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Sep 20, 2013 Lord of Life Lutheran Church
Saint Paul writes, "As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male nor female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3: 27-28 (NRSV) |
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Brothers and Sisters...
Something of an historic nature has taken place in our Church since last June. For the first time in the over 50 year history of the New Jersey Synod (spanning the United Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church in America and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), the voting members in assembly elected a woman to be bishop of our synod. Tracie Bartholomew is now serving as pastor to the pastors, congregations and varied ministries of the ELCA located on the territory of New Jersey. Tracie follows the capable and compassionate leadership of Roy Riley who served as bishop for 22 years. She is a personal friend, a caring pastor, a forward thinking leader...and she happens to be a woman.
Perhaps just as significant, or even more so, is the fact that the ELCA in assembly this past August elected Pastor Elizabeth Eaton to be our presiding bishop. Elizabeth follows the capable and compassionate leadership of Mark Hanson who served as bishop for 12 years. She is a bright, caring, witty and mission focused pastor of the Church who hails from Ohio...and she happens to be a woman.
I remember the time, not so long ago, when women couldn't be ordained as pastors, serve on church councils or even perform the duties of an acolyte. In some denominations, to this day, the role of women is much more subordinate and supportive to that of men. But in the ELCA (and it's predecessor church bodies), women and men have shared pastoral responsibility in congregations since 1970. In fact, our very own Pastor Petersen was present to cast an affirmative vote at the LCA convention held in Boston, Massachusetts that approved the ordination of women to the ministry of Word and Sacrament and was one of the first male pastors in our synod to share congregational ministry with a woman when the Rev. Carol Peters joined Bob on staff at Saint Paul's LC in Beechwood, NJ.
In my own time serving as a pastor of the Church (35 years this October), I have worked with men and women who have sensed a deep call to ministry. I have been blessed to know many female pastors (including Pastor Sue Jones) who have enriched the life of Lutheran and non-Lutheran congregations all over the state, country and world. In fact, 2 of my seminary classmates have been serving as bishops over the last 10 years; Marie Jerge in the Upstate New York Synod and Clare Burkat in the Southeast Pennsylvania Synod. Even while we were preparing to seek God's call at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, we learned to appreciate the variety of gifts each one of us brought to the ministerial table and pulpit.
It has been abundantly clear to me that the Lutheran Church is so much richer for the work men and women do in ministry; whether ordained or not. How fortunate I have been to work side by side with wonderful women of faith in all 3 of my calls. I am surely a more caring, compassionate and effective pastor as a result of many of their influences on my life and ministry. What a blessed partnership we have shared!
Incidentally, there is a female Lutheran pastor who recently has gotten my attention by challenging the Church to discover what it means to be an "emerging Church " in the 21st century. In an interview with Krista Tippett on the NPR program "On Being", Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber shares some compelling reasons for being a Lutheran Christian in these challenging and changing times. Be sure to check out the interview from Sunday, September 8, 2013 on www.OnBeing.org and don't let Pastor Bolz-Weber's tatoos deter you from listening to an inciteful and pastoral voice in our church.
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In closing, I want you to know that I chose the quote from the Apostle Paul because I believe he both relied on and respected the ministry of both women and men who surrounded him with support as he proclaimed the gospel. So do I! With that in mind, I ask you to regularly pray for Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and Bishop Tracie Bartholomew as they seek God's will in leading our Church to become the ever new creation we were all created in Christ to become...together!
- Your Brother in CHRIST, Pastor David Jones
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SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING!
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 9:45 AM
==> WE NEED YOU! <==
We'll vote on whether to extend a regular call to Pastor Sue Jones as her original three year term call will be coming to an end in December of this year. All confirmed members are encouraged to be in prayerful consideration of this matter and be sure to attend! Let's make this decision with as many people as possible! |
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THE NEW JERSEY SYNOD of the EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
Requests your prayers and presence as
The Rev. Tracie L. Bartholomew
is installed as the third Bishop of the Synod at a Festive Service of Holy Communion Sunday, September 29, 2013 4:00 PM at Princeton Meadow Church and Event Center 545 Meadow Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, Presiding Bishop, ELCA Presider and Preacher
Rostered Leaders are invited to vest and process, the
The color of the day is red.
A light reception will immediately follow.
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Gift Bags for Orphans in Haiti
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"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world" James 1:27.
I have visited different orphanages in Haiti during each of my visits. Children are placed in these orphanages because no one can care for them. Their parents may have died or perhaps their parents can't afford to feed and care for them; so, they place them in the orphanage rather than see them starve. To my knowledge the government does not help in any way to provide care for these children. The women who care for them rely on donations from church organizations, charities, and local people.
