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C alvar Volume 27 - Issue 3/4 March-April 2018
C o n n e c t i o n y
I Make All Things New
Wilsons in England
Your Prayers Have
Been Heard
The Cost of the Cross
Lead Pastor ....................................................................... Jon Sanné
Assistant Pastor ........................................................... Tad Sowers
Missions Pastor ........................................................... Bill Dunning
Worship Pastor .................................................. Andrew Landers
High School & Young Adult Pastor......................... Ben Phillips
Middle School & Children's Ministry Pastor........ Tom Alongi
Assistant Children’s Ministry Director ......... Kari Krausmann
Helps Ministry & Biblical Counseling ..................... Pat Sumner
Worship Leader ...................................................... Rachael Aarts
Church Secretary ................................................... Tanya Mackey
919 Division Street NW
Olympia WA 98502
(360) 352-4214
www.calvaryoly.com
Services
Sundays at 10:00 AM
Wednesdays at 6:30 PM
Saturdays at 6:00 PM
3 I Make All Things New
BY PASTOR JON SANNÉ
4 Upcoming Events
7 Get Connected
9 Middle School Ministry
BY PASTOR TOM ALONGI
10 Children’s Ministry BY KARI KRAUSMANN
12 Wilsons in England
BY ZACH WILSON
13 Ministry Opportunities
14 Prayer Closet: Your Prayers Have Been Heard
BY ROSEMARIE THOMAS
15 The Cost of the Cross BY KAREN STRAND
The due date for info for the MAY/JUN issue is: APR 16
Send to [email protected]. Questions? Call Tanya Mackey at 360-352-4214.
CONTENTS MARCH-APRIL 2018
“I am not awesome. Only God is awesome.”
That’s what went through my mind
the morning I stood atop Panorama Point just above Paradise on Mt.
Rainier. It was a stunningly perfect
picture on a cloudless day. Peak after peak jumped up before me,
like excited children, as far as the
eye could see. Mt. St. Helens… Mt. Adams… Mt. Hood… all there in
one spectacular, breathtaking view.
Indeed, creation testifies of a magnificent Creator!
Then I thought, “If this old, fallen
world is still this beautiful, I wonder what the new heaven and earth will
be like.”
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
(Revelation 21:5)
Did you know that God is already at work, making all things new?
That’s even more exciting for me to
take in than the view from Mt. Rainier! The moment we respond
to His gracious invitation, entrusting
our lives to our Creator, He saves
us from sin, and we begin our walk in newness of life.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become
new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just
as Christ was raised from the dead by
the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
(Romans 6:4)
To encourage your faith in this truth, read: John 3:16-17; 6:63, 68;
10:10; 17:3; Romans 6:23; 8:2;
Revelation 21:6.
God begins making all things
new by starting with you!
What does this new you look like?
HIS LIFE BECOMES
YOUR LIFE
It’s called regeneration or the new
birth. Spiritually speaking, when you
ask Christ to forgive your sin and
submit your life to His control, you
are “born again.” It’s a secret act of
God in which He imparts spiritual
life to you. In other words, His life
becomes your life. Just like babies
come into this world physically
hungry, your new life in Christ will
be evident, in part, by your spiritual
appetite. You will have a hunger for
God’s Word and desire to grow in
your love for God and others.
And you He made alive, who were
dead in trespasses and sins…
(Ephesians 2:1)
As newborn babes, desire the pure
milk of the word, that you may grow
thereby, if indeed you have tasted that
the Lord is gracious. (1 Peter 2:2-3)
To encourage your faith in this
truth, read: Ezekiel 36:26-27;
John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; 11:25;
Romans 10:10-11; Ephesians 2:1-8;
Colossians 2:13-14; James 1:18;
1 Peter 1:3, 23
HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
BECOMES YOUR
RIGHTEOUSNESS
It’s called justification. This is a legal
act by which God declares you
righteous in Christ. He does this by
His grace and through your faith.
Mind you, it will take a lifetime for
your practical
righteousness to
catch up to your
positional
righteousness, but
from God’s point
of view, the
moment you
entrust your life to Jesus Christ,
you are given a righteous standing
before God.
