9:00, 10:45 a.m. & 4:00 p.m.
(In-Person and Livestream)
Testimonies From the First Christmas
Luke 1-3
Pastor Bret Laird
News
The church office will close Thursday, December 24 at 12 p.m. and reopen Tuesday, December 29 at 8 a.m. in observance of Christmas.
Schedule over the Christmas Holiday:
Every year, LifeGroups, AWANA, and other ministries take seasonal breaks to enable volunteers and participants to enjoy fellowship with family and friends during the holidays. This year, in an effort to limit possible virus exposure from the church to families and from families to the church, we are expanding our traditional holiday break.
Christmas Break: There will be no LifeGroups, Children’s programs, Nursery or youth activities on:
Today, December 20
Sunday, December 27
Sunday, January 3
These ministries will resume on Sunday, January 10.
There will also be no Wednesday night AWANA, Prayer Meeting or GrowthGroups on:
Wednesday, December 23
Wednesday, December 30
Wednesday ministries will resume on January 6.
During these weeks around the holidays, men’s and women’s bible studies and other church related activities will also be cancelled. If anyone has questions related to their activity, please contact the church office.
**The schedule for all 3 main Sunday worship services remains unchanged
In order to facilitate socially distanced seating, this year we will have three Christmas Eve Candelight Services on Thursday, December 24 at:
3:00 p.m. Higher Precaution (masks worn throughout)
Foil to snuff out candles will be available
4:30 p.m. (please wear masks unless seated, Nursery will be provided)
6:00 p.m. (please wear masks unless seated)
Please invite family and neighbors, especially those who do not attend church on a regular basis.
To take advantage of year end charitable deductions for donations made online or in the mail, contributions must be made electronically or postmarked by December 31. Checks hand-delivered to the church in January, even if they are dated in December, will be a 2021 charitable contribution.
New LifeGroup coming for those post-college through age 35! Launch date is January 10, 2021! Please contact the church office for more information.
Have you had a loved one pass away? Please consider joining us for GriefShare as you navigate the journey of grief. We will begin on Monday January 4 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. We meet in the reception rooms, wear masks and social distance. The class runs for 14 weeks and the cost is $20. Please contact Donna Steinke to register or for questions.
Our Calvary Bible Church family has provided generously in reaching 53 families and 116 children for Angel Tree Christmas 2020. Praise God for our community outreach and pray for the teams as they contact families and deliver gifts before Christmas.
The Elders are initiating a search, both internally and externally, for a Director of Adult Ministries to replace Tim Johnson on the church staff. Please feel free to contact the office for more information. Resumes may be submitted here.
The Elders have approve Ryan Corra for membership.
Today in the Word is now available in the oak racks.
Year End Giving Projects
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! The year-end giving for the Next Generation Coin Offering is fully funded. The Elders approved 2 other year-end giving projects applicable to our local body as we transition into 2021:
In response to Christ’s command to disciple the nations, Calvary partners with 37 partners and singles ministering around the world and 6 local and foreign organizations. One year-end giving project is to fund the budget shortfall of approximately $40,000 for Global Ministry. Any funds received for the Coin Offering will be allocated to Global Ministries.
In anticipation of resuming our search for a Pastor of Outreach Teams, the Elders created a “Local Outreach Start-up Fund” to jump-start the ministry, with a target of $50,000.
To give to these projects, simply write, “Year-End Giving Project-Global Ministries” or Year-End Giving Project-Local Outreach” on your giving envelope or on the memo line under the “Other” category for online giving.
Prayer Request
For the family of Donna Kragt (94), mother of Brenda Kragt, who departed from this life on December 15
For the family of Sylvia Townsend, mother of Paul Barrett, who departed from this life on December 9
Thank You!
Thank you Calvary Bible for the Memorial gift for Jack to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission. I also want to thank the many individuals who sent cards, brought meals, grocery shopped and prayed for us during Jack's months of illness and homegoing. I literally don't know what we would have done without you being the hands and feet of Jesus. Thank you from my heart to yours.
- Gretchen Smith
Dear Calvary Bible Church Family,
You have blessed us with your prayers, texts, calls and cards in the unexpected loss of my mother, Melody Butterfield. Thank you for the donation made to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission in her honor. We know this would touch her heart just as it has touched our hearts. Your love and prayers have upheld us during this difficult time!
- The Clinard Family - Becky, Martin and Mitchel
Congratulations!
Steven and Rachel Wilkinson welcome a daughter, Eleanor Hope, on December 12!
Faith at Home Ministries
The Faith at Home Wednesday evening Growth Group will resume on January 13 with the topic being Grandparenting. Whether we are desiring to be impactful grandparents or want to know how we can utilize the impact of grandparents in our children, we would love for you to join us for this discussion.
Global Ministries
Our Global Ministries Team are regularly communicating with our Partners as often as possible. Currently they are all in good health and either at home or in a safe location. If you would like an electronic copy of the weekly Global Partner Prayer Sheet, please contact the church office.
Next Generation Ministries
As we enter our Christmas break, our hope and prayer is that you are able to spend quality time with your friends and family over the next few weeks. Though we will miss fellowshipping with you each week, we look forward to hearing about God’s work in your life when we come back! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!