On behalf of the Secretary and in accordance with the Constitution and By-laws "The Secretary shall give written notice to all voting members of the date, time and place of each meeting at least two weeks in advance of the meeting date" notice is hereby given that the next Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, May 22, 2011 following Worship in Fellowship Hall.

Agenda items include:  2011-2012 Budget; facility and grounds renovations/improvements; election of council and ministry team positions that will be vacant due to terms expiring, and to vote on a proposed NJ District Special convention in October..

More detailed information will be forwarded in the days to come. 

HOUSE CHURCH UPDATE FROM VICAR DANIEL FENCO

May 2011

Ningun gave birth to Nyapai in 1975.  She was alone in an isolated rocky place.  She placed her newborn in a hole amongst the rocks and left him to die.  When she returned home her daughters asked where the baby was.  They hurried to the place and discovered the baby still alive.  They scraped the ants from his body, took him home and insisted their mother feed him.

After Nyapai's father died, Nyapai took the responsibility of caring for his mother, bringing her firewood and food.  "When you were born I left you to die.  Who would look after me now if you had?" she said before she died in 1994.  After his father's death Nyapai, whom we know as Lindon, got to thinking about the past leaders of the Minimib people, including his father who was the first elected leader.  "As I thought about the future I felt very sad, feeling there was no real leader to take care of God's people.  But someone touched my shoulder:  'Do not cry my child; one day your tears will be dry.'  I turned around but I did not see anyone."

In 1997 Lindon attended our teacher training course.  In 2005 we wrote to Timothy asking if he could try to find someone to work with us to translate the New Testament into the Minimib language.  When we arrived back, Lindon met us at the airstrip.  "I want to help translate the New Testament into Minimib.  When can we start?"  Thanks to his enthusiasm and the Lord's blessing on his Word and the work of translating it, the Minimib people received the New Testament in 2009.  Lindon sees the Word of God in his language as the fulfillment of his dream and the Lord's answer to his prayers.  "God's good Word is Himself the good Leader.  Jesus comes to us through his Word.  He is the Leader who is quietly inside the hearts and thoughts of those people who belong to him - Christ Jesus, the Word of God.  Only this Leader can ensure the future will be good."

Lindon, together with Joel, is superintendent of the Kaironk school district with 29 teachers and 668 students in 16 schools.  Lindon is married to Nola.  Their first child Sylvia was born in 2004.  Their other child, Belinda, was given by her An - the sister who had rescued Lindon as a baby.  She knew Lindon and Nola - and Sylvia - very much wanted another baby and would love her to death.

In His Love and Grace,

Pastor John and Maila

 Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!

                                              - Romans 7:24-25       

NEWS FROM DR. KRISTEN SCHMALTZ

GUINEA, WEST AFRICA 

Light for her office and increased electrical power to the clinic have improved working conditions for Dr. Kristen and the other employees of Compassion Evangelical Hospital.  The power is now "on" in the operating room and in patient wards as well.  In March, two hundred people were blessed with free consultations and fittings at an eyeglass clinic held at CEH.  Dr. Kristen reports that "one of my village friends, an elderly lady, just smiled when she could see better with her new glasses...".  Praise God!

The most exciting news, however, is of a community health care evangelism program that Dr. Kristen has recently participated in, which focuses on bringing health care and The Gospel message out to the people of Guinea where they live.  Dr. Kristen is now excitedly considering how to put this new training into practice in the communities surrounding CEH.  Please pray that The Lord will guide and strengthen her in this new endeavor! 

FROM LU ...

Jack and I have put together a few thoughts we would like to share with you.

God blessed us when he led us to Somerset Hills Lutheran Church 6 years ago, and it has felt like home to us from the very first day.  We were welcomed at the door when we entered and were given warm wishes for a good week as we were leaving after signing the visitor's book.  Several days later we received another warm welcome through a letter sent to us by Pastor Bob.

The following week we returned to church and within just a few weeks many people in the congregation had introduced themselves to us and encouraged us to join in some of the activities the church has to offer.  Through these church activities we have made relationships that will remain with us for the rest of our lives.

Somerset Hills is a unique and special church community.  It is not only a wonderful place for worship, it is a church family, and this is all due to you the members of the congregation and of course Pastor Bob.  It has been a great comfort at all times and especially whenever problems arise in our lives.  Recently, Jack had a heart procedure that has a success rate of 70%.  Three weeks ago he was taken off his heart medication and Thank God, he has been symptom free.  We both know it was all the prayers that were said for him that made his surgery a success.  Thank You for all your prayers.

It wasn't just about coming to church on Sunday.  Somerset Hills became a large part of our lives and we looked forward to being in church each week as well as being involved in different activities.

We will miss our time here, but we know we will keep in touch with the many friends we have made, and look forward to visiting whenever we can.

We thank God, Pastor Bob and all of you for the wonderful experience we have shared together.

                      ----------------------------------------

FROM JACK.....

By way of background, let me say that I was raised in the Roman Catholic church.  My grandparents were among the founders of our parish and my mother was the secretary to the pastor of our church.  I attended a parochial grammar school.  As a teenager, I was an usher at church and helped out whenever and wherever the opportunity arose.  When our children came along, Lu was a Sunday School teacher and I played the piano for the children when they would be performing at different times during the year.  I also played the piano at church every Sunday for eight years.  When there was painting to be done, I had the paint brush in my hand (and paint on my clothes!)  During those early years we worked with a wonderful priest whose very close friend was the pastor at the Lutheran church in our town.