Understanding and believing this
truth will liberate you from striving
to make yourself “good enough” for
God to love. It will give you a sense
of peace and security as well,
because you no longer have to fear
the wrath of God. It was poured
out upon Christ, for you, on the
cross. He took your sin upon
Himself, and gave you His
righteousness. With this gift of
grace comes the ability to now walk
in right relationship to God and
others. His Word teaches you what
to do, and His Spirit enables you to
start doing it. Your mission, should
you choose to accept it, is to simply
love, trust, and obey!
For He made Him who knew no sin to
be sin for us, that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him. (2
Corinthians 5:21)
To encourage your faith in this
truth, read: Romans 3:10; 5:6-10,
18-19; 1 John 2:1, 29; 3:7;
Galatians 3:11; 2 Timothy 4:8.
HIS FAMILY BECOMES
YOUR FAMILY
It’s called adoption. This, too, is an
act of God by which He makes you
a member of His family. He invites
you to relate to Him, now, as your
heavenly Father. This new
relationship comes with all sorts of
Page 3 VOLUME 27 ISSUE 3/4
I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW
By Pastor Jon Sanné
Continued on Page 4
Page 4 CALVARY CONNECTION
UPCOMING EVENTS
wonderful blessings, rights, and privileges, including an
eternal inheritance! As your Father, He takes care of your
needs, leads you by His Spirit, lovingly disciplines you for
your good, and gives you brothers and sisters to love, serve,
and enjoy.
To encourage your faith in this truth, read: Romans 8:15-16;
Galatians 4:7; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:5; 1 John 3:1-2.
HIS CHARACTER BECOMES
YOUR CHARACTER
It’s called sanctification. That is, you are freed from sin and
made holy. You have a new identity in Christ. Your life is
now set apart for God’s special purpose and glory. The
sanctified life is both an event and a process. It starts in a
moment of time, but also continues to progress as you grow
and mature to be more like Jesus. Little by little, you (and
others) will start to see the “new you” as your character
and life choices begin to change, by His grace, for the better.
To encourage your faith in this truth, read:
Romans 6:19-22; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7;
2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 12:14.
HIS PURPOSE BECOMES
YOUR PURPOSE
It’s called reconciliation. In other words, once we have been
saved from sin, we get the privilege of being part of God’s
rescue mission to share His Good News (gospel) with others
so that they can also be saved from sin. It’s been rightly said,
“The only thing you can take with you to heaven, is others.”
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself
through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of
reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world
to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has
committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were
pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be
reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
By sharing the gospel with others, they have the
opportunity to believe, just like you and me. If they choose
to respond with humble faith to His gracious invitation, they
too will begin to experience that Jesus indeed makes all
things new!
To encourage your faith in this truth, read: Matthew
28:18-20; Mark 1:15; 16:15; Acts 20:24; Romans 1:16;
1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
Blessings,
Pastor Jon
Continued from Page 3
MEN’S BREAKFAST MARCH 10 AT 8:00 AM
FELLOWSHIP HALL
Guest Speaker: Pastor Jesse Williams,
Calvary Fellowship
Worship:
Tony Dorrough
Life Story:
Bryan Bailon
The menu will include: Scrambled eggs, SMOKED BRISKET, potatoes, fruit,
pastries, coffee, juice, and more!
Join us! No signup needed. Just come and bring a friend.
Questions? Contact Dallas Lemon at
360-219-7114 or [email protected].
Page 5 VOLUME 27 ISSUE 3/4
UPCOMING EVENTS
c l o t h i n g s a l e
SATURDAY, MARCH 24
9 AM – 1 PM
If you have gently used
clothing or shoes to donate,
please bring the items to the
bins in the lobby.
For more information or if
you are interested
in serving with this ministry,
please contact Debbie Vuong
at 360-561-0875.
CALVARY PLAYERS PRESENTS
“Where He Lies”
An Easter Drama
Thursday, March 29 & Friday, March 30
6:30 PM in the Sanctuary
Join us for a very special
presentation by Dr. Randy
Guliuzza of the Institute for
Creation Research.