Come Alive! Church has been making Gift Bags for the children and has asked us to help. There are some specific items that should be included such as toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, etc. Beyond the necessities, it is nice to give a little toy such as a matchbox car for a boy or a jump rope for a girl. The bags are to be a specific size. They may be purchased or made from heavy cloth. (no book bags please)
The bags will be on display at the church. I will also have the sizes of the bags and a list of the items. Please feel free to help in any way you can. You may release your creativity and design and decorate a bag, or you may purchase items for a boy or girl and bring the items to church. A donation can will also be at the display if you would like to help with the shipping costs. If you want to make a bag, please choose a heavy fabric. Although camouflage print is popular and accepted in the United States, it is not accepted in Haiti. Only military wear camouflage.
These children have little if anything to call their own. Most of what they have is shared. Some of the orphanages are only a building where the children can stay to be off the street. There is no furniture, no chairs to sit in or beds to sleep on. Each child that receives a bag will be happy to have something they can call their own. But more importantly they will know that someone far away cares about them.
We have done many projects together for Haiti and again I thank you for your continued support and prayers. - Penny Miller
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Example bags on display in Narthex
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Recommended items for the bags include:
Chewable vitamins for children Plastic Cup
School supplies Benadryl topical lotion
Toothbrush & Toothpaste Antibacterial soap or tea tree soap
Wash cloth &/or hand towel Trail mix (no chocolate)
Mini first aid kits with band aids, Shaving supplies for older boys
cleansing wipes, gauze pads, alcohol Feminine hygiene items for older girls
swabs, hand sanitizer, etc.
Gift items - jump rope, tennis ball, ribbons
for girls hair, matchbox cars for boys
Please have items and bags back to the church by ==> November 3.
---Penny Miller, driven2sew@hotmail.com
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A Special Announcement for All You Animal Lovers Out There!
On Saturday, October 5th at 3:00PM Pastor Sue will be celebrating a Blessing of the Animals service here at Lord of Life. The custom of blessing animals is conducted in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi's love for all creatures and God's love for all of creation.
Francis, whose life and witness we recognize on October 4th, loved the larks flying about his hilltop town. He and his early brothers, staying in a small hovel, allowed themselves to be displaced by a donkey. Francis even wrote an ode to God's living things. "All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures."
The bond between people and their pets is like no other relationship, bringing us endless joy and companionship. So please feel free to bring your favorite critter and join us at the church for this very special event. ALL ARE WELCOME! And if you're interested in helping with this service in any way, feel free to contact Pastor Sue by calling the church office or emailing her at pastor_sue@lordlife.us. |
Music & Worship Ministries
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 KIDZ PRAIZE
What is it? What should it be? How can our children use their musical gifts and enthusiasm to learn about and praise God? Would I like to be a part of it? These are all questions we have about where our children's music focus should be during this program year, and we need your input. Parents and children please join us after the 10:00 service on October 6th to talk and explore together where God is calling us to be!
ALL GOD'S CHILDREN HAVE A PLACE IN THE CHOIR!
New Life Choir is gathering again on Wednesday nights at 7:30 PM. The choir is a part of the Music Ministry which leads and supports the singing at Lord of Life. Everyone is welcome to join--no experience necessary! If you would like to find out more, please see Rick Krause.
WELCOME TO THE PRAISE TEAM
Do you play an instrument or enjoy singing? Then we would love to have you join us in the Praise Team to help lead our people in song at the 10:00 service and other times throughout the year. We practice the music for the day from 9-9:45 each Sunday morning. Making music to the glory of God-what better way can you use your musical gifts! Come by yourself or bring the whole family. We would love to have you join us! Please see Sue Dreisbach or any of the Praise Team members to find out more.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS-SPECIAL SERVICE OF HEALING, OCTOBER 20TH, 4:00
---Sue Dreisbach, sued@lordlife.us Rick Krause, rick@lordlife.us
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The Women's Bible study continues on Wednesday's at 7:30pm. The new study is an in depth look at the life of the apostle Peter.
The book is called Eyewitness to Majesty: Peter, by Mindy Ferguson
It is not necessary to buy a book, but if you would like one the cost is $8.00.
Peter had a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. The relationship brought Peter to the point of abandoning not only his fish nets for Christ, but all of his ambitions and selfish desires as well. The same relationship that Peter had with Jesus is available to every believer who seeks to know Him as Savior and chooses to make Him Lord of her life as Peter did.
Please consider joining us for this wonderful study, all are welcome!
---Julie Vorwerk, awwvorwerk@aol.com
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COME ONE AND ALL - Sept. 29th - Camden's Children's Garden - leaving from the church around 11:15- 11:30. Admission is $6.00 per person, children 2 and under are free. Weather permitting.
