A weekly e-Newsletter from the LCMS New Jersey District
Does your congregation have a story of mission & ministry to share? Want to promote an event within the district? The deadline for submissions to The Grapevine is each Monday at 5pm. Submit stories and photos via email here.
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Seasons of Discovery
by Rev. Richard Izzard
A Hall of Famer, noted for his insightful wisdom once said, "When you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there." Does this describe the disorientation of your congregation?
Jesus is "the Way," the only road worth taking, for, "no one comes to the Father except through Christ."
Have we lost our sense of passion in finding the lost, and sharing the way? Are today's obstacles preventing us from knowing which direction to take? When we don't know the right roads to take, do we settle for taking the road of past experience because it worked back then?
If your church is in that quandary, you will want to find out about "Seasons of Discovery," a revitalizing and transforming ministry of TCN, Transforming Churches Network.
The process of four seasons, over a two-year cycle will help congregations to: - Engage their communities with the Gospel.
- Grow in effective leadership and pastoral skills
- Determine their uniqueness by discovering God's vision
- Be better equipped to share the love of Christ with their respective communities.
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Participants at the March 26 Children's Easter Celebration at Calvary Lutheran Church in Verona enjoyed a petting zoo with baby animals, watched a puppet show focusing on the true meaning of Easter, made Easter Cross crafts, enjoyed refreshments, and played games to receive candy-filled Easter eggs.
The event was a grand success, as the congregation gladly welcomed 47 children from Verona and neighboring communities. Take a peek at some pictures from the event, below.
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BONUS: A special Saturday, April 23 session has been added especially for volunteers & parents!
Join us on Friday, April 22 from 8:30am to 3pm for the New Jersey District's annual Spring Education Conference.
Friday Workshop Leaders include:
- Monica Levy, founder and owner of LeapSmart
- Heather Latah, from NORWESCAP, to help us in the art department and to get our creative juices flowing
- Rev. Paul Huneke, presenting "The Top 24" to help God's people to share their faith
- Caitlin Dinger, presenting "Communicating in the 21st Century," how to use social media for school promotion, staff continuing education, alumni, donors, and more
Please encourage your staff members to attend the Friday conference. Register by April 1 to get the discount rate of $45.00 per participant. (After April 1 the cost goes to $75.00 per participant.)
BONUS SATURDAY SESSION: A special Saturday, April 23 (8:30am to 12pm) session has been added especially for volunteers, parents, pastors and workers - focused on Christian education programs in your congregation: Sunday school, confirmation, VBS, children, youth, and family ministries.
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FREE for all congregations attending Saturday's session!
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The Saturday session will offer an encore presentation of Rev. Huneke's "The Top 24" workshop, and Caitlin Dinger will present "Home-Centered, Church-Supported Discipleship." A roundtable discussion of "What Does This Mean?" will close out the day.
Participants will receive a wealth of practical tools for volunteer-led ministries - immediately applicable in your context. Each congregation will be given a FREE 10-pack of the LSB "Daily Prayer for Individuals and Families" laminated prayer cards - perfect for encouraging your members to spend time with God's Word each day.
The Saturday session is just $20 per person, with a maximum of $60 per congregation. Bring a group from your church and your 4th - or more! - team member is FREE.
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Registration Now Open: MC12 Mission Classic Golf Outing - Thursday, May 19
Start gathering your foursome, the Mission Classic Golf Outing is coming soon! You won't want to miss this great day of golf, for a great cause!
The 2016 Mission Classic Golf Outing will benefit NJ District Mission Outreach to Military, Veterans, and Their Families.
Women golfers are being especially encouraged to participate in this year's Golf Outing - and you can expect to see some special incentives & prizes just for them!
Download a poster to share with your congregation, golfing friends, club, or workplace!
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Foods of the Bible: Women's Society Event at Prince of Peace, Howell - CORRECT DATE: SATURDAY, APRIL 9
On Saturday, April 9, you are invited to attend a presentation at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (434 Aldrich Road, Howell, NJ) entitled "Foods of the Bible." It will be held in the Parish Hall at 1:00pm.
