2024 BACKPACK GIVEBACK
2024-07-20 08:00 - 2024-08-11 17:00 (America/Chicago)
Our annual school supply drive is on. This event directly impacts and helps the kids in our community have everything they need to be ready for the school year.

Theatre 301 Lift-Off Presents School House Rock (7:30pm)
2024-07-18 19:30 - 21:00
$12 for Adults
$8 for Students

Theatre 301 Lift-Off Presents School House Rock (5:30pm)
2024-07-18 17:30 - 19:00

School House Rock Theater Camp
2024-07-08 - 2024-07-18
4-9th Grade: Come explore the world of theater in this two-week intensive camp from Theatre 301 – Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr. – a Musical Review – songs, scenes, and dances from the ever-popular, award-winning 1970s cartoons! The cost of the camp covers nine+ days of camp, music and script, camp t-shirt, snacks, digital recording of the performance, and two show tickets. There is a registration limit of 30 for this fun and fast production, so be sure to register early!

Canoeing in the Boundary Waters
2024-07-07 06:30 - 2024-07-10 17:00
﻿Join us on an exciting four-day adventure, July 7th through July 10th, to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area! Get ready to travel up north to Wilderness Canoe Base. Wilderness is a Christian camp located at the end of the Gunflint Trail in northern Minnesota and outfits groups of all ages, providing guides, great food, community, fellowship and fun! Once at Wilderness, groups will canoe to camp with their guides for orientation, route planning, and worship.
Open to high school youth and young adults and is $595/person. Registration is due NO LATER than March 10th. Register here!

YOUTH VIDEO GAME NIGHT
2024-06-30 19:00 - 22:00

Inclusivity Worship Weekend
2024-06-29 08:00 - 2024-06-30 11:30
Worship Times: Saturday at 5:30pm, Sunday at 9am and 10:30am

JUNE COMMUNITY MEAL
2024-06-27 16:30 - 18:30

Trailblazers
2024-06-23 - 2024-06-27
Enjoy the timeless fun of camp at Green Lake Bible Camp with Trailblazers. Campers will have the chance to push themselves by scaling the rock wall and exploring the trails scattered throughout God’s creation! Trailblazers, the camp for Confirmation students, (which counts for a year’s worth of sermon notes!) is designed around intentional, small-group activities meant to strengthen faith and build meaningful connections. With inspiring worship and Bible studies, Trailblazers will be challenged to discover and live into their full potential within God’s community.
6TH THROUGH 8TH GRADES
JUNE 23 – 27 | MOUNT CALVARY WEEK
Register

Base Camp *Currently has a waiting list*
2024-06-23 - 2024-06-27
Calling all 4th and 5th graders! Base Camp invites campers to experience the essence of outdoor ministry overnight at Green Lake Bible Camp. It’s a Sunday-to-Thursday immersive journey, promising faith-encounters, vibrant worship, and diverse activities encapsulating an authentic summer camp experience. Amid stunning scenery, engage in learning, play, music, and new friendships — ideal for novice and seasoned campers alike. Join Evan and some incredible counselors, flourishing in faith and fun. Get ready for unforgettable memories!

VBS Counselor Training Camp
2024-06-17 09:00 - 2024-06-20 14:30
Are you going into 7th or 8th grade and interested in becoming a paid counselor at VBS in the future? This is the camp for you! You will forge leadership skills and learn how to shepherd young children through their camp experience while participating in all the best grownup stuff at VBS! This camp is a pre-requisite to register as a Junior Counselor.
7TH AND 8TH GRADES
JUNE 17 – 20 | 9AM – 2:30PM
$75 PER STUDENT
Register

Junior Counselor Staff Training
2024-06-17 - 2024-06-20
Have you completed CIT and completed 8th grade? Do you want to grow in leadership, faith, and friendships all while having a ton of fun? Join the amazing staff at VBS where you will be paired with a High School Counselor who has been in your shoes. You’ll assist in all the important ways to make VBS successful for the elementary kids! Mandatory training on June 16th from 6-8pm is required. Becoming a Junior Counselor is the training you need to be hired on to our amazing summer camp staff.
9TH AND 10TH GRADES
JUNE 17 – 20 | 8:30AM – 3:30PM
FREE
Register

Vacation Bible School
2024-06-17 - 2024-06-20
Vacation Bible School (VBS) is the best week of summer! Rising 1st – 4th graders will experience God, friends, fun, and an incredible week at Minnewashta Regional Park. Kick off summer right with Bible stories, campfire singing, swimming and “nuke ‘em”! This camp is for the first 150 campers to sign up and is staffed by our very own Mount Calvary counselors. Sign up now!

