Happenings At Lord Of Life Lutheran Church
"Where Everybody is Somebody
...and Jesus is Lord!"
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Issue Of: November 5, 2021
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"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."
Psalm 19:14 NRSV
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Coffee Hour To Resume
Sunday, November 7th
9:15 AM-10:00 AM
On this coming Sunday, November 7th, Coffee Hour will return to Fellowship Hall between our two Sunday services. Join us for coffee, tea, and some treats!
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All Saints Day Observance
Saturday, November 6th
5:00 PM Service
During our 5:00 PM service, we will remember our departed loved ones who are now in God's eternal home.
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Acorn Season - Mast Year - Your Role
EOS cards (Estimate of Sharing) were mailed this week - we hope you received yours. Please return the EOS card by Thursday, November 18th at the latest. As each card is returned, an equal set of acorns will be added to this jar (pictured above). We hope to fill the entire jar, giving us visual display of the support each household shares with our congregation. Please don't keep your acorns separate - join in our "planting of oaks of righteousness, for the display of God's splendor" (Isaiah 61:3).
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There is a desperate need for more worship leaders: readers, ushers, tellers, greeters, altar guild, acolytes, and Sunday School/BFF helpers. Training will be provided. The biggest obstacle is that people fear "what if I can't make it because of my schedule?" - but of course, we are a Church of GRACE and flexibility - so as the angels say, "Do not be afraid!" Your voice, presence, and servant heart are needed. Speak to the pastor or inform the Church office of how you may be willing to serve. |
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Photos From Pastor's Installation
Saturday, October 23rd
New Jersey Synod Bishop Tracie Bartholomew & Pastor Wendolyn
The Bishop's Blessing
We All Celebrate
Congratuations Pastor Wendolyn!
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How Not To
Yell At Your Family
Parent Dinner And Workshop
Tuesday, November 9th At 5:30 PM
This Tuesday evening, November 9th, there will be a special event held at the church, "How Not to Yell At Your Family." At 5:30 PM, there will be a kid-friendly dinner and then babysitting provided during the 6:00-7:30 PM workshop which will give you 3 new tools on how to keep your cool, express your expectations, and show your love. Pastor Wendolyn will lead this interactive event, which is great for parents, spouses, and really anyone who encounters other people, ever.
Please share this posting! We will have a fun and hope-filled evening, an oasis in an age of anxiety and pressure. In this event, we hope to be the Church at its best - caring, sharing, teaching, feeding, loving, and sending.
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Tuesday Evening:
1st And 3rd Week Of Each Month In Fellowship Hall
At 7:00 PM
Wednesday Morning:
Weekly In Fellowship Hall At 11:00 AM
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In November, Bible Study will begin a new session using the book, Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary Of Faith by Kathleen Norris. Each week we will look at difficult or confusing words in the Bible and their meaning then and now. Here is a brief description of the book:
Struggling with her return to the Christian church after many years away, Kathleen Norris found it was the language of Christianity that most distanced her from faith. Words like "judgment," "faith," "dogma," "salvation," "sinner"—even "Christ" formed what she called her "scary vocabulary," words that had become so codified or abstract that their meanings were all but impenetrable. She found she had to wrestle with them and make them her own before they could confer their blessings and their grace. Blending history, theology, storytelling, etymology, and memoir, Norris uses these words as a starting point for reflection, and offers a moving account of her own gradual conversion. She evokes a rich spirituality rooted firmly in the chaos of everyday life—and offers believers and doubters alike an illuminating perspective on how we can embrace ancient traditions and find faith in the contemporary world.
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Specific dates for upcoming sessions are:
- Tuesday, November 9th, 7:00 PM, Fellowship Hall
- Wednesday, November 10th, 11:00 AM, Fellowship Hall
- Tuesday, November 16th, 7:00 PM, Fellowship Hall
- Wednesday, November 17th, 11:00 AM, Fellowship Hall
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Wednesday, November 24th: Bible Study Will Not Be Held
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Christmas Program Rehearsal
Sunday, November 28th
11:00 AM
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Bible, Faith, & Fellowship
(Age 3 - 4th Grade)
Sundays At 10:00 AM
Come join us for BFF on Sundays during our 10:00 AM service. All children ages 3 through 4th grade are welcome to attend. Our schedule of lessons is listed below:
November 7 - Judges 6:33-40
November 14 - Genesis 22:1-18
November 21- Harvest God’s Love: A Celebration of Thanks
Special BFF Outreach Activity
Murphy's Food Drive
Sunday, November 14th
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
BFF Volunteers Welcome!
