 Memorials for RememberingSo these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever. Joshua 4:7b As part of our vacation this year Cheryl and I stayed with some friends in their vacation home on Culver’s Lake. On one of the days it was threatening to rain we went for a hike at Dingman’s Fall and then took a drive up to Milford and the Grey Towers National Historic Site. The Grey Towers is the ancestral summer home of Gifford Pinchot, friend of President Theodore Roosevelt who appointed him the first Chief of the newly formed US Forest Service. The house was built in 1886 on 102 acres in the hills above Milford, PA by Gifford’s father who was an industrialist and made his fortune in NY City. In 1963 the family donated the house and acreage to the Forest Service as an historic site and it is now designated as a National Historic Landmark. I tell you this because our visit to the Grey Towers just happened to coincided with a Scripture passage I read in Joshua that correlated with it. When we found the Grey Towers we quite naturally asked, “What is this all about? Why has it been preserved as a National Historic Landmark?” Our tour of the grounds (the house was closed that day) and the gift shop and a discussion with some park rangers soon told us. The very presence of this place was a testimony to the great things Gifford Pinchot had done in the area of conservation. Likewise, in the passage I read, Joshua had told the Israelites to choose one man from each tribe to build a memorial in Gilgal along the banks of the Jordan River. But the stones were not just any stones. Each one was taken from the bed of the Jordan River as the Israelites passed over into the Promised Land. In an act similar to the crossing of the Red Sea, God had stopped the flow of the raging Jordan in the rainy season. The Israelites crossed on dry ground to take possession of their new home. The stones stood as a memorial. It was just as Joshua said, “When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them…” (4:6). Memorials, like the 12 stones piled up along the banks of the Jordan near Gilgal, serve as a teaching device for us. They are meant to attract attention and inspire questions. What is this? Why did they build it? What does it mean? Those of the older generations who can recall the events or have themselves heard the story can tell it to the younger ones. In this way the great acts of the past are remembered and preserved. In this way we can know the significance of the things that are in our midst. The Grey Towers are a testimony to the enduring value of memorials. We still think it is a good idea to preserve historical memory in memorials. We still see, ask, and gain memory and significance through memorials. It shouldn’t surprise us then that the Old Testament people of God who, at the direction of God, were early adopters of memorials would be an inspiring example for us in our day. While most of us don’t have a pile of rocks at our church we do have buildings. These edifices are in some ways a memorial to our God and his mighty act of salvation for us in Jesus Christ. He has parted the perilous waters of life and brought us out of certain death and into his kingdom. Our churches are a memorial to what God has done for us. Without a word being spoken they probe the passer by to ask what is this and why is it here? Likewise, but in an even greater sense, our services and especially the celebration of the Lord’s Supper are memorials. Jesus said to his disciples, ”Do this in remembrance of me.” While not an edifice, the Lord’s Supper is an enduring memorial among us as it is celebrated each week in the Divine Service. As we receive the very body and blood of Christ given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins we remember. We remember what Christ has done for us as he gave his life on the cross. We remember that we have been forgiven and restored, delivered from darkness into his marvelous light. May we never forget the mighty acts of God. And may our children with great curiosity ask, “What is this?” With great affection and an eager anticipation for the days of Confirmation Instruction, I have always delighted in the children at the altar seeking to peer into the cup and onto the paten to see what it is that mom and dad are receiving. With a big smile and a sparkle in my eye I say, ”Yes, once you are confirmed.” when the child asks, “May I have some too?” It is the cue for mom and dad to tell of the mighty acts of God. It is prelude to that precious time of teaching we call Confirmation. May that pile of rocks along the Jordan be for you both a remembrance of God and an example of how to share the faith. Lutheran Campus Ministry at Rutgers (LCMR). The NJD in partnership with Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Somerset has started a Lutheran campus ministry at Rutgers University. Pastor Greg Jans, Pastor at Holy Trinity, has already begun working on this new ministry. The ministry has been