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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20 Free Social Media Graphics for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter
Download 20 FREE Lent & Holy Week-themed social media graphics.
There are 10 hymn-based graphics and
10 scripture-based graphics.
Share them on your church's social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Encourage your members to share them, too!
Download here:
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Mission Classic 12: Grants Awarded to Support Our Veterans & Their Families
The twelfth annual Mission Golf Classic of The New Jersey District (held this past May 19, 2016) supported five organizations with the nearly $20,000 net proceeds of the outing.
The thank you acknowledgement letters that have been received, are directly attributed to you and your participation!
SAVE THE DATE: The 2017 Mission Classic Golf Outing is coming soon -- Thursday, May 18. Mark your calendars now, start gathering your foursome, and get ready for a great day of golf, for a great cause!
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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 also pleased to welcome the Rev. Dr. John A. Nunes, President of Concordia College-New York. Dr. Nunes will lead our morning worship, as well as a breakout session.
We are excited about these presenters, and pray that you are as well. Please encourage your school administrators and staff members to attend.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT: The conference will provide school staff, administrators, principals, and pastors with 4.5 hours of continuing education. An official continuing education certificate will be awarded to all participants at the close of the conference.
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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NJ District Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Day - April 1
Sunday school, VBS, youth, confirmation, and family ministry volunteers are invited to this special day of training and encouragement.
Date: Saturday, April 1
Time: 9am to 12pm
Location: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Somerset, NJ
Cost: FREE
All participants will go home with a wealth of ready-to-go resources for your congregation's ministry to children, youth, and families.
Topics included in the day's schedule:- How to Host a Backyard VBS
- Family Confirmation: Home-centered, church-supported discipleship
- Planning a Mystery Bus Tour for Youth Groups (NJ District Youth Ministry Team)
- Easy Summer Servant Events for Children, Youth, and Families to Serve Together
- Calling a full-time Director of Christian Education to serve multiple congregations in your area: A Proposal.
Email Caitlin Dinger to RSVP with the number of team members attending from your congregation. Anyone who works with or is interested in finding out more about children, youth, and family ministry is welcome to attend! |
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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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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Easter Egg Hunt at Christ Memorial, East Brunswick - Saturday, April 15
Christ Memorial Lutheran Church (East Brunswick, NJ) is hosting a children's Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 15 from 10:30am to 12:00pm.
Children ages 2 years through 6th grade are welcome to join in the fun! This event will take place Rain or Shine.
Children should bring their own Easter Basket. We ask that a parent/guardian attend and remain with the child(ren) throughout the activities.
Each egg will be filled with a special treat or reminder of new life - our eternal life won for us by Jesus. We'll also have a goody bag for each child at the conclusion of the morning! The children will also make a craft, have a snack, and enjoy story time, music and game stations. Children will be in age appropriate groups for all their morning activities.
The registration deadline is Friday, March 31st or until registration is closed (100 children maximum). Come and join in the celebration!
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Sweet Life Cafe Women's Retreat with Bethlehem, Ridgewood - April 21-22
The women of Bethlehem Lutheran Church Ridgewood invite the ladies of our district to join us on retreat in April at Star Lake Conference Center, Bloomingdales, NJ.
In 24 hours, we share an experience that allows women to slow down and savor time with God and each other. It feels like a cozy day at your favorite coffee shop-where women can find rest, enjoy laughter, share their stories and grow closer to each other and God.
Dinner Friday evening is at 6pm (you can arrive from 4pm on). We finish at 4pm on Saturday. Cost is $165 for a single room and $110 if you have a roommate-that includes meals, lodging, books, supplies and a piece of jewelry which serves as a remembrance of the retreat. You will receive a CD of all the music before the retreat-most of it is familiar but this way you will really be comfortable with it. - There will be guided worship, uplifting music and small group discussions that keep you engaged.
- There will be a laughter-filled skit that makes a point about trusting God.
- You will receive a special gift pendant and activity that provides affirmation for each woman.
- There is a unique devotion kit to use for personal time with God.
- We will also do a meaningful service project that will allow participants to extend sweet encouragement to others.
Register online at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church website. Payment does not have to be made at that time - It can come at any time up to the retreat. Checks can be made out to Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Take your time paying - but rush to sign up! We'd love you to be part of this very special experience.
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Concordia College-NY Reformation Hymn Festival at Carnegie Hall - June 25
500 Voices for 500 Years: A Reformation Anniversary Hymn Festival at Carnegie Hall.
Date & Time: Sunday, June 25 at 2pm in Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium
Purchase tickets here.
Tickets: $7.50-$25 (Dress Circle and Second Tier)
$25 (First Tier and Blavatnik Family Tier)
$50 (Parquet)
Discounted tickets available for groups of 8. If you have any questions, please reach out to Treva Foss at Concordia College at 914.337.9300 x2424. |
Grace Place Wellness Church Worker Retreat - July 17-22
Make plans now for the 2017 East Coast Church Worker Retreat for the Atlantic and New Jersey Districts.
There are 5 spots available for active church workers at this year's Grace Place Wellness Church Worker Retreat.
WHEN: July 17 - 22, 2017
WHERE: Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort on the Delaware River, PA
Scholarships are available. |
Circuit 1 (Hudson) of the New Jersey District, including their Circuit Visitor, the Rev. Robert Holsten (St. Paul, Closter), and the congregations and school ministries of: - Trinity - Cliffside Park
- St. Paul - Closter
- Immanuel - East Rutherford
- Holy Cross - Mahwah
- Zion - Maywood
- St. Matthew - New Milford
- Bethlehem - Ridgewood
- Zion - Westwood
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
- Luther Memorial, Blackwood - 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 - Rev. Ken Fosse was installed on Saturday, Feb. 25
- Village, Lanoka Harbor
- Holy Cross, Mahwah - being served by SMP Vicar Matt Hass
- St. Thomas, Manalapan
- Calvary, Medford
- Luther Memorial, Tinton Falls - Rev. Jace Detrie has accepted their call; installation will take place on March 12 at 3pm.
- Grace, Union - being served by vacancy pastor
Lord God, heavenly Father, as we journey through this Lenten season, grant that we may be established firmly in Your Word, that our hearts may not be tempted by the false delights of sin, but may be firmly fixed upon Jesus, who journeyed to the cross to take away our sin. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
From Let Us Pray: Prayer of the Church, First Sunday in Lent, 5 March 2017
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Add the NJ District event calendar to your Google Calendar! Our public calendar ID is: google [at] njdistrict [dot] org
MARCH 2017
Spring Education Conference
Friday, March 31
Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Day
Saturday, April 1
9 AM to 12 PM
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Somerset, NJ
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
MAY 2017 Mission Classic Golf Outing Thursday, May 18 More information to come. JULY 2017
Convocation on the Word
July 7-8
Erdman Center - Princeton, NJ
More information to come.
Church Worker Wellness Retreat
July 17-21
Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort
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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