September 17, 2025

CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

Over the past two weeks in our Wesleyan Rooted series, we have explored what it means to Grow Deeply in God’s love and to Read Faithfully as we listen for the Spirit in Scripture. This Sunday, we turn to our third theme: Love Actively.

In Mark 12:28–31, Jesus reminds us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Love, in the way of Christ, is never just a feeling or an idea—it is something we live. It is expressed in the ways we show compassion, seek justice, and embody the grace of God in our daily lives.

John Wesley once said, “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion but social; no holiness but social holiness.” In other words, our faith comes alive when it takes shape in love—for God and for neighbor. That is the kind of love Jesus shows us in his life, death, and resurrection, and the kind of love the Spirit continues to empower in us.

So this week we are invited to ask: what happens to love when it isn’t connected to action? How might God be calling us to let our love shine more brightly—in our families, our friendships, our church, and our community?

I hope you’ll join us on Sunday as we continue rooting ourselves in Christ and discover together what it means to live as people of active love.

Capital Campaign & Sanctuary Renewal

The Church Council and Trustees are pleased to announce plans for a $235,000 Capital Campaign that will strengthen our ministry for years to come. This campaign has two important goals:

Paying off our smaller $150,000 mortgage by January 2028.
- Retiring this debt early will free up significant resources in our annual budget.
- Those freed-up funds can be directed toward ministry, mission, and outreach rather than interest payments.
- It allows us to take an important step toward financial freedom as a congregation, making us more flexible and resilient for the future.
Completing Sanctuary Renewal Project.
- The Trustees are excited to share that they have approved moving forward with a $150,000 Sanctuary Renewal Project, based on the recommendations of the Sanctuary Renewal Team. We are grateful that $65,000 in funding has already been committed from a portion of the Employee Retention Credit, the Carol Deering Bequest, and the Howard Hontz Bequest.

The Sanctuary Renewal Project includes:

Flooring & Safety: Removal of existing flooring, pews, and the current chancel (with required asbestos abatement). New Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring will be installed, with all trip hazards eliminated.
Chancel Area: A rebuilt and expanded elevated chancel with a fully accessible ramp, additional electrical and sound outlets, and new carpeting.
Pulpit: The current pulpit will be modified and made portable, to enhance flexibility.
Seating: Installation of 250 padded pew-like chairs, including 25 with arms for accessibility. Flexible seating will allow various configurations and ensure accessible spaces for wheelchairs throughout the Sanctuary.

This campaign is about more than paying bills and upgrading our space — it is about investing in our future as a worshiping community. Together, we can ensure our sanctuary is welcoming, safe, and accessible, while also positioning our church on firm financial footing to focus on mission and ministry.

We invite you to join us for an All-Church Meeting on Sunday, September 28, immediately following worship, where we will review the Sanctuary Renewal Project and approve the launch of this Capital Campaign.

If you have questions before then, please reach out to John Drake, Church Council Chair, or Pastor Drew.

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, Bob & Nancy, 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.

In Memoriam

We are sad to report the death of Carol Shippey on September 10, 2025. Carol was an active member of Calvary while her husband, Rev. Harold Shippey served Calvary as Associate Pastor several years ago. Please keep the Shippey family in your prayers. There will be a Time of Remembrance at Christ Church United Methodist Church, 54 Bay St., Glens Falls, NY at 2pm on Sunday, September 21, 2025. A reception will follow the gathering. You may click on the link for more information: Carol Shippey Obituary

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

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

"Wesleyan Rooted - Book Study: Wesleyan Vile-tality by Ashley Boggan"

This fall, as we launch our worship series Wesleyan Rooted, we invite you to go deeper with a companion book study of Ashley Boggan’s powerful and provocative work, Wesleyan Vile-tality: Reclaiming the Heart of Methodist Identity.

Boggan, the General Secretary of the United Methodist Church’s General Commission on Archives and History, helps us reconnect with the gritty, grounded, and radically grace-filled heart of the Wesleyan movement. This study will not only enrich your understanding of our Methodist heritage, but also challenge and equip you to live out your faith boldly in today’s world.

In her words:

“Wesleyan vile-tality reminds us that the church is most vital when it is most vulnerable—when it enters the spaces the world deems vile. The Wesleyan tradition is one that brings people together not to escape the world but to transform it.”

Whether you’re a lifelong Methodist or just curious about what makes our movement distinct, this book will stretch your heart and mind—and inspire your walk with Christ.

There are 12 books available from the church, so signup today to secure your spot. A sign-up sheet is on the round table in the Gathering Space.

