Calvary News

Update

September 4, 2024

God the source of all our inspiration,

help us to understand ourselves, our world, and you;

and grant to those who teach us and our children

respect for others' inventiveness and questioning,

and for themselves commitment to truth.

-from A New Zealand Prayer Book

A Message from the Rector

Dear Friends in Christ,

American poet Robert Frost wrote a poem with this line, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Frost was speaking both literally and metaphorically about the choices and directions we take in life, each filled with possibilities and potential. In the full poem the two paths were “just as fair,” and were basically equal in appearance.

Taking “the road less traveled” may bring a great sense of loneliness, but it can also, as Frost said, “make all the difference.” Whatever path we take, God is always the unseen companion on our journey, and we can have confidence that we will reach a higher level of understanding of ourselves in the process. We may discover we possess strengths and skills we didn’t know we had. Don’t be afraid of that road. Move forward confidently, trusting and knowing that God walks with us each step of the way.

Father Robert Harvey

Pastoral Care Ministries Committee Meeting

All are welcome to attend the first regular meeting of the Pastoral Care Ministries Committee of this new program year on Tuesday, September, 10^th at 5:30 in the Reception Room or by using this Zoom link or call 646-558-8656 and use Meeting ID 843 6963 0538 and Passcode 829040.

Agenda items will include Eucharistic visits and subcommittee work, such as: College Student Care Packages, Kids' Movie Night, Comfort at Christmas, Knitting and Crocheting Projects, and the Blessing of the Animals.

Detailed agendas will be emailed to current committee members; if you would like a copy and are not currently on our email list, please contact Elizabeth Harten.

Kick Off Sunday is September 15

Although our church is open and we continue to offer our full schedule of worship services throughout the calendar year, our choir and Sunday school do not meet during the summer months. Many parishioners are away taking vacations during July and August.

Kick Off Sunday is a way to recognize and celebrate the start of a new program year. It is the opening day of Sunday school and also features the return of our Parish choir to the Sunday 10:00 service. If you have friends who may be looking for a church to attend, this would be a great day to invite them to join you to learn more about Calvary.

We will be marking this day with a parish meal immediately following the 10 a.m. Sunday Service as well as games and other activities for our children to enjoy. In order to properly plan for food quantities and table set-up, we are asking you to sign up using either the sheet in the Reception Room or using the Signup Genius link here.

Photos for Revised Church Directory

In recent years, Calvary has (sadly) lost many parishioners and (fortunately) gained new ones. Thus, the office is collecting photographs of Calvary families for an updated church directory.

There are two ways for you to include your photo in the revised directory:

During Kick-Off Sunday September 15, have your picture taken by an in-house photographer. There will be no pressure to purchase a copy because this directory will be produced by Calvary's office instead of an outside company.
Submit your own digital copy of your family by September 30.

Thank you for helping to make our parish directory accurate and complete.

Sunday School Registration

Calvary's vibrant Sunday School resumes on September 15 for children and youth from Pre-K through the 9th grade.

Sunday school starts at 9:30 a.m., before the 10:00 a.m. service. At about 10:30 a.m., Sunday School concludes, and children and youth join their parent(s) or guardian(s) prior to Holy Communion.

Nursery Care is available for children 3 months through age 3 Sundays from 9:45 to 11:00 a.m., September through May.

Friends of Night People provides food, clothing, medical care, counseling, and hope to those experiencing hunger, poverty, and homelessness in Buffalo, New York. Every other month, a group of Calvary volunteers serve meals at FONP. Our next date to volunteer is Thursday, September 19, from around 4 pm until 7 pm. Sign up in the Reception Room to help and meet us at Calvary's parking lot at 4 pm that day to carpool.

As you review your wardrobe in anticipation of cooler weather, please consider donating gently used men's/women's/children's fall clothing -- especially sweatshirts/hoodies, sweaters, windbreakers, jeans, or boots -- to Friends of Night People. Drop donations off in the FONP bins just inside the Pixie Village Preschool hallway across from Calvary's ground floor elevator when preschool classes are not in session. New/gently used shopping totes are also welcome.

