Newsletter
Why We Fast
If a Christian from the first few centuries of church history visited Mount Calvary, he or she would find many familiar aspects. Communion, the eucharistic, has been central to Christian life since the beginning. The same goes for preaching, scripture reading, music, prayer, and even potlucks! (Originally, called agape or love feasts.) However, one aspect of faith that was central to Christian life for centuries, which has all but disappeared from Christian life in this country, is fasting. Fasting, often talked about but little practiced during Lent, uniquely deepens our dependence on God.
Jesus fasted and expected his disciples to fast too. Famously, Jesus fasted for 40 days. Jesus also said, “when you fast” (Matthew 6:16). The keyword here is when, not if. Likewise, we can see from Acts 13 and 14 that the first Christians fasted before making significant decisions. There is clearly some connection between fasting and a heightened awareness of God.
Like most of you, I did not grow up fasting. On the contrary, I recall thinking of fasting as something the Catholics did. Even they seemed to have watered it down. The Midwest Catholic fish fry is a wonderful, raucous celebration of gluttony that would put a Vegas buffet to shame. On vicarage, a jolly and rotund guest preacher who was known for his frequent trips to the town's doughnut shop humbly began a sermon on fasting, saying, “Clearly I’ve never done this!” I credit this man for having the courage to preach on fasting. Eventually, through his message and the sheer number of references to fasting in scripture, I decided to give it a try. I chose to fast on Ash Wednesday, and I thought I was going to faint after completing school chapel that morning. By the afternoon, I could not stop thinking of food. It seemed like I was just making life hard for myself. Fasting was making me less productive, and the Protestant work ethic in me thought, “Surely God wouldn’t want that!” I tried to stick it out. I still had work to do ahead of the evening service at Mount Calvary and began to pray desperately that God would give the insight needed to lead a quality service, or at the very least, just get me through it. Then it struck me, this was the point. Desperate prayer. Fasting is not a relic from the past, nor is it some magical formula to earn brownie points with God; fasting drives us into prayer.
Fasting is also a practice in self-discipline. Sometimes, we falsely equate Lent fasting with giving up sin. I have heard men say, “I am cutting back on alcohol this Lent, I know I have a problem,” or “I am giving up internet pornography for Lent.” Friends, we should always give up sin! Don’t wait for Lent. The 1st of Luther’s 95 theses was, “When our Lord Christ Jesus said ‘repent’ he willed that the entire Christian life be one of repentance.” To repent means to turn away from sin. It is an urban myth that Luther was somehow lighter on sin than his contemporaries. On the contrary, Luther’s initial concern was that the church needed to repent from both her many sins and her human-made, shortsighted solutions to sin. Only the blood of Jesus can cover our sins. Jesus calls us to repent of sin, receive his grace, resist sin, and repeat this process continuously! We are all called to resist sin. This is the real, game-time performance of being a Christian. Enter fasting. Fasting is a practice for resisting sin. If you can resist food for one day, you can resist that sin that you return to time and time again. Fasting is firing blanks so that when the real fight comes, you’ll be ready.
Our ministry for college-aged guys at Mount Calvary is called Memento, meaning “to remember.” This is a church wide program across the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. One of the things Memento asks us to remember is fasting and other Lenten disciplines. This Lent, our guys, led by Joel, have committed to the following:
· Total fasts on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
· Skipping a meal on Wednesdays and Fridays
· Giving up all sweets and alcohol during Lent
· Giving up social media for Lent
· Only listening to sacred music and Lutheran influencers during Lent
· Daily devotions
· A scripture reading plan
· Reading a book together
· Working out together as a group three times a week
I am honored to join them in these. I could not be prouder of their commitment and zeal. These guys know they must manage themselves before they can fully take advantage of other opportunities that come their way. I would encourage you to take Lent for the opportunity it is. Yes, if you have not turned away from that favorite sin of gossip, or from the covetous call of online shopping at work, please do. Run away, pass Go, and do not look bad. Also, please apply the principle, “you get out what you put in,” to Lent. If you join our young men in some of these disciplines, you may be pleasantly surprised by the results when harder times come.
