Dear Calvary Friends,

This is an important weekend in our nation, as we remember and honor all the veterans who have bravely served on our behalf, along with their families, whose tremendous sacrifices sometimes go unnoticed.

At all three of our services on Sunday morning, we will recognize and pray for veterans. The picture that accompanies this message shows what a special moment it is, with children joining our prayer of thanksgiving. I hope you will plan to be part of this celebration and encourage everyone who has served to join us as well.

A few years ago I had the privilege of sharing the invocation at a community Veterans Day service. I offered this prayer for thanksgiving and peace that day, and I continue to lift it up today:

Lord God, on this day of remembrance and celebration, we give you thanks for all who have served. We thank you for the courage they have shown, for the missions they have accomplished, and for the example they have set. Help those of us who have been blessed by their sacrifice to honor them as they deserve and to lead lives of thanksgiving and appreciation.

Protect those throughout the world who stand in harm's way this very day. Bless them with your strength and your faith; hold them in your care; and bring them safely home to the husbands and wives, the parents and children who miss them so much.

As we remember the women and men of the armed forces, we pray all the more for your reign of peace and justice to come to our world. We look with great anticipation to that day when swords will turn to plowshares, when neighbors will no longer take up arms against one another, and when nations will learn war no more.

May our great country be a light for the world, pursuing and promoting lasting peace; may ours be the last generation of veterans sent off to fight; and may the way of peace begin here and now, in the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Season of Thanksgiving

Our veterans' recognition comes during a season of thanksgiving, when we're all called to see and celebrate the many blessings we have. One of the most joyful ways we're doing that at Calvary is through the return of our Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Sunday, November 19 from 4-6pm.

This is a free, family-style meal, where guests from our church and community will be served a traditional Thanksgiving feast in the fellowship hall. It takes many hands to make an event like this possible, and I'm so grateful for Karen Miller's leadership and for the countless volunteers who have already signed up to help. The biggest need we still have is for some more turkeys. If you're able to cook a turkey to deliver to the church next Sunday, hit "reply" to this message so we'll know to expect it.

Please help us spread the word about the Thanksgiving Dinner, and plan to join us for a great night of fun and fellowship!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor David

This Week in Worship

Sanctuary Worship - Mirror Images

Family Worship - David Dances

(Celebrate what God has done.)

• Joyful Praise Worship in the Sanctuary at 8:30am.
• Family Worship in the Fellowship Hall at 9:45am.
• Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary at 11am.
• Online Worship on Facebook and YouTube at 11am.
• Audio CDs of each week's service are available by request.

Songs from Joyful Praise

Each week our 8:30am Joyful Praise Worship Service includes contemporary Christian songs that can be heard throughout the week at Spirit FM, on the local Spirit FM radio station (90.1) or on the K-Love radio station (102.9 FM). This Sunday's songs will include 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord), Pass It On, Oceans and Great Things.

The Living Word

As a church family, we are taking a journey through Scripture, beginning with Genesis in January and concluding with Revelation in November. Please join us in the reading plan below, and dive deeper through Bible Study each week!



• Living Word Bible Study - Tuesdays at 7pm in the Resource Room

November 12-18: 1 & 2 Peter, Jude, 1, 2, & 3 John

November 19-25: Revelation

An Invitation to Serve

An Invitation to Serve – It takes all of our church family to help us ensure that our building and grounds are safe, attractive, and accessible for everyone. Our Trustees need your help with these projects. If you’re able to share some of your time, please contact Russ Dean (540.255.3143), Pastor David, or the church office.



• Maintenance Team - People who volunteer short amounts of time regularly to help with light maintenance and upkeep around the church. You can serve on your own or with others, as your schedule allows.
• Landscaping - Help us install, care for, and remove landscaping around the building, so that we put our best foot forward for the community!
• Snow Removal - Be on call to help clear sidewalks and entrances in the event of inclement weather this winter.

Church Nursery

After a long hiatus, we are preparing for the return of our children's nursery on Sunday mornings. If you love kids and would be willing to volunteer as a nursery attendant, please write a note on Sunday's Connection card or click here to contact the office or Pastor David. Each volunteer will serve alongside a partner and be part of a rotation, so that no one will be by themselves or asked to do more than they are able.

