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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Hymn for Good Shepherd Sunday - Written by Gethsemane, Hackettstown Music Director
From the Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Hackettstown newsletter: We are pleased and thankful for the gift that Laura Petrie is to our congregation as our Music Director/organist, and now for recently becoming "published." Her hymn, "I Know My Own," which we sang for the first time last April, was just published in the Spring 2016 issue of Lutheran Forum, a national magazine read by many (Vol. 50, no. 1). Dr. Stephen Weber wrote the tune and arrangement. We look forward to singing it again on Good Shepherd Sunday, April 17.
Please note the permission/copyright statement included at the bottom of the page:
Permission granted by Lutheran Forum to reproduce this page for congregational use. Permission must be obtained from the poet or composer for any subsequent use of the tune or setting. Please email bulletins including this hymn to sweber@usao.edu so we can track its usage.
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Knitters Supply Hats & Mittens for Special Needs Students
For the sixth consecutive year, members and friends of St. John's Lutheran Church in Clifton hand-knitted hats and mittens for the special needs children who attend the North Jersey Elks Developmental Disabilities Agency elementary school in the city.
More than 110 matching sets of hats and mittens were presented to the children at a special ceremony this past December. Barbara Anstadt of St. John's Lutheran Church coordinated the program.
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Does YOUR congregation have a knitting and/or sewing group?
Are you using the warm-weather months to stock up for next winter's needs in your community? Share inspirational stories and pictures from your handcrafting group with the rest of the New Jersey District! Email Caitlin Dinger for more information. |
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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Click the picture above to see a full-size version of this infographic
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Registration Now Open: MC12 Mission Classic Golf Outing - Thursday, May 19
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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Save the Date: Prayer Jubilee Dinner & Fundraiser - June 25
"Where Prayer Becomes Care" is the theme for this evening of prayer & support for the NJ District's Urban Mission Strategist, the Rev. Jim Buckman.
The Rev. Dr. John Nunes, President-Elect of Concordia College-NY, will be the keynote speaker, and NJ District President Rev. Dr. Tony Steinbronn will bring greetings from the NJ District.
Watch for more information to come - including how you can be part of this special evening. In the meantime, mark your calendars: Saturday, June 25 at Redeemer Lutheran Church (Westfield, NJ).
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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 Convention - August 5-7
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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Date
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Calendar Event
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Sunday, April 17
3pm to 5pm
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Spring Rally at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Stanhope, NJ - Adoptions through Lutheran Social Ministries
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Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7
| LWML NJ District Convention at the Hyatt Morristown in Morristown, NJ - "Keep Calm and Soldier On" based on Eph. 6:11-18
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Sunday, Oct. 16 at 3pm
| Fall Rally at SHLC, Basking Ridge, NJ - Program TBA | |
Sat, Nov. 5, 9am to 3pm
| LWML District Fall Retreat at Crane's Mill, Caldwell, NJ - Program TBA |
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Prayer Focus
Circuit 4 (Central Jersey) of the New Jersey District, including their Circuit Visitor, the Rev. David Behm (Trinity, Morris Plains), and the congregations and school ministries of: - Somerset Hills - Basking Ridge
- St. Paul - Flemington
- Holy Spirit - Montville
- Trinity - Morris Plains
- King of Kings - Mountain Lakes
- Good Shepherd - Randolph
- Holy Trinity - Somerset
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
All glory be to You, O God of peace, for You have raised from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of Your sheep. Hear our prayers on behalf of the children and youth of Your flock. Preserve them in the grace and life You gave them in Holy Baptism. Give to them humble hearts that rejoice in Your Word and honor their parents. Protect them from every assault of the devil, the world and their own sinful flesh. When they fall into temptation, deliver them with grace from shame and guilt to the joy that they are Yours for Jesus' sake. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
From Let Us Pray: Prayer of the Church, Fourth Sunday of Easter, 17 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.
Prayer Jubilee Dinner & Fundraiser: Where Prayer Becomes Care Saturday, June 25 Redeemer Lutheran Church - Westfield, NJ 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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