MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR APRIL
Fifth Sunday in Lent
THE WEEK AT REFORMATION
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. Service of Holy Communion
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. Facebook Live Service of the Word
Wednesday: 10 a.m. Morning Eucharist followed by Prayer Ministry
Wednesday: 7 p.m. Evening Prayer and Study on Facebook Live
Dear people of God at Reformation:
Last year at this time my monthly message here was focused on our efforts to pay down our mortgage. I was celebrating being the bearer of good news. Well, this year we have more to celebrate, of course. Not only did we manage, through your generosity, and through some generous sharing in memory of family members of dear ones who have died recently, to pay off the mortgage, but we have also been able to redo the flooring in the sanctuary and contract to have the windows replaced in the entire west wing of the building – from the Sunday school rooms up to the choir room and bathrooms next to the sanctuary.
Gracious gifts in memory of Pastor Acer, Allan and Christa Buergin, and Julius Zweig, combined with our continued generosity as members of Reformation, and some strategic matching funds from our Endowment Fund, have made this happen. I am sure that many of you remember how long Pat Zweig dreamed of replacing the west wing windows, and now that, too, is going to happen.
That’s all great news, and we should celebrate it! In fact, we will do just that later this summer when the Bishop comes to join with us for worship and a celebration that will include the burning of the mortgage.
But, there’s something else that’s happening in our community that is not something to celebrate, but that needs to be addressed clearly and with purpose.
We do not have a full congregational Council. We also do not have chairs for each of our standing committees.. These are not just flashing red lights, they are glaring red lights warning of real danger ahead of us as a congregation. The pandemic has been hard on many organizations and institutions. The Church has not been exempt. Our active membership has changed dramatically, but truth be told, we were trending in this direction of declining volunteerism before this. The situation has been exacerbated and the decline accelerated by the pandemic and related social and cultural pressures.
So, what are we to do with this mixed bag?
I guess the answer comes down to priorities. If this faith community and its future are important to you, consider in what new ways you might be able to support the work we do here. Do you have a couple extra hours a month that you can dedicate to planning or to implementing plans? If you’ve never served as a congregational leader, or if it has been a while since you’ve done so, consider what gifts you have and how they might be useful in advancing our mission.
We have clearly proven that when we pull together we can do great things and I’m sure we’ll continue to do so moving forward.
Grace, mercy, and peace be with you all from God our Father, through Jesus who is the Christ,
Pastor Matt
WORSHIP MATTERS
Easter is coming! And for the first time, since the spring of 2019, we are going to celebrate this feast together in person! I can’t wait!
The solemn proclamation of Christ’s saving death and the joyous proclamation of the Risen Christ will again ring out from this building, bringing the Good News of eternal life to all.
Since we have returned to in person worship, our Holy Week and Easter services will be in person with significant portions streamed on Facebook.
Following is our schedule for Holy Week and Easter:
PALM SUNDAY/ SUNDAY OF THE PASSION, April 10 – 9:30 AM Service of Holy
Communion, the Service of the Word portion of which will be
livestreamed on Facebook, begins outdoors along Broadway with
the blessing and procession of palms, continuing indoors for the
reading of the Passion according to St Luke and the keeping of
Holy Communion.
WEDNESDAY, April 13 – 10 AM in person service including Stations of the Cross and Holy
Communion
7 PM Evening Prayer livestream with Stations of the Cross
MAUNDY THURSDAY, April 14 – 7 PM in person Service of Holy Communion with foot
washing and stripping of the altar, the Service of the Word portion of which will be streamed live on Facebook
GOOD FRIDAY, April 15 – 3 PM – Good Friday Liturgy from the ELW
7 PM ELW Good Friday Service including the Solemn
Reproaches, reading of the Passion according to St. John, Bidding
Prayers and the Unveiling of the Cross.
HOLY SATURDAY, April 16 – 7:30 PM The Great Vigil of Easter – in person only, no
livestream. It includes the lighting of the new fire, the Easter
Proclamation, a Service of Readings of salvation history,
Affirmation of Baptism, and the first Eucharist of Easter. The
service will be followed by a simple champagne reception.
EASTER SUNDAY, April 17 – 9:30 AM Our in person Festival Service for Easter, the Service
of the Word portion of which will be streamed live on Facebook.
Sanctuary Floors: Thank you everyone for all the help wiping down and moving items back to the sanctuary. We will be able to worship in the sanctuary this Sunday!!
PICTURES
Our Square for the Bishop’s Challenge – on it’s way to the Synod office
Everyone pitching in to put the sanctuary back together!
WE PRAY FOR:
Jonathon & Crystal and their triplets, Denise Burke, Les Cadigan, Robert Coles, Connie, Nick Cimorelli, Diane DeRasmo, Margaret Dix, Jan Erwin, Rosemary Howell, Royce Howell, Jonathan, Michael, Rose, Lisa & family, Trina, Inger LaManna, Ann Marie Neikum, Dan Nilsson, Beth Nilsson, Conny Plancey, Jeff Reis, Peter Repak, Myra Reyes, Joseph Scataglia, Penny Shermer, Diane Smith, Gayle Topper, Brian Valentino, Janet Vignes, Georgie Zweig
PRAYER LIST UPDATE: If you have someone in need of prayers, please let us know via either Pastor Matt or the church office and we will be sure to add them to our list above. If you have good news to share on recovery of anyone on our prayer list, please let the office or Pastor Matt know. We’ll gladly share the good news!!
Lutheran World Relief – Ukraine:
If you would like to support the ELCA and Lutheran World Relief (LWR) as they support the people of Ukraine, there are envelopes in the gathering area for donations. We also have a LWR – Ukraine button added to our donate site on our website. All donations will be sent out to LWR as soon as possible. Lifesaving humanitarian aid is already on its way to Ukraine via LWR and their partners. Our plan is to send out our donation to LWR as soon as we can and definitely to make sure we can help take advantage of the matching funds offer that LWR has publicized.
