August 10– 9 & 10:30 a.m. is Calvary's Back to School Blessing Day!
Students and all school faculty and staff members are welcome to be part of a special time in worship, receiving a blessing and also a special tag to hang on your backpack, laptop bag, etc. Feel free to bring backpacks/bags with you to church that day! The blessing time will take place near the end of both worship hours. We will have regular KidVenture and Jr High programs on Sunday. For kids attending programs, our leaders will bring them into Worship for the Back to School Blessing. Come start the school year in prayer and be reminded that God loves you and that your Calvary family is praying for you and cheering you on.

On Saturday, August 2, a tree fell onto the picnic pavilion on the grounds of Dayspring Native American UMC (201 N. Norwood, East Peoria) and crashed through the roof. They need some help in responding to this incident: persons with chainsaws who love cutting up downed trees, persons who could do some repair and roofing. While the next steps are not fully formed yet, having some help ready to go would be amazing, and truly a God-send. Please be in prayer for the Dayspring congregation as they tend to this unexpected maintenance issue (and the insurance company, if needed).
If you are willing to help out, please contact Pastor Patty Johansen at (217) 722-2730 or pcjohansen57@gmail.com.

FIA is adding care receivers again. Those that need help with dialysis and cancer care are considered a priority. We are still working to add volunteers! If you can be a volunteer, please go to www.bnfia.org or see Jan Kibler.
Activities coming up - please support FIA!

• Fall Bus Trip to Montreal, Ottawa, and Quebec City – from Sep 27th to Oct 04, 2025. For more information, call Mary (309) 827-7780 or visit.

• Transitions by Go Green Commercial Cleaning Fundraiser – (continues all 2025!) When you book their service and mention Faith in Action in 2025, Transitions will donate a portion of the proceeds! Visit or call (309) 585-0423.

• Take Action FIA luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, August 28th at Doubletree. This is a FIA fundraiser. Jan Kibler will be hosting a table. Let Jan (jckibler11@me.com) know if you are interested in attending.

• FIA Mum Sale pickup is scheduled for September 11. These mums are gorgeous! You can order online or take a check to the FIA office.

Our Calvary Garden Team with the help of Larry Gamblin has donated 1409 pounds of fresh produce to Midwest Food Bank, and various other food pantries in Bloomington Normal during this 2025 growing season. We have a great team, but never turn away anyone who would like to help. We usually pick and wash vegetables on Saturday mornings, and then deliver later that morning. If you would like to get involved please reach out to the church office and we will add you to our text group. 

Calvary UMC has a long history with the people of Fev, Haiti, having sent a number of mission trip teams there and helped build a church in the village. In 2024, we were able to raise over $25,000 to construct four classrooms for the school connected to that church, a true blessing to the people of Fev and to Calvary. There are some updated pictures of the school in use below. We have become aware of a couple of ongoing needs related to that school building. It does not have indoor plumbing, meaning that when the children have needs, they must return home (if facilities are available there) or step out into the woods. There is need, therefore, for restrooms and a septic system at the school. There is also a need for more benches, desks, blackboards, school books, and school supplies. Our friends from Fev believe that all of those needs can be met with $8,000. As such, we are inviting the people of Calvary to consider making an additional gift this year to help these students more fully live into their school and be able to receive the blessing of an education. Gifts can be given through cash or check, through our website, or through our electronic giving portal...just make sure that you indicate that it is for the Fev, Haiti school. 

Hula on over to Evergreen Senior Living (1701 Evergreen Village Blvd, Normal) on Tuesday, August 26. Meet up in the dining room for some colorful and tasty fun. Be sure to wear your leis and Hawaiian shirts!
This volunteer opportunity is open to all ages and abilities! If you have any questions, please reach out to Erin Scott. 

The next GriefShare session begins August 19 and finishes on November 11. We will meet from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday evenings in Room 111. 
On November 18, plan to join a special one night event called, “Surviving the Holidays.” This is a 2 hour event on Tuesday night from 6-8 p.m. also in room 111. 
For any questions, please reach out to Sharyl Jennings. 

Join us for the next season of The Chosen and follow along with a book you can purchase from The Chosen or on Amazon. The study will take place on Wednesday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to noon in room 111 from August 13 to October 1. For any questions, please contact Sharyl Jennings.
The Chosen Season 5 focuses on the events leading up to Jesus's final week, culminating in the Last Supper. It portrays the growing tension between Jesus and the religious and political powers, highlighting the increasing stakes as the religious leaders plot to silence him. The season also delves into the internal struggles of the disciples, particularly Judas, as they grapple with Jesus's unconventional path and the impending betrayal. 

Safe Harbor 
The following dates are available for you to serve at Safe Harbor: 

• August 15

• September 19

• October 5 & 24

• November 21

• December 5 and 19

If you are interested in serving, please contact Tammy Carlson. If you are new or have questions, please feel free to reach out! 

Our food pantry focus for August is Meal Starters. These are items that can be out together to make simple meals such as Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper, canned chicken, canned tuna, peanut butter and jelly, crackers, tamales, spaghetti and spaghetti sauce, and pizza-making kits.
Thank you for the tremendous response to the donation requests! The pantry has obviously been a blessing to our community as evidenced by its use!
Questions? Contact Susan Sopek.
If you are hoping to receive items from the pantry, it is located in our entryway and available at any time of the day to anyone.

Dream Weavers (previously known as The Loom Project) will take the summer off and resume on Sunday, September 7, with a “regroup, refresh and review” meeting in room 111. At that time, we’ll resume regularly scheduled weaving sessions.
In the meantime, be on the lookout for BRIGHTLY COLORED plastic bags that we can use.

For more information, contact Sandy Dickson or Lurinda & Larry Venezia.

We had so much fun working at the Midwest Mission on May 9! After carpooling to Pawnee, IL, we spent the day learning how to sew and put snaps on hygiene pads, quality checking hundreds and hundreds of personal hygiene bags, and working in the wood shops making parts for the school desks that will be assembled soon. We worked hard (not really) and were very productive (really). If you are interested in joining us next time or have questions, please reach out to Susan Sopek.

We meet weekly on Tuesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. starting April 8. This session consists of 13 consecutive weeks which you may attend every week or as many weeks that you are able to attend.
The first week includes registration, introductions, orientation and the first week DVD followed by discussion. We provide desserts each class. Books will be available to purchase in the class for $20.00.
Anyone who has had a recent or past loss of an individual are welcome.
We look forward to meeting you. Please register here. 

The Prayer Shawl Ministry will begin meeting Tuesday, February 11. We will be working on shawls as well as hats, scarves, and mittens of all sizes. Join us as we work and pray every 2nd and 4th Tuesday from 9:30-11am in L7.  No experience is required. All materials are provided, including yarn, patterns, and needles/hooks. We also have shawls available to be given to individuals in need of warmth and comfort. For more information, contact Linda Ferrence.

We will be building from October to April on the third Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. No experience necessary. Must be at least 16 years old. We are building the Faith House for Dionne Anding and her two grandsons. Contact Jon-Eric Fujmoto for more information. 

Greetings, all. We have once again heard that an email has gone out alleging to be from staff members of our church. If you receive an email claiming to be from Pastor Vince or any other staff member that is not from an official church email, it should be treated with great suspicion if not completely disregarded. Please be safe and vigilant to protect yourself from scammers.

Do you have college students in your household?  Let Calvary College Care send your students encouraging inspirations and blessings by mail, email or text.  It will be a reminder that their Calvary family will continue to pray for them and continue to be an important part of their faith journey. Click here to sign up. In order for us to have the current information, the form needs to be completed each year.