November 12, 2025

CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

In Worship This Week...

Our Earn • Save • Give stewardship journey began with a reminder from James Harnish that we don’t need more money—we need more wisdom. Then we learned about John Wesley's first principal for the use of money: to earn all we can—but not at the expense of our health, our soul, or our neighbor. This Sunday, we take the next step: Save all you can.

Now before you picture stockpiles, spreadsheets, or dragons guarding gold, take a deep breath. Wesley didn’t mean “stash it and stay safe.” He meant something far better—live simply so you can give freely.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of a master who entrusts his servants with great treasures—talents of gold—and invites them to invest, to multiply, to trust. The faithful ones don’t hide what they’ve been given; they take what’s entrusted to them and move it forward. The third servant, afraid to lose what little he has, buries it in the ground. His problem isn’t mismanagement—it’s fear.

“Save all you can,” Wesley said, is not about fearfully burying, but about faithfully preparing. It’s about learning to live wisely and well, cutting away the waste that drains our joy and resources, so we can be ready for God’s call to generosity. James Harnish puts it beautifully: saving isn’t about scarcity—it’s about strategy. It’s how we direct our resources toward God’s purpose and ensure that what we’ve been given can bless others.

In a world that celebrates excess, saving is an act of spiritual rebellion. It’s a way of saying, “My worth isn’t in what I spend or hoard—it’s in how I steward what God provides.” When we save well, we live lighter, freer, more open to the Spirit’s nudging to give, to serve, to bless.

So join us this Sunday as we continue our journey together. Let’s discover how saving all we can isn’t about tightening our grip, but opening our hands—ready to say “yes” to the next opportunity God places before us.

Because in the end, when we earn wisely, save faithfully, and give joyfully, we don’t just build budgets—we build the Kindom.

Advent/Christmas Setup

Volunteers are needed following worship on Sunday, November 23rd to take down the Harvest altar and assist with trees, garlands and wreaths for the Advent/Christmas season. (Ladder work involved)

We will also need a few volunteers on Saturday, November 29th at 10:00am, to assist with the altar table, the Advent candle wreath and banners.

Please contact Carol Malone at carol750@verizon.net, if you are able to assist.

Christmas Poinsettia Sale

Calvary will once again be ordering Christmas poinsettias this year. Click Here for an order form or take one from the round table in the Gathering Space. Orders with payment are due by November 23rd.

Please keep in your prayers:

Calvary’s mission and ministry and for the mission and ministry of the church in the world; for those who need the presence of God in their lives; for those serving in armed forces; and for those serving in ministry around the world and here.

And for: Duane, Mike, Serena Rose, John and Audrey, Carol F., Tom, Michael & Chelsea, Laura & Marc.

And those members of Calvary who are no longer able to be active among us as they once were: Joan, Bernie, Dottie, Bill, Bob, Pepper, Shirley, Marj, June, Helen.

Virtual Prayer Request

If you have a prayer request that you would like lifted during Sunday services you can now submit them online at our website or by clicking the link below. We have also created this QR code, which can be found in the Sanctuary and round the building. It can be scanned at any time to send a request.

Calvary Online Prayer Requests

JOYFUL GIVING

Saving the Intention, Giving with Joy

Dear Calvary Family,

In recent weeks, we’ve reflected on joyful giving and faithful earning. Now, we turn to Wesley’s second rule — Save all you can — a call to live with purpose, simplicity, and trust.

John Wesley said, “Having, first, gained all you can, and, secondly, saved all you can, then give all you can.”

James Harnish expands on this idea: “Saving all you can is a declaration that your security rests not in your wealth, but in your relationship with God.” When we save faithfully, we are not withholding — we are preparing to give.

Through your faithful giving, Calvary’s ministries continue to flourish. Our House Church Ministries are making real differences in the everyday lives of people. One member shared:

“When I joined a House Church group, I expected Bible study and fellowship. What I found was a community that has deeply shaped my faith. We celebrate together, pray for one another, and support each other through life’s ups and downs. House Church has helped me grow closer to God and given me courage to live as a follower of Christ in every part of my life.”

We invite you to respond with generosity by increasing your 2026 pledge by 5–10%. Every increase helps sustain our shared ministry and fuels our mission for the year ahead.

You can submit your Pledge Card by:

Bringing it to the altar on Commitment Sunday
Mailing it to the church office
Completing it electronically and emailing it to us
Or picking one up in the Gathering Space each week

Takeaway: Saving with intention allows us to give with freedom — and that freedom deepens our joy in Christ.