Invite your friends, family,
and neighbors to hear this
captivating, and well-
documented presentation.
You don’t want to miss it!
YOUR ORIGIN MATTERS With Dr. Randy Guliuzza
Wednesday, March 28 │ 6:30 PM │ Sanctuary
Page 6 CALVARY CONNECTION
UPCOMING EVENTS
CALVARY CHAPEL OLYMPIA PRESENTS
WOMEN’S
2018
Save the date!
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Watch the bulletin for additional
details and registration information
Easter JOIN US FOR
SUNDAY, APRIL 1
7:00 AM EASTER BREAKFAST
8:00 AM FAMILY SERVICE,
NO CHILDREN’S
MINISTRY
10:00 AM CHILDREN’S
MINISTRY
PROVIDED
Support others in need in our community and overseas!
Listed below are the items the you can choose to make that day.
Scarves for UGM
Baby blankets for Care Net
Preemie Hats and Diapers for St. Peters Hospital
Feminine pads for Days for Girls
For more information, contact:
Patti Ledesma at 360-790-7804 or [email protected]
Pat Sumner at 360-352-4214 or [email protected]
Sewing for Others Saturday, April 7 • 10 AM - 1 PM
Fellowship Hall
Page 7 VOLUME 27 ISSUE 3/4
The ELEV8 Men's Retreat at Black Lake Bible
Camp has been going strong for 11 years and
is designed to ignite passionate, God-honored
living. The ELEV8 Men's Retreat is a weekend
experience filled with fun activities, great food,
engaging worship, and biblical teaching. Come
join us for a refreshing weekend spent with
other like-minded men.
MANtalks are broken up into two sessions.
Each session will have 4 presenters speaking
for 12 minutes each on a topic that is pertinent
to our lives as men. It's fast-paced and fun!
We have time set aside for trap shooting at
the Evergreen Sportsman's Club, our annual
dodgeball tournament, archery Tag, fishing,
and more!
Oh yeah... our very own Ben Phillips will be
leading worship for the main sessions. Don't
miss out on the ELEV8 Men's Retreat! Cost is
$150 per person. Check out blbcOlympia.com
for registration and the schedule.
GET CONNECTED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRAYER, BIBLE STUDY, AND FELLOWSHIP
WOMEN’S MORNING PRECEPTS BIBLE STUDY Tuesday morning Precept Bible study invites you to join us as we study 1, 2, & 3 John – “How to Know You Have Eternal Life.”
How do you know if you're really born again? What does it mean to be holy, to love God? Find answers to these and other questions as you take a look at the fundamentals of Christian beliefs.
If you’ve never done a Precept Bible Study (an Inductive Study Method using Observation, Interpretation, and Application), yet have been considering it, 1 John is a great place to start. There is such depth to 1 John, yet it is simple enough for anyone to read and study and reap great benefit. John emphasized love, light,
knowledge, and life, all of which are essential to the Christian life. Join us this spring and be blessed by God’s written word.
Precept Upon Precept workbooks are required for the course and can be purchased at the church office during office hours or contact Jeanniene to make other arrangements. Workbooks are $18.00. Partial scholarships are available for those who need financial help.
Our study begins March 6 and goes through April 24. The homework time for each lesson is about 45+ minutes/day, 5 days a week.
We meet in the Fireside Room on Tuesday mornings from 9:25-11:30. Come early for coffee and fellowship at 9:15.
Childcare is provided by Calvary Children’s Ministry.
Bring a friend. Precepts is open to all women, even those outside of CCO.
Questions? Call Jeanniene Robinson at 360-357-8668, Mona Davis at 360-754-7546, Michelle Maxwell at 253-840-4069, or Kathleen Lyons at 360-866-8359.
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may
know that you have eternal life.”
1 John 5:13
UPCOMING EVENTS
Page 8 CALVARY CONNECTION
GET CONNECTED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRAYER, BIBLE STUDY, AND FELLOWSHIP
1st & 3rd
Sundays
12:00 PM
in the Portable
Parents Praying
for Adult Children
We are a gathering of parents & grandparents praying for
and supporting one another through challenges presented
by our adult children.