Baccalaureate
2024-06-02 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-06-02 09:00 - 22:30
Baccalaureate services have a strong tradition at Mount Calvary. We are delighted to be inviting all graduating seniors and their families to a special Sunday morning baccalaureate worship service at 9:00 AM or 10:30 AM. In between worship services we are offering a light brunch, an opportunity for visiting, photos with friends and connecting. We are excited for the opportunity to bless these graduates before they head off for new adventures!

Splash n' Dash!
2024-05-25 13:00 - 16:00
﻿﻿﻿SPLASH & DASH!
Grades 8-12 at Freeman Park
It’s a fun day of dashing and dodging the wet, spongy ball! Bring your friends! Email evan.lieber@mountcalvary.org for more information.

Labor and Delivery Class
2024-05-18 10:00 - 11:30
Parents-to-be are invited to a MOTHER’S DAY event! Mount Calvary member Chanda Lyons and Lisa Shedlov Mesick, both long-time Labor and Delivery nurses, will be offering a Labor Education class presenting topics surrounding labor and birth, with a Q and A session as well. The goal is to help you feel informed, supported, and empowered as you approach your upcoming birth. Please join us and bring a friend.

Pentecost Celebration with A New Creation
2024-05-18 09:00 - 12:00
A Pentecost Celebration
A New Creation with Choir, Soloists, and Orchestra
Sunday, May 19, 9:00am and 10:30am Services

At our festive Pentecost services on May 19 the Mount Calvary Chancel Choir will perform pieces from “A New Creation,” by famed composer/conductor, Rene Clausen.
A New Creation is a cantata for choir, soloists and orchestra [strings, harp, flutes, organ]. The various movements are attempts to characterize, through music, various aspects of the human/God, God/human relationship. Awe and wonder, unworthiness and doubt, mercy and forgiveness, love, joy and peace are all wrapped together, as these elements are indeed, wrapped together in our daily lives.
Many scriptural texts are familiar to the congregation, such as Psalm 100, 1 Corinthians 13, Psalm 150, the Nunc Dimittus and the frequently performed “Set Me as a Seal” from Song of Songs. Listeners may recognize an excerpt that the Chancel Choir sang in Easter worship, “Therefore, whoever is in Christ is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold the new has come!”
A special thrill for the choir, is the opportunity to work with the composer in rehearsal on May 9th. Dr. Clausen will attend rehearsal, sharing insights about the composition and assisting us to bring meaning to the music.
Soloists from our own choir, including Natalie Ward, Cassandra Morgan, David Morgan and Adam Ward, will perform short sections. At our Pentecost service we’ll also be celebrating Aaron Looney, our student organist for the past three years. You won’t want to miss it!

Kick it at the Commons!
2024-05-15 18:30 - 20:30
Youth in grades 8-12 are invited to a fun night of kickball with pizza and fun at the Excelsior Commons. Contact Evan for more information.

Smokes + Sweets
2024-05-11 18:00 - 19:30
No, this isn’t a cigar smoking event! It’s an opportunity to celebrate spring, our church, the Mount Calvary youth, and delicious food. The smokes are savory barbecued meats prepared by the Holy Smokes! BBQ Ministry and served by members of the Unfiltered Men’s Ministry. Then, support our Mount Calvary Youth by purchasing some delicious sweets at their bake sale. Join us for a great meal and good fellowship!

LitChicks: West with Giraffes
2024-05-09 19:00 - 20:30
LitChicks is a fun, come-when-you-can book club for women. We have lively, thoughtful discussions where we are free to discuss books from a Christian perspective or simply our own perspective. Anyone is welcome to come to any meeting, there is no commitment needed. Our bimonthly meetings are on the second Thursday from 7:00-8:30pm in the Gathering Room. Join us on May 9 to discuss West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

New Member Lunch
2024-04-28 11:30 - 13:00
﻿﻿﻿Would you like to join our congregation? If you wish to become members of Mount Calvary, all you have to do is complete the simple form on our New Member page. Our next new member lunch will be April 28. Please let Kari Beckel, our New Member Coordinator, know if you have questions at kari.beckel@mountcalvary.org.

