April 29, 2020

How much we as your church staff miss the joy of our corporate worship services and other ministries!  Even though our church offices are still bustling with activity and phone calls to and from our church family, the rest of the church facilities are far too quiet.  However, we are so thankful for those groups who are meeting virtually to continue Bible study and prayer.  We are also so excited to hear that ministry leaders are reaching out to those with whom they work in various ministries.

Would you beseech the Lord God of Heaven to allow us to meet together soon for worship, praise and fellowship for His glory and for our good?  We also must continue to pray for the many in our state who are suffering from the physical and economic fallout of COVID-19.

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It is wonderful to hear continuing reports of individuals, families and other groups within our church family who are seeing needs and taking the initiative to meet those needs whenever and however possible.  These are evidence of the Spirit's presence, working out His will and plan in us and through us.  It also results from a desire to fulfill the Apostle Paul's command in Philippians 2:12:  Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. (NLT)

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Many of you may have already heard that our dear sister in the Lord, Emelene Andress, went to be with the Lord last Saturday, April 25, at the age of 98.  Em has been a faithful member of the Calvary Memorial Church for 83 years.  Click here to read Em's obituary.  There will be a private family service this Thursday afternoon.  Plans are pending for a memorial service sometime in the near future.  Please pray for Tom and Muriel Andersen as they grieve the loss of their dear Auntie Em.

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Please continue to pray for Pastor James and Susan as they spend time with family in the Fort Worth area - especially his mother, Betty James, and Malachi and family.  This will likely be their last opportunity to be with the Malachis before they head to their new ministry location.  Pray for safety for Pastor James and Susan as they drive home next Monday.

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We continue to praise the Lord for the faithful and generous giving of His people so far this year, especially during the uncertainty of the last few weeks.  We ask that you continue to give faithfully and sacrificially as the Lord leads and provides, that the work of ministry here at CMC may continue.  You may give electronically through the CMC app or website, or by bringing in/mailing your check to the church.

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Our custodian, Jon Patton, continues to work diligently and faithfully on tasks inside and outside the facilities that can be done during these times when our regular ministries are suspended.  Below is a list of some of the tasks that have been done or are in process:

Completed Tasks:
Shampooed the Prayer Chapel carpet
Re-glued all wooden chairs in preschool rooms and nurseries
Stripped/waxed floors in Room 121, kitchen hallway and Small Reception Room
Cleaned/buffed Fellowship Hall and kitchen floors
Replaced kitchen dishwasher drain gaskets and unplugged sprayer    
Ongoing Tasks:
General cleaning and daily disinfecting of church offices and other areas being used regularly
Cleaning leaves and debris from flowerbeds/bushes
Mowing and trimming lawns
Inspecting entire building for problems/issues

We appreciate Jon and his desire to redeem the time for the glory of God and the good of the church.  We also appreciate the assistance of Kyle Maurer with the floors and Ron Ferg who re-taped the AWANA circle.

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I received this information from the Wisconsin Citizens Against Gambling:  The Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved the application for an off-reservation casino on 33 acres of prime real estate in Beloit.  It is now headed to Governor Tony Evers’ desk for final approval.

Handwritten letters carry a lot of weight.  They require more effort than a phone call, an email, or signing a petition. Accordingly, elected officials place greater value on them. 

Please join me in writing a handwritten letter soon (ask all registered voters in your household to do the same) to Governor Evers, requesting that he reject the application for the Beloit Casino, and ask 5 friends to do the same!  You can find sample letters and more information about the casino here as well as how to mail your letter to the governor.