June, 2024
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                                                                                                                                                                                                              Address: P.O. Box 9,  

                                                             Syracuse, IN   46567                                                                     
                                                        Email: syrcalv@kcaccess.com
                                                 Website: www.syracusecalvaryumc.org
From Pastor Paul

Building Bridges

There once was a carpenter who visited one of two brothers who had recently grown embittered with each other over a misunderstanding over the farm they had managed together for the past 40 years. The carpenter was in need of work; or so he said, and he asked the one brother if there was anything he might do to help him out.

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That’s my neighbor. In fact, it’s my younger brother! Last week there was a meadow between us. He recently took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I’ll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence, an 8-foot fence - so I won’t need to see his place or his face anymore." 

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day -- measuring, sawing and nailing.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer’s eyes opened wide; his jaw dropped. There wasn’t a fence there at all. The carpenter had fashioned a bridge... a bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the other, handrails and all! And the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, hand outstretched, meeting them in the middle, "You are quite a fellow, you know; to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done." Then hoisting his toolbox onto his shoulder, the carpenter departed. "I’d love to stay, but I have many more bridges to build.”

That’s just like the carpenter, isn’t it – that is the carpenter from Nazareth, our Lord Jesus Christ, who would tear down the dividing walls of hostility, not just between us and God; but between us and others too? It’s just like our Lord who bridged the gap of sin with His cross and gifted us with His love that we might love one another more like Him.

See You Sunday,

Pastor Paul Pastor Paul Burris Weekly Office Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Church: 574-457-3778 Pastor’s cell phone: 260-609-9260
Church Office Hours Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
                                                                    
Calvary United Methodist Church
Breakthrough Prayer Initiative
Miraculous God of Breakthroughs, speak, show, and inspire us where your Spirit is leading next for Calvary Church and in our own lives. Open doors that will usher in a new season of creativity, faithfulness, and fruitfulness in the name of Jesus. And together grant us boldness, courage, and power without limits to step through the doors you open, in Christ’s name. Amen.

Upper Room
 
The July/August issues are available in the narthex for your free copy.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
“One person can make a difference!

NURSERY! Needs your help to take care of the little ones for an hour during Worship! If the Lord lays it on your heart to help guide these little ones to know Jesus, please sign up for Nursery time on one Sunday a month!

We're looking forward to starting Kids Church, that will start after the Children's Chat and last through the end of the service. To do so we need steady workers for the nursery. Please prayerfully consider this need. Those interested should sign-up on the bulletin board list across from the nursery or contact the church office. Ideally, we can create a rotation of workers who only supervise one Sunday monthly.
                          
Where Are you called to Serve at Calvary?
 
As part of our recent (ongoing) Prayer Initiative, we have all been challenged to come to a better understanding as to how the Spirit is moving in our daily lives. A big part of the process is coming to the realization that we have all been gifted with special talents that are to be utilized in building the kingdom at Calvary UMC and in the community that we serve. In I Corinthians chapter 12 Paul reminds us that every gift from God is special and important. We are created by God, and He loves us. By acknowledging the spiritual gifts from God, we are glorifying Him. Each gift has the ability to help draw others to a relationship with the Lord. God’s people are like a body with many parts, yet those parts work together. Even though there are many people in the world, we can work together to share His love and glory. Every person has a purpose and is gifted by the Holy Spirit.
 
  
We are looking for people who are willing to provide much needed leadership which would enable us to carry out God’s mission here at Calvary. There are several areas, and committees you could serve such as: Trustees, Worship, Finance & Stewardship, Administrative Council, Staff-Parish Relations, Missions, Congregational Care, Prayer Team, Funeral Dinners, Nominations etc. etc… Please carefully consider where God might be calling you to be in ministry. If you feel you have been called, or need more information, concerning any area of ministry please feel free to contact Pastor Paul or Roz Schwartz. We are all part of the same body here at Calvary. It is going to take a group effort for us to make a difference in the community that we serve.
                                                                                              
                                  
Food Pantry

Food Pantry Sunday is the first Sunday of each month. Specific items you can bring for July are flour and Pees. These items can be placed in the narthex and a volunteer from our church will take it to the Syracuse Food Pantry.

The Outreach Missions continue to support the food pantry will be Pack the Pantry with food four times a year.

Please keep the ones in need in your prayer!                     

MONTHLY CALENDAR                                                                                                                                                
July 2024
 1    Monday    Trustees Meeting         5 pm                
 9    Tuesday    Church Council        6 pm
11    Thursday    Staff Parish            5 pm    
12    Friday        Free Community Dinner    5:30 – 6:30 pm at Syracuse Park
18    Thursday    J.U.L.I.E.T.S.            11:30 pm Papa Vinos
18    Thursday    Red Cross            12-6 pm
23    Tuesday    Gideons            6 – 8:30 pm
24    Wednesday    Martha/Ruth Circle    1:00 pm
24    Wednesday    R.O.M.E.O.S.        11:30 am Coffee Depot
27    Saturday    Sleep in Heavenly Peace

   Calvary United Methodist Welcomes our community.

Our long-standing Free Community Dinner (2nd Friday of the month) is scheduled for Friday July 12, from 5:30-6:30. Take-out or dine in options are available.
This month it will be at Syracuse Park.

Adult Sunday School is now studying Psalms.


                                        Altar Flowers Neded  Every Sunday 
 
If you would like to contribute altar flowers, sign your name on the date of the hallway calendar at the north end of the building, or call the church office at (457-3778) or email the church at syrcalv@kcaccess.com. Some ideas are flowers for anniversaries, birthdays, our children, and grandchildren and to God’s glory. NOTE: If you have silk flowers you no longer need, consider donating them to the church. Sherri will use them to make arrangements for the church. You can leave them on a shelf upstairs across from the Peace Room.
                       
Thoughts from Bashor Home 

By Dan Wolschlager 
Just recently, I got married! I just got back from my honeymoon and now my wife and I are beginning to adjust to this massive change in our lives. For me, I get to experience an exciting change in my life. But for so many of us, change is not always good and exciting. So how do we deal with change? If you’re a creature of habit, change is tough. Even for the most prepared people, change still affects us in ways we couldn’t have prepared for. It is a natural tendency for us to look to something consistent and stable when change occurs. What are the consistent things in your life? Do you have something stable to go to when change happens? This week, I wanted to give you a short but powerful piece of Scripture from Hebrews 13:8 which says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Things are constantly changing in all of our lives, but the one thing that stays consistent is Jesus.