Monthly Newsletter
May 2022
THE WEEK AT REFORMATION
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. Service of Holy Communion
9:30 a.m. Service o Word on Facebook Live
Wednesday: 10 a.m. Morning Service followed by Prayer Ministry
7 p.m. Evening Prayer Service on Facebook
Dear people of God at Reformation:
Change is scary. Change actually causes grief, which is true whether that change is for the better or worse. It’s just our natural human response to loss, and every change brings loss in some measure – loss of what has been, loss of what we have become accustomed to. But change can bring new things, as well – new opportunities, new relationships, new ideas and ways of being together.
We here at Reformation are about to experience a significant change in our organizational structure as Debbie Keszler retires from her position as church secretary, effective at the end of this month. We will miss her presence in the office and her steady helping hand as one with significant organizational skills and knowledge. But this also brings the opportunity for us to meet and welcome a new church secretary – Amy Whitehead.
Amy is a mother of two children, 7-year-old Elena and 4-year-old Rebecca, (and two dogs, Lola and Clara). She comes to us with significant clerical experience having worked at Rutgers University for many years. She is bi-lingual, which will be wonderful for communicating with other congregations who worship here, and with Spanish-speakers who call the church from time to time.
Amy will be working 25 hours each week. Her normal hours will be from 9-2, Monday-Friday. Her hours may shift a bit from time to time depending on the time of year and the seasons of the Church. If anything arises on the weekend that you would like to communicate to the office, there will be a black composition book on the desk in the office where you can write messages, or, of course, you can call the office and leave a message that will be retrieved on Monday morning.
Amy will be here for worship on Sunday, May 8th, to meet and greet the congregation so that you and she can all put faces to names and welcome her on board. Please welcome her and support her in this time of transition.
Grace, mercy, and peace be with you all, from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor Matt
WORSHIP MATTERS
Liturgy comes from the Greek word “Liturgia” which many have defined through the years as meaning: “the work of the people.”
The word “worship” comes from an old English word that means “worthiness.”
When we gather for worship services, we are gathering to honor God who is worthy of praise and honor. God is worthy to receive these things because God is good and gracious. When we gather, we also give thanks to God for all of God’s good gifts and ask God to receive our prayers as expressions of our need for and of our trust in God’s willingness and ability to grant us that for which we ask. Of course, our greatest need is for the grace and forgiveness offered by God through the Word and Sacraments around which we gather in public worship.
Notice that in all of this I have been using the plural “we” and “our” because, again, what we do when we worship – the liturgy – is the work of God’s people. It is not the work of the pastor or any other leader the community might set apart. It is the work of the people, called, gathered, enlightened, and sent out in mission by God.
Which raises a particular opportunity (thinking negatively, you might call it a problem, but I want to keep this positive, so let’s call it an opportunity)…
Worship understood as “the work of the people” assumes that the people are showing up and participating in leadership.
Next month, we will reach the one-year mark since we returned to in-person worship. As of this writing (at the end of April) COVID numbers remain in the lower range in Monmouth County, and so we continue to gather with a “mask optional” status.
If you are one of the many members of this congregation who have fallen out of the practice of attending in person worship regularly, and you do not have a compelling physical or medical reason for your continued absence, please give serious prayerful consideration to coming back. If you are unsure of your risk, ask your medical professionals.
We need you. Without you, God’s people, we cannot do the work of the people – worshipping God as God has called us to do. All is now ready. Come and join the feast!
CONFIRMATION PROGRAM UPDATE
This month, we will complete another year of Confirmation instruction, with four young people ready to make public affirmation of faith on this coming Pentecost Sunday (June 5).
Please be holding Katie Bray, Michael Ford, Matthew LaPiana, and Haylee Townsend in your prayers as they prepare for this important event in their spiritual journeys. This service will, of course, we held in-person, but we will also livestream it on Facebook for those family members and friends who cannot attend or may live at a distance.
WE PRAY FOR:
David, Susan Britt, Les Cadigan, Robert Coles, Nick Cimorelli, Diane DeRasmo, Jan Erwin, Rosemary Howell, Royce Howell, Bob McDonald, Ann Marie Neikum, Dan Nilsson, Conny Plancey, Jeff Reis, Leslie Reis, Myra Reyes, Joseph Scataglia, Penny Shermer, Diane Smith, Don Smith, Agnes Taylor, Gayle Topper, Brian Valentino, Jim Vamvas, Alicia Willemsen, 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!!
PICTURES
Lucia Helps Pastor Matt Bless Our Pajamas
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.
OUR PAJAMA DRIVE
Thank you to all who participated in Reformation’s Pajama Drive as part of the ELCA World Hunger’s “40 Days of Giving” campaign. Approximately 160 pajamas were collected in all sizes and will be distributed to those in need through our Clothes Closet.
