COVID Update




Sunday Oct.25


The Service is being brought to you in three parts. Part One takes us from our announcements through the sermon.

Part Two takes us from the Nicene Creed to the Agnus Dei.

Part Three takes us from the Dismissal Blessing to the Closing Hymn, LSB 578, Thy Strong Word.


Today's service is available on the worship service tab on the website


The service text is also available on the worship service text tab


Wednesday Oct.21



Subject: OPPORTUNITY: QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION REGARDING PASTORAL CALL CANDIDATES - Thursday, October 22nd @ 7PM


Brothers and Sisters in Christ;


We are making available a question and answer session on Zoom for members who aren’t able to attend the Congregational Call Meeting this Sunday and have questions about the pastoral call candidates that were mailed out to all member households.


Pastor Brian, Elaine Ratcliffe (Call Committee Chair) and Ben Grant (Council Chair) will host the 45 minute meeting on Zoom at 7pm on Thursday, October 22nd. 


The link for the meeting is provided below:


 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81828308445


Sunday Oct. 18

The Service is being brought to you in three parts. In the introduction, I also explain how we are celebrating Holy Communion next week.


Today's service is available on the worship service tab on the website

The service text is also available on the worship service text tab


Friday Oct.16

Communion is tentative set for

All Saints Day at Calvary

on November 1st.

We will need to know ahead of time

if the people taking part in communion

will need non-alcoholic wine

and also if they require gluten free wafers.




Monday Oct. 12


Pastoral Call Meeting

-        Here is the clarification regarding voting

Voting by baptized and confirmed members (no age restriction)

Holding office must be 18 years or older



An Information Package has been

mailed out from Ben Grant, Council Chair


Information Highlights


In person meeting Sunday October 25th at 9:05 AM

following worship (limited seating as per Covid-19)

-3 candidates identified for consideration

A pastor call ballot for each member of a household

ballot in person, by mail, by church drop off, by e-mail


Any questions should be directed to the church office

623-8735 identifying - Pastoral Call Meeting


Annual Congregational Meeting

-Here is the clarification regarding voting

Voting by baptized and confirmed members (no age restriction)

Holding office must be 18 years or older

 

An Information Package has been

mailed out from Ben Grant, Council Chair


Information Highlights


In person meeting Sunday November 8 at 9:05 AM

following worship (limited seating as per Covid-19)

-Agenda – Annual Year End Report, Calvary’s Financial Statements, List of Approved Names for council selection

A ballot for the Annual Congregational Meeting for each member of a household

ballot in person, by mail, by church drop off, by e-mail

Any questions should be directed to the church office

623-8735 identifying - Pastoral Call Meeting




Suday Oct.11


Today's service is available on the worship service tab on the website

The service text is also available on the worship service text tab

The taping cut off at the last hymn. We’ll follow up during the week to try and fix.




Sunday Oct.11


In order to continue weekly worship we are in
need of cleaners and ushers, committed prior
to the weekly worship date
If you can assist please contact Judy Belrose,
Ron Strey, Rod Johnson, or Deb Waytowich so that the usher and cleaner sign up calendars can be completed.


Sunday Oct 4 - Bible Study Information

We are going to be starting "Zoom" Bible Study again this week. We are going to be meeting via Zoom again on Wednesdays at 10:00am. We will be looking at the Bible readings for the upcoming Sunday. 

Just click on the link below this line and follow the instructions. 


I have attached the Bible Study information and questions in one file and the Bible readings for this study in a second file.

I will see those of you there who want to and are able to join.

God's blessings!
Pastor Brian

Bible Readings for Oct.11


Gospel Reading          Matthew 22:1–14

          1Again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’ 5But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

          11“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14For many are called, but few are chosen.”

 

Old Testament Reading       Isaiah 25:6–9

6On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
          a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
          of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
7And he will swallow up on this mountain
          the covering that is cast over all peoples,
          the veil that is spread over all nations.
          8He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
          and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
          for the Lord has spoken.
9It will be said on that day,
          “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
          This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
          let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

 

Epistle Reading           Philippians 4:4–13

          4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

          8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

          10I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.