There is, of course, a danger in fasting or any other spiritual discipline. In my study on grief, we recently reflected on Luke 18, where Jesus tells this story,
“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”-Luke 18:9-15
I love this story. It is one of the reasons we named our son Luke. This is the gospel in a paragraph. Notice how the Pharisee said, “I fast twice a week.” Our training comes to nothing if it comes to boasting. Wherever you are in your walk with the Lord, please know that, in our failures, in our sin, in our frustrations, Lent teaches us to pray that simplest prayer, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” And He is.
In Jesus’ Service,
Pastor Kurt
Remember God, Remember His Word
Dear Mount Calvary Lutheran Church,
Did you read the best-selling book in the English language in 2025? No, it wasn’t on the New York Times’ best seller list, but the Bible sold 18 million copies in the United States this last year. This is nearly 9 times the number of the next best-selling book, Sunrise Reaping by Susan Collins. Bible sales were up 20% year over year, outpacing previous years. Generationally, Gen Z led all generations in Bible purchases. The most popular translation was the English Standard Version. The good book remains a great read.
Yet, the Bible is often bought, rarely read, and less understood. Christianity Today reports that less than half of self-identified Christians in the United States have read more than a few chapters on their own. The Bible itself says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16) How sad it is when God’s own Word for our lives collects dust as a paperweight, shelf ornament, or mere heirloom? Well intentioned Christians often cite ignorance of the Bible as a barrier to study. Who wants to miscommunicate with God? Enter the ancient Christian tradition of group Bible study.
Bible study is our preparation for the challenges of modern life. The Psalmist juxtaposes the Bible with self-help literature when he says, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Additionally, we hear Solomon say, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the holy one is insight” (Proverbs 9:10). In a world overwhelmed by the noise of social media, podcasts, and literature, the call to study the Bible is a call to return to the source, a call to return to a certain simplicity. Prominent 20th-century Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer called the Bible the “church’s book”. Now this may seem obvious, as most church pews have a Bible in them, but he meant that the Bible owns the church, not the other way around. The Bible tells us who we are, who God is, and what God has done for us. The Bible tells us how to live, how to be wise, and how to act justly. We sit as students under the Bible, not as academics trying to exegete every last word. A good Bible study is less about us studying the Bible and more about the Bible studying us.
Last year, I asked the people of Mount Calvary to renew the habit of attending worship every Sunday. The sabbath is an invitation to rest, worship, and experience a little bit of heaven during the week. You have risen to the challenge. My ask this year is, would you please consider making Bible study an indispensable part of your routine? As we return from the holiday season, we are proud to offer not one, or two, but three Bible studies on Sunday morning. If you cannot attend Sunday morning, would you consider a private Bible study routine? Perhaps enlist a friend, church member, or me as an accountability partner to help you in that discipline? If you would like to attend a group Bible study, but the Sunday times do not work for you, I would be happy to even recommend a Bible study at another church. We simply want everyone in the Word this year. Our theme is: Remember God, Remember God’s Word.
I think I know what you're thinking: you don’t have the time. I have these thoughts all the time: “I am afraid that if I commit to a private reading of the Bible in the morning and even enlist an accountability partner, I may be late to work if I am not careful.” Maybe you’re thinking, “I want to go home after church and watch the Seahawks beat the Cardinals again.” Finally, perhaps you’ve said, “I want to spend time with family on Sunday (who can argue with that), and Bible Study at church pushes that time back an hour.” My friends, we have the time. The average American spends 5 hours a day watching TV, scrolling social media, or actively looking at media online. These time chunks don’t come all at once. 15 minutes of Facebook here, a YouTube video on lunch break there, a news article in line at the doctor’s office, and an extra episode of your favorite show at the end of the day. Worse still, all this media is entertainment and is often designed to provoke you to anger, fear, and sadness, with only the occasional feel-good story as a reprieve. Bible study, like exercise, dinner with family, or talking with a friend, is true leisure and makes us more human. Can you take an hour out of the approximately 35 hours a week we spend looking at media online to intentionally study God’s Word?
