SUNDAY’S COMING...
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH - 65 E. MAIN STREET, MENDHAM, NJ 07945
EMAIL: [email protected] / PHONE: 973-543-7595 / WWW.GRACEMENDHAM.ORG
TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY
Worship Schedule
March 2, 2014
One Service at 10:00 am
Sunday Church School
MARDI GRAS PANCAKE
BREAKFAST
6:00 pm Boy Scouts in Parish
Hall
FIRST SATURDAY SERVICE
MARCH 1, 2014 5:00 PM
HOT STOVE LEAGUE meets at 5:30 pm at the Black Horse
Serving this Sunday
Ash Wednesday Service March 5th 7:30 pm
Ushers:
Gene Eberenz,
Ministers: The People of
Grace
Scott Jacobson,
Pastor: Carol Petersen
Richard & Trink Schwartz
Diaconal Minister:
Kathryn Schwartz,
Director, Faith Kitchen, Dover
Altar Guild:
Vivian Morrison
Assisting Minister:
Diane Hettinger
This week we hold
these folks in our
prayers:
Pancake Breakfast:
Elsie Nicolas
Confirmands
Ken & Marjorie Oberst
Acolyte:
Counters:
Lisa Pallis & her children
Emma Schmadel
Katherine Schmadel &
Lexie & Joey
Reader:
Trink Schwartz
Tim Gau
CHECK OUT THE NEW SCAN CODE
FOR OUR WEBSITE
Please help us update your contact information for the
church directory.
You can check the directory and make updates by
going to gracemendham.org
Or you can check the hard copy at church.
JESUS TRANSFIGURED
(Mark 9:2–8)
They climbed a hill together,
Jesus and Peter, James and John,
They did not understand quite what was happening,
to find a quiet place,
but gradually, and oh so slowly,
a place apart from the crowds
they began to see that they must listen to Jesus and
who were clamouring for healing,
learn from him,
and for Jesus to teach them more about the
for what he was teaching would change the world.
kingdom of heaven.
After this encounter with mystery,
The demands on them had been heavy.
they returned down the hill,
He had fed the hungry crowd,
back to the ordinary,
healed the deaf and the blind,
back to the waiting crowds
and raised the little daughter of Jairus who they
and other requests for healing,
thought was dead.
and answers to the question:
‘Who is this man?’
He had taught them such unusual things,
always surprising them with his stories,
Who is this man?
and they began to wonder who he could be. Who
How do I listen and understand and respond to his
could do such things?
teaching?
Heal as he did?
Let me find a quiet place, a place apart,
Speak such wise words in the synagogue?
and try to enter into the mystery,
And then in the quiet of that place
that I, too, might have a moment of recognition and
they began to see him differently.
of knowing and of travelling deeper into mystery.
They recognised that in some mysterious way Jesus
was the Son of God;
‘This is my Son, my beloved; listen to him.’
the one for whom they had waited and longed, just
Let me receive these words into my heart
as the prophets of old had waited and longed for
that my life might be changed.
the Messiah.
- Lynda Wright
WEEKLY
CALENDAR
Monday, March 3rd
6:00 Boy Scouts in Parish Hall
Tuesday, March 4th
10:00 am Quilting
12:15 pm Bible Study
UPCOMING EVENTS
Calling All Fans of the National Pastime!!!
No! Not the NFL, NBA, or NHL
WE’RE TALKIN’ BASEBALL!!!!!!!
Pitchers and Catchers Report this Week
THE GRACE HOT STOVE LEAGUE IS BACK
7:00 pm Bells in Sanctuary
7:00 pm SNAP in Parish Hall
Wednesday, March 5th
Ash Wednesday Services
12:00 noon Interchurch Service here at
Grace Luncheon following
7:30 pm - Service
Both services will include the imposition of
ashes.
6:00 pm Jockey Hollow Weavers in Parish
Hall
8:30 pm Choir
Thursday, March 6th
10:00 am NW Mission Cluster Mtg. Vernon
2:00 pm Music Room in Use
Friday, March 7th
!
Saturdays, 5:30 pm @ Mendham’s Black Horse Pub
Saturday, March 1
Saturday, April 5
Please contact Richard Schwartz to reserve a spot in the
batting order, at (973) 539-3986 or
[email protected].