Bible Study for Oct 6&7

Lesson 10

Proper 23

The Holy Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14 It was Monday or Tuesday of Holy Week. Jesus had forcefully cleansed the temple court of merchants and moneychangers and was teaching in the temple. Representatives of the religious leaders approached Him, demanding that He tell them by what authority He taught and did His miraculous signs and bold acts. Instead, Jesus confronted them with their own religious attitudes and actions through a series of parables, the last of which is today's Holy Gospel. With the parable of the two sons, He exposed the shallowness of the yes they were saying to God-no deeper than words and outward appearance. With the parable of the talents, He accused them of being unfaithful in their responsibilities as religious leaders, rejecting the Lord's call through prophets like John the Baptist and rejecting even the Son He had sent—all so they could perpetuate the religious system in which the "fruits of the vineyard" went to them. This parable of the wedding banquet then ended the confrontation and spurred the Pharisees on in their plotting to get rid of Him. 

151. What was Jesus trying to make the people and the religious leaders aware of with the parable of the wedding banquet? What does it say about "the king" that he sent out repeated invitations to those originally invited to the feast? What shows the serious consequences of rejecting the king's invitation to the feast? 

In God's gracious will and purpose, the "wedding feast" for His Son will indeed have its full complement of guests—and not always those we might expect to be there. 

152. How is it that "both bad and good" were accepted and welcomed to the wedding hall? Since both "bad and good" will be at the feast, how must we understand the king's saying, “Those invited were not worthy"? 

The part of the parable that deals with the wedding clothes is an epilogue that adds its own point. In that society it was not unusual for the wealthy to provide their guests with festive garments for such grand occasions. This relieved the guests of expenditure on their part and underscored the expansive generosity of the host. Our English "had no wedding garment" is not as expressive as the Greek, which is a passive form meaning "not having been garmented"—in other words, not wearing the garment the king supplied. 

Reproducible by purchaser only. © 2009 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture: ESV® 

42

153. What is this wedding garment, and why is it essential that everyone at the banquet be clothed in it? (See Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 7:14; 19:7–8.) Why will all who appear without this festive garment be "speechless," without excuse? 

154. In the light of the parable, interpret Jesus' closing mashal: "Many are called, but few are chosen." 

The Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 25:6-9 Chapter 24 ends with the promise that “on that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven, in heaven, and the kings of the earth, on the earth. ... [F]or the LORD of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem" (vv. 21, 23b). These surely were reassuring words. Assyria had conquered the Northern Kingdom, Israel, and had deported major elements of the population for settlement elsewhere. Her armies then pressed southward into Judah, overwhelming its northern villages. Jerusalem itself was threatened. Isaiah steadfastly prophesied that Jerusalem would be saved and encouraged its people and their leaders to trust in the Lord instead of political alliances. 

In chapter 25, the prophet praises the Lord for this assured deliverance. Its first verses use terminology that called to mind the Lord's strength in fighting for Israel in the destruction of Jericho and the conquest of Canaan and His mercy toward Israel in settling them in the Promised Land. Verses 6-9, the heart of the chapter, give to the praise an eschatological, universal thrust. 

155. Which mountain was Isaiah referring to with "On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food"? 

156. What is "the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations"? What is especially striking about the fact that Isaiah says that it is on this mountain that the Lord of hosts will "swallow up death forever"? 

157. For whom will the sovereign Lord wipe away the tears from their faces and take away their reproach? (See Revelation 21:1-4.) 

158. What impact is added by the prophet's ending with "the LORD has spoken"? 

Reproducible by purchaser only. © 2009 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture: ESV® 

43

The lesson ends with a short song of praise that displays the attitude of all who have been tested and have learned that the Lord's promises are sure and certain. Read the words aloud together: "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, that He might save us. This is the LORD; we waited for Him; let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation." 

