Calvin Caller – Winter issue
Winter 2026
VOL. LIX No. 1
Why Does Music Reach Us So Deeply?
Have you ever been surprised by how strongly a song hits you?
Maybe it’s Silent Night –that quiet third verse when the words feel almost too holy to sing. Or O Holy Night, right at the climax, when the melody seems to lift higher than your voice can comfortably go. Or perhaps In Christ Alone or Amazing Grace –songs you’ve sung countless times, yet suddenly your throat tightens, your eyes well up, and you’re not sure why.
Think about those moments. The ones where you can’t quite sing through the rest of the song. Where the hair stands up on your arms. Where something deep inside you stirs before your mind has time to catch up.
Why did God wire us this way?
The same God who speaks the world into being also shapes us with affections, emotions, and imaginations. Music seems to touch all of those at once. It doesn’t replace the Word, but it carries the Word into places that are harder to reach through reason alone.
Scripture itself points us in this direction. The Psalms are theology sung. They teach doctrine, yes—but they also give voice to fear, joy, grief, repentance, and hope. God invites His people not only to say the truth, but to sing it, allowing truth to dwell richly in us (Colossians 3:16).
Music has a way of bypassing our defenses. It reaches us before we can analyze it. Even outside the church, we see this: listen to the final moments of Nessun Dorma, when Pavarotti sings that soaring “Vincerò!” (“I will win!”). Even without understanding the language, the human voice carries longing, resolve, and triumph. Something about it resonates deeply.
Instrumental music can be powerful too, but the human voice does something different. A voice is fragile. It cracks. It breathes. It belongs to a person made in the image of God. When we sing, especially together, we offer something vulnerable. Perhaps that’s why congregational singing has always held such an important place in the life of the church-not as performance, but as participation. In worship, singing does not manufacture emotion or manipulate God. Rather, it forms us. It helps align our hearts with truths we confess -even when our feelings lag behind our faith- this is why the WORDS we sing are so important.
We may not have all the answers. But perhaps the question itself is worth sitting with:
What does it say about God that He gave us music -not only to understand truth, but to embody it together?
And what songs has God used to shape you -slowly, faithfully, sometimes unexpectedly?
~ Craig Folger, Worship Director
Faithful Family Verse of the Month…
We use a designated verse(s) in some way during worship on a monthly basis. Our hope is that this verse(s) will go home with you and be in your heart and mind during each month. You will find our monthly verse used in various ways during the month. You can find this focus verse in the bulletin, on Facebook, and on our website. Let’s keep digging into God’s Word together.
Beautifying the Church…
For the past year, we have been blessed with members who have placed flowers in our narthex and sanctuary. There have been artistic dried and floral arrangements, as well as vases of fresh flowers from member’s flower gardens. “Thank you” to all who have been a part of contributing flowers to the church and making it look special for all of us.
A special “thank you” to Brian Dirkse who made wood poinsettia holders that tip the plants forward so more of the plant can be seen.
~ Maryann Wolffis and the Calvin Decor Team
Fellowship…
It’s a new year and the Fellowship Team is excited to again plan events to encourage community with one another. The events that we will be organizing in the next few months are as follows:
- Family Game Night – Wednesday, January 28
- Souper Bowl Sunday – Sunday, February 8
- Spring Salad Luncheon – Sunday, March, TBD
- Easter Breakfast – Sunday, April 5
We are ALWAYS looking for new faces to join us for the preparation, serving and/or clean up related to these opportunities for fellowship. We have a lot of laughs and fun hosting these events. In addition, if you enjoy baking and would like to volunteer to help with making breads, coffeecakes, cookies, or dessert, we would like your help in that way also. We generally try to host something each month and if you have an event or month that you would like to participate in this ministry please talk with Bert VanAndel, Kathy Jansen or Barb Hoffman.
~ Kathy Jansen
Household Pantry…
The Household Pantry is a vital outreach ministry of Calvin Church in our community. We had the privilege of serving 75 family units in the Household Pantry in 2025, including 85 adults and 87 children. This is possible because of the generosity of Calvin Church members, through donations of new or gently used items or financial donations. We, who are so blessed, cannot begin to understand what it means for a family to have nothing and then receive one set of dishes, silverware and bath towel per family member, or one set of sheets per bed, along with other items for making meals.
