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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Outreach. Don't Go It Alone.
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The second 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. Michael Dunne, from Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Montville, NJ.
Many of our congregations in the NJ district are facing a similar problem. For most congregations, it is a twofold problem of aging members and diminishing resources. However, that does not excuse us from the mission of the church to bring the love of Christ through the Gospel to the lost.
More than ever it is increasingly difficult to reach out to the lost within our communities in a meaningful way. There too few hands, feet and dollars to make any kind of significant impact within our communities. Not to mention many of those feet need walkers and canes just to get around. So, it comes down to the question of what can we do with the resources we have to offer. The answer to that question may very well be, Don't Go It Alone.
We are not the only denomination experiencing diminishing numbers and resources and finding it difficult to reach out with the love of Christ to our communities. Instead of having 2 or 3 people working on an outreach event wouldn't be nice to have 15 or 20? Here at Holy Spirit in Montville, we have been participating with other Christians in a new program called, "Every One in Action for the Community" (EAC).
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Teacher Appreciation Contest: National Lutheran Schools Week - Jan 22-28
Readers will be encouraged to upload a picture of their LCMS-affiliated school teacher who exemplifies an EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR!
At the end of the week, five winners will be randomly chosen and a $50 award check will be sent to their school, in their honor.
HOW TO ENTER:
The teacher must currently teach in an LCMS-affiliated school and teaches 3PK-12th grade.
Share a picture of every teacher in YOUR Lutheran school to maximize your chances! |
LAST CHANCE: Winter Youth Gathering - Feb 4-5
We're excited to welcome back Rev. Bill Yonker to the New Jersey District Winter Youth Gathering, as we explore what it means to live SOLA Fide: By Faith Alone.
Payment can be made by credit card, checking account transfer, or by check.
Share your #flatmarty pictures on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, using the hashtags #flatmarty #njdistrict and #LCMS.
Register your youth today -- and see you at the Winter Youth Gathering in February!
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NJ District Education Conference - Friday, March 31
The 2017 NJ District Education Conference will take place on Friday, March 31 at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church in East Brunswick, NJ.
We are pleased to welcome the following presenters: - Kim Marxhausen, a Lutheran educator with a Master's in Literacy and a Pd.D. in Educational Psychology will offer a session on the importance of play, as well as a two-part session on how we can impact motivation and mindset while encouraging self-regulation in our students.
- Caitlin Dinger, DCE will present on forging stronger families through school, church, and home partnership.
- Ruth McReynolds, M.Ed., will do a three-part session on Early Language and Literacy in the Preschool Classroom.
- Dr. Deborah Carter will help us teach math visually, and help us see math in a new way.
We are excited about these presenters, and pray that you are as well. Please encourage your school administrators and staff members to attend.
Register by March 20 to get the discount rate of $45 per person.
After March 20, the cost will be $75 per person.
Payment can be made by check or by visiting the NJ District online donation page.
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LCMS National Missions re:Vitality Training at St. John's, Bridgeton - March 3-4
DATE: Friday, March 3 (6:30pm to 9:30pm) and Saturday, March 4 (8:30am to Noon) LOCATION: St. John's First Lutheran Church - Bridgeton, NJ CONTACT: Rev. Gary Hall, 856-332-2396 or email When a congregation expresses interest, the first thing is to schedule the Action-Oriented Training. There is no cost to the congregation. It is a two-day session led by trainers from National Missions on a Friday night and Saturday morning. Prior to the training, the congregation completes a Self-Assessment Survey. In the Action-Oriented Training congregations will learn how to become more effective in inviting, welcoming, and receiving people from outside of the Church. The last part, Outreach-Integrated Witnessing, is done using Every One His Witness, which trains people how to witness using the Small Catechism. If anyone in the district is interested in attending St. John's First Lutheran's Action-Oriented Training on Friday, March 3 ( 6:30pm to 9:30pm) and Saturday, March 4 ( 8:30am to Noon), please contact Rev. Gary Hall at 856-332-2396 or via email. |
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Our Savior, Fair Lawn Hosts CPR & AED for Adult, Child and Infant Certification - March 11
Who: Pastors, church and school staff, ushers, greeters, youth, parishioners....All are welcome!
What: American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR and AED for Adult, Child and Infant Certification class
When: Saturday, March 11th 9:30am-12:30pm
Where: Our Savior Lutheran Church, 22-15 Broadway, Fair Lawn, NJ
Why: To assist your loved ones, community and church family in the event of a cardiac or pulmonary emergency
How: Register TODAY. Class size is limited, please call Colleen Bottcher @ 201-723-9836 to register. The cost is $30.00 per person, paid for by Our Savior Lutheran Church's Health Ministry and the NJ District CHEF grant.
GPS address: 1-22 Hartley Place, Fair Lawn NJ, (church is on the corner of Broadway and Hartley Place) Please use the back entrance into the church, the doors between the two white pillars.
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LSMNJ Human Resources Workshop - Saturday, Jan 28
Join us for this Free Educational Workshop presented by Lutheran Learning. Attendees will receive information on Human Resources issues.
Learn how to give a productive performance review, policies and forms for employee reviews, how to deal with difficult employees and make everyone more productive.
WHEN: Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 1:00PM
WHERE: Faith Lutheran Church (381 South Branch Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844)
RSVP: The Church office: 908.969.3201 or Beth Gebhart, LSMNJ, 609.699.4133
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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. Download a brochure here.
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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SAVE THE DATE: Church Secretaries Day - April 26
Church secretaries are often unsung heroes in our congregations, as they keep track of a multitude of details, bits of church history & tradition, event calendars - and pastors!
Help us thank your church secretary, by giving that special staff member a day of their own, designed to encourage and equip them for the unique role they play in the life of your congregation.
Date: Wednesday, April 26
Location: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (Somerset, NJ) Cost: FREE Save the date! More information will be available soon.
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WANTED: Architect and/or Engineer
The NJ District is currently seeking an architects and engineers to assist in developing district properties.
Please contact David Hildebrandt at the district office, 908-233-8111 or via email.
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Prayer Focus
Circuit 2 (Passaic River) of the New Jersey District, including their Circuit Visitor, the Rev. David Rowold (St. John, Bloomfield), and the congregations and school ministries of: - St. John - Bloomfield
- St. John - Clifton
- Our Savior - Fair Lawn
- St. John - Harrison
- Tumaini Kristo - Jersey City
- Grace - Livingston
- St. Matthew - Lyndhurst
- Redeemer & Christ Assembly - Newark
- Grace & St. Matthew - Union
- Calvary - Verona
- Redeemer - Westfield
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
- Luther Memorial, Tinton Falls - developing a call list
- Grace, Union - being served by vacancy pastor
For all who preach, that they might faithfully proclaim the wisdom of the cross in an age that demands signs and insists on the supremacy of human reason; for all teachers, that all they teach might point to the glory of God; and for all who hear, that they might rejoice in the "foolishness" of Christ crucified for their salvation; let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
From Let Us Pray: Prayer of the Church, Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, 29 January 2017
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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
JANUARY 2017 Convocation on the Coram Relationships January 27-28 Erdman Center - Princeton, NJ
FEBRUARY 2017
District Winter Youth Gathering: SOLA Fide - Faith Alone
With Rev. Bill Yonker
February 4-5
Holy Land Tour February 13-23
MARCH 2017
Spring Education Conference
Friday, March 31
Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Day
Saturday, April 1
More information to come.
APRIL 2017
NJ District Church Secretaries Day
Wednesday, April 26
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Somerset, NJ
More information to come.
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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