officially registered with the University and the LCMS. Visits have been made to the Army, Air Force, and Navy ROTC offices to see how LCMR can be of service to those in the ROTC program (Pastor Jans is a retired Lt. Colonel Chaplain in the USAF). Several Rutgers students have expressed interest. This is a small but promising beginning. Parents, Pastors and others are highly encouraged to give the contact information of their child or parishioner or acquaintance who is attending Rutgers to Pastor Jans for follow up. Temporarily names and contact information for this ministry can be routed through the District Office at [email protected]. We already have a small number interested in participating. For more information please see the separate article in this edition of the Grapevine.  Lorna-Jane Bremmer, Council President of Holy Trinity, Somerset signs the MOU with the NJ District for the Lutheran Campus Ministry at Rutgers. Visitation for Convention Resolution Evaluation This Fall will be the final push for Convention Resolution Visitation. If you haven’t had a visit yet I encourage you to do so. The benefits are:
NJ March for Life  The NJ March for Life is only a little more than a month away (September 26th)! As you have opportunity, please let me know at the District Office if there will be a group or individual attending from your church. We will want to make arrangements to meet together at the rally. If you have never experienced one of these events I encourage you to do so. It is a very orderly and respectful event but also one that makes a statement about Life. You are encouraged to participate and experience this event. Participants will gather at the State House for the Rally (inspirational speeches) at 11:00 am. The March begins at noon. Parking will be at a premium so we are encouraging people to carpool to the Quakerbridge Mall or other Trenton area mass transit site and catch the bus into Trenton for the festivities. In addition, the LCMS will have a special opportunity at this year’s rally in Washington D.C. President Harrison will be delivering a prayer and the District Presidents will be with him to sing the doxology. President Gewecke intends on attending and encourages others from NJ to attend as well. Strategic Plan Our Strategic Plan is developing nicely. Our Task Forces have been meeting this summer to write goal statements for each of their Task Force goals. The next step is to create a pathway to accomplish each goal by writing action steps. The intention is for the plan to be presented this fall and to guide us for the next triennium (2025-2028). As a reminder, three Task Forces have been established to work on three of the four target areas of the plan. Each Task Force has a VP, a Board Representative, and other people from our churches, some clergy, some lay. There are four parts (target areas) to the strategic plan:
Congregations
 Installation of the Rev. Greg Jans at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Somerset District Short Clips
District Convention 2025. Letters announcing the 2025 District Convention were sent to each congregation earlier this month. We will be gathering on July 12-14 at the Crowne Plaza, Edison for the convention. Thursday will feature late afternoon or evening registration and a time of fellowship in the evening. Opening gavel will be on Friday morning with business finishing on Saturday around noon. Those attending can expect Bible Study, worship reports from our District staff and Councils as well as a special guest representative from Synod. Congregations should elect a lay delegate this fall since registration will happen in January. National Youth Gathering. Congregations and individuals who are intending to go to the National Youth Gathering July 19-23, 2025 in New Orleans should be well into the planning process and getting their registration forms ready. Hope Dunbar is our NJ District NYG Coordinator, [email protected]. She is happy to help you with questions or information about the Gathering and registration. In addition, if you are a congregational youth worker and have a group attending the Gathering please let Hope know. She will make sure your youth are included in any information dissemination or District events at the Gathering. Official Visits. Invitations for a fourth round of Official Visits to be completed this fall are underway. If you are one of the congregations that received an invitation please review the available dates, pick one, and schedule a visit with me. These visits have been very beneficial in building relationships and sharing information about the District and the congregation. Conclusion We have all kinds of memorials in life. They can be as dramatic as a pile of river rocks no longer in the river bed or as simple as a cross on the wall. They are gifts of God to help us remember his mighty acts of salvation and grace. But the point is to remember and to teach. The Lord be with you, President/Bishop Gewecke |