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In case of a pastoral emergency, please contact Pastor Lisa Borrell at 610-762-2139.
COVID-19 UPDATE
We are all anxious to get back to our normal day to day activities. Due to the recent closings and cancellations, schedules of meetings and gatherings are tentative and are reliant on the status of social distancing requirements. Please continue to pray for those on the front line, putting themselves at risk every day, as well as those who have been affected by health issues. Continue to be safe, taking precautions seriously to prevent contracting and spreading the virus.
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Another month has gone by and we continue to work our way through the “new” normal. Our first outside worship service was on June 14, 2020. There were a couple minor glitches but overall it was a success. We will continue to have our worship services outside, rain or shine. Feel free to bring your lawn chairs and sit outside your car while wearing your masks and social distance of 6 feet.
For the safety of our congregation, we are proceeding slowly to “green”. A small committee has been formed to created new guidelines for the church. Until those guidelines are distributed, we will continue to follow the current guidelines.
With the governor’s approval to move us into the “green” phase, the church will be following the guidelines set by our governor and SYNOD, that will require some adjustments to our service and practices. We will be expecting our members to follow these guidelines as well, or we will have to close up again.
BUILDING/ACTIVITIES
Appropriate wearing of masks and gloves while in the building at ALL times.
No entry into the building prior to 10:00 a.m.
No entry into the office, except secretary and treasurer.
Offering envelopes should continue to be mailed or use the online Vanco portal, please refrain from dropping off at church.
Encourage continuation of zoom meetings (however, meetings of less than 25 attendees with appropriate 6’ distancing and masks is allowed).
Pick up of supplies or cleaning are allowed with two people at a time in one area.
Food bank will continue with curbside pickup. ALL WORKERS MUST WEAR MASKS AT ALL TIMES.
NO EATING OR DRINKING INSIDE BUILDING (that requires one to remove their masks…a no-no).
OUTSIDE WORSHIP INFORMATION
Outside worship services will began on Sunday, June 14, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. That’s right, we are going to use our parking lot as our sanctuary. Council is trying to make this transition as seamless, safe and successful as possible! If you do not feel comfortable attending, feel free to continue to watch Pastor Lisa’s sermons online at www.friedenscentervalley.com at 9:00 a.m.
For those that are ready this will fill your needs; and those that might still be uncomfortable being around others, this might be a way of getting your feet wet before jumping into the pool.
We have made some slight changes, but it will not affect the impact of worship. These changes are to help keep everyone safe from COVID-19. These changes are: remain in car, no choir, less songs, no sharing of peace, offering at end of service, and communion will be done by prepackaged containers. There will be NO access to restrooms before, during or after service.
You are probably wondering how this is going to work:
An individual will greet you in the driveway and will hand you a bulletin and communion containers. The bulletins will be printed with everything you need. Please let the individual know how many communion containers will be needed for your passengers. The communion containers are ordered prepackaged and, unfortunately, do not offer gluten free wafers or wine. There is only one option for communion (wafer and grape juice). Feel free to bring your own “bread” to be used during communion. At the appropriate time you will tear off the first layer which will have your wafer. Then the second layer will have grape juice.
After receiving these items, follow the direction of the parking attendants and park your vehicle. We will be adhering to the 6’ distance and wearing of masks/gloves. You will remain in your vehicle and tune in to 106.5 FM on your vehicle radio. Please be patient with our volunteers. A plan for entering and exiting the parking lot has been established to maintain safety for all, as this is new to everyone. It will be just like attending a drive-in movie, but different.
After worship is done, please be patient exiting the parking lot. Again there will be parking attendants to guide us in the process. You will notice upon your exit of the parking lot, an individual will be collecting your offering.
GUIDELINES/RULES FOR OUTSIDE SERVICE
Everyone MUST remain in their vehicles at all times.
No entry into church building. This means no use of restrooms.
Take all trash/recycling home with you after worship service.
Masks and gloves are encouraged even in your vehicle.
Be patient. (What else do you have to do??)
No children’s coloring packs will be available. Bring your own form of entertainment for your children. Service activity booklets will be available online for YOU to print and bring along!
