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Volume 6, Issue 11Has your dynamite fizzled? November 2010Jesus is in the hills near a lake. There are thousandsof hungry people needing to be fed. The disciplesbrought Jesus a handful of fish and bread to feed thethrong. What if Jesus said, “Not now. I’m too busy”?Time & Talent forms were to be returned by November7. Only one third of them were completed anddropped in the special box in the narthex. Is it becausemembers thought, “Not now. I’m too busy”?There are so many people in Redding waiting to befed the good news of Jesus Christ! The TNT form is anorganized method of doing some of that feeding.There’s something on the form for every member todo. . .whether you are an energetic 30-something, aquiet seasoned citizen, a growing fifth grader or astruggling college student. The Lord has need of you.Now.The TNT Committee has extended the deadline.PLEASE bring your completed form to church thisSunday. If you misplaced your form, additional copiesare available on the back counter in the sanctuary.

Page 2O worship the Lord!Join us for a service of praiseand thanksgiving for all themarvelous blessings from Godin 2010 — and those beforeand those yet to come! Thisyear our Thanksgiving servicewill be held Wednesday eve-ning — the day beforeThanksgiving — at 6:30 PM.Mark it on the calendar. Bringyour family, friends andneighbors. There is much tobe grateful for!Gather ‘round the bountiful tablePrint out this page and make use of this briefdevotion with your family before your mainmeal on Thanksgiving Day.Thanksgiving Family DevotionRESPONSESLeader: Give thanks to the Lord, for he isgood.Family: His love endures forever.Leader: Enter his gates with thanksgiving andhis courts with praise.Family: Give thanks to him and praise hisname.Leader: Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forgetnot all his benefits.Family: He forgives all our sins. He crownsus with love and compassion.PRAYER OF THE DAYLeader: Almighty God our Father, your generousgoodness comes to us new every day.By the work of your Spirit lead us to acknowledgeyour goodness, give thanks for yourbenefits, and serve you in willing obedience;through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, wholives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, now and forever.Family: Amen.LESSONOne of the appointed Lessons for Thanksgiving(Deuteronomy 8:10-18, Philippians 4:10-20, Luke17:11-19), or another appropriate Scripture Lesson isread.The explanation of the First Article of the ApostlesCreed from Luther’s Small or Large Catechism, oranother appropriate devotional selection, may also beread.LORD’S PRAYERAdditional prayers of thanksgiving or intercessionmay be spoken by the head of the household or others,concluding with the Lord’s Prayer.Family: Our Father in heaven, hallowed beyour name, your kingdom come, your willbe done on earth as in heaven. Give us todayour daily bread. Forgive us our sins, aswe forgive those who sin against us. Leadus not into temptation, but deliver us fromevil. For the kingdom, the power, and theglory are yours now and forever. Amen.BLESSINGLeader: The almighty and merciful Lord – theFather, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – blessand preserve us.Family: Amen.Source: Pastor Johnold Strey, Gloria Dei Lutheran, Belmont,CA

Saying gracePastor Dan Thews of Faith Lutheran in Appleton,WI, was asked to share his favoriteThanksgiving—related Bible verses. Hereare his picks, along with his reasons for recommendingthem.Give thanks in all circumstances, for thisis God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5:18 “This verse is a reminderthat in all of life, we can pause andgive thanks.”And whatever you do, whether in wordor deed, do it all in the name of the LordJesus, giving thanks to God the Fatherthrough him. Colossians 3:17. “We canserve God outside the church by helpingothers. It’s nice to see that we are servingGod out in the community — it’s not justthe person we’re serving, but also God himself.”Give thanks to the Lord, call on hisname; make known among the nationswhat he has done. 1 Chronicles 16:8.“When we serve one another, we’re makingknown the Lord’s name. Actions can lift upChrist just as words can.”Always giving thanks for all things in thename of our Lord Jesus Christ to God,even the Father...Ephesians 5:20. “God isin everything we do.”What verses would you add?Source: Thrivent magazinePage 3