Our guest speaker will be Judith Krall-Russo. As a result of her independent studies and knowledge of history, Ms. Krall-Russo is a regular lecturer and seminar organizer across the state of NJ. In the land of milk and honey there were also figs, dates, hyssop, and artichokes. Many food items that we take for granted in today's abundant society were precious commodities in the ancient Middle East.
Learn how various foods were prepared in ancient times and how mealtime in Bible days differs from today. There will be a display of various fruits, vegetables, beans and spices.
Light refreshments will be available. Free will offering. Call 732-363-0732 for more information.
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Concordia College Choir at St. Peter, Lambertville - April 10
The Concordia College Choir from Bronxville, New York, will present a Concert on Sunday April 10 at 2:00pm.
The College Choir will also be participating in the 10:30 AM Church Service that same morning.
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Service of Healing at Bethlehem, Ridgewood - April 17
Patty Criscenzo, RN, Parish Nurse
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Ridgewood, NJ will conduct its 12th Annual Service of Healing on Sunday, April 17th at 1pm. The church is located at 155 Linwood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. 201-444-3600.
The worship service will be led by The Rev. Philip Tesch, and is being held in cooperation with the Parish Nurse/Care Ministry at Bethlehem. Download a flyer and/or bulletin insert to share the information with your congregation.
The focus of this worship service will be wholeness. Healing does not mean just the lack of illness or disability. The root of the word "heal" means wholeness. As Christians, we remember that our wholeness involves harmony in all areas of our lives- body, mind and spirit, with Christ at its center. Christian healing directs us toward being the person God is calling us to be at every stage of our living and our dying. For some, healing is comfort, for some, strength, for others, physical healing.
Through prayer, anointing with oil and confession we cast our burdens on the Lord. We confess that Jesus meets us in our brokenness and pain and brings His love to bear - forgiving, transforming, redeeming and healing by His grace. Jesus does this in God's way, in God's time, and according to God's loving purpose for each individual.
Our physical, mental and emotional hurts and ills are not signs of God's rejection but symptoms of our fallen world in which sin and death reign. We are invited by God to commend our ills on Him for this life, realizing that ultimate healing awaits us in heaven.
Please join us as we come together for this renewal of body, mind and spirit on Sunday, April 17th at 1pm. Light refreshments will follow in the parlor. All are welcome, bring a friend!
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10th Anniversary Gala at Prince of Peace, Howell - April 30
Take a step back in time as we celebrate our 10th Anniversary Dinner/Comedy Show/Gift Basket Auction on Saturday, April 30, 2016.
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
434 Aldrich Road Howell, NJ 07731
Admission Tickets are $35 in advance, and $37 at the door.
Pre-Sale Gift Basket Auction Tickets are also available. More information can be found
on our Facebook page or by calling the church office at 732-363-0732 or on our website.
- Doors Open: 5:00 PM
- Dinner Served: 6:00 PM
- Laughter Begins: 7:30 PM
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LWML News & Upcoming Events
Registration is NOW OPEN for the 2016 LWML NJ District Convention on Aug. 5-7 at the Hyatt in Morristown, NJ.
We are honored to have Patti Ross, the National President of LWML, joining Rev. Dr. Tony Steinbronn, President of the LCMS New Jersey District, as a keynote speaker for our Saturday evening banquet which will honor the service of our pastors.
We also have a Mission Prayer Walk planned for Saturday afternoon on the historic Green in downtown Morristown. Early bird registration is due by May 14 and our final registration deadline is July 1.
