12345 West Main St., An 1 1234 West Main St., Town, ST | 555-555-1234 | www.FirstAnyChurch.org

The Calvary Herald Expanding the Embrace of God’s Kingdom – Within, Among and Beyond Us

January 2019 | VOLUME 45 | ISSUE 1

Calendar of Events

January 1 Church Office Closed January 3 Deacons’ Meeting—6:30 p.m. Uplift Rehearsal—7 p.m. January 6 Blood Drive—11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. January 9 Mid-Week Ministries Resume Choir Rehearsals Resume—7:15 p.m. January 13 Discovering Calvary Class—10 a.m. January 15 B.Y.W. Meeting—6:30 p.m. January 20 Discovering Calvary Class—10 a.m. Sabbatical Info Session—3 p.m. Finance Committee Meeting—4 p.m. Church Business Meeting—5 p.m. January 23 Handbell Rehearsal Begins 6:15 p.m. January 27 Discovering Calvary Class—10 a.m. Sabbatical Info Session—3 p.m. January 29 Women in Mission—10:30 a.m.

“Discovering Calvary” Class

Pastor Alex will lead a three-week “Discovering Calvary” class on

January 13, 20, and 27. The class will meet during Sunday School from

10:00 to 10:40 in Room 112 on the Lower Level of the Educational

Building. While not required for membership, the class is provided so that

non-members and members alike can get a better understanding of our

church’s mission, ministry, and organization. There’s no need to pre-

register. However, if you have any questions, please contact Pastor

Alex.

Gearing Up for Ministry in 2019

A new roster of committees and ministry teams officially begins work on

January 1. For all of those who are part of a committee or team, please

remember that we would like you to meet as soon as possible to select a

chairperson and to notify the church office of any immediate schedule or

resource needs. Please remember, too, that the pastor would like to meet

with your committee or team if possible to discuss ministry plans for the

coming year. For those who are not part of a committee or team, rest

assured that we are eager to connect you to ministry, which is why all of

our ministry teams are open, even to non-members. To learn more about

ministry possibilities, please contact Alex Martin or Alex Bracey.

Calvary Hosts Blood Drive

On Sunday, January 6, Calvary will partner with the American Red Cross

to offer a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please consider giving the

gift of life by being a blood donor. Extra volunteers are needed to staff the

canteen area and to register donors. If you would be willing to serve for

an hour (or more, if you desire), please contact Jessica Simandle at 336-

401-2667 or simandle.jessica@yahoo.com

January Highlights

Calvary Baptist Church | 314 South Franklin Rd, Mount Airy, NC 27030 | 336-786-4778 | calvarymountairy.org

2 Calvary Baptist Church | 314 South Franklin Rd, Mount Airy, NC 27030 | 336-786-4778 | calvarymountairy.org

From the Pastor: An Invitation to Rest, Reflect and Renew

Believe it or not, I’ve been doing “full-time professional ministry” for a little more than 25 years. Fortunately,

I love what I do! And what’s more, I’m deeply grateful that I get to do ministry with a church family as

wonderful as the one here at Calvary Baptist. Still, after 25 years of preaching, teaching and serving, I realize

that I’m not as “fresh” as I used to be. That doesn’t mean that I’m getting tired of ministry – and it definitely

doesn’t mean that I’m getting tired of Calvary. But it does mean that I’d be a better pastor and a more

effective servant of what God is trying to do here if I had a little time to recharge my spiritual batteries.

That’s where the “Clergy Renewal Program” comes in. Funded by the Lilly Foundation, the Clergy Renewal

Program offers sabbatical grants to congregations, so they can provide their pastor with a time of renewal.

Not surprisingly, the application process is extensive and competitive. But to those selected, a significant

sum is awarded; which allows the church to plan activities that nurture revival – and allows the pastor to

“step away from ministry” for a season so that he can do some things that will “make his heart sing.”

Because I’ve been aware of this grant program for some time – and because the opportunity to take a

sabbatical was written into the “Pastor-Church Covenant” that we established when I came to Calvary – I

asked our deacons recently if they’d be willing to have our church apply for one of these grants. With their

permission, a “Sabbatical Team” was formed; and together, that team and I started developing a proposal –

the broad outlines of which were approved at our November church business meeting. Now, we need your

help to refine that proposal, so that it becomes a plan we can all embrace.

Right now, the broad outline of our proposal looks like this. If a grant is awarded, I will take a 3-month

sabbatical during the summer of 2020. The beginning and end of that time will be spent visiting with family

and friends, engaging in reading and study, and preparing to do some writing that will allow me to share my

sabbatical experience with the church. At its core, however, my sabbatical will involve a “bicycling

pilgrimage” in Ireland, Scotland and Northern England. For approximately a month, I will ride between key

sites in the development and spread of Celtic Christianity, stopping at selected locations to study, pray and

worship with the religious communities there. At the very end of this journey, Teresa and Windham will join

me in Britain for a family tour before we return home.

While I’m away, Calvary will have a sabbatical of its own. With the help of some guest preachers and

teachers, prayer experiences, Bible studies, fellowship events and more, the church family will have a chance

to rest in the presence of Christ, to reflect on walking with Christ, and to be renewed in the call of Christ.

Ultimately, we hope to lay the groundwork for a meaningful revival—one that begins in our hearts and

radiates outward to impact our lives.

Naturally, there are bound to be many questions about a proposal like this. For example, some might ask:

“What’ll this cost the church?” [Answer: Nothing. All sabbatical-related activities will be funded by the

grant.] Others might wonder: “Is this just a prelude to our pastor leaving?” [Answer: Absolutely not. I love

Calvary, and I look forward to serving here for many years to come.] I’m sure there are other questions, but

here’s the thing: We need your participation so that we can be prepared with meaningful congregational

activities if and when the sabbatical grant is awarded. That’s why there will be two “Information & Input”

sessions—one from 3 to 4:30 PM on January 20, and the other from 3 to 4:30 PM on January 27—for you to

learn more and offer your suggestions.

