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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District Office Hours - Memorial Day Weekend
The NJ District Office will close at Noon on Thursday, May 26 and will reopen on Wednesday, June 1 at 8:30am.
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MC12 Mission Classic Golf Outing - Recap & Thank You
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| | The winning team from King of Kings, Mountain Lakes, with District President Steinbronn. |
The 2016 Mission Classic Golf Outing was held this past Thursday, May 19.
The weather was beautiful as 103 golfers and many volunteers gathered at Heron Glen Golf Course in Ringoes for the annual fundraising event.
Rev. Terry Herzberg won the hole-in-one prize, a 2016 Ford Fusion. King of Kings, Mountain Lakes won the team prize.
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MC12 began with a military Color Guard, the Pledge of Allegiance, and Prayer led by Rev. Jim Buckman, Chaplain, NJ Air Guard.
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Pre-NYG Event for Youth & Adults - June 4 at 12pm
DATE: Saturday, June 4
TIME: 12pm to 3pm
LOCATION: Good Shepherd, Old Bridge
The winning youth group will get a pizza party when we're home after the Gathering. So, get your yellow, purple, and green sugar, and start baking! We'll also reveal the New Jersey District t-shirt design at this meeting. Be sure to attend so you can vote on the shirt color!
See YOU on June 4!
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Discipleship in the Gospel of Matthew, with Dr. Jeff Gibbs - June 16-17 for Pastors, June 18 for Lay Leaders
All NJ District pastors are encouraged to attend this two-day learning opportunity with Dr. Jeff Gibbs.
WHEN: Thursday & Friday, June 16-17
WHERE: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (Somerset, NJ)
TOPIC: Discipleship in the Gospel of Matthew, with Dr. Jeff Gibbs
+ + +Day With the Presidents - June 18
Congregational presidents and lay leaders are invited to a special "Day With the Presidents" on Saturday, June 18. Dr. Jeff Gibbs will be the guest speaker, and will continue his teaching on Discipleship in the Gospel of Matthew.
WHEN: Saturday, June 18 - 8:30am to 1:30pm
WHERE: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (Somerset, NJ)
TOPIC: Discipleship in the Gospel of Matthew, with Dr. Jeff Gibbs
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Free Training for Schools by NJ Homeland Security - School Bomb Incidents - June 15 & 23
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The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and the New Jersey Department of Education will sponsor an eight-hour training program titled: "Understanding and Planning for School Bomb Incidents (AWR- 132)."
The program will be delivered by the New Mexico Tech (NMT), Energetic Materials Research & Testing Center (EMRTC), a member of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC). Training is provided at no cost. DescriptionThis awareness level course provides participants with the language and tools required to effectively assess school bomb incident response plans and guide recommendations. The course identifies the factors involved in school bomb threats; critical response actions based on scenario types; the primary components of an improvised explosive device; and critical components of a school bomb related response plan. AudienceSchool Administration, Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Service, Governmental Administrative, Law Enforcement, Health Care, Public Health, Public Safety Communications, Citizen/Community Volunteer, Security and Safety. RegistrationSpaces are limited and preregistration is required no later than three days prior to each delivery.- South New Jersey - Thursday, June 15 - 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Stockton University Campus Center Theatre,101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway, NJ 08205
- North New Jersey - Thursday, June 23 - 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Middlesex County Fire Academy, 1001 Fire Academy Drive, Sayreville, NJ 08872
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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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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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2016 LEA Convocation: Grow!
GROW: Just a single word that captures what educators in Lutheran agencies do, professionally and personally!
We grow in Christ, in the Word, in grace, in knowledge, in skills, and in other ways too. And, of course, we nurture our students to grow.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. ~2 Peter 3:18
The 2016 LEA Convocation will take place October 13-15 at DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Poster Talk Invitation
Educators are invited to propose a Poster Table experience that demonstrates a best practice in education. This is open to all educators and to all subjects. Selected presenters will be assigned to an eight-foot table in the "greenhouse" where you will be scheduled for two 20-minute sessions, separated by a 10-minute break between sessions. A schedule of all the Poster Tables will be published for the Convocation participants.