Contact: Paul Strand at 360-556-1213 or [email protected] or Karen Strand at 360-493-1552 or [email protected]
MARATHON 50+ Mondays at 10:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall
Join us! We meet weekly for
study and fellowship.
Questions? Contact Chuck and
Pat Lind at 360-459-3555.
Men’s Prayer Meeting
Saturday Mornings
8:00 - 9:00 AM in the Portable
Contact Marlo Montes at 360-870-8810
or [email protected] Interested in
a Life Group?
CONNECTING. GROWING. SERVING. SENDING.
Contact Tad Sowers
at 360-352-4214
WOMEN’S TUESDAY
EVENING BIBLE STUDY
GROWING IN WISDOM AND FAITH:
James
By Elizabeth George
Every Other Tuesday at 6:30 PM
Fireside Room
Study book costs $15, purchase online
at: Christianbook.com
Childcare provided upon request
Contact Stephanie Pringle at
360-556-0388 or
Saturday Morning Women’s Bible Study
Studying Hebrews (no book or study guide—notes provided
each study morning)
Saturday Mornings
9:30-11:30 AM
Meet in the Portable off Division Street
Questions? Contact Val Prink at 360-888-6424 or
Fellowship Hall
Tuesdays
9:30-11:00 AM or
7:00-8:30 PM
Childcare is
available upon
request
Free study
Contact Ami
Wilson at
360-402-8556 or
Adrienne
Summers at
360-280-6076
Inductive Study of Joel, Jonah, and Micah
Book of Ecclesiastes
Be Satisfied - Looking for the Answer to the
Meaning of Life
by Warren Wiersbe
Book available for purchase on Amazon or
Christianbook.com
12-Week Study
Thursdays at 6:30 PM
Starts Thursday, March 1
High School Room
Contact Philip King for more info at 561-281-5514 or
MAN UP! MEN'S BIBLE STUDY
Page 9 VOLUME 27 ISSUE 3/4
MIDDLE SCHOOL MINISTRY
Friday, March 16 6:00-8:30 Fellowship Hall
Wear GREEN!!! Prize for best dressed.
Dinner provided! Lots of fun! MYSTERY Deliciousness!
Cost: is $5 per person (pay at the event)
Sign up in the middle school youth room
If you are interested in growing closer
to Jesus and others, discipleship groups
would be great for you!
Small groups fellowship, eat, discuss
God’s Word, and pray. They are
personal, providing the opportunity to
dig deeper and have healthy discussions
about the Bible.
To get involved, please talk to Pastor
Tom Alongi.
DISCIPLESHIP SMALL GROUPS
MIDDLE SCHOOL
THANK YOU! Thank you to everyone who came to the Valentine Dessert Theater.
Your support for our youth will make it possible for
many of them to go on youth retreats and missions trips.
We appreciate your generosity!
Page 10 CALVARY CONNECTION
Please consider
joining us one or
two Sundays a month to
bless our Calvary Kids! We need helpers, teachers,
and floaters (someone who fills in as needed).
We would love to get you
plugged in and serving. You
will love getting to know
the littlest people in our
church body!!
If interested, please contact Kari Krausmann at [email protected].
BUDS
DAFFODILS
FLOWERS
GRASS
RAIN
RAINBOW
SEEDS
SPRING
TULIPS
UMBRELLA
Find the spring words listed below and color the Spring flowers in this picture!
Key:
CH ILDREN ’ S M IN I STRY
Page 11 VOLUME 27 ISSUE 3/4
Kyla Malroy Let’s learn a little bit about our friend.
Here’s what she had to say when asked the following questions:
1. When is your birthday?
August 10, 2008
2. What's your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
Play outside, make clothes for my dolls
3. What's your favorite holiday? Why?
Christmas. It's Jesus's birthday and you get presents.
4. If someone gave you $100, what would you do with it?
Give some to the bank for college, and some to spend, and some to give away
5. If you could ask God one question, what would it be?
Why did you make Satan if you already knew he was going to turn on you?
6. If you could only keep 3 items from your room, which ones would you pick?
My bed, my dresser, my desk because they have all of my stuff inside.
