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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God Preparing His Disciples to Make Christian Disciples of All Nations
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The third 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. Gary Timm, from Redeemer Lutheran Church & School in Westfield, NJ.
As the seasons of Advent passes and a new Church Year has begun, we look forward to Christmas nearly a year away. Of course, we pastors typically say, "Ok, now when again does Lent begin?" because we're already planning for the next major Season of the Church.
The Seasons of the Church Year are meant to help us focus on our Lord and Savior, Messiah Jesus. However, Advent is not just about Jesus coming for us, but how God prepares us to make Christian Disciples of All Nations. So before the season of Lent begins, let us reflect on what Advent prepared us Christians for.
As Christians we agree ALL people need the forgiving grace of God which comes through Messiah Jesus' suffering, dying, and arising again from the dead to save us from our sin and give us the gift of eternal life (Rom. 10:9-10.) After all, there is no other name under heaven by which we are saved (Acts 4:8-12.) However, we get hung up on who, what, where, when, and why of making disciples of Messiah Jesus. We feel unqualified and inadequate to answer all of life's challenges. However, Jesus' answer to all of our questions and doubts is found in two of His commands.
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Project Generator Grants Awarded
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| | Grant recipients each received a PowerLight Generator for use in their community. |
The "Project Generator" grant program, offered by the NJ District to its congregations, has been completed with the distribution of the four (4) portable generators.
The congregations submitting Mission & Outreach opportunity requests were St. John's Lutheran (Bloomfield), Holy Faith Lutheran (Oak Ridge), Village Lutheran (Lanoka Harbor), and Gethsemane Lutheran (Hackettstown). A brief description of the grant applications follows:
- St. John's Lutheran (Bloomfield): Operation Generator will be a program to provide electrical power to community, congregation, and congregation members in locations and situations were electrical power is not otherwise available. It will provide power for the people of God to be about His purpose of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a more engaging manner, to assist the members of their local community in times of need, and to help encourage the strengthening of bonds of friendship among the people of God.
- Holy Faith Lutheran (Oak Ridge): Our vision is for Holy Faith to be the place where our community can meet each other and, as we build relationship with them, Jesus as well. In our part of New Jersey we experience many power outages each year (Sandy for two weeks, heavy snowfalls and branches and trees interrupt electrical service) and in Oak Ridge it also means cessation of water. Our plan includes using the generator to keeping powering our well water so that we can offer emergency meals to our community. We plan on being the "go-to" place in our community when nature challenges our lives.
- Village Lutheran (Lanoka Harbor): Having been the center of NJD Super Storm Sandy disaster relief efforts, we understand the importance of keeping our doors open during a time of power outage and would use the generator to "Keep Our Doors Open" as we go forward in aiding our community.
- Gethsemane Lutheran (Hackettstown): An involvement with the BIG YOUTH GROUP mission in West Virginia, by four of our members, has had a positive effect with our energetic youth participants and with further outreach opportunities there would be a use of a generator to power tools, lighting, and refrigeration. We further see an opportunity to use the generator to supply electricity for lighting, PA system, refrigeration and warming stations for the Muscular Dystrophy fund raising efforts of the community.
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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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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
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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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Outreach Council Online Resource Library
The NJ District Outreach Council is developing an online library for outreach ideas, activities and a host of possibilities for your congregation to become more mission and community minded.
There will also be some personal endorsements of ideas that have been tried by Pastors and Congregations. These resources will hopefully encourage you & your congregations to reach out to people who do not know Christ.
Visit the Outreach & Missions page on the NJ District website to view these resources.
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Prayer Focus
Circuit 3 (Highlands) of the New Jersey District, including their Circuit Visitor, the Rev. Stephen Vogt (Prince of Peace, Hamburg), and the congregations and school ministries of: - Good Shepherd - Blairstown
- Gethsemane - Hackettstown
- Prince of Peace - Hamburg
- Emmanuel - Milford, PA
- Redeemer - Newton
- Holy Faith - Oak Ridge
- St. Paul's - Pompton Lakes
- Christ the King - Ringwood
- Our Savior - Stanhope
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
Merciful Father, the apostles were not sent to proclaim the wisdom of men, but Your wisdom, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Grant pastors to proclaim that same truth among us today. Lead them by Your Spirit to be faithful undershepherds of Your flock. Guard them from the temptations of the evil one, that they may be pure in life, in faith and in doctrine. Protect them especially during times of persecution, that Your sheep may always hear Your Word and cling to the hope that it brings, rather than to any rival comforts the world may offer. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
From Let Us Pray: Prayer of the Church, Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, 5 February 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
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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