The vision of the New Jersey District of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod is 
to enable mission and outreach so that congregations will motivate, educate and equip members 
to build relationships with the lost for the purpose of connecting people to Jesus.

The Grapevine
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 5pmSubmit stories and photos via email here.


Fall Pastors Conference - October 24-26
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The Fall Pastors Conference will be held Monday to Wednesday, October 24 to 26 at the Bushkill Inn & Conference Center in Bushkill, PA.

Our presenter is the Rev. Jason Broge, who will be leading us through an exploration of "Pastor as Teacher of the Faith."

The conference will begin on Monday at 1pm, and end on Wednesday with a closing devotion at Noon.

IMPORTANT:  Please phone the hotel ASAP at 
1-800-200-2978, to make your reservations for the conference. 

Ask for the "New Jersey Lutheran Pastors" room rate. Standard rooms are $109 per night, meals included.
Reformation Anniversary Events - THIS WEEK!

Join us for a series of special events commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.
October 22 - 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
TICKETS: The seminar is FREE but tickets are required to help plan for seating. Visit the event page here.

PARKING INFORMATION: It is recommended that seminar attendees park in either the North Garage or in the West Garage. From there, you can walk or take Princeton's Tiger Transit shuttle to McCosh Hall (Stop #23). North Garage is the closest to McCosh Hall.
LIVE-STREAM AVAILABLE: For those who are interested in attending, but are unable to travel to Princeton for the seminar, the event will be live-streamed. Please visit the Reformation Anniversary page at the NJ District website on Saturday, October 22 for the link. 

October 30 - 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
TICKETS: The concert is FREE but tickets are required to help plan for seating. Visit the event page here. 

Download promotional posters for these special Reformation Anniversary events here:

Reformation 500th Anniversary History Exhibit


Martin Luther 500
The New Jersey District has a 15-panel traveling display highlighting important developments in the history of the Protestant Reformation. 

Download a brochure with more information here, and share it with your congregation!

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
A sample of some of the panels is available at the Reformation Anniversary website.

We also have a number of pastors and history educators available, who can lead a presentation or discussion with your students or community. 

Visit the NJ District's booking website to reserve the exhibit for display in your congregation or community.

NJ District Youth Ministry Sunday - October 23
NJD Youth 2016-2017

The LCMS New Jersey District has designated the Sunday before Reformation Sunday each October as "Youth Ministry Sunday," in order to uphold and encourage faithful ministry to the youth in our congregations.

This year, pastors and congregations are encouraged to highlight their youth and youth ministries on Sunday, October 23.
Please send pictures and stories from your congregation's celebration of Youth Ministry Sunday to Caitlin Dinger via email, for inclusion in The Grapevine e-Newsletter. 

And be sure to join the New Jersey District Youth on Facebook , for upcoming youth ministry events and happenings. 

Trunk or Treat - Sunday, October 23 at Christ Memorial, East Brunswick

All are invited to Christ Memorial Lutheran Church's annual Trunk or Treat on Sunday, October 23 from 3pm to 5pm.

Children will be able to trick or treat in a safe environment -- the church/school parking lot will have car trunks decorated and full of candy!

Sign up to reserve a parking space and decorate your auto's trunk to pass out candy to our young Halloween visitors, or simply get your kids costumes on and come out for a fun afternoon with treats, a costume parade, games, and more! Download a promotional poster here.

For more information, call 732-251-5454.

Download a registration form and mail it to Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, 114 Old Stage Road, East Brunswick, NJ 08816. You may also email your registration form to the church office
NJ District LWML Fall Retreat - Nov 5

The NJ District LWML invites all women to their Fall Retreat on Saturday, November 5 at Crane's Mill in West Caldwell, NJ.

The theme for the retreat is "Bloom! Living Joyfully in Times of Trial," and all are invited to join us for fun, fellowship, Bible study, and gardening! The "Gift of the Heart" collection will be gift cards to CVS/Caremark or Walgreen's for Lutheran Social Ministries.

The registration fee is $25 per person, with a registration deadline of October 31.


Upcoming LWML Event Calendar:
Date
Time
Event
Oct. 16, 2016
3:00pm
Lakeland Zone Fall Rally at Somerset Hills in Basking Ridge, NJ
Program: Highlights of the District Convention
Oct. 16, 2016
3:00pm
Northeastern Zone Fall Rally at Zion Lutheran Church in Westwood, NJ
Program: Highlights of District Convention and planning for "Christians in Peril" Service
Nov. 5, 2016
8:30am - 4:00pm
NJ District Fall Retreat at Crane's Mill in West Caldwell
Theme: "Bloom! Living Joyfully in Times of Trial" - Jeremiah 29:5-7
June 22-25, 2017

National LWML Convention
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Theme: Jesus Christ Above All - Phil 2:9
Prayer Focus
Durer - Praying Hands

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. JohnClifton - 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
  • Luther Memorial, Tinton Falls - developing a call list
+       +       +

God of mercy, as Your Son welcomed infants, give us a deep care for the children entrusted to us so that we defend their lives even before birth. Instill in parents a desire and commitment to let the little children come to Jesus. Use our Sunday school, Bible classes and youth catechesis to preserve them in faith. Teach all of us in humility to receive the kingdom of God like a little child. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

From Let Us Pray: Prayer of the Church, Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost, 23 October 2016
Upcoming Events
Add the NJ District event calendar to your Google Calendar!  Our public calendar ID is: google [at] njdistrict [dot] org

OCTOBER 2016
Reformation Seminar: The Reformation: A Time of Revolutionary Changes?
Saturday, October 22
9:15 AM to 12:30 PM
Princeton University, McCosh Hall Room 50 - Princeton, NJ

NJ District Youth Ministry Sunday: SOLA Scriptura - Scripture Alone
Sunday, October 23

Fall Pastors Conference
October 24-26
Bushkill Inn & Conference Center
Please phone the hotel at 1-800-200-2978 to make your reservations for the conference.

Reformation Concert: The Hymns of Martin Luther
Sunday, October 30
Princeton University Chapel - Princeton, NJ

DECEMBER 2016
NJ District Youth Cookie Exchange Fundraiser
More information to come.

JANUARY 2017
District Winter Youth Gathering: SOLA Fide - Faith Alone
January 21-22
More information to come.

Convocation on the Coram Relationships
January 27-28
Erdman Center - Princeton, NJ
More information to come.

Pastors' Wives Winter Luncheon
Saturday, January 28
10 AM to 2 PM
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Somerset, NJ

FEBRUARY 2017
Holy Land Tour
February 13-23

APRIL 2017
District Youth Lock-In: SOLA Gratia - Grace Alone
April 28
More information to come.

Pastors' Wives Spring Luncheon
Saturday, April 29
10 AM to 2 PM
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Somerset, NJ

JULY 2017
Convocation on the Word
July 6-8
Erdman Center - Princeton, NJ
More information to come.

SEPTEMBER 2017
Pastors' Wives Fall Retreat
September 29-30
More information to come.

OCTOBER 2017
Convocation on the Church and Ministry in the 21st Century
October 2-4 (tentative dates)
Location TBA
More information to come.

LCMS New Jersey District  | 1-908-233-8111 | Email | Website
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