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This Sunday: Come Celebrate 100 Years of Calvary UMC!

Calvary celebrates a century of faith and friendship this year. We will be holding a special celebratory service on April 2nd, Palm Sunday. There will be one combined service at 11:00am featuring the new Bishop of the Virginia conference, Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson. Following service there will be a group photo in the Sanctuary and a special potluck celebration in Harris Hall. If you would like to sign up to help with the potluck click here.

Join Calvary for Worship:
Palm Sunday: Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson

Now as he was approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” - Luke 19: 37-38

On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem with Palm branches being waved and placed in his path to celebrate his arrival. We reenact this celebratory moment this Sunday by waving palms to welcome Jesus into our lives. Join us as we celebrate together the blessings Jesus has brought into our lives. 

New Hope is Blooming

Lord God,
We bring so much to lay at your feet,
Our prayers for ourselves and our neighbors,
Our laments when we are wrapped in despair and anxiety,
The hopes that drive us to bring transformation,
The past pains that make us fearful to move,
We come to you in our joy, and in our sadness,
Loving God, take our prayers, and work new life,
As we know that it is through Christ,
we emerge as a new creation,
Like a fresh bloom on a tree,
We await your transformative power in our lives,
Like a caterpillar creating a fresh cocoon,
In Christ name we pray,
Amen.
Photos: Katie Asalone

This Saturday: Community Pancake Breakfast Saturday

We promise this is not an elaborate April fools joke! Tomorrow, April 1st from 8:00 to 10:00am is the next community Pancake breakfast. There will be a special Easter guest attending (a certain famous bunny). Get some great breakfast staples with a $5 donation for adults and a $3 donation for kids. All proceeds of the breakfast go to local causes.

Reflection on 100 Years of Mission and Ministry

He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” -Matthew 13:31-32

On April 1st, 1923, a group of members from a rapidly growing Sunday School met to found Calvary Methodist Protestant Church. On the church's sixth birthday, the community was able to raise the funds to break ground for a Sanctuary building and parsonage on a south Arlington lot which was located on what is now the corner of 23rd Street and Grant. Created to serve the spiritual needs of a growing Arlington community, what began as a meeting of friends and family in a small 24 x 48 ft wooden building would grow into a ministry and community spanning 100 years. This Sunday we gather as an in person and virtual community spanning decades to celebrate the wonderful community of faith and friendship at Calvary brought together through the love of Jesus. We lift up together all the incredible people who helped make Calvary a welcoming beacon of light in Arlington. We also meet to recall how through the incredible love of Christ, even the smallest of seeds we plant now can grow into a powerful tree. Whether that small seed is choosing to take the time to meet with a couple of friends and share the bible on a Sunday or being willing to follow when we feel led by Jesus, all things are possible because Christ's love thrives.
-Evan Shively

Easter Helpers Needed

You may have heard in our announcements that Calvary will be hosting an Easter Egg hunt after both services on Easter! The Easter Bunny could use some extra helpers with filling Easter eggs with lots of delicious candy for the event!  If you would like to take some eggs home, fill them with wrapped candy and return them BEFORE Easter Sunday, please pick up your bag of 24 at the back of the sanctuary or inside the Grant St. main office door and drop them back off on or before April 7th. Questions? E-mail familyministries@calmeth.org

Day of Service, April 6th from 10am to 2pm

This opportunity is for pre-k through high school students to celebrate Holy Week through serving our church community. Activities are planned that provide opportunities for people to use their skills and learn new ones as well! Adult volunteers and parents are welcome to join in helping the students. The day of service will begin at 10am, and continue through our pizza lunch (provided) until 2pm. This is a free event, but please register! If students (or volunteers) are unable to stay the whole time, schedules can be accommodated. If you have any questions reach out to Beth at familyministries@calmeth.org.

Photo Fun from Our Lenten Paint and Sip

Visio Divina (latin for Divine Seeing) is a spiritual practice in which we use visual elements to set our hearts and minds on God. Last Wednesday, Calvary hosted a Lenten Paint and Sip evening in which Pastor Jan and Tom Patchen led us in some meditative painting. Pastor Matthew provided some excellent non-alcoholic mocktails to help bring some flair to the party. Take a look at these wonderful photos of the event taken by Pastor Jan.

Get Excited for Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson

As you made of heard, Virginia Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson will be preaching on April 2nd to honor Calvary's 100 years of ministry in South Arlington. Pictured above with Calvary's own Pastor Jan, the bishop is a major fan of NCAA Football and Basketball (I hope her bracket is okay) and all things Broadway. Bishop Sue is known for her missional focus, equipping and resourcing churches for ministry and helping them work together to reach their mission fields for Jesus Christ. Originally from Florida where she worked as a federal law clerk and litigator, the Bishop has served the UMC as district superintendent in Florida and Bishop of the North Georgia conference.

Blood Drive at Calvary on April 15th

The Mission Committee at Calvary will be hosting another blood drive to the Children's National Hospital on April 15th at Calvary UMC. To learn about the eligibility requirements for giving blood, click here. To sign up for the drive on the 15th, click here.
Community Prayer Corner
You can submit your prayer requests online via our Prayer Request Form or by emailing Pastor Jan.
We pray for:
  • Tara (Andrea Baumann's Daughter-in-law)
  • Marcia Schmitz.
  • Mark Solomons who is being treated for pancreatic cancer, and prayers for his family.
  • Jay Ray Davis, recovery from surgery
  • Karl Gustavson
  • Char Wallis
  • Eva Conner and Family
  • Terry Hall
  • Dougherty Family
  • Amanda Makhoul
  • Joseph Valentino Family
  • Corwyn Havermans
  • Chris Wiswell
  • Frank and Maryann Aversa.
  • Megan Kuhn
  • Ben Mosier – Father of Beth Hansen
  • Peter McLeod-Warrick (brother of Sarah Cromwell)
  • Jacob Cook
  • The Reale friends and family.
 
  • Professor Hughes Full Recovery.
  • Yuanxing Liu
  • Joan Cataldo
  • John Ashley, under treatment for prostate cancer.
  • MaryKay Polashek as she battles the late stages of ALS.
  • Frances Hudgins
  • Bonnie Crouch
  • Ellie Marshall, Nancy Fearheiley’s niece
  • Zackery Toto
  • Leigh
  • Victoria Perry
  • Melissa McLane and Family
  • Family of Tresja Denysenko
  • We pray for the Family and friends of Michael Lavalle, who recently passed away.
  • Mollie Downey Scalfaro’s Husband, as he battles cancer
  • Cindy Lerston.
  • Logan for a complete recovery from a spinal injury
  • Covenant school and all victims of violence.

Connect with Calvary

Church Office: 703-892-5185
Senior Pastor: Rev. Matthew Smith
Associate Pastor: Jan Phillips
Church Administrator/Director of Communications: Evan Shively
Organist: Dennis Thorp
Family Ministries Director: Beth Posey
Nursery Supervisor / Youth Assistant: Christy Harvey
Financial Administrator: Lisa Reppert
AV Specialist: Anthony Brooks
Lay Leader: Jenny Sammis
Church Council Chair: Stephanie King

Giving to Calvary is easy, you can text "give" to 703-936-2684, set up one-time or recurring gifts online, or mail your contributions to the church. 
The pancake breakfast is one of many Calvary traditions starting in 1960. The above image is from an extensive manual from the 1980s on how to properly conduct this breakfast.  -Evan
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2315 South Grant Street, Arlington, VA 22202
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