With hope and thanksgiving,
Pastor Drew & The Calvary Finance Team

Pledge Card for 2026

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Join a House Church

Calvary’s House Church ministry continues to grow and remain a vital component of our worship life together. With five active house churches, thirty participants we are seeing tremendous response. One participant has said “Joining house church was the best thing I’ve done for myself in a long time.”... See More

House Church Opportunity

A new House Church is forming in a hybrid format (in person or Zoom) on Friday afternoons. If you are interested in joining or have any questions, please contact Lisa Drake-Drake at ladrake46@gmail.com.

Book Discussion:
Earn. Save. Give. - Wesley's Simple Rules for Money

Join us on November 19 at 7 PM for a discussion of Earn. Save. Give.: Wesley’s Simple Rules for Money by James A. Harnish, led by our Finance Chair, Carl Shepard.

Meeting Zoom Link

Click here to see the Top of the Week email

For more information, and upcoming events check out our Family Ministries Page.

Calvary UMC - Turkey Trot

Children's Choir

The Children's Choir will be singing on November 16th for Bible Sunday! Please plan to arrive at 9:30 for a brief rehearsal prior to the service.

Christmas Pageant

This year's Christmas Pageant will take place on December 21st during worship. If you would like your child to participate this year, please sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F48AEAE2CA6FEC43-59112323-christmas

Please note: Children in the Christmas pageant should plan to attend Children's Choir following worship to learn the songs! Dress rehearsal will take place on December 14th.

Living Nativity

Join us on December 21st between 5pm - 7pm as the King's Kids present our annual Living Nativity! The show runs approximately every 15 minutes with goodies, crafts and family fun in the Gathering Space between showings! Live animals help bring the joy of the story to life!

Church Nursery - Volunteers Needed

Family Ministries is in need of volunteers for our nursery! All interested volunteers must be over 18, safe sanctuaries trained or willing to become trained. If you are interested, please reach out to Sharon Kunkel - kunkesilk@gmail.com.

PASSIONATE SERVICE

Thanksgiving Food Distribution

Thanksgiving is not too far off and families are starting to consider how they will spend the holiday. Many local food pantries and organizations are offering some form of a Thanksgiving Dinner, but certainly the need is greater than a pantry alone can provide.

The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY is offering a one day Thanksgiving Food Distribution on Saturday, November 22nd in multiple locations across the region including their warehouse at 965 Albany Shaker Road. The link below will take you to the page to either donate or volunteer. Let's share God's love by serving others in need this Thanksgiving season.

https://regionalfoodbank.net/2025-thanksgiving-food-distribution-live/

Help with St. Ambrose Food Deliveries

Help is needed delivering our St Ambrose food collections!

Calvary has been working hard to help fill the shelves at the St. Ambrose food pantry and assist those in need. The weekly collection is delivered to St. Ambrose 2 to 3 times a month during the week prior to the food bank opening at 10:00am. We are looking for 3 or 4 people that would be willing to assist with the effort on a rotating schedule. The schedule can be quite flexible. If you are interested or have questions, please speak with a member of the Missions team - Tracy, Grace Pastor, Shannon Gorman or Cece Broomhead. Thank you for considering this opportunity to help serve others!

An Urgent Call to “Double Up” for Our Neighbors

Our Justice Ministry Team and Mission Ministry Team invite you to read this important article highlighting the growing strain on Capital Area food pantries during the ongoing government shutdown. Many of our ministry partners are seeing a dramatic increase in families seeking assistance as paychecks are delayed and resources run thin.

As you learn more about their work and the challenges they face, we encourage you to respond with compassion and generosity. This week, let’s “double up” on our giving — if you planned to bring one box of macaroni, bring two! One pack of tuna? Make it two! Together, as Calvary seeks to be a church that helps end hunger, our small acts of doubling can make a lasting difference in our community.

The Food Pantries for the Capital District Article

Outdoor Fall Clean-up - Thank You!

We’d also like to offer a special thank-you to Pastor Drew and Emily, who were unintentionally left out of our earlier message, for their help with Fall Clean-Up Day!

Red Bird Mission Shoebox Project - Recap & Thank You!

Last Wednesday, 499 Red Bird Mission Shoeboxes left Calvary on their journey to Endwell UMC! Along with the boxes, we also sent a generous load of bedding, towels, and school supplies — all carefully packed and loaded by a wonderful team of volunteers, including our amazing Preschool students.

