Holiday Bazaar 2023 was a Success!
On Saturday, November 11 Calvary held their Holiday Bazaar, and it was a great success! We thank Robin Gardner, Julie Zack, Julie Kubiaczyk, and Lynda Eschmann for helping to organize this event. We also thank everyone that made/donated food for our luncheon and bakery. In addition, we would like to thank all of you that donated or made homemade items and prizes for the raffle prizes, Secret Santa, Duck Pond, and crafts/quilts. Thank you Julie Kubiaczyk for helping to get all of the raffle tickets sold and for all you do! We also appreciate all of our members that came to help in so many ways at the Holiday Bazaar and for all of the people that came to support Calvary! We are so blessed to have so many wonderful members in Calvary and our Lutheran Kindred Parish as well as our awesome community!
Our 2023 Jesus Palooza was Wonderful!
On Sunday, August 27, 2023 our Kindred Lutheran Parish(Calvary and St. John's Lutheran) held their 3rd annual Jesus Palooza and it was a success with 146 people in attendance. What a joyous outside worship service we had with the Resch Family Gospel band playing/singing beautiful music throughout the service and Pastor Jen with her inspiring message for us all! We followed the service with a delicious luncheon. We thank the band and everyone that helped set up/take down, donate food/water, and serve this awesome meal!
Great Fellowship and Fun at Music in the Park!
On June 22, 2023 Calvary held their fundraiser at Music in the Park and it was a success. Thank you Shane Wurtinger for arranging to have the brats and hot dogs donated by Nueskes and to Bill Eschmann for cooking the brats. Also, a big thank you to Angie Close. Lynda Eschmann, and Richard Tews for helping to organize this event and to all of our members who donated desserts and other items and who worked so hard to make this event a success! A huge thank you to all that came to support Calvary!
"Thanks be to God for Pastor Jen!"
On Sunday, June 11, 2023, Pastor Jennifer Kay Sosinski was officially installed as the Pastor for our Kindred Lutheran Parish which includes Calvary Lutheran Church of Antigo and St. John's Lutheran Church of Birnamwood. What a blessed and joyous day it was for all of us! The Reverend Asher O'Callaghan who is Associate to the Bishop/Director of Transitions and The Reverend Dara Clifford Associate Biship/Director of Evangelical Missions lead this beautiful service. Pastor Betty Wyatt, Pastor Julie Sinkula, and Pastor Lois Graper also assisted during the installation as well as our members from our Kindred Lutheran Parish including Angie Close, Andy Resch, Wayne Clark, Joann Schmidt, Liz Dickman, Richard Tews and Elise Ferg. We also thank Lynda Eschmann for everything she did to help organize this blessed event and for getting the service bulletin together and Justin Ferg for putting the power point presentation together. Beautiful music was presented by our Calvary Singers and Pastor Jen and her dear friend, Cathy Iverson. We thank everyone that helped in other ways and helped to make this day such a blessing. After the ceremony many of us gathered at North Star Lanes for a delicious meal and fellowship. The banquet hall was beautifully decorated and we thank all that were part of making the beautiful decorations to help make this day so special! Lynda Eschmann and Angie Close presented Pastor Jen with gifts including a homemade shepherd's crook, fur cloth for everyone to sign, and money that was donated by members of the Kindred Lutheran Parish and other community members. The monetary gift for Pastor Jen was to help her purchase her robes and stoles.
Our Brat Fry and Bake Sale was a Hit!
On Friday, June 9th the men and women of Calvary got together and provided delicious brats, burgers, soda, and bakery goods at Lakeside Pharmacy! Thank you to Bill Eschmann for heading up the brat fry and to Pastor Jen and the other ladies of Calvary for taking care of the bakery. Thank you also to Bill Eschmann and Tim Grall for cooking and to all the members that donated items or worked at this fundraiser. Thank you also to all of the people that came to support us at Calvary!
Ordination Day for Pastor Jennifer Kay Sosinski!
On Sunday, April 29, 2023, our beloved Vicar Jennifer Kay Sosinski was ordained to become our Pastor Jennifer Kay Sosinski!! A joyous celebration was held in Pastor Jennifer’s home congregation, Peace Lutheran Church in Tilleda of The United Lutheran Parish with Pastor Lois helping to lead the service along with Presiding Bishop Anne Edison-Albright. Many other Ministers from the surrounding area were part of the ceremony including our very beloved Pastor Betty Wyatt and Pastor Julie Sinkula. Pastor Betty Wyatt made the beautiful stole for Pastor Jennifer's Ordination Day. Pastor Jennifer's Father-in-law lead the sermon and it was such a heartwarming message that it brought tears to his eyes and all of us listening. Pastor Jennifer's father, past Sunday school teacher, Pastor Jenn, and Chaplain from Homme Home for the Youth were also part of this service. On behalf of our Kindred Lutheran Parish Angie Close, Glen Gildemeister, Wayne Clark, and Andy Resch were there to present Vicar Jennifer to be our pastor. Many of her family and friends from the Kindred Parish and Peace came to celebrate with Pastor Jennifer. After the ceremony, the members of Peace Lutheran put on a delicious meal in their fellowship hall. Please see Pastor Jennifer's "thank you letter" in the Ordination service bulletin that was prepared by our wonderful Lynda Eschmann.