Oct 8th - Bridge of Peace Fall Party - serving Beef Ghoulash, string beans, egg noodles, veggies and dip, fall desserts and Witches brew. If anyone can help with donating money for food, it would be greatly appreciated.
Oct 20th - "Ladies of Lord of Life" will be walking for "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer". Please come join us for the 3.5 mile walk; or if you cannot walk and would like to make a donation, please make a check out to the "American Cancer Society" and put it in Box #195. The walk is in Ocean City and we need to be there by 8:30 am. There is a sign up sheet on the board. We are also selling T-Shirts, if you would like one please put your size next to your name on the sheet. The cost will be approx. $7.00 each
Mark you calender for Nov. 15th - BUNKO Party - at the church. More info to follow.
Thank You! Betty Mastrillo email: mastrillo@verizon.net
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Senior High Youth Ministry
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 College Night will be held on Wednesday, Sept 25th from 6-8 PM. Join us in the Fellowship Hall for dinner followed by a Question and Answer session about the College Process. Bring a laptop or tablet if you own one. This is open for all grades - it's never too early or too late to start thinking about the next step! Please bring $5 to offset the cost of dinner.
We will be having our Faithful Conversations on Sunday, Sept 29 and Sunday, Oct 6 at the conclusion of the 10 AM service. Maureen will provide brunch, SHYM will provide the conversations!
Looking ahead: SHYM is going away on a one night retreat on Friday, November 8th (Teacher's Convention). We will be doing a service project in Medford during the day and then driving to Long Beach Island to stay at the Harvey Cedars Bible retreat. The cost will be approximately $60. This is an amazing opportunity to put life on "pause" and refocus/refresh your energy and priorities! Plus- they have an indoor swimming pool. If you are interested in attending the retreat, please contact Maureen (maureen.mcmichael@yahoo.com) by October 15th. |
ADULT BIBLE STUDY, WEDNESDAYS, 10:00-11:30
We're off to a great start with great conversation, learning, and fellowship! "The History of the Christian Church" is our focus for all of September. Come discover the fascinating story of how the church evolved from the time of Jesus up to the present and what was happening in the world that affected our story as a church. All are welcome!
HELPING HANDS, MONDAY, SEPT. 23RD, 12:30
Donate some meat and/or cheese, donate funds toward purchasing supplies, or come and help make sandwiches. Those are all ways you can support this ministry which feeds people who are served by the Christian Caring Center in Browns Mills. All ages of hands and hearts are welcome!
DATE CHANGE...OUT TO LUNCH, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25TH, 12:00
Great fellowship, good food, faithful devotions, and....ICE CREAM! All are on the menu and all are welcome to join in!
The Miracle of Christmas, Sight and Sound, Dec. 12th.
There is still room for a few more people. The cost is $95. Just let me know and sign up on the bulletin board.
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Fuller Center - "Lord of Life House" Sponsorship Update
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 | | Volunteers & Homeowner at the Ventnor House being restored |
Meet the Nguyen family (or at least their battered home).
We are fully engaged in reconstruction of this house now - so far we have replaced some flooring, have worked on insulation for the ceiling, walls, and basement (well... actually the crawl space). We also patched the roof. We will shortly be doing drywall which will dramatically change the look (and feel) of the house!
We're currently scheduling Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays for volunteers; typically leaving 8am at the church and around 4pm from Ventnor. Carpools are encouraged, but individuals can certainly drive themselves to the site but WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!! If you want to be scheduled, please call Ed Hourihan at 856-988-2089 or e-mail him at ejhourihan@verizon.net
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Alice and Fred Wilfrid are settling in to their new apartment at Lutheran Care. Here is how you can contact them:
Grace Assisted Living Center
255 East Main Street - Apt. 8
Moorestown, NJ 08057 |
Volunteer Chaplain Aids needed |
VOLUNTEER CHAPLAIN AIDES are needed at Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly. There are openings for trained lay visitors every day of the week. Following a training and orientation process, an Aide may donate two to four hours each week to visit patients, offering them friendship and spiritual comfort.
The 16-hour Training Course will be offered at the Virtua Center for Learning, 1200 Howard Blvd., Mt. Laurel, on Monday, October 28, and Wednesday, October 30, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m.
If you want to find out if volunteering is for you before signing up for the course, please phone for an information package with details of the course and the process of volunteering in the hospital. Please phone Chaplain Wendy Boer, at 609-267-0700, Extension 43281. Or e-mail your name and address to wboer@virtua.org.
