56 pancake dinners were served at the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on February 21st. Father Joel initiated the talent show with a slightly improved rendition of the same repertoire that he has performed on his guitar for the past five years. This broke the ice for jokes from Barry Phillips and John Vesecky. John Martin regaled us with songs by John Denver and Bob Dylan. Orville Canter was the newly discovered talent of the evening with his complex chord progression and arpeggio on the guitar. John Vesecky threatened to bring his ukulele next year.

Lots of fun, fellowship and food at Bingo Night on February 16th. A record number of gamers were present. Calvary parishioners were winners of some of the bigger games: Lucky Seven, Texas T and, Black Out. 

Prayers for The Great Litany were offered twice at Holy Eucharist on February 26th, once during Sunday School and once at the Monday Night Coffeehouse. The young people wrote their own supplications and prayers which included: “Help us to share our stuff with others:” “End war;” and “Help the poor” the response to each prayer was “Savior hear us!” About 25 people from the Monday Night Coffeehouse precessed around the church and city parking lot using the Elizabethan form of the Great Litany with an enthusiastic response to each petition: “Lord we beseech thee to hear us!” 

The Reverend Cathy Crow spoke at ECW on February 24th to a well attended luncheon. Cathy spoke on women of the early Church and was well received. Her talk complemented nicely a presentation made by Sarah Peterson last year at which she reflected on the lives of women in the Bible.

The Pilot Shelter Program at Calvary Church officially began on February13th. Monitors were trained and mattresses were procured. However, there were no guests forthcoming, due to a delay in the vetting process at the Homeless Service Center. We do have guests slated for March 5th with the Vestry also acknowledging the vetting of persons at the Monday Night Coffeehouse as also qualifying to stay at the shelter. 

For insightful understanding of the emerging church movement, all of Diana Butler Bass’ books are strongly recommended.  Many in the parish have already read Christianity for the Rest of Us. And some have read A People’s History of the Church as well as Imagining the New and Old Church.  Dr. Bass explores the recent phenomenon of the emerging church and historic church to discern the characteristics of growing, energized churches in complex cultural environments.

In their book The Hospitality of God, Bishops Mary Gray-Reeves and Michael Perham share their understanding of  emerging churches in the Anglican communion.  Specifically Bishops Mary and Michael investigated 16 emerging Anglican churches (8 in the UK and 8 in the United  States).  Their writings have been useful input for  the Committee on Growth (COG)

Bishop Ernest Shalita traces his life journey in his autobiography From Goatskin to Woolen Suit.  Bihsop Shalita was raised in a home without a wooden floor and was first sent to school with a goatskin as his only piece of clothing.  He would later be instrumental, as Dean of the Cathedral in Kampala, Uganda, in negotiating the difficult relationship between the Church of Uganda and the dictator Idi Amin.  Bishop Shalita witness phenomenal growth in the church.  In his diocese the number of churches grew from 3 congregations to over 140 churches during his ministry as bishop.  Bishop Shalita’s ministry has always placed a priority of reaching out to the marginalized in society.  Particularly significant was Bishop Shalita’s inclusion of Pygmy people into the life of the church and the building of orphanages and schools. All of these books will be available at our Coffee Hour book table.  See Al Reetz or Patrick Dexter.

Will and Cara Meyers, progeny of Dave and Alice sure succeeded in gaining the spotlight in this months’ Better Homes and Gardens!

We received an email from Bishop Shalita that he is feeling much stronger and thanks Calvary Church for their prayers.

Faustine Stasi was baptized on August 7^th at the 10:30 am Eucharist.

Bingo Night, August 19^th: A good start in what is believed to be the first ever Bingo night at Calvary Church.  We anticipate doing this again.  Fun was had by all.  The “big winners” for the evening  -- Joshua Reinke, Richard Enriquez, Faustine Stasi, Cathy Watson and Father Joel. No explanation was given as to why Josh and Richard who planned the event were also the biggest winners.  Hmmm???

Many have commented about the new candles in the church.  The candles are a memorial gift from Les Haber in memory of Candice Phillips.  In addition, there will be a tray of votive candles above the oblation table in Candice’s memory where prayers may be commemorated with the lighting of a candle. The new holders for the pavement candles in the chancel were also made by Les.  They provides a place for acolytes to set their torches during the liturgy (instead of having to go to the sacristy when they are needed).  They also enable us to observe the historic tradition in the church of lighting the pavement candles during the ministry of the word and then lighting the Eucharistic candles during Holy Communion.

