eNews from Lord of Life
15-November-2009
Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Tabernacle NJ
giving bags for CC
Many bags of food for the Christian Caring Center Nov 15th - Thank You for helping others!
"Give Thanks to the Lord; for He is good!  His faithful love endures forever."  Psalm 107:1
 
Some Ponies are done running! (...but more to go!) 
We have a couple of the routes finished from the Nov 1 kickoff of the Lord of Life "Pony Express", but there are still several houses to visit.  The saddlebag, containing the Estimate of Sharing Card should be delivered to your home by a Route Rider (a fellow church member who lives near you) or the USPS.  Please complete the EOS cards, put back in the "saddlebag", and send along on the route.  If you still have the bag, please help us finish up the route - we're almost done!  God bless.

Do you have any comments or ideas that you wish to share about LOL's 2009 Pony Express run ?
If so, talk with any Church Council member, or the Pastor or lordlife-news@gmail.com.
Thank You!

To everyone participating in the Pony Express, who make a commitment to the ministries of our church which will help others in profound ways.

Thanks to Nancy Drew for helping to coordinate the Thanksgiving Dinner project for the clients of the Christian Caring Center and for all of those who so generously donated items!

Thanks to all who come together each week to worship and give praise to our awesome God, who are fed by the Word and Sacrament, and who accept the commission to be sent into the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus!
Marie Lamb
"Confirmation Corner"

Do you need a good laugh?   Since taking over the Confirmation Ministry this summer, I've had the chance to get to know the youth at LOL a little bit better. We have done several outings this year so far and I've found these kids to be helpful, caring, loving and funny. By just being themselves, they make me smile. At our last outing at the bowling alley, they cheered each others' spares, strikes & even gutter balls. What impressed me the most was when we prayed before getting started. Yes, we prayed at the bowling alley! We gathered around the bowling balls and thanked God for the wonderful opportunity we had together. I think we may have gotten some looks but our kids didn't complain and we had a great afternoon. So, if you ever want to join us, you don't need to have a child in Confirmation, please come talk to me. But be careful, you might even enjoy yourself !! - Marie Lamb
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Ministry Quicklinks
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Services:
Saturday 6pm
Sunday 8:30/10 am

Thanksgiving
Wed Nov 25 - 7:30pm
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Grace Place Notes
Grace Place held their annual Halloween Parade on Friday, Oct. 30th.  Thanks to all that came out to see the "little monsters".
Just a reminder to get your orders in for the wreath sale.  Wreaths
will be delivered the first weekend of December.
Blessed to be a Blessing!  Pastor Dave Jones

Let me play a numbers game with you.  What do the numbers 23, 35, 50, 160 and 950 mean to you?  When these numbers relate to recent ministry they are more than just numerical figures that increase in quantity.  They reflect some very important facets of our life together.  Let me continue.  23 is the number of years Lord of Life has been a chartered congregation.  35 is the number of women who provided baked goods for our Women's Ministry bake sale raising over $950 for ministry support.  50 is the number of years that Marie and Richard Giberson had been married when they stood together with family and friends in our sanctuary to "renew their wedding vows."  And 160 is the number of skirts that Penny Miller and friends made that are now on their way to women in Haiti.  All of these special numbers add up to once again reveal that when God gets a hold of us, the sum is greater than the parts and we are "Blessed to be a Blessing!"     - Pastor Jones

 
Our Response (To God's Generosity)
We can never repay God for his generosity. We can only respond to that generosity with thanks to God and service and generosity to God and our neighbor.

* Thanksgiving. Consider what Luther wrote in his commentary on Genesis:  "The Holy Spirit does not bestow his gifts for money; nor does God accept gold and silver for the forgiveness of sins, for life, eyes, senses and all blessings ... The only thing [the Holy Spirit] demands is thanksgiving, so that ... we acknowledge [the Holy Spirit] as God," (Luther's Works volume 4, page 397).

* Service. Luther writes that God's generosity frees us from worrying about our salvation so that we can instead serve our neighbors. "Man ... needs none of these things for his righteousness and salvation. Therefore he should be guided in all his works by this thought ... that he may serve and benefit others in all that he does, considering nothing except the need and the advantage of his neighbor," ("The Freedom of a Christian" in Luther's Works, volume 31, page 365).

Consider your own generosity. Do your gifts of financial and other resources match your thanks to God for his gifts? Do they match your God-given capacity for service to others?

Thanks to Luther Seminary, 2481 Como Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108

Advent Wreath Lighting - Do you have an hour or two of time to give?  Sue Dreisbach is looking for someone to help coordinate our Advent wreath lighting families.  It's all ready to go, we just need some help!

Also - need 6pm Sat and 8:30am Sun service attendees to help with the projection.  Training available.  EZ to do!  Contact church.

