Holy Cross Christmas Bazaar
Christian Growth Ministry Team Christmas Giving Tree
Christian Growth Ministry Team Christmas Giving Tree will be for the students and families at Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Giving Tree will be for Gift Cards that will be given to students at the Seminary’s Christmas Marketplace event that will take place before the students leave on Christmas vacation in early December. On the Giving Tree will be Christmas Trees with an amount of a gift card in amounts of $10.00, $20.00 or $25.00. These gift cards can be from the following stores or restaurants: Meijer, Walmart, Applebee’s, Subway, McDonald’s, Wendy’s or Burger King. Gas cards can be from Meijer, Marathon or Speedway for $25.00. These gifts encourage the students and bring joy to them, making the holidays happy for them in many ways.
Baby Quilts for Seminary Families—Is there is anyone in Mount Calvary that makes baby quilts? The Fort Wayne Seminary welcome quilts to give to students who have babies while at the Seminary or on Vicarage to welcome a new member of the family. Please let the Christian Growth Ministry Team know that you are going to donate a quilt so that it can be delivered to the Food Bank when the gift cards are delivered.
Thank you for considering a gift for Concordia Seminary in Fort Wayne.
60th Anniversary of Ordination
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church will celebrate 60 years of ministry for Rev. Donald Veitengruber Sunday, October 13 during the 9:30 am worship service and a reception afterward. Pastor Veitengruber and his wife, Deanna (“Dee”), moved to Greenville in 2001 after his retirement and joined Mount Calvary, becoming beloved members of the congregation. Although “retired” they still play an active role in the congregation and in the community! Rev. Veitengruber always wanted to be a pastor, following the example of an uncle, so he attended Lutheran schools in Wisconsin, the Senior College in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He served a year of vicarage in Caracas, Venezuela, where he polished his Spanish language skills, which still serve him today as he tutors area Spanish-speaking students and others in literacy. Returning from vicarage and completing another year at Concordia, he graduated from the seminary in May,
1963 — and the very next day, June 1st, he and Dee were married, so Sunday’s event celebrates both his ministry and their marriage! He continued his studies another year to obtain his Master’s degree. Rev. Veitengruber was ordained and installed at Bethany Lutheran Church in Eldon, Missouri July 12, 1964 and served there until 1968 when he was called to serve St. Peter Lutheran Church in Caseyville, Illinois, near East St. Louis. He pastored there for 14 years until 1982 when he was called to St. John Lutheran Church in Port Sanilac, Michigan. In all communities where they lived, Dee has been involved in thrift stores, food pantries and other ministries in the church and area, while also caring for their family. Don pastored in Port Sanilac for 18 years until he retired in 2000. While there he was a member of the Port Sanilac Lions Club where he served as president and zone chairman. Since retiring here to Greenville in 2001, he continues to be active with the local Lions Club. He served his country, as well as his Lord, by providing spiritual support as a Chaplain in the Illinois National Guard for several years and then transferred to the Army Reserves serving in Illinois, Missouri and Michigan in various units. Commissioned while a seminary student, he retired in 1991 after 32 years of commissioned service, and is a member of the Reserve Officer Association. Here at Mount Calvary, Pastor Don has been the weekly Lifelight Bible Class leader for many years. The class numbers about 30 folks, including several from other churches and denominations. He also enjoys gardening and is often found at church trimming bushes or pulling weeds.
Dee has always been supportive of all of Dons activities, while herself being active in Lutheran Women in Mission and MOST ministries, travelling abroad to many places with eyeglass or Vacation Bible School missions. She has also served on the board and as a volunteer at the Greenville Ecumenical Food Mission for many years. At Mount Calvary she is active in planning and carrying out a variety of activities to enrich our church life. Dee has served as the church organist for many years and her musical talents at the organ, keyboard and with our Praise Team are much appreciated though she is looking forward to a time when she can take a bit of a rest from them. Mount Calvary is so blessed to have Pastor Don and Dee Veitengruber in our midst for 23 years and counting and we praise God and thank them for all the love and inspiration they give to us. The public is invited to join in the celebration Sunday. Mount Calvary is located at 908 West Oak Street in Greenville, near the hospital
Family Bible Journey Podcast
Our 2023 GEM’s
Recognition of our Members that Are 80+ God’s Elegant Mature Seniors
Mt. Calvary has a new Pastor
How will God give us our new Pastor? Wonderfully!
