The instructions for the knit prayer squares are listed below. Thanks for sharing your gifts and prayers with our brothers and sisters in Oklahoma.

Prayer Square instructions

Bring your vehicle(s) to the Car Wash! Support the Youth Group Mission trip to work with Appalachia Service Project AND get your car shiny clean!! Win, Win!

Freewill donation for carwash services. All proceeds help fund the mission trip. There will be a snack table and a vacuuming service available.

Come one, come all for a fun, free concert on the lawn of Calvary Church. Bring your picnic dinner, bring a chair or blanket, and bring your friends and neighbors!!

The Middle School Youth Group and the children of the Sunday School Mission Project invite you to this fun community event, featuring award-winning jazz ensemble, Reverb.   The incredibly talented musicians of Reverb are all high school students and are the winners of the 2013 High School Battle of the Bands. What could be better than a beautiful afternoon on the lawn and a free concert?!

Invite your friends and neighbors to this wonderful, free, and fun event.

Click below to see the full list of suggested items:

Snacks – individual servings or small packages:
Dry juices, lemonade, tea (single servings)
Tuna in foil pack
Fruits in cans
Cran-raisins
Sunflower seeds
Almonds
Goldfish
Pretzels
Granola bars
Cheez-its
Dried fruit
Hard candy
Gum, mints, Life Savers, breath strips
Oreo cookies
Boxes of cereal
Ramen noodles
Note: No chocolate (Nick is not a fan and it doesn’t ship well to warmer climates)

Personal hygiene:
Body wash (Nick uses Men’s Dove body wash, but anything will do)
Mouthwash
Nail brush
Bug spray
Sunscreen
Baby wipes
Towels, hand towels, washcloths
Disposable razors
Deodorants
Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss
Tissues, toilet paper

Fun:
Sports, fitness, or entertainment magazines, paperback books, puzzle books
Amazon.com gift cards
Frisbies, footballs, Nerf balls
Card games
Stationery, blank journals, writing tablets, pens, envelopes
Alkaline batteries – AA or AAA (no lithium)
Team t-shirts and baseball hats

A group of 12 youth and adults from Calvary volunteered with Habitat for Humanity Boston for “Build Day” on March 23rd. When asked about the event, Tom Stewart said, “A chilly day for painting, even inside, but our spirits and hearts were warm!”

Habitat for Humanity is a charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to building simple low-cost homes by forming partnerships with low-income families in need of decent and affordable housing.

The event was sponsored by Calvary’s Missions Committee. The work site was located in Roslindale where six new townhouses are being built on a vacant lot. We were very excited for such a great turnout from Calvary!

The group included Carla P., Chuck W., Tom S., Aidan R., Kelsey W., Dawn W., Steve S., Amanda E., Chuck M., Scott H., Taylor Anne A., and Greg P..

With such a great response, Calvary is going to sponsor another Build Day on Saturday June 22nd. If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact the Calvary Church Office.

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

It is with both a tremendous sigh of relief and also enthusiastic praises that I give thanks to God for what appears to be a peaceful end to the manhunt for the 2nd suspect in the Marathon bombings, and the lockdown of so many of our communities. Although it was a long and anxious ordeal, I am praising God that the resolution of the chase was accomplished without any further loss of life.

In addition, there is almost no way to express our gratitude for the incredible courage and resolve of our law enforcement and public service officials. May we pray now for blessed rest for them and for their families, and for all those who have endured those anxious days and hours sheltered in their homes but without a sense of safety or sanctuary. I pray for their peace and for healing of their emotional and spiritual trauma.

And yet, even though part of us is rejoicing tonight, our hearts are still heavy with the losses of the last few days. From the victims of the first bombings to the officers that were lost or injured as the pursuit of the suspects began, there are families and friends that are grieving this very night, and we continue to grieve with them.

Friends, I know that you have been praying without ceasing in this time, but may I ask you to continue to pray for these victims and families. There is so much pain and loss and we cannot skip past it and go directly and fully into joy and hope. And so as we grieve, we must not only pray for comfort, but also for the courage to move to justice without vengeance, and the grace to forgive. This is where our true healing will be born. I know it may take a very long time and it will be a difficult thing for us to do. But we must.

And finally, we must also continue pray for guidance and wisdom; for God’s help in creating a world where family and community connections are strong, God’s will and justice and peace prevail everywhere, and no one descends into such despair and isolation that they resort to such needless and unconscionable acts.

As we gather together in our communities this Sunday to worship our triune God, the verse from the lectionary passage from John’s gospel reads, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (10:27). As Easter people, let us continue to hear the voice of the resurrected Christ and to demonstrate our Christian discipleship even in the midst of tragedy, sorrow and pain. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, may we be signs of God’s Spring through our Christian witness.

With my deep appreciation to all of you who have ministered in one way or another to our communities in the last few days, and always. May God bless and keep you all in safety and comfort tonight.

In Christ’s love,

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar

Click here to read about the service and find links to local services and here for words from the Bishop.

There are other opportunities in the area to gather together in faith and prayer. We will list local services as we become aware of them.

Here is an invitation to a service in Boston, from our District Superintendent, Rev. LaTrelle Easterling:  Beloved in Christ, in the wake of the tragedy in Boston today during the Boston Marathon, it is appropriate that we gather in prayer and healing.  Please plan to attend a Service of Prayer and Healing at Old West Church, United Methodist, at 131 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA tomorrow evening (Tuesday, April 16) at 7pm. 

6:15 a.m.  Easter Sunrise Service at Skyline Park (Robbins Farm, opposite Brackett School, Eastern Avenue) Gather together as the sun rises on a new day and an empty tomb. Dress warmly, it is often cold and windy on the hill. This is a beautiful service together with Park Avenue Congregational Church and the community.

10:30 a.m. Easter Worship Celebration at Calvary Church. Join us for praise, music, flowers and a joyous celebration of our risen Lord. Childcare provided for infants and toddlers. Stay for a special Easter Coffee Hour following the service.