FINANCE UPDATE
Our finance team continues with the transition and they hope to have a full finance report this month. Our attendance between in person and online continues to average 60-70 people.
A STEWARDSHIP REMINDER
There are lots of ways to support the work that we do together here at Reformation. The email copied below reminded me of one of the simplest ways – shopping on Amazon! Since we first registered with AmazonSmile several years ago, we have received nearly $625 in givebacks.
Now, this seems like a good amount, and it is. But I also know it could be much higher! So let me remind you that, if you shop through Amazon, be sure to turn on AmazonSmile, and select Lutheran Church of the Reformation A NJ Nonprofit Corporation as your charity of choice, and every time you shop, the church will receive a donation.
“Dear Matthew Cimorelli,
This is the quarterly notification to inform you that AmazonSmile has made a charitable donation to the charity you’ve selected, Lutheran Church of the Reformation A NJ Nonprofit Corporation, in the amount of $41.74 as a result of qualifying purchases made by you and other customers who have selected this charity.
Thanks to customers shopping at smile.amazon.com or using the Amazon app with AmazonSmile ON, everyday purchases make an impact. So far, AmazonSmile has donated:
$624.81 to Lutheran Church of the Reformation A NJ Nonprofit Corporation*
Over $334 million to US charities
Over $377 million to charities worldwide”
CONFIRMATION
On June 5, Pentecost Sunday, four of our young members will be making an Affirmation of Baptism. Please plan on coming to celebrate this wonderful moment with Matthew, Michael, Katie and Haylee, and surround them with your prayers in these days leading up to the day.
Look for banners representing our young members during May. Get to know our young people, their dreams, and their personalities.
First Communion Reminder
If you have a child who is interested in beginning to commune at Reformation, please contact Pastor Matt on a Sunday, or the Church Office during the week, to get age appropriate preparation materials that you and your child can work through together. Once you have completed that work, contact Pastor Matt to set a meeting time. If there are more than one child interested, he will schedule a group session. If not, he will meet individually with you and your child to discuss the meaning of the Sacrament. Following this conversational/educational meeting, a date can be selected and your child can begin communing.
As the ELCA Use of the Means of Grace document suggests, there is no age restriction on the reception of the Sacrament. The person must simply be baptized and be able to eat and drink. This is based on our belief that God’s grace does not require our understanding or assent. God does what God does wholly apart from our participation. All that is needed is the ability to receive the sign. Education regarding the deeper meanings ought to continue throughout the whole of one’s life as a disciple of Christ.
EASTER CANTATA AT REFORMATION
Sunday, April 10th at 3 p.m.
Come join us and enjoy The Easter Story, with words and music by Tom Fettke and Thomas Grassi.
It us a profound story engaging heart, mind and imagination through word and music.
It will be presented by the Northern Cluster Choir and The Choraliers of Eatontown.
Maynard Burley will be directing the combined choirs.
ANNA BEATY SCHOLARSHIP
Anna was the Superintendent of our Sunday Church School for 60 years and to honor her memory the Anna Beaty Scholarship was established. This scholarship is for graduating Lutheran (ELCA) high school seniors and current undergraduate college students who have attended the Lutheran Church of the Reformation’s Sunday Church School and who have applied to and eventually will be accepted at an accredited university or college for their undergraduate degree or are currently pursuing a post-secondary education at an accredited university or college for their undergraduate degree. The application is on the next page of this messenger or email the church office at reformationwlb@gmail.com for a copy. DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS IS APRIL 15TH
The Anna M. Beaty Scholarship
This scholarship application is for graduating Lutheran (ELCA) high school seniors and current undergraduate college students who have attended the Lutheran Church of the Reformation’s Sunday Church School and who have applied to and eventually will be accepted at an accredited university or college for their undergraduate degree or are currently pursuing a post-secondary education at an accredited university or college for their undergraduate degree.
Name____________________________________________________ Date__________________________
Address__________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone no.______________ cell______________ e-mail address _______________________________
Current school________________________________________________ Year of study________________
Describe your activity in the Sunday Church School as a student/ helper/ teacher: ___________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Describe other activities in church: __________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Describe other activities in the community: ___________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Describe your future vocational plans: _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Do you have a college in mind? / Have you applied? / Have you been accepted? _____________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Do you have a declared major? ____________________________________________________________
Why is this scholarship important to you? ____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Check Reminders
ALL Checks (regardless of the charity i.e. Lutheran World Relief, Food Pantry, etc) should be made out to ‘The Lutheran Church of the Reformation’. (So far most of you have been good about doing this…KUDOS to you!)
If other than your regular giving, please annotate this information in the memo area (i.e. Altar Flowers, Food Pantry, Lutheran Disaster Relief, etc) (That’s very important that we know where you want your money to be designated to)
Please include your envelope number.
If you are not sure of your number, PLEASE do not guess what you think it is. Our counters will look up your number for you and let you know what it is.
Make sure your figure amounts are easily legible and that the numbers agree with what is written. (Lately this has not been a problem with the bank, but it doesn’t hurt to make sure everything is legible)
Be sure to sign and date your check (If anything, please just double check that you did this). J
If you would, please DO NOT fold your check.
Your cooperation in this way will help expedite the processing that goes into the weekly counting and will be much appreciated by your counter(s).
Thank you,
Barbara Denegar
OUR PAJAMA DRIVE CONTINUES
It’s not too late to donate pajamas for our 40 days of giving during Lent. There is a bin and display in the gathering area. All donations will benefit our clothes closet!!
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