4:00 pm Girls Lacrosse Team in Parish Hall
Saturday, March 8th
7:30 am Men’s Breakfast in Parish Hall
Daylight Savings Time Begins - set your
clocks ahead 1 hour.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
First Sunday in Lent
WORSHIP TIME - 10 am
10:00 am Worship
Sunday School
Coffee Hour before and after service
11:00 am Adult Forum in Parish Hall
6:00 pm Boy Scouts in Parish Hall
HOSTED BY OUR CONFIRMANDS
A free will offering will be received.
All donations will go toward supporting the 2015
ELCA National Youth Gathering in Detroit, Michigan
“Marked with the cross of Christ forever,
we are claimed, gathered, and sent for the
sake of the world.”
GOD’S WORK.
OUR HANDS.
HOMELESS SOLUTIONS
INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY
FOOD ITEM OF THE MONTH
TUNA FISH
Faith Kitchen Items are due to
Grace by
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Sign up on theAbulletin board.
A new sign-up sheet has been
posted for chili fixings as our
March contribution to Faith
Kitchen, Dover.
Please have your items in the
parish hall kitchen by this date or
indicate on the sign-up sheet when
you will be dropping them off.
Delivery to Dover is Tuesday,
March 18th.
The refrigerator or freezer can be
used for perishable items;
otherwise the kitchen counters are
sufficient for our collection.
Thank you in advance for your
generous heart!
HAVE YOU FRIENDED US
ON FACEBOOK YET?
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING
FOR?
An interested family or a few adults
are still needed to host Grace's
Homeless Solution Dinner
The date is Friday, April 25th.
Chicken should be in the
Homeless Solutions ovens by 4:45
PM.
You will be out by 7:00 - no dishes
required
Please contact Pam Gau at
[email protected] if you can fill
this date.
ASH WEDNESDAY
Services
March 5, 2014
Interchurch service 12:00 noon
followed by luncheon – here at
Grace
7:30 pm Service
both services will include the
imposition of ashes
Mid-Week Lenten Services 2014, at
Grace Lutheran
LENT SCHEDULE
March 5, 2014 – Ash Wednesday
Grace Lutheran Pastor Carol Petersen
March 12, 2014 – St. Mark Episcopal
Sister Barbara Jean Packer
March 19, 2014 – Mendham United
Methodist – Reverend Sam Choi
QUILTERS
Want a hands on way to make
a difference? You can quilt!
Really! No experience needed.
Tuesdays from 10am -12 noon.
March 26, 2014 – Brookside
Community - Rev. Joel Biggers,
April 2, 2014 – Saint Joseph, R.C.
Father Joe Anginoli
April 9, 2014 – Hilltop Presbyterian
Reverend Bob Heppenstall
April 16, 2014 - Community of St.
John Baptist – Sister Barbara Jean
Check out Grace’s updated
website at gracemendham.org
You’ll find all kinds of new things...
Fill out an online survey about the
worship service, Set up E-giving,
Share updated Directory
information
Scripture Readings
Matthew 17: 1-9
Transfiguration Sunday
.
Exodus 24:12–18
2 Peter 1:16–21
At Mount Sinai, Moses experienced
the presence of God for forty days
and forty nights. The "glory of the
Lord" settled on the mountain, and
on the seventh day God called out to
Moses. On the mountain God gave
Moses the stone tablets inscribed
with the ten commandments.
At the transfiguration, God's voice
was heard, declaring Jesus to be the
beloved Son. By the activity of the
Holy Spirit, God's voice continues to
be heard through the word of
scripture.
12The
LORD said to Moses, "Come
up to me on the mountain, and wait
there; and I will give you the tablets
of stone, with the law and the
commandment, which I have written
for their instruction." 13So Moses set
out with his assistant Joshua, and
Moses went up into the mountain of
God. 14To the elders he had said,
"Wait here for us, until we come to
you again; for Aaron and Hur are with
you; whoever has a dispute may go
to them."
15Then
Moses went up on the
mountain, and the cloud covered the
mountain. 16The glory of the LORD
settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud
covered it for six days; on the
seventh day he called to Moses out
of the cloud. 17Now the appearance
of the glory of the LORD was like a
devouring fire on the top of the
mountain in the sight of the people of
Israel. 18Moses entered the cloud,
and went up on the mountain. Moses
was on the mountain for forty days
and forty nights.