Page 4Christmas is coming!!Okay, so most of you reading this article will not bethrilled with those words, “Christmas is coming!” Itstrikes panic into the hearts of even the most organizedperson. So many things to do. So little time.Let’s change that this year. Instead of the hustle andbustle, let’s wait.Wait! That’s not one of our favorite concepts either.For most of us, waiting is notsomething we relish. It’s a frustratingwaste of time. Sometimesperhaps, but not always. Especiallynot now at the beginning ofa new church year. Soon it will beAdvent again, that four-week seasonof the year that Christians setaside to prepare for the coming ofthe Lord. Advent is a Latin wordthat means coming. Coming implieswaiting. Advent is an invitationto wait — quietly, patiently,expectantly, joyfully.Waiting is something the peopleof God have been doing for a verylong time. Old Testament believerswaited 4,000 years for thepromised Messiah to arrive. Thatwas a long wait. Thousand yearslater we are still waiting for Jesus’Second Coming. That’s what Advent is all about.This year Advent begins on Sunday, November 28. Ourworship that Sunday and for the following three Sundayswill help us wait for Jesus’ coming. Because Jesus’birth is such a special celebration, we will also setaside time on Wednesday evenings to focus ourthoughts and actions on his coming. Again this year,we will have Advent soup supperson Wednesdays, December 1, 8 and15. These soup suppers provide atime of fellowship (remember theearly Christians used to gatherDAILY for meals and worship!) andnourishment. Supper is served beginningat 5:30 PM.Mid-week Advent services will startearlier this year — at 6:30 PM. Thiswill create a shorter “break” betweenthe supper and the beginningof worship. It will also enable familiesto return home earlier in theevening after worship. Our worshipfor these mid-week services will utilizea quiet, contemplative liturgy.Please join us on Sundays andWednesdays and wait. . .Women waitingMt. Calvary will hold it’s second annual Adventby Candlelight at 7:00 PM on the firstSunday of Advent, November 28. This is aspecial evening for women to set aside thefrenzied pace of the commercial seasonand wait. . . peacefully. Through music andrecitation, our thoughts will be focused onChrist’s first coming and the promise of hissecond coming.Advent by Candlelight is perfect opportunityto invite your female friends, familyand neighbors who may or may not knowJesus as their personal Lord and Savior —the real reason for Christmas. You can host(or co-host) a table for 6—8 guests of yourchoosing. You may also host a table forpeople who aren’t so familiar to you —make some new friends! (Individual memberswill want to attend but may not beable to host a table.) There’s a sign upsheet on the white board — please tell us ifyou are coming and if you want to host atable. (Hostesses are responsible for decoratingone of the church’s 8-foot tableswith holiday linens, dishes and dessert.Coffee will be provided.)Please sign up right away. Seating is limitedand will fill up quickly!

A new beginningAnother Church Year is beginning on November 28, with thefirst Sunday in Advent. That also means that a new editionof Meditations begins that same day. Don’t wait till NewYear’s to make resolutions about changing your life. Startnow with this Advent and Meditations. Start holding dailyfamily devotions this month, not some vague day in the future.A method for everyoneMany members who have already returned their TNT formsindicated that they want to read through the entire Bible in2011. Hallelujah and praise the Lord!If you use Meditations, you can easily read through the Biblein one year! Printed on the bottom of each page is “Biblereading: . . .” If you follow this guide, you will read throughthe Bible in one church year (December—November). Youwill read passages that further enhance the daily meditationand compliment each other. You may find that “more interesting”then reading one chapter after another, cover tocover.If you prefer chapter by chapter, go to wwwwels.net, select“spiritual help” in the menu bar, and then select “ThroughMy Bible”. This option will enable you to read the entire Biblein three years — requiring less time daily. If you have avery busy schedule this may work better for you.Do your eyes get tired reading? Is the type too small? At thePage 5The three-minute readings focus on the gospel lessonfor each Sunday so they will also enhance your regularworship life.To help defray the cost of Meditations, please drop $3in the box on the back counter in the sanctuary whenyou pick up the latest edition.same page (www.wels.net, spiritual help, through myBible) you can also LISTEN to the Bible being read eachday by a WELS Pastor! The audio version follows thesame three year schedule as previously described.Can’t REMEMBER to read God’s Word daily? WELSwill email you a reminder daily with each day’s readinglisted. Sign up on the same webpage.If you don’t have daily access to a computer, you cango to the same site (www.wels.net, spiritual help,through my Bible) scroll down the page and in the bottomright corner you can download and print a PDF ofthe entire three year schedule. Only you and God willknow if you read a “lesson” a day of read a week’sworth at one sitting.Whatever method you use to read the Bible in its entirety,just do it!Latest editionThe editor of Forward in Christ apologizesto bird lovers. Living in Wisconsin, he sayshe thanks God every year around this timewhen the geese decide to stop chasing afterpeople and fly south for the winter.Even though he’s not a big fan of geese, hethanks God for watching over all the birds—even the geese. Editor John Braun remindsus that we have even more for which to bethankful because God says that we areworth more to him than the birds. Even thehairs on our heads are numbered. In hisdevotion, Norman Burger shares moreabout the blessings of God's counting.Although we may remember to thank Godfor the things and even the people in ourlives, we can forget to give thanks for ourLord. He has redeemed and continuesto care for us, and yet, somehow, weoften take him for granted. DonScheuerlein reminds us this Thanksgivingto look past the birds and allthe other stuff to the One who hasalways loved us.The November issue is availableon the back counter in thesanctuary. Help yourself!

