Art Camp 2023
So much creative energy in our building this week as Mount Calvary hosts Art Camp!
Upcoming Confirmation News
 Hello Confirmation Families, We are excited to see everyone again this Wednesday, April 12th at 6:15 sharp! There is no large group this week, we are all meeting in Luther Hall for a Kairos Blanket Exercise. Because of this, it is very important everyone is on time if not early! Our community is a rich tapestry of individual experiences woven with generations of historical threads and vibrant cultural colors. This Wednesday, our confirmation groups use an embodied reflection of history to connect with their personal stories and the stories of their community. The KAIROS Blanket Exercise will be a moving and reflective experience illustrating how history impacts individuals of generations to come and how we can best honor our stories and compassionately connect with the stories of others. Led by Intern Pastor Mark Abelsen, creative artist and nonprofit leader Sandy Agustin, and Director of Outreach, Heidi Busch, we will gather in Luther Hall for a large group experience kids are sure to remember. Be sure to ask them about it! We are also starting our Lutheran Social Services Donation Drive. Mount Calvary along with LSS believes all young people should live in safe and healthy environments. More than 6,000 youth throughout Minnesota experience homelessness on any given night, according to a recent Wilder Foundation report. Each year, LSS of MN makes thousands of contacts and provides youth with the resources they need to launch into productive, healthy, and independent lives. They are committed to supporting youth to gain stability through early intervention and prevention services, supportive shelters and housing options, and services to restore and strengthen families. We can help by donating the following items…… * New Socks and Underwear * Mittens and Gloves * Full Size Shampoo and Conditioner (especially brands containing Shea Moisture) * Razors & Shaving Cream * Tooth Brushes/ Toothpaste * Shelf- Stable Foods (Mac & Cheese/ Ramen) * Granola Bars or Snacks * Hand Warmers * Diapers- Size 3 and Larger * Baby Wipes * Educational Toys * $ 10 Gift Cards McDonalds, Perkins & Denny’s (open all night places) Please bring items this Wednesday, April 12th and Wednesday, April 19th. Important Dates: April 19th: Many Hands Many Meals Serve your Heart out Packing Event! 8th Grade Small Group VINE NIGHTS: During the dates below your 8th Grader with head downstairs right away at 6:15-8:30. From there they will participate in the Vine with their small group. Their leaders will be there to help facilitate. Dinner is provided. Evan is so excited to get to know all you!! 8*5 Trombley/ Nelson April 26th 8*7 Anderson April 26th 8th Grade Important Dates: May 3rd 8th grade Picture and Rehearsal Night May 10th Stole Making Night May 19th Mentoring Sessions Reflections and Final Projects due May 19th Finale Night May 21st Rite of Confirmation Sunday Night 4:30-6:30 Middle School youth group with Evan Lieber have some fun events lined up check them out………   We are looking forward to the final stretch of the year with all of you! Have a wonderful week! God Bless, Andrea Fieldhouse Griner Trina Volbrecht Evan Lieber Ketti Spehar Copyright © 2023 Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You have registered for Confirmation at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church. Our mailing address is: Mount Calvary Lutheran Church 301 County Road 19 Excelsior, MN 55331-3050 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. |
A Message from Pastor Aaron
Dear Mount Calvary Siblings and Friends,
My family and I are moving back to my home state of Michigan to be closer to our parents and relatives. I will be pursuing ministry opportunities there. My last day at Mount Calvary with be June 30, 2022.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do God’s ministry with you:
To share God’s grace,
To draw the circle of God’s inclusivity wider,
To tell the story of God’s love for all, and
To serve God’s people alongside you.
To each of our confirmation students, guides, mentors and parents: thank you for all our time, sharing God’s story and our own sacred stories together. You are a precious child of God and we love you very much! And to Confirband: thank you for all the music, singing, and joy! And to everyone I’ve gotten to worship with: thank you — your presence and participation is God creating new life in this place. And you all bring a light to my face!
God’s Spirit is moving at Mount Calvary. God has blessed this congregation with such generosity. Jesus’ love is being proclaimed through the words and deeds of pastors, staff, volunteers, leaders, and each person of this community. Though I will be heading to a different place, our common mission remains the same: to embrace, build up, and send out disciples of Christ.
