At Calvary316 we place a high emphasis on our Sunday service as it provides the optimal time for the church to gather to worship, partake of communion, and spend time in God’s Word. While we believe consistent attendance on Sunday will afford the most ample opportunity to foster genuine community with other believers, we also recognize the reality that many need another outlet for the development of these important relational connections. This is why we encourage those who attend Calvary316 to “Move Beyond the Sunday Service.” Every other initiative we place our energies and resources into (whether it be our monthly Church Fellowship – Ladies, Men’s, Community, or Youth Events, the Free Cereal Bar, or Home Groups) has been created with the specific desire to help our members create community with one another.

On June 29th, directly following the Sunday service, we’ll be having our monthly Church Potluck. The theme for this get-together is “Ballpark.” Menu suggestions are self-explanatory. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to bring additional items such as plates, drinks, ice, or utensils, simply email Pastor Zach at [email protected]. Upcoming 2025: August 10th (BBQ), September 21st (Wings N’ Things), October 26th (Chili Cook-off), November 30th (JB’s Famous Gumbo).

Linguistically, the word “Sabbatical” finds its root in the Biblical term “Sabbath.” While it has a more broad application than our understanding of a weekly Sabbath, a Sabbatical is a period of time set aside for intentional rest and relaxation. More than simply being a vacation, you might think of a Sabbatical as a break from the normal grind for the specific purposes of refreshment and renewal.

At Calvary316 there is no doubt our Sunday morning service is 100% dependent on our faithful volunteers. Every aspect to making Sunday morning a unique and special experience requires the sacrifice of both time and energy from our members. Knowing that over the course of a 52-week year this can become a grind, we have decided to set aside Sunday, July 6th as a church-wide Sabbatical. Whether you utilize this weekend as an opportunity to schedule a family vacation or simply choose to relax at home, we hope you enjoy the break and come back the following Sunday renewed and refreshed.

On Sunday, July 20th, we’re going to be having our next Connecting Point. Once a month before the church service (9:15-10:00 AM) Mike Bower leads a small group back in the Blue Room. Open to all, in addition to refreshments, this time is dedicated to building community as well as spending time in prayer. For more information, you can email Pastor Zach at [email protected]. Upcoming: August 17, September 28.

If you’re looking for a way to develop a greater connection with the Calvary316 family, we’d like to invite you to join our Monroe Area Home Group. Led by one of our elders, Mike Bower, the group will be meeting at the home of Jurgen & Christy Bennewitz on Thursday nights from 6:00-7:30 PM starting May 8th. In addition to a study through the book “The Green Letters” (Click to purchase on Amazon), these nights will also include a great time of fellowship and prayer. For directions, a schedule of meeting dates, or for general information, email Mike at [email protected].

Following the hectic summer months, on Monday, August 25th the ladies will be gathering at the church at 6:30 PM for a fun night of fellowship as well as to discuss the new Bible Study that will start two weeks later on September 8th. While Jessica is still in the planning stages of what the study will be covering, we wanted to release the general information before people started locking in their Fall calendars. For any questions email [email protected]. More details will be coming soon.

Join Pastor Zach, Creighton Vaughn, Justin Holcombe (AKA Spice Daddy), and Vinny Himes for a conversational Bible study every Wednesday at 8 PM. The show streams on our YouTube channel as well as our Facebook page making it easy to interact in real time. On Thursday the audio is released on our podcast. You can learn more about the ministry of Outlaw Radio by visiting OutlawRadio.org. UPDATE: The Show is taking a summer break and will return July 23rd!

Friday night October 31st we’re going to be having our annual Halloween Outreach at the home of Pastor Zach. Because of the unique proximity of his neighborhood in a roughly rural area, thousands of families flock to his street to go trick-or-treating. Not only will our church have a bounce house in the driveway, provide face-painting for the kids, and hot coffee for parents, we will also undoubtedly give away TONS of candy in the name of Jesus. For the volunteers who come out, please bring some chili to share with your church family! If you’d like to donate candy or if you’re planning to come help, please email [email protected].

Free Coffee & Cereal Every Sunday:

Every Sunday morning before the service we run a full-service cereal and coffee bar free for the whole family! In addition to the fact you can’t get cereal for breakfast at McDonalds, Starbucks, or even Dunkin, we offer cereal because this breakfast luxury is one of the few things our culture has still reserved for the home. While the coffee is available throughout the morning, we reserve the cereal before the service. Come out early, grab a bowl of cereal, and fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ.