Val Funk is retiring after serving as Calvary's Kid Connections Preschool Director for 18 years. During Val's tenure the preschool grew from two to eight classes which has allowed Calvary to reach and impact more families. Kid Connections has continually met NAEYC licensing standards each year and has transitioned from being a ministry hosted at Calvary to a full ministry of Calvary UMC. Val has assembled an excellent preschool teaching staff and has represented Calvary Kid Connections well as a keynote speaker for Early Childhood Conventions. Most importantly, Val has shown God's love and care to numerous children and families over the years. Please extend your gratitude and congratulations to Val as she retires.

The Backpack Ministry would like to thank the congregation for their generous food donations for the food bags that were delivered to Parkside Elementary School this month. We were able to distribute 2 jars of peanut butter to each of our 100 students along with numerous extra microwavable meals and peanut butter crackers. The bags we sent this month for the students were full beyond measure and took extra trips to the school to deliver. What a blessing! Also, a big thank you to those that have come out this year to help with packing of the bags. Whether you came out once or each month your help is appreciated more than you can imagine. We also hope a little fun was had along the way.

Calling all graduating high school seniors! Please submit a video to Erin Scott to be shared during the services on Sunday, May 26. 
Video requirements: 

• Your name

• The school you are graduating from

• Plans after graduation (travel/work/college and/or major)

• Favorite memory while attending Calvary or a scripture that is meaningful to you right now. 

• Film in landscape/horizontal. 

• Email or text (309)434-3226 to Erin by Wednesday May 15. 

We are so proud of you and want to celebrate you!

Have you been attending Calvary for some time and feel ready to take a next step in your faith or your connection here? Have you recently joined Calvary and find that you would like to explore ways to go deeper in that connection?
Pastor Vince Rohn will be leading a New Members Class on Sunday, May 19 from 5-7:30 p.m., with a light meal provided. Pastor Vince will share about the Christian faith, United Methodism, life at Calvary UMC, and what the expectations are of church members as compared to attenders and others. Feel free to contact Pastor Vince for more information at vince.rohn@connectwithcalvary.org or visit this link to sign up.

The Chosen Bible Study
The Chosen is a groundbreaking historical drama based on the life of Jesus Christ, seen through the eyes of those who knew him. Set against the backdrop of Roman oppression in first-century Israel, the seven-season show shares an authentic and intimate look at Jesus’ revolutionary life and teachings.
Starting Monday, May 13 1-3 p.m. in room 111, join us for a 9 week study. Beginning with season one, view each episode and follow along with the book that parallels each episode, connecting readers to the Bible in a brand-new way. You can purchase the book online here.
For more information or to show your interest in participation, please contact Sharyl Jennings at singitsharyl@hotmail.com.

See what you missed at the informational meeting regarding the UMC General Conference.

Faith in Action has over 520 care receivers and about 475 volunteers. In addition to rides for medical appointments, services include grocery shopping assistance, friendly visits and calls, light home maintenance. If you need help or would like to volunteer, contact www.bnfia.org.

In addition we have trips that are scheduled. Beautiful Vermont is scheduled for October 6-12, 2024. $1290/per person. Pigeon Forge and Smoky Mountains Show Trip is planned for December 2-7, 2024 $955/per person. These are wonderful bus trips! For more information see: www.GroupTrips.com/FaithinAction.

It's time to Start the Party and register for VBS! Calvary's VBS will take place July 15-18, 2024 from 6-8 p.m. each evening. Kids who are age 4 or older by Sept 1, 2024 are invited to participate. Adults and students who have completed 6th grade by June 2024 are invited to volunteer.
Kids will have a terrific time traveling through rotations of Bible Adventures, Games, Projects, Small groups (with a snack), and Music. Please register by June 19.
Do you have questions or want to be involved but aren't sure how? Contact Lori Short. All are welcome to join the party and celebrate the Good News!

DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MINISTRIES

Calvary United Methodist Church is seeking a full time Director of Student Ministries to provide leadership, vision, and specific programs for the church’s youth ministries (grades 6-12).

Responsibilities include planning, coordinating and leading ministry activities such as Sunday School, weekly youth gatherings, mission and retreat trips, community service opportunities, and special events for students. 

Qualifications: Strong faith in Jesus Christ; the ability to communicate the Christian faith with youth in a way that encourages commitment and discipleship; ability to recruit and train volunteers; organizational skills; self starter who can also work as a part of a team; familiarity with United Methodist teachings. Ministry experience and/or a pertinent degree are strongly preferred.

Interested parties should send resume and cover letter to Rev. Vince Rohn; 1700 N Towanda Ave. Normal, IL 61761

We completed our first mat, added another loom, and we now have our own room!! Come join us for a weaving session in room L8.  Weaving sessions are held on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 10 a.m. to noon, and on the 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month from 2 to 4 p.m.

For more information, contact Sandy Dickson (309) 825-1148.

Greetings, all. We have once again heard that an email has gone out alleging to be from Pastor Vince Rohn. The first email is an invitation asking for a quick favor or conversation, followed by a request to buy gift cards on his behalf with a promise of repayment. This and all requests such as this are scams. If you receive an email claiming to be from Pastor Vince or any other staff member that is not from an official church email, it should be treated with great suspicion if not completely disregarded. Also, neither Pastor Vince nor any other staff member will request a vague purchase via email. 

Enrollment is open for Calvary Kid Connections preschool school year that begins August 2024. Information regarding class time, days of attendance & cost per month are on the main Calvary website under the preschool tab.
Calvary Kid Connections preschool is a Nationally accredited preschool. If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact Val Funk at val.funk@connectwithcalvary.org. We would love to have your child join us this fall!

Calvary has partnered with the Salvation Army to minister to the needs of Bloomington-Normal's homeless community for several decades. Our current commitment is feeding evening meals to clients at their Safe Harbor Shelter in downtown Bloomington on the first and third Fridays each month. This commitment involves planning and shopping for the meal, preparing the meal in Safe Harbor's kitchen or catering it in from a licensed restaurant or caterer, and serving the meal. Folks at Safe Harbor do all the clean-up. We have many families and small groups that faithfully participate in this ministry each year, and would love to welcome more to our ranks. If your small group, family, or you and a few friends or coworkers can help out with a meal or two a year, contact Ralph Smith at ralph@resmith61.com to sign up or get more information.

Are you a caregiver, family member, or friend of someone with dementia? If so, you are invited – and encouraged – to attend the Alzheimer’s support group. The mission of this group is to provide education and support to caregivers and loved ones. Please note that it is not designed for those with dementia. Meetings are held in Calvary’s conference room on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

Facilitators are Mary Sanko and Lurinda Venezia.

Prayer is a fundamental part of the Christian faith and is a strength of Calvary. Calvary’s prayer team invites you to join us in the chapel between services for a focused time of prayer for:

• Our church

• Our staff

• Specific prayer requests that have been submitted to Calvary

• Any other needs.

You may come for the full 30 minutes or join us for just a few minutes.  You can come every week or just when you are moved to do so.  Also, if you feel called to join the Prayer Team on a regular basis, please contact Nancy Behrens nbehrens7@gmail.com, as we would like to grow this ministry.

Calvary’s Prayer Team

In his sermon "Living Beyond: Beyond Me," Pastor Vince spoke of the importance of knowing our Spiritual Gifts so we can be the person God created us to be. God desires us to live as a part of something bigger than us and beyond ourselves, equipping us for ministry and service to the church and the world. 
If you haven't completed one before (or it's been a while), a Spiritual Gifts Inventory is a great place to start.