We are looking for volunteers to help with our BFF program. If you are an adult or older youth and willing to help, please reach out to Breanne.
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Breakfast Club
(Grades 5 & 6)
Sundays At 9:15 AM
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Youth Group (Grades 7 - 12)
4:00-5:30 PM
Sunday, November 14th
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Confirmation Overnight "Lock Inn"
Saturday, November 20th, 5:00 PM
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If you have questions about Youth Ministry or would like to volunteer as a BFF teacher or in any other program, please contact Breanne Tomlinson. A link to her email is below.
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November 5th Update From Janell Reich
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Time For Talents
Today!
Friday, November 5th At 10:00 AM
Our group will meet at the church in Fellowship Hall. Fall and Thanksgiving themed painting and craft projects will be available. All necessary materials will be provided. Come join us for a time of creativity and fellowship! ...and bring a friend!
With school not in session, Kids are welcome to join us.
We have a variety of projects available, from watercolor to acorns.
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LOL Outreach Program At Cambridge
Video Available
Tuesday, November 9th
Our recorded program for November, "Give Thanks," will air to residents on Monday, November 8th and will be available on the Lord of Life YouTube website by the following day. A link to the website is provided below.
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Book Club
Tuesday, November 16th
1:00 PM
The Book Club will meet on Tuesday, November 16th to discuss The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote. This is a short classic/memoir - only 37 pages. Our Book Club read Truman Capote's Christmas Memory some years ago, and it was a lovely story. We are excited to read his Thanksgiving memoir.
There are 6 copies available in the Burlington County Library System. You can reserve a copy on BCLS's website ( A link is provided below.) or by calling the library.
Here is a summary. A boy recalls his life with an elderly relative in rural Alabama in the 1930s and the lesson she taught him one Thanksgiving Day about dealing with a bully from school.
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People Enjoying People Game Day
Thursday, November 18th At 1:00 PM
Led By Pastor Wendolyn
For our PEP game day, Pastor will lead us in the game "Chronology." This is a great game that is really fun to play. Despite being a trivia game, it does have a bit more luck to it and can be played by individuals or in teams. Think you know which came first - the invention of mayonnaise or decaffeinated coffee? Lincoln's Gettysburg address or John Deere's first plow? In Chronology, each player builds his or her own timeline of cards. On your turn, someone will read you a historical event from a card. You decide where that event falls in your timeline. If you are right, you keep the card and your timeline grows. The first player to build a timeline of 10 cards wins!
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Devotion And Walk
Friday, November 29th
At 9:30 AM
Smithville Park
Our November event will be held in Smithville Park, 803 Smithville Rd, Eastampton Township. We will meet in the parking lot by the Mansion at 9:30 AM.
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Christian Caring Center
Christmas
Giving Tree Collection
The Lord Of Life Christmas Giving Tree project, will again, be held. Like last year, the Christian Caring Center is asking for gift cards instead of presents. $35 gift cards from Target, Walmart, and Amazon are requested.
A wrapped, Christmas box has been placed near the Sanctuary entrance doors in the Narthex in which you can place your gift cards. Just drop them into the slot!
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The Christian Caring Center does not have enough room to store toys. Gift cards will allow them to keep guests, staff, and volunteers to be safe. They also allow parents to pick out what their children will like and remain safe.
CCC will also accept pajamas, sleep pants, hats, gloves, scarves, children's books and Bibles, table games (checkers, Monopoly, puzzles, etc.). Those items can be placed in the entry-way cart.
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Photos From Previous Events
Painting Rocks For Veterans With Beth Gephart
Friday, October 15th
(Clockwise From Left: Beth Gephart leads the group. Our painted rocks. Barbara Ma, Marge Finley, Meg Mills, Penny Miller, and Betty Lohman using their creativity. Judy & Tony Bencivengo and Jim Ernst put on some final touches.)
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Devotion And Walk At Long Bridge Park
October 25th
(L to R: Betty Mastrillo's friend Wendy & Betty, Barbara Ma, Barbara Wagner, Janell Reich)
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If you have questions about Adult Ministry, please contact the Adult Ministry Director, Janell Reich. A link to her email is below.
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Bunco Is Back!
Saturday, November 13th,
At 11:00 AM
Join us for another fun fill round of Bunco! Sign up at the church bulletin board and use the envelopes provided for your $5.00 donation. Try to sign up by Monday, November 8th. Bring an appetizer or dessert to share. Please wear a mask when attending the event. We will be taking all the precautions possible to keep everyone safe.
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Leftover Halloween Candy For
Bridge Of Peace
If you have leftover Halloween candy, you can donate it for Bridge of Peace Christmas goodie bags that will be made up in December. Drop off your candy in the church kitchen. Please label it: Betty Mastrillo - BOP.