Services will be held rain or shine.
We hope you will consider attending our outside worship service. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Cindy Hart 484-548-3937 or Sharon Bender 610-597-8764.
Thank you to those that have been sending offerings in the mail or have been using the online Vanco portal. We are making sure all systems will be operating, our building is clean, and we are ready for worship when we get the green light! We are busy ordering supplies that will be necessary for us to commune together, as well as sanitizing supplies to keep us all safe. Our church congregation sticks together when the going gets tough. Please continue to support the ongoing work of New Jerusalem by sending in your offerings.
The pastoral search is still continuing. We will share more details as this process moves forward.
Cindy Hart—New Jerusalem Church Council President
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ONLINE SERVICES ARE OFFERED ON JULY 5, 12, 19, AND 26, 2020 WITH PASTOR LISA BORRELL AND PASTOR DAN EISENBERG
As you all know, our Sunday services have been put on hold for the time being, as our country is dealing with COVID-19. Since we have been asked and directed to practice physical distancing, New Jerusalem has been given an opportunity for an alternate worship experience.
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Pastor Lisa Borrell–New Jerusalem's Visitation Pastor would like you to invite all those who use social media to “like” Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Facebook page or their website at www.friedenscentervalley.com to watch online Sunday worship services at 9:00 a.m. If you want to follow along with a bulletin, please use the following link friedenscentervalley.com/newsletters-%2F-bulletins and look for the date under Bulletins.
AND
At 10:00 a.m., you can log in to see a live stream Sunday worship service from St. John's Lutheran Church in Mayfair, PA, an area outside of Philadelphia. Pastor Daniel Eisenberg, whom some of you may remember from his youth group days at NJ, is the pastor there. He has graciously invited us to view his service on Facebook or through the church's website. The addresses are:
If you use the church website, you will need to click on the light blue bar in the middle of the page.
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We thank Pastor Lisa and Pastor Dan for inviting us to join them for their worship services.
Have a lovely day and prayers for a peaceful week ahead!
Stay safe and be well. Church Council
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FREE FAMILY SUNDAY SCHOOL
Are you looking for ways to support faith formation at home? Sparkhouse is excited to announce Family Sunday School, a free 8-week lesson series for families! Each week Sunday School curriculum developer (and former summer camp Arts and Crafts director) Dr. Dawn Rundman and her family will host Family Sunday School. Each episode presents a lesson based on Lectionary readings that families can watch together. The Bible story, illustrations, and other content are based on Spark: Activate Faith Lectionary Sunday School lessons.You are welcome to distribute, post, and reproduce the lesson materials for your church families in whatever way works for you. We’ll post a new lesson every Tuesday for the following Sunday. Lessons will be posted through Trinity Sunday, June 7, 2020. The first lesson, Doubting Thomas, is available now at https://www.wearesparkhouse.org/promos/family-sunday-school/?utm_campaign=SHC%20Children&utm_
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
'One Bread, One Body'
'Way Maker'
'The Lord's Prayer' Sung by Andrea Bocelli
'The Prayer' Sung by Andrea Bocelli and Katherine McPhee
PENDING OPENING OF THE CHURCH ~ Acolytes, Assistant Ministers, Chalisters, Lectors, Pastor Assistants (Council Members), please see the sign-up sheets in the Narthex for volunteer opportunities. Thank you.
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SATURDAY SERVICES will be held on the following dates on:
At this time there will be NO Saturday Evening Worship Services (TBD)
Saturday Services have a smaller, more intimate feel, and are typically held on the first Saturday of the month, with some variations to capture important dates in the church year, like Easter. You are invited to join us for these communion services.