7. If you could fix just one problem in the world, what would you pick?
Bank robberies. Stop them.
8. What's your favorite room in your house?
My room
9. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?
France. Because I would get to see the Eiffel Tower.
10. The Bible says we should serve one another in love. What’s a way you enjoy serving others?
Making and giving out care packages for the homeless.
11. What's your favorite subject in school?
Math
12. Who is someone you admire? Why?
I admire Jesus, because he is our savior and I want be like him.
13. What's your favorite Bible verse?
John 3:16
14. What do you see yourself doing 20 years from now?
Become a model
15. Is there anything you’re looking forward to?
In one more day my slime will turn white, then clear, then become jiggly. Awesome.
16. If you could plan a whole day the way you would want, what would you choose to do?
Go to the dollar store, buy candy, go to Boom Shaka, watch some TV, and then play outside.
17. What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
Cookies and Cream
18. What are three words that describe you?
Kind, pretty, generous
19. Do you have a favorite joke?
There once was a boy who had a father that was a carpenter. One day, he went outside and stepped on a rake and lost his eye. Luckily because his father was a carpenter he carved him a wooden eye. Later when the boy was older he went to a dance at his school. There was a girl there that he wanted to dance with. So, he walked over to her and said "Do you want to dance?" and she replied I don't know, "Would (Wood) eye?"
20. What is something others would be surprised to know about you?
I'm adopted
In the next issue
we will be introducing
a new Creature Feature.
Who knows, it just
might be you!
OUR CREATURE FEATURE
Page 12 CALVARY CONNECTION
WILSONS IN ENGLAND
Support Team
As we prepare to move overseas to reach the lost, the Lord has brought a team together to support both us and the ministry in England. This team will be our hands and feet here in the states as we live on the mission field. This team consists of 6 families.
Tony and Lisa Brooks (Team Leader)
Dean and Jennie Evans (Moral Support)
Andrew and Katie Hoy (Logistics + Financial Support)
Daniel and Tanya Mackey (Prayer Support)
Gary and Rosemarie Thomas (Communications)
Dwayne and Cheri Beavers (Re-entry)
We are so blessed by this team and their complete love and support for us.
Our family will be heading off to England very soon. We are waiting on entry clearance and increased monthly support. We will join the efforts of Servant’s Church in Norwich, England to church plant along Norfolk County’s coast. We will seek to reach the lost in Gorleston-on-Sea, located an hour east of the church in Norwich.
As many of you know, our hearts for this country and the demographic of the people along coastal cities has continued to grow over the last five years. We believe the Lord has continued to call us and prepare us as we have been living in Olympia and serving at Calvary Chapel.
We will co-lead a pre-existing small Bible study in Gorleston. We plan to lead/be a part of the outreach, disciple believers, and love our neighbors to Christ. Eventually we will host the Bible study in our home. Our home will also be open for ministry interns who are serving at Servants Church and want to be a part of the church plant in Gorleston.
Zach will serve in ministry full time, both in Gorleston and possibly at Servant’s Church in Norwich. Miranda will tend the home, school our 3 children (soon to be 4), be active in discipleship to other women, and will pray for ways to be involved with other moms and their children.
We are very excited to see how the Lord is working in
Gorleston and for this open door of ministry for our family. We are also excited to see the body of Christ be part of this work through prayer and various means. This is a lifelong commitment for our family as our plan is to continue reaching these people until the Lord would lead us in a different direction.
Currently, the U.K. requires us to have $2,400 per month in order to live in England. We sought counsel and set a monthly support goal of $5,500 to cover our monthly living expenses, a vehicle, ministry expenses, future residency/visa costs, travel for missionary furlough back to the states, and emergency savings. For more info on our budget breakdown and/or the currency ratio, please do not hesitate to ask us.
How precious is your support. The truth is, PRAYER is the most vital form of support. Please consider making a prayer commitment. Thank you so much, we love and appreciate our family here.
The Wilsons
How to Support
Financial Support: Pick up a support flier in the lobby, fill it out, and place it in an offering box. You will be contacted shortly.
