Save Thursday, May 12th for the 7th annual "Mission Classic" Golf Outing, of our New Jersey District, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, to the Transforming Congregations Network "revitalization" effort in our congregations.  Last year, SHLC had at least 3 foursomes, and grand time was had by all.  The Outing will be held at Heron Glen Golf Course, Ringoes, NJ.  Cost is about $175.  Sponsors are also being sought.  Call the Church office (908-766-2858) to reserve your spot, or for a brochure.  Speak to Pastor Bob about being a sponsor. 

This is a progress report from our November visit with Pastor John Davies on the projects our gifts to the Kobon Ministry are making possible

Already in use in the 29 schools are the TABLES, CHAIRS, AND WOODEN BOXES needed.

The AIRSTRIP CONSTRUCTION, with manual labor being done by the Kobon people, is moving along, with one airstrip completed, just awaiting inspection for its use; also progress in preparing the remaining two strips.

One TEACHER HOUSE is on the way to completion.  It will be the home of Hibru, one of the Living Word School coordinators.

Funds for the construction of three CLASSROOM BUILDINGS are providing materials and airfreight for them.

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS will provide two teachers with the opportunity for further training.

Still on the needs list are gifts toward the complete funding of the FANKFANK RADIO TRANSCEIVER, the AIRSTRIPS, thirty-two TEACHER HOUSES, and four more TEACHER SCHOLARSHIPS.

In dollars and cents, we've made a great beginning - almost $14,000 contributed.  Thank you for these gifts.  The total expected cost of all projects is $81,494.  Please continue, as you're able, to contribute to the needs lists.  Contact Russ Baccaglini (russ.baccaglini@thrivent.com) or Joyce Millhagen (908-647-3097) for more details.  And pray for God's continued blessing on the Kobon Ministry and our partnership in it.

•  SHLC is a stable, healthy and slowly growing congregation.  Our life together is hectic, but also very blessed, enjoyable, fulfilling, and challenging.
• SHLC mission and ministry - all of what follows represents a vibrant Christian community at worship and in service.

           -   Started a "house church" in Bernardsville

              -   On-going small groups and Bible studies

           -   Vibrant and growing Sunday School

           -   Revitalized Youth Ministry for Middle
               School

           -   Growing Worship attendance with an
               eye toward a 2nd Sunday service 

           -   Improved web site with SHLC member

               blog

           -   Prayer and Financial support to

                  Papua, New Guinea

                  Guinea, West Africa

                  Pastoral Leadership Institute

                  Concordia College, Bronxville, NY

                  New Jersey District, LCMS

                  Transforming Congregations
                       Network

                  LCMS Missions NJ Immigrant and

                       Urban Mission Strategist

• 4 New Staff members in the past 13 months - Faith Martin (contemporary worship and youth), Carmen Scialla (traditional worship, choirs), Vicar Daniel Fenco, and Vicar Brad Hildebrandt.  All - in differing ways - require on-going supervision, coordination, direction and encouragement
• Gentle Shepherd Christian Preschool - full enrollment with the real potential and need to expand - either with a full-day kindergarten or expanded Early Childhood classes; recognized as a premier learning experience!
• Finances:  healthy.  FY 2009-2010 (ending 6/30/10) ended meeting all of our expenses
• FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE, AND MORE, WE PRAISE AND THANK GOD!     

Confirmation

By David Wieber

Many Christians have been confirmed, but not all know what that means.  Christian confirmation is a rite of the Church in which people who are baptized confirm their faith and closeness to Jesus.  However, I believe that getting confirmed is something more.  I do believe that this process does help us get closer to Jesus, but I also believe that Christ becomes a much bigger part of us.

Our confirmation classes have helped me understand this.  We learned so much about Jesus.  We learned about the times when he was a young boy to all of his teachings as an adult.  Further, we were taught about the times preceding his birth.  I have learned about his miracles and even about all of the early disciples that he has attracted.  I believe that Jesus is truly my Savior from sin.  This will stay with me forever because every day I will think about the man that we worship.

I've also learned about Christian history.  The idea of being confirmed has given me an outlook on the history of the Lutheran religion.  In my first year of confirmation instruction, I watched a video on the beginning of the Lutheran faith.  I learned that Martin Luther believed that the Roman Catholic Church had strayed from God's Word.  I also learned the differences between the Lutheran Church and the Roman Catholic Church.  Without confirmation, I would not know these things.

