Drowning tree-rats

The stench of death stalked my backyard this

spring. It first ambushed my nostrils last

month. A tiny but violent insurgency. Then,

as April's warmth seduced March's chill, the

fetor grew. It began rampaging. Last month

it became so potent that it infiltrated the

garage, permeating the very walls, taking

captive every ounce of fragrance that had

jubilantly leapt from my blossoming

azalea. It threatened my house with regime-

change.

By now I was overwhelmed by a sense of

foreboding. Broken sewage lines danced

their macabre waltz before my tear-filled

eyes, thousand dollar invoices prodded me

awake in the night, imaginary sewage

workers scoffed contemptuously at me,

shaking their heads at the cheapskate who

was too miserly to buy sewage line insurance.

I made a detailed reconnoiter of the terrain,

trying to locate the insurgent stink, in one

final hope that I might avoid calling in

reinforcements. And then I found it - the

source of the invasion, death's entry point, the

sleeper cell of horror. A fifty-gallon bin. It

had stood next to the house, minus its lid, all

winter. By March it had been filled half-way

with rain and melted snow. I peered in and

discovered why TV detectives cover their

faces with handkerchiefs when they discover

a month-old corpse. Hell hath no aroma like

this. Floating, foaming, frothing on the

surface of the grey soup were objects I

assumed had once been alive. Later, under

cover of darkness, I

hauled the plastic

coffin into the street

and dragged it to a

drain, where I gave

its occupants a less

than Christian

burial. Out plopped

two hideously

decomposed

animals I concluded

had once been squirrels.

Like Hercule Poirot, I pieced together the

clues that told the story of the rodents' final

minutes on earth. Overhanging tree

branches ... springtime ... males doing what

males do in the spring - so lost in their

hormone-driven conflict, their testosterone-

addled madness, that they topple off their

branch and into their watery grave. I wonder

if they even noticed until they splashed

down. There is no way out for creatures

whose brains are so small and whose feet are

so, well, unwebbed.

Sometimes my head resembles that tree. It’s

the battlefield where wars are waged and

skirmishes seldom take a break. I suppose

it’s part of living in a media-saturated

society. Our computers, phones and other

electronic devices dominate our waking

hours. We are assaulted all day and night by

images and messages, some seeking to crush

our spirits, many wishing to instill fear, most

(Continued on page 2)

Father Duncan Father Duncan

JohnstonJohnston

BuildingBuilding 22

GenesisGenesis 33

Internet StatsInternet Stats 33

Steps of Faith Steps of Faith 44--55

Family PromiseFamily Promise 66

Music DirectorMusic Director 77

Children & YouthChildren & Youth 88--99

CalendarCalendar 1010--1111

CookCook--OffOff 1212

To be an embracing To be an embracing

and thriving and thriving

community that community that

inspires inspires

transformation transformation

through worship through worship

and ministry.and ministry.

Mt. Calvary’s Vision Mt. Calvary’s Vision

StatementStatement

demanding something from us. We can even die by

friendly fire – a message from an ally that is poorly

expressed or suspiciously interpreted can cause us

more mental anguish than all attacks of our enemies.

I’m not one of those pastors who advocates

withdrawing from society. Yes, it’s rough out there,

but this is the world God has made, and it is the

mission field in which he has placed us. Better than

that, it is also a place where there is beauty, goodness,

and grace. Every blade of grass is infused with God’s

creativity. Human beings are the image of God, even

though many resent that fact and try to hide it. And

so, human society is a place where God dwells. The

Holy Spirit is at work in the most unpromising

places.

It’s just that sometimes my head hurts. Like that tree

in my backyard, the battleground for competing

squirrels, my brain is the scene of unbearable

conflicts. It’s all too much to bear.

Instead of being the home of warring tree-rats, I wish

my tree were the dwelling place of doves. One dove

in particular. The Dove of the Holy Spirit. This

Pentecost time I yearn for the Dove to reside in the

tree that is my head. Stilling skirmishes, calming

anger, breathing shalom into anxieties and confusion.

You too?

Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will

send in my name, will teach you all things and will

remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I

leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to

you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be

troubled and do not be afraid.” Now, THAT is what

I’m talking about. Some of that. Yes, indeed.

Drown the tree rats,

receive the Dove.

In its physical facilities, Mt. Calvary has a fantastic

tool for executing the performance of many of the

various missions of this Parish. For that to remain

so we must continually maintain and upgrade the

various physical components of the building. In that

effort over the course of the past year or so we have:

upgraded the lavatories in the Education Wing

and the Undercroft

replaced the 65-year-old wooden door on the

west elevation of the Sanctuary

restructured the choir loft

formally explored expanding the storage

capacity in the Education Wing attic

replaced the bench in the Columbarium

placed a new sign in service at the south end of

the property and replaced the existing one in

front of the entrance crescent

repaired and

retuned the organ

In the next couple of months, we will replace the

windows in the Undercroft and add a storm panel

over the stained glass window above the new door

and add a light in this location as well.

Additionally we have reviewed the status of the

sound system and the security systems of the Church

with a view of improving their capability and are

exploring options to better insulate the Sanctuary.

Finally, we have just started making improvements

to the Nursery Facility, allocating $10,000 to this

effort. Initially we have added a room to the space

and this is soon to be followed by new flooring,

lighting, wall finishes and equipment for the Nursery

making it a much more responsive facility for

accomplishing this purpose.

C r o s s w a l k | M t . C a l v a r y

Tree-rats cont’d (Continued from page 1)

What’s Going on in the Building?

P a g e 3 V o l u m e 5 | I s s u e 2

Speaking of the peace of the Holy Spirit, and the lack

of it, here is an excerpt from a thought-provoking

piece of prose called ‘Genesis’ by T Eugene Coffin.

And man said, “Let us make a machine in our own

image, after our own likeness, and let it do all our

calculating for us, keep an accurate record of all our

economic affairs, keep up-to-date on all scientific

progress, store in its memory all facts about the earth

and every individual moving thing on it.” So man

created computers in his own image. And man

blessed them and said, “Do all the work required of

man, multiply formulas and equations to the end of

the universe, take charge of the power of the atom,

and compute the path of the speeding spacecraft.”

And man saw everything that he had made, and

behold, he thought it was very good. And the

evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Thus all the modern world was completed with its

hosts of ingenious devices. In the seventh era man

said, “Now I will rest and enjoy the fruits of all my

labors. But the screaming jets would not let him

sleep, the gadgets and expanded vision gave him

ulcers, his unlimited powers kept him nervously

suspicious of his neighbors, and what he had created

in his own image gave him answers to questions he

did not like. Having made all this for his comfort and

enjoyment, man found himself still anxious and in

trouble. Great and marvelous were his achievements,

but they brought no peace to him or to the world. For

in the beginning was God, who made man and made

his heart to be restless until it finds its rest, not in

man’s inventions, but in the creator and ruler who

created peace and bestows it upon those who believe

in the one he sent.

Genesis

Spreading the Word… Internet Stats

Mt. Calvary Website from April 16-May 16

534 Sessions; 357 Users; 1,410 Pageviews

Top 5 States: #1 PA, #2 DC, #3 Michigan, #4 NY, #5 NJ

Top 5 Countries for Website Usage: #1 US, #2 Brazil,

#3 Italy, #4 Aruba, #5 Angola

iTunes sermon downloads ... total of

16,918 downloads in 104 countries, at an

average of 23 downloads per day

Facebook from April 22-May 19:

Page Views 101

Reach 2,019 with top posts:

Pizza Club fun! (5/11/16) with a Reach of 552 and

Bishop Audrey’s Visit (5/1/16) with a Reach of 1,552

P a g e 4

C r o s s w a l k | M t . C a l v a r y

Congratulations and welcome to new members of Mt.

Calvary who have marked big milestones in their walk

with Christ.

