Calvary Guild
Calvary Guild is almost as old as Calvary Church. Its first meeting was on March 29, 1951. As a service organization its members have always been divided into committees.
The altar committee prepares the altar for each worship service. Paraments, linens, candles, Holy Communion supplies and equipment are procured and maintained.
The flower committee sees to it that flowers are arranged on the altar for services and then distributed to the sick, shut-ins, and others.
The sewing committee meets weekly to make a great variety of items. In the early years they made drapes for Calvary's windows. Since then most items have been requested by various institutions. Dresses, layettes, stuffed toys were made for Bethlehem Children's Home and Bethesda Home for the Retarded (Bethesda Lutheran Home). Countless lap robes, gowns, and bibs have been supplied to a number of Long Island hospitals and institutions such as Central Islip State Hospital and the Cerebral Palsy Center. The biggest effort has always been making quilts. In recent times 15 or so active members have turned out about 100 quilts each year! When finished most are shipped to Lutheran World Relief (by Morton J. Lemkau Moving & Storage vans) to be used anywhere in the world. Sometimes the only shelter certain people have to protect them from the cold is a LWR quilt. Recently quilts have been given also to the needy in Hempstead.
The prayer chain has about 25 members who daily pray for sick and troubled members and their relatives, friends and neighbors. Quite often former members living in faraway places request prayer. Each year about 230 requests are received. We have been heartened by reports of sicknesses cured and problems solved in answer to prayer. More than once a doctor has said, "It is a miracle that this person has recovered."
Nursery care for little children during worship services was provided by the Guild for many years.
The book display committee regularly made Christian books and supplies available. This is no longer done.
The Guild has held a mother/daughter dinner in spring for the congregation. Several series of films were sponsored for all to enjoy.
For over 20 years Calvary Guild members held gala parties each year at Wartburg Home in Brooklyn. It later became more expedient to hold these parties at the Lutheran Home for the Aging in Smithtown. In recent years parties have been held at the Hempstead Nursing Home.
Each year the ladies prepare Christmas booklets with pictures from Christmas cards accompanied by the story of Jesus' birth. These have been distributed by the chaplain at Nassau County Medical Center, the Nassau County Jail, and usually of late in nursing homes. Angel tree gifts have been gathered to be given to the children of jail inmates.
For the past four years the Guild has promoted "Operation Christmas Child". It is a unique project of Christian relief and evangelism called Samaritan's Purse. Shoe boxes are filled with small toys, socks, school supplies, etc. and sent to areas of the world where children suffer from the effects of war, poverty and famine.
Over the years our women have responded to requests for help to serve refreshments and meals for all sorts of congregational events. This included the early annual church dinners.
For most of its history Calvary has been a part of the International Lutheran Women's Missionary League -- an organization of over 200,000 members. Our women have been uplifted by zone rallies, district conventions and retreats. Some have gone to national conventions.
Once a year Calvary observes LWML Sunday. Guild members participate in a special order of service and display samples of items made by the sewing committee. In their mite boxes Guild members -- and others of the congregation -- gather money for the mission work of the LWML in the United States and the rest of the world.
Calvary has, through the years, played a prominent role in the LWML. Alma Kern served as Atlantic District president, was third vice president of the International LWML, and an editor of the International LWML Quarterly. She wrote three widely-read books published and distributed by the International LWML. Kathleen Lowe served as Nassau zone president for six years and Atlantic District president for four years. Myrtle Kirsch served as Nassau-Suffolk zone president.
In the 1960s the Guild often had 80 women attending meetings. But times have changed. Lifestyles have changed, too. Attendance at society meetings has dropped drastically. Yet a faithful core of members serves as the engine that makes the wheels go around. Our motto remains: "Serve the Lord with gladness."
"We pledge to serve wherever and whenever the Lord needs us... our hands to work for Him, our feet to go on His errands."