Bishop's Blast: November 2024

Small but Powerful
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But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
    from ancient days.
Micah 5:2

Thirty-six years ago I accepted the call to St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hopewell Township. At that time, I was given the congregational self-study that helped orientate me to the congregation. A summary was written by the District President titled “Small but Powerful”. St. Peter was small for sure; a small building, small membership, small attendance (35 on a Sunday). Yet, the title was meant to give hope and it did. “Small but Powerful”. 

I can’t remember if the passage above from Micah was referenced by our District President but it could have been. Small but powerful accurately describes the prophecy about the promised Savior. In the coming weeks we will be focusing on the “powerful” part as we remember that Christ will come again in power and might. Then, with Advent, we will again begin to reflect on the “small” part as we remember his coming as a child.

Most often when we encounter this verse it is in the context of Advent/Christmas. We are reminded of our Lord’s humble beginnings

• From a small clan
• From working class people
• In a small town
• In a stable, in a manger
• No home, in flight to Egypt
• As a defenseless child
  

​On the Sunday we hear Micah 5 we also hear Luke 1 about Mary’s visit to Elizabeth and the Magnificat,

46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

Indeed, the humble estate of his servant and the humble estate of her child catches our attention. Yet in this humility and weakness is the very power of God for the salvation of the world! But even the accomplishment of that salvation would not be by force but in humility; a man riding on a donkey, an innocent man being condemned and crucified. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6

In 1 Corinthians the Apostle Paul applies this theology to the church. He writes

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

We have no boast but we have thanks to give and awe at the amazing work of God. Like our Lord’s humble life in this world we too are humble. Our District is small, our congregations are small, our resources are few. And yet can we not say “small but powerful”? For it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of our God. God delights in choosing the weak to shame the strong. 

So, look not to what you do not have but to what God has given you. Remember Moses verse Pharaoh, Gideon verses the Midianites, David verses Goliath, Elijah verses the prophets of Baal, Christ on the cross verses the forces of evil. We look not to ourselves or our circumstance but to the God who delights in choosing the weak to do his mighty work. 

Press on in hope my brothers and sisters in Christ for you have a heavenly Father who is mighty and merciful, a Savior who is humble and forgiving, the Holy Spirit who is dynamic and empowering. We believe and trust God’s Word applied to us, “from you shall come forth for me…”
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In Jesus’ name.

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Hurricane Helene Relief
The NJ District is pleased to be able to set up a matching fund for all those who would like to give to Hurricane Helene Relief. We will match dollar for dollar any gift given through the District toward Helene Disaster Relief. The limits for the match are up to $250 for an individual/family contribution and up to $2000 for a congregational gift with a total cap of $15,000. 

All funds donated in this effort will be sent to the Southeast District of the LCMS who is on the front lines of the recovery work. Those who would like to give may do so by going to the District website (njdistrict.org) and scrolling down to the "Give Now" button. Then click on the Hurricane Helene Disaster relief icon.

The Southeast District has indicated that they will have an ongoing need for 18,000 personal hygiene kits and 15,000 flood clean up kits. The NJ District Disaster Relief (Pastor Christian Schonberg, Coordinator) is organizing efforts in NJ to work with the Southeast District and supply these needs. Congregations are encouraged to organize a congregational event to make and provide some of these kits themselves. For a list of supplies to use please go to the Southeast District’s website at https://se.lcms.org/resources/disaster-response-and-recovery/ .
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Update:  As of this writing $27,370 has been contributed and NJD Disaster Relief has refurbished 172 Flood Buckets to be taken to North Carolina. The need will continue and the matching funds opportunity will continue for at least another month.

NJD Fall Pastors Conference
NJD pastors meet in late October at St. Peter, Hopewell Township for a one-day conference. The speaker was Rev. Michael Newman, President of the Texas District.  He shared with the pastors insights into many of the salient points from his book Gospel DNA. 

The Task Force on Healthy Congregations came across this book when one of its members, Pastor DeMik (Bethlehem Ridgewood), was in Texas for another purpose and was introduced to the book. The consensus was that the book expressed many of the points the task force wanted to make in defining what a healthy congregation is. 

Many pastors remarked that President Newman did a fantastic job of presenting, that the subject was very practical, and that its was one of the best conferences they had attended. We pray that this conference will not only inspire the task force as it continues its work but also jump start the thinking of our pastors as they guide their congregations into ever healthier futures. 
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Spoiler alert: Healthy Congregations is one of the target goals of the soon to be revealed NJD Strategic Plan. 

President Michael Newman presents on Markers of a Healthy Congregation

Pastors gather in the Fellowship Hall at St. Peter, Hopewell Township

NJD Work Plan
IDM (Initiative for Ministry Development) is a significant part of the NJD Work Plan. In fact, it is not going away when the new strategic plan in unveiled, rather it will be another element in fulfilling the Healthy Congregations target. 

