April 2015
Vol. 20 No. 4
Connections
A Publication of Calvary Baptist Church
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE
At 7:00pm on Friday, April 3, Calvary will again be hosting a
Good Friday worship service jointly sponsored by six Baptist
churches in Cedar Rapids and Marion. Childcare will be
available for children 4 years old and younger.
RESURRECTION CELEBRATION
The Apostle Paul wrote to the
believers in Corinth, “If Christ has
not been raised, your faith is
futile; you are still in your
sins…But Christ has indeed been
raised from the dead” (1
Corinthians 15:17, 20).
There is no greater reason for
rejoicing than the resurrection of
Jesus Christ, which proved His
identity as the Son of God and
verified the acceptance of His
substitutionary sacrifice for our
sins. Come join the celebration at
Calvary Baptist Church on Easter morning, April 5. Since many
people who don’t normally attend church are more open to
doing so on Easter, make a special effort to invite friends and
family members to join you that morning.
EASTER OFFERING
If you would like to give a special gift to the Lord in joyful
celebration of His victorious resurrection, please use an
envelope marked “Easter Offering.”These gifts
have been designated to help support a mission
team of about a dozen young people coming to
Cedar Rapids from The Beautiful Baptist
Church of Tecate, Mexico. From July 24-31, we
will be partnering with them in outreach to the
Hispanic community of our city along with
other service projects.
MOODY FOUNDERS WEEK HIGHLIGHTS
This year’s February conference theme at Moody Bible Institute
in Chicago was “Running the Race.”We are designating two
Sunday evenings (6:00-7:15) to watch video of messages by
some great Bible teachers and then discuss the biblical truths
presented and their application for our lives. We will hear from
Dr. Erwin Lutzer (April 12) and Voddie Baucham (April 26).
ANNUAL MINISTRY UPDATE
Our Annual Ministry Update will be at 6:00pm on Sunday,
April 19. We encourage every member to participate in this
important meeting, as we seek the Lord’s wisdom in the
accomplishment of His work and the stewardship of His
resources at Calvary.
NEW LED CHURCH SIGN PRESENTATION
For the last four months, a sign committee of 7 men (Tim
Abodeely, Garth Horning, Jay Jentink, Jack Lindstrom, Jim
Maatta, Charles Seamans, and Carl Vogeler) have been
researching companies and meeting biweekly to discuss what
LED church sign would be the best option to pursue as a
possible outreach tool for our church. They will be bringing
their proposal to the congregation for discussion and a vote at
the annual meeting on April 19 at 6:00 PM. Please mark this
date on your calendar so we can have input from the majority of
our Calvary members.
COMPASSION SUNDAY
During the morning service on Sunday, April 26, we will take a
few minutes to feature Compassion Sunday. This is a national
event sponsored by Compassion International that helps us grow
in our understanding of
God’s very special love
for the poor. It’s also an
opportunity for each of
us to give hope to at
least one child who
needs help to escape
from poverty through
the loving intervention
of a Christ-centered
program run by a local church in their neighborhood. Packets
will be available showing boys and girls who need a sponsor right
now. For more information, contact Nora Whitney
([email protected] or 651-999-9326) or visit
CompassionSunday.com.
PARENT-CHILD DEDICATION CEREMONY
A parent-child dedication ceremony is planned for the Sunday
morning worship service on Mother’s Day, May 10. If you
would like to participate in this public expression of your
commitment to “bring them up in the training and instruction of
the Lord,” please notify the church office by Sunday, May 3.
