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UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

ALL  scheduled  events at

Lord of Life  Lutheran Church  are

CANCELLED .  

To stay abreast of the  latest information  available  visit  the

LOL  Website.

Visit the LOL Website - Click Here

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We would like to remind you that you can take part in the joys of  Lord of Life from the comfort of your home. The church's Facebook  page and the YouTube channel  contain  videos of Pastor's sermons from each weekend.  Plus, there are photos on the Facebook page reflecting the fun and ministry work that is happening at the church.. To access these easily, the links are provided in the left side   bottom blue box in this publication.  They are also provided here:

Visit the LOL Website - Click Here

View Our Services - Click Here

Visit the LOL Facebook Page - Click Here

  From Our Pastor:

MY DAYS AS A GARDENER

 

Between High School and Bible School, I worked as a helper for three missionary families.  My duties included house and yardwork.  I must confess that those were some of the most formative years of my life, second only to my parents' modeling. The families I worked for treated me with utmost kindness and offered me heartfelt friendship.  Naturally, however, I felt insecure in my position as a helper.

One day I was raking the leaves along the fence on the street in Ndola when I saw someone I went to High School with walking by.  I was in my garden work clothes, and it was as clear as the Caribbean waters that I was a "garden boy", as they are commonly referred to.  Another name for it is servant. Who wants to be in this position and be seen by his high school classmate?  What if they tell others about their sighting of a "once" promising classmate with a leaf rake in hand?  Fortunately, this person did not recognize me, phew!

Hence when I read the Gospel Easter story yesterday and heard that Mary mistook Jesus for a gardener, my mind raced back to my garden working days. Wow, Jesus would have identified with me. Take that back, he did identify with me. I believe that every piece of detail in Scripture has significance. By appearing as a gardener (at least as Mary saw) post resurrection, Jesus identifies with the common riff-raff. We shouldn't be surprised though because that is his M.O.

The point I am making is that if you are at your lowest point in life this Easter, Jesus sees you. He looks like you. He looks just like I looked. And if you are at your highest, he sees you too. He covers every spectrum. I wish I didn't hide from my former classmate. Happy Easter!

Pastor Elijah

NJ Synod Bishop Traci Bartholomew 

Click Here To View

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April Collection for the Christian Caring Center

The collection is continuing at the entrance way to the FDC/Grace Place at our church building.  Look for the blue container.

The Christian Caring Center's greatest needs are:

toilet paper

hand sanitizer

diapers sizes 3 to 6

jelly or fluff (to go with kid's peanut butter)

Other suggestions include:

canned vegetables

canned fruit

juice

soups

mashed potatoes mix
cereal
oatmeal
pancake mix
peanut butter
Spaghettios or ravioli
chili
stew
macaroni and cheese
nutrition bars

Thanks for your help!

The folks at the Christian Caring Center are so appreciative of any help we can give them.

(Additional information is available on the church's website.  For the link:   CLICK HERE)  

    

Dear partner in ministry,

Weeks may have passed since you last walked in the doors of your congregation and worshiped, face-to-face, with your community of faith. To be sure, being the body of Christ looks and feels differently than it ever has before.

Despite all of this, we are called to be church - together. The ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) looks different now, but it has not stopped. Nor have the needs of our communities and the world. Our church and its leaders continue to minister to its members, to those who are hurting and searching for peace, and to those in need.

The congregations and ministries of this church rely on your weekly offerings and gifts. Without in-person worship services for many weeks or even months, the financial impact could be devastating.

Please continue to give to your congregation and give regularly.  Your congregation and its leaders continue to minister to your community of faith. This ministry relies on your weekly offerings. Find out how you can continue your pledge or regular offering though online giving, automatic monthly giving or mail.

Click Here To Read The Rest Of The Letter

Although the Grace Place Preschool is not in session due to COVID-19, we are still accepting registrations for the 2020-21 school year. Please email Deborah DeMarco at 

director@graceplacenj.com for a registration form. At this time, we will not be hosting any tours. An email link is below.  Thank you!

Click Here To Request An Application

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Augsburg Press Discount

  Augsburg Press, the official publisher of the ELCA, is offering special savings and free shipping on select items.  Use the following code when placing an order: 

ATHOME

To view the catalog, click on the link below.

Click Here 

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Message On Your Monetary Contributions To The Church

   Despite our building being closed,  the work of the church is going on.  Pastor and the staff are actively engaged and the need to pay bills and the mortgage continue.  Prayerfully consider continuing with your regular contributions.

Lord of Life Lutheran Church has implemented several ways for families to submit offerings to support the mission and ministries of the church even when you can not deliver your offering in-person.  Envelopes can be mailed to the church

(1 Winchester Court, Tabernacle, NJ 08088).

 Offerings can also be made via a secure website, cell phone app, and text messaging. More information about all of these ways to contribute can be found on the church's website www.lordlife.us .

Visit the LOL Website - Click Here

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From The Editors:                    

   We would like to thank all who participated and assisted in making it possible for all of us to see, hear, and be a part of Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter services!

Here's something we found that we thought was good to share.  It's a little long, but we hope you will give it a chance.

HOW THE VIRUS STOLE EASTER
By Kristi Bothur (With a nod to Dr. Seuss)

Twas late in '19 when the virus began
Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land.
People were sick, hospitals full,
Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school.
As winter gave way to the promise of spring,
The virus raged on, touching peasant and king.
People hid in their homes from the enemy unseen.
They YouTubed and Zoomed, social-distanced, and cleaned.

April approached and churches were closed.
"There won't be an Easter," the world supposed.
"There won't be church services, and egg hunts are out.
No reason for new dresses when we can't go about."
Holy Week started, as bleak as the rest.
The world was focused on masks and on tests.
"Easter can't happen this year," it proclaimed.
"Online and at home, it just won't be the same."

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the days came and went.
The virus pressed on; it just would not relent.
The world woke Sunday and nothing had changed.
The virus still menaced, the people, estranged.
"Pooh pooh to the saints," the world was grumbling.
"They're finding out now that no Easter is coming.
"They're just waking up! We know just what they'll do!
Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
And then all the saints will all cry boo-hoo.
"That noise," said the world, "will be something to hear."

So it paused and the world put a hand to its ear.
And it did hear a sound coming through all the skies.
It started down low, then it started to rise.
But the sound wasn't depressed.
Why, this sound was triumphant!
It couldn't be so!
But it grew with abundance!

The world stared around, popping its eyes.
Then it shook! What it saw was a shocking surprise!

Every saint in every nation, the tall and the small,
Was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all!
It hadn't stopped Easter from coming! It came!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine
Stood puzzling and puzzling.
"Just how can it be?"
"It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies,
It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money."
Then the world thought of something it hadn't before.
"Maybe Easter," it thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more."

And what happened then?

Well....the story's not done.  What will YOU do?

Will you share with that one
Or two or more people needing hope in this night?
Will you share the source of your life in this fight?

The churches are empty - but so is the tomb,
And Jesus is victor over death, doom, and gloom.
So this year at Easter, let this be our prayer,
As the virus still rages all around, everywhere.

May the world see hope when it looks at God's people.
May the world see the church is not a building or steeple.
May the world find Faith in Jesus' death and resurrection,
May the world find Joy in a time of dejection.
May 2020 be known as the year of survival,
But not only that - Let it start a revival.

Happy Easter!

(To contact the LifeLines editors by email, click on the following link:   lifelines@lordlife.us )

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