159. How does this Old Testament Lesson tie in with today's Holy Gospel? 

The Epistle for the Day: Philippians 4:4-13 This familiar pericope has been read on the Fourth Sunday in Advent from ancient times and is still part of the One-Year Lectionary on that Sunday. It contributes to Philippians being called Paul's "Letter of Joy." 

The joyous fellowship of the congregation in Philippi evidently was being disturbed by a squabble between two of the women (vv. 2–3). Paul urged them to settle things and "agree in the Lord” and encouraged his "true companion," evidently the congregation's elder or pastor, to intervene pastorally to help them resolve the problem. 

160. Paul's encouragement to peacekeeping led him to point to an important part of the dynamic of making peace. What does it mean to rejoice in the Lord? What impact was added for his friends in Philippi by the fact that Paul wrote this encouragement to rejoice while he was in custody awaiting trial in Caesar's court? 

161. How does the fact that the Lord's return is near encourage us to gentleness in our dealings with others, yielding our "rights" rather than insisting on them? 

Paul wrote, "Do not be anxious about anything." The Greek for "anxious" carried the idea of a mind being drawn in different directions, not focused or assured. We all know what that is. 

162. What does Paul prescribe for anxiety? What is not to be forgotten as we bring prayer and petitions to God? How will our consciously giving thanks to God influence our whole outlook on life? 

163. What blessed results will be gained from practicing such a conscientious spiritual exercise? Why will the peace of God surpass all understanding as it guards our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus? 

Reproducible by purchaser only. © 2009 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture: ESV. 

44

You are what you think! Long ago the writer of Proverbs said, "He is like one who is inwardly calculating" (23:7). We know today that the brain operates much like a computer in terms of its being "programmed” by what is fed into it. That's why Paul urges us to "program our computers" with good things by focusing our thoughts on what is just and pure-life's positive values. This is encouragement to nourish the peace of God that guards our hearts and our minds. Living in "the era of communications," we are surrounded by the various media by which the world's message comes to us—and often it is inconsistent with Christian values. The world promotes materialism, secularism, self-centeredness, and loose, permissive morality—things at odds with the peace of God. Is this serious? One man has said, "It is a law of psychology that when unconscious suggestions come into conflict with conscious thought, the unconscious almost always wins control of our wills when we are not looking." Our focusing on what is good requires firm discipline and dependence on the Lord, for evil easily intrudes into our consciousness and can be very attractive. (See Romans 7:14-23.) 

164. What can we consciously do to keep bombardment by the world's amoral and immoral communication from breaking down the walls of our "peace of God"? (See Romans 7:24–8:4; Ephesians 6:10–17.) 

Paul's special relationship with the Philippian Christians is highlighted in the last paragraph of the pericope. He thanked them that they had found the_ to renew their_ for him. Paul then used himself as an example to teach Christian contentment. 

165. What is the secret for a Christian to be content "in any and every circumstance"? 




Sunday Oct 4


Today's service is available on the worship service tab on the website

The service text is also available on the worship service text tab

Today's recording stopped part way through the prayers of the church. This leaves off the prayers, Lord's prayer, the Benediction, and closing hymn.




Sunday September 27



We are doing it.

Today's service is available on the worship service tab on the website

The service text is also available on the worship service text tab

Thanks to Victoria Miller who recorded, spliced and uploaded this.



Monday September 21


September 20, 2020 ~ Divine Service ~ 16th Sunday After Pentecost Part 1

We are working on our recording and uploading process. In an effort to get this to you sooner, it is coming to you in 3 parts. Part 1 takes you from the opening announcement up until the hymn of the day. The opening hymn is LSB 565 and the hymn of the day is LSB 555.

Worship service text can be found in the worship service text tab

September 20 ~ Divine Service ~ 16th Sunday After Pentecost Part 2


We are working on our recording and uploading process. In an effort to get this to you sooner, it is coming to you in 3 parts. Part 2 is the sermon, which is titled, "Jesus' Gift is Always Enough!"