Excelsior Book Event with Leif Enger
2024-04-25 19:00 - 20:30
Minnesota author Leif Enger joins us on Thursday, April 25 at 7PM with his new book I CHEERFULLY REFUSE. Many of you will remember Leif from his time at Minnesota Public Radio. Many more of you know Leif from his three previous novels. Read more here.
This is a ticketed event. Your $5.00 ticket gives you a $5.00 discount on I CHEERFULLY REFUSE. Purchase tickets here.

SAM - Protect Yourself from Fraud
2024-04-25 13:00 - 14:00
Financial crimes including scams, identity theft and consumer fraud are the most frequently attempted crimes every day in the United States. Join us for an inside look at how scammers think, how to safeguard against identity theft and fraud, first-hand accounts from victims, and what to do if you or someone you know has been a victim.
Senior Adult Presentation, sponsored by AARP
April 25, 2024
1pm to 2pm at Mount Calvary
Light refreshments and conversation to follow
There is no cost for this event. Please come and bring your friends!

Mark Abelsen's Ordination
2024-04-21 15:00 - 17:00
Please join us at Mount Calvary for Mark’s ordination. A special day is planned with glorious music, our Bishop, and other visiting clergy. This service will also be livestreamed. After the service, we’ll have a reception in Luther Hall.
Dear God, we pray for Pastor Mark, called to the ministry of word and sacrament in the church, that, sustained by the Holy Spirit, he may carry out this ministry with joy and a spirit of bold trust, serve your people, build up your church, and glorify your name. Amen.

Courageous Conversations: Gaza Humanitarian Crisis
2024-04-21 11:45 - 13:00
If you attended our listening sessions in Jan and March, we hope you’ll join us April 21 at 11:45am for a Courageous Conversation exploring the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. How can we respond and advocate for the innocent? How do the Bible and the teachings of Jesus guide us in these modern-day scenarios? Together we’ll discuss what it means to be a Christian in the midst of world conflicts responsible for extreme human suffering and loss and lean into what it looks like to be a courageous community. If you would like more information, please email Heidi Busch.

Senior Care Options for your Loved Ones
2024-04-20 09:30 - 11:00
﻿﻿Join us for a morning with our special guest, Rob Lahammer. Rob is the vice president of engagement and advocacy at Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS), a network of over 50 senior living communities throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, and he will be here to share options and information on caring for your senior loved ones. Time for questions will follow the presentation. Stay for coffee, refreshments and conversation in Heritage Hall. This event is open to everyone – bring a friend! Sponsored by the Saturday Men’s Ministry group.

Elevate / Rooted / Vine LASER TAG NIGHT!!!!
2024-04-19 18:00 - 21:00 | Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 301 County Road 19, Excelsior, MN, 55331, United States
Date: April 19, 2024
Age: grades 8-12
Time: 6-9 pm at Mount Calvary
Cost: $35
Laser Tag is back! We’ll play game modes such as team deathmatch, infection and more. Up to 24 people can participate. IT WILL BE BIGGER THAN EVER, so bring your friends and war paint, you seriously won’t want to miss it! Register by April 12.
Register Now!

LSS Spring Shower
2024-04-19 - 2024-05-13
This spring, shower young people with love through our Spring Shower for LSS Homeless Youth programs. Beginning April 19th, stop by the garden display in the atrium to choose your gift. Shop and return the gift to Mount Calvary by May 13. Want to give a financial gift? Go to www.mountcalvary.org/give, select Outreach fund and note “Spring Shower.” Thank you for your generosity now and always!

Foundation Gala Coffeehouse and Fundraiser!
2024-04-05 19:00 - 22:00
Friday April 5, 2024 we’ll celebrate our Foundation with gourmet coffee, cake, and ice cream while chillin’ to the musical strains of Rebel Fiddle and a few surprise artists. Recipients from many of the nonprofits we support will be on hand to tell us more about their work. New this year is a silent auction of wine and experiences you’ll want to bid on. Join in the fun of expanding our witness to the ends of the earth! Tickets available from Board members or in the church office.