Bible Study includes the following benefits:
· Community. Bible study is a great opportunity to get to know other people at church beyond simply saying hi and bye in passing.
· Learning with leaders. In addition to time with other people, Bible study provides an opportunity to spend time with our wonderful leaders and ask questions.
· Personal growth. Bible study clearly connects you with the story of your salvation. Because we are made to be in a relationship with God, Bible study also gives several natural benefits currently in high demand in the secular world, such as reduced stress and greater self-awareness.
For this next season of ministry, we are pleased to offer the following Bible Study opportunities:
· Morning Joe. Please consider joining Joe Richter in the church lounge as he walks through the story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. This will be a great study for people of all experience and ages, but may be especially helpful for adults who could use a refresher on the Bible as a whole.
· Memento. Pastor Kurt will lead this group of men committed to prayer, accountability, and spiritual discipline. Group members will commit themselves to fasting and other ancient Christian practices during Lent. Memento is part of a new, grassroots men’s ministry initiative taking off in other Lutheran churches. More information can be found here. memento70.com
· Summit Sisters. Clara Hellwig will lead this group of young women meeting outside in the courtyard. Please consider joining us for prayer, encouragement, and fellowship.
As you consider how best to remember God and His Word this year, I want to remember the end. At my internship congregation in the medium-sized town of St. Charles, MO, there was a woman named Beaulah. Beaulah was 104 years old in 2020, a Cherokee originally from Oklahoma, and she lived in a 2-bedroom stilted home on the edge of the Missouri River. Beaulah was a character, and she was known for a couple of things: smoking several packs a day and having nearly the entire Bible memorized. As the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing and the backdrop to many conversations, she often talked about how she remembered the Spanish Flu epidemic as a small child in 1919! She remembered so much even as her health failed. When I visited, I would read from scripture, saying, for example, that I was going to read from 1 Corinthians 15. She would say, “I remember this” and recite the passage from memory. Beaulah is one of those people I look up to. When God writes the final pages of our earthly life, I want to recite scripture from memory. I feel pretty confident that I won’t remember or care to remember what was on the front page of the newspaper on January 2nd. I certainly won’t care about my Candy Crush score or the reel from my high school acquaintance, with whom I haven’t spoken in 10 years. I will care, as a human being and as God’s son, that I remember Him, knowing He has always looked over me. Join me in making 2026 the year we Remember God and Remember His Word.
In Jesus’ Service,
Pastor Kurt
A Weary World Rejoices
The best-selling book in the English language is the King James Bible. The second best-selling book, or something close to it, is the “Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Made and remade a hundred times over, the world knows the story of Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Marley, and the three phantoms who change Scrooge’s perspective on Christmas and indeed life. The ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future show Scrooge that Christmas is a joyful time of year, and that this joy is rooted in the Christmas message that we are not alone; God is with us, and we with each other.
Dickens crafts each ghost in relation to joy. The ghost of Christmas past appears as a child with fire burning on his head. We are told this fire signifies the passion of life. Christmas is often associated with childhood and nostalgia. These are seasons when passion runs high. When life is new and exciting. The Ghost of Christmas Past calls to mind these times and holds out hope that that ambiguous Christmas spirit may simply be the awe of rediscovering life. The Ghost of Christmas Present is joy and jolliness personified. Wrapped in a green cloak, wielding a horn of plenty, and topped with a crown of holly, this ghost means to visualize the outsized and even absurd nature of Christmas. With a hearty, not nostalgic greeting, he takes Scrooge to many homes on Christmas. None of these homes compares to Scrooge’s in stateliness or value, yet all dwarf the former in terms of joy and even goodness. Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Future stands juxtaposed with his supernatural compatriots. By drawing strong parallels to the Grim Reaper, Dickens brings to mind that which ought to give us pause: death. Death conjures both the need to make merry now and the need to be found righteous at one’s death. Christmas, with its celebrations and charities, offers a dual occasion to prepare for one’s death. The travels of the ghosts shed light on the bleak streets of Victorian England, even as they find those who are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Pollution, poverty, or even extreme comfort are all poor excuses for not having a merry Christmas.