I part with the words God gave our ancestor, Aaron the Priest, words that I hold dear and say from my soul:
May the Lord bless you and keep you,
May the Lord’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you,
May the Lord look upon you with favor,
And give you peace.
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Aaron
Courageous Conversations
Join the Mount Calvary R.A.C.E. team in courageous conversations around select episodes of “Seeing White,” a 14-episode podcast that explores how humans created race, how American slavery contributed to our current understanding of race, and the ways in which the subjectivity of whiteness influenced laws.
Take time to listen to selected episodes (and the previous episodes if you so choose) and come ready to seek discernment through curiosity, questions, and conversation. We will take time to reflect on how the church was present, or not, in this history; what shifts we experience in our perspective, if any; and how we feel called to react. Come to any or all of the sessions.
Saturday, June 4, 6:15: Made in America Episode 3
Upcoming Events: July 17, 11:45am and August 10, 6:30pm
Pride is June 25-26!
The 50th annual Twin Cities Pride Festival will be held at Loring Park (free) in Minneapolis June 25 – 26, 2022. Mount Calvary will celebrate in worship at 5:00pm Saturday, and Sunday 9:00 and 10:30am.
We are preparing some awesome musical experiences and education and conversation moments with all the Mount Calvary community!
Please volunteer your support on June 25 & 26 by signing up here no later than June 3 (sooner the better)! We are looking for singers, musicians, and many other volunteers.
NOTE: Singers, if you can join both Saturday, and Sunday that would be amazing, but we will enjoy your presence whenever possible! Invite friends, and family!
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. (John 13:34)
Bargains & Borscht
BARGAINS & BORSCHT — A Community Yard Sale for Ukraine! All proceeds will go to these organizations supporting Humanitarian Efforts in Ukraine:
World Central Kitchen
Doctors Without Borders
RAZOM
Clothing for the whole family, many name brands
Toys, games & puzzles for all ages
Household items
Small furniture and decor items
NEW and gently used books
American Girl dolls, outfits and accessories
We will also have homemade Ukrainian Borscht and baked goods for sale!
DONATIONS: Donations can be dropped off at Mount Calvary beginning May 15. Please contact Julie Schoshinski at julie.schoshinski@gmail.com to coordinate pick up prior to May 15. Thank you!!
All About First Communion
Dear Mount Calvary Families:
We are back in person during Lent for the first time since 2019. We are beyond thrilled to be seeing all of your faces.
As Mount Calvary parents, we want to inform you about our first communion preparation. It is during third grade that students at Mount Calvary receive communion for the first time but as always we will welcome all ages over the age of third grade, the invitation is open to all.
Our first communion preparation and experience is designed for both parents and children. We offer a class two times throughout the year, one is in the fall and the other is in the spring. After the class, your child will then receive their first communion during a worship ceremony.
Our next class is Thursday, April 7, 2022, at 6:15 – 8:00 pm: families participating in this class should plan to attend worship Maundy Thursday, April 14, 2022, at 7:00 pm to receive their first communion.
To sign up, please email Ketti Spehar at Ketti.spehar@mountcalvary.org with your preference for the preparation class. I will be sending a “getting ready” letter to your family as we get closer to the date.
If you signed up this fall, be on the lookout for that getting ready letter as the date gets closer.
What if I can come to the preparation class, but not on the weekend?
While we strongly encourage families to attend the weekend services specifically designated as first communion weekends, if you are able to participate in the class, but not the weekend services, please come to the preparation class and your student can receive their first communion at any weekend communion service.
What do I need to do to prepare for the class?
Our preparation class is drama, storytelling and art. Be prepared to talk to your student about a story that is important or defining for your family and about faith – you will share stories privately with your student. Bring a bible verse that is important to you and be prepared to share that verse and why it is important. I have included below a list of verses for you to peruse if you need some assistance. Bring the names of friends or family that you would like to lift up in prayer and be prepared to share those with your student. We are looking forward to taking this next step with you and your child in their faith journey. If you have any questions, please let me know as soon as you can! I can also be reached at 952.474.8893.
Peace,
Andrea