After several call attempts were declined feelings of discouragement and frustration challenged our optimism. Yet our heavenly Father had a better plan all along. Mt Calvary was not going to have a single pastor to meet all our needs. God’s plan was for even more than that!
During our vacancy we have been blessed with the service of Pastor Rob Appold. Pastor Rob’s service has been so appreciated and enlightening and comforting it would be sad to see him go when another pastor finally answered the call. So, God sent Pastor Dan Lepley AND made a way to also have Pastor Rob continue service to Mt Calvary.
Mt Calvary Lutheran Church of Greenville welcomes Pastor Dan Lepley, our new senior pastor and Pastor Rob Appold, our pastor Emeritus. Pastor Dan and Rob are already working together to provide for all our congregation needs each day the Lord has made. We have much in which to be glad. And a huge thanks to all who offered prayers during our transition. May we always trust in the Lord, He will never fail to amaze us with His grace, mercy and love!
Pastor Profile Summary
This is our congregational call statement: “He will be a leader who can build consensus among the congregation and lead them out into the community to build relationships. Mount Calvary is looking for a pastor who is creative and willing to work in the community. He will be able to reach across all ages to engage them in the life of the church. He will be open and able to do both traditional and contemporary worship. He will be a good teacher. He will also take time to visit the sick and shut-ins. He should be approachable and have a good sense of humor.” This has been achieved.
HISTORY OF MOUNT CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH OF GREENVILLE MICHIGAN
Serving Christ and Community since 1951
GREENVILLE GOSPEL PERFORMANCE
The GloryWay Quartet
Kids Against Hunger 2019
Kids Against Hunger food packaging, equivalent to 16,000 meals. Great turnout of volunteers from Greenville Area congregations, Saturday, Nov. 2!
Packaging these nutritious bags of food for up to two hours (10a-12p) requires 5 tables (10 persons per table) for every 10,000 meals. As in the past, we can package up to 20,000 meals with 10 tables, requiring approximately 100 volunteers. This equates to a cost for food supplies of about $500 per table (2000 meals packaged per table). Donations to our Benevolence Fund are most welcome to help pay for a table of volunteers. We’re thankful to Thrivent Financial for their commitment to this year’s event! Pastor Jeff
Spoke Folk Pictures
Mount Calvary will host a traveling Spoke Folk team of bicycling youth and adults from all over the country who share Christian messages of Good News and encouragement through a program of music, skits and puppetry engaging all ages. Our goal is to also have a bicycle safety fair. Volunteers will work together to welcome and support the Spoke Folk team as they develop relationships and share the Gospel with our congregation and the community.
A “Spoke Folk” Festival will be held at Mount Calvary, Greenville, Monday, July 22, beginning at 4:00 pm. “SpokeFolk” consists of a team of bicycling high school and college youth and adults from all over the country who share Christian messages of Good News and encouragement through a program of music, drama and puppetry for all ages. The group is stopping overnight at Mount Calvary, Greenville, as part of their 12-day bike tour in West Michigan. Cameron’s Bicycle Shop will also be there to show off their bicycles and offer bicycle safety checks. Activities begin at 4:00 pm, Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm, the Program begins at 7:00 pm, and an Ice Cream Social will follow. Everyone is invited to bike or travel over to Mount Calvary, Greenville, meet the team members, participate in some activities, and enjoy some food, fun and friendship.
POC: Pastor Jeff Wilhelm
Be part of the Action Team as we welcome the Spoke Folk 2019 team cycling to Greenville for an overnight stop, Monday, July 22. Bicycle Safety Fair, Food & Fellowship, Music, Skits, Puppetry & Ice Cream! Thanks in advance for your help!