We find ourselves weary at Christmas time. In our world, the snow does not fall, the chestnuts do not roast on the street corners, and the choirs do not wear top hats (No, Todd, don’t get any ideas). We are in some ways the better for it. Nostalgia is an enemy of joy. One can keep Christmas perfectly well while sitting on the porch of their patio home on an 80-degree day in Phoenix. Yet, we are weary and perhaps a bit numb. Like Scrooge, we get used to saying humbug at Christmas. A humbug on the company “Holiday” party, humbug to the same movies and songs about reindeer, and a humbug on all the gifts. This is ok. The Gospel is good news for Scrooges like us. The Gospel does not ask us to embrace the commercialization of Christmas. Christianity does not ask us to rejoice at gluttony, greed, envy, worry, and the worst excesses of American materialism. If you are over Christmas, that may be ok.
Christmas still ought to be a joyful time of year for the Christian. This begins by seeing God in the simple baby in the manger. He is the righteousness which we seek. Like the simple homes of “A Christmas Carol,” Jesus is simple. He also brings joy. When we hear the story that God is with us, shoulder to shoulder, and believe, how can we not be encouraged? When we hear that kings and shepherds alike bowed down to the baby boy, how can we not be inspired? The Gospel, in a broad sense, does ask those with plenty, or little, in their barns here to store up treasure in heaven. Yet, we look, and the greatest gift is already here. There is no greater gift we can give. We can’t out give God. He gives Himself to us ingrates. We are called to receive this gift together. In this news, we will choose to rejoice, for this purpose we will keep Christmas, and out of gratitude to God, we will be merry. From my family to yours, I wish you a very merry Christmas.
God bless us, everyone,
Pastor Kurt
Give Thanks!
Dear Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Do you feel grateful this time of year? Perhaps you feel guilty even hearing this question. You know the answer is no, but the answer ought to be yes. You remember the joy and cheer of gratitude with nostalgia. Maybe you did feel grateful and look forward to the little rituals and conversations at Thanksgiving that reignite the tolerance for less. Conversely, do you feel no gratitude and no remorse? Thanksgiving is simply a distraction of food and football from the rush of life, and you resist attempts to spiritualize it. However talk about turkey and Thanksgiving and gratitude and grace hit you today, God has something to say about the posture of our hearts. God invites us to open our hearts. When we open our hearts, soften our hearts, knead our hearts, we allow God to work the peace that passes all understanding. God says, “a heart of peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones” (Proverbs 14:30). This peace comes from knowing and experiencing this unconditional love of God. God also warns us that envy, an all too common emotion, destroys who we really are as His baptized children. Arguably, the American economy runs on envy, and we are told, “comparison is the thief of joy.” Don’t let comparisons and what you don’t have cloud the peace God wants to give you today through Jesus’ love. This November and December, we have a few opportunities to knead our hearts. We have chances to break down calluses and let care in. We have a moment to cast out goods and let God hallow us. We have the supreme opportunity to let go of judgment and welcome grace Himself. Please note the following special comings and goings at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church. Meet and Follow Jesus: • Join us for a special Christmas tree decorating service at 9:30 AM on November 30th complete with cookies and hot chocolate. • Come out for a special neighborhood worship service at Encanto Park at 7 PM on the evening of Wednesday, December 3rd. This is an exciting chance to take church beyond our walls to our neighbors. • Night of Worship for students at Mount Calvary at 7 PM on Wednesday, December 17th. • Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship is on the 24th at 7 PM. Serve Central Phoenix with Jesus: • As always, 10% of all unrestricted gifts to the church will go towards our mission of the quarter, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest. • If you are interested in leaving a legacy gift to Mount Calvary or have an end-of-the-year gift planned, please see Mr. Guy Ludwig or Pastor Kurt Hellwig. • A few housing needs have come up in the congregation. If you have an extra room available, please see Pastor Kurt. • Finally, as many of you have heard, area food banks are running low. Let’s give back through our food bank blitz on Sunday, November 23rd. Please bring your non-perishable gifts to worship. All proceeds to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul. In the words of Psalm 41, “blessed is he who remembers the poor and needy.” Let us open our hearts for God’s love to come in and our love for others to run out this time of year. With a grateful heart, Pastor Kurt Hellwig
