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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Registration Now Open: 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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Mission Classic 13: Support Urban Ministry in the NJ District
The thirteenth annual NJ District Mission Classic Golf Outing will be held on Thursday, May 18 at the Heron Glen Golf Course.
Start gathering your foursome now, and get ready for a great day of golf -- for a great cause!
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In the Beginning God
Rev. Richard C. Izzard, NJ District Revitalization
In the beginning God gave one command...."You shalt not eat of the....." It wasn't long until that command was scattered with no one accepting responsibility, or apologizing for the act of defiance, just lame excuses.
Later, it was Noah's turn, but it wasn't long before things went from bad to worse. Then there was Moses, with a new set of commands, ten to be exact, but before he even got chance to come off the mountain, all ten were broken. Then came a long line of Judges, Kings and Prophets, but in every case, the people "did evil in the eyes of the Lord." And God was silent! Four hundred years of silence. Had God forgotten, given up, angered beyond repair?
But then, "in the fullness of time," God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, to suffer and die in our stead, not for sins He had committed, but for ours. He had one mission in mind, "to seek and find the lost." And when He spoke from the cross "It is finished" a new day dawned. No longer are we condemned by sin. No longer do we need to live under the power of the devil. No longer is death the victor but victim.
In His final days with his disciples, there is no doubt as to the directions He gave, "I give you a new command, love one another as I have loved you," "therefore go, and make disciples of all nations..." Are we repeating the history of the past by ignoring God's command? Entrusted with "the message of reconciliation," how are we doing? Statistically, not very well. Do we dare ask the question, "how many people have been won to Christ through our ministries last year?" No doubt the church is called to be a fortress, but we are also commissioned to be a force, "a trusted shield and weapon"? Or can we ignore Christ's command, making other choices, which are more comfortable, concentrating on what we've done in the past, and not being concerned about giving birth to a new tomorrow?
We are Easter people! No obstacle is too big! No problem too large! May we the members of the New Jersey District, set our goals high and make our vision bold and courageous, asking ourselves "what is it that God wants us to do, to change, to adapt, to reach people in our communities who are otherwise lost, because they do not know or confess Christ as their Lord and Savior? Are we willing to "keep in step with God's Spirit?" Maybe even doing a little "water walking" or mountain moving?"
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Special Congregational Events for Holy Week & Easter
Trinity Lutheran Church (Morris Plains) invites all to a Children's Easter Workshop on Sunday, April 9 from 3pm to 4pm.
There will be an Easter Egg Hunt, crafts, cookie decorating, and story time.
Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Interfaith Food Pantry.
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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St. Paul's will host a Dawn Service of Holy Communion at 7 AM at the Closter Memorial Field Bandstand. If bad weather occurs, the service will take place in St. Paul's sanctuary. An Easter breakfast will follow at 8:15 AM in St. Paul's Fellowship Hall.
St. Paul's will also celebrate Easter with a Family Service at 10 AM that same morning in the sanctuary. "Easter gives us the great joy of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus," says Pastor Holsten. "The Christian church celebrates the Good News that God accepted Jesus' sacrifice and raised Him from death. Because Jesus lives, God also gives us the sure hope of everlasting life."
For further information, please contact St. Paul's Lutheran Church at 201 768-6310.
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St. John's, Clifton Hosts Fish & Chips Dinner - April 28
Fish & Chips Dinner Friday, April 28 5:30pm to 7pm - Open Salad Bar
- Fried Cod Loin
- French Fries
- Various Desserts
- Assorted Beverages
Tickets must be purchased before April 16 -- no tickets will be available at the door. Call Ellen at 973-464-6860 to reserve your tickets today!
St. John's Lutheran Church is located at 810 Broad Street, Clifton, NJ 07013. |
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Rummage Sale at Trinity, Morris Plains - April 29
Trinity Lutheran Church (131 Mountain Way, Morris Plains) will hold its Annual HUGE Indoor/Outdoor Rummage Sale on Saturday, April 29 from 9:00am to 2:00pm.
The cost to purchase a table for the day is $20. Donations are welcome. No tv's or electronics please.
For information or to purchase a table, please call Barbara at 973-625-3425. Please join us to sell your wares, or merely come and browse.
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Bach Cantata at Christ the King, Ringwood - Sunday, April 30 at 3pm
Christ the King Lutheran Church (Ringwood, NJ) invites you to their annual Bach Cantata -- BACH: Up Close & Personal.
DATE & TIME: Sunday, April 30 at 3pm
Bach's Cantata 6 Bleib bei uns, den es will Abend werden, will be performed, complete with orchestra.
The concert will also feature works by Mendelssohn, Hammerschmidt, and Liljestrand.
A freewill offering will be received.
