On the Calendar

SCHEDULE FOR LENT 2010

Thursday Soup and Study (February 25 and on):
2:00 p.m.: Book Study: The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives, by Dallas Willard

6:15 p.m.: Soup Supper (Sign up to bring some soup)
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.: Book Study (same as above)
8:00 p.m. – Choir

NJ Synod Annual Conference
The NJ Synod’s Annual Conference on Congregational Ministries will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2010. It will be held at the Steinert High School, Hamilton Township, N.J. from 8:00am – 3:30pm. This years’ speaker is Kristen Glass, Directory for Youth & Young Adult Ministry, Vocation Education Unit, ELCA. Registration is $10.00 plus an additional $5.00 for lunch. Registration forms must be postmarked by Wednesday, March 10. Please let us know if you would like a Registration Form, or you can download one from the Synod website a www.njsynod.org. Put the date on your calendar and plan to attend with a group from Holy Trinity!

LOOKING AHEAD: HOLY WEEK AND EASTER

Sunday, March 28 - Palm/Passion Sunday
8:45 a.m.:
Meet for coffee in fellowship hall. Walk to the “Mudhole” for the Blessing of Palms.

9:00 a.m.:
Ecumenical Blessing of the Palms service. Process back to Holy Trinity for coffee and bagels.

10:00 a.m.:
Festival worship with Palm Procession led by Sunday School children.

Thursday, April 1 - Maundy Thursday
6:15 p.m.:
Soup Supper.
7:30 p.m.:
Service of Holy Communion.

Friday, April 2 - Good Friday
Noon:
Nutley Clergy Fellowship Good Friday service at Grace Church.

7:30 p.m.:
Good Friday service and Passion of Our Lord according to John.

Saturday, April 3 - Church Work Day
10:00 a.m. Would you like to help prepare the church for Easter? We will meet in the morning to change the paraments, hang wreaths and place the Easter flowers around the sanctuary. Please call Scott and
Debbie Jones (973-338-0267) or the church office.

Sunday, April 4 - Easter Sunday
10:00 a.m.:
Festival worship with Holy Communion.

ECO-Palms for Palm Sunday Worship

For this Palm Sunday we ordered “Eco-Palms” direct from Lutheran World Relief. Lutheran World Relief is partnering with the University of Minnesota to build support in the U.S. for Eco-Palms by introducing Lutheran parishes to this social and environmental justice project. In addition to environmental and economic sustainability, Eco-Palms promote improvement for entire communities in Guatemala and Mexico. Eco-Palm cooperatives designate five cents from each palm they sell to improve the lives of all community members. Consider the good that can be accomplished through our Palm Sunday celebration

Pastor’s Message

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,....” 1 John 5:1-3

When, as a confirmation class, we get to the end of our study and discussion of the Ten Commandments, we do a little imagining. Try and imagine a world where parents and those in authority are honored and respected and in return they exercise their authority out of love for the common good of all; where no one murders, but strives to preserve and sustain life; where no one steals, but works so that all are able to keep their possessions; where people are faithful to each other in the most intimate of relationships; where no one lies or slanders or wants for themselves, the blessings that God has bestowed on others. Just imagine. It would be heaven, nearly.

I think we can all agree that the vision of a world of social interdependence and responsibility witnessed to by the Ten Commandments is worthy of our best efforts, not just for a little while but for all of our lives. Yet, I think we also have to understand the vital connection between this vision for world and society and our relationship to God. By living the first three commandments -- the ones that show us who God is and tell us about God’s desire to live in communion with us – we are led into deeper, more loving relationships with the people around us.

True and authentic love for the world and for our neighbor begins with love and trust in the God who has called and redeemed us (First Commandment). Our relationship with God grows and deepens through prayer, praise and thanksgiving (Second Commandment) and through hearing and doing God’s word (Third Commandment).

Learning to live out both parts of the Ten Commandments is our Lenten journey and indeed our Christian journey. Now, just imagine the world where all of God’s people live and abiding by faith and trust in God alone and live lives in communion and worship of the God who has saved us. Just imagine. It would be heaven, truly.

In our community

In Memoriam…
John T. Norton, 81, of Egg Harbor Township, N.J., died Feb. 7, 2010, at Shore Memorial Hospital, Somers Point, N.J. The funeral service was officiated by Pastor Jim. Born in Providence, R.I., Mr. Norton lived in Belleville before moving to Egg Harbor Township two years ago. He was an electronic engineer for Loral Electronic Systems, Bronx, N.Y., and was previously employed at ITT Communication, Nutley, for 21 years. Mr. Norton was a World War II and Korean War U.S. Army veteran. He is survived by his beloved wife, Verna (Kirsche) Norton; his son, John T. Norton Jr. and his wife, Mary; his daughters, Leslie Petrillo and her husband, Anthony M. Jr., and Sharon Phillips, and his grandchildren, Anthony M. Petrillo III, Michael V. Petrillo, Joseph J. Petrillo, Ronald J. McManus, John T. Norton III, and Michelle Claire Norton. Our prayers are with Verna and her family.