We are working on our recording and uploading process. In an effort to get this to you sooner, it is coming to you in 3 parts. Part 3 takes you from the Nicene Creed up until the closing hymn, LSB 535. The order of service is in the first pinned comment.




Monday September 21


The posting of September 13 indicated the Nominating committee was looking for 3 new council positions. That number should read 5 new council positions.


Thursday September 17


Pastor Brian Falkenhalt tentative return date to Calvary has been moved out from September 27

to October 4.


The video service for Sunday September 13 is now available on this website and can be accessed using the sermon tab.

For the next 3 weeks video services are hoped to be in a similar format and available several days after the live Sunday service date.


Here is the link to the Saint James Lutheran Church in Winnipeg. We have worshiped with Pastor Richard Beinert in recent weeks. These services may be available closer to a Sunday timeline. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcWvLh8x20G3jXcTaGbeYUA





Monday Sept 14


The video service scheduled for this week (Sunday September 13) is unavailable due to technical difficulties. The Lutheran Church Canada service for this week The 15th Sunday  after Pentecost has be posted on the worship sermon text  tab of this website.



Sunday Sept 13 2020


            Calvary Council Update

 

  • The annual congregational meeting has been tentatively set for the second Sunday in November. At this point, we cannot have a meeting with more than 50 people (indoors). Council will be reviewing our options for holding our meeting at our next council meeting and update members after that.
  •  
  • The Call Committee has resumed the work of calling a pastor to Calvary. We have received a new slate of candidates from Lutheran Church Canada. The committee will be meeting on Tuesday, September 22nd with a goal of making a short list with a recommendation for our next Call to pass along to council and then determine how and when we can hold a congregational call meeting.

  • Nominations for Calvary Church Council (5 required)

    If you are interested

    - please contact Sue Kajmowicz at (807) 624 8680 for more information.

    -leave your email address, and nomination forms will be provided

    Requirements and duties

    -    CLC communicant member in good standing (approved by pastor or delegate)

    -    18 years of age or older

    -    Willingness to volunteer time and talents

    -    No more than 30% of council members can be directly related to each other

        
  •  


Sunday September 13

Calvary is returning to in-person worship services this Sunday September 13th  at 8:30am. These services will be following Thunder Bay District Health Unit guidelines regarding Covid 19. As a result seating is limited, and health protocols are required.

 

We are thankful to the volunteers who have committed to ushering and cleaning to make this possible

 

We are thankful to God for this service in His house.

In person services at Calvary are as follows
 Sunday, September 13th 8:30am – Pastor Dan Repo

         

Sunday, September 20th 8:30am – Pastor Keith Blom

         

Sunday, September 27th 8:30am – Pastor Brian Falkenholt (tentative return to Calvary)

Note: Pastor Brian Falkenholt will be conducting in person services at Christ Lutheran beginning September 13th.

The Christ Lutheran services for this period will be recorded and made available on the Calvary’s church's website, and members Facebook page as soon as possible, following each service

 

We look forward to seeing you when the time is right for you to join us.

If there is anything that we can do for you, please call the church office at 623 8735 and leave a message

 



Sunday September 6

Here is the service for Sunday, September 6.

While Pastor Brian recovers from surgery we will be joining Pastor Richard Beinert at Saint James Lutheran Church in Winnipeg Manitoba for today's service

 

This service can be found in video format by clicking on the sermons tab of this website


Note: Tentative Worship Reopening is on Sunday September 13th at 8:30. Please contact the church office 623-8735 for more information

 

CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH

IN PERSON WORSHIP SERVICE PROTOCOLS DURING COVID-19

  • Signing Up for Worship Service

Members wishing to attend worship service must call or email the church office to sign up for a spot. This is due to the fact that capacity is limited to ensure we have proper physical distancing in the sanctuary and also allows for a list to be made to support contact tracing.