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Bridge Of Peace
Youth Group Dinner Gifts
Donation Deadline
Tuesday, Novemeber 30th
Lord Of Life will have a group of us going to Bridge Of Peace for their Youth Group dinner event on December 7th and present them with some gifts. We will be collecting mittens, gloves, and hats again this year. We will also be making about 50 goody bags to distribute to them. We are looking for granola and fruit bars, along with other treats.
Look for the box, pictured below, in the Narthex labeled "Bridge Of Peace Youth Group Donations" and place your unwrapped items into it.
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Christmas Gathering
Friday, December 17th
At 6:00 PM
Save The Date!
Our annual Christmas Gathering returns this year! We will be doing our ornament exchange once again. If you want to join in on this, buy an ornament, no more than $10.00, and wrap it. Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share with everyone. Hopefully, we will have a game or 2! This year we will be wearing ugly Christmas sweaters (if you want), and we will take a vote on whose is the ugliest!!!
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If you have and questions about Women's Ministry, contact Betty Mastrillo. A link to her email is below.
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November will be another active month for our children. They will explore new letters and perform science experiments. Pastor Wendolyn will be with us for Chapel Time. We will begin some special activites related to Thanksgiving. Several photos of recent projects and activities are below. |
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Autumn Arrives,
The Christian Pledge Of Allegiance, Mr. Potato Head's Senses,
and Chapel Time with Pastor Wen
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Thanksgiving Food Drive
For The
Christian Caring Center
Food collection for Christian Caring Center Thanksgiving Baskets will continue through Sunday, November 14th. Our delivery will be on Monday, November 15th. Items needed include: Acme gift cards (for turkeys), stuffing, instant potatoes, juice, cranberry sauce, canned vegetables, canned fruit, soup, cereal, healthy snacks, desserts. For cans, pop tops are preferred - or add a can opener to the bag! Please contact Janell Reich if you have any questions.
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Afghanistan Relief Update
Thanks to all who have contributed to our efforts to assist Afghani refugees. We suspended collecting phyical items since they were no longer being accepted, but monetary contributions can still be directly made to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service's program: "Neighbors In Need: Afghan Allies." Any monetary donations that were given to the church have been forwarded to LIRS. New monetary contributions should be mailed to LIRS at the address below or made electronically using the link to their website which is also given below. The electronic donation will direct your contribution to the Neighbors In Need: Afghan Allies fund.
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
ATTN: Neighbors In Need: Afghan Allies
PO Box 17467
Baltimore, MD 21297-1467
To learn more about the work of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, watch their inspiring YouTube video, "A Refugee Family's Journey." A link is provided below.
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Project LOL
Rear Outdoor Steps Replaced
The outdoor steps used for the emergency door exit in the corredor leading to the Grace Place have been replaced. The work was done by a mason on October 25th. It was essential to keep the steps properly functional for the exit to service its purpose. Thank you Keith Lerner for coordinating the repair!
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Before And After Photos Of The Recent Work. |
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Additonal Events In November
Bridge Of Peace and Christian Caring Center: Collections are ongoing. Thank you for your support!
Every Wednesday, 8:00 AM: Men's Fellowship Breakfast, Evergreen Dairy Bar, Rt. 70, Southampton
Tuesday, November 23rd, 7:00 PM: Thanksgiving Service & Pie Social Following The Service
Thursday, November 24th: Campus Closed (Thanksgiving Day)
Friday, November 25th: Campus Closed
Saturday, November 27th, 5:00 PM: Holden Evening Prayer Service
Sunday, November 28th: First Sunday In Advent
Sunday, November 28th, 11:30 AM: Greening Of The Sanctuary
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National Lutheran Choir Virtual Subscriptions
The National Lutheran Choir is offering discounted virtual subscriptions through November 8th. The concert season begins in November and ends in May 2022. Links are below to the program brochure and for purchasing your subscription.
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News From Cross Roads
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Upcoming Retreats
Save The Dates:
Young Adult Retreat - January 7 - 9, 2022
Elementary Retreat - February 11 - 13, 2022
Middle School Retreat - March 11 - 13, 2022
High School Retreat - April 29 - May 1, 2022
Opening Day: A Work Day for All Ages - May 21, 2022
Registration for our Winter and Spring retreats will open soon! Be sure to check back on our website and follow us on social media to get all the updates.
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Summer Staff Applications
Are Now Open!
