The Reverend Dr. Eric J. Trozzo will be installed as Pastor of Saint Matthew Lutheran Church Moorestown, New Jersey on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at a 7pm Worship Service. The Reverend Giselle Coutinho will be preaching. Bishop Tracie L. Bartholomew will be presiding.
Co-chairs for this activity are Sue Kuhn and Ruth Fausak. After a brief kick-off meeting with Peggy and Karen, Sue and Ruth have jumped in with both feet and are diligently making plans. The Installation Service begins at 7PM with a cocktail-style celebratory event to follow. This will include finger foods, savory and sweet, along with wine and non- alcoholic beverages.
IMPORTANT: The ability to hold any indoor event may be impacted by restrictions due to COVID.
Bishop’s Challenge: Jehu Jones Mission
In the 2021-22 New Jersey Synod Bishop’s Challenge, Bishop Tracie Bartholomew invites NJ Lutheran congregations to educate ourselves on the issues, accept our responsibility to respond in faith, and work to address racial inequity and injustice in our world. The Rev. Jehu Jones was ordained in 1832 as the first Black Lutheran Pastor in the US. He purchased two plots in Philadelphia—at $375 each—for a building for his growing black congregation. Jones lost the mortgage after his Synod refused to rescue the project. Even after calling him to ministry and commending him for his service, the Synod refused to support him.
Throughout the coming year, the Synod will be sponsoring a variety of opportunities for education and resources for worship. St. Matthew will take part in several of these activities through a variety of its ministries. For a donation of $375 or more, each congregation will receive a quilt square, which represents a congregation’s commitment to growing in awareness and moving toward action in Christian love. Congregations will send in their quilt squares to be combined in a large quilt and presented to the Bishop at the 2022 Synod Assembly. The quilt will then hang in the Synod office. All funds raised will support educational opportunities for emerging leaders of African descent, including (but not limited to) internships, camp, and international travel and will be administered through the NJ Synod.
An offering will be taken at Pastor Eric’s Installation Service on September 21 to support this effort. For more information, see the website.