Healthy congregations will always have a well thought out, focused, and implemented ministry plan. As the old axiom says, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail”. The NJD is determined to help congregations develop ministry plans unique to their settings. We do not present plans to a congregation to enact but, instead, teach and guide a process in which congregations can address the needs of their members and the community.

SCC (Small Church Clarity) and NJDU (NJ District University) are ways in which the ministry planning process is taught to and worked on with congregations. Once a congregation has completed either SCC or NJDU they are able to participate in the Advanced Studies that are periodically offered. These Advanced Studies help congregations to start and/or develop their congregational systems and ministries.

The next Advanced Study to be offered will be a Ministry Cycle Planning event. This will be held on Epiphany, January 6, 2025 at 6 pm at King of Kings, Mountain Lakes. The evening will include

• A brief Epiphany service
• Dinner
• Ministry sharing
• Ministry Planning seminar/workshop

Congregations will bring their fall plans and use them as the basis for developing winter/spring/summer plans. The intent of the workshopping is that congregations will have a good start on completing their plans before the evening is over. This is not just a time to listen but a work session too.
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Congregations that have not successfully completed SCC or NJDU but want to participate should call me and we will develop a plan for you to get up to speed and be able to participate.

​Another Session of SCC/NJDU
For congregations that did not participate in SCC or NJDU we will be offering another chance to participate in 2025. Congregations will meet four times (once a month) from February to May. Congregations that complete the process will have:

• A Guiding Statement and biblical rationale
• The basis for a sermon series on your congregation’s purpose
• A log of existing ministries
• A ministry plan
• A campus plan
• A brochure for visitor and evangelism events

Congregations completing the process will also then be prepared to participate in ongoing Advanced Studies with the other SCC/NJDU participants. Please call the District Office to express your interest in participating.

District Convention 2025.
While the June 12-14, 2025 NJD Convention may seem a long way off for many, it is coming quickly for those on the planning committee! 

The theme for the triennium is Grace from Grace: Loving Our Neighbor, “You shall love… your neighbor as yourself”. Luke 10:27b   This theme embraces the four targets of our new strategic plan with special focus on the third that directs us toward sharing the gospel with our neighbors and especially those of ethnic groups different than ourselves.

Dr. Josh Hollman, Pastor of True Light Lutheran Church, NY (a Chinese-American congregation) will lead us in a multi-session Bible Study on our theme. The Report of the District President will include a presentation of the new strategic plan as well as resolutions to help us focus our ministry in the next three years. Reports on other District services, a Report of the Synodical President, elections, and a worship service will round out the agenda. Two social events on Thursday and Friday evenings will help foster friendship and fellowship as we work together over the three days. 
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Congregations should be electing their lay delegate to the convention now! Registration and nomination materials will be sent out in the second half of November. Registration will begin in January and close by the end of the month. 

​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. This year’s theme is “Endure”. 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. 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. If you have a small group from your congregation and would like to join another group Hope can help with that too!

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​Congregational News

• Redeemer, Westfield is interviewing and preparing to call.
• Christ Memorial, East Brunswick has received a third call list.
• Good Shepherd, Old Bridge is interviewing and preparing to call.
• St. Paul, Closter is interviewing.
• St. John Clifton is preparing for a Call List.
• Good Shepherd, Point Pleasant has received their first call list and is interviewing.

​District Short Clips
Circuit Forums. Many of our Circuits have already met in Forum to elect a Circuit Visitor for the next three years. We appreciate the efforts of those Circuits who already have met and encourage those who have not yet met to do so for this important work. I appreciate the work of our Circuit Visitors as they assist me in the work of the Office of the President and I pray that you also appreciate the manner in which they serve you and your congregations.
Elections of all six Circuit Visitors will be ratified at the 2025 District Convention.

Official Visits. I still have a few congregations scheduled for Official Visits this fall before we take a break for Advent and Christmas. Soon I will be scheduling another round of visits for the winter months. If you have not yet received an invitation to schedule a visit, please be patient, your turn will come. There is no reason to the order of visitation, it is pretty much random. Vacant congregations are asked to wait until the Pastoral Office is filled.
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COP Working Group. I have been assigned to a Council of Presidents Working Group on Shared Ministry. In keeping with our Council work this group will be exploring challenges, solutions, and resources for congregations exploring multi-congregational parishes. My hope is that this will be helpful as we explore and utilize multi-congregational and even cathedral models for congregations here in NJ. 

Conclusion
In closing allow me to again to remind you of the power of God at work in Word and Sacrament and through the lives of his people. The power does not reside in us but in God. We may be small and appear weak but God chooses to use those who trust in him. May God do so among us.

The Lord be with you,
President/Bishop Gewecke