Calvary Hosts Grandparents Support Group with the Help of a Vision Vicar Jennifer Had!
Calvary was blessed to host a grandparent support group run through the Head Start program of Langlade County. They were in need of a larger meeting space. This will be held monthly. It was a sweet time of caring and sharing and learning about what a Vicar is A donation of backpacks were given to director, Karen Kieper and received with gladness for children who could use them. - Vicar Jennifer
Our East Central Synod of Wisconsin wrote on their website the following story:
Vicar Jennifer Sosinski of Kindred Lutheran Parish knows that the Holy Spirit is living and active. From time to time, she is moved to share the testimony of where she sees God at work in and through the parish she serves. As we enter into Clergy Appreciation month, we can’t help but give thanks to God for the way God is moving through Vicar Jennifer, too.
She writes,
“I Wanted to give testimony to the awesome thing God is doing. About a year and a half ago I did a power point presentation for a class I was taking through Wartburg Seminary. The subject was Grandparents who are caregivers because their children are unable to care for them adequately.
This happens for various reasons, but it takes an incredible toll on them. Many of them are on fixed incomes, battling serious health issues. There are a staggering 2.7 million grandparent caregivers in the US. My heart was moved!"
Read the whole story in the Wavelength to learn how Vicar Jennifer and Calvary Lutheran Church of the Kindred Parish partnered with local resources to support those who are actively caring for others as grandparents: www.ecsw.org/wavelength/caring-for-grandparent-caregivers
Our East Central Synod of Wisconsin wrote on their website the following story:
Vicar Jennifer Sosinski of Kindred Lutheran Parish knows that the Holy Spirit is living and active. From time to time, she is moved to share the testimony of where she sees God at work in and through the parish she serves. As we enter into Clergy Appreciation month, we can’t help but give thanks to God for the way God is moving through Vicar Jennifer, too.
She writes,
“I Wanted to give testimony to the awesome thing God is doing. About a year and a half ago I did a power point presentation for a class I was taking through Wartburg Seminary. The subject was Grandparents who are caregivers because their children are unable to care for them adequately.
This happens for various reasons, but it takes an incredible toll on them. Many of them are on fixed incomes, battling serious health issues. There are a staggering 2.7 million grandparent caregivers in the US. My heart was moved!"
Read the whole story in the Wavelength to learn how Vicar Jennifer and Calvary Lutheran Church of the Kindred Parish partnered with local resources to support those who are actively caring for others as grandparents: www.ecsw.org/wavelength/caring-for-grandparent-caregivers
Many changes are happening at Calvary! Change can sometimes be scary, but change can also be a wonderful thing. Take a look around at Calvary and notice some of the positive changes that are taking place. Our puzzles and books have been moved to the Library located in the office wing of our church. The Narthex has a new comfortable and inviting look! Our Nursery has been redesigned and murals are being painted in the Nursery. Thank you to everyone that has helped to make these positive changes happen at Calvary! A Special thank you to Allyce Lees who shared her time and artistic talents with us, driving back and forth from Waupaca. Also, a special thank you to Richard Tews, Ron Peterka, and Dave(Vicar Jennifer's father) for preparing the walls and painting, to our anonymous benefactor, and to Vicar Jennifer for her vision and push!
Calvary is Blessed with Many New Members!
What a joyous day it was on January 12, 2020 as Calvary welcomed many new former members of St. John's Lutheran Church in Polar into our faith community. Pastor Bruce Beyer led us in worship for this blessed occasion. Following the service we joined in the Fellowship Hall to meet and welcome them into our church family. Our new members have brought some of their beautiful and treasured items from St. John's to Calvary.
Ordination Day for Pastor Timothy Schroeder
On September 20, 2019 Pastor Timothy Schroeder was ordained at University Lutheran Church of Hope in Minneapolis, MN. We are so happy and proud for you Pastor Tim!!
Ordination Day for Pastor Julie Barger and Pastor Betty Wyatt
On July 8, 2018 Pastor Julie Barger and Pastor Betty Wyatt were ordained at Calvary. What a beautiful and blessed day it was!! We couldn't be happier or prouder for you both!