Contact the church office at 973-962-6384 for more information. |
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Help Good Shepherd, Old Bridge Prepare 20,000 Meals for Children in Haiti
Two years ago, Good Shepherd, Old Bridge began the Haitian Children's Ministry. Since then we have led several mission trips and provided aid through orphanage sponsorship. On Saturday, June 3 at 10am we are partnering with Numana to prepare 20,000 meals to be sent to Haiti. These meals contain rice, soy, beans (for added protein), and chicken flavoring. The meals provide 21 vitamins targeted to help the immune system. Each meal costs less than $.30 to prepare, package, ship, and deliver. They will be prepared in assembly line fashion at McDivitt Elementary School in Old Bridge. Volunteer registration begins May 1. We will need 200+ volunteers all ages. We make it fun and meaningful for all who will participate. It's a great way to serve together as a family. The cost of the event is $6000. We are currently fundraising to make this happen. For the less than the cost of taking your family out to dinner, you can feed a family of four in Haiti for two months.
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Parish Nursing Conference - May 24 & 25 at Concordia University Wisconsin
"O Give Thanks" - celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Concordia Conference and the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.
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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.
NJ District congregations are invited to join Bethlehem, Ridgewood, which has a bus going to the Reformation Anniversary Hymn Festival.
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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. |
Bethesda Communities To Award $32,000 In Scholarships
Now accepting applications from Lutheran high school, college and seminary students for the 2017-2018 academic school year.
Bethesda Lutheran Communities is awarding thousands of dollars in scholarships to create opportunities for the next generation and enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Bethesda invites students to apply for one of several Bethesda Student Scholastic and Service Scholarships. This year, Bethesda is awarding $32,000 in scholarships. Four $3,000 scholarships will be presented to current college students, six $3,000 scholarships to seminary students, and four $500 scholarships to high school seniors. Recipients will be announced in July.
"These scholarships are a great way for Bethesda to encourage the next generation of professionals who will minister with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities," said Kim Trombley, vice president of Religious Life and Church Relations at Bethesda. "We are honored to support students who are living out their faith in their vocations in the field."
The scholarships are offered in partnership with the Bethesda Auxiliary, a nationwide organization that reaches forward in faith, word and deed by sharing the love of Jesus with people who have developmental disabilities.
Only active, communicant members of Lutheran congregations will be considered for the scholarships. All applications are due Monday, May 1, 2017. To apply or learn more, visit Bethesda's website.
Scholarship opportunities for college and university students
Up to four $3,000 scholarships will be awarded to Lutheran students pursuing undergraduate degrees in any academic area that will prepare them to serve and support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Applicants must be classified as a freshman, sophomore or junior at an accredited college or university, and have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Scholarships for seminary students
Six $3,000 scholarships will be awarded to Lutheran seminarians displaying interest in service to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a congregational setting.
To qualify, you must be a current college senior, accepted to begin seminary studies in the fall, or currently be classified as a first-year or second-year student at any seminary affiliated with the WELS, LCMS, ELCA, LCMC, ELS or NALC.
Scholarship opportunities for high school seniors
Up to four $500 scholarships will be awarded to Lutheran high school seniors pursuing a post- secondary degree in any academic area that will prepare them to serve and support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Applicants also are required to have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
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Redeemer-Westfield Seeks Early Childhood Director
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Redeemer Lutheran Church & School (229 Cowperthwaite Place, Westfield, NJ) is looking for part-time (potential for full-time) director for its Early Childhood (2.5 to 5-Year-Old), Kindergarten, morning, after care, and summer programs.
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Supervises the development, organization, implementation, coordination, evaluation, outreach and growth of the early childhood and preschool instructional programs to ensure that all students will meet or exceed the state learning standards.
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Exhibits a personality that demonstrates enthusiasm and interpersonal skills to relate well with students, staff, administration, school board members, Pastor, parents, the church and the community.
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Responsible for fostering a Christian environment that allows children, their families and the staff to develop to their full potential.
Interested candidates should send an email requesting a job application. Submit the completed application along with resume, copy of Bachelor &/or Master's Degree and current teaching or administrative certifications. Submit applications by April 1, 2017. |
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
- 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
- Village, Lanoka Harbor
- Holy Cross, Mahwah - being served by SMP Vicar Matt Hass
- St. Thomas, Manalapan
- Calvary, Medford
- Grace, Union - being served by vacancy pastor
Almighty God, as once the people welcomed Your Son with palms and hosannas, grant to us Your Spirit so that we may welcome with faith Him who comes in the name of the Lord. Grant us grace so that we may make known Jesus Christ and Him crucified here and throughout the world, that Your Kingdom may come and Your saving will and purpose may be done; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
From Let Us Pray: Prayer of the Church, Sunday of the Passion, 9 April 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
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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