SERVANT SCHEDULES AND SERMON TOPICS
CANCELLED Servants for Sunday, July 5, 2020
Acolyte: N/A
Altar Guild: N/A
Assisting Minister: N/A
Chalister: N/A
Coffee Hour: N/A
Lector: N/A
Pastor's Assistant: N/A
Ushers: N/A
Sunday, July 5, 2020 (Outside/Parking Lot Worship Service at 9:00 a.m. rain or shine) ~ Fifth Sunday of Pentecost ~ The mystery of God’s ways is sometimes hidden from the wise and intelligent. Jesus associates with those often excluded from the religious community. Like Paul, we struggle with our own selfish desires and seek God’s mercy and forgiveness. We gather to be refreshed by Christ’s invitation: “Come to me, all you that are weary.” Gathered around word, water, and meal, we find rest for our souls.
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Pastor Lisa Borrell–New Jerusalem's Visitation Pastor would like you to invite all those who use social media to “like” Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Facebook page or their website (www.friedenscentervalley.com) to watch online Sunday worship services at 9:00 a.m.
AND
At 10:00 a.m., you can log in to see a live stream Sunday worship service from St. John's Lutheran Church in Mayfair, PA, an area outside of Philadelphia. Pastor Daniel Eisenberg, whom some of you may remember from his youth group days at NJ, is the pastor there. He has graciously invited us to view his service on Facebook or through the church's website. The addresses are:
If you use the church website, you will need to click on the light blue bar
in the middle of the page.
Servants for Sunday, July 12, 2020
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: TBA
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Coffee Hour: TBA
Lector: TBA
Pastor's Assistant: TBA
Ushers: TBA
Sunday, July 12, 2020 (Outside/Parking Lot Worship Service at 9:00 a.m. rain or shine) ~ Sixth Sunday After Pentecost ~ God’s word is like the rain that waters the earth and brings forth vegetation. It is also like the sower who scatters seed indiscriminately. Our lives are like seeds sown in the earth. Even from what appears to be little, dormant, or dead, God promises a harvest. At the Lord’s table we are fed with the bread of life, that we may bear fruit in the world.
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Pastor Lisa Borrell–New Jerusalem's Visitation Pastor would like you to invite all those who use social media to “like” Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Facebook page or their website (www.friedenscentervalley.com) to watch online Sunday worship services at 9:00 a.m.
AND
At 10:00 a.m., you can log in to see a live stream Sunday worship service from St. John's Lutheran Church in Mayfair, PA, an area outside of Philadelphia. Pastor Daniel Eisenberg, whom some of you may remember from his youth group days at NJ, is the pastor there. He has graciously invited us to view his service on Facebook or through the church's website. The addresses are:
If you use the church website, you will need to click on the light blue bar in the middle of the page.
Servants for Sunday, July 19, 2020
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: TBA
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Coffee Hour: TBA
Lector: TBA
Pastor's Assistant: TBA
Ushers: TBA
Sunday, July 19, 2020 (Outside/Parking Lot Worship Service at 9:00 a.m. rain or shine) ~ Seventh Sunday After Pentecost ~ It is an age-old question: why is there evil in the world? In the parable of the wheat and the weeds Jesus suggests that both grow together until the harvest. With Paul, we long for the day that all creation will be set free from bondage and suffering. Having both weeds and wheat within us, we humbly place our hope in the promises of God, and from the Lord’s table we go forth to bear the fruit of justice and mercy.
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Pastor Lisa Borrell–New Jerusalem's Visitation Pastor would like you to invite all those who use social media to “like” Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Facebook page or their website (www.friedenscentervalley.com) to watch online Sunday worship services at 9:00 a.m.
AND
At 10:00 a.m., you can log in to see a live stream Sunday worship service from St. John's Lutheran Church in Mayfair, PA, an area outside of Philadelphia. Pastor Daniel Eisenberg, whom some of you may remember from his youth group days at NJ, is the pastor there. He has graciously invited us to view his service on Facebook or through the church's website. The addresses are:
If you use the church website, you will need to click on the light blue bar in the middle of the page.
Servants for Sunday, July 26, 2020
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: TBA
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Coffee Hour: TBA
Lector: TBA
Pastor's Assistant: TBA
Ushers: TBA
Sunday, July 26, 2020 (Outside/Parking Lot Worship Service at 9:00 a.m. rain or shine) ~ Eighth Sunday After Pentecost ~ As Solomon prays for wisdom, we seek to more deeply know the treasures of faith. In today’s gospel Jesus offers everyday images that reveal to us the reign of God: a tree that becomes a sheltering home, yeast that penetrates and expands, a treasured pearl, a net that gains a great catch. Even as we seek the riches of God’s reign, the great surprise is that God’s grace finds us first!
