Churches
Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey is blessed to have the unwavering support of nearly 300 Lutheran congregations located across the state of New Jersey. Each one has embraced the mission of our social ministry, and has become a partner in delivering God’s love to those who hurt, who are in need, or who have limited choices. When we partner with congregations, we not only extend our reach – but also learn new ways to ‘reach out’ and touch our communities. Thank you for helping us to further our mission. It is amazing what we can accomplish when we work together. With your help, we will continue to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, teach our youth, care for our elders, bring families together and restore hope to those who have lost everything to disaster.
For Pastors and Church Office Staff:
For your convenience, we have placed valuable resources to share with your congregation. Download documents, request materials and sign up to participate in an LSM/NJ service project.
Downloads:
General LSM/NJ Church Bulletin Insert
Seasonal Church Bulletin Insert - SPRING 2010
Lutherans Feeding Friends & New Visions Homeless Day Shelter Bulletin Insert
LSM/NJ Marketing Materials Request From
Congregational Response Plan Packet
For Food Pantry Coordinators:
Learn more about Lutherans Feeding Friends!
View Lutherans Feeding Friends Grant Application Criteria
Download Lutherans Feeding Friends Grant Application
For Youth Group Leaders:
Learn more about our Service Project Opportunities!
How Can LSM/NJ Help You?
We, at LSM/NJ, are here to assist you and your congregation in many ways. In addition to providing information on ways to assist those in need throughout the state of New Jersey, we also offer an educational component to your members and your youth groups.
Did you know that we offer the following classes for FREE?
Confirmation Class: Taught on a variety of topics: Serving the Neighbor (Luther’s understanding of service), Social Ministry in the Life of a Teenager (what does living out one’s baptism really look like? How Lutherans are at Work in the World (congregations, synod, LSM/NJ), Justice and Poverty Issues, or any other topic that fits in with your congregation’s confirmation process.
Adult Forum: Lee Zandstra, Community Partnering Coordinator, speaks generally on LSM/NJ’s ministry in the state or specifically on one or two topics of interest. She leads a discussion on Lutheran service (history of, theological foundation) and can teach individual classes or the whole series “Just Neighbors”,a curriculum from Family Promise, which highlights such social issues as affordable housing, children and poverty, minimum wage, advocacy and the church.
Just Neighbors Program: This program is made up of 8 lessons on poverty and homelessness along with how the community can respond. Congregations can choose to do as many lessons as they wish. This resources is excellent for a Lenten program, and Adult Forum series, or a condensed confirmation lesson.
Social Ministry Committees: A group discussion in Asset Mapping (helping congregations recognize the gifts God has given the congregation to then go and serve).
Worship: We offer Temple Talks on any LSM/NJ topic, as well as provide the option to allow us to be a guest/supply preacher.
Lutheran Disaster Response: Workshops designed to help your congregation prepare for a disaster, form a work team to help after a disaster, or find out other ways to make a difference in a disaster (example: emergency flood buckets).
Any of the above educational offerings can be designed and customized to fit your congregation’s needs. For more information or to schedule a date and time to bring these offerings to your congregation, please contact Lee Zandstra, Commuity Partnering Coordinator, at 609.699.4133 or at lzandstra@lsmnj.org.
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