16For
we did not follow cleverly
devised myths when we made known
to you the power and coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been
eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he
received honor and glory from God
the Father when that voice was
conveyed to him by the Majestic
Glory, saying, "This is my Son, my
Beloved, with whom I am well
pleased." 18We ourselves heard this
voice come from heaven, while we
were with him on the holy mountain.
19So
we have the prophetic message
more fully confirmed. You will do well
to be attentive to this as to a lamp
shining in a dark place, until the day
dawns and the morning star rises in
your hearts. 20First of all you must
understand this, that no prophecy of
scripture is a matter of one's own
interpretation, 21because no
prophecy ever came by human will,
but men and women moved by the
Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Shortly before he enters Jerusalem, where
he will be crucified, Jesus is revealed to
his disciples in a mountaintop experience
of divine glory called the transfiguration.
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter
and James and his brother John and led
them up a high mountain, by themselves.
2And he was transfigured before them,
and his face shone like the sun, and his
clothes became dazzling white.
3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses
and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then Peter
said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be
here; if you wish, I will make three
dwellings here, one for you, one for
Moses, and one for Elijah."
5While
he was still speaking, suddenly a
bright cloud overshadowed them, and
from the cloud a voice said,
"This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I
am well pleased; listen to him!"
6When
the disciples heard this, they fell to
the ground and were overcome by fear.
7But
Jesus came and touched them,
saying, "Get up and do not be afraid."
8And
when they looked up, they saw no
one except Jesus himself alone.
9As
they were coming down the mountain,
Jesus ordered them,
"Tell no one about the vision until after the
Son of Man has been raised from the
dead."
FIRST COMMUNION
A new class is being formed for a
spring celebration of Holy
Communion.
If your child is interested in
Transfiguration Sunday
Today's festival is a bridge between the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle that comes
to a close today and the Lent-Easter cycle that begins in several days. On the mount
of transfiguration Jesus is revealed as God's beloved Son, echoing the words at his
baptism. This vision of glory sustains us as Jesus faces his impending death in
Jerusalem.
participating, please let Pastor
Carol know.
Church: 973-543-7595
Email: [email protected]
Grace’s Women’s Book Club
Our Book Club will be meeting at
1:30pm on Wednesday,
February 26th
Books are available at church –
sign your name in the space by the
number of the book you pick up.
Copies are also available at most
local libraries.
Join us for discussion, fellowship
and as always -- food!
Many thanks to
Cathy & Carl Malmstrom and
Nancy, Alex and Matthew
Fukushima for cooking at
Homeless Solutions in January.
STEWARDS OF GOD’S LOVE
2014 Giving Envelopes are in your narthex
mailbox. Please remember to pick them up on
Sunday.
2013 Contribution Statements
and IRS Tax Receipts
Statements are being sent via email (a few in
postal mail), so please check your email
inbox.
Signed IRS tax receipts for 2013
contributions will be placed into narthex
mailboxes
COFFEE HOUR
Interested in hosting a coffee hour?
Please contact Yvonne Kloehn
[email protected]
or call 973-813-7325
GOD’S WORK. OUR HANDS
Lenten Study
Looking for a new way to observe Lent this year?
Please join us on Tuesdays from 12:15 pm - 1:45 pm at Grace and bring a
bagged lunch.
We'll take a forty day journey using the Lutheran Book of Faith study:
Beyond Question
We'll explore together some of the questions Jesus asks throughout the Gospels that challenge us,
change us, and draw us into deeper faith and discipleship.
Please see Margaret Erath ([email protected]) for more information
On-line at GraceMendham.org
E-Giving at Grace
Our e-giving program offers
convenience for you and a
much-needed donation
consistency for our
congregation.
E-Giving
• Available for:
• Secure
• Weekly
• Easy
• Holiday
• Worry Free
• Flowers
Keeping up to date!
Did you know that our website is updated
weekly?
Our goal is that it will be a place you visit weekly to
stay up to date, helping us to go green.
There are 4 main places to look for updates.
#1 A sticky at the top of your screen with late
breaking congregational news/reminders! This space is for items like congregational
meetings or reminders to bring soup for the Souper Bowl of Caring.