Congratulations!
To Joelle & Matt Bernhard on the birth of their daughter, Isabella Elizabeth Bernhard. Isabella was born on January 26, 2010, and she joins her sister, Madison. She will be baptized on April 18th here at Holy Trinity. We pray that God bless the Bernhardt Family.


Condolences…
On the death of Sally Mueller’s mom, Arlene Bailey, who passed away on February 9th. She is also survived by three other daughters, eight grandchildren, five sisters and four brothers. Our thoughts are with Sally and her family during this difficult time.

Is it a Church Snow Day?
We try never to have to cancel worship, but in case of inclement weather, please check the phone message at the office: (973) 667-0256. Should we need to cancel, the message will be updated by
8:00 AM.

Winter Shoveling - “S.O.S.”

The Nutley Department of Public Safety offers a “Shovel Out Seniors” program to help senior citizens in the winter months. Nutley students will shovel for either a nominal fee or community service hours. Please call (973) 284-4929 to register and then call after each storm to request service.

Altar Flowers

Please note that if anyone would like to honor or remember someone, we currently have many open weeks available for flowers, especially in March, April, September and November.

Daylight Savings

Please remember to push your clock ahead one hour, to honor daylight savings time on Sunday, March 14th.

Stewardship Strengthens...

Together we fight hunger.
Together, we gave $188 on Sunday,
February 7 as part of the Souper Bowl of Caring. The money has been sent to support the local feeding programs in our community.

In 2010, the 20th anniversary year, 8,971 participating groups collected $8,011,829. Thank you!


Together we give to those in need….
ELCA Gifts to Support Recovery Efforts in Haiti Exceed $4.6 Million Since the earthquake in Haiti one month ago, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has received over 27,000 gifts totaling more than $4.2 million to support humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti. According to ELCA Treasurer Christina Jackson-Skelton, the ELCA received an additional $320,000 in a matching grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, bringing the overall total to more than $4.6 million in gifts to the ELCA.

To date, Holy Trinity has given more than $400 to the Haitian Relief Effort. Thank you!

Prayer Team

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” (Ephesians 6:18) We are reorganizing our Holy Trinity Prayer Team/Prayer Chain. Each member of this group has a file box of index cards on which are written the names of people, groups or concerns to be remembered in prayer. The names/concerns are prayed for each day by at least one member of the team. If we have eight members, each person prays once in an eight-day rotation. To join our group, please contact or speak to Scott Jones (973) 338-0267 or music.htlcnutley@verizon.net. Look for news about ways in which to request prayers and also note cards to be sent to those we have remembered in prayer.

Wittenberg Choir on Tour

The choir from Wittenberg University, an ELCA college in Springfield, Ohio, will present two New Jersey concerts in March. The world-renowned choir is under the direction of Dr. Donald Busarow and always presents a varied and enjoyable program. Busarow will retire this spring, after 28 years as director of the choir.

Sunday, March 7 at 4:00 PM—King of Kings Lutheran Church (LCMS), 145 US Highway 46, Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046. (973) 334-8333 www.kingofkingslutheranchurch.org

Monday, March 8 at 7:30 PM—Grace Lutheran Church (ELCA), 1200 River Rd., Teaneck, NJ 07666. (201) 836-0994 www.GraceLutheranTeaneck.org

March Birthdays, Anniversaries and Disciples

March Birthdays

7:Larry Stevens
8:John Denkinger
15:Catherine Rubens
16:Rebecca Lovas
18:David Van Houten
23:Brianna Davey

March Anniversaries

15:Betty & Martin Futyma

March Disciples

1:John Franchino
2:Martim Futyma
3:Betty Futyma
4:Susan Gage
5:Cathy Palamara
6:Michael Palamara
8:Erica Geiselmann
9:Ken Geiselmann
10:Irene Geiselmann
11:Jim Greengrove
12:Dot Greengrove
13:Nancy Guenther
15:Marcia Hayes
16:Erik Hess
17:Dayna Hess
18:Samantha Hess
19:Sydney Hess
20:Richard Hudnett
22:Barbara Hudnett
23:Alicia Hudnett
24:Ricky Hudnett
25:Lynn Johnson
26:Kevin Johnson
27:Brian Johnson
29:Scott Jones
30:Debbie Jones
31:Emily Jones

Easter Flowers

Please call the office at (973) 667-0256 for an Easter Flower order form. Flowers are $9.00 each ($3.50) for pompoms and orders must be placed by Sunday, March 7th.