OFFERING ENVELOPES
It’s time for us to consider our paper offering envelope order for 2023!! We are asking you to please let us know if you DO WANT paper offering envelopes by emailing or calling the church (reformationwlb@gmail.com or 732-229-9180). If we do not hear from you, we will assume you no longer need paper offering envelopes because you are using our online options or just writing your envelope number on your check. We will give you until mid-May to reply before sending in our envelope order.
FINANCE INFORMATION
| MESSENGER INFO | ||||
| Offering Received for Budget in March | $17,479.07 | Needed: $23,184.05 | ||
| Offering Received for Budget Y.T.D.: | $55,787.37 | Needed YTD: $65,971.82 | ||
| Use of existing Funds YTD | $500.00 | |||
| Net Funds YTD | $56,287.37 | |||
| Amount Behind For Year | -$10,184.45 | |||
| Net Amount Behind For Year | -$9,684.45 | |||
PENTECOST SUNDAY
The Day of Pentecost is on Sunday, June 5th and we invite everyone to wear RED to church that day. Let’s see how many of us can remember to wear red!!
GRADUATE RECOGNITION
Are you or someone in your family reaching a milestone in your/their education? Please share the information with the church office. On June 16th we’d like to offer special recognition during our regular Sunday morning worship service to everyone reaching a milestone in their education!
“Seed” Money Available from Endowment Fund
Do you have an idea you’d like to get off the ground but you need funds to get started? The Endowment Fund budget includes money to be used as “Seed Money” or starter funds for new church projects. Don’t let your ideas go for a lack of funds! Send them to the Endowment Committee. The Food Pantry, The Prayer Shawl Ministry, and the Community Art Project are examples of projects that have received Endowment financial support in the past.
We loved to help you get started! Please share your idea with Endowment Fund members: Pastor Matt, Brian Valentino, Caroline Vamvas, Steve Bray, Bill Homza or Chuck Miller. Our Council Liaison to Endowment is Ron Appleton.
FRIENDS HELPING FRIENDS 2022 – BOSCOVS
On Wednesday, October 19th, 2022, Boscov’s Department Store will host the 26th Anniversary of our popular Friends Helping Friends event, a special day filled with fun and fundraising to benefit area non-profit organizations.
The Friends Helping Friends fundraising event is an opportunity for local non-profit (501c & 170c1) organizations (holding a Federal Tax ID#) to raise donations by selling $5 Shopping Passes to friends, neighbors and family. It’s completely FREE to participate and your organization keeps 100% of the $5 donation from each 25% Off* Shopping Pass!
Our annual Friends Helping Friends event raises over $1 Million for local non-profit organizations.
Event Details
In-Store Only
Event Date: October 19th, 2022
Store Hours: 8AM – 11PM
25% Off* SHOPPING PASS: Customers donating $5 to your organization receive an In-Store Only Shopping Pass valid during this one day event, October 19, 2022.
$5 DONATIONS: Each pass is $5 and your organization keeps 100% of this donation! If 20 members sell 20 passes each, your organization just raised $2,000!
REGISTER TO WIN: Ballot Boxes will be located at each Boscov’s store. Customers can fill out the bottom portion of their Shopping Pass, tear it off and drop it in the ballet box. One customer from each store will receive a $100 Boscov’s Gift Card!
The Food Pantry and Clothes Closet will be participating- we’ve registered and will be picking up our package of shopping passes in the next couple of weeks!! All proceeds will benefit our own pantry and clothes closet.
MAILBAG
What’s in the mailbag? Thank you notes from our college students for their cookie packages and a few other thoughtful notes.
From Abby Bray via text:
Thank you so much everyone for the delicious cookies – the package made my day!!
From Erica Soya via email:
I just wanted to thank you and the rest of the congregation for making those delicious cookies! They absolutely made my day and my roommates loved them too. 🙂
From Skyler Smith via email:
To Debbie and the rest of Reformation,
Thank you so much for the cookies! I really appreciate the gift. They are delicious!
A note from Lutheran World Relief:
To the people of the Lutheran Church of the Reformation,
Thank you for sharing your love and generosity to our sisters and brothers in Ukraine. You brought hope in the form of cash assistance to purchase food, medical supplies and quilts and kits for those who may easily lose hope. Please contact me and look for emails from me for further information about the work of LWR both in Ukraine and around the world. – Grace & Peace, Tim Krick
A prayer shawl thank you note:
To the lovely ladies that created the shawl for me – it goes perfectly on my rocker and keeps me warm. It reminds me of all the wonderful people of Our Lord who are praying for me. The Lord has already worked his miracle. My cancer is almost gone thanks to my yearlong treatment and the Lord’s healing hand. My life has been enriched by this ordeal and my family has become very close. I thank God for this very much. Cancer is not all bad. I thank you and the Lord! – Miss Penny Shermer.
Another Prayer Shawl thank you note:
Dear Helen and Prayer Shawl women,
Thank you and your church for the beautiful shawl. It came at the right time. Some nights are lonely but there’s sun in the morning. – Love Barb
FOOD TRUCK PARTY!