April 2015
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
9:00am Staff Prayer
9:15am BSF
6:30pm Awana,
Youth Groups, and
Adult Prayer
Thursday
2
6:00am
Men’s Small Group
10:00am Heart
Connections Small
Group
Friday
3
Saturday
4
9:00am-1:00pm
Basketball League
7:00pm
Good Friday
Service
7:00pm Heart
Connections Small
Group
5 Easter
6
7
9:00am
9:00am
10:00am
10:30am
6:00pm
Monday Night
Moms (MNMs)
9:15am MOPS
Sunday School (Children/Youth)
Adult Bible Classes (ABC’s)
Inner Mission
Resurrection Celebration
No Evening Church Activities
7:00pm
Men’s Small Group
12
13
9:00am
9:00am
10:00am
10:30am
Sunday School (Children/Youth)
Adult Bible Classes (ABC’s)
Inner Mission
Worship Service (Communion)
4:30pm Calvary Choir
6:00pm Sonshine Singers
6:00pm Dr. Erwin Lutzer Video and
Discussion
19
9:00am
9:00am
10:00am
10:30am
4:30pm Calvary Choir
6:00pm Sonshine Singers
6:00pm Annual Ministry Update
26
9:00am
9:00am
10:00am
10:30am
6:00pm
Monday Night
Moms (MNMs)
7:00pm
Men’s Small Group
27
Sunday School (Children/Youth)
Adult Bible Classes (ABC’s)
Inner Mission
Worship Service
4:30pm Calvary Choir
6:00pm Sonshine Singers
6:00pm Voddie Baucham Video and
Discussion
7:30pm Heart
Connections Small
Group
6:30pm Awana,
Youth Groups, and
Adult Prayer
14
15
7:00pm Committee
and Ministry Team
Meetings
6:30pm Awana,
Youth Groups, and
Adult Prayer
9:00am Staff Prayer
9:15am BSF
16
6:00am
Men’s Small Group
23
9:00am Staff Prayer
9:15am BSF
6:00am
Men’s Small Group
28
2:00pm Red Cedar
Chamber
7:30pm Heart
Connections Small
Group
6:30pm Awana,
Youth Groups, and
Adult Prayer
10:00am Heart
Connections Small
Group
7:00pm Heart
Connections Small
Group
29
30
9:00am Staff Prayer
9:15am BSF
6:00am
Men’s Small Group
6:30pm Awana,
Youth Groups, and
Adult Prayer
10:00am-3:00pm
Positive
Impressions
17
18
10:00am Heart
Connections Small
Group
22
7:30pm Heart
Connections Small
Group
11
9:00am-1:00pm
Basketball League
7:00pm Heart
Connections Small
Group
21
7:00pm Board of
Deacons Meeting
10
10:00am Heart
Connections Small
Group
9:15am MOPS
12:00 (Noon)
Salt & Pepper Club
7:00pm
Men’s Small Group
9
6:00am
Men’s Small Group
7:00pm Heart
Connections Small
Group
7:30pm Heart
Connections Small
Group
20
Sunday School (Children/Youth0
Adult Bible Classes (ABC’s)
Inner Mission
Worship Service
9:00am Staff Prayer
9:15am BSF
7:00pm Board of
Deacons Meeting
6:30pm
Ladies Night Out
7:00pm
Men’s Small Group
8
10:00am Heart
Connections Small
Group
7:00pm Heart
Connections Large
Group (Church
Library)
8:00pm
Awana Boys
Overnighter
24
25
7:30am-3:30pm
Church Bus
Leaving for Spring
Work Day at
Spring Valley
Bible Camp
9:00am-2:30pm
“His Women”
Seminar
Family Forum
BABY NEWS
Congratulations to Garth & Jaylene Horning on the birth of
their son, Sören Matthäus, who was born on March 21. He
weighed 5lbs, 11oz.
CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY
We extend our sympathy to Jay & Donna Jentink and family
on the death of Jay’s aunt, Arlene Katuin, who went home to
be with the Lord on March 9.
We extend our sympathy to Nick & Catherine Abodeely and
family on the death of Nick’s sister, Alice Scollon, who
passed away on March 22.
MISSION CONFERENCE LOVE OFFERING
You have done it again! The offering for our missionaries at
the conference was $6,471. We sent this directly to each of the
missionaries. What a wonderful way to show you care.
EXPRESSIONS OF APPRECIATION
Once again, thanks so much for the music CD. As I look at my
music selection, I realize that many of them have been gifts
from you (Calvary) over the years. Thank you for your
thoughtfulness. Thanks for your prayers,
Cheri Geise
Your generosity in opening your facilities to Bible Study
Fellowship is greatly appreciated. We want to thank you and
your congregation for hosting BSF for the 2014-2015 class
year. We count it a privilege to share with you in the Lord’s
service.
The vision of Bible Study Fellowship is to teach the Bible
and train leaders for the church. Your participation and
support encourages us as we continue in this ministry. We
rejoice when we hear of lives that have been transformed
through the study of God’s Word, and we know you do as
well. We also rejoice as recent surveys reveal that 80% of BSF
class members serve in their local church and 40% of BSF
class members serve their church in teaching or leadership
roles.
Our study for 2015-2016 is Revelation. We appreciate your
prayers as we launch this new study and prepare for increased
enrollment in our classes. The teaching leader of the class
meeting in your church will work with you to answer your
questions regarding the study and discuss any issues that arise
as the class enrollment expands. It is our prayer that this study
exalts Christ as we await His glorious return.