Merry maids maintainVolunteers are needed to clean our Lord’sHouse on Saturdays for the rest of 2010.Normally, two people can tackle this task ina couple hours. So, grab a friend or aspouse to help you and spend a couplehours freshening your Lord’s House. In thisFood for the soulOur October park day was rained out, notonce, but twice. When it rained the firsttime, we cancelled and rescheduled for thefollowing Sunday. Then God opened theheavens again. The homeless just do notcome out to the park when it’s badweather. You can’t blame them for tryingto protect themselves.Since we were unable to serve food in October,we froze all that we had prepared andwe’ll try again next Sunday, November 21 at2:00 PM to serve the homeless a hot mealof spaghetti, garlic bread and bottled water.busy season, it may be helpful to “call in thereserves” and bring three or four friendswith you to radically reduce the time frame.You can either sign up on the cleaners’schedule by the entryway coffee pot or youcan talk to Anita Rupprecht. Please help!We have a short list of items we need donated.They are small things. Things youtake for granted. But for the homeless,these little toiletries mean an awful lot!Your donations of the following are neededand always appreciated: Trial size bottles of soap, lotion, shampooand conditioner Men’s and women’s new socks Toothbrushes and tooth pasteIf you have any questions or commentsabout this ministry, please speak withKathy Kohler. Thank you for your continuingsupport!Page 7Looking for a few good menThe nominating committee has begun theirwork of filling the slate of officers to beelected at Mt. Calvary’s January congregationalmeeting. Those serving on the committeeare: Tony Van Boekel, Wayne Hadsel,John Lagoy and Pastor Pechman. Youare invited to nominate a fellow memberwho you believe would be a good fit for aparticular office by speaking to one of thecommittee members. Open positions are:president, treasurer, one member-at-large,and one elder.The slate of candidates will be presented tothe Church Board at their December meetingand then will be publicly posted prior tothe next congregational meeting in January.Pray fervently that our gracious Lord willguide the nominating committee as theyseek the best possible person for each task.Pray for those who are asked to serve thatthey reach a God-pleasing answer. Rememberour leaders throughout 2011 as theystrive to serve our Lord with wisdom andlove, connected to God’s Word.

Page 8Dozens more scrip vendors arelisted on the order form.A gazillion other vendors are listedat www.glscrip.com. Find one youlike that’s not on our order form?Just fill in the company name,rebate, and card amount in the“Special Orders” section ofour order form.Tidbits We have a new mission statement: Mt.Calvary exists to bring the Word of Lifeto life. It’s based on 1 John. It’s short. Tothe point. Easy to comprehend. Easy toapply to our church’s programs — andour individual lives. Let’s do it! (Be sureto participate in worship this Sunday,November 14, and you will hear Pastorapply the mission statement in his sermon.) Like many parochial schools, CaliforniaLutheran High School is struggling financially.They are hosting a Call-A-thon onNovember 13 to raise $200,000 in oneday. The plan is: 200 association mem-Christmas scripMt. Calvary Lutheran School will offer twoopportunities in December to purchasescrip. You can purchase scrip for stores younormally shop in and a percentage of thatpurchase is returned to Mt. Calvary. Thatpercentage is then split between Mt. Calvaryand a student of your choice. The student’sportion of the rebate will defray theirtuition.Here are a few examples of vendors andrebates:American Eagle Outfitters — 10%Payless Shoes — 13%Scrip isTJ Maxx — 7%Office Depot — 4%Applebee’s — 8% fundraisingSafeway — 4%CVS Pharmacy — 6% while youMichaels — 4%shopWith holiday gift givingupon us, why notsave time, effort, and give the gift of a scripcard? Purchase scrip for the vendor ofyour choice, give the scrip card to your familyor friends (someone you would normallygive a gift to at Christmas). You saved yourselffrom running all over town AND youbers each calling 20 people — that’s4,000 phone calls in one day. If 4,000supporters each pledge a mere $50 —that’s $200,000 in one day! They haveinvited members of the association tobring their cell phones and directories toCLHS and call their friends, family, otherassociation members between 1:00-5:00PM. What a great (and fun!) idea! Our Christian day school is making excellentuse of the large bulletin board in thePower Hour room. Students’ art andwork is displayed there. The display rotatesfrom room to room, changing oncea month.supported Mt. Calvary and a student! Whata deal!Example: Aunt Maude lives in Ohio. Youlove her dearly, but shipping costs as muchas the original gift these days. Give her ascrip card for Macy’s, JC Penney, MarieCallenders, Amazon.com or even the HomeShopping Network! Scrip cards are cheapto mail. Your scrip purchase earns a rewardfor Mt. Calvary and a student ANDmakes Aunt Maude happy too!Do you have a digital teen? One who’s alwayshooked up to cyberspace? Give a himor her a scrip card for iTunes or Best Buy.Are you sending Grandma an airline ticketto visit her grandchildren? Purchase a scripcard for American Airlines and earn an 8%rebate. Or is Grandma driving here? Gether a scrip card for gas (Arco, Chevron,Exxon, Shell or Texaco).December deadlines for ordering scrip areDecember 2 and 16. New order forms areon the back counter in the sanctuary. Returnforms & payment to Heather Rhodesor Laurie Larson by the deadline and crossgift giving off your “to do list”!

