Author: Jackie Rice

Easter is This Sunday, April 12! This Sunday we will be streaming a sunrise devotional at 7:00am for our earlier risers, followed by our Easter worship service at 10:45am. Join us online for this special time. Together we will celebrate Christ’s victory over sin, fear and death and the peace and new life we can find in Him today. One powerful way that we can connect to God and to one another is by partaking in communion. This Sunday’s Easter service will include a time of communion. Plan to have bread (or crackers) and juice available, as you are able to do so. Maundy Thursday While we are not able to gather for our traditional Seder Meal this Thursday, consider reading the Upper Room Discourse (John 13-17) as you enjoy dinner that evening. Good Friday This year’s Good Friday service is a collaboration with West Michigan churches. This community service weaves scripture…

Pastor Jim and Pastor Tom are sharing encouragement with the Calvary family in this edition. Pastor Jim shares how the book of Habakkuk is speaking to many in the midst of this pandemic. Meanwhile Pastor Tom offers an update on how the Calvary staff is ministering to the congregation virtually. While much has changed over the past few weeks, the word of the Lord is still true and the church continues to shepherd His flock. May this bring you comfort today as the Lord enables you to stand with us. Habakkuk 3:2 Lord, I have heard of your fame;     I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day,     in our time make them known;     in wrath remember mercy. Subscribe and view past Word for Today videos on YouTube.

On this Friday edition of A Word for Today, Worship Pastor Andy Crowder shares three songs that have ministered to him especially in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic. 1 Samuel 16 Links to the songs mentioned in today’s video: My Redeemer is Faithful and True Blessed Assurance 10,000 Reasons

On this Thursday edition of A Word for Today, Jim and Lisa offer a word from Psalm 68. As they share, we are reminded that even in this challenging season God is at work bringing blessing through his church. May you be encouraged today to consider what it means that God has placed you in the Calvary Church family.  Psalm 68:4-6 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. Subscribe and view past Word for Today videos on YouTube.

In this edition of A Word for Today, Mason Sherrill shares from 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. Reflecting on a time of past suffering, Mason brings real hope to how God may use us to comfort others in the midst of this pandemic. May you be encouraged to look at your circumstances in a new light, to see how God is meeting you with comfort you can someday extend to others. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which…

For this Saturday edition of A Word for Today, we have Young Adults Pastor Mark Schaap, sharing from James 1:2-5. May you take time today to look for the ways God is moving in your life. And may you turn to Him to meet your needs when you find yourself lacking. He is faithful! James 1:2-5 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Today Pastor Jim is sharing from Colossians 1:9-14. The encouragement is to be using the extra time we may have in this season to pray for others. There are practical instructions found in Paul’s words – may you use these as a model to lift others up to the Lord today. Colossians 1:9-14 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy…

Today’s word is coming to us from Josh Karhan (Pastoral Staff, High School). Josh takes a look at Psalm 84 and provides encouragement for those of longing to return back to our regular church gathering. May we see the ways God is causing blessing to spring up even in the midst of hardship. Psalm 84:5-7 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

In this edition, Calvary Care Pastor Josh Warren brings a reminder of how Christ continues to hold everything together despite the chaos in our world. May you be encouraged to see the ways that we can care for one another in this season. \\ Colossians 1:15 – 18 \\ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. The closings of schools, workplaces, and organizations have drastic implications for many. We are actively seeking to connect resources and needs in our community. If you are in need of care, or would like to offer help right now, please use…

In this edition of our devotional video series, Lead Pastor Tom Olsson shares encouragement from Psalm 121. As the news and concerns around COVID-19 continue to shake us, may we look to the Lord for help. // Psalm 121 // I lift up my eyes to the hills– where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip– he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you– the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm– he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.