Our Life Together
Electronic Access to our latest Church Directory
Members of Mount Calvary now have electronic access to our latest church directory from any smartphone, tablet or computer with internet access. Each household has a unique ID that can be emailed to them upon request. Let the church office know when you’d like your ID code to access the church directory online (via email or a note on your attendance card), and it will be emailed to you. Step-by-step instructions are available on our website and at the Mount Calvary office.
Millennials, the Church, and Technology – Panel Discussion
Millennials are a unique group that churches often struggle to reach. Knowing why millennials behave the way they do can greatly shape how the church engages them.
Join us for an online panel discussion on Thursday, June 30th at 10:00 a.m. CST. The panel will be answering questions about millennial characteristics, stereotypes, and how the church can reach out to them.
Follow this link to download the ebook Millennials & the Church: http://www.concordiatechnology.org/do…
SCOTUS Decision Finds Constitutional Right to Same Sex Marriage
June 26, 2015
Dear Brothers in the Michigan District,
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its ruling stating the majority opinion on what they believe is the Constitutional definition of marriage. It was determined by a 5 to 4 vote that the Constitution requires that same-sex couples be allowed to marry and that states may no longer reserve the right only for heterosexual couples.
The purpose of this email is to share talking points and media interview tips with you prepared by the LCMS Communications Department. This will assist you in speaking the truth in love should you be contacted by local newspaper or television news station for a response to this ruling.
Later today, Synod will also issue a statement and send church workers a letter from Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison. This letter will contain resources pertaining to a marriage policy for LCMS congregations, a Bible study, and other resources that provide a biblical understanding of God’s gift of marriage between a man and a woman. A great deal of other information will also be provided with pertinent links.
Much of what we are experiencing seems to be the result of the “sexual revolution” of the sixties which has continued on an exponential pace. “Sex” was divorced from marriage, commitment and even psychological connection. We’ve seen the initiation of sexual activity at an earlier and earlier age. Use of pornography – which certainly encourages lust in the mind and heart, which is adultery – is epidemic and leads to further sin. Sex before marriage has led to sex outside marriage, which has led to multiple liaisons, divorce and what’s been called serial polygamy. In a few decades, we’ve gone from “making love” to “having sex.” Yet, interestingly, although this may seem counter-intuitive, more and more “sex” has led to fewer and fewer children.
Not just the ruling today is troubling, but also the undeniable reality that same-sex marriage completely cuts the tie between marriage and children. Some heterosexual couples choose not to have children. Others are unable to have children. With “homosexual marriage,” (and I use the term advisably) we’re applying the label to couples which, by their very nature, are incapable of reproduction – part of God’s original design (Genesis 1:28) – severing the already tenuous connection between marriage and procreation. More importantly, the Bible plainly tells us that this is NOT what God intended … no matter what the President of the United States or the Supreme Court says. Marriage is clearly the union of one man and one woman for life.
As we continue to live and minister in this day and age may we remember that because of God’s great love for us, because of His mercy and grace extended to us in His Word and Sacraments, because of the Holy Spirit’s gift of faith, we are ALL children and servants of the most High God. In eternity we were chosen by Him to live at this particular time for His purposes with the powerful weapons of the Holy Spirit to advance the Kingdom of God. Listen to Paul in the Areopagus in Acts 17:26-28, “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.'”
We are, by God’s grace, living at the exact time and at the exact place where God wants us to be! We are here as His salt and light to the world (Matthew 5:13-16). Through the Holy Spirit’s encouragement we remember these words of the prophet, Jeremiah: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) and Jesus’ words: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
As we look to our God for His continued protection and guidance, to the Holy Spirit working in the Word and Sacraments, and to our Synod for continued advice as to how we remain the salt of the earth and the light of the world, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
God’s peace attend you.
Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. David P. E. Maier, President
Michigan District, LCMS
