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For the Week of November 28-December 5 
Vol. 9, Issue 43
Happy Thanksgiving!
From our family to yours, we want to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving! May your day be filled with warm food and warm family and friends!

Above all, may your day be filled with thanksgiving to our Creator for all the blessings he has given us this year.

See you all next week!

-Matt 
Thanksgiving
Join us here at Calvary for Thanksgiving!

OUR THANKSGIVING WORSHIP SERVICE will be held TODAY, Thursday, November 28 at 10:00 a.m. We will fill the Worship Center with songs of praise, thanksgiving and words of joy to our great and glorious God. Invite someone to join you and share God's indescribable gifts. We will receive a special offering of thanksgiving, the "Joash Chest" (see 2 Kings 12) for the building needs of Calvary Church. Prayerfully consider your thanksgiving gifts and how you can be a blessing to the ongoing work of Calvary again this Thanksgiving.
KidsLife December Calendar
Please note our unusual calendar this month for your kids aged 5 through 5th grade
 

December 1, NO LOFT (Thanksgiving Weekend)

 

December 8, LOFT  

 

December 15, NO LOFT, but meet for the Children's Christmas Musical at the 9:30 & 11 a.m. services

 

December 22, LOFT Christmas Celebration at 9:30 & 11:00

 

December 29, NO LOFT (Family Worship)  

Holiday Childcare Needed
Can you gift us your time this holiday season?
 

Please take time to consider serving during one of our Holiday events. You will be a blessing to all of the people who use our nurseries during the holidays. You can email your interest to Luz Lopez at luzl@calvaryop.org OR fill out a form on our website right here. 

Girls' Biddy Basketball
Are you in 4th-6th grade? Then join us!

Basketball is back again at Calvary Church! All girls in 4th-6th grades are welcome to join us. Practices are Thursday evenings beginning December 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. Games will be held on Saturday mornings starting in January through April. No prior basketball experience is needed! If you have any questions, please contact Paula Lenderink at plenderink@aol.com.
Girlfriends' Christmas Event
Get in the holiday spirit with this comedy show!

If there's anything the world could use more of today, it's laughter! Tracy DeGraaf, author of Laugh Anyway Mom, brings humor to the everyday trials and tribulations of life as a woman, wife, and mother of FIVE BOYS and she's coming to Calvary for the Girlfriends' Christmas event!

 

This newcomer is quickly making a name for herself. Lake Michigan Shore Magazine called her incredibly funny and named her one of "six Midwestern comedians who crack us up." Legendary comedian, actress, and fellow mother of five children, the late Phyllis Diller, said this about Tracy's book, "A funny book that will make you laugh, cry, and take life as it should be - with a grain of salt!"

 

Tracy's show is a delightful presentation of hilarious true stories about the ups and downs of being a woman ending with a tug on heartstrings that has left audiences both laughing and crying.  

 

The Girlfriends of Calvary Church will host DeGraaf's one-woman show, It's a Wonder-Full Life, Laugh Anyway, on Saturday, December 7. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 1 p.m.   

 

Seating is limited. Tickets are $12. The event will also include music, inspiration, and fellowship and is open to all women ages 18 and up. Advance tickets are recommended. Limited amount of tickets may be available at the door.  

 

For information and to register, visit our website at www.calvaryop.org/girlfriends/christmas. Have questions? Email us at girlfriends@calvaryop.org. 

Holiday Food Boxes
Help us make the holidays memorable for a family!

This year for the Holidays, we will once again be assembling and distributing food boxes to be given to needy families in our community. This will be done in conjunction with Calvary's Food Pantry.

 

The items STILL needed for each box are:

  • Canned Ham, 5 pound
  • $20 Gift Card from Jewel

YOU CAN HELP IN 3 WAYS:

 

1) Bring any of the items listed above. You can place them in the "Food Pantry" box near the Welcome Center, along with your regular donations to the Food Pantry.

 

2) Volunteer to help assemble the boxes. Please sign up on the volunteer list at the Welcome Center or you may call the church office at 708.429.2200 ext. 14, or e-mail to earl@calvaryop.org.

 

3) Volunteer to deliver boxes to families who need delivery. Please sign up on the volunteer list at the Welcome Center or you may call the church office at 708.429.2200 ext. 14, or e-mail to earl@calvaryop.org.

 

Boxes will be assembled on December 16 and distribution of boxes will begin on December 19.

Christmas Concert
Want to know what the concert is about?
 