Prayer Support: We desperately need your prayers. Please join a team of prayer warriors by selecting the commitment to pray
box on the flier.
Page 13 VOLUME 27 ISSUE 3/4
MIN I STRY OPPORTUN IT I E S
House Concert with
Andy Landers Our worship pastor, Andy Landers, loves to use his
musical and storytelling gifts as a means of outreach in
the community. We believe one of the ways we can do
this is through our Life Groups. Our desire is to have
each one of our CCO Life Groups host a house concert
with Andy, AND… invite your neighbors to come!
Over the years, Andy has found this to be a very effective
of way of reaching folks who don’t yet have a church
home because everyone responds to good music and
kind hospitality.
Please call the church office to schedule a concert for
your Life Group, and get ready to have some fun!
Remember: think outreach.
PARKING ATTENDANTS
NEEDED
We need some extra help with
directing parking before services.
Please sign up in church lobby.
For more information or if you are
willing to help, please contact Daniel
Poehner at 425-949-2616 or
Thanks for being willing
to serve here at Calvary! Would you be willing to serve? We need some more ushers! Ushers
serve on a rotating basis.
If you are willing to help, please contact Dallas Lemon at 360-219-7114 or
Page 14 CALVARY CONNECTION
Between years 6 and 4 BC, in the time of Herod
whom the Romans had appointed as king over Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah. He and his wife Elizabeth were descendants of Aaron. Even though the Jews had heard nothing from God through the prophets or angels for 400 years, some Jewish people had remained faithful. For four hundred years their promised land had been under the control of foreign reign, the Jews had been terribly treated by foreign kings. Even though at this time in history the Romans let them have a temple and worship the True God, they were heavily taxed and harshly ruled.
During this difficult time, the first chapter of Luke records that Zechariah and his wife were a praying couple and followed God and his commandments. They had grown old together believing that God would send a Messiah to Israel. They had prayed that God would give
them children; they had offered prayers of supplication for relatives, neighbors and friends; they prayed for their country; they prayed for release from Roman control. It seemed they would never hear from the Lord. It was a bleak time; nevertheless they remained faithful and were “upright in the eyes of God.” (Sometimes it seems like God has forgotten us. Not so, “God will never leave us nor forsake us.” Heb. 13:5)
This old couple was not the only people praying. One day when Zechariah was on temple duty and entered the temple, all the worshippers were on the outside praying. As
Zechariah began to perform his temple duty he saw the angel Gabriel standing at the right side of the altar of incense and he said to Zechariah, “Don’t be afraid. Your prayers have been heard.” And the angel proceeded to tell him that he and Elizabeth would have a baby (who would be John the Baptist) who would one day make ready the way for the coming Messiah (Jesus). God wanted his people to pray. He heard their prayers—and he answered their prayers!
PRAYER CLOSET “WHEN YOU PRAY, GO INTO YOUR ROOM, CLOSE THE DOOR AND PRAY TO YOUR FATHER.”
MATTHEW 6:6
Your Prayers Have Been Heard
Ask, seek, knock
(Luke 11:9); be anxious
for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and
supplication, let your
requests be known
to God (Phil 4:6);
pray to your Father
(Matt 6:6); and KNOW YOUR
PRAYERS ARE HEARD.
By Rosemarie Thomas
THE COST OF THE CROSS THE VICTORY OF RESURRECTION
Page 15 VOLUME 27 ISSUE 3/4
The cross. We use it in logos,
depict it in Easter ads, and wear
it around our necks. We rejoice
in it! It represents the death of
Jesus and His resurrection. It tells
us that because death could not
hold Him, our living Lord enables
us to partake in the power of
His resurrection now, with the
promise that one day our earthly
bodies also will be resurrected.