COPA will launch a Stand Up and Take charge Campaign  (SUTC) on Sunday, September 18^th with the following components:

1. One Regional Agenda
2. A core leadership Team of 60-100
3. A Broad Leadership Team of 600-1000
4. A Consituency of 30,000 Voters
5. Proof of Voting on Election Day
6. Public Officials and power Broker commitment

Stand up and Take charge is a regional initiative of solidarity by COPA in preparation for the 2012 elections. COPA asks for Calvary’s support to promote social justice in the upcoming elections.

Returning Students at Calvary Episcopal Church:

Emma Brokaw -- Santa Cruz High School

Kelley Brokaw – University of Oregon Eva Canter

Eva Canter –  Westlake Elementary

Helen Canter – Westlake Elementary

Orville Canter – UCSC

Dominic Churchill – Aptos High School

Richard Enriquez –  UCSC

Julian Garcia - Scotts Valley High School

Jillian Gere – Bayview Elementary

Bobby Gere – Bayview Elementary

Molly Hansen – York School

Niels Hauksson – UCSC

Josef Miller – Cal Poly, Pomona

Rebecca Miller – Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Tobias Miller – Aptos High School

Griffen Morse – Westlake Elementary

Johanna Nickel – Arts Academy in San Francisco

Joshua Reinke – UCSC

Luke Smith -- Rio Del Mar Elementary

Savannah Smith – Aptos Jr. High School

Natalie Wyman – Soquel High School               

Dale Gray’s ashes we scattered at sea and prayers for his son Larry Gray were offered as both Dale and Larry were committed into God’s care aboard the Velocity on June 11^th.  The family held a lovely reception at Vi and Dale’s home following the Committal.

A bench, crafted by Jeff Chance, (Mr. Liann Chance) was dedicated at the pre-School.

Participation is welcome and encouraged in all parish ministries and committees. The following schedule is an invitation to congregational involvement and input in our parish life.  All are welcome to any or all committee meetings.  Please call the office if you have any questions regarding any ministry or parish committees at Calvary Church.

Buildings & Grounds: 1^st Saturday, 9:00 am

COG: 1^st Tuesday, 5:00 pm

Finance: 2^nd Tuesday, 3:00 pm

Fund-Raising: 1^st Tuesday, 10:00 am

Outreach: 2^nd Sunday, 12:00 after church

Parish Life: 2^nd Tuesday, 4:00 pm

Worship: 3^rd Friday, 3:00 pm

Stats from the Pews

Includes Saturday evening and Sunday services of Holy Eucharists and Offices of Prayer

Average Sunday Attendance and Revenues Comparison for July 2010 and 2011.

Average Sunday Attendance, July 2011 – 85

Average Sunday Attendance, July 2010 – 69

Revenues, July 2011 – $  22,417.00

Revenues July 2010 – $ 21,326.13

Budgeted Revenues July 2011 -  $ 21,422.00

Budgeted Revenues, July 2010 – $ 20,422.00

Expenses, July 2011 – $ 24,104.00

Expenses, July 2010 – $ 24,360.00

Budgeted Expenses, July 2011 – $ 24,267.00

Budgeted Expenses, July 2010 – $ 24,004.00

Year to Date Revenues 2011 – $ 156,421.00

Year to Date Revenues 2010 – $ 163,793.00

Year to Date Expenses 2011 – $ 172,388.00

Year to Date Expenses 2010 – $ 171,778.00

**Actual Year-to-Date Income/Expense Balance 2011 – $ - (15,966.00)

Actual Year-to-Date Income/Expense Balance 2010 –

$ - (7,985.00)

**Projected Year-to-Date Income/Expense Balance 2011 – $ - (13,630.00)

Projected Year-to-Date Income/Expense Balance 2010 – $ - (6,411.00)

*Attendance and revenue numbers are given for the month preceding the previous month in the Crossroads because balance sheets for the previous month are not available until after the Crossroads is published.

**We have included a comparison of actual and projected income/expense balances which are based upon data collected over the past several years

ECW Diocesan Luncheon: Sally Green was honored as Woman of the Year from Calvary Episcopal Church, and all enjoyed a luncheon menu prepared by the ECW ladies.  Proceeds went toward supporting the UTO Thanksgiving offerings.   This year some of the money raised went to purchase a four-wheel vehicle for the Diocese of Western Tanganika, our sister diocese to the Diocese of El Camino Real.