s do-ing.

7. This year Christmas is lacking its luster. The splendor is fading and get-ting old for you, an empty tradition. Consider the mundane night watch of shepherds babysitting their sheep in the fields outside Bethlehem. No splendor there. No Christmas lights. Quite ordinary. And this was the tar-get of heaven-sent angels announcing the Savior’s birth.

8. Angels copyright the birth an-nouncement and name themselves the exclusive spokes persons of Christmas. Well, who can say it bet-ter than angels? Shepherds, actually. And you. Angels are nice, but they’re not normal. They are supernatural. You are normal. Go, tell it on the mountain.

1270 N. Dobson Rd. Chandler, Arizona 85224 Phone: 480-963-9397 Website: www.calvarychandler.net

Inside this issue:The Birthday of a King 2Looking Ahead 2Voters’ Meeting 2New Members of Calvary 3Guinea Pig Potluck/Bingo 3Books and Crannies 3Alpha Pregnancy 3Worship Schedule 4Your Ladies Guild at Work 5Organ Stop Pizza Outing Recap 5January Birthdays 6 Through My Bible in a Year 6Bible Classes and Sunday School 6Calendar Insert

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Pastor Martin Spaude 480-963-9397

Pastor Roger Sprain 480-883-8529

Staff Minister: Charlie Kuether 480-204-4297

President: David Gannon 480-821-5008

Secretary: Scott Clegg 480-516-8758

Financial Secretary: Philip Nick 480-460-9258

Treasurer: Phil Denisuk 480-821-0055

Evangelism/Stewardship Director: Gary Warskow 480-759-5261

Education Director: Ben Coker 480-584-6858

Property Director: Mark Mundt 602-743-3707

Calvary’s Church Leaders:

As members of this congrega-tion, our constant aim is to share the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ with all people based on the inspired, infallible Holy Scriptures and to exemplify our faith through Christian living as commissioned by our Savior.

Calvary’s Mission Statement:

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Voter’s MeetingThe next Voter’s meeting will be held on Sunday, January 31, following the ser-vice at 10:30 am.

The Birthday of a KingBY CHARLE KUETHERCalvary’s staff was so glad to welcome 23 students on Saturday, December 12, to celebrate in the birthday of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Following Pastor Spaude’s opening devotion, welcome and over-view of the program from Mr. Kue-ther, a Christmas skit that was written by Stephanie Osswald and performed with a number of Calvary’s youth got the children’s attention. The children were then broken into three age groups to go and enjoy through the Word, the Christmas story. When the children returned, they sang Christmas carols, participated in the snowball race, decorated and con-sumed Christmas cookies,

made Christmas crafts to take home with them, and enjoyed birthday cake, all celebrating the birthday of our King: Jesus. A sincere thank you to all the staff that made this event so memorable. A special thanks to our leader, Mrs. Leah Cross, who organized this year’s pro-gram, and was a major participator throughout the morning.

9. Broken promises. Unattended in-tentions. Failed dreams. Mary may have scripted different plans for the birth of her firstborn, but after it was all done, she looked back and trea-sured it all.

10. Jesus is an acceptable choice among many options that make people right with God now and forever. “I can do it my way” is the call of today’s consumer, a mentality that isn’t so bad until it infects religion. If I invent my own religion or choose a man-

made deity and believe “my way,” then what value is such a religion if it’s no bigger or better than the hu-man mind? We’re not capable of sav-ing ourselves. Our sins and shame, our guilt and mistakes, have only one answer for hope. Jesus Christ is the One and Only Savior. He is born for all. Kneel at his manger and let him be born for you.

– Pastor Martin Spaude

Looking AheadLent begins with Ash Wednesday mid-week services on February 10.

“An Evening with a Christian Song-writer and Former Atheist”. On Feb-ruary 15, at 7:00 p.m., WELS member Chris Driesbach, a Christian songwriter and performer, will give a concert at Calvary. His presentation is called “An Evening with a Christian Songwriter and Former Atheist” and tells the story in song, word, and pictures of how the Holy Spirit worked through the Word to create faith in his very hard and stub-born heart via a Bible information class

which he attended only because he wanted to argue with the pastor. This happened in 1995 at Faith Lutheran Church (WELS) in Anchorage, Alaska. Through his concert he wants to give hope and tools to people with unbeliev-ing friends, relatives, and co-workers who seem unreachable. He also talks about his recovery from alcoholism and his work in prisons. Like the Branches Band, he is compensated by free will offering and donations for his CDs. For more information, his website is http://www.chrisdriesbach.com.

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Books and Crannies Alpha PregnancyWe will begin a new reading season in January with Me Before You by Jojo Moy-es. In this novel, Will Traynor is a man on top of his world when an accident puts him in a wheelchair. Louisa Clark desperately needs a job and becomes a companion to Will. As they develop a friendship, they face many obstacles. Can Louisa convince Will that life is still worth living? Then in February, we will be reading Dollbaby by Laura Lane Mc-Neal. This is a big-hearted coming-of-age novel set in the civil rights-era New Orleans. This is a novel full of Southern eccentricity and secrets. If you enjoy reading, please join us for our discus-sions.