Newly Baptized… Luke Anthony Skywalker Roberts

on April 10, Brian Lee Staley on April 3, and Gwen

Elizabeth Becker on May 8

Newly Confirmed… Lily Jordan, Elsa Yelk, Ivan

Yelk, Luke Waldner, Matt Gurgiolo, Grace Browning,

Sophie Reusswig, Mitchell Gale, Josette Gale, Ethan

Simpson, Evan Coffey, Thomas Ickowski, Slate John-

son, Lee Turner, Fay Steinhauser, David Carmicheal,

Yvonne Carmicheal, Sarah Langan, Tammy Hyde,

Margo Houston, Aimee Benavides, Cami Gramm.

Newly Received into the Episcopal Church… Dave

Castonguay, Kathy Castonguay, and Kent Gramm.

Newly Reaffirmed Faith… Jack Seefeldt and Barbara

Seefeldt.

Celebrating Steps of Faith

P a g e 5 V o l u m e 5 | I s s u e 2

Celebrating our Family

Please remember and pray for our younger

brothers and sisters who are celebrating their

anniversaries of their baptisms this summer:

Lily Margaret Fogarty, 6/14/15

Jane Kirby Fogarty, 6/14/15

Penelope Rose Fogarty, 6/14/15

Ryan Samuel Doland, 7/19/15

Mollie Elizabeth Fogarty, 8/9/15

Zachary Harrison Williard, 6/1/14

Everett John Golding, 6/8/14

Isabelle Parke Rhodes, 6/29/14

Audrey Camille Spahr, 6/23/13

Madelynn Marie Doland, 6/30/13

Elliatt Nicole Brown, 7/17/11

Allison Marie Hoover, 6/26/11

Benjamin Ray Richie, 6/12/11

Owen Kyle Roberts, 8/23/09

Amber Noelle Tereska, 7/20/08

Andrew Jaydyn Koslowski, 6/22/08

Daniel James Schuster, 6/18/06

Aaron Michael Kramer, 6/12/05

Hannah Marie Baluch, 8/10/03

Acklynn Byamugisha, 8/10/03

Aria Marcia Tirion, 8/10/03

Mara Lindsay D'Alessandro, 7/27/03

Madeline Marie Brown-Scherer, 6/17/01

Andrew Kenneth Brown, 6/17/01

Bennett Thomas Brown, 6/17/01

Kurt William Carr, 6/17/01

Lauren Elise Dardick, 8/13/00

Corbin Thomas Way Worley, 6/10/00

Sydney Elaine Cleveland, 8/19/01

Colin Heston Mackrell, 7/11/99

Ruth Lynn Schwartz, 8/2/98

Jaime Elise Buechel, 8/2/98

Ania Wiktoria Naylor, 6/7/98

David Alexander Dardick, 6/7/98

Follow Bishop Audrey at her blog:

http://compasspointsmappingtheway.blogspot.com/

or on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/

audrey.scanlan?fref=ts

Bishop Audrey meets with ConfirmandsBishop Audrey meets with Confirmands

P a g e 6

C r o s s w a l k | M t . C a l v a r y

Our Outreach Coordinating Committee is very

pleased to report that our recent effort with Family

Promise of the Harrisburg Capital Region and

partnership with Camp Hill United Methodist

Church (CHUM) was well received. Our

volunteers appreciated the eagerness of both the

Program and CHUM in welcoming us on board and

in providing all of the necessary guidance and tools

for us to achieve smooth sailing.

In case you missed hearing the Moments for

Mission about Family Promise, here is a brief

description of the program:

Mission: “empowering families through

relationships and skill building to move from

homelessness to home.”

How: Over 15 area churches work together to

help three families one week at a time,

providing a safe environment including: food,

shelter, and activities; while during the day the

families receive professional support services

necessary for success.

Results: Within 90 days 75% of the families

have permanent homes and are moving forward.

