We pray for...
The family and friends of Dawne M. Thumhart, (spouse of Randy Thumhart, a former synod council member, and daughter-in-law of Gladys and the late Rev. Anton Thumhart), who entered the church triumphant on February 25th. A memorial service is planned for Sunday, April 12 at noon at Holy Trinity, Brant Beach.
Bill Kauffman (spouse of Pastor Patt Kauffman, St Paul, Ridgefield) recovering from hip surgery
Pastor Wendolyn Trozzo (Grace, Somers Point) recovering from surgery
We pray for all who suffer in places of war and violence—especially Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, and Iran.
These congregations of our synod...
Zion, Carteret
Abiding Peace, Budd Lake
Christ, Whiting
These companion synods in the ELCA and around the world...
Montana Synod, ELCA
Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church
We continue our prayers for...
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Synod Assembly News
Assembly Registration is open!
Links and information can be found at
www.njsynod.org/assembly
Upcoming Mission District Meetings
Northern District, Saturday, March 14, 2026 (10:00 AM), Grace, Teaneck
Delaware District, Sunday, March 15, 2026 (4:00 PM), St. Stephen, Woodbury
Gateway District, Sunday, March 22, 2026 (4:00 PM), St. Paul, Jersey City
Middle District, Saturday, April 11, 2026 (2:00 PM), Hope, Freehold
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Join The Saints Go—a new NJ Synod cohort for rostered and lay leaders open to the Spirit’s nudge. Learn new ways to tell Jesus’ story, discern, innovate, collaborate, and dream together. Explore fresh expressions of church and deepen spiritual practices alongside others listening for God’s movement in our neighborhoods.
Starts April 18, 2026.
More info: Pastor Maristela Freiberg • maristela...@elca.org
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ELCA Evangelism Resources
Check out this collection from the ELCA Evangelism Network—resources, links, and ideas created to guide, inspire, and strengthen our shared work of evangelizing throughout the sacred seasons of Lent and Easter. May these materials support you in nurturing vibrant faith practices and cultivating deeper connections within your ministry contexts.
Evangelizing in Lent and Easter
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Caring for God's Good Creation:
Lenten Resources: Food Loss and Waste
This week, the NJ Synod Care of Creation team Lenten video and meditation series on Food Loss and Waste continues here.!
For March 4, watch Rutgers’ video “Food System Resources and Outputs” and read the meditation from Pastor Jeff Elliott, "Blessed are the educators, for they plant seeds of awareness in the hearts of many." Afterward, take a moment to think about the reflection questions and pick a practice to try this week - and check out the recipe and prayer for the week.
Please post the attached flyer and plan to join us for this Lenten series -- with a new video, meditation, recipe, and prayer each week.
Lenten Series Poster
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The NJ Synod is a Blessed and Generous Synod!
In 2025, together we exceeded anticipated mission support offerings by over $1,000! In fact, 109 of our 143 congregations met or exceeded their mission support intentions! This means we not only fulfilled but were able to exceed what we forecast would be shared with the ELCA while our mission and ministries rooted in values such as Faithfulness, Change, Respect, Diversity, Interdependence and Generosity thrived! Thanks be to God! Thanks be to God for you!
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NJWELCA Thankoffering
March Thankoffering is being offered on Saturday, March 7th at Calvary Lutheran in Cranford (108 Eastman St). We are gathering at 9:30am with service starting at 10am.
After service, lunch will be served and a workshop on Wellness will be conducted. Pastor Wendy Abrahamson from Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Atonement in Asbury Park will be our chaplain. Our workshop is being presented by Alison Lauck of Lutheran Social Services.
Please bring a canned good or two for those in need and facing continual food insecurity. Let us share our goods with others.
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Come…Gather and…Be Equipped
Growing in Faith: the diakonia Program
Come and join us for our annual Gathering on Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 9:00 – 3:30 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 300 Union Ave, Somerville, NJ. This year we will be welcoming Rev. Maristela Freiberg and several representatives of the Synod’s Go and program. We will learn about the importance of prayer, listening and telling in our Christian lives. The cost of the day is $50 and includes lunch. While you can pay at door, you are encouraged to preregister by emailing Ellen Lindemann at Ellen.L...@raritanval.edu.
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LAST CALL for LSM 2026!
Enrollment for this summer is over 80% full, but there’s still time for young musicians to apply, and for you to nominate students. Lutheran Summer Music is the nation’s premier faith-based music academy for high school musicians. Students come together from around the country for a joyful summer of music-making through large ensembles (band, choir, orchestra), chamber music, private lessons, elective classes (conducting, composition, jazz, musical theatre, handbells, pipe organ) and use their musical gifts in performance, and in worship.
LSM 2026 | St. Olaf College, Minnesota | June 21 - July 19 | Grades 8 - 12 | Learn more: LSMacademy.org/program
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Celebrate Reformation Day 2026 with the NJ Synod
in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany
Reformation: Then and Now
October 26 - November 5, 2026
Click here for Bishop Compton's Invitation, Itinerary & Registration info:
www.njsynod.org/germanytrip
Travel with Synod friends, Bishop Compton and our docent, The Rev. Dr. Kit Kleinhans, recently retired Dean of Trinity Lutheran Seminary.
Interested? germa...@njsynod.org
Pastor Carol Lindsay, Synod Trip Coordinator
Church administrators: Click here to add this to your publications
Getting to Know Our Docent, the Rev. Dr. Kit Kleinhans:
I first fell in love with Lutheran theology when I was in confirmation class. Through my graduate studies (MDiv and PhD), I learned how understanding the history of Lutheranism helped me to appreciate the theology ever more deeply. I’ve devoted my ministry to sharing my knowledge and my passion with others, including 24 ½ years teaching religion in an ELCA college and 7 ½ years heading an ELCA seminary. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to visit the Luther sites in Germany dozens of times over the years, sometimes as pilgrim and often as group leader. Consider this a personal invitation to join me on the New Jersey Synod trip to Lutherland this fall. Enrich your faith and your understanding with the opportunity to be “in the room[s] where it happened”!
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Introducing the Church Property Resource Hub: ELCA Town Hall
You are invited to learn more about the Church Property Resource Hub, a new project of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), at one of three upcoming town halls.
These webinars are an introduction to the project for congregations and all people
connected to the management of church property. Join to explore support available to
congregation leaders as they seek to steward property in faithful and practical ways.
Register for the zoom meeting and complete the survey.
Tuesday, March 17, 1 p.m. Central time (2p EST) Register today.
Thursday, March 19, 4 p.m. Central time (5p EST) Register today.
Tuesday, March 24, 1 p.m. Central time (2p EST) Register today.
Developed in response to requests from synod and congregational leaders, the Church
Property Resource Hub offers support in navigating the opportunities and challenges that
buildings and land represent for congregational vitality and the wider mission of the
church.
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An Easter Retreat
for Pastors and Deacons
Tues-Thurs, April 21-23
New Life for Weary Souls
Led by Dr Audrey West & Pastor Dale Selover
Held at Cross Roads Camp & Retreat Center
Register at: h...@popnj.org
Download the flyer for details.
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A publication of the New Jersey Synod, ELCA ©2026
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