Vacation Bible School – August 14-18
Hey Everybody – it’s time to plan our VBS and this year promises to be another awesome event!! Food Truck Party VBS invites children of all ages to get on a roll with God as a parade of Food Trucks rolls into their neighborhood for the summer’s biggest party! This street party helps children build on the practice of using daily prayer to turn to God for their needs – and also to serve as the hands of God in ensuring that the needs of others are met. Look for more details in the coming weeks and for the registration cards too! Please check your calendars and plan to help our team create an amazing VBS!! As always volunteers are needed to make this the best VBS for our kids!!
SUNDAY SCHOOL HAPPENINGS
The Lenten/Easter season is always a busy one in our Sunday School and this year was no exception.
As is our tradition, the students began by preparing Alleluia banners at the beginning of Lent. The bright and colorful banners were then placed in a plastic bag and then again placed into a box suitable for burial.
Our preferred burial site is in the ground outside the Sunday School wing of the building. Here they remained until we dug them up on Palm Sunday and ultimately unveiled them on Easter morning for everyone to see.
The burial process is always tricky. Some years the ground is too muddy to dig up and some years it is frozen. We even had a year when an expectant mother duck wandered over from Franklin Lake and laid her eggs there. (The area was roped off to provide Mom some sense of safety/security and we made other arrangement for the banners that year.)
On Palm Sunday, we had our annual Easter egg hunt in Fellowship Hall. Many thanks to Alicia, Joe and Lexi Carbin-Sievers for filling LOTS of colorful plastic eggs with assorted treats. The kids had a fun time searching for the eggs and to top things off, the Easter Bunny made a surprise visit! (Thank you Brian Patterson!)
Finally, we were blessed to have Maria and Gilberto Garcia, the missionaries that our church supports from Juarez, Mexico visit our Sunday School. Maria and Gilberto had plenty of photos to share of the James R. Ganley Elementary School and of Arlyn Daniela the 5th grade student that we sponsor. Our students have plans to write letters to Arlyn Daniela and to gather and send supplies to our fellow students in Mexico. What a Great opportunity to build a bridge of friendship with our neighbors in Juarez and to share God’s love with them!
MOTHER’S DAY ENDOWMENT FUND GIFTS
As has become our tradition, we are offering an opportunity to remember or honor the special women in our lives by making donations to our Endowment Fund, a way to strengthen our church not only for today but for the future. There will be inserts in our bulletins this weekend and the donation form is also below.
{ Mother’s Day Tribute {
On Sunday, May 8th we will be celebrating MOTHER’S DAY. As has become our tradition, we are offering an opportunity to honor and remember our mothers and the special women in our lives through donations to our Endowment Fund. We have established three sections of the Endowment Fund. The original section is General Endowment, which will continue to make grants and matching gifts. The second section is for the Building Endowment and will be used exclusively for the repair or expansion of our church building. The third section is for Feeding the Hungry. You may choose where you would like your gift applied by annotating in the appropriate sections identified below. Simply make a contribution payable to Reformation Lutheran Church (in any amount) and complete this form. Your form and donation may be mailed to the church or placed in the offering plates by May 4th.
RESERVATION DEADLINE: MAY 4th
NAME: _______________________________________________________
TELEPHONE # _____________________Envelope #_________TOTAL AMOUNT: ________________
Fund Designation:
$________General Endowment (Code 800)
$________Building Endowment (Code 807)
$________Feeding the Hungry (Code 808)
( ) IN MEMORY OF: ______________________________________________________
( ) IN HONOR OF: ______________________________________________________
SOME COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
WEST LONG BRANCH RECYCLING DAY
Is it time for spring cleaning and clean out?? West Long Branch’s recycling day is Saturday, May 14th from 8-12 in the municipal parking lot right across from the church. They’ll be recycling small electronics, sneakers, flags, eyeglasses, and shredding paper.
SONS OF NORWAY – TRICKY TRAY EVENT
April 30, 2022, doors open 1 pm at Noreg Lodge’s Solbakken, 80 Boundary Road, Marlboro, NJ
Get ready to have a great time and a chance to win over 50 prizes! Bring your family, bring your friends Zone 3 Tricky Tray To support the Scholarship Fund. Last year we were able to give scholarships to 2 students. Entrance fee is $10 which includes 6 tickets openfaced sandwiches, salads, desserts, coffee and tea. Additional tickets will be on sale, 6 for $10, 18 for $20
WOMEN’S RETREAT AT HOLY TRINITY – RED BANK
On Saturday, June 4th from 10-3pm Holy Trinity Red Bank will be holding their 1st Women’s Retreat.
All are invited!! The theme is: Treasure in Clay Jars and will be led by Pastor Dale Selover. Check in begins at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $25 per person. Come and explore “Treasure in Clay Jars” with Dale and enjoy her beautiful and spiritual presence, moving throughout the day while experiencing something new and different. Let’s get excited to come together to grow in faith and nurture friendships new and old!! Registration forms are on the table in the gathering area or print the one below. Please submit all registrations directly to Holy Trinity Red Bank.
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