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Calendar Event
| Sun, April 10, 3pm - 5pm
| Spring Rally for NE Zone at Our Savior in Fairlawn, NJ - "Tour of the Holy Land" | | Sun, April 17, 3pm -5pm | Spring Rally at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Stanhope, NJ - Adoptions through Lutheran Social Ministries | | Fri, Aug. 5 - Sun, Aug. 7 | LWML NJ District Convention at the Hyatt Morristown in Morristown, NJ - "Keep Calm and Soldier On" based on Eph. 6:11-18
| | Sun, Oct. 16 at 3pm | Fall Rally at SHLC, Basking Ridge, NJ - Program TBA | | Sat, Nov. 5, 9am - 3pm | LWML District Fall Retreat at Crane's Mill, Caldwell, NJ - Program TBA |
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Prayer Focus
Circuit 3 (Highlands) of the New Jersey District, including their Circuit Visitor, the Rev. Stephen Vogt (Prince of Peace, Hamburg), and the congregations and school ministries of:
- Good Shepherd - Blairstown
- Gethsemane - Hackettstown
- Prince of Peace - Hamburg
- Emmanuel - Milford, PA
- Redeemer - Newton
- Holy Faith - Oak Ridge
- St. Paul's - Pompton Lakes
- Christ the King - Ringwood
- Our Savior - Stanhope
All Vacant & Calling Congregations of the New Jersey District, that God would direct their search for a pastor and provide for faithful ministry of Word & Sacrament during their time of waiting, especially:
- Somerset Hills, Basking Ridge - Pastor Gaddini declined the call to serve as Senior Pastor; developing a new call list
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Trinity, Carney's Point
- St. John, Clifton - shared pastoral ministry relationship with Bloomfield
- Prince of Peace, Howell - being served by vacancy pastor, Rev. Ken Fosse
- Holy Cross, Mahwah - being served by SMP Vicar Matt Hass
- St. Thomas, Manalapan
- Bethlehem, Ridgewood - being served by intentional interim pastor, Rev. Phillip Tesch; developing a call list
- Our Savior, Stanhope - a list of four preferred Seminary graduates has been submitted Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
- Luther Memorial, Tinton Falls - being served by intentional interim pastor; a call list of twelve pastors and four Seminary graduates is being reviewed
Almighty God, as Your Son so mercifully absolved Peter and converted Paul that they might feed Your sheep and Your lambs, so preserve pastors from doubt and every assault of the devil that would prevent them from proclaiming the victory of Christ's death and resurrection. Open the ears of all who hear to seek Your Son eagerly where He may be found in Your Means of Grace, rejoicing that You have made us the people of Your pasture and the sheep of Your hand; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
From Let Us Pray: Prayer of the Church, Third Sunday of Easter, 10 April 2016
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Upcoming Events
Add the NJ District event calendar to your Google Calendar! Our public calendar ID is: google [at] njdistrict [dot] org
APRIL 2016
Spring Education Conference
Friday, April 22 - 8:30 AM to 3 PM
Christ Memorial Lutheran Church - East Brunswick, NJ
Spring Education Conference - Bonus Session for Pastors, Workers, Volunteers & Parents
Saturday, April 23 - 8:30 AM to 12 PM
Christ Memorial Lutheran Church - East Brunswick, NJ
MAY 2016
The Parables of Jesus with Dr. Jeff Kloha
Friday to Saturday, May 6-7
More information to come.
MC12 Mission Classic Golf Outing
Thursday, May 19
JUNE 2016 NJ District Youth Pre-NYG Event Saturday, June 4 A special meet-up for youth & their leaders from around NJ who will be traveling to the NYG in New Orleans. More information to come. Discipleship in the Gospel of Matthew with Dr. Jeff Gibbs Thursday to Saturday, June 16-18 More information to come. Day With the Presidents Saturday, June 18 More information to come. JULY 2016 LCMS Synodical Convention July 9-14 Milwaukie, WI National LCMS Youth Gathering July 16-20 New Orleans, LA AUGUST 2016
Youth Workers Meeting
Saturday, August 6 - 9 AM to 12 PM
NJ District Office - Mountainside, NJ
SEPTEMBER 2016
Pastors' Wives Retreat
Friday, September 30 to Saturday, October 1
More information to come.
OCTOBER 2016
NJ District Youth Ministry Sunday
Sunday, October 23
Resources for worship & prayer coming soon!
Reformation Lectures
Saturday, October 22
Princeton University - Princeton, NJ
More information to come.
Fall Pastors Conference: The Pastor As Teacher
October 24-26
More information to come.
Reformation Concert: The Hymns of Martin Luther
Sunday, October 30
Princeton University Chapel - Princeton, NJ
More information to come.
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