We pray that you and your church will be greatly used in
the ministry God has given you. May God, by His power,
fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by
your faith.
For the fame of Christ in the nations,
Susan C. Rowan, Executive Director
SAVE THE DATE
Pastor Jay and Donna joyfully announce the engagement of
their daughter, Jamie Marie, to Joseph Arellanes. The wedding
is planned for Saturday, August 22, at Calvary Church. Please
look for your personal invitation to arrive in July.
LIBRARY NEWS
Val Vogeler offers the following thoughts about a book from
the church library that she read recently.
Just as Israel is unrepentant in
the book of Hosea, so too is
Angel unrepentant in
Francine River’s Redeeming
Love. Yet as God continues
to love Israel, so too does
Michael continue to love the
prostitute, Angel, and
eventually take her as his bride.
Set in California in the mid-1800’s, much of the book
portrays Angel’s rebellion against God and also against
the man, Michael, who is drawn to Angel because of
God’s continual nudging of him to love Angel.
There were times I grew tired of the author’s
continual replaying of Angel’s waywardness. Then I
was reminded that I am like Angel, a recipient of His
ongoing redeeming love and a continually rebellious
sinner in need of His amazing grace.
I suggest you will find this to be a book that will
cause you to reflect upon God’s redeeming love for
you in your own waywardness.
Due to the nature of the story, this book is bettersuited for young adult or adult readers.
Here are some more books that have been added to our library.
Defending the Faith (Apologetics):
 When Skeptics Ask by Norman Geisler and Ronald
Brooks
 The Battle for the Beginning by John MacArthur
 New Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh
McDowell
 The Battle for Truth by David A. Noebel
 Refuting Compromise by Jonathan Sarfati
 Refuting Evolution 2 by Jonathan Sarfati
Adult Fiction:
 Intervention by Terri Blackstock
 Undetected by Dee Henderson
 Unspoken by Dee Henderson
 The Brotherhood by Jerry B. Jenkins
 The Betrayal by Jerry B. Jenkins
 The Breakthrough by Jerry B. Jenkins
 Riven by Jerry B. Jenkins
 Illusion by Frank Peretti
 The Visitation by Frank Peretti
Children’s Fiction:
 Panic at Emu Flat by Robert Elmer (part of the
Adventures Down Under Series)
 Wind Chill by Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry (part of
the Red Rock Mysteries)
 Dead End by Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry (part of
the Red Rock Mysteries)
Upcoming Activities
WORK DAY AT SPRING VALLEY
A spring work day is planned for April 25 at Spring Valley
Bible Camp. Reserve that day to go down and help get the
camp ready for another busy summer of life-changing
ministry. Watch for more details in the coming weeks.
The church bus will be leaving at 7:30am traveling to Spring
Valley Bible Camp in Muscatine. Contact Pastor Matt for
more information.
SALT & PEPPER CLUB
Tuesday, April 28, 12:00 noon, prior to our concert by the Red
Cedar Chamber from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, we will have a
spaghetti lunch catered by Zio Johno’s. Remember the time
change--12:00 noon for our lunch.
ZAP! POW! ZOWEE!
The Agape League superheroes are
coming to Calvary. You won’t want to
miss it! Mark your calendars for Sunday
evening, May 17, and plan to come learn
from the Sonshine Singers about the
supernatural fruit God can produce in
your life.
VERB226 FAMILY CAMP
(Spring Valley Bible Camp in Muscatine, IA)
July 31-August 2
When your kids come home from camp, do you ever find
yourself wishing you could have come to camp with them?
Are you looking for something fun to do with your family?
This is your chance! We are excited to invite you to our first
VERB226 Family Camp. Proverbs 22:6 says “Train a child in
the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from
it.” We want to provide an opportunity for families to
experience camp together; worshipping and learning about
God together and being in fellowship with other Christian
families. Families will be challenged to “DO SOMETHING”
with their faith following the theme for the youth summer
camps found in James 1:22, “Do not merely listen to the word
and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
(Registration forms for Spring Valley Bible Camp VERB226
Family Camp are at Welcome Center.)
ATTENTION LADIES
Next year Bible Study Fellowship, BSF, will be studying the
book of Revelation for the first time. If you would like to
attend, you will need to register at one of the April meetings
on Wednesday mornings. They begin at 9:15am. You can
register in September, but you take the chance of being on a
waiting list, as many people are expected to attend.