Upcoming Events at Lord of Life


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Kindermusik Open Houses - Tue Nov 17 - 10am & Wed Nov 18 - 6:30pm.  Please see Mary Whelan for more info.

Dinner at the Diner - Tue Nov 17 @ 4:30pm - This month we're meeting at Red Lion Diner -good food, fellowship, and a time of devotions-open to all.  Please see Sue Dreisbach for more information; sign-up at the church.

Assisting Ministers Meeting - Tue Nov 17 @ 7pm - If you volunteer in this ministry, please plan to attend this important meeting on prayer.  See Sue Dreisbach for more info.

Men's Fellowship Breakfast - Wed Nov 18 - 8am Red Lion Diner - a time of fellowship and discussion on the book, Jesus Christ:  Teacher, Servant & Savior

Time Out / Time In Bible Study - Wed Nov 18, 11 at 9:30am - fellowship and discussion of Resting in Him. Join us!

Adult Bible Study - Wed Nov 18 @ 10am - a time of fellowship and discussion on the book, Jesus Christ:  Teacher, Servant & Savior

Senior High Youth Ministry - Wed Nov 18 @ 6pm

New Life Choir - Wed Nov 18 @ 7:30pm - New voices always welcome!

PEP (People Enjoying People!) - Thu Nov 19 @ 1pm - Open to all - this month we'll be working on ornaments for our Giving Tree Project.  Please sign up and let us know if you can help provide dessert.  Please see Sue Dreisbach with any questions.

Women's Bible Study - Thu Nov 19 @ 7pm - a time of fellowship and discussion of Resting in Him.

Saturday Morning Servants - Sat Nov 21 @ 8am - Gathering to spruce up the church grounds and various tasks inside the facility also.  Come when you can & leave when you must!

Parents' Day Out - Sat Nov 21 - 10am -> 2pm - Annual event sponsored by Senior High Youth to support the Spirit of the Holidays.  Sign up on board or see Leslie Schmauder for more info.

Youth Led Worship Rehearsal - Sat Nov 21 @ 5pm - If you're planning to participate in the youth-led service at 6PM, please plan to attend.  See Sue Dreisbach for more information.

Ecumenical Service - Sun Nov 22 @ 7pm - Annual service held at Saint Mary of the Lakes in Medford.

THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP SERVICE, Wed Nov 25 @ 7:30pm-Erin Gordon, Christina Fennimore, and Scott Glossner will be sharing their blessings as part of the message.  Invite your family and friends to worship as we give praise and thanksgiving for all of our blessings.

Gobbler 5K Run & Family Fun Walk - Sat Nov 28 @ 9:30am Camp Ockanickon - Please join our Lord of Life family at the third annual walk at YMCA Camp Ockanickon. Registration fees benefit the Strong Kids Campaign. The course takes walkers and runners through the gorgeous trails around the beautiful lakes of Camp Ockanickon. So, whether you are an Olympic runner or want to take the family for a walk, there are prizes and fun for everyone. Registration forms are available in the church office or on the camp's website:
 http://ycamp.org/documents/2009gobblerRun.pdf . What a great way to work off that holiday feast and help build strong bodies! Contact Marie Lamb if you have any questions. The Grace Place at Lord of Life is a proud sponsor of this event (check out the t-shirts!)

Advent Family Night - Sun, Nov 29 @ 6pm - "Christmas Around the World" will be an interactive evening - more info on the sign up at Church.  Don't miss the fun!

Walk in the Park - Mon Nov 30 @ 10am - Eagle Walk, Vincentown - Join us as we explore God's natural creation - see Sue Dreisbach with any questions.

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Keswick Hymn Sing - Thu Dec 3 @ 9am - This month's theme is "Christmas Hymns" - please signup on the bulletin board by Nov 22 if you'd like to attend!

Greening of the Church - Sun Dec 6 @ 11:30am - If you'd like to help "ready" the church for the season, please know that you're welcome!

Lutheran Care Visit - Mon Dec 7 @ 1:30pm - Open to all, please see Sue Dreisbach if you'd like to participate this month.  Use your hands and heart to touch our friends with the love of Christ through God's Word and music.

Book Review & Fellowship - Mon Dec 7 @ 7pm - Meeting at the home of Janell & Bill Reich and discussing "Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham.  Please see sign up on bulletin board.

Upcoming Sunday School Advent & Epiphany Programs:
  - Dec 6 (grades thru Kindergarden)
  - Dec 13 (1st, 2nd grades)
  - Dec 20 (3rd & 4th grades)
  - Jan 3 (5th grade)

Stewardship Team - Tue Dec 8 @ 7pm

Christmas Eve Worship Services - 2pm & 4pm (Chrildren's Service) & 8pm & 10pm

Contact Info
Pastor David Jones  609-268-0262 (office)  lordlife@lordlife.us