2018 Sept

In this issue:
Tick..Tock...We are the Church
Be Welcomed
10 Commandments and Doughnuts
Thank You Very Much!
Calvary’s Community Cupboard
and more...

Tick....Tock...
by Pastor Jack Palzer
The time keeps passing by and yes, I am
losing patience. Most of you know this is
one of my greatest issues…is the lack of
patience!
It’s been 14 years since Calvary
purchased 25 acres of land to create a
mission center for ALL to hear and learn
about Christ. I kept telling you, as well
as myself, PATIENCE and in time, God
will bring the vision into reality.
Then we broke ground for the new
multipurpose facility in May, 2017. Then
you all know how we have had to deal
with one thing after another. I kept
hearing the Holy Spirit whisper in my
ears - PATIENCE!
I can see the finish line, but am not sure
when we will be able to cross it and
start the next chapter in the mission and
ministry of Calvary.
But then what? All the time, energy,
appeals, planning, meetings, etc. will
be over, at least until we begin to plan
for Phase 2. So it is good for all of us to
simply pause and remember what this
journey/adventure/o
about.
Remember, when w
together to celebrat
in the end, it is really
tiles, chairs, café, au
will need to stop and
stuff surrounding us is
for us to celebrate th
God who has called
church…His church a
I…you….all of us nee
ourselves that the wh
church…worship….y
groups…classes…etc
reason we do anythi
is to create an enviro
people who are elbo
or weeping or celeb
through seasons of s
as well as joys and b
and receive the bles
says to them and to
’YOU ARE MINE! UNC
Christ said he was go
church”- a commun
with real, beating he
attentive to each ot

dyssey has been
e all walk in
e this gift from God,
only cement, glass,
dio/visuals, etc. We
reflect that this
simply instruments
e blessings of a
us together to be
nd not ours.
d to remind
ole reason for
outh…support
., the whole
ng around here,,
nment where all
wing or wrestling
rating their way
orrow, guilt, shame,
lessings, may hear
sings of a God who
each one of us…
ONDITIONALLY!”
ing to build “His
ity of real people
arts that would be
her, responsive to
each other and quick to extend mercy,
grace and love.
I find myself right now reminded of
what actually defines church. It’s a
living, breathing, pulsating organism
that is evolving in a thousand ways as
we choose to care for each other, and
especially the stranger that walks into
this new building. We are called to be
the church and listen to each other,
hold each other up when the rug has
just been yanked out from beneath our
feet and love each other.
Interdependence, vulnerability,
listening, giving of ourselves... can you
hear the Holy Spirit whisper to you…to
me now? “THIS IS CHURCH!”
So, whenever we get the Occupancy
Permit and can offically move in, we
will be ready, able, and willing to BE THE
CHURCH! But until that moment….WE
ARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE CHURCH.
So, let’s all be PATIENT and listen to
that quiet voice of the Holy Spirit
whispering,”GET READY…GET SET….!”

Be Welcome!
by Jayne Lauve
When people visit a church service for the first time they
wonder, “Is this a friendly, welcoming church.” On Sunday
mornings, we wonder who the guests are and if God sent
them to our
doorstep. That’s
why it’s so important
to welcome them,
especially strangers.
As Christians, we
have experienced
God’s radical
hospitality and we
want to share it
with other people.
Through our own
personal experience
as people who have
been welcomed
by Christ, we are
inspired to have the
vision and courage
to offer hospitality to
people who may or
may not know Him.
A most warm thank you to all of you who have graciously
stepped forward to be part of one of our Hospitality teams.
As ushers, greeters, parking attendants and welcome station
volunteers, you have been entrusted with promoting a sense

of welcome and belonging to all who enter our church so
they feel God’s love in a very personal and authentic way.
You truly are living representatives of our mission statement, “To
proclaim Jesus Christ to the World.
An informational meeting is planned for Sunday, September
9, at 12:00 PM in the
Fellowship Hall. A
light lunch will be
provided followed
by a presentation.
Afterwards, you will
meet with your individual
teams for schedules
and instructions. If you
have volunteered for
one of these teams or
are interested in learning
more about this ministry,
please plan on attending
this important gathering.
If you plan to attend this
meeting, please signup
on the sheet in the
Narthex so we can plan
accordingly.
If you haven’t signed up
for one of our teams and
are still interested in this ministry, it is not too late. We are still
in need of help in all areas, especially in the area of Parking.
Sign up sheets are at the information desk in the Narthex, or
you can contact Jayne Lauve at 813-645-1305 or email her at
jayne@calvaryalive.org.

