Please designate your 2022 Thrivent Choice Dollars by March 31st. Thank you!
After worship on Sunday, March 19, the Worship and Music team is asking for a few volunteers to help organize the basement Christmas storage area. If you can help, please meet downstairs immediately following worship. Help is also needed to remove two old couches in the storage area so they can be thrown out.
We still need egg cartons for the Food Pantry, so bring in your one-dozen size cartons, please. Thank you!
Dear TLC friends,
Thank you to all of you who have kept my husband Dan in your prayers, sent cards and provided meals. It's been a tough past few months, but your prayers and support make dealing with this medical journey a lot easier. Thanks so much!
Kathy McFarland
Dear Trinity members,
Thank you so much for the wonderful box of cookies, snacks and the comfy Thrivent t-shirt. I shared the snacks with my friends, and they enjoyed them also. The reminder that my church family is always there for me is very comforting. Thanks again!
Colleen McFarland
The Garden of Readin' book club has selected the book Neighbors by Danielle Steele to discuss on Wednesday, April 12, at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
"Meredith White was one of Hollywood́'s most recognizable faces. But a personal tragedy cut her acting career short and alienated her from her family. For the last fifteen years, Meredith has been living alone in San Francisco with two trusted caretakers. Then, on a muggy late summer day, a massive earthquake strikes Northern California, plunging the Bay Area into chaos.
Without a moment's hesitation, Meredith invites her stunned and shaken neighbors into her mostly undamaged home as the recovery begins. These people did not even realize that movie star Meredith White was living on their street. Now, they are sharing her mansion, as well as their most closely kept secrets. Without the walls and privacy of their own homes, one by one, new relationships are forged.
For every neighbor there is a story, from the doctor whose wife and children fear him, to the beautiful young woman dating a dishonorable man, to the aspiring writer caring for a famous blind musician. In the heart of the crisis, Meredith finds herself venturing back into the world. And thanks to the suspicions and the dogged detective work of a disaster relief volunteer, a former military officer named Charles, a shocking truth about her own world is exposed. Suddenly Meredith sees her isolation, her estranged family, and even her acting career in a whole new light."
If you are new to the book club, please let Katie Serbeck know so she can invite you to the Zoom discussion.
Zufall Health –A different look
There are many ways to heal, whether it be through surgery, medication, counseling or education. One interesting pathway to healing is through art. If you visit Dover's Zufall building, you will see a variety of original art hanging on the walls, demonstrating not only local talent, but also cultural diversity. This is part of Zufall’s Arts in Health Program. It adds beauty and comfort to a place usually having a sterile appearance, and helps to calm the anxiety sometimes associated with being in a medical setting.
Amanda Barron, the program's curator, says the intent is to "reach beyond our patients and staff to culturally enrich our community and provide new channels for creative expression to individuals who typically may not have access to many visual arts experiences."
Our Lenten outreach addresses another aspect of health: Health for local laborers who need items to safely work outdoors, in the fields or landscaping. Zufall suggests these items for donation:
–colored dark socks
–colored dark undershirts
–rain ponchos
–hats with brims and neck protection (if possible)
–sunscreen
–umbrellas
–cleansing wipes such as baby wipes
At church, pick up a copy of this list from our Zufall display. If you wish to make a monetary donation, please make your check payable to TLC with "Zufall" on the memo line, and place it in the container in the narthex marked "Zufall."
Zufall has been around for many years. We are learning that it’s more than a traveling medical van.
Next week: Zufall and Senior Support
Sandy Dean
Living for Giving
ADVOCACY THIS WEEK: Budget bills state and federal. The following are some highlights:
The introductory paragraphs tell us that the Farm Bill does more than support agricultural businesses. So, what else does it do?
New Jersey's budget process includes public hearings. You can register for one of three public meetings by clicking on the link in the "Take Action" section.
Learn more about the 2023 Federal Farm Bill with a breakdown by (National Public Radio).
There's more about the Corporate Business Tax surcharge, a topic addressed in earlier advocacy articles.
Hot Topics this week: Mental health: training available on recognizing signs of suicide. Climate advocacy: cutting greenhouse gas emissions in New Jersey.
If you want to be an advocate, you have no greater teacher or guide than Pastor Lilja. Take advantage of her knowledge, and the opportunity to learn and become involved. Click here for more information.
Lenten mid-week worship
Lent is a time of renewal. We focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus—and, in turn, we focus on our own death, and resurrection found in baptism. We who have been baptized into Christ have died to sin and are righteous saints of God. At the same time, we know that we struggle daily with sin as we seek to follow Jesus. This is the Lutheran understanding of sinner and saint.
It may surprise you to learn that we do commemorate saints in the Lutheran tradition: Christians from every age who have pointed to Christ in their living and dying. These Christians who have gone before us provide inspiration for our Christian journey.
As we continue to return to in-person worship, this year we are holding Lenten mid-week worship on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m., both in person and on YouTube. Join us to commemorate saints with these themes:
Week 4: Striving for Justice – Joseph, Oscar Romero
Week 5: Dying and Rising with Christ – Hans Nielsen Hauge
and John Donne
If you would like someone added to or deleted from our prayer list, please let Kathy McFarland know by Wednesday. Thank you.
Trinity members Marion Holtzman
Friends and family of TLC members
Carol Rothenburgh (Dawn Rothenburgh-Rollins's brother)
Dan McFarland (Kathy McFarland's husband)
Gary Knodler and Scott Moser (Donna Hopping's friends)
Sue Nobelman (Carol Johnson's friend)
Robert Rothenburgh (Dawn Rothenburgh-Rollins's brother)
Kevin Wawroski (Darleen and Ben Wawroski's son)
Gene Cutler (Becky Wawroski's friend)
Michael Sergent (Pauline Chrenko's cousin)
Ray Fullam (Carol Johnson's friend)
Joe Sandford (Samantha Kindberg Sandford's husband)
Laura (Elaine and Gary Tarantino's friend)
Lee Greb (Marion and Neil Holtzman's friend) Becky Lilja (Rev. Sara Lilja's sister)
Barbara Houser (Neil Holtzman’s sister)
Fourth Sunday in Lent March 19, 2023 Tomorrow's worship service will be in-person and online.
Rev. Fred Becker, Pastor (pastor@tlcnj.org) Kathy McFarland, Church Administrator (office@tlcnj.org) Katie Serbeck, Technology and Social Media Coordinator
(serbeckk1@gmail.com) Lynn Sienkiewicz, RN, Parish Nurse
Julie Sauder, Organist
Kevin Seidel, Choir Director
Ralph Gonzalez, Sexton
Judy Miller, Executive Director of Faith Kitchen