#2 The Calendar and the Events page are updated weekly and show what is going on
at Grace. The Events page has upcoming events, volunteer opportunities that we still
need volunteers for, and any important information we want to be sure you know. The
calendar obviously has our calendar.
#3 The information slider is where congregational events scroll on your screen.
Hint: You can use your pointer to hover over an image to see navigation buttons
that you can click to move forward and backward and this works on most
websites with sliders!.
#4 NEW Thinking Points! These will be articles that make you think! They will cover
everything from interesting articles from The Lutheran’ and Bonhoeffer quotes to
humanitarian news from around the world and information on worship, parish life
events, and living as a Christian today.
If you have anything you come across you d like to share EMAIL ME PLEASE!
-- your webmaster: Laura-Ann Quinones [email protected]
TAKING FAITH
HOME
Daily Bible Readings
These readings are related to the
Lectionary readings for this Sunday.
We invite you to take time each day
to read the assigned Bible
passages.
Sunday Matthew 17:1-9 Jesus
shines on a mountain
Monday Exodus 3:1-14 Moses
and the burning bush
Tuesday 2 Corinthians 4:5-11
God’s light shines in our hearts
Wednesday Matthew
6:1-6,16-18 The practice of faith
Thursday Isaiah 55:1-7 Turn to
the Lord
Friday Joel 2:1-2,12-17 Return
to God
Saturday Psalm 51:7-15 Wash
me clean
Sunday Matthew 4:1-11 The
temptation of Jesus
Jesus is the Son of God - Listen to him!
Say, Pray and Bless
A Prayer for the Week:
Lord, help us to pay attention to your
Word so that faith shines forth from
our hearts. Amen. (2 Peter 1:19)
Mealtime Prayer:
God, our provider, you are full of love
and full of might. May we shine for
you with faith so bright. Amen.
A Blessing to Give:
May the Lord Jesus bring you peace
when you are afraid. May you listen
to him and look to him, now and
always. Amen. (Matthew 17:5-6)
Caring Conversation
Discuss in your household or small
group:
• Are you a good listener? What is
involved in listening carefully to
others?
• The voice from heaven said,
“Listen to him.” In what ways do
you listen to Jesus?
• What helps you to listen to
Jesus? What stops you from
listening?
ELCA FACTS
We are God’s people gathered
around word and sacrament
The ELCA is the church of “God’s work.
Our hands.” About 4 million members in
nearly 10,000 congregations organized in
65 synods help make up the primary
expressions of this church. Our faith
comes through the good news of Jesus
Christ and gives us the freedom and the
courage to wonder, discover and boldly
participate in what God is up to in the
world.
ELCA in the News
ELCA members frequently make U.S.
secular and religious news headlines.
Here’s a list of some current coverage
about the ELCA:
ABC 20/20
ELCA school featured in segment about
children and guns. read more
We are people sent into the
world to make God’s kingdom of
The Huffington Post
love and grace known.
Rituals and Traditions
The day before Ash Wednesday is
called Shrove Tuesday. The name
“shrove” comes from the practice of
being “shriven”—going to church to
confess your sins and receive
absolution before the start of Lent.
Shrove Tuesday is also sometimes
called Pancake Tuesday or Fat
Tuesday because households used
up their remaining eggs and fats
before Lent by making pancakes on
this day.
Have a Shrove Tuesday pancake
breakfast or dinner. As you eat, talk
about what Jesus gave up for our
sake, and what you could give up
during Lent to prepare spiritually for
Easter.
Service
Consider giving up a household treat,
food or activity for Lent. Each week,
put aside the amount of money saved
by doing so. Decide on a charitable
cause and donate the money at the
end of Lent.
Lutherans adopt ‘The Church and Criminal
Justice: Hearing the Cries’ read more
Pittsburg Post-Gazette
Lutherans commit to criminal reform read
more
Time Magazine
Meet the women who will lead evangelical
Lutherans read more
MSNBC “Morning Joe”
Faith on Fridays: “A woman and her
church” (with ELCA Presiding Bishop
Elizabeth Eaton) read more
Washington Post
Lutherans take surprise step in electing
female presiding bishop read more
WDBJ-TV (CBS)
“God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday feature
of Christ Lutheran Church, Roanoke, Va.
read more