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Men's Breakfast & Work Morning |
 Thanks to all the men who came to the 'work breakfast' on Sept. 14th at the church. We were able to get a lot of chores done outside, inside, and helped make your church a better place for ministries to happen! And the food was good, too! L to R - Lynn Heinold, Bill Leach, John Welling, Brian Roemer, Rick Osman, Kevin Fennimore, Dave Miller
Not in photo: Bill Dreisbach, Jack Welling, Pastor Dave
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Can you recognize this device? |
 If you can recognize and use the devices on the right ->(keyboard & mouse) than you are the PERFECT candidate to help with our Audio/Video projection at our church services! It only takes a bit of learning to support your church either 6pm Saturday or 8:30am or 10am Sunday. We have excellent free training and the gratitude of the congregation! If you can help once or twice a month or so, please contact Bill with the service of your choice at dreisbac@gmail.com Thanks! |
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Upcoming Events at Lord of Life!
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= = = = = = Sep - Oct 2013 = = = = = = 
Friday (9/20)
(Pastor Sue's Day off)
Saturday (9/21)
6:00 pm - Service of Holy Communion
Sunday (9/22) - 18 Pentecost
8:30 am - Service of Holy Communion
9:00 am - Praise Team Practice
9:45 am - Congregational Meeting to vote on extending a regular call to Pastor Sue
- all members please attend! Dr. Dianne Browne, Vice President of the NJ
Synod Council will be with us
10:00 am - Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving with Holy Communion & Sunday School
3:00 pm - Burlington Mission Cluster Meeting
Monday (9/23)
9:00 am - Staff Meeting
12:30 pm - Helping Hands
Tuesday (9/24)
12:00 pm - Out to Lunch at Evergreen Dairy Bar
7:00 pm - Grace Place Board Meeting
Wednesday (9/25)
8:00 am - Men's Fellowship Breakfast at Red Lion Diner
10:00 am - Adult Bible Study
6:00 pm - Sr. High "College Night"
7:30 pm - Women's Bible Study
7:30 pm - New Life Choir - new members welcome!
Thursday (9/26)
(Pastor Dave's Day off)
Friday (9/27)
(Pastor Sue's Day off)
Saturday (9/28)
6:00 pm - Service of Word & Prayer
Sunday (9/29) - 19 Pentecost
8:30 am - Service of Holy Communion
9:00 am - Praise Team Practice
10:00 am - Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving / Confirmation Learning Session / Sunday School
11:30 am - Senior High - Faithful Conversations
4:00 pm - Service of Installation of Bishop Bartholomew
Monday (9/30)
7:00 pm - VBS review meeting
Tuesday (10/1)
5:30 pm - Stewardship Team 'bag stuffing'
Wednesday (10/2)
8:00 am - Men's Fellowship Breakfast at Red Lion
9:30 am - Mom's Study
10:00 am - Adult Bible Study
11:30 am - Soup, Song, & Sacrament
6:00 pm - Worship Planning
7:30 pm - Women's Bible Study - "Eyewitness to Majesty: Peter"
7:30 pm - New Life Choir - New choir members always welcome!
Thursday (10/3)
(Pastor Dave's Day off)
Friday (10/4)
(Pastor Sue's Day off)
Saturday (10/5)
3:00 pm - Blessing of the Animals Service
6:00 pm - Service of Holy Communion
Sunday (10/6) - 20 Pentecost
8:30 am - Service of Holy Communion
10:00 am - Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving / Sunday School / Confirmation Learning Session
11:30 am - Sr. High Faithful Conversations
11:30 am - Sunday School Helpers Training
11:30 am - Parents info meeting on Children & Youth Music
Monday (10/7)
9:00 am - Staff Meeting
1:30 pm - Lutheran Care
7:00 pm - Stewardship Team |
- - - - - "Save the Date" for these Upcoming Events - - - -
Oct 2 - Oct 26 - Fall Stewardship Renewal - be on he lookout for our fall stewardship renewal which will commence Oct 2nd thru the Renewal Weekend of Oct 26 when your 'Estimate of Sharing' and 'Time / Talent' offerings for 2014 are due.
Oct 26-27 - Renewal Weekend (Dedications of EOS) - Rev. Scott Schantzenbach is speaking at 6pm, 8:30am, 10am services. We will have fellowship opportunities between services and after 6pm - lite fare, coffee, donuts, pretzels, etc.
Nov 2-3 - LOL anniversary celebrating our 27 years in Mission
ANYTIME: "Simply Giving" contribution form can be obtained by clicking here
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Pastor David Jones: pastor_dave@lordlife.us
1 Winchester Court 609-268-0262 (office)
Tabernacle, NJ 08088 609-268-3470 (fax)
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OUR Purpose: Lord of Life is a welcoming community of forgiven people proclaiming the perfect love of Jesus Christ!
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