Calvary Community Cupboard
by Judi Weakland
It is 76 degrees, 93% humidity,7:30 am and the Community
Cupboard volunteers are huddled together with their hands
joined in prayer, thanking God for their blessings and also
thanking him that they are a blessing to others. Prayer is
how the 26 or so volunteers start their Tuesday mornings and
cumulatively volunteer 116 hours per week. It is their passion
and dedication to feeding the hungry and homeless of South
County that keeps them up-beat and coming back to serve
week after week.
The Community Cupboard, which started in 1979, was a small
barrel in the Narthex of the old church (our Fellowship Hall).
Paula Sabo, one of the original core of dedicated volunteers,
recalls, “You have to remember Apollo Beach, specifically
Hwy 41, was not built up the way it is now. There was nothing.
There was just our church and a small grocery store. Even I-75
was non-existant. People walked up and down 41. Many
people would stop by looking for food or water. Sometimes,
when we had some volunteers, we would make soup and
feed the people that stopped.”
As the need to feed the hungry increased, the area that
housed the food increased as well. The barrel grew into a
cabinet in the Fellowship Hall, then into a trailer, and then,
eventually the space where the Cupboard is now.
The food for the cupboard comes from a variety of sources.
Every Sunday, many people bring in the featured food item
of the month. This summer, it has been tomato products,

ut sometimes its cereal or canned meat. Publix is a main
contributor to our Cupboard. Volunteers pick up day-old
bread from both the Apollo Beach and Ruskin Publixs on
Monday and Tuesday mornings. “They would like us to come
more mornings, but we simply don’t have the space nor the
man power,” said Walter Pavlik, manager at the Cupboard.
The majority of other food products comes from Feeding
Tampa Bay.
According to Feeding Tampa Bay’s website, “There are
more than 700,000 people who are food insecure, meaning
they lack consistent and easy access to safe, nutritionally
adequate food. And the problem isn’t limited only to the
homeless. Many who struggle to find adequate food are
working adults, children and the elderly.” It is Feeding Tampa
Bay’s mission to provide food for those who need it, but it is up
to places like Community Cupboard to get the food to the
people.
Volunteers are the driving force of the Cupboard. The
Cupboard is a blessing to so many people. They receive an
average of 10,000 pounds of food a week and they feed an
average of 450 families a week. Some of the people who
receive food also volunteer at the Cupboard. Pavlik said, “We
have six individuals that work on Tuesday morning very early.
When these six are done volunteering, they take their bag of
food with them. We also have a volunteer who has been with
the cupboard for a very long time. His name is Felix and he is
fluent in Spanish and English which helps us when we have a
language barrier. Its great to have him on the team.”
(continued on next page)

(continued from previous page)
How can we help? To put it simply… volunteer. If you find
yourself with a few hours of free time on Tuesday morning,
head on over to the Cupboard… there is always something
to do.
Perhaps Tuesdays don’t work for you. Volunteers can pick
up bread from Publix on Monday and Tuesday mornings and
Friday morning is food pick-up at Feeding Tampa Bay.
Getting involved is very easy, simply call or email Walter at
walterpavlik@gmail.com or 301-938-0195. There is always
something to do and you are needed! Some of the jobs have
lifting requirements of 50lbs or less. However, many of the
other duties have no requirements at all other than a sunny
disposition. There is a place for everyone.

Thank you!
A HUGE shout-out of “Thank You” goes to Michael Weakland,
Dennis Norman, Kevin Kleinschmidt, Dakota Giles, Drew
Weakland, Hunter Shroud and a very flexible truck driver who
saved the day when the previously hired moving company
was a “no-show”. With just 48 hours notice they unloaded and
stored 500 chairs for the new buidling.
Great job guys!!