It was a silent night like any other, when heaven sent the One, the one we will call our savior, and redemption begins, in a stable in Bethlehem. All of the angels lifted up their voices, and filled the night with Hallelujahs! God is with us now. Let us worship Christ, the Holy One, when hope came down! Join us for When Hope Came Down! The dates and the times are listed below.
Local Community News
Illiana Oratorio Society:    
The Illiana Oratorio Society is pleased to announce the performance of Mendlessohn's Messiah on Sunday, December 1 at 2 p.m. at First Christian Reformed Church (16248 South Park Ave, South Holland, IL). All are welcome to come celebrate the life of Christ with us during this Christmas season!

Christmastide at Trinity Christian College:    
Celebrate the season with us at Trinity Christian College! Come and enjoy a festival of music featuring more than 100 vocal and instrumental artists performing traditional Christmas songs, Gospel and choir music on Saturday, December 7 at 4 p.m. in the Ozinga Chapel Auditorium. Tickets are $12 for general admission and are on sale here. For more information, please call 708.597.3000.
  
Come to the Stable: A Concert     
Join us at Faith Church in Dyer, Indiana for a musical journey through the Christmas season with special guest Wayne Messmer and the Crown Point Christian Children's Choir! The concert will be held on December 5 and 6. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. You can pre-order tickets online for $15.50; otherwise tickets are $18 at the door. All children under 12 years of age are free! Get more information and tickets here. 

Your Kingdom Come Seminar:

Orland Park Christian Reformed Church is excited to announce that we will be hosting a two-day seminar with Rev. Ray Vander Laan on Friday, February 14, 2014 at 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The seminar is called Your Kingdom Come: The Ministry of Jesus in Its First Century Setting. During this seminar, Rev. Vander Laan will give us a greater understanding of the message of the Bible in light of its Jewish context. The conference will be held at OPCRC at 7500 W. Sycamore Dr., Orland Park, IL. To register, go to www.orlandchurch.com or contact Jan Kamp at 708-532-4900 or jank@opcrc.org.  

  

Faith CRC's Journey of Joy     
Faith Christian Reformed Church invites you to attend their 11th annual Journey of Joy. This live nativity will take place on Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8, from 1-6 p.m. All ages will enjoy the 45-minute guided tour through eight scenes (complete with live animals) leading up to the birth of Christ. Tours begin every 10 minutes. For shorter wait times, we suggest coming on Saturday. There is no charge for admission and this event is wheelchair accessible. Faith is located at 8383 W. 171st Street in Tinley Park. Call 708-532-8300 for more information.

  

Men of A-Chord

Come celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season with song! The Men of A-Chord cordially invites you to join them in A Festival of Nine Lessons in Carols for Christmastide on Saturday, December 7 at 7 p.m. at Munster Christian Reformed Church. Come join the singing with the Carols and Songs of the Season celebrating Christ's birth! Justin Rich is the director, Beverly Hoitsma is the pianist, and Nancy Venema is the organist. A freewill offering will be taken.

  

Camp Manitoqua News

Red Oak Luncheon for Seniors    

Enjoy a taste of fall at the Red Oak Luncheon, a pleasant occasion for seniors, at Camp Manitoqua & Retreat Center on Wednesday, December 4th. Coffee & rolls will be served at 10:30am. Our program will begin at 11:00am with lunch to follow at 12:00pm. Tours of the grounds will be available after lunch. Cost for the event is $10.00. Please make reservations at 815-469-2319 by November 30.

 

Fall Retreat Discounts 

Camp Manitoqua & Retreat Center's fall retreat season has begun. At this time, we are offering groups a 15% discount on any retreat booked for December 2013 or January 2014. Please contact Becky at 815.469.2319, or at becky@manitoqua.org for availability.

  

WinterBlast Day Camp  

Have a BLAST this winter break - Registration begins October 1st for our WinterBlast day camp program, a break from school, not from fun, at Camp Manitoqua and Retreat Center. Held during winter break for grades 1-5; featuring classic camp activities, winter snow games, hot lunches, and more. Additional information (including downloadable brochure) available at  www.manitoqua.org, or call our office at 815-469-2319.
In This Issue
Thanksgiving Services
Holiday Childcare
Girls' Biddy Basketball
Girlfriends' Christmas Event
Holiday Food Boxes
Children's Christmas Musical
Christmas Services
Local Community News
What's the What
This Week @ Calvary!