I can’t tell you how excited I am about the prospect of sharing this journey with you. I believe that it will

make me a better pastor and that it will make us a more fruitful church. I hope you can join us for our

sessions on the 20th and the 27th. And if you have questions that you’d like to ask me directly, I encourage

you to give me a call.

12345 West Main St., An 3 1234 West Main St., Town, ST | 555-555-1234 | www.FirstAnyChurch.org Calvary Baptist Church | 314 South Franklin Rd, Mount Airy, NC 27030 | 336-786-4778 | calvarymountairy.org

Thank You Notes

Dear Calvary Baptist,

Thank you for your continuous prayers for me. Thank you for helping to supply lumber for the ramp

that I needed. Thank you for the awesome soup and the wonderful dinners. And thank you for the nice

holiday fruit basket.

Love, Frank Boyd

Dear Calvary Family,

There’s really no way that I could thank you enough for all the expressions of kindness with which

you’ve blessed me, my family, and our church staff during the holiday season. It is a privilege to share life

with a congregation that’s so thoughtful and generous. Your friendship and faithfulness over this past year

has meant a great deal, and I look forward to everything that God will do in and through us in the year to

come.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Alex

Dear Calvary Baptist Church,

Thank you for your generosity to the members of our department during the holiday season. The food

was certainly appreciated by our personnel. If I or my staff can ever be of assistance, please do not hesitate

to call. Again, thank you so much for your kindness.

Sincerely, Dale A. Watson

Dear Calvary Family,

Thank you for your prayers, food, memorials, calls and cards, but most of all, thank you for your

outpouring of love in Jessi’s passing. She was intelligent, smart, beautiful inside and out, but lost her path in

this journey of life.

You gave.

With much love to our church family. From Donna & Roger Keck and Gray Beverly & Morgan

Dear Calvary Family,

Thank you so much for all the goodies and treats you have provided, not only at Christmas, but all

throughout the year.

Merry Christmas! From Lynn Holmes

Dear Church Family,

I would like to express my sincerest

thanks for the fruit basket that you sent to

me. I also want to thank everyone for the

beautiful Christmas cards that I received

from you. They touched my heart in a most

profound way. I miss each of you. I miss

seeing you in church every Sunday. I truly

appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers

and I wish you all a blessed Christmas and

New Year. Thank you for your continued

prayers and support.

All of my love to each of you.

From Lavon Thompson

The sanctuary choir led by Teresa Martin presented the Christmas cantata “Peace Has Come” on December 16.

4

January Birthdays Alex Bracey 1/1 Sam Gurley 1/2 Alexandra Nichols 1/3 Wilma Roberson 1/3 Glenda Laster 1/4 Matt Phillips 1/4 Kelly Smith 1/4 J.A. Bryant, Jr. 1/6 Cynthia Flanagan 1/7 Hope Lineberry 1/7 Charles Wagoner 1/7 Brenda Barfield 1/9 Simon Cawley 1/9 Andra Montgomery 1/9 Kerry Berrier 1/11 Phillip Hiatt 1/11 Keith Doyle 1/12 Tyler Payne 1/13 Myrtle Wagoner 1/14 Jimmy Byrd 1/15 James Hall 1/15 Doug Odell 1/15 Jason Beasley 1/17 Megan Berrier 1/17 Gray Shelton 1/18 Chuck Johnson 1/20 James Belton 1/21 Tommy Morrison 1/22 Will Jarrell 1/23 Sue Westmoreland 1/24 Jim Grimes 1/25 Teresa Martin 1/25 Rick Sowers 1/25 Kathryn Beasley 1/26 Owen Stone 1/26 Yvonne Beck 1/27 Brinkley Church 1/27 Rhys Gentry 1/27 Donna Martin 1/27 Jessica Shelnutt 1/28 Denise Stone 1/28 Cooper Mauck 1/29 Kent Moser 1/29 Paulette Surratt 1/30 Velvet Tucker 1/31

Calvary Baptist Church | 314 South Franklin Rd, Mount Airy, NC 27030 | 336-786-4778 | calvarymountairy.org

Gifts and Memorials

In Memory of Jessi Beverly

J. A. and Claudia Bryant

Lonnie and Rachel Jackson

Mary Jo White

In Memory of Mary Nell Byrd

Nancy and Salvatore Calvagna

Lonnie and Rachel Jackson

Ken and Barbara Nowlin

Bob and Pam Peake

Sharon Thornburg

Carolyn Underwood

Mary Jo White

In Memory of Robert (Bob) Crisp

Roger and Carol Jarrell

Brenda Price

Brenda and Donny Troll

Clif and Lorie Walker

Wake Forest Baptist Health

In Memory of Glen and Emma Davenport

The Jarrell Family

In Memory of Blanche Davis

The Jarrell Family

In Memory of Daylon Greene

Bob and Pam Peake

Sharon Thornburg

In Memory of Faye Jarrell

The Jarrell Family

In Memory of Fred and Cena Jarrell

The Jarrell Family

In Memory of Gray Jarrell

The Jarrell Family

In Memory of Kester Jarrell

The Jarrell Family

In Memory of Jeanette Kennedy

Stan and Shelia Wilson

In Memory of Lum and Lelia Snow

The Jarrell Family

In Memory of Richard Surratt

Ken and Barbara Nowlin

Sharon Thornburg

Mary Jo White

In Memory of Lee Thomas

Mary Jo White