Calvary contributed 78 shoeboxes and a plentiful supply of blankets, bedding, towels and school supplies, along with a monetary donation of $506.00.

Our Preschool contributed 18 boxes and $27.00….bravo!! In addition, fifteen area churches utilized Calvary as a collection site to bring the total to 499 shoeboxes and a monetary donation of $1209.00.

Thank you to everyone who donated and supported this meaningful mission. Your generosity will make a real difference!

Calvary Missional Partnerships

Calvary has long standing relationships with a number of mission organizations that impact people from the local area. For more information on the following organizations, please click here.

Rags to Riches
St. Ambrose Food Pantry

Find More Volunteer Opportunities

OPEN TO ALL

Prime Timers

The next meeting is our annual and final Christmas celebration. It’s Wednesday, December 10th from noon-2pm at CUMC. We are planning a catered, hot meal from Cardona’s. The meal includes a garden salad, chicken or eggplant parmigiana, angel hair pasta, Italian bread, and dessert from Bella Napoli. Beverages are included as well. The cost will be just $25. In addition to this wonderful lunch, Calvary’s Organist and Choir Director, Natalia Shevchuk, will provide our musical entertainment.

Please RSVP before the end of the day Wednesday, December 1. RSVP to Sharon Kunkel, kunkesilk@gmail.com or call 518-368-3968 and include your lunch preference 1) chicken parmigiana or 2) eggplant parmigiana by December 1. Checks should be dropped off by December 1 at the Calvary Office or mailed to CUMC Prime Timers 15 Ridge Place, Latham NY, 12110. If you would like to attend and plan to bring your own lunch, we still need you to RSVP by December 1 with your phone number. I will confirm your reservation by email or by phone. If you know now you are planning to attend, please RSVP as soon as possible so we have an early count of the number to expect.

This meeting will be the last one for Prime Timers. As of December 31, the organization will be officially disbanded. The board of Prime Timers, thanks you for many years of fellowship and we hope you each find others to share fellowship with, in the coming years.

Other updates:

If you would like to attend this meeting but need transportation, please let us know. We will try to coordinate a ride for you. Or if you can provide a ride, please let us know.

Hope to see you on the 10th!

Calvary’s Annual Thanksgiving Dinner is Coming Soon!

Dinner will be held Sunday, November 23rd at 5:00pm in Fellowship Hall! We need 4, 20-25 lb turkeys and volunteers to help with set up, cooking, serving and clean up. If you are interested in volunteering or donating a turkey, please sign up on the round table in the Gathering Space or contact Tracy Balogh at tdb1214@gmail.com (518-630-4257) or Elliot Friedman elfriedm71@gmail.com.

Benefit Concert - For the Children of Ukraine

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025, 4:00 PM

On Saturday, November 15, 2025, Calvary United Methodist Church, 15 Ridge Pl, Latham NY, will present a concert of classical music to benefit "CIRCLE OF ALL", a non-governmental organization in Kyiv that helps children with special needs and their families who are caught amid the destruction, caused by the Russian war on Ukraine.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear baroque, romantic, and modern compositions performed by Robert Dembo (Clarinet), Sue Rangeley (Cello), and Natalia Shevchuk (Piano/Organ/Keys). The program’s highlights include the sparkling “Sant-Angelo” Clarinet Concerto based on Vivaldi’s arias, magnificent Brahms Trio op. 114, a stunning Chaconne by Tomaso Antonio Vitali, transcribed for Clarinet and Organ (featuring the Church’s 3-manual pipe organ), and John Williams’ music from the movie “The Terminal”.

A special talk on the Ukraine War will be given by Peter Cipkowski, political and literary historian at UCLA.

Doors open at 3 pm. Intermission will be provided.

Free will offering will be collected during the concert.

Checks should be made out to: CalvaryUMC ("Children of Ukraine" on memo line)

Preschool Update

Today we met with Pastor Drew and learned how God's Love is like a mustard seed. It starts out very tiny and as we take care of it by loving others it becomes huge. We talked about all the different ways we can show love to others.

Contact Michelle at LathamCalvaryPreK@gmail.com if you or anyone you know is still looking for a preschool.

Support Calvary

If you would like to Support the ministry of Calvary, you may do so using the link below or QR code. Thank you for your generosity.

https://giving.servantkeeper.com/CalvaryLathamUMC

For more ways to support Calvary, please click here.

Tellers Schedule

The Tellers for this Sunday, November 16th, 2025

Paul Breslin and Dave Weary

Click here to see the full Teller Schedule.

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