June 5, 2024

God of work and rest and pleasure

grant that what we do this week may be for us

an offering rather than a burden;

and for those we serve, may it be the help they need.

-- from A New Zealand Prayer Book

A Message from the Rector

Dear Friends in Christ,

Actress Audrey Hepburn said, “People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Never throw out anyone.” Working with UNICEF back in 1988, she helped put a face to the news of starving people in some of the poorest regions on earth. Beyond the numbers she helped us see faces of those caught in crushing poverty and neglect. “Never throw out anyone” she said because she believed in giving dignity back to people.

Giving dignity is part of our Baptismal Covenant. At every Baptism we are asked, “Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?” We then say, “I will, with God’s help.” Created in God’s image, every human being reflects something of God. You are created in God’s image and you are a reflection of God, full of dignity. Those we meet each day are also reflections of God, full of dignity. Who in your life has lost hope and needs their dignity restored? Who needs reminding that they, too, are a dignified reflection of God?

Father Robert Harvey

THIS SUNDAY!!

Calvary Family Picnic- Sunday, June 9 from 11:15-1:00 (Rain or Shine)

The Church will be providing a picnic lunch of hot dogs and hamburgers (also plant-based burgers), salads, watermelon, ice cream and beverages following the 10:00am service. This will be in lieu of our coffee hour. We will have a variety of games available for both children and adults to play. 

In order to purchase the correct amount of food, we are requesting that you use either the sign-up sheet in the reception room, call the church, or use the Sign-up Genius link here. We will need helpers to grill, set-up, and assist with supervising children’s games and activities. 

Please note: There will be limited parking in the lot to accommodate the picnic. Parking will be limited to drop-off and handicapped use only.

Healing Ministry

Healing prayers are offered after the Sunday services each week. Anyone wishing to receive healing prayers should go to the chapel after the dismissal at the 8 a.m. service or during the postlude at the 10 a.m. service.

Fellowship Ministries

The Fellowship Committee at Calvary will have a hybrid meeting on Tuesday, June 12th from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. (Please note the change of date and time for this meeting). Light snacks will be provided for those attending in person.

The main focus for our June meeting will to make plans for the July 23 “Evening in France” fellowship event and our Welcome Back activities for September 15. If you have not attended a Fellowship meeting in the past, but would like to help out with one or both of these events, please know that you are most welcome to attend. It’s a great way to get to meet people and get involved. If you have questions or suggestions please contact

lorriearchdeacon@gmail.com

Matthew 25/Circle of Care Update

Thank you for your support of Sher See’s Pop-Up Sale of traditional Karen crafts and clothing.  She is busy making your custom orders. Sales to date were just over $400 and custom orders will yield another $200 when they are completed. You will be contacted when your custom order is complete.

We are pleased to report that Sher See started a new commercial office cleaning job on May 20.

Our next hybrid Circle of Care Meeting will be in the Calvary Reception Room on Thursday, June 13 at 5:30 pm. Please click here to join meeting. The primary agenda will be to plan a picnic and visit to Niagara Falls with the Pay Say family in late June (Sunday, June 23 or June 30).

Special Strawberry Sunday Coffee Hour

There will be a special Strawberry Sunday Coffee Hour on Sunday, June 23. Join us after the 10:00 service for strawberry shortcake or sundaes as a special seasonal treat. Coffee, tea and lemonade will also be available.

Looking for a new way to share the beauty of Calvary?

As part of the Amherst/Williamsville Garden Walk on Saturday, July 6 we hope to re-create the Calvary Art & History Tours and we need Docents to help us! Prior to the pandemic, Calvary held these tours as well as offering a friendly place for garden walkers to rest and refresh. We are excited, once again, to have David Miller, one of our own and the artist who produced so many of the wood carvings, to assist in this effort and help with the history and training of the Docents. Please consider being part of this newly formed group. It's sure to be a fun and interesting new outreach for Calvary.

Contact Joan Scalfani at 716-634-4710 or scalf33@aol.com or Ellen Marshall at ellenmarshall418@gmail.com to sign up for one brief evening training session as well as a convenient time to serve on Saturday, July 6 between 10am - 2pm. 

P.S. We're also looking for help producing a video.

Save the Dates!

The Summer Carillon Concert series is back! Concerts will begin at 7 pm. Stay tuned for information about performers, but mark your calendars with the following dates:

• July 24
• July 31
• August 7
• August 14

Attention Parents of Graduates

Please let our Pastoral Care Ministries Committee know if you have high school, college, or graduate school students who are completing their programs this spring. We would like to help celebrate their accomplishments with a card! You may email Elizabeth Harten or call the church office at 633-7800 with the details.

Churchyard Price Increase

Last January, the Board members of the Calvary Churchyard voted to raise the price of a gravesite from $450 to $550, effective July 1st, 2024. The $450 charge, which has been in effect for several years, will remain in effect through June 30, 2024.

If members of the parish want to purchase gravesites for themselves or their family members, please contact Linda McKenna at linm1210@gmail.com or (716) 479-2029 to set up an appointment, which usually takes less than an hour. The required paperwork and full payment will be completed then. 

Diocesan Partnership and Church News

• Sign up for Diocesan Partnership newsletters read recent editions here.
• A report on the Partnership offers updates on the work of our two dioceses.
• 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:

• Worship & Music - Fr. Robert & Nancy Bolton
• Christian Formation - Kelly Blackey
• Gathering Socially - Lorrie Archdeacon & Laurie Kaiser
• Reaching In - Ted Andrews
• Reaching Out - Larry Bernhard & Sandra Handy
• Spreading the Word - Howard Craig
• Property - Michael Bommer
• Giving / Development - Dennis McCoy
• Church Finances - Guy Whalen

Attendance

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

-- from The Book of Common Prayer