Why Build a Church
Some of the world’s most famous churches have become mere museums. Westminster Abby in London, The Notre Dame in Paris, The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, and St. Peter’s in Rome echo with the sounds of chatting tourists, not chanting. Not many could rightly be considered local parishes—churches serving a specific people or neighborhood. On one rainy winter Sunday, I had the privilege of sitting in one of the largest Lutheran churches in the world on the harbor of Stockholm, Sweden. The cathedral sat thousands yet gathered a few dozen souls on this Sabbath. A casual trip through Europe reveals that a glorious church building is not a predictor of faith or faithfulness. So, what is the concerned Christian layman to do with a church building here? We in Western Europe and North America live in a post-Christian age. While the cathedrals draw tourists, do they draw us closer to God? I think they still do. My friends, there is a real temptation to throw aside the buildings, the trappings, and the decorum that come with a grand church. Indeed, we frequently stress here at Mount Calvary that the church is not the building, it is the people! This is good Theology. Yet, on this 75th anniversary of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, the mother church of Maricopa County, it ought to be said that beautiful churches are worth building, and that Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, the people, and the building are worth celebrating.
The pressure to discard beautiful churches comes from all sides. As said above, some draw a causation between secularization and the great churches of Europe. Indeed, the most vibrant churches on that continent today are likely to be house churches and storefront gatherings. This correlation does not, of course, mean causation. In Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame the characters are stirred to faith by the bells, statues, and stained glass of France’s most famous church. I believe it remains so today. On this side of the Atlantic, beautiful churches face another enemy, and this enemy is American pragmatism. While more spiritual than our European contemporaries, Americans are a practical people, and Arizonians are no exception. Here, churches are measured according to their potential rental income, not their history and aesthetics. Many of our churches look like office parks, not churches. This is by design with the bottom line in mind. Finally, many generous and well-meaning Christians suggest that church buildings are a waste of money altogether. Could the money be better used elsewhere? On one occasion, some women bought expensive perfume and anointed Jesus. They did this as an act of worship. They also did this as an act of faith to show that they knew he would die soon for their sins. Judas, though, asked Jesus, “could not this perfume be sold and the proceeds given to the poor?” Sometimes, we find ourselves asking the same question. John says, “he [Judas] said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief.” Let worship be worship and charity be charity. God’s house should be something special.
The founders of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church did the difficult thing and built a grand church. No doubt they did this to the glory of God as an act of worship. In doing so, they left a legacy. A physical church, a beautiful church, is God pleasing in several ways. Churches connect people to a specific place, the ascetics of a church draw our attention to God, and beautiful churches continue the Biblical pattern of beautiful spaces.
God has made you to be you. You are a specific person. No person is an accident. Consequently, you live in a specific time and place. You were not born in another place on the other side of the world, and you were not born 1000 years ago. You are you, and you are made to be here. A Shaker hymn says, “it is a gift to be simple, it is a gift to be free, it is a gift to come down where we ought to be.” A physical building floods our God given senses and affirms, “yes this is where God wants me to be.” We love to say at Mount Calvary, “you belong here,” “you have a home here,” and we mean it. There is nothing like coming home after a long journey of many years.
The cathedrals of Europe continue to inspire because they were designed with eternity in mind. Unlike our pragmatic churches in America produced with profit in mind, churches can open our minds to the truths of scripture. Many people today have a hard time imagining an almighty, eternal, unchangeable God. Sometimes we find the courage to consider this Being in his natural handiwork of nature. However, a great church too can also connect us to the transcendent. When a church dominates a skyline for a millennium, it is a reflection of an all-powerful, unchanging God who loves us dearly. Our senses, created by God, are reoriented to him through the church building itself.
