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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Comfortable Outreach
The first in a series of articles focusing on outreach and evangelism, written by members of the NJ District's Outreach Council.
This month's article is written by the Rev. Benjamin A. Dolby, pastor of King of Kings Lutheran Church, Mountain Lakes, NJ
Outreach. Evangelism. The Great Commission.
These words summarize our life as forgiven sinners who believe Jesus is risen from the dead. Outreach and words like it make clear that our life as is not about being comfortable. Is that not one of our hearts' most likely "golden calf" idols - to be comfortable? When I was invited to write a short reflection on this topic of outreach, I couldn't help but start with the question I believe we all would agree is a good one to consider: "but what does Jesus say?" Members of King of Kings in Mountain Lakes probably knew that question was coming! Jesus shared God's Word from the Hebrew Scriptures throughout His earthly ministry. So I would like to follow in my Savior's footsteps in the use of God's Word; specifically the Confirmation verse I was given by my pastor in 8th grade, Pastor Timothy Nickel. "Commit your way to the LORD. Trust in Him and He will act." - Psalm 37:5 The Way of the LORD is that Way of Salvation He offers through Cross, Empty Tomb, Promises fulfilled and finished by Christ Jesus Alone. To be committed to the way of the LORD is to recognize that this is the uncomfortable lifestyle of reaching out. Outreach places God above ourselves. Outreach replaces "golden calf chasing" insulation with time spent befriending some of our seven billion neighbors next door. Outreach is reveling in and sharing the simple, joyous words, "God loves you, He said so, through Jesus, who gave Himself up for you and your eternal life."
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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 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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Breakfast With Jesus at Our Redeemer, Fords - Dec 3
The event is free to the public, and will feature breakfast, kids crafts, and music.
A live, outdoor, interactive nativity will be open from 9am to 11am.
The event will conclude with a concert by the "Glorious" Choir at 10am, which will include a Christmas carol sing-along with the audience.
Contact the church office for more information. Phone: 732-738-7470. |
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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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German Christmas Service - Dec 9 at Luther Memorial, Tinton Falls
Time: 7:30 PM Guest Pastor: Pastor Dutzmann (First Lutheran Church - Boston, MA) The service will feature the Staff & Students of the German School of Holmdel, Princeton & Rumson. A Coffee & Cookie Reception will follow the service.
For further information call the church office at 732-542-2727 or send an email. Luther Memorial is located at 818 Tinton Ave, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724.
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Living Nativity at Calvary, Verona - Dec 18
All are invited to join Calvary-Verona on Sunday, Dec 18 at 5pm for their Living Nativity, featuring actors in elaborate costumes, live animals, Christmas music, crafts, and refreshments.
Date: Sunday, December 18 (rain or shine)
Time: 5pm to 7pm
Here are some pictures from the previous years' events:
For further information call the church office at 973-239-0577. Calvary is located at 23 S. Prospect Street in Verona, one block off Bloomfield Ave. |
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Prayer & Comfort Ministry at Holy Cross-Mahwah Provides Knit Hats, Prayer Shawls, and Lap Robes
The Prayer and Comfort Ministry of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Mahwah, has been busy knitting woolen hats, prayer shawls and lap robes.
The hats were to be given to our homeless veterans, as well as for those who are residents of the Veterans Memorial Home in Paramus. More than 200 hats, 7 prayer shawls and 2 lap robes were made by the newly-formed group of about ten women from the church and nursery school.
On Sunday, November 20, Vicar Matt Hass offered a special blessing on these items before they were handed over for distribution. The prayer shawls will be given to those facing serious illnesses, family tragedies, personal difficulties, etc.
HCLC member Frank Calandrillo (center in photo), who is also an Advisory Board member at the Veterans Home, said the hats for the Veterans Home will be given to patients who are transported for doctor appointments and for those who are mobile enough to go outdoors.
Richard Daul (right in photo), who represents the Bergen County Veterans Assistance office located in Hackensack, said the veterans have already been asking for warm clothing since the drop in recent temperatures. Each of these groups will receive one hundred hats.
At the Veterans Memorial Home in Paramus, the hats and lap robes were received by Ms. Susan Moran, Volunteer Services Coordinator, (second from left in photo). Also shown are Vicar Matt Hass, HCLC members Frank Calandrillo and Brenda Calandrillo, who is a member of the Prayer and Comfort Ministry.
Ms. Nancy Acker, Administrative Assistant for the Holy Cross Nursery School, conceived the idea for this ministry. Most of the yarn was donated for this project. A grant to purchase yarn for this ministry was also received from Thrivent.
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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 - 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
Lord God Almighty, Your Son raised us up as children for Abraham when He baptized us with Your Spirit. Give us the faith of our father Abraham, that as we await Your Son's glorious appearing, we may live in true repentance and bear fruit in keeping with it. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
From Let Us Pray: Prayer of the Church, Second Sunday in Advent, 4 December 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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