You have perhaps attended or even conducted a grade school science fair. This is the same concept for education professionals willing to share their best lesson plan, best project, or best process from the classroom and beyond in a "show and tell" format OR simply in a poster or infographic format without a planned oral presentation.
You will be informed of the status of your proposal by the end of June 2016.
Questions? Email lea@lea.org with the subject line: Poster Table Question
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Dr. Tony Steinnbronn, our New Jersey District president, just announced that next year a group of New Jersey Lutherans and friends will tour the Holy Land of Israel February 13-23, 2017.
More comprehensive than most tours, this pilgrimage will include the Mediterranean coast; Nazareth and the region of Galilee; the Judean desert, the Dead Sea and Masada; and, of course, Bethlehem and Jerusalem. With excellent local guides it will highlight more than 4000 years of history, restored archeological sites, ancient cities and impressive terrain. It will be physically manageable for most able-bodied persons.
Dr. Steinbronn asked the Rev. Dan and Connie Schmalz, frequent travelers to this region, to design and coordinate the tour with Educational Opportunities, a large and experienced Christian tour company. The cost is $3188.00 which includes all travel from Newark except lunches, tips and shopping. Color brochures including the detailed itinerary will be available soon after Easter. You are invited to contact Pastor Dan and Connie via email. Church Office Staff: Please include the above text in your congregation's weekly bulletins and/or monthly newsletters.
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LCMS Camps & Campgrounds - Plan your summer travel!
As your family travels this summer, remember there are lodgings available at Lutheran camps around the country.
Visit the NLOMA website to find a camp near your destination. Contact camps to see if there are cabins, campgrounds, or hotel rooms available!
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Items Available
Prince of Peace in Howell, NJ has 48 copies of "Joyful Sounds The New Children's Hymnal" to anyone who would like them.
These hymnals have been properly stored and are in good condition.
Each hymnal includes worship resources geared toward children ages 9-14, but will appeal to all ages. These hymnals contain:
- Orders of Worship, The Apostles' Creed and other prayers
- Hymns and Spiritual Songs (indexed by season)
If interested, please call Maria at 732-363-0732 to arrange a convenient time for pick up.
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Calling Congregations - Website for Call Documents Has Changed
The website and log in information for accessing call documents has been changed.
Any congregations in the call process who need access to official call documents, please contact Elaine in the district office at 908-233-8111.
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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 - developing a call list
- Good Shepherd, Blairstown
- 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 - pastoral candidate, Daniel Merz, has been assigned to the congregation from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and will be installed on June 18
- Luther Memorial, Tinton Falls - being served by intentional interim pastor; developing a call list
Glorious God, You have endowed us with gifts and talents for Your service and for the good of all people. Grant to us Your Spirit, that we may know our vocation as Your children by Baptism and serve You faithfully in our homes, at our workplaces, in our communities and as citizens. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
From Let Us Pray: Prayer of the Church, Second Sunday after Pentecost, 29 May 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
JUNE 2016
NJ District Youth Pre-NYG Event
Saturday, June 4
12 PM to 3 PM
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church - Old Bridge, NJ
A special meet-up for youth & their leaders from around NJ who will be traveling to the NYG in New Orleans. RSVP via email to Alicia De Sena, NJ District Gathering Coordinator.
Discipleship in the Gospel of Matthew with Dr. Jeff Gibbs
Thursday to Friday, June 16-17
8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Somerset, NJ
Day With the Presidents Saturday, June 18 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
2016 Prayer Jubilee Saturday, August 27 More information to come.
SEPTEMBER 2016
Pastors' Wives Retreat
Friday, September 30 to Saturday, October 1
More information to come.
OCTOBER 2016
NJ District Youth Ministry Sunday: SOLA
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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