We pray for...
Pastor Mona Fitch-Elliott (retired), recovering from an ankle injury
Pastor Becky Resch (Candidacy & Leadership Manager, Reg 7&8)
Bill Kauffman (spouse of Pastor Patt Kauffman, St Paul, Ridgefield), recovering from hip surgery
We pray for all who suffer in places of war and violence—especially Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, and Iran.
These congregations of our synod...
Trinity, Tenafly
Atonement, Asbury Park
Lord of Life, Tabernacle
These companion synods in the ELCA and around the world...
North Carolina Synod, ELCA
Northern Great Lakes Synod, ELCA
Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Croatia
We continue our prayers for...
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ROSTERED MINISTERS - REGISTER NOW!
“Faithful Neighboring: Our Sacred Call to Stand for Justice"
Bishop's Ministerium Day will be held on Tuesday, April 28.
(Fellowship time on Monday evening, April 27, 7-9 PM).
njsynod.org/rosteredleaderevents
Registration deadline: April 20
(Room request deadline: April 13 based on availability)
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Synod Assembly News
Assembly Registration Deadline is Wed, April 15
(late fees apply after midnight)
www.njsynod.org/assembly
Upcoming Mission District Meetings
Middle District, Saturday, April 11, 2026 (2:00 PM), Hope, Freehold
SAVE THESE DATES...
MAY 21 - PRE-ASSEMBLY BIBLE STUDY (Zoom)
May 26 - PRE-ASSEMBLY WORKSHOPS (Zoom)
More info coming soon. All are Welcome!
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Congregational Debt Reduction Fund
In March of 2025, the Synod Council approved the establishment of a congregational debt reduction fund using the net proceeds from the sale of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairview with the goal of alleviating financial burdens of congregations who allocate a substantial amount of their income to paying mortgage debt.
The New Jersey Synod is pleased to announce a partnership with our congregations to assist them in lowering their capital debt. Beginning in April of 2026, the NJ Synod is implementing a matching capital grant program which may provide matching funds up to $2 for every $1 raised by a congregation. Capital amounts will be matched after the congregation’s raised funds are paid to the mortgage lender and proof of such payment is submitted to the Matching Grant Committee. Matching payments will be made to the congregation for their payment to the mortgage company.
Applications for the mortgage capital matching grants should be submitted no later than September 30, 2026 by sending completed applications to the synod office at New Jersey Synod, 1930 Highway 33, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690 or email to lpar...@njsynod.org.
The review committee will notify congregations of matching funds by November 1, 2026.
Application coming soon: www.njsynod.org/grants
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2025 FSA Claims Submission Reminder
Tying up receipts and loose ends? ELCA Health Plan members have until April 30 to submit 2025 claims for reimbursement from your health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA). Submit 2025 claims to Further (and 2026 claims to HealthEquity). Not sure what qualifies as an eligible health care expense? This guide can help.
Quantum Health – Better Search. Better Care.
Starting April 1, ELCA Health Plan members may notice a refreshed experience on the Quantum Health Care Coordinators website and app — including an enhanced provider search designed to make finding high-quality care easier. Contact a Care Coordinator for help navigating care, resolving claims and billing issues, and confirming your provider or clinic are in-network.
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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 concludes its Series on Food Loss and Waste here with a final meditation: Blessed are those who share their abundance, for no neighbor shall go hungry.
Questions, practices, and a bonus recipe and prayer are also featured this week. And if you missed any of the weeks in the series, it's not too late to check them out now and to add some new practices for care of creation through preventing food loss and waste.
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THANK YOU! One hundred thirty-seven (137) of the NJ Synod’s one hundred forty-six (146) Congregations and mission sites have responded to your synod’s annual appeal. This is a blessing! And as always, we know others shall be responding soon!
If you have not done this yet, please do so soon. You may respond by any one of the following ways:
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Join the NJ Synod Anti-Racism Team
for a zoom workshop
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS: CONFRONTING THE SIN OF CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM
MONDAY, MAY 11, 2026
7:00 - 8:45 PM
An interactive workshop explaining & exploring the misapplication of Christian scripture, symbols, and language to justify a policy agenda that runs counter to the teachings of Christ.
Presenters: Pastor Serena Rice & Pastor Sara Lilja
Download the flyer here.
To register: Click here
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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
PASTORS AND CHURCH ADMINISTRATORS:
Please help us by advertising this. Click here to add this to your publications
Questions: germa...@njsynod.org. Pastor Carol Lindsay, Synod Trip Coordinator
Here's a Taste of our Trip from docent, Dr. Kit Kleinhans
Engaging the Contradictions: Our first stop on the New Jersey Synod trip to Germany to explore our Reformation heritage is Eisenach. Eisenach is perhaps best known as the location of the Wartburg Castle, where Martin Luther took refuge for 10 months during the early years of the Reformation and where he translated the New Testament from Greek into German; Eisenach is also the birthplace of renowned composer Johann Sebastian Bach, whose church music is such a powerful expression of the Christian faith that Bach has been referred to as “the fifth evangelist.” And, from 1939-1945, Eisenach was home to the Institute for the Study and Eradication of the Jewish Influence on German Church Life. Church leaders and scholars – including Lutherans! – worked to remake Christianity as an “Aryan” religion. Their actions included setting aside the Old Testament, eliminating Old Testament references in the New Testament, and eliminating Hebrew words like Hallelujah and Hosanna from the Bible, liturgy, and hymnody. Eisenach is a place that invites us to engage with the best and the worst of our tradition. Let’s do it together!
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Join the Youth Ministry Mission Team at the Somerset Patriots Game on June 13th!
Come at 6:00 pm on Saturday, June 13 for a picture on the field, watch the 7:05pm game, and then stay for the fireworks. Tickets are a special price of only $10.50 each, AND you will receive a $10 gift voucher towards your food that night, just see Debra Porowski at the park for your gift card.
Purchase your own tickets at the link below, and email us at yout...@njsynod.org with any questions!
All families and ages are welcome!!!! Please invite your congregations!
Get more information and purchase your tickets here!
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NJWELCA presents
April Thankoffering on Saturday, April 18th
at St Ambrose Lutheran Church in Pennsville.
We will gather at 9:30am with service starting at 10am.
After service, lunch will be served and a workshop on conflict resolution and how it affects our wellness will be conducted. Please bring a canned good or two for those in need and facing continual food insecurity. Let us share our goods with others.
Bible study is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20 at 7pm via ZOOM.
Our upcoming Bible study will be using the "Money: What Do We Treasure?" session from Gather magazine fall edition. (Fall 2025). You can find the study materials here.
Please remember that you can subscribe to Gather magazine through
gathermagazine.org/subscribe. Feel free to reach out to Amy Palazzolo for any questions. Pala...@aol.com or 862/284-4094
May 20 Zoom Link. Passcode: 712912
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Happy Easter from Lutheran Summer Music!
Please enjoy this joyful musical offering of “O Clap Your Hands” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, performed by the LSM 2025 Festival Choir, conducted by Dr. Shannon Gravelle, with Dr. Catherine Rodland, organ. Watch here: https://youtu.be/bI8CzO_VgxA
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@NJSynodELCA
Pray with us every day at noon on Facebook
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A publication of the New Jersey Synod, ELCA ©2026
Weekly submission deadline: Tuesday mornings to communi...@njsynod.org
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