Dear Friends,

We wish we could thank each and every one of you individually. Our hearts are full from your overwhelming generosity and support.

 We will forever be amazed at the strength in community and friendship. It is difficult to know what to say or do when you are on the receiving end of so much love and kindness. We want you to know that we are saying thank you with grace, and we will forever be changed by your thoughts, prayers, and kindness. We will pay it forward.

 Our plan is to take all of your wonderful notes and cards that we have received and mix them into the foundation of our new home as we rebuild so that it is built on the love, support, and prayers of all of you.

 Thank you and God Bless You,

 The Christianson Family

  Bishop Tracie Bartholomew and the New Jersey Synod Council will be holding their regularly scheduled June meeting here at Lord of Life on Saturday. Bishop Bartholomew has been asking congregations around the state to host the Council meetings since she took office a year ago, and it's been a wonderful opportunity for members of the Council and the Synod Staff to get a better idea of the amazing diversity and breadth and depth of mission and ministry that is being carried out here in our state.  

  These meetings are open to visitors/observers so if you have any interest in observing what goes on at the Synod level, please know you are welcome. Pastor Sue was recently re-elected as a member of the Council from the Delaware District and will be present at the meeting, and Pastor Dave will be providing an introduction and history of Lord of Life for the Council.  

   What exactly is it? Our adult bible study covered some ground on the answers to what human trafficking is, where it is, what it has become, and what can we do about it.  

  According to former Secretary of State, Hilary Rodham Clinton, "it is modern slavery". The United Nations describes it as "the recruitment, transportation, harboring, and the receipt of persons by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion". A recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper sighted by a reporter turned activist, who exposed the monstrous modern crime that engulfs more than 21 million men, women, and children around the world (including our own backyards). These are victims who are taken against their will and forced into industrial labor or farm labor, as domestic servants, or sex slaves. The United Nations Organization said it generates $150 billion in profits a year, up from $44 billion a year in 2005. This growing trade has become the 3rd largest criminal enterprise in the world aside from illegal drugs and weapons trafficking.

  What can we do? We can begin by examining and supporting anti trafficking organizations. There are groups such as the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (www.lirs.org). The Covenant House, which helps victims in recovery. The Polaris Project, which is an active anti trafficking organization that supports victims and laws that protect them. And there are others, such as Truckers against Trafficking, also known as TAT. This group empowers, educates, and equips members of the trucking and travel plaza industry to combat sex trafficking at the truck stops and service areas (www.truckers against trafficking.org).

  On the political front there has been a bill introduced to the Senate called "Stop Exploitation through Trafficking Act of 2113". It proposes to pass "safe harbor" to victims of trafficking by protecting them rather than incarcerating them (some of these victims are 13 years old and even younger). You can follow this bill at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr4842/text. You could also call our NJ Senators to support this bill.

  And we could all pray for these victims who have fallen into bondage.

"But his own people have been robbed and plundered, enslaved, imprisoned, and trapped. They are fair game for anyone and have no one to protect them, no one to take them back home." Isaiah 42:22

   Twenty one quilts were sent off to Lutheran World Relief June 13th. We will be able to track them to see where they are distributed, but it will be about 3 months before we know.

Thank you to all who have participated in this project, not only to those who sewed the quilts together, but also to those who helped cut fabric into squares, and those who helped finish the quilts by tying them.   Remember, you don't have to be a master at sewing to join in the fun. There is a place for everyone among the two quilting groups.

We meet every Thursday alternating morning at 10 and evening at 7:30. The next sessions are June 26th at 10, July 3rd at 7:30, July 10th at 10, July 17th at 7:30, and July 24th at 10.  Hope to see you on Thursdays!

 PS:  if anyone has a large metal or wooden storage cabinet that we could have for quilting supplies, it would be much appreciated!  

   Our first two weeks of June ended the school year with a lot of smiles and hugs.  Friday, June 6th we celebrated summer with "Water Day".  The children enjoyed being outside getting wet and playing games.

Due to our harsh winter, school was extended until June 12th this year so we celebrated that day with a family picnic.  Unfortunately the weather again did not cooperate but the picnic went on in the Fellowship Hall even with a bounce house!  

  It was on that day that we officially welcomed our new Director, Melinda DePetris, to the parents and teachers.  So now the halls are quiet, and we scurry to get things back in order and ready for the fall when Grace Place opens it's doors for the eigth year.

   On a personal note, I would like to thank everyone that was involved someway, somehow in Grace Place for the nine years ago that I started the school and then seven years of directing.  It was a pleasure to start a ministry so fruitful as Grace Place.  I will  continue to be involved through teaching the three year old class. I am sure Melinda will do a fine job as Director to see the school grow even more.

   -  Jill Glossner 

Sue Dreisbach, sued@lordlife.us     Rick Krause, rick@lordlife.us 

   Heartfelt appreciation is expressed to everyone who has filled out a "Blessed to be a blessing survey", to the choir for providing meals for Nancy during her recovery; to the wonderful women who provided meals for the Gibboni family;  to all involved with the Honor and Blessing Service and Reception for our Graduates; and to Philip and Linda Jagiela, Kaitlyn Glossner, Sara King, Donna Yates, and Ed Hourihan for supplying breakfast for our senior high mission trip participants!           

Romans 1:8  ... I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you...

Lu Hourihan, Discipleship Coordinator   

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 A BIG THANK YOU!!    To all of the Lord of Life members that made a contribution towards the landscaping project.  Without your help this project would not have been a success.   A special thanks to all those who made a donation, along with Nick & Chris Kulina who helped plant, Denise Mozitis who donated and brought the truckload of mulch, Brittany Gray who beautified the entrance, and to the men's group for spreading the mulch.  The place looks great!  The clean up was done by Superior Landscaping and the shrubs were purchased from Springer Brooks Nursery (21 in all), 

Thanks again,  Julie Vorwerk

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Every once in a while something or someone touches your heart. This year at Christmas time one of my gifts from a preschool family was a hand carved sign for Grace Place. On the back it was initialed and dated with the two children in that family. Last week, I was presented with another gift by the same family. It was a hand carved sign (written by Kyle) that we could put outside the Grace Place door.   Grandpop and Kyle made the sign together, and then the day after school ended came back and "planted" the sign along with flowers. What an awesome witness of love, caring, and sharing!

Thank you Koengetter Family for your love and support of Grace Place.

- Jill Glossner 

JUNE 29TH - SUNDAY - Summer get together at Julie Vorwerk's home, starting at 2 PM. Bring your bathing suit if you would like to take a swim or just come for the fellowship!!! Please bring an appetizer or dessert and BYOB. Address - 89 Carranza Road, Tabernacle, just north of the Seneca High School. There is no sign up sheet, just show up!!

AUGUST 1ST- FRIDAY- Traveling to Bridge of Peace to serve lunch for their VBS. Anyone is welcome to join us. A sign up sheet will be put up in July to sign up for donations of food or money. We will be serving Hamburgers, salads, and dessert.

Thank you!

= = = = = = = = = = = = =   June-July 2014  = = = = = = = = = = = = 

Saturday (6/21)  

Monday (6/23)   

Tuesday (6/24)   

OUR Purpose:  Lord of Life is a welcoming community of forgiven people proclaiming the perfect love of Jesus Christ!