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Pastor Lisa Borrell–New Jerusalem's Visitation Pastor would like you to invite all those who use social media to “like” Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Facebook page or their website (www.friedenscentervalley.com) to watch online Sunday worship services at 9:00 a.m.
AND
At 10:00 a.m., you can log in to see a live stream Sunday worship service from St. John's Lutheran Church in Mayfair, PA, an area outside of Philadelphia. Pastor Daniel Eisenberg, whom some of you may remember from his youth group days at NJ, is the pastor there. He has graciously invited us to view his service on Facebook or through the church's website. The addresses are:
If you use the church website, you will need to click on the light blue bar in the middle of the page.
March 2020 ~ I hope you and your family are doing well. The Church Council has been following the progression of the coronavirus. Following the recommendation of Governor Wolf, and in an effort to do our part, the Church Council has taken a measured approach to discontinue worship, preschool, and all activities at the church until further notice. Continue to watch our webpage at www.newjerlc.org for prayer guidance and video sermons. This is all new to us, so bare with us.
We are asking everyone to refrain from entering the building unless absolutely necessary (secretary, church maintenance, cleaning staff, etc.) as the building has been sanitized. Church council is meeting virtually and there is a skeleton crew of food bank workers that are providing life sustaining supplies to families by curbside pick up.
Of course, cancelling these services will affect us financially - so we encourage you to mail in your offering or use www.newjerlc.org/online-giving. The church continues to have expenses even when we are not worshiping under one roof.
Stay safe and be well. Cindy Hart–Church Council President
PA GOVERNOR TOM WOLF MOVES LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES TO GREEN IN JUNE.
A message from Pastor Lisa Borrell, Visitation Pastor for New Jerusalem Church:
Dear members of New Jerusalem,
Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
To say that we are now living in trying times would be a complete understatement. As I’m sure everyone is aware, employees at grocery stores are doing everything they can to keep the shelves restocked; truck drivers are traveling non-stop to deliver goods to the stores and warehouses; hospital and other medical personnel are working exhaustingly long hours to offer care during this pandemic; schools and colleges are shut down and teaching by remote access; businesses deemed “non-essential” have also been shut down for the foreseeable future; and the government has declared a national emergency the likes of which we have rarely, if ever, seen in our lifetimes.
Please use your best judgment and practice good safety measures during this time, particularly those who have been identified with a higher health risk. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Strictly limit your exposure to other people unless you have to go out for necessary medical appointments or to purchase items at the store. These are some of the best ways to help “flatten the curve” of infection. And though we must distance ourselves physically for a time, that doesn’t mean that we can’t stay connected. Make an overdue phone call (especially to those who are elderly) … write an old-fashioned handwritten note … send a text … airdrop a family photo. Your efforts will definitely be appreciated!
Also crucial during this time of crisis is the continuance of giving your financial offerings to the church. These may be mailed to the office at the address noted above. Please consider using tape or water to seal your envelopes to lessen the transmission of germs. The congregation certainly understands if this imposed isolation has caused hardship due to unexpected unemployment at this time.
Additionally, I’d like you to invite all those who use social media to “like” Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Facebook page or website (www.friedenscentervalley.com) in order to watch recordings of remote worship. A brief worship service was added this past Sunday and another will be coming later this week. While it’s certainly not the same as being together in person, it is a way we can share in our devotions together. Please know that we are only as far away from each other as our thoughts, hearts, and prayers. If anyone should need to reach me, my telephone number is 610-762-2139. Be well.
God’s peace be with you all. The Rev. Lisa K. Borrell, New Jerusalem’s Visitation Pastor
A message from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton on COVID-19:
You can also visit New Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church on Facebook at
New Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church wishes you a blessed day
and we pray that Christ's message of eternal life fills you with hope and love!