• January 31, 3:00 p.m.: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

• February 28, 3:00 p.m.: Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal

• March: We will take the month off for Palm Sunday and Easter.

BY SUE SCHROEDERDonations RecievedThe Friendship Circle/game night friends contributed $150 during the re-cent Alpha Pregnancy campaign, gen-erous members of Calvary donated an-other $75 and through the kind efforts of Liz Hawkes, Thrivent matched our $150. Jesus loved the little children. Please feel free to make donations to Alpha Preg-nancy year round.

Crafters and Bargain Hunters NeededHere is yet another way you can support Calvary’s mission work towards Alpha. In Spring, the Friendship Circle is hold-ing a baby shower to supply the agency with baby articles. If you are crafty, pull out your crochet hooks and knitting needles. If you are a bargain hunter, hit the sales rack and find baby and toddler clothes. If you are a coupon cutter, get cutting diaper coupons and put them in Anne Kelsey’s church mailbox. There are families in serious need of help and we, who have been so blessed by our Lord, have the gifts and means to help. Keep your eye out for upcoming details of the Alpha baby shower—you have an open invitation to share in the joy.

New Members of Calvary: Scott, Tina, and Ben Milward

Guinea PigPotluck Bingo

BY SUE SCHROEDERYou recently dusted off your cookbooks, ran your fingers through your recipe files, or surfed the internet for recipes perfectly fit for the Christmas Holiday. Now, dig in once more and search for that special recipe you’ve been dying to try. Then, think of your buddies at Cal-vary and use them as guinea pigs to try the recipe out on. You don’t have to put your name on the dish so if it is a “bust”, no one will ever know you made it un-less you “confess”. If it happens to be a “success”, you can “brag” all you want.

After the delicious “experimental” meal, we will settle in for an absolutely “fun” evening of Bingo. For the evening, we have in listed the services of the world-renown Bingo caller—Brad Reinke! Be it plastic chips or colorful m&ms, you will have such delight marking your bingo cards in hopes of winning one of many “treasured” prizes. Have you heard about the prunes? Then you must cer-tainly be curious to see who “wins” them this year. That alone is reason for you to attend. The event is Sunday, January 31, at 3:30pm. Mark your calendar now!

We are originally from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Scott and I attended the same high school, but didn’t start dating until a few years later. Scott was discharged from active duty in

1991, and we were married in 1992. The Lord blessed us with our boys, Zach in 1994, and Ben in 1997. While living in Eau Claire, we were members of St. Mark Lutheran where the boys also attended grade school.

In 2007, Scott returned to Active Duty with the US Army Re-serve. He was stationed at Fort McCoy, near Tomah, Wisconsin. We lived in Bangor, Wisconsin, and attended St. Paul Lutheran. Both Zach and Ben were able to finish grade school at St. Paul’s, and we are very thankful that they had the opportunity to at-tended WELS schools.

In 2011, we were moved to Fort Knox, near Louisville, Ken-tucky. We were members of Faith Lutheran in Radcliff, Ken-tucky.

We moved to Chandler in July of this year. Scott is working at a Reserve Unit in Scottsdale and I have recently accepted a position with Liberty Mutual Insurance at their call center in Phoenix. I have worked in insurance since 2005. Ben graduated from Fort Knox High School in 2015, and is currently working as a stocker at Walmart. He plans to enroll in a local communi-ty college next fall. Our older son, Zach, is in the US Air Force and stationed at Luke Air Force Base. This weighed heavily on our decision to come to Arizona!

We look forward to getting to know the members of Calvary and thank you for including us in your family.

WorshipUse this Schedule to Prepare Yourself

January 2 & 3 Christmas 2 CommunionTheme: We rejoice that God has kept his promises

Lessons: Genesis 17:1-7 Hymns: 43 To Thee My Heart I Offer Galatians 4:4-7 34 Now Sing We, Now Rejoice Luke 1:68-75 40 O Jesus Christ, Your Manager Is 707 Peace Came to Earth

January 9 & 10 The Baptism of our Lord, Epiphany 1Theme: The baptism of our Lord

Lessons: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Hymns: 83 As with Gladness Men of Old Titus 3:4-7 89 To Jordan’s River Came Our Lord Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 739 Baptismal Waters Cover Me 709 Christ, Your Footprints Through the Desert

January 16 & 17 Ephiphany 2 CommunionTheme: Jesus is the Heavenly Bridegroom

Lessons: Isaiah 62:1-5 Hymns: 91 The Star Proclaims the King Is Here 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 82 Songs of Thankfulness and Praise John 2:1-11 79 How Lovely Shines the Morning Star 87 Hail, O Source of Every Blessing

January 23 & 24 Ephiphany 3Theme: Jesus is the promised Deliverer

Lessons: Isaiah 61:1-6 Hymns: 353 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness 1 Corinthians 12:12-21 93 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed Luke 4:14-21 84 Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun 90 The People that in Darkness Sat

January 30 & 31 Ephipany 4Theme: Jesus proclaims the truth despite rejection

Lessons: Jeremiah 1:4-10 Hymns: 366 O Jesus So Sweet, O Jesus So Mild 1 Corinthians 12:27—13:13 544 Preach You the Word Luke 4:20-32 203 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word 564 There Is a Balm in Gilead

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Organ Stop Pizza Outing RecapBY SUE SCHROEDER“It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”—the gathering of 50 Cal-vary families and friends at Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa this past December. It was a wonderful evening of food, fellowship, and fun. If you have never had the pleasure of visiting Organ Stop Pizza, put it on your “to do list” for 2016! It is sure to be an evening of pleasure for all who attend.