We would like to say a special thank you to our

volunteers:

Meal Volunteers – 5:30PM to 7:30PM:

Trish Lackey, Cindy Mueller, Betty Jordan,

Pat Bettger

Activity Volunteers – 7:00PM to 8:00PM:

Melanie, Abby and Matt Gurgiolo, Ann

Kistler

Overnight Hosts – 8:00PM to 7:00AM:

Judy Hawthorn and Kurt Carr, Brian and

Cheri Fogarty

Van Driver – 6:00PM: Dennis Stromberg

We could tell you much more about Family Promise

and would love you to hear more about our first

experience. We will be partnering with CHUM

again the week of August 28 and November 20. If

you are interested in volunteering, please notify

Brian or Cheri Fogarty or Melanie Gurgiolo.

Pizza Club Fun!Pizza Club Fun!

V o l u m e 5 | I s s u e 2 P a g e 7

The summer brings a respite for some of the music program at Mt. Calvary. The choir

takes a break from rehearsals and responsibilities of Sunday morning, though it’s not

unusual to find some of them in the choir pews through the summer months. You will

be hearing them in solo and ensemble work in coming weeks. Also, I have invited

back over the summer some of our favorite local artists: Chris Seay, Alice Bish, Mary

Sandane, and Elisabeth Turchey.

The choir is a joy to me, and I suspect to most of you. We are so fortunate! Their hard work, faithful attendance

at rehearsals, and talent, combined with my ministry supported by the Rector, the staff, the Vestry, and all of

you, produce the music in Mt. Calvary on Sunday morning and special liturgical occasions. My hope is that this

effort is pleasing to God, from whom all good and beautiful things come, and to you and your worship

experience.

Thank you, Senior Choir. You were faithful in your ministry. Thank you, Pizza Club Choir, Melanie, and

parents who supported this effort. I look forward to another year of these young singers being incorporated into

the Pizza Club activities and into our worship. Thank you Duncan, Liz, Melanie and Lee for all the times you

help me do my job and, on occasion, keep my sanity!

I am introducing something a little new for the fall season. (You have all summer to ponder your participation in

this!) Increasingly, I note that churches are offering a choir experience for those persons who might like to sing

in a choir on occasion but cannot commit to the number of hours needed for participation in the Senior Choir.

With our Taize service once a month (4th Saturday, 5 PM), I would like to commence a Taize choir to meet once

a month, one hour before the service. You need not read music, know music terminology, or have the ability to

sing parts. You just need the ability to sing a tune, as in singing along with the radio! The good news is that we

have a wonderful voice in the person of Helen Ann Frederick

who is already doing this, but would welcome some company.

With a group of singers, there is much we can to enhance and

bring to life the Taize songs. I thought this might be an

appealing musical outlet for our teens and preteens – too old for

Pizza Club, too young for Sr. Choir? This could be just the ticket

without a huge commitment of time. All ages welcome. I’ll be

talking about this more over the summer and in September. In

the meantime, please give the idea your prayerful consideration.

So, I look back on a year in gratitude and forward to my fourth

year in anticipation for more “good and gracious” things.

“O that I had a thousand voices

And with a thousand tongues could tell of Him in Whom

the earth rejoices….”

(From a German hymn circa 1704)

-Lynn Alt

With a Grateful Heart...With a Grateful Heart...

Taize Saturday Taize Saturday

Church ServiceChurch Service

P a g e 8

C r o s s w a l k | M t . C a l v a r y

Safeguarding God’s Children Training

All volunteers, ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, Sunday

school teachers, vestry members, and staff members

are required to attend this training for the protection of

the parish and its young members and visitors. This

training consists of a series of videos, discussion, and a

PowerPoint presentation. On Sunday, April 24, twenty

-five parishioners participated in a training session at

the parish. Mt. Calvary is being proactive in offering

this training, and is taking the lead in the diocese to

ensure that all God’s people are respected and

protected. Training is essential for all volunteers

within the life of the parish; if you couldn’t make the

session in April, please be aware that the next training

will be held in September.

Youth group has been meeting since the beginning of

September on the evenings of the 2nd & 4th Sunday

each month. Fr. Duncan has been leading the youth in

real and meaningful discussions, and we have now

finished viewing the Bible series! At times it was

brutal and difficult to watch, but we took the journey

and so have a much greater appreciation for the life

that Jesus lived. We will regroup in September with a

new youth program!

