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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Happy Thanksgiving!
We are thankful for the opportunity to support, encourage, and equip the congregations of the New Jersey District, as together, you share the Good News of Jesus Christ with your communities, neighbors, family, and friends.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ~Colossians 3:17 ESV
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Save the Date: NJ District Winter Youth Gathering - Feb 4-5
**DATE CHANGE** Due to a conflict with both statewide SAT testing and our speaker's availability, the date of the 2017 NJ District Winter Youth Gathering has been changed to February 4-5 (Saturday-Sunday).
We're excited to welcome back Rev. Bill Yonker to the Winter Youth Gathering, as we explore what it means to live SOLA Fide: By Faith Alone.
Share your #flatmarty pictures on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, using the hashtags #flatmarty #njdistrict and #LCMS. Mark your calendars now -- and see you at the Winter Youth Gathering in February!
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Cookie Exchange Fundraiser - Dec 18 at Your Local Congregation
All NJ District Youth Groups are encouraged to take part in a special holiday fundraiser to help offset the costs of the Winter Youth Gathering.
Host a Christmas Cookie Exchange/Sale on Sunday, December 18. Encourage youth and their families, your congregation's LWML or other women's group, confirmation classes, older adults, and anyone else who enjoys baking to donate 3 or more dozen cookies. Sell those cookies by the plate-full ($10 per plate, suggested price) and help raise funds for the district gathering.
From the total amount raised, we'll send 10% to LCMS Youth Ministry for Gathering Outreach (Eutychus) Grants -- helping youth reach out to their unchurched and marginally churched peers. The rest will help cover the costs associated with the NJ District Winter Youth Gathering.
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Reformation 500th Anniversary History 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.
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Christmas Concert at Bethlehem, Ridgewood - Nov 27 at 3pm
You are invited to celebrate the Christmas season at
Bethlehem Lutheran Church (Ridgewood, NJ), with Greg Calderone and the New Jersey Brass Quintet, this Sunday Nov 27 at 3pm.
The concert will feature classic and contemporary Christmas songs and instrumentals, plus a carol sing along. Greg Caldarone and The New Jersey Brass Quintet, accompanied by Bethlehem's organist/pianist, James Gilbert and Richard Fusilli, will perform a concert "Christmas: The Joy and Spirit of 2016."
Come celebrate this joyous time of year with old classics and contemporary Christmas favorites. The NJ Brass Quintet is a fabulous ensemble that will immediately give you that warm wonderful feeling of an old fashioned Christmas. Greg Caldarone will feature some classic Christmas songs as well as some newer ones. A free will offering will be collected. Invite your friends and neighbors to this concert.
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Christmas Spectacular at Good Shepherd, Old Bridge - Dec 2
Start of your Advent season with a night of music and skits, as Good Shepherd (Old Bridge, NJ) hosts a Christmas Spectacular.
What: Dinner, Dessert, and a Show
When: Friday, December 2 at 7pm
Cost: $20 per person (There will also be a basket raffle.)
Babysitting will be available for kids at the rate of $10 for 1 child, $15 for 2 children, and $20 for 3 or more. Hot Dogs and Mac-n-Cheese will be served.
All proceeds will go toward Sanctuary improvements.
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Live Nativity at King of Kings, Mountain Lakes - Dec 3
King of Kings Lutheran Church of Mountain Lakes will present its 4th Annual Outdoor Live Nativity on Saturday, December 3, at 5:00pm and 6:30pm. (Snow Date: 12/4)
The members of King of Kings are excited to inspire others this Christmas with a living re-creation of the birth of Jesus, complete with a humble stable, a rustic manger, a brilliant star and live animals, actors and music. The event is free to the public. Refreshments will be offered following the presentations and all children that attend will receive a free gift. King of Kings is located at 145 Rt. 46 West, Mountain Lakes, NJ, 07046. For additional information or questions, please contact: King of Kings Lutheran Church, 973-334-8333.
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Children's Christmas Workshop - Dec 4 at Trinity, Morris Plains
Trinity Lutheran Church, located at 131 Mountain Way in Morris Plains is holding our annual Children's Christmas Workshop on Sunday, Dec 4th from 3-4 pm.
Please join us for crafts, cookie decorating and much, much more. Admission is a non-perishable food item for the Interfaith Food Pantry.
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Prayer Focus
Circuit 5 (South Jersey) of the New Jersey District, and the congregations and school ministries of: - Luther Memorial - Blackwood
- Holy Cross - Bordentown
- St. John's - Bridgeton
- Trinity - Carney's Point
- St. Peter - Hopewell
- Village - Lanoka Harbor
- Holy Trinity - Lawrenceville
- Calvary - Medford
- Rose of Sharon - New Egypt
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
- Gethsemane, Hackettstown - being served by Rev. Dick Izzard
- 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
- Calvary, Medford
- Bethlehem, Ridgewood - issued a call to Rev. Matt Peeples, awaiting his reply
- Luther Memorial, Tinton Falls - developing a call list
- Grace, Union - being served by vacancy pastor
Loving God, as we remember the start of another church year and begin anew our journey to recall the birth, revelation, suffering, death and resurrection of Your dear Son and our Savior, grant us the aid of the Spirit, that we may be well instructed by Your Word, strengthened in faith and equipped for our daily vocation of love and service. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
From Let Us Pray: Prayer of the Church, First Sunday in Advent, 27 November 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
DECEMBER 2016
NJ District Youth Cookie Exchange Fundraiser
Sunday, December 18
Help raise funds for youth outreach projects and the NJD Winter Youth Gathering! More info in this newsletter (above).
JANUARY 2017
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
District Winter Youth Gathering: SOLA Fide - Faith Alone
With Rev. Bill Yonker
February 4-5
Registration information coming soon!
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 7-8
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 16-18
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club - Cape Cod, MA
More information to come.
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