Photos from Pastor David’s ordination
May 20, 2010
On Sunday, May 17, David Swarganadan Rajah Achariam was ordained to the Holy Ministry of Word and Sacrament at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Pastor David will be the mission developer for the South Asian satellite congregation being established here.
The Rev. Roy Riley, Bishop of the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, presided at the ordination and Eucharist. The preacher was the Rev. Dr. Paul Rajashekar, Academic Dean of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Presenters were the Rev. Judith Spindt, assistant to the bishop, and the Rev. Fred Niederheiser, one of David’s mentors. Clergy and church members from around the synod attended, as well as members of St. Paul and David’s family and other supporters. Afterward, we all enjoyed a splendid Indian feast.
New Christians baptized at Easter
May 12, 2010
Mi’Kayla Bell, daughter of Brionna Bell, and Esther Ritter, daughter of Pr. Jessica Lambert and Nathan Ritter, were received into Christ’s church on the Vigil of Easter. We rejoice with these families for the lives of these beautiful babies and praise God for receiving them as God’s own.
Organ to be restored
May 12, 2010
We’ve just learned that our insurance will cover the damage done to our organ in the latest nor’easter. Repairs, estimated at $65,000, will begin this summer and should be done by fall. Thanks be to God!
South Asian ministry
April 27, 2010
We are reaching out to the large South Asian community in our neighborhood! In partnership with the New Jersey Synod, the ELCA Division of Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission, the Hudson County Cluster of ELCA churches, and private donors, we will be establishing a “satellite congregation” among the South Asian community that will meet and worship at St. Paul. David Achariam, the mission developer, is to be ordained on May 16. He will begin by building a neighborhood fellowship for businesspeople in our neighborhood. Watch this site for more information on this exciting ministry!
Saints win Souper Bowl!
February 10, 2010
No, this isn’t a typo. The saints of St. Paul Lutheran Church (simultaneously saints and sinners, as Martin Luther taught us) raised over $1,000 at our Souper Bowl Sunday event on February 7. Our confirmation class, in concert with thousands of Christian youth groups across the country, led us in making a generous offering as we shared a simple lunch of soup and bread. Every penny will go to disaster relief in Haiti through the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.