 

THURSDAY (11/28):

- 7:00 a.m.  Men's Barnabas Bible Study

- 10:00 a.m.   Thanksgiving Worship Service 

  

FRIDAY (11/29):

OFFICE CLOSED 

 

SATURDAY (11/30): 

- 5:00 p.m.  New Hope Fellowship Service

SUNDAY (12/1):
- 8:00 a.m.  Worship Service
- 9:30 a.m. Worship Service
- 9:30 & 11 a.m.  NO The Loft
- 9:30 a.m.  NO Jr. High CrossTraining
- 9:45 a.m.  Faith Foundations Bible Study
- 11:00 a.m.  Worship Service
- 1:00 p.m.  DivorceCare
- 7:00 p.m.  NO Sr. High XP 

 

MONDAY (12/2):      

- 9:30 a.m.  Girlfriends Bible Study (Chai With Malachi) 

- 7:00 p.m.  Girlfriends Bible Study (Nehemiah)

- 7:00 p.m.  New Hope 

    

TUESDAY (12/3):

- 6:00 p.m.  Praise Band Rehearsal

- 7:00 p.m.  Children's Musical Rehearsal

- 7:00 p.m.  Consistory Meeting 

  

WEDNESDAY (12/4):

- 9:30 a.m.  Coffee Break

- 10:30 a.m.  OK Club (offsite)

- 6:30 p.m.  Cadets

- 6:30 p.m.  The Hangout

- 7:00 p.m.  Choir Rehearsal 

 

THURSDAY (12/5):

- 7:00 a.m.  Men's Barnabas Bible Study

- 1:00 p.m.  Men's Bible Study

- 6:00 p.m.  Praise Band Rehearsal

- 6:00 p.m.  Girls Biddy Basketball

- 7:00 p.m.  Stephen Ministry

- 7:00 p.m.  NOAH (offsite) 

  

FRIDAY (12/6):

- 9:00 a.m.  Momtourage

 

SATURDAY (12/7): 

- 9:00 a.m.  Children's Musical Rehearsal
- 1:00 p.m.  Girlfriends Christmas Event
- 5:00 p.m.  New Hope Fellowship Service

sermon

NOAH
NOAH is Calvary's Young Adult Ministry, for anyone in their early 20's - mid-30's. We are not a singles ministry, but a ministry for anyone in that post-college age range looking for fellowship, spiritual growth, and a place to connect. In January, we will begin a new Bible Study on the book of Galatians, using a study guide by John MacArthur. We meet at 7:30 p.m. on the 1st, 3rd, and the occasional 5th Thursday of every month at someone's house. We also schedule social hangout times, so come on and join us if you're looking for a place to join! If you are interested, please contact Brian "Pills" Langeland at 708.502.2930 or at tobyspill

@yahoo.com.

Stitch 'n Time
This group meets monthly to get together to create and connect while knitting, stitching, crocheting and quilting along with conversation and friendship.

This is a note to say that we will NOT be meeting in the months of November and December. See you again in January!
Are You Praying Big For Your Child?
The KidsLife Ministry has a challenge for all parents: Pray Big for Your Child! This challenge is based on the book Pray Big for Your Child by Will Davis, Jr. 

  

Join in the conversation with all the parents who are doing the challenge right here.  

 

The books are available in our Revelations Bookstore. Pick up your copy. Questions? Email Tiffany at children

@calvaryop.org.  

Help Us Stock Our Food Pantry!

We ALWAYS have a need to keep our Food Pantry well-stocked. There is a bin in the foyer by the north doors where we accept donations. People are welcome to drop off donated food and items at any time.

 

You can download a full list of what we need to keep the Food Pantry well-stocked here! 

Senior Bible Study
Pastor Dave Van Kley invites you to join him on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. for a great Bible study on the book of Isaiah. So, if being a senior is a part of your description and you are looking to grow in your knowledge of God's Word, join us in room #210. Any questions contact Pastor Dave at davevk

@calvaryop.org or 708.429.2200 ext. 33. 

Prayer Opportunities
INTERNET INTERCESSORS:
Would you like a group of faithful people to pray for your concerns and joys? You can send an email directly to our email address at prayer@calvaryop.org and we will pray for you!
DivorceCare
DivorceCare is a special weekly video seminar and support group conducted by people who understand what you are experiencing. This support group will explore real world questions and answers on issues related to separation, divorce and remarriage, all presented in an easily understandable format. Most importantly, you'll learn how to deal with the pain of the past and look forward to rebuilding your life.

 

Our sessions are on Sundays at 1 p.m. in room 104. You can download our full schedule right here. Questions? Email Nancy Triezenberg at amera6@att.net. 

Coffee Break
Our popular Coffee Break Bible study for women meets on
Wednesdays at 9:30-11:00am. FREE childcare is available for kids 5 & under. We have an exciting year planned! For more information, please contact Jenny at coffeebreak
@calvaryop.org or visit their Facebook page here.