Youth Sunday, Sunday June 26. We will celebrate

our VBS travels to Egypt - perhaps Joseph and Ramses

will join us for the service and the root beer floats to

follow!

Summer Sunday School will start on Sunday, June 5.

All classes will meet downstairs in the youth room.

There will be group celebration of song, followed by a

movie clip and a short devotion. It will be led by

Melanie, but parent volunteers are needed, so please

check your vacation calendars and lend a hand when

you are around.

Mt. Calvary's VBS, Sunday - Thursday, June 19 -

23, 6:00 - 8:00 PM: Egypt – Joseph’s Journey from

Prison to Palace! You may remember Joseph as the

guy with the colorful coat. But there’s more to his

story! Join Joseph on his journey from prison to palace.

At Egypt VBS, everyone gets to explore firsthand the

culture of Joseph’s world. We’ll experience the heart-

breaking trials, joyous victories, and tear-filled

celebrations of this unique Bible hero. God’s Word

comes alive as we enjoy traditional Bible-themed

customs, occupations, food, and even games! VBS is

for ages 4-12; you may fill in a registration form found

on the VBS bulletin board in the Narthex, or

(preferably) register online at:

https://www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/hl/mtcpvbs/gpgs/

overview.aspx

Too old to participate, but still want to be a part of the

fun? Consider being a volunteer – see the sign-up

board or talk to Melanie to see how you can pitch in, or

email her at magurgiolo24@verizon.net.

Pizza Club (Pre K - 5th) Pizza Club will take a break

in June but will be back every Tuesday in July with

extended hours, 5:30 - 7:30 PM. In July, we will play

outside games, eat pizza, and watch a short film. Pizza

Club is a great way for our young parishioners to build

friendships that will help make coming to church on

Sunday more exciting. (Continued on page 9)

Christian Ed News

P a g e 9 V o l u m e 5 | I s s u e 2

Shout out and a big “thank you” to all of Mt.

Calvary’s Sunday school teachers: Lisa Golding,

Alicia Koslowski, Sean Quinlan, Robin Smithers,

Shannon Sweeney, Kaylyn Brown, Dorothy

McDermott, Lori Lucius, Aimee Johnson, Mike

Gurgiolo, and Heather Waldner.

Also, thank you to Rick Farrell, our beloved

Children’s Chaplain going on his 22nd year!

This group of parishioners is truly dedicated and

helps make coming to church enjoyable for our

young people and their families.

Easter Re-Cap – a shepherd came to visit Pizza Club

on Shrove Tuesday. She shared with us Jesus’ love

and journey. She brought a baby lamb with her.

Nursery – Renovations are underway to expand and

refurbish the nursery! This past year we our need for

childcare have outgrown the capacity of our current

facility - that is a good thing! We are feeling blessed

to have so many little folks. The present nursery will

be the playroom, and will get new flooring and paint

to transform into a delightful place for these little

ones. It will have a fun outdoor theme, a book and

puzzle nook, shelving with bins full of toys, and

hooks and shoe cubbies for storing items while the

children are present.

There will also nursery for our youngest parishioners,

complete with earth tones, pack n’ plays, excer-

saucers, boppies, and rockers, as well as new paint and

flooring. It will be safe and clean - we want our new

parents to view this as a gift to them and their precious

little ones.

We will need to have two nursery attendants, one for

each room, so we are looking to hire another nursery

attendant to staff the expanded facility.

High School Graduates – We wish you well and

send you off with many blessings!

Courtney Browning – Kutztown. She will be

studying Sports Management and will be

playing soccer! Watch for her in the sports

headlines!

Abby Gurgiolo – Bowdoin. She will be

studying Neuroscience and hopes to get some

good skiing in her spare time!

Nate Litsinger – Temple. He will be studying

Finance, Marketing, and Photography.

Fiona Skinner – She will be taking a gap year

to study and travel in the Czech Republic!

How exciting - bon voyage!

Christian Ed cont’d (Continued from page 8)

VBS Volunteers hard at work!VBS Volunteers hard at work!