As happens in life, changes were coming our way.  In time we moved and joined a new church.  We again were active for a few years, but eventually a new administration was put in place and it was evident that there were agendas at play there, so much so that we found that we couldn't remain at the church.  It was so traumatic that we stopped attending church for two years.  Then one day about seven years ago, we decided to look for a church to attend as we missed that connection in our lives.  We "tried" a few churches, but didn't feel that they were for us.  Lu suggested that we look for a Lutheran church inasmuch as she attended one as a child with her neighborhood friends.  I didn't think there was a Lutheran Church in Basking Ridge, as in the eight years we had been living here I never saw one.  I then let my fingers do the walking by going to the Yellow Pages and was happy to see that SHLC was on Lake Road, a road I never had occasion to travel on.

The following Sunday we attended the 9:30 service.  We were warmly greeted at the door, signed the visitors' book, and were again made comfortable by the ushers who realized we were new to the church.  The following Wednesday we received a welcoming letter from Pastor Bob thanking us for attending church the previous Sunday and extending a helping hand, if needed, and friendship.  It was the perfect follow-up to our Sunday experience for which we called to thank him  As they say, the rest is history.  Since then we've been attending as regularly as possible.

Within a relatively short time, it came out in conversation that by profession I was a court reporter.  I was approached by the person who had been the recording secretary of the council who asked if I would be willing to take her place when she and her husband moved form Basking Ridge.  The position was offered and I accepted.  So that was my new task - and the following is the point I have been leading to in my story.

At the meetings I noticed that there were no personal agendas at play.  Everyone on the council had the same goal in mind, which was the betterment of the church in its activities regarding serving the congregation and the community.  I thought I was missing something because at our previous church it was clear to me that different people had different agendas, that their ultimate goals were more personally motivated than for the betterment of the church community.  More than once, when I returned home after a meeting, I said to Lu that I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

As topics for discussion were raised, Pastor Bob always encouraged the council members to come forward with suggestions.  As a new participant on the council, I was impressed by not only his leadership, but also by the extent to which discussions were encouraged and would take place with input from the members present.  As the months passed, I still was waiting for the shoe to drop, as I felt that sooner or later I'd see the flaws emerge as different issues were brought up for consideration.  I'm happy to say that to my observation that shoe never did drop.

In our six years as members of SHLC, Lu and I have recognized the blessing that God has given to us.  During the period of time in which we were not affiliated with any church, my particular prayer was that we would be led to a church where we would be welcomed, where the members of the congregation cared for one another, where there would be a sense of family - just like in a good old movie where those elements would be present.  But that's Hollywood, isn't it?  Well, a cynic would agree that's only Hollywood, but our experience has been that it exists right here in town on Lake Road.  SHLC has truly been an answer to our prayers and Pastor and Lois in this scenario are the lynchpins, for which we are most grateful.

We sincerely thank God, Pastor Bob and the members of the congregation for enriching our lives.

SOMERSET HILLS LUTHERAN CHURCH

A huge thank you to Ron and Pat Bringewatt who so ably saw that SHLC's budgets and finances were in order for the past four years.  Ron has served as our Finance Committee Chairman since 2007 with Pat serving in the wings preparing our budgets and answering accounting questions.

With Ron stepping down as the Finance Committee Chairman following his second two-year term, we are in need of an equally talented individual to lead our Finance Committee.  If you have a talent in this area and are interested in serving on the SHLC council in this capacity please contact Council President Donna Morella for more details at donnamorella@hotmail.com.

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. 

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

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

This month's Confirmation Brunch is Sunday, May 15th, 10:45 am - noon.

Thanks to all those who contributed Easter Baskets for Lutheran Social Ministries.  We collected 37 baskets which brought joy to many children on Easter morning!

The quilters will meet on the following Fridays:  May 13th and May 27th. 

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. 

Sponsored by Women of Redeemer Lutheran Church 

Saturday, May 21st

12:30 - 3:30 pm

Redeemer Hall

Redeemer Lutheran Church

37 Newton Sparta Road

Newton, NJ

Tickets:  $7.00

Under 10: Free

Wedding Gown Fashions

Come see a fashion show of past or present gowns.

It's not just for mothers and daughters.  All women welcome.  Come join us with a granddaughter, niece, cousin or friend.

For tickets call the Redeemer Church Office:  973-383-3945.

Faith and Jason are hoping to get a group of youth together to go to this awesome event!  If interested, contact Faith at faith@shlc.net and be sure to check out the website here:  http://www.bridgefm.org/

bridgefest.asp.

Thank you so much for your support of the Pastoral Leadership Institute (PLI).  I am serving as a partner mentor (PIP) to a group of young wives.  We are learning so much about our roles as moms, wives and ministry partners.  Your support makes that possible.  Thank you.

Patti Mitschke 

Word of Life Fellowship

     Lutheran Church

Schertz, TX 

Do you plan to attend a Lutheran-affiliated college or university next year?  Graduating seniors from our congregation are eligible to apply for a new scholarship opportunity through the Lutheran Community Foundation (LCF).  The LCF is now accepting applications from graduating senior members who plan to attend a Lutheran-affiliated college or university in the fall of 2011.  One scholarship in the amount of $5,000 is available for the 2011-2012 academic year.  For full guidelines and application process visit http://www.thlcf.org/schola
rship_applications.  Applications must be postmarked by June 1, 2011.