Weekly E-Messenger
For the week beginning 3/4/2022
First 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
Our Lenten Journey: Our Lenten Journey continues with our Evening Prayer services on Wednesday evenings throughout Lent on Facebook live at 7 p.m. followed by our weekly bible study.
The Lily and Tulip order form for our Easter Altar is at the end of this messenger– Prices will remain the same for 2022!
Sanctuary Floors: Our floor project for the sanctuary is set to begin Monday at 7:30 a.m.!! The hope is it will be done in two weeks. We will be worshiping in the Great Room 3/13 and 3/20. If you can, please plan to help us move items out of the sanctuary on Sunday after worship
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS BEGINS AT 2:00 A.M. ON SUNDAY, MARCH 13th – SPRING AHEAD – DON’T FORGET TO TURN YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD 1 HOUR BEFORE YOU GO TO BED ON SATURDAY, MARCH 12th!!
Pray with the whole church each day at noon!
www.njsynod.org/virtual-church-resources
WE PRAY FOR:
Jonathon & Crystal and their triplets, Robert Coles, Connie, Margaret Dix, Linda Eikner, Jan Erwin, Rosemary Howell, Royce Howell, Jonathan, Michael, Rose, Lisa & family, Trina, Inger LaManna, Dan Nilsson, Beth Nilsson, Jeff Reis, Peter Repak, Myra Reyes, Penny Shermer, Diane Smith, Brian Valentino, 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!!
SYNOD ASSEMBLY
The NJ Synod Assembly is May 6 and 7 this year. All congregations of the NJ Synod meet yearly to make decisions on important issues affecting the church and the world. They vote for new Synod council representatives and vote on other initiatives. Each congregation is requested to send 2 adult voting members (one male and one female) and 1 under 30 voting member to represent them at this meeting. This year the meeting will again be held virtually.
We are looking for members willing to represent Reformation at the Synod Assembly. If you think you might be interested, please reach out to Pastor Matt and he can give you more information.
Scout Sabbath 2022 at Reformation
We’ve reschedule the Scout Sabbath to our Family Church Experience Sunday on March 20th and we will spend some time considering connections between scouting and the Christian faith. We will also include an opportunity for parents to present Scout Sunday patches, or other faith-related Badges, to their scouts. Those involved in scouting who would like to participate are invited to join us in worship that Sunday. Invite your scouting friends to come celebrate with us.
CONFIRMATION CLASS SCHEDULE
Confirmation classes will resume in March, however, as has been repeated many times, whether classes are in session or not, from September through May, confirmands are expected to worship at least twice each month. They are also expected to complete at least 2 sermon response forms each month from September through May.
The calendar for the upcoming semester is as follows:
3-6: Parent’s Meeting / The Creed – Article 1
3-13: The Creed – Articles 2 and 3
3-20: The Lord’s Prayer Pt 1
3-27: The Lord’s Prayer Pt 2
4-3: The Sacraments Pt 1 (Baptism)
4-10: No Class / Passion Sunday
4-16: The Great Vigil of Easter – Who will be in town?
How will you participate?
4-17: No Class / Easter Sunday
4-24: No Class
5-1: The Sacraments Pt 2 (Baptism and Confession / Holy Communion)
5-8: The Sacraments Pt 3 (Holy Communion)
5-15: Daily Prayer and Assigning Parts for Confirmation Service
5-22: Banner Making
5-29: No Class / Memorial Day weekend
6-5: Confirmation Service / Pentecost Sunday
40 DAYS OF GIVING DURING LENT
SOCIAL MINISTRY AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
WITH SUNDAY CHURCH SCHOOL PAJAMA DAY 2022
The Sunday School is pleased to partner with the Social Ministry Committee in their upcoming “40 Days of Caring” pajama collection. The pajama collection was initiated several years ago by the Sunday School as a one day event but this year it is being expanded to last throughout the Lenten Season. New pajamas will be collected during the 40 days of Lent (all sizes) and donated to our Clothes Closet. On the second Sunday in Lent, March 13, our students will have the opportunity to wear their pajamas to Sunday School to promote this project. There will be bins in the gathering area to collect your donations.
Since September, the Sunday School has assisted Social Ministry in other ways as well. In September we created “Welcome to Your New Home” greeting cards for the baskets that were given to Habitat for Humanity families. In addition, we showed our support for their Bread for the World letter writing campaign in October by creating “End Hunger Now” messages and drawings on paper plates. Most recently, Sunday School students and staff participated in a skit to promote this year’s Souper Bowl of Caring and we collected noisy offerings on the day of the event.
After all, at Reformation we believe in Praising God and Serving Others.
Byron Griffin, Cathy Soya
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.
International Women’s Day
While we won’t be having a tea or brunch this year, we encourage everyone to participate in International Women’s Day 2022 in their own way on March 8th. Imagine a gender equal world; A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination; A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive; A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias. You can find more information and ideas at: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.
SECRETARY SEARCH COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENT
With the announcement of Debbie’s plans to retire effective June 1 of this year, we have begun our search for our next Church Secretary. The following is the ad we are placing to begin the process. We are seeking to hire someone from outside of the congregation. If you know of someone who has appropriate skills who might be interested, please share this with them.
Church Secretary Position Available
The Lutheran Church of the Reformation in West Long Branch is searching for a confidential Church Secretary to join the team. The Church Secretary works closely with the Pastor and other members of the congregation on various administrative functions including scheduling, ordering of materials, processing of mail, responding to phone calls, and sending out informational emails. This is a part-time position of 25 hours per week ($15 to $17 / hour) with the ability to create a flexible schedule. Please submit resumes to LCRWLB@gmail.com.
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: ___________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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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? ____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Easter Lilies
Now through March 31st the St. Martha’s Altar Care will be taking requests for Easter Lilies. Please consider purchasing a Lily, or two, in honor or in memory of a loved one. The lilies will be placed around the altar for Easter Sunday worship and may be taken home after our worship service on Easter morning. Cost: $15.00 each. Donations to the Altar Guild fund, in honor or memory of a loved one, are also gratefully accepted.
Please complete the form below and return it to the office by March 31, 2022
Name: _____________________________
Phone #: Envelope # TOTAL Amount enclosed: _________
I would like ________ Lily(s) at $15.00 each Total Cost of Lilies: _______(704) ~ OR ~
I would like to donate: $ to the Altar Fund (623)
In honor of: _______________________________
In loving memory of: _______________________________________________________________
Tulips for the Easter Season………
Easter Tulips: This year we are again offering colored tulips for Easter. There is no choice of colors; it will be a blend of different colors.
Now through March 31st we will be taking requests for Easter Tulips. Please consider purchasing a pot of tulips, or two, in honor or in memory of a loved one. The tulips will be placed around the altar (with our traditional white lilies) for Easter Sunday worship and may be taken home after our worship service on Easter morning. Cost: $15.00 each. Donations to the Altar Guild fund, in honor or memory of a loved one, are also gratefully accepted.
Please complete the form below and return it to the office by March 31, 2022
Name: _____________________________
Phone #: Envelope # TOTAL Amount enclosed: _________
I would like ________ tulips(s) at $15.00 each Total Cost of tulips: _______(704) ~ OR ~
I would like to donate: $ to the Altar Fund (623)
In honor of: _______________________________
In loving memory of: ______________________________________________________________
For those of you who pre-ordered Daffodils for Easter – the cost is $16.00 each. I will be sending out an email to everyone I have on my list in the next week or so.
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