  • Each week, a call (you can leave a voicemail) or email must be received no later than 11am on Thursday for the upcoming Sunday
  • You will receive confirmation of your spot(s) either by phone or email. Families in the same household or 10-person social bubble can sit together
  • If the current Sunday worship service is full, those who do not get a spot would receive a spot for the following Sunday, should they want it
  • A phone call or email to reserve a spot must be made each week for the upcoming Sunday
  • Reservations for spots start Sunday at 12pm for the following Sunday each week
  • The church office number is: 623-8735
  • The church office email is: calvary@tbaytel.net
  •  
  • Arriving at Calvary for Worship Service

When arriving at Calvary for worship service, there will be volunteers and signage to help guide you through the process of entering the church. The following will take place:

  • You will be asked to confirm that you have not had any Covid-19 symptoms, contact with others who might have been exposed to Covid-19 or travel history that requires self-quarantine by reading and acknowledging the posted signage
  • The church will open up 20 minutes prior to service to allow for enough time to get everyone in safely practicing the appropriate physical distancing
  • Use of hand sanitizer (provided) is mandatory upon entry
  • Ushers will ensure that your entry into and out of the sanctuary takes place safely. You will be brought to your seat and must sit where the usher seats you

 

 

  • Facemasks or Face Coverings

Facemasks or face coverings must be worn at all times while inside the church building with the following exceptions:

  • Children under two years of age
  • Individuals with medical conditions rendering them unable to safely wear a mask, including breathing difficulties, cognitive difficulties, hearing or communication difficulties
  • Individuals who cannot wear or are unable to apply or remove a mask without assistance, including those who are accommodated under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) or who have protections under the Ontario Human Rights Code
  •  
  • Changes to Worship Service and Fellowship

As we resume in person worship, there will be several changes to how we practiced worship and fellowship prior to Covid-19. These changes are:

  •          Once you have been seated by the usher, you must remain in your seat for the entirety of the service unless you need to use the washroom. There will be volunteers each Sunday to disinfect the washrooms in use between each person that needs to use one
  •          The screens in the sanctuary will be the primary form of following the worship service with limited large-print sheets available for those who require large-font print
  •          There will be no singing by the congregation as recommended by public health. Recorded music and/or soloists are being considered in place of congregational singing
  •          There will be no communion. Pastor Brian is looking at various options and will make a decision on when this might be available based on a safe way to do so
  •          Offering plates will be set up at the entry of the sanctuary for those who use envelopes for offerings. A reminder that monthly direct withdrawals and electronic giving directly from your online bank account are also available
  •          The windows in the sanctuary will be open to assist with fresh air flow. Keep this in mind should you require a sweater or jacket
  •          There will be no fellowship time after the worship service is over. Ushers will escort you out of the building ensuring proper physical distancing is in place. Once outside the church building, it is your option should you choose to safely visit with others






September 1, 2020

 

 

CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH

REOPENING FOR WORSHIP SERVICES SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13TH AT 8:30AM

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ;

This letter is to confirm we will be reopening for Sunday worship services on Sunday, September 13th for 8:30am worship services. Our reopening team has been at work preparing the building and sanctuary along with coordinating volunteers to ensure we can conduct worship services while following public health policies.

Included with this letter is the same document that went out with the last letter at the beginning of August: In Person Worship Service Protocols During COVID-19. Please refer to this document for directions on signing up for worship service to preparing for arrival on Sunday morning and changes to our worship services.

While Pastor Brian continues to recover from his knee surgery and ease back into things, we have the following guest pastors leading our worship services:

 

Sunday, September 13th 8:30am – Pastor Dan Repo

Sunday, September 20th 8:30am – Pastor Keith Blom

Sunday, September 27th 8:30am – Pastor Brian Falkenholt (tentative return to Calvary)

 

If you have any additional questions for council, please reach out to the office by phone – 623-8735 – and leave a message or send an email  - calvary@tbaytel.net – (Attention: Council).