Red Cedar Trio members flutist Jan Boland, guitarist John
Dowdall and cellist Carey Bostian perform live chamber
music to accompany silent films from The Brinton Silent Film
Collection, "an exceptionally rare, perhaps unique, collection"
of silent films from 1895-1910, owned by historian Michael
Zahs. Michael will be on hand to discuss the films, which
offer an amazing look at the very beginnings of the film
industry. A new commission by Harvey Sollberger,
arrangements by Boland and Dowdall, and music from Red
Cedar Chamber Music's repertory complement these rare
films, which include comedy, drama, special effects, foreign
scenes and magic by Georges Melies, whose life story was
featured in the film Hugo.
This concert is sponsored by the AEGON Transamerica
Foundation with additional support from the William P
Whipple Fund of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community
Foundation, and Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust. Supported by
Funds for the Community of the Greater Cedar Rapids
Community Foundation.
Please invite your friends to this interesting and free concert. It
would be great to have a good number attending this special
Red Cedar Chamber group performance. For information:
Nadene Roberts or Marilyn Seamans.
April Birthdays
1 Miriam Pettit
3 Darlene Pruett
Mary Young
5 Eric Wienola
6 Terry Potter
8 Catherine Abodeely
Emily Winchester
Tevin Slippy
9 Terese Patton
10 George Goodwin, Sr
Norah Noel Blanchett
12 Bob Kaufman
15 Pam Winchester
16 Keri Howard
17 Kristen Kasner
Annika Horning
19 Leatte Allen
Tim Jacobs
DeAnn Reeves
20 Izzabelle Mae Hoy
Petrina Johnson
21 Eliana Johnson
22 Rick Nelson
23 Kathy Kaufman
24 Sandy Lewis
Teresa Hanna
Elisabeth Stultz
25
27
28
29
George Goodwin, Jr
Timothy Pettit
Samantha Nelson
Joey Barker
Dane Eiselstein
David Chung
30 Jay Jentink
Connections (USPS 086-000)
Published monthly by
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH
5338 Johnson Avenue SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319) 396-3233
Periodicals
Postage Paid at
Cedar Rapids, IA
(Periodicals Postage Paid at Cedar Rapids, IA)
POSTMASTER: send address changes to Connections,
5338 Johnson Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404.
Upcoming Activities
POSITIVE IMPRESSIONS
Positive Impressions is scheduled for Saturday, April 11,
10:00am–3:00pm in Room #23/24. Invite your friends to join
you in creating with rubber stamps or working on some other
favorite craft project. This is an enjoyable and non-threatening
way to spend time developing relationships and building
bridges in order to make a positive impression for Christ on
your unsaved friends and family members. Even the greeting
cards or other crafts that you create for other people can be
beneficial in making a positive impression on their lives. If
you plan to attend, please RSVP to Kim Nelson (364-6647)
and bring a snack or drink to share with the group.
LADIES NIGHT OUT
Ladies Night Out is for all ladies in the church and they are
welcome to invite friends as well. We will be meeting on
Monday, April 13 at 6:30pm at Carlos O’Kellys on Edgewood
Rd SW, Cedar Rapids. If you plan on attending, please call
Debbie Gaeta (396-7976) or e-mail [email protected] so she will
know how many will be attending. If you want to come but
need a ride, please let Debbie know and she will arrange for
someone to pick you up.
“HIS WOMEN” SEMINAR
Saturday, April 25, 9:00am-2:30pm
Double Tree Hotel by Hilton, Downtown Cedar Rapids
Admission: $40.00 (includes luncheon)
Speaker: Angie Smith
Music: Nicol Sponberg
Theme: Your Life Matters
For tickets and information, please call Judy Fields (393-2420).
“IRON SHARPENS IRON” MEN’S CONFERENCE
The “Iron Sharpens Iron” men’s conference comes to Cedar
Rapids Saturday, May 2, 8:30am – 4:55pm. First Assembly of
God will host this special event for guys ages 13 and older.
Informational brochures are available at the Welcome
Center. Registration price is $44 per person, assuming we
will have a group of 10 or more. Young men (ages 13–22)
who are in school full time register at the student discount
price of $29. If you would like an on-site lunch, add $8, for a
total of $52 ($37 for students). Checks should be made
payable to Calvary Baptist Church. Sign up at the Welcome
Center or contact the church office (396-3233 or
[email protected]). The group registration deadline is
April 19. Don’t miss out on this special day for guys!