All items from the FONP bins, including the unsold suitcases from Calvary's garage sale, are being delivered this week. Any further donations will be delivered at the next FONP service date on 9/19. Thank you for supporting FONP!

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, contact Ro Cherpak at 718 863 4267 or Chris Coburn Miller at 716 597 5263.

School 30 Back-to-School Drive Ends 9/22

We are extending the school supplies drive for School 30 through Sunday, September 22, when Principal Estrada, faculty & staff will come for the School 30 Adoption Ceremony at the 10 a.m. service. Given the quantities collected thus far, donations of backpacks, crayons, and sticky notes are no longer needed.

Below is the revised supply list:

Especially needed:

Girls and Boys Underwear: sizes 3T-5T, 3-6, 7-8
2-Pocket Folders (Red, Yellow, and Green)
2" and 3" 3-ring Binders
large pencils for PreK & K
#2 Pencils
Black and Blue Pens
Gallon-sized Plastic Bags

Also good to have:

Index cards
Child-friendly Scissors
Colored Pencils
Rulers
Glue Sticks (large)
Erasers
Antiseptic Wipes
Composition or Spiral Notebooks
Highlighters

Please drop off your donations in the labeled containers in the Reception Room. Questions? Please email Amy Gorney or call 716-445-1602 or 716-871-9646.

Thank you for your support!

YOUTH GROUP ROCK CLIMBING EVENT

Sunday, September 29th - sign-up required

If you are a youth age 13 or older, please join us for a Rock Climbing event and pizza party.

When: Sunday, September 29th from 2 to 4 pm

Where: meet at Niagara Climbing Center, 1333 Strad Ave North, Tonawanda, NY.

Cost: $20 per climber

The Sign-up Sheet is located in the Reception Room at Calvary Church. Please sign up by Wednesday, September 25th.

What else is needed: Parents of all attendees must complete an online waiver at: https://niagaraclimbingcenter.com/fill-out-waiver

Other helpful information: https://niagaraclimbingcenter.com/first-visit-faq

Parents: We need two additional adult chaperones for this event. If you can volunteer to chaperone, please indicate so on the sign-up sheet.

Mark Your Calendars

Put your paw prints 🐾 on Saturday, October 5^th at 2:00 for the annual Blessing of the Animals, reception, and collection for a local pet charity. More details to follow.

Playground Mini-Makeover Complete

Calvary's Playground has a newly repaired fence and refurbished wood chips. Many thanks to all who pitched in to help.

Diocesan Partnership and Church News

Celebrate Bishop Sean's five years as bishop provisional in the Diocese of Western New York with him and his family at an hors d'oeuvres reception on Saturday, September 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Amore Ballroom at Salvatore's in Buffalo, before he departs to become the 28th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.
In October, everyone is invited to participate in an evaluation listening session. You can find the schedule, which includes both in-person and online sessions, on the diocesan website.
Sign up for Diocesan Partnership newsletters and/or read recent editions here.
For more news about the Dioceses of WNY and NWPA and to sign up for emailed newsletters, go here.
The Episcopal Church website offers resources for individuals, congregations, and various ministries.

Worship at Calvary

In-person worship

Sunday 8 a.m. Holy Communion
Sunday 10 a.m. Holy Communion. This worship service is also live streamed.
Saturday, 4 p.m. Holy Communion
Wednesday, 7 a.m. Holy Communion

Online worship

Sunday 10 a.m. Holy Communion, which is an in-person service, is also live streamed. The link to Calvary's 10 a.m. service can be found on the Calvary website or streamed on Facebook and YouTube. All three places will have the recording to watch later.

Vestry Liaisons

Each area of ministry at Calvary is assigned a Vestry member liaison. The liaison serves as an intermediary between the committee and the whole Vestry. These are the liaison assignments for 2024: