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Groups & Ministries

Children & Families
Activities are scheduled at varying intervals. Please email or call the church office at (309) 688-4321 to find out what events may be coming soon. In the meantime, please join us for Sunday School each week at 9:30 a.m.
We also support our families by providing nursery care during the 10:45 a.m. Sunday service.
Junior & Senior High School
Activities are scheduled at varying intervals. Please email or call the church office at (309) 688-4321 to find out what events may be coming soon. In the meantime, please join us for Sunday School each week at 9:30 a.m.
Young Adults
Our Youthful Minds group is for anyone who has managed to escape High School with their life and soul reasonably intact, may or may not have graduated from college and who have not yet entered into “older age”. We typically meet on a Sunday afternoon, but the schedule varies. Please email or call the church office at (309) 688-4321 to find out what events may be coming soon. You can also check out the Mt. Calvary Facebook page or sign up for our Snail Mail communications.
Groups & Ministries

Adult Groups & Ministries

Food Pantry
1st Tuesday of the Month - 9 to 11 a.m. in Parish Hall
A part of the Peoria Anti-Hunger Coalition, most of the food supply comes from the organization’s Can-a-Thon held in early March. Churches, including University United Methodist and Church of the Brethren, and organizations such as the Caterpillar Retirees, contribute as well.
Donations can be made to the food pantry any time. Baskets are available in the Narthex and Parish Hall.
Participants in the food pantry program do not need to call ahead, but they do need to show proof of residence, the number of people in their household, and a picture ID. They also may be asked to show proof of income.
The food pantry is open on the First Tuesday of each month between 9 and 11 a.m. To access the food pantry, enter through the specified door at the back of building.
Women of Mt. Calvary
2nd Saturday of the Month - 9:30 a.m. (September - June) in Parish Hall
Women of Mt. Calvary (Lutheran Women's Ministry League) meet on the second Saturday of each month, September through June. They are active within the parish with works including preparing the chancel for worship services, providing greeting cards, preparing meals following funerals, before Advent and Lent services, and for families during an illness, Valentine boxes for congregation members in the military and away at college, and Thanksgiving food baskets for our members in need.
Women of Mt. Calvary also support the Food Bank at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. In addition, our delegates to Lutheran Women of Greater Peoria keep us in touch with their activities as they support Lutheran Hillside Village and Lutheran Social Services.
Lutherans for Life
4th Monday of every Month - 7 p.m. in Parish Hall
Large print Bulletins and assisted listening devices are available for those who need them. An usher or elder of the day can provide you with these resources, and can help adjust the Hearing Assist Device.
Music Worship Services
Help us make a joyful noise! No skills required, just a love of music and spreading God’s Word through song!
Adult Bells Every Thursday — 6:45 p.m.
Adult Choir Every Thursday — 7:45 p.m. (Wednesday evenings at 8 p.m. during Lent)
Anchormen 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month — between services
Cell Group
This lay-led Bible Study Group meets in member’s homes. The Ruckle/Stutz Cell Group gets together the second Sunday of the month at 7 p.m. Contact Conley or Donna Stutz at (309) 691-7559 for information.
Senior Club
Potluck and Meeting 1st Friday of Month - 5:30 p.m.
This social group meets once a month for a potluck and brief program. No pre-registration is necessary; just bring yourself and a dish to pass!
Lutheran Senior Ministries at Lutheran Hillside Village
A ministry of the Lutheran community to provide all levels of care from independent apartment living to skilled nursing on their campus at 6901 N. Galena Road. Call (309) 692-4494 for more information.

Meet Pastor Barry Long

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Concordia Lutheran School
High Bar to Clay Jar

Thought of the Day

High Bar to Clay Jar

[Jesus said] “… many who are first will be last, and the last first. For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. And he went out about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden in the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So [Jesus said] the last will be first, and the first last.” (Matthew 19:30-20:16 / NKJV)

Published on: Friday, September 18, 2026