Your Ladies Guild at WorkBY JAN ENDERLEThis group is open to all women of Calvary. We will be meet-ing on the second Thursdays of the month through May. Our meetings consist of a Bible study with Pastor Spaude and a business meeting. This is a good opportunity to be involved in your church activities. For information, call Jan Enderle at 480-899-0662.

Food PantryThe Calvary food pantry has provided Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for a military family of five who are going through a tough time. They were a day away from being on the street when the Chandler Marine Corps League paid their rent. There are three boys ages 6, 14, and 17. Mom has recently been diagnosed with M.S., however she is working. Dad is on disability and the 17-year-old is working after school at Frys. We will be restocking the shelves in the very near future with dollars provided through the Thrivent Grant.

Greeting CardsThe greeting cards will be on the display rack on the patio after church services as well as in the fellowship hall. All greeting cards are provided as a service to the congregation and are sold at cost. For more information, contact Cora Schroeder at 480-892-5153.

New Card MinistryCalvary has begun a new Card Ministry sponsored by Ladies Guild. We need volunteers willing to send cards and/or en-couraging notes to our Missionary families and to Calvary shut-ins. If this is something you would like to be involved in you may call or e-mail the church office at 480-963-9397 or randirasmussen@cox.net. Randi will give you a list of either shut-ins, Missionaries or both.

Recycling Bins ReminderWhat can go in the Blue and Green Bins located in the back church parking lot? Green is for paper: Newspaper, cardboard, etc. and the Blue is for fibers: Clothing, Paired shoes etc.

Alpha PregnancyIn keeping with their mission statement “Spread the Gospel while emphasizing the sanctity of life” Alpha Pregnancy has begun adding Bible story books when distributing diapers, formula, clothing, blankets, etc. to mothers-to-be. In support of this project, Ladies Guild is asking for donations of the small Bible story books. They are available at most of the dol-lar stores and Wal-Mart as well as other stores. We will keep a box in the Narthex for donations. Thank you for the support.

Christmas Breakfast RecapThursday, December 10, twenty members of Calvary gathered at I-Hop for the annual Christmas Breakfast sponsored by your Ladies Guild. The staff went out of their way to accommodate our group. It was a great time for visiting and getting to know each other better. Sue brought her handsome grandson Brock, Jan learned a cleaning secret from Roger, and Pastor Spaude tasted everyone’s meal. This really was a nice outing.

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January

1 Genesis 1-3 2 Genesis 4-6 3 Genesis 7-9 4 Genesis 10-12 5 Genesis 13-15 6 Genesis 16-18 7 Genesis 19-21 8 Genesis 22-24 9 Genesis 25-27 10 Genesis 28-30 11 Genesis 31-33 12 Genesis 34-36 13 Genesis 37-39 14 Genesis 40-42 15 Genesis 43-45 16 Genesis 46-48 17 Genesis 49—Exodus 1 18 Exodus 2-4 19 Exodus 5-7 20 Exodus 8-10 21 Exodus 11-13 22 Exodus 14-16 23 Exodus 17-19 24 Exodus 20-22 25 Exodus 23-25 26 Exodus 26-28 27 Exodus 29-31 28 Exodus 32-34 29 Exodus 35-37 30 Exodus 38, 39 31 Exodus 40

Through my BibleIN A YEAR

Cut this out and place it in your Bible:

January BirthdaysBest wishes to the following who celebrate birthdays this month:

Paul Kuether January 7Nicolas Jones January 9Cody Reed January 10Laramie Rasmussen January 11David Schroeder January 12Liz Johnson January 13Debbie Spaude January 16Nancy Petersen January 20Pam Abbe January 21Milo Wills January 25Chase Dugan January 29Reno Dugan January 29

(If your birthday is not listed, tell the Office Manager, Randi Rasmussen, so your records can be updated.)

Bible Classes and Sunday SchoolThe study of God’s Word is important in the life of the believer. We always want to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of God for the strengthening of our faith and the glory given to God. There are a number of opportunities for us to do this at Calvary:

• Sunday School for the children on Sundays at 10:15 a.m.• Christ Teens for the teens on Sunday at 10:15 a.m.• Sunday adult Bible Class at 10:25 a.m. (A study of the Book of Revelation.)• Wednesday adult Bible Class at 7:00 p.m. (Hard Sayings of Jesus.)• Thursday adult Bible Class at 9:30 a.m. (A study of 1 Peter.)