Wednesday Evenings at 7:00pm

September 10th - October 8th

In person or via Zoom

Zoom Link

Click here to see the Top of the Week email

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

Fall Festival

Our Fall Festival will be held this year on Sunday, October 19, from 2-4pm. There are lots of opportunities for you to be involved! You can decorate a trunk and hand out candy, donate a baked good for our family ministry's bake sale fundraiser, volunteer to help with crafts, or read a story. You can sign up at the link below, or email Michelle at LathamCalvaryPreK@gmail.com for more information.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FA4AF2DA0FE3-58240956-fall

PASSIONATE SERVICE

Calvary Archives - Volunteers Needed

The church archives will be undergoing a major project to digitize the collections. Jessica Bland has agreed to lead the project, and she is looking for volunteers from a few hours to a long-term commitment. A planning meeting will be held during coffee hour on September 21st. If you are interested and available, please meet Jessica near the archives. Work will include everything from identifying duplicate copies of materials to identifying who/what/when to scanning and loading into the Google cloud.

September is Hunger Action Month!

One of our food ministry partners, the Regional Food Bank, reminds us this month about Hunger Awareness. Calvary UMC's Missions Team is continuing its efforts to help focus our ministries on local food insecurities. Check out the article linked below to see ways you can help.

https://regionalfoodbank.net/hungeractionmonth/

Calvary Night @ Sidewalk Warriors!!!
Thursday, October 2nd

Show up and show your support of this mission on Thursday, October 2! The mission of Sidewalk Warriors is to "provide compassionate support to those in need, offering hearty meals, essential supplies, and a sense of community." You may volunteer to assist with set-up from 4:00 - 6:00pm, distribution from 6:00 - 8:30pm, or stay for the entire time. They are located outside of Christ Church UMC, 35 State St., Troy. Please contact Grace Paster if you're able to volunteer in October, or if you have any questions (gracepaster@gmail.com, 518-248-3780).

Red Bird Mission Shoebox Project

Calvary UMC is once again serving as a designated collection site for the Red Bird Mission Shoebox Project this year. Shoeboxes are being collected for individuals of all ages starting this Sunday.

A list of suggested items to include in the boxes is available here, and labels for the top of the boxes are found here. We ask that you please be sure to tape the label on the TOP of the box.

In addition to filled shoeboxes, Red Bird Mission also gratefully accepts donations of new:

Pillows
Twin and full-size bed sheets
Blankets
Towels
School supplies

Clear plastic shoeboxes will be available in the Gathering Space starting September 7th, so start shopping now during the back-to-school summer sales!! All donations must be dropped off by Monday, November 3.

If you have any questions, please contact Cecelia (Cece) Broomhead at 518-577-0985 or ccb1018@nycap.rr.com.

Thank you for supporting this meaningful mission!

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

For other volunteer opportunities click here.

OPEN TO ALL

Growing in Safety and Accessibility

This summer at Calvary, we have continued to deepen our commitment to creating a church that is both safe and accessible for all who gather here. Thanks to the faithful work of our trustees, ministry teams, and the generosity of our members, several important improvements are underway:

New ADA-Compliant Door Handles – Installed throughout the upper level of our building, these handles not only make our spaces more accessible but are also lockable, giving us the ability to keep our students safe during Sunday mornings and throughout the week if an emergency were ever to arise.
Updated Safety Policy & Protocols – We have introduced new measures to strengthen communication across the building, including an extended walkie-talkie system with outlets in every room. This ensures that we can immediately connect with one another in the event of an emergency.
Automatic Door Opener System – Work is in progress to install automatic openers on the lower-level archway doors. Once complete, this will provide a fully handicap-accessible entryway for our building.
New Security Blinds in Classrooms – Thanks to a generous donation from a church member, new blinds will be installed in the Education Wing hallway classrooms by the end of the month. These blinds will enhance safety during lockdown procedures, providing greater security for students and groups using these rooms.

In the same way that God’s love opens doors and makes a way for all, we are striving to ensure Calvary is a place where everyone can enter, belong, and feel secure. We are grateful for these important steps forward, and we continue to explore new opportunities to strengthen our commitments to safety and accessibility.

Join us in celebrating this good work, and stay tuned for more updates in the months ahead!

Preschool Update

We are having a wonderful week in preschool. This week's theme is All About Me and My Family. Our students are learning new things about their classmates and finding they have lots of things in common.

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

A Hilarious fundraiser for Calvary!

The Theatre Institute at Sage will present the musical comedy, Nunsense, in Fellowship Hall on October 3, 4 & 5, 2025. Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30pm and a Sunday matinee at 2:00pm. Doors open at 7:00pm and 1:30pm respectively.

Come meet Reverend Mother Regina, a former circus performer; Sister Mary Hubert, the Mistress of Novices; a streetwise nun from Brooklyn, Sister Robert Anne; Sister Mary Leo, a novice who is a wannabe ballerina; and the delightfully wacky Sister Mary Amnesia, the nun who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head.

Tickets: $18.00 at theatre.sage.edu or call 518-244-2248. Advance tickets strongly encouraged. Tickets sold at the door will be EXTREMELY limited. Parking in the lower parking lot only.

Partial proceeds from this event, in addition to all intermission snack purchases benefit Calvary.

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, September 21st, 2025

Paul Breslin and Neil Francese

Click here to see the full Teller Schedule.

Google Sites

Report abuse