P a g e 1 0

C r o s s w a l k | M t . C a l v a r y

May 29 Combined Sunday School - Labyrinth and donuts

June 1 VBS Work Night, 6:30 - 8:00pm

June 2 Final Healing Service for the summer, 10am

June 4 Men’s Breakfast: “Wish List” - Commandment 10, led by David Carmicheal, 7:45 at the Cornerstone coffeehouse

Shelter Team workday, 8am - 4pm

“Feed Just One,” Diocesan day on Hunger in Pennsylvania 101, State College

June 5 Rita’s Ices at 10am

Book Club, 11:15am: The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout

Last Choir of the season

Sunday, June 5 - August 28

Summer Sunday School (All classes combined) 10:00 service

June 7 Women’s Bible Study and Fellowship, 7pm

VBS Volunteer Meeting, 6:30 - 8:00pm

June 8 VBS Work Night, 6:30 - 8:00pm

June 12 Vestry, 11:15am

June 14 Spiritual Life Committee, 7pm

June 15-19 Diocesan Youth Conference, Linden.

June 19 Outreach Coordinating Committee, 11:15am

June 19-23 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Egypt - Joseph’s Journey from Prison to Palace, 6-8pm

June 20-25 God’s Helping Hands project week

June 22 Women’s Bible Study and Fellowship, 7pm

June 25 Taize Communion service, 5pm

June 26 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL SUNDAY, 10am

Endowment Committee, 11:30am

July 5 Pizza Club, 5:30 - 7:30pm

July 12 Pizza Club, 5:30 - 7:30pm

Pastoral Care Committee, 4pm

July 13 Welcome and Evangelism Committee, 6:30pm

Women’s Bible Study and Fellowship, 7pm

July 17 Intergenerational Worship, 10am: Listening to Jesus

Vestry, 11:15am

(Continued on page 11)

Calendar of Events

Coldest Coldest

VestryVestry

Meeting at Meeting at

ParishParish

PicnicPicnic

P a g e 1 1 V o l u m e 5 | I s s u e 2

July 19 Pizza Club, 5:30 - 7:30pm

Jul 23 Habitat for Humanity project day, 8am-3pm

July 26 Pizza Club, 5:30 - 7:30pm

Jul 27 Women’s Bible Study and Fellowship, 7pm

Jul 30 Taize Communion service, 5pm

Aug 5 Parish outing to Senators baseball

Aug 6 Diocesan Youth, Knoebol's Trip

Aug 7 Intergenerational worship, 10am: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”

Outreach Coordinating Committee, 11:15am

Aug 10 Women’s Bible Study and Fellowship, 7pm

Aug 14 Vestry, 11:15am

Aug 20 Habitat for Humanity project day, 8am-3pm

Aug 24 Women’s Bible Study and Fellowship, 7pm

Aug 27 Taize Communion service, 5pm

(Continued from page 10)

Calendar cont’d

Easter Egg Hunt 2016Easter Egg Hunt 2016 Shepherd and Lamb visit Pizza ClubShepherd and Lamb visit Pizza Club

125 North 25th Street

Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011

Address block

Address correction requested

The Rev. Dr. Duncan Johnston, Rector

The Rev. Canon Fred Miller, Associate Priest

The Rev. Patrick Strohl, Parish Deacon

Lynn Alt, Music Director

Melanie Gurgiolo, Christian Education Director

Elizabeth Reusswig, Parish Administrator

717-737-9834

www.mtcp.org | facebook.com/mountcalvary

Office E-mail mtcalvary@mtcp.org

Christian Ed christianed@mtcp.org

Rector’s E-mail rector@mtcp.org

Worship Schedule:

Saturday at 5 pm

Sunday at 8 am & 10 am

Thursday Healing at 10 am

Cook-Off

Have you ever wanted to

compete in a Chili cook-off?

You could have bragging

rights as the winner of Mt. Calvary's first ever

chili cook-off. Interested?

Please contact Meg Carll at

megcarll14@verizon.net or

Liz Reusswig at the church office.

Women’sWomen’s

TeaTea