As I confirm my faith, I reaffirm my baptism when I was first connected to Jesus Christ.  Getting confirmed is another step of growing as a Christian.  Confirmation training strengthened my relationship with Jesus Christ because I learned so much more about Him and what it means to become a more mature part of Him.  Confirmation shows that I am serious about my faith and want to continue practicing my beliefs for the remainder of my life.

Also, when I confirm my faith it shows that I am a much more sincere Christian than I was before.  I know I can come to God whenever I feel stressed or because of any problem I have.  It also means that I will be able to turn to Christ any point in time.  For example, whenever I may be having problems at school or with a friend, I know I can always turn to Christ.

Being confirmed means that I am sure about being a Christian.  It reaffirms that I want Jesus Christ to be a permanent part of my life for all of eternity.  It is more than the motion of going to church every Sunday and doing what the readings say.  It means truly worshipping Jesus and allowing him to be the center in my life.

HOUSE CHURCH UPDATE FROM VICAR DANIEL FENCO

I cannot believe that It has been a year since we started our House Church meetings at the Figueroa's House in Bernardsville.  It is a blessing to be a part of their spiritual journey and a part of their lives.  Together, we have seen God's hand at work in the lives of all our members and they have grown in faith and in love for God and all people.  In this past year, some of our SHLC members have participated in some of our meetings and I would like to encourage you to continue doing that. 

Moving forward, we have a few projects that we would like to embark on.  One of them is the possibility of having a bilingual Vacation Bible School.  We have talked about it and we are excited to do this.  We still need to work out all the details but for now you can pray for this project.  The Figueroas' feel a part of our church and they have shown this by joining us for worship on Sundays.  Also, their two youngest children, participate in confirmation class.

Recently, God opened a door to start another house church in Livingston.  Some of you met the Salazar family when they visited us three weeks ago in our Sunday worship service.  I met the Salazar family thru Cheryl Delgado.  Cheryl met the Salazar family while she was doing a consultation for Grace Lutheran Church in Livingston as part of her work with Transforming Churches Network.  The Salazar family approached Cheryl thinking that she spoke Spanish (Delgado is a well known Spanish last name.)  After that first meeting, I accompanied Cheryl to a congregational meeting in Livingston and that is how I met the Salazar family.  We connected immediately and quickly built a relationship.  They were very interested in starting a Bible study in Spanish or bilingual.  That is how we started talking about starting a house church with the intention that in the future they can have a Spanish service at their church.  I visited the Salazar family last Thursday (02/17) and we had our first Bible study group then.  The Salazar family is very excited about growing in their faith and sharing God's love with others.  The Salazar family is: Luis Alberto (father), RosaLuz (mother), Luis Jr. (son), Fabio (son) and Diego (son).

Both families, the Salazar's and the Figueroa's know of each other but have not met yet.  They will have a joint Bible study next Thursday.

It is a blessing and a privilege to be a part of what God is doing in our midst.  For now, I am reaching out to the Spanish speaking community, but I would also like to continue my ministry in both languages.

Please continue praying for these families and for my ministry.  Thank you all for your love and support.

Come for a steaming hot bowl of soup and some much needed time together in The Lord, each Wednesday in Lent from 6-6:45 in Fellowship Hall prior to the worship service.  Do you make a great pot of soup?  We need your soup!  Please see our sign up board near the church library to bring soup or just eat soup.  Lent, like life, goes by so quickly, so be sure to save the dates:  March 9, 16, 23, 30 and April 6 and 13.

Our Confirmation students are looking forward to serving you, so please support them and enjoy good fellowship (even if you don't bring soup or sign up to attend).  Yes, we will also have "kid-friendly" soup, too!  Questions?  contact Melanie Richard (908-204-9638) or Debra Sahadi (908-306-0802).

"What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God."  Psalm 55:14

March 2011

Pastor John teaching a class in the 70's

Dear Friends,

Somebody asked us recently, "How did you get involved in running schools in PNG?"  There was no one who could read.  People did not see any purpose in learning to read.  And there's no point in translating the Word of God if people are not going to be able to read it.  So as soon as we knew enough of the Kobon language to make an alphabet we started teaching people to read and write.  The next step was starting a school in the few villages where the people wanted one.

Those few schools had already been running for

Some of our Living Word School teachers.

several years when the PNG government passed the Education Act in 1997.  This law said the first three years of school is to be in the local language if there is someone to produce school books in the language and to train teachers to teach using the local language.  We saw this as a great opportunity to expand education in the Haruai, Kobon and Minimib language communities in line with the new law.