Finally, we would be remiss to not mention the detailed instructions God leaves in scripture for the building of houses of worship. During the Exodus, God gave his people plans for the tabernacle. The tabernacle was not the largest building in the world or even the most beautiful, but it was intentionally designed to worship God. The Ark of the Covenant was a special home for God’s presence. This Ark famously won battles and held God’s presence amongst the people. Later in scripture, God gave Solomon the plans for the temple in Jerusalem. Solomon prays, “Lord, that heaven would dwell on earth.” In each case, God chooses to live with us through intentional building plans. We ought to consider God's craft when considering his homes here below.
The Sunday school song goes, “a church is not the building, a church is not a steeple, the church is the people.” Indeed, this is true. God sanctified all his people to be His temples through the coming of the Holy Spirit to dwell in each one of us. Nevertheless, we as His people, body and soul, are stirred to respond with praise when we see God’s house. Let the house be an intentional and beautiful home for the king of the universe. With the Psalmist, we say, “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the LORD.”
In Jesus’ Service,
Pastor Kurt
Back to School
Dear Mount Calvary Lutheran Church,
What have you been reading this summer? Like many Americans, I found myself with a little more time to read this summer, and like many folks, I enjoyed some audiobooks going on the customary summer road trip to see family. This summer I read,
· The Relentless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. If you are like me and not a big self-help guy, this is still a must-read. Pastor Comer (an evangelical pastor in Portland, OR) presents a compelling and joyful way of being rooted in the way of Jesus’ earliest followers and quite distinct from contemporary life.
· The Anxious Generation by Johnathan Haidt. Haidt’s book is a big one for parents or people in education professionally. Haidt responds to the epidemic of anxiety in our children and ourselves.
· The Devils or The Possessed by 19th-century Russian master Fyodor Dostoevsky. Dostoevsky is considered one of the greatest novelists of all time, and this 800-page beast shows why. Part satire of atheism and part dark prophecy of the coming Soviet Union, I would be careful recommending this work given its scope and content.
· Selections from the Nicomedian Ethics by Aristotle. The Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote three centuries before Christ about an unknown God named the Logos behind the gods and the created world. The New Testament writers regularly interact with Aristotle and other pagan philosophers. John writes, “In the beginning was the logos and the logos was God and the logos became flesh and dwelt among us… grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Paul in Athens says at the altar to the unknown god, “What you call unknown, I proclaim to you, Jesus Christ.”
· Consolations to the Dying by Johann Gerhard. Gerhard is a famous 17th-century Lutheran theologian. This little work is a fictional conversation between a pastor and a parishioner about the fears one has before dying. A pastoral classic!
· The Gospel of John, Genesis, 1st Timothy, Romans, and Proverbs. Much of this work was in preparation for sermons and Bible study. I read the Gospel of John devotionally. I am also really enjoying the book of Proverbs right now. Talk about a good self-help book!
Back-to-school season is upon. Indeed, school has been in session for almost a month in some cases. This seems like a good time to plug Bible Study at Mount Calvary. Beginning September 21st, there will be two Bible Studies at Mount Calvary—one for students and one for adults. Thomas, GCU seminarian, Joel, GCU student, and I will each have a chance to teach. The adult class is working through Romans. If you are new or mature in the Christian faith helps you put it all together.
Additionally, this month will see the start of Pastor and Pancakes on the first Sunday of the month. This is an opportunity to meet informally over food and discuss a key document from early Christian history at 8am in the lounge.
So far, this letter has been heavy on the follow Jesus aspect of our mission motto of Meet Jesus, Follow Jesus, and Serve Central Phoenix with Jesus. Please find listed several other key announcements concerning the congregation, especially with regards to worship and outreach.
· I am pleased to announce Todd Barrick as our new worship leader. Todd brings extensive experience in a variety of settings and on a variety of instruments to the role. I think you will, along with me, be impressed by his big heart, sincere faith, and professionalism. Todd will begin on September 28th.
· We are up to help with Family Promise this week. There are still a couple of openings if you are interested. The sign-up link can be found here. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0549ABAC2AA3F5C61-58399059-copy#/
· During September and October, there will be fellowship events for men, women, and students.