In his letter to new believers in
Rome, the Apostle Paul wrote,
“…if you confess with your
mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God
has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved.” (Romans 9:9)
But while we are exceedingly
thankful for God’s mercy that
saved us, how often do we
pause to count the cost? Long
before our Savior appeared on
earth, a decision was made in
heaven. The One who had
dwelled with His Father from
eternity past agreed to leave all
that was Holy and righteous, to
enter a world that was unholy
and far from perfect. This One
was partaker in the creation of
that world! “He is the image of
the invisible God, the firstborn
of all creation. For by Him all
things were created that are in
heaven and that are on
earth…” (Colossians 1:15-16)
The Creator became the
created. The omniscient God
was confined to a human
body—a burden in itself, difficult
to bear—while all the while
there loomed on the horizon a
dreaded event that Jesus
fervently wished were over.
To His disciples Jesus said, “…I
have a baptism to be baptized
with, and how distressed I am till
it is accomplished!” (Luke 12:50)
To His Father Jesus prayed,
“Father, the hour has come.
Glorify Your Son…I have
finished the work which You
have given Me to do. And now,
O Father, glorify Me together
with Yourself, with the glory
which I had with You before the
world was.” (John 17:1, 4)
He looked forward to
remembered glory! Yet, not long
after, Jesus knelt beneath the
silvery leaves of an olive tree in
Gethsemane and prayed, “Father,
if it is Your will, take this cup
away from Me; nevertheless, not
My will, but Yours be done.” His
agony was so great that “His
sweat fell like great drops of
blood.” (Luke 22:41-44)
Comes now, His enemies to the
garden to arrest Him. Comes
now, the physical pain and
humiliation. Spat upon, slapped,
beaten—trumped only by His
spiritual pain. For on the cross
of Calvary, for the first time
ever, He was separated from
His Father and made an object
of His Father’s wrath. For us. To
pay the price for our sin. For
twice in 1 Corinthians, we are
told that we are
“bought at a price.”
(1 Corinthians 6:20;
7:23)
End of story? Not
at all. Carried to a
tomb, death could
not hold him. For “on the first
day of the week, very early in
the morning” women came to
his tomb only to find the huge
stone in front of it rolled away.
Then angels appeared, saying,
“Why do you seek the living
among the dead? He is not here.
He is risen!” (Luke 24:1-6)
“Now if Christ is preached that
He has been raised from the dead,
how can some among you say
that there is no resurrection from
the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:12)
Jesus said, “I am the
resurrection and the life. He
who believes in Me, though he
may die, he shall live. And
whoever lives and believes in Me
shall never die.” (John 11:25-26)
“For if in this life only we have
hope in Christ, we are of all men
most pitiable.”
(1 Corinthians
15:19)
Our
salvation is free.
But let us never
take for
granted the
incredible
cost.
By Karen Strand
For further reflection read Psalm 22.
SUNDAY
10:00 AM Services Adult, HS & MS Youth, Children
12:00 PM Parents Praying for Adult Children 1st & 3rd Sundays
6:30 PM “Calvary Connection” TCTV Channel 22/29
Sunday Night Life Groups Contact Tad Sowers for info
MONDAY
10:00 AM Marathon 50+ Seniors’ Bible Study
TUESDAY
9:25-11:30 AM Women’s AM Precepts Bible Study
9:30-11:00 AM Abide Women’s Bible Study
6:30-8:00 PM Women’s PM Bible Study (Every other week)
7:00-8:30 PM Abide Women’s Bible Study
WEDNESDAY
6:30 AM Men’s Prayer Meeting in the Fireside Room
6:00 PM “Calvary Connection” TCTV Channel 22/29
6:30 PM Services Adult, HS & MS Youth, Children
THURSDAY
10:00 AM Evergreen Christian Writers in the Portable
6:30-8:00 PM Man Up! Men’s Bible Study
FRIDAY
8:00 PM Downtown Street Ministry
SATURDAY
8:00 AM Men’s Prayer Meeting
9:00 AM “Calvary Connection” TCTV Channel 22/29
9:30 AM Women’s Bible Study
6:00 PM Services Adult, Children
Regular Activities
March 2018
Apr i l 2018
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1 2 3 Communion
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11 Communion 12 13 14 15 16 17
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SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Communion
8 Communion 9 10 11 12
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Clothing Store
Your Origin Matters
Men’s Breakfast
Where He Lies
Easter Drama Where He Lies
Easter Drama
Easter
Services
Sewing for
Others
Women’s
Conference