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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Prayer Jubilee Fundraiser - Saturday, August 27
Join us for this first Annual Fundraiser for the NJ District's Urban Mission Strategist, the Rev. Jim Buckman.
DATE: Saturday, August 27
TIME: 6pm to 8:30pm
LOCATION: Redeemer Lutheran Church (229 Cowperthwaite Place, Westfield, NJ 07090)
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: The Rev. Dr. John Nunes, President of Concordia College-NY
Register online using the link below for this special dinner & dessert fundraising event. Can't attend on the 27th? You can still make an online gift in support of this ministry!
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Calling All Singers - Join the Reformation Hymn Festival Choir!
On Sunday October 30, the NJ District is hosting a Reformation Hymn Festival in the magnificent Princeton University Chapel at 3:45 in the afternoon. We will have a Mass Choir made up of the District's parish choirs, and other individuals who would like to sing with us, as well as the Princeton Theological Seminary Choir. We will have a variety of great music, and will sing from the historic choir stalls near the altar.
Two rehearsals are planned for September and one for October. All rehearsals will be held at King of Kings Lutheran Church, conveniently located in Mountain Lakes/Parsippany.
This is a unique opportunity that may not come along again for quite some time - and we hope you will join us. No previous choir experience is necessary!
Joan Holsten, Mass Choir Director
Scott Sadlo, Hymn Festival Chair
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Reformation Anniversary Traveling Exhibit
The New Jersey District has a 15-panel traveling display highlighting important developments in the history of the Protestant Reformation.
The display is available without charge for one week at a time. The exhibit is currently available for locations within 100 miles of New York City, and must be picked up and dropped off at the District Office in Mountainside, NJ.
The themes of the Reformation 500 Exhibit include:
- Luther's Biography - birth, education, marriage, excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church
- Luther's World - Renaissance, social changes, nation-state politics, technology, religious attitudes
- Luther's Theology - Justification by Faith, Sola Scriptura, Theology of the Cross, Luther's spirituality
- Luther's Legacy - worship, education, Inter-Christian relationships, impact of the Reformation in the world
We also have a number of pastors and history educators available, who can lead a presentation or discussion with your students or community.
Reformation Anniversary Events
Join us for this series of special events commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.
2016 Reformation Seminar
The Reformation: A Time of Revolutionary Changes?
With Dr. Christopher Bellitto (Kean University), Dr. Christopher Boyd Brown (Boston University School of Theology), and the Rev. Dr. David Lose (Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia).
DATE & TIME: Saturday, October 22 - 9:15 AM to 12:30 PM
LOCATION: Princeton University ~ McCosh Hall, Room 50
2016 Reformation Concert - Festival Celebration with Hymns
Featuring the Princeton Theological Seminary Choir, NJ Lutheran Regional Choir, The King of Kings Ringers Handbell Choir, Luther's Inspirational Hymns, Selections from the Deutsche Mass, and More!
DATE & TIME: Sunday, October 30 at 3:45 PM
LOCATION: Princeton University Chapel
Download promotional posters for these special Reformation Anniversary events here:
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The LCMS New Jersey District has four (4) new Portable Generators that are in boxes and are being offered to Congregations of the District. It is the District's desire that the generators be used for Mission and Outreach opportunities and requests from those who have Mission or Outreach opportunities to submit a brief description of their application/s to: "PROJECT GENERATOR"
1168 Springfield Ave
Mountainside, NJ 07092
Generator Specifications: Powerlight 7500 Watt.
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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.
UPDATE: Recently District President Emeritus Bill Klettke and his wife, Valla agreed to co-host the tour, as well. An additional tour account has been established to encourage young Pastors and Church Workers to visit the Holy Land early in their ministry, which would impact their preaching, teaching and leadership for many years. In the future rostered church workers would encounter a reduced cost for a Holy Land tour. Please contact the district office for more information about this option. Church Office Staff: Please include the above text in your congregation's weekly bulletins and/or monthly newsletters.
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Now Hiring: Long-Term Substitute Teacher at Our Redeemer, Fords
Interested applicants may contact the school at 732-738-7470 . Resumes may be mailed, faxed, or emailed to the following: ORLS 28 S. Fourth St. Fords, NJ 08863,
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Prayer Focus
Circuit 6 (Raritan Valley) of the New Jersey District, including their Circuit Visitor, the Rev. Christian Schonberg (Good Shepherd, Point Pleasant), and the congregations and school ministries of: - Faith - Dayton
- Christ Memorial - East Brunswick
- Our Redeemer - Fords
- Prince of Peace - Howell
- St. Thomas - Manalapan
- Good Shepherd - Old Bridge
- Good Shepherd - Point Pleasant
- Luther Memorial - Tinton Falls
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 - interviewing candidates
- 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
- Village, Lanoka Harbor
- Holy Cross, Mahwah - being served by SMP Vicar Matt Hass
- St. Thomas, Manalapan
- Bethlehem, Ridgewood - developing a call list
- Our Savior, Stanhope - the Rev. Daniel Merz was ordained and installed on June 18.
- Luther Memorial, Tinton Falls - developing a call list
O Lord our God, the Fount of wisdom, by Your Holy Spirit enlighten those who teach and those who learn, that, rejoicing in the knowledge of Your truth, they may worship You and serve You in their callings. As they return to their studies in this new academic year, grant them to grow in useful knowledge and Christian virtue, always seeking the city that is to come. Take away the dross from the silver, that all of Your dear children become vessels of righteousness and peace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
From Let Us Pray: Prayer of the Church, Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, 28 August 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
AUGUST 2016
2016 Prayer Jubilee Fundraiser: Dinner & Dessert
Saturday, August 27
6PM to 8:30PM
Redeemer Lutheran Church - Westfield, NJ
SEPTEMBER 2016
Pastors' Wives Retreat
Friday, September 30 to Saturday, October 1
Registration information has been mailed to all NJ District Pastors' Wives. Please RSVP by August 1.
OCTOBER 2016
Reformation Lectures
Saturday, October 22
Princeton University - Princeton, NJ
NJ District Youth Ministry Sunday: SOLA
Sunday, October 23
Resources for worship & prayer coming soon!
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
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