· Although Jan White remains in the hospital, I will be visiting MCLC homebound members on September 23rd.
· I am working with our GCU friends to get us on campus for GCU’s “Local Church Fair.” This is a great chance for us to meet and greet students across campus.
Thank you for your ongoing support. “Now may the God of all peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
In Jesus’ Service,
Pastor Kurt
Five Loaves and Two Fish
Dear Mount Calvary Lutheran Church,
I had heard horror stories. Every three years, pastors and lay leaders from the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church in this county gather in “district conventions.” These are often a sorry excuse for Christian behavior and sometimes more closely resemble our rotting, secular political system. However, I was pleasantly surprised. This gathering in June highlighted and celebrated the work of small churches throughout the southwest and beyond. The convention affirmed nearly unanimously the need for evangelism, lay empowerment, and flexibility going forward.
We all know the zeitgeist, the spirit of the times. Churchgoing seems so 1950s. Sometimes, even some Christians seemed surprised that I get out of bed every morning and embrace the role of evangelist to the city of Phoenix and pastor to Mount Calvary. First, I would beg to differ that the church is unpopular. There is ample evidence that Gen Z, the youngest Americans, are rapidly finding their way to God (or rather Him to them.) If you don’t believe me, talk to a student from Grand Canyon University. We are so back. Second, regardless of popular trends, God can do great things with small stuff. During the convention, many noted that the Lord once fed the multitude with just five loaves and two fish. My message this month is simple. God is going to feed 1.8 million people in Phoenix through our smaller the 1950s, yet slowly growing church. Most importantly, our congregation is faithful, humble, healthy, and possesses the right culture. Essential, God pleasing qualities that can be lacking in some churches.
During my listening tour, I heard the need for accessible and blended worship. (We are hiring a worship leader if you know somebody!) I also heard many good things about our big heart and love for all people.
This August is an exciting month for us as we step out to meet Jesus in worship, follow Jesus in our own lives, and serve central Phoenix together. Please consider the following:
Follow Jesus
· On August 17th, we will welcome over a dozen new members.
· After worship on August 17th, we will call Luther and Aman as associate pastors at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church.
· There will be a baptism in the English service and in the Kunama service on August 24th. This brings the total number of baptisms this calendar year in connection with the congregation to 5.
Serve Central Phoenix with Jesus
· If you adopted a college student in May, you have the chance to connect with your adopted college student one final time before the start of the school year.
· The Family Promise families we served in July have all found employment and permanent housing. Praise God! Our congregation is up to help again from August 24th to August 30th. There will be a male member of the church council present every night at 5:45 during drop-off to help facilitate.
· On Thursday, August 28th, there will be a BBQ at GCU to welcome students to campus.
· Mount Calvary is proud to unveil our quarterly mission partners for the year. One tenth of all offerings to the general fund will go to support these causes.
o During the 1st quarter, we will support Family Promise. If you have not had the chance to serve with them, please consider stepping out and doing so.
o During the 2nd quarter, we will support Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest and cut them a check for their annual toy drive.
o During the 3rd quarter, we will Let Them Live. This is a powerful organization that financially supports women with unplanned pregnancies. While I recognize that anything adjacent to the topic of abortion can be a lightning rod in our society, Mount Calvary is (and always will be) proudly non-partisan, non-political, and pro-life. Perhaps the greatest thing we can do as Christians who value life is to sacrificially support expectant mothers in need.
o During the 4th quarter, we will support the missionary work of a friend of the congregation, Adam Lee. Adam is a former professor at Concordia University Irvine. He and his wife serve as missionaries in her native Germany. They build relationships with travelers and locals by operating a hostel and teaching English classes in a small town in the country’s east. Their independent Lutheran church has experienced growth in recent years in what is one of the most atheistic regions of the world.
Finally, thank you! July was a great month for us financially. As shared in our stewardship devotions, God is looking for kingdom ROI. At Mount Calvary, we refuse to bury our talent in the ground, and we refuse to just keep the lights on. Your gifts are truly appreciated and are wisely invested.
See you Sunday.
In Jesus’ Service,
Pastor Kurt