CALVARY KIDS LEARN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
THROUGH DONUTS
Your Favorite Doughnut-Kids will learn the first commandment.
We all have a favorite doughnut one that no other doughnut
in the world can touch. God is the one true God, and like our
favorite doughnut, we must put no other gods before him.
1 Kings 18:20-39
The Bagel - Kids will learn the second commandment. Bagels
aren’t really doughnuts they are imposters! God made it very
clear that we are not to worship imposters, but only him!
2 Kings 23:1-6, 24-25
Cruller - Kids will learn the third commandment.These doughnuts
have a unique name so you know exactly what type of
doughnut you want when you say cruller. God wants us to hold
his name in the highest regard and not to use it inappropriately.
Exodus 20:7
Doughnut Sunday - Kids will learn the fourth commandment.
Sundays are always better when doughnuts are involved. God
wants us to consider Sundays to be extra special and to make it
a priority to worship with fellow believers at church.Genesis 2:1-3
Too Many Doughnuts - Kids will learn the fifth commandment.
Parents are the doughnut gate keepers. They can give us
doughnuts, but they can also limit us. God wants us to honor and
obey them as they teach us how to follow Christ.Ephesians 6:1-3
Sprinkled Doughnuts - Kids will learn the sixth commandment.
Doughnuts are delicious when sprinkles are tossed on top. The

sixth commandment tells us not to kill, but Jesus tells us that we
also must not give insults and cruel words to others as well. So
let’s sprinkle ours words with kindness. Matthew 5:21-26
Not Your Doughnuts -Kids will learn the seventh commandment.
How would you feel if someone promised to bring you your
favorite doughnut, but they ate it on the way home? The seventh
commandment is about married people, but it’s also a warning
not to break the promises we make to other people and God.
Numbers 30:1-2
Pay for the Doughnuts -Kids learn the eighth commandment.
Doughnuts cost money. You can’t walk out of a doughnut shop
with doughnuts unless you pay for them. God warns us not to
take things that do not belong to us.Exodus 20:15
Custard vs. Cream Filled Doughnuts- Kids will learn the ninth
commandment.Some Long John lovers like cream. Others like
custard. You better give them the right one, because they’ll
know the difference. Jesus warns us to always be truthful and not
tell lies because we will be found out. Psalm 101:7
Jealous Jelly Doughnuts- Kids will learn the last commandment.
You have a doughnut and it’s good, but the kid next to you
has an amazing doughnut. The tenth commandment warns us
against envy and teaches us to be grateful for what we have.
Exodus 20:17
A Box of Doughnuts- Kids will review and recite the Ten
Commandments.The Ten Commandments teach us how to
treat God and how to treat others. If we follow them, life will
be sweeter not just for us, but for everyone we know and love.
Exodus 20:1-20

Construction Ministry Update
by Nan Ryan
August’s “Doughnut Mondays” were a huge hit with the
crew and the monthly prayer service was well attended.
Many thanks for the Small group Cuban sandwich and
pasta salad luncheon. It was a pleasure to sit with the crew
in the air conditioned lobby and begin to feel the fellowship
opportunities there.
Please begin to sign up in the Narthex for the next Prayer
Service on Friday, September 21st.
.
To receive the weekly construction prayer list
email, Sharon Stoutenburg
ssstoutenburg@gmail.com
For questions:
Nan Ryan at 813-486-4419
RNRYAN1646@icloud.com

12 noon Hospitality &
Calvary Kids Training
Angel Attic
9am - 12noon
Wed - Saturday
Community Cupboard
8am - 11am
(813) 641-7790 Tuesdays

Important Dates
Hospitality and Calvary Kids
Training and Lunch
Sunday,
Sept 9, 12 noon
Sew-What’s Return
Tuesday
Sept, 11, 9:30am
A Plarning Good Time
Saturday
Sept 22, 10am
Both are located at:
1480 E. College Ave
Ruskin, 33570