Calvary's Cemetery Cleanup

Calvary’s cemetery team will be holding their fall cleanup on Saturday, November 11. Families are asked to remove any special items they want to keep before that date. Thank you!

Pancake Breakfast

Saturday, November 11

8-10am in the Fellowship Hall

Join us from 8-10am on Saturday, November 11 for a FREE community breakfast in the Fellowship Hall. Enjoy a wonderful pancake breakfast and great fellowship with friends and neighbors! We set up on the Friday evening before each pancake breakfast. The next opportunity to help is Friday, November 10 at 5pm.

Food Pantry Packing Party

The Food Pantry Ministry of Calvary UMC will be packing food boxes on Sunday, November 12 at 2:30pm for next week’s Food Pantry distribution. Please join us in the Food Pantry as we work together to bless our neighbors. We would LOVE your help!

Youth Ministry

Sunday, November 12

4-6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall

Come spend time together this Sunday, November 12 from 4-6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall as we prepare the room for Operation Christmas Child Packing Party. We will have dinner together as well. Friends are always welcome and encouraged! 

Praise Band at Calvary

The Praise Band practices on Tuesdays at 6:30pm in the sanctuary. If you are a musician or singer interested in being part of the praise band, please click here to contact Jennifer Clinedinst.

11am Choir Practice

If you enjoy singing and would like to be a part of the choir, please join us for practices on Wednesdays at 6:30pm in the choir room. If you have any questions, please click here to contact Jennifer Clinedinst.

Congregational Care at Calvary UMC

Visitation Team Meeting

Thursday, November 16 at 1:30pm in the Resource Room

Pastor Sandy Wright, the chair of Calvary's Visitation Team, also assists with congregational care at our church. If you know someone who would be blessed by care from a pastor, please click here to contact Sandy or click here to contact Pastor David. If you would like to help us care for one another, join us at the next Visitation Team meeting on Thursday, November 16 at 1:30pm in the Resource Room.

Charge Conference/Valley Ridge District Day

Saturday, November 18

9:30am at First United Methodist Church in Salem

This year's charge conference will be a part of Valley Ridge District Day, to be held at 9:30am on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at First United Methodist Church in Salem. In addition to charge conferences for each church on the district, this event will include District Conference and a variety of opportunities for fellowship, learning, and service. If you would like to join others from Calvary in taking the church van to Salem, click here to contact Pastor David.

OCC Packing Party

Sunday, November 19

9am-12pm in the Fellowship Hall

Join us on Sunday, November 19 for our OCC Packing Party! We have worked hard to collect donations all year long and we are looking forward to coming together as a family to pack shoeboxes next Sunday morning (November 19) in our Fellowship Hall. Come as you are able between 9am and 12pm. This week, you are welcome to join us in the Fellowship Hall to pack boxes on Wednesday, November 15 from 9:00am-11:30am in addition to next Sunday morning!

Calvary's Thanksgiving Dinner

Calvary’s Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held on Sunday, November 19 with seating from 4-6pm in the Fellowship Hall. This will be a night of great fellowship, sharing, and giving thanks for the gift of the family of Christ. The meal is free and open to anyone and everyone! We hope that your families and friends and our neighbors will join us on this wonderful night! If you would like to help, please take a feather from the turkey boards located near worship space entrances for ways you can support the Thanksgiving dinner. Please consider how you may be helpful in donating food items, setting up, cooking, serving, or clean up! Come and give thanks at Calvary for all that God does to bless us! 

Advent Special Gifts

Each year, we are invited to make special gifts in honor or in memory of loved ones as part of our Advent celebration. This year’s offering will support mission and ministry at Calvary or you may order poinsettias at a cost of $12.00 each. Donations of any amount may be placed in the offering boxes on Sunday mornings, made online or can be received at the church office. Please make checks payable to Calvary United Methodist Church, and include the name of the person being honored (in honor or in memory), as well as the donor’s name. Donations will be acknowledged during our worship services on Sunday, December 17. The deadline for poinsettia orders and acknowledgements is Sunday, December 3.

Pray for Israel and Palestine Through Reading

Scarlett Danraj invites anyone interested in reading The Lemon Tree: An Arab, A Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan as a way to be in prayer for our sisters and brothers in Israel and Palestine. The book can be ordered online. Please click here to let Scarlett know if you are reading along so the group may gather in prayer through the next several weeks or if you need help with purchasing the book. 