 

In His Service,

Ben Grant

Council Chair




Sunday August 30

We are joining Pastor Richard Beinert at Saint James Lutheran Church  in Winnipeg Manitoba for today's service


This service can be found in video format by clicking on the sermons tab of this website



Sunday August 23

We are joining Pastor Richard Beinert at Saint James Lutheran Church  in Winnipeg Manitoba for today's service




Sunday August 16

This service can be found in video format by clicking on the sermons tab of this website
Portions of this service have been close captioned (hymns, responses, prayers)

The associated service text can be found on the worship service text tab



Sunday August 9

This service can be found in video format by clicking on the sermons tab of this website
Portions of this service have been close captioned (hymns, responses, prayers)
The associated service text can be found on the worship service text tab


Sunday August 2

This service can be found in video format by clicking on the sermons tab of this website
Portions of this service have been close captioned (hymns, responses, prayers)
The associated service text can be found on the worship service text tab


Sunday July 26


This service can be found in video format by clicking on the sermons tab of this website
Portions of this service have been close captioned (hymns, responses, prayers)

The associated service text can be found on the worship service text tab



Sunday July 19

This service can be found in video format by clicking on the sermons tab of this website

Portions of this service have been close captioned (hymns, responses, prayers)
The associated service text can be found on the worship service text tab



Sunday July 12


This service can be found in video format by clicking on the sermons tab of this website
Portions of this service have been close captioned (hymns, responses, prayers)
The associated service text can be found on the worship service text tab


Sunday July 5

This service can be found in video format by clicking on the sermons tab of this website
Portions of this service have been close captioned (hymns, responses, prayers)

The associated service text can be found on the worship service text tab


Sunday June 28

This service can be found in video format by clicking on the sermons tab of this website.
Portions of this service have been close captioned (hymns, responses, prayers)
The associated service text can be found on the worship service text tab


Sunday June 23

This service can be found in video format by clicking on the sermons tab of this website.
Portions of this service have been close captioned (hymns, responses, prayers)
The associated service text can be found on the worship service text tab


Sunday June 14

This service can be found in video format by clicking on the sermons tab of this website.

Portions of this service have been close captioned (hymns, responses, prayers)

The associated service text can be found on the worship service text tab



Thursday June 10

*** AN IMPORTANT NOTICE ***

 

On Monday, Premier Ford announced that the Province of Ontario is launching Stage 2 in our region as of June 12, which includes various provisions – such as social gatherings of up to 10 people and places of worship having the ability to open with up to 30% capacity.

 

As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful.” (1 Corinthians 10:23a) Calvary Lutheran Church council has set up a COVID-19 advisory team and this group is actively researching all of the facts, laws and requirements for our congregation to move forward in the most Godly way, upholding the well-being of all people involved.

 

At this time, Calvary Lutheran Church will not have worship services in person. The Calvary Lutheran Church council, with the direction of the COVID-19 Advisory Team, will make the decision to reopen over time and with the benefit of observation and discernment over the next few weeks.

 

Until that time has arrived, we will continue to offer services of worship online. There will also be an update on various other important church business going out via mail next week.

 

Please address any concerns by email at calvary@tbaytel.net (Attention Church Council) or leave a message on the church answering machine at 623-8735.

 

In the Service of the Lord,

 

Ben Grant

Council Chair


Wed. June 10

We are holding Bible Study regularly on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. using Zoom. Click on the link below and follow the instructions.

If you are using a smartphone or a tablet, I believe you will need to download the free app first. Email me at pastorbrianfalkenholt@hotmail.ca or call me at 807-707-4080 if you have any questions or if you are in need of assistance. I have also attached the Bible Study to this email so that you can print it off ahead of time or view it on another device as you wish. You will be able to follow along without doing either of those two steps. If you are not able to immediately download the Bible study by simply clicking on it, I copied it and pasted it where I would normally type in an internet address and it brought up the correct file. Again, contact me if any part of this is not working and I will do my best to help you.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89076607872

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Brian Falkenholt

https://mcusercontent.com/e2d0ae0e7739d6a02c322f7c5/files/52d0c26b-fa44-40bd-b5f8-05163081e68f/Bible_Study_June_9_10.pdf




Posted June 8,2020

To Our Calvary Church Family
An open invitation

On Sunday Mornings a Zoom meeting was started by the Adult choir and is now open to anyone who would like to join us. We meet and share together the You Tube version of the Sunday service prepared by Pastor Brian at 10 am for the summer months.