It's never too early to start thinking about summer. and applications for the Cross Roads Summer Staff are now live! Join our dedicated camp staff in making a difference for children who come to Cross Roads to find adventure and a sense of belonging. Besides changing their lives, you’ll change your own. You’ll cultivate leadership skills, get back in touch with nature, grow in your faith, and develop deep connections with our staff family.
Summer camp positions run from early June through late August 2022. Visit our website for more information and to apply. You can also download a flyer to share with young adults in your community who are looking for a life-changing summer job.
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Burlington County Offering
Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson
Booster Vaccinations
The Burlington County Health Department is now offering all three COVID-19 vaccine boosters to eligible residents at its regular vaccine clinics, including the recently authorized Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters.
Pfizer and Moderna boosters are now available for those who received their second shot more than six months ago and meet certain conditions or criteria that could make them more vulnerable. Those include:
o People 65 or older
o Adults living in a long-term care setting
o Adults with underlying medical conditions
o Adults who work or live in high-risk settings
Johnson & Johnson boosters are available for anyone who was vaccinated with the single-dose shot more than two months ago. No other conditions are required.
For state-wide locations of booster vaccination sites, use the link below.
Vaccinations For Children Approved
Effective immediately, New Jersey children 5 through 11 years of age are eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The Department of Health urges everyone ages 5 and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.
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Stewardship News:
Estimate Of Sharing Cards
Eariler this week, Estimate Of Sharing (EOS) cards were mailed to all congregation members. We would ask that everyone please return your card to the church no later than Thursday, November 18th. In order to create next year's spending plan, the information from these cards is vital. Thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration of your monetary estimate of sharing for 2022!
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Continuing Your Contributions |
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Your continuing financial support is essential to maintain the Ministries of Lord Of Life. Offerings are being collected at all church services. If you are still not attending services at our church building. your envelopes can be mailed to the church (1 Winchester Court, Tabernacle, NJ 08088). Both Simply Giving and Tithe.ly remain in place for all to use. (More information about these electronic ways to contribute can be found on the church's website. The link is below.)
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Birthdays
Nov. 5: Hannah Adamson, Nick Kulina, and John Lupnacca
Nov. 7: Beverly Evans and Nadia Strobl
Nov. 8: Judy Longo and Katarina Perri
Nov. 9: Sandy O'Neal and Noel Quinn
Nov. 11: Rita Batten and Chris Kulina
Nov. 12: Noah Bencivengo, Tina Leach, Dean Morales, and Tracy Sander
Nov. 13: Graceanna Rogers
Nov. 14: Marge Finley, Paul Rickershauser, Dick Schaeffer
Nov. 16: Cheryl Dennison, Winnie Grosser
Nov. 18: Monica Hollenbeck, Brandon Payton
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Wedding Anniversaries
Nov. 7: Dawn & Bruce Heinrich and Bonnie & Paul Horner
Nov, 14: Marie & David Lamb
Nov. 17: Laura & Greg Evans
Nov. 18: Debbie & Mike Chromeck and Barbara & Jim Wence (Celebrating 54 years!)
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Baptismal Anniversaries
Nov. 7: Bonnie Rohner
Nov. 8: Chad Allen, Joshua Allen, Stacy Allen, and Fran Bubeck
Nov. 10: Jamie Wagner
Nov. 13: Sophia Hankins
Nov. 15: Kaylynn Schwab
Nov. 18: Massimo DeCristofaro
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Standard Time Begins This Weekend
Return to Standard Time officially begins at 2:00 AM Sunday, November 7th. Be sure to turn your clocks back one hour before retiring Saturday night. Don't be like this editor who gets up in the middle of the night to do the task!
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From The Editors:
LifeLines Ending Song:
All Saints Day was this past Monday, November 1st, and we will remember those who are now in their eternal home with God at the 5:00 PM service tomorrow. ELW Hymn #781 is often sung on two occasions: at infant Baptisms and after our passing during memorial or funeral services. It reminds us that God will always care and watch over us from our earthly beginning to end, and that "neither life nor death shall ever from the Lord his children sever" (vs 3). Here is a version sung by the choir of ELCA Concordia College of Moorhead, MN.
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"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…"
1 Peter 1:3-4 NRSV
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Next LifeLines:
The next issue of LifeLines will be published on Friday, November 19th.
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LifeLines is published on the first and third Friday of each month. (During July and August, there will only be one issue per month, on the first Friday.) Please submit articles for upcoming editions of the LifeLines by the Monday prior to the next issue date. Regarding the use of images, no copyright infringement is intended. There is no endorsement of any product in YouTube advertisements. Advertisments are controlled by YouTube, and we are not able to eliminate or select them. To contact the LifeLines editors by email, click on the following link:
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