United Methodist Men's Breakfast Gathering

The United Methodist Men will not meet for breakfast in November and December so as to spend time with our families. We will resume breakfast in the new year on the fourth Saturday of each month so mark your calendar for January 27, 2024. 

Love In the Name of Christ

Love INC is a local mission partner that Calvary UMC supports. They have many volunteer opportunities at their two thrift stores and donation center, as well as needs for their new office remodeling and Change Your Life (CYL) classes. Their donation center also needs sofas, love seats, recliners, washers and dryers, refrigerators, along with new small appliances. If you have any questions about these opportunities at Love INC, please reach out to Kristy McClain by clicking here or Wanda Stepp by clicking here for more information about their mission and needs.

Mark Your Calendars...

Love INC has been chosen to be the benefactor for two very special Christmas Concerts this holiday season! Please mark your calendars for Sunday, December 3 for the Waynesboro Choral Society Benefit Christmas Concert at 7pm at Waynesboro Main Street UMC and Tuesday, December 19 for the Christmas Melodies for Love Benefit Concert at 7pm (prelude begins at 6:30pm) at Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church in Fishersville. A free will offering will be accepted. Please plan to join us for these two beautiful evenings of music that will benefit our ministry!

Financial Support

Thank you to everyone who has supported our mission and ministry during this extraordinary time! Your generosity enables us to follow God's call--and share God's love--in new and life-changing ways.

If you would like to support our ministry, there are three ways to do so:

1. Offerings can be placed in the box near the doors as you enter or exit an in-person service.
2. One-time or recurring gifts can be made online by visiting our church website here.
3. Checks mailed to the church (2179 Stuarts Draft Hwy ~ Stuarts Draft, VA 24477) will be processed as usual. If you have offering envelopes, please use them in order to help our volunteer counters.

2023 Budget - $534,280.00

Weekly Need - $10,274.62

Received (10/30-11/05) - $11,776.14

Total Received (2023) - $422,464.31

Received v. Budget (-$29,618.53)

Concerns and Prayers

Do you have a prayer request? You can click here to submit a prayer request that will be added to the church prayer list. If you choose not to share with the congregation, then your request will be shared with the staff for prayer. 

You can view our full church prayer list by clicking here. Thank you for lifting the needs of these beloved sisters and brothers before the throne of grace.

This Week at Calvary

Friday, November 10

5:00pm - Set Up for Pancake Breakfast (Fellowship Hall)

Saturday, November 11

8:00am-10:00am - Pancake Breakfast (Fellowship Hall)

Sunday, November 12

8:30am - Joyful Praise Worship in the Sanctuary

9:45am - Family Worship in the Fellowship Hall

9:45am - Sunday School

11:00am - Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary

11:00am - Online Worship (Facebook)

11:00am - Online Worship (YouTube)

2:30pm - Food Pantry Packing Party

4:00-6:30pm - Youth Gathering (Fellowship Hall)

Tuesday, November 14

6:30pm - Praise Band Practice (Sanctuary)

6:30pm - Calvary Weekday School Board Meeting (Lambert Classroom)

7:00pm - Living Word Bible Study (Resource Room)

Wednesday, November 15

9:00am-11:30am - Operation Christmas Child Packing Party (Fellowship Hall)

10:00am - Prayer Shawl Ministry (Seekers Room)

6:30pm - 11am Choir Practice (Choir Room)

Thursday, November 16

1:30pm - Visitation Team Meeting (Resource Room)

2:00pm-5:00pm - Calvary Food Pantry Open

Saturday, November 18

9:30am - Valley Ridge District Charge Conference at First United Methodist Church in Salem

Sunday, November 19

8:30am - Joyful Praise Worship in the Sanctuary

9:00am-12:00pm - Operation Christmas Child Packing Party (Fellowship Hall)

9:45am - Sunday School

11:00am - Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary

11:00am - Online Worship (Facebook)

11:00am - Online Worship (YouTube)

2:30pm - Food Pantry Packing Party

4:00-6:00pm - Calvary's Community Thanksgiving Dinner (Fellowship Hall)

Looking Ahead...

Thursday, November 30 - Staff Parish Relations Committee Meeting

Saturday, December 16 - Christmas VBS