Please feel free to join the service at 10 am and/or join after the service for a brief chat time with others at approximately 11 am.

 

It is by Zoom meeting. You do not need to have a Zoom account, but you do need to download the free zoom app from the invitation page. Once installed, the Zoom link remains available for future meetings.

 

Bill Vanderwater is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Time: This is a recurring meeting

 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/97854877547

 

 



Sunday June 7, 2020

This service can be found in video format by clicking on the sermons tab of this website.
Portions of this service have been close captioned (hymns, responses, prayers)
The associated service text can be found on the worship service text tab



Lutheran Church Canada - Statement Concerning Racism.

June 4, 2020

The issue of racism is in many people’s eyes these days as a result of the numerous demonstrations and protests taking place as a result of the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of law enforcement officers.

Racism has been defined as “a belief that certain races of people are by birth and nature superior to others” and, as a result, as “discrimination or hatred based on race.” We in Lutheran Church–Canada condemn racism as clearly contrary to the Holy Scriptures, to the nature of the Church, and to the principles of Christian love.

The Small Catechism helps us better understand and address this matter. For instance, in connection with the Apostles’ Creed we note these truths:

First, the explanation of the First Article says that “God has made me and all creatures, that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all senses.” This is true not only of myself but of every single human being, regardless of the colour of their skin or their ethnicity; for as St. Paul declares: “[God] made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him” (Acts 17:26-27).

Second, the explanation of the Second Article reminds me that, at the same time, I am by nature “a lost and condemned person”—just as is the case with all people regardless of the colour of their skin or their ethnicity. So the Apostle writes: “There is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22-23).

Third, the explanation of the Second Article goes on, however, to proclaim that I and all people, regardless of the colour of their skin or their ethnicity, have been “redeemed… purchased and won from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil… with [Christ’s] holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering death.” So St. Paul again declares: “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:5-6). 

Fourth, the explanation of the Third Article states that “in [the] Christian Church, [the Holy Spirit] daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers”… regardless of the color of their skin or their ethnicity. Again, St. Paul says: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:27-28).  

At the end of the explanations of the First and Second Articles of the Creed, we read that “it is my duty to thank and praise, to serve and obey Him” and “that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him.”

Such service and obedience to God is fleshed out in the Ten Commandments. In this matter before us, the Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth Commandments are especially timely. Namely, that “we do not hurt or harm our neighbour,” regardless of the colour of their skin or their ethnicity, “in his body, but help and support him in every physical need.” That we “help our neighbour,” regardless of the colour of their skin or ethnicity, “to improve and protect his possessions and income.” And that we “defend our neighbor” regardless of the colour of their skin or ethnicity, “speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.”

At the same time, neither do we condone the actions of some of these protesters against racism for their violations of the Fourth, Fifth and Seventh Commandments—the failure to honour and obey the governing authorities, the hurting and harming of people, and the destruction and theft of people’s possessions.  

“When our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent,’ He willed that the entire life of believers be one of repentance.” So wrote Martin Luther in the first of his famous 95 Theses. I would, as such, call upon all of us to do just this very thing: repent ourselves of any such racism that has reared up in our hearts and minds and speech and actions, and to call others to do the same. And let us bear fruit in keeping with repentance, working to dismantle systemic racism in our society wherever we may find it.

Finally, let us bring all this before the throne of our gracious and merciful God in prayer. We commend especially to you The Litany from our Lutheran Service Book, which would be especially fitting at this time.

President Timothy Teuscher
Lutheran Church–Canada

A printable version of this statement can be downloaded Here.




Wed. June 3