All of us have felt the pinch of rapidly increasing prices for food, utilities, and housing. This is so much more difficult for families living in poverty. We anticipate the needs will only increase in 2026. So far winter has been severe, so we have need for twin and queen blankets, comforters, and even the smaller throws. We always need sauce and frying pans, slow cookers, toasters, and cooking utensils/knives. Items can be dropped off on the table in the basement just outside the elevator or feel free to leave them upstairs by the elevator.
Thank you for being a helping hand to these families for more than a decade and into the future.
Volunteers are always needed to assist on pantry days, which are scheduled once a month, alternating Wednesdays and Saturdays. Usually you will be scheduled to work only once in 3 months. If you have any questions about the pantry, contact any of the co-chairs listed below.
~ Co-chairs, Ric & Dee Scott, Anita Hasper
Friendship Ministry…
Friendship Ministry continues to march along this year. We had a rocky start due to projection issues and the planned lessons looking at Courage. God took care of us and we were able to shift to a series of lessons using sports analogies that have been well received. We are still in need of volunteers to bring the program up to full strength so each participant has their own special mentor.
Our next meetings are January 8 with a treasure hunt activity; January 15 & 22 are Bible lessons on Jesus is our Substitute and our way of Salvation. We don’t meet in February but have an annual bowling outing (date to be determined). Meetings resume March 5, 12 & 19 when we discuss Justification, Reconciliation and Sanctification. These are some deep topics, but we’ve found a friend, Douglas Talks, that make these challenging topics easy to understand. We will once again participate in a morning worship service on Sunday, March 22. April brings our final month of meetings with a review lesson on April 9, Talent night on the 16th and a praise and worship night on the 23rd.
We praise God for seeing us through another season of Friendship Ministries. To God be the Glory!
~ Jan Weiden, Friendship Steering Committee Chair
RightNow Media
This is a streaming library of the world’s largest biblical video resources for the entire family that inspire faith every day of the week. Click on the QR code or text CALVINCRC to 49775 for easy access to the video library anytime, anywhere, browse the content available to you and find series that are relevant to your life.
Info from the Church Office…
- With the colder weather upon us, we would like to remind everyone that all Calvin Ministries cancellations will be posted to FOX 17, com, WZZM TV, WZZM13.com, WOOD TV, WOODTV.com and also on Facebook.
- Your 2026 Offering Envelopes are in your mailbox. If you don’t yet have envelopes and would like them, let Vickie in the office know. Please take a moment to empty your mailbox.
- The 2026 Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry schedule will be available soon. Calvin Church provides a pantry on the last Friday of almost every month, distribution at 5:00 pm, volunteers arrive by 4:00 pm. If you are interested in helping, please reach out to Jen Konyndyk (616-485-6696) or Nancy Mellema (231-750-1627).
Church Directory Info…
Our church directory tells a story.
Every name, every photo, every phone number is a thread in the beautiful tapestry of our church family. These are the people who show up—week after week, year after year—serving, worshiping, praying, and growing together. Behind each entry is a life touched by grace, and a heart committed to the body of Christ.
We invite you to take a moment to reflect on the stories within our congregation. To see not just names, but legacies of faith, love, and fellowship.
- If you have changes (address, phone, email, etc.) for the directory during the year, please let Vickie know and updates will be put in this section of the seasonal Calvin Caller (but will not be included in the Calvin Caller on the website).
- Have you updated your family photo recently? If your answer is yes, we would like to include it in our Online Directory! Please take a moment to email it to Vickie in the office at curtis@calvin-crc.org.
- The Online Church Directory is very user friendly! Call, text or send an email right from the app on your smartphone. All info is updated regularly. Download the app and get started today! Call/Email the office or stop in if you need instructions.
- I encourage you to see the directory as a living document, reflecting our congregation’s dynamic nature. Please help me keep it updated! ~ Thanks Vickie
The birth of Christ reminds us of God’s unfailing love and the hope we have in Him. May this Christmas bring you peace, and cherished memories with those you love. May the new year be filled with joy, and with the unshakable hope that comes from knowing we are all part of God’s story.
Blessings, The Calvin Staff
Pastor Mark, Pastor Brian, Courtney, Craig, Vickie, Travis