We held a teacher training course and made Bible storybooks on a hand-crank duplicator at Dusin.  These teachers went home and taught a class in their village.  Their students who did well during the years of school and were old enough returned for teacher training.  Then they went out and taught their own class.  Every month they return for a couple of days of further training.  In this way the number of schools has grown until this year there are 1117 students in 32 schools.  Looking back we marvel at how the Lord brought all this together.

We also marvel at how the Lord brought it about that today there is a New Testament in each of the three languages which can be used by the teacher for daily class devotions and by those who have learned to read.  For sure He takes care of His work and His Word.  What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.  Isaiah 46:11

In His Love and Grace,

Pastor John and Maila

Carmen Scialla

Carmen is a Music Professor at Monmouth University.  His past appointments include Director of Choral Studies, and Professor of Piano at Arkansas State University, California University, PA., and Kean University of New Jersey. We are blessed to have him enlighten and inspire us with his music.

Carmen was born in Plainfield, New Jersey. He has been interested in music since he was four. His first instrument was a tiny two octave organ. His grandfather would pick out old folk melodies on it and Carmen would play them back with chords. As a kid, his mother did not have to nag him to practice. Instead, she had to remind him to practice softer and not shake the walls.

Carmen graduated Magna cum Laude from the Mason School of Music, SUNY at Fredonia, and went on to earn his Masters from the prestigious Eastman School of Music, and his Doctorate from Louisiana State University, where he was chosen winner of the LSU Concerto Competition and also served as graduate assistant.  While directing one of his choirs, he met a beautiful alto, Gina, and the rest is history. Carmen and Gina live in Ringoes with their children Andrew, Leah, and Carmen Jr.

Carmen has performed numerous piano recitals in major cities throughout the U.S., Europe, and China, and is currently planning another European tour to take place some time in 2012-13. (How's that for a church trip idea?) Carmen would also like to present a piano recital here at SHLC. I think we would all love that as well.

Leah and Carmen Jr. are studying piano with their mom and dad. (Gina is a music teacher at Delaware Township School). Carmen Jr. can often be heard offering a prelude before our Sunday services. Andrew prefers the computer keyboard and is the one everyone goes to for tech issues.

Though Carmen does not have a singular favorite composer, he weighs in most favorably with the works of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven, and the Romantic creations of Brahms, Liszt and Chopin.  He also composes his own works and has an extensive catalog of published compositions, some of which we have enjoyed. What motivates him is "a basic desire to create music that helps to uplift the spirit and, simply, people's positive response."

When asked what he thought of our singing, he replied," The desire to praise is very clearly heard through the spirit and mood of hymn singing on Sunday. Lutherans love to sing and I love to help them sing even more joyously."

In addition to enjoying Carmen's talent here at church, you can hear his compositions on YOUTUBE and other on-line sources, and through publishers such as Concordia Publishing House in St. Louis.

Reported by Linda Vitale 

                    PANCAKE BREAKFAST

                       Sunday, March 6, 2011

                                8am - 1pm

                    Basking Ridge Firehouse

                      30 Washington Avenue

                            Basking Ridge

                                 $7 adults

                   $5 senior citizens and children

                           Children under 3 - free

Includes:  pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage,
                 coffee, tea and juice.     

                                    __________________

             A NIGHT OF ROCK AND ROLL

                                   WITH 

               THE TATTERED PROPHETS

                     (from the Beatles to the B-52s)

                      Saturday, March 19, 2011

                                  7-11pm

                       Basking Ridge Firehouse

                        30 Washington Avenue

                               Basking Ridge

Tickets:  $25, Seniors $20 and children under 13 free

For tickets call 908-766-9874 or e-mail tickets@brfco.com.

Come out for a night of music and dancing with some friends, light food and refreshments.         

SOMERSET HILLS LUTHERAN CHURCH

Sunday, March 27th

following Worship

Come together for pancakes, waffles and fellowship.  Sign up in the library area.

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16).

We will look to Abraham, Moses, David, Jacob and Elijah as models.  Like these patriarchs we can expect answers to our prayers--we can "Walk Boldly to the Throne".  Come and learn with us how and why.  Read Genesis 18 in preparation.

The next Prayer Group meeting is on March 8th at 10:00 am.

The quilters will meet on the following Fridays:  March 25, April 1, and April 15.  Please note these are not the regularly scheduled dates of the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month.

Our National LWML Convention is coming up in Peoria, IL on June 23-26, 2011.  The theme for this convention is "Being with Jesus:  Living on the Edge"...Acts 4:13 & 20.  The NJ District is sponsoring a bus to Peoria which will stop at SHLC on June 21st at 4pm to pick up anyone interested in going.  For further information, contact Arlene Price or check the convention website at www.lwml.or/convention.