Worship the KingThe word worship has a curious background.It’s related to the word worth.When we worship God, we are proclaiminghow much he is worth. The songs of Revelationcome to mind. Several of them startwith words like “Worthy is the Lamb whowas slain!”Worship is a word that can easily be misunderstood.The focus can easily shift fromthe one who is worthy (Jesus ) to the oneswho are expressing how much he is worth(the worshipers). Many Christians todaysee worship as merely the praises thatChristians express when they are praying orsinging to God rather than as the proclamationof the gospel, which (have you noticed?)takes place every time we worship.Worship is not merely a response or an expressionof how the believer feels aboutJesus. The best way to proclaim how muchJesus is worth is to tell what he has done.One of the most important parts of worship—evenmore important than the worshipers’response of praise — is the proclamationof what Jesus has done. Proclaimingwhat Jesus has done is the best way topraise him!The events that surround the birth of Jesusas recorded in the Bible are beautiful examplesof worship. When the people saw thebaby Jesus — and even before he was born,when his coming birth was first announced— their words again and again expressedhis worth. They praised God because ofwhat he was doing. It was the saving deedsof God, not their feelings about thosedeeds that they expressed. Mary, for instance,in the song she composed duringher pregnancy, sang,“My spirit rejoices in God my Savior. . .Forthe Mighty One has done great things forme.. .He has performed mighty deeds withhis arm.”Zechariah was also inspired to compose asong just before the birth of Jesus. It beings,“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,because he has come and has redeemedhis people.”The patterns for New Testament worshipare so clearly evident in the incidents surroundingthe birth of Christ. When the angelsappeared to the shepherds on thenight that Jesus was born, one angel proclaimedthe gospel: “I bring you good newsof great joy that will be for all the people.Today in the town of David a Savior hasbeen born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”And this proclamation was followed by themasses of angels responding with a song ofpraise:“Glory to God in the highest, and on earthpeace to men on whom his favor rests.”It’s striking how worship was bound upwith the birth of this child. Those to whomthe birth of God’s Son was revealed clearlygrasped from the very beginning that hewas more than just a special child — he wasGod! Even the Magi who were summonedfrom afar recognized who he was. Whenthey came into the presence of the Christchild, “they bowed down and worshipedhim” The gifts they brought to him werealso an act of worship that reflected hisworth. They presented him with gold, incenseand myrrh.May God enrichyour Advent,Christmas andEpiphany worshipthis year,highlighting foryou that worshipbegins withGod proclaiminghis good newsto us and culminatesin uspraising him forhis saving deeds.Adapted from St.Mark’s Lutheran, CitrusHeights, CAPage 9

Ministry minutesHere is the report of our October ministry at Mt. Calvary. This is the same report that the Church Boardreceives. Hopefully, this will keep you up-to-date on what has been happening at our church.Page 10Worship Attendance:Average:Power Hour Attendance:Average:PHJr Attendance:Average:Gifts of Love:Average:October 2010843169 (68/101)339858617$24,683.18$4,936.64September 2010↑ 24↑ 16↑ 6↑ $ 7,817.48↑ $720.21October 2009↓ 21↑ 12↑ 6↑ $3,867.37Quarterly congregationalmeeting: 75(out of 225 — 33%)Next newsletter deadline isWednesday, December 8.Submit articles or info toNaomi Henkel.Serving the Lord and Mt. CalvaryEarlyUshers:see John Lagoy for a schedule (Dec)Elders:Jenkins, Hadsel (Dec)Greeters:Wayne Hadsel & Emma Lagoy (Dec)Coffee:Katherine Drake (Dec)Communion Set Up:Laura Jo Fitzgerald &Anthony Fitzgerald (Dec)Late(Dec) see John Lagoy for a schedule(Dec) Parker, Busby(Dec) Robert & Brynn WatermanCleaners:(11.13) Pechmans(11.20) volunteers needed(11.27) volunteers needed(12.4) volunteers needed(12.11) volunteers neededCommunion Clean Up:(Dec) Katherine Drake, Ron SmithPHJr. Teachers:(Dec) Brenda Wilson, Dan Douglas, Beth BertolusNursery:(11.21) Carie Nadin, Kyle Nadin(11.28) Katherine Sampson, Anthony Fitzgerald(12.5) Sherri Jenkins, Anthony Fitzgerald(12.12) Jeff Geraci, Kendal Geraci