At 818 Tinton Avenue in Tinton Falls, Luther Memorial Church and Preschool is known for giving Sunday worshipers two distinct ways to gather: contemporary worship with a full band at 9:00 a.m. and traditional Lutheran worship with hymns, prayer, and organ at 11:00 a.m. The congregation also gathers for adult and youth study, preschool education, food collection, and direct service to people in need.
Two Sunday Services, Two Distinct Sounds
The 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship service uses modern Christian music and a relaxed atmosphere. A full band of musicians and singers leads worship, and the service can be watched live or afterward on Facebook. At 11:00 a.m., Traditional Worship follows a classic Lutheran format, with time-honored hymns, spoken prayers, and organ music. That service is also available live and afterward on YouTube.
The Sunday sequence also places Christian education between the two services:
- 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship: modern Christian music, a full band, and a relaxed atmosphere.
- 10:00 a.m. Christian Education Hour: opportunities for all ages, including adult Bible study in the library and the youth Music and More program.
- 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship: familiar Lutheran patterns of hymn, prayer, and organ music.
- 10:00 a.m. Coffee Hour: a weekly gathering for conversation and fellowship.
Both worship services take place at 818 Tinton Avenue. Visitors may choose the musical style that suits them, and the practical welcome extends to people who are attending a Lutheran congregation for the first time.
A Relaxed First Visit, with Room for Children
LMC has no dress code. Most people arrive in jeans and a T-shirt or in business casual clothing, but the church does not ask visitors to dress in a particular way. Seating is also open: anyone may sit wherever they like. During worship, a large wall-mounted television displays the prayers and songs so worshipers can follow along even when they do not have a printed order.
Children are welcome in worship, including children who are noisy and energetic. A kid's room with quiet toys is just a doorway away for families who need a quieter place. Holy Communion is offered at most services. A visitor who has not confirmed their faith may ask for a blessing, and anyone who prefers not to take part may remain seated.
Together, these details make the welcome practical: no prescribed outfit, no assigned seat, and no expectation that a guest must receive Communion. Questions can be directed to anyone in the congregation.
Bible Study in the Library and Midweek Company
Adult Bible study meets in the church library at 10:00 a.m. Sundays during Christian Education Hour. It is friendly, approachable, and open to anyone without previous study experience. The youth Music and More program also meets at 10:00 a.m., using music, stories, and fun to help young people engage with the Christian faith.
Mid-Week Bible Study meets at 7:00 p.m. Wednesdays and welcomes drop-in attendance. The congregation's study rhythm runs from September through June.
Other Christian resources extend reading and worship beyond the congregation. LMC highlights KFUO Radio as the broadcast voice of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, along with Thy Strong Word and Sharper Iron, both presented as Bible-centered programs for hearing the gospel and being equipped for faithful service.
Coffee Hour, Game Night and Shared Tables
A weekly Coffee Hour at 10:00 a.m. gives worshipers and visitors a regular place to connect after the contemporary service and alongside Christian education. The church's wider fellowship rhythm includes potlucks, picnics, and an Altar Guild.
Monthly Game Night is intentionally low-key and open to both church and community participants. The gathering includes pizza, beverages, and more than 100 tabletop games, from familiar favorites such as Uno, Scrabble, and Clue to newer strategy and party titles. Guests may bring a snack, beverage, or game, and church volunteers are happy to teach newcomers how to play.
The Mission Garden and the Food Collection
Luther's Mission Garden grows fresh produce for donation to people in need. Community members can help with preparation, watering, weeding, and harvesting, and people do not need to be church members to take part. The garden welcomes community assistance because there is always work to do and more produce can be grown.
A shelf-stable food basket in the front hall supports LunchBreak and other local groups. The gathered food is delivered each month. Requested items include bottled water, peanut butter and jelly, canned fruit, vegetables, soup, beans, tuna and chicken; low-sodium foods; nutritious snacks; shelf-stable milk; cereal; pasta and rice; coffee, tea, and juice; cooking oil; condiments and spices; and individual portions of applesauce, pudding, snacks, and juice. Gluten-free foods and foods for people with diabetes are also specifically welcomed.
The congregation supports Heartstrings, The Center in Asbury Park, CROP Hunger Walk, Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child, 180 Turning Lives Around, and ASLAN Youth Ministries. Its Prayer Shawl and Teddy Bear ministries extend that service in other forms.
Used books also have a local outlet. A collection box in the parking lot receives books that can be sold for a new home; books no longer in good condition are recycled.
Heavenly Letters Beside the Front Door
A red mailbox near the front entrance offers families a place to write to God or to loved ones who have died. The ministry is especially intended for families dealing with learning disabilities, and volunteers help ensure that each letter receives a response. Letters can be placed in the mailbox, emailed to the church, or sent by postal mail.
The project gives the congregation a tangible way to proclaim the gospel and reach people who might have difficulty finding a church family.
Preschool Learning, Play and Music at Luther Memorial
Luther Memorial Preschool serves children from 2.5 to 5 years and emphasizes close contact with families. The staff includes a lead teacher and assistant teachers, with small student-to-teacher ratios designed to support individual attention and supervision. Parent conferences are held twice a year, and families are encouraged to approach staff whenever questions or concerns arise.
Its class schedule offers several combinations:
- 2.5-year-old preschool: two days, Wednesday and Friday, or three days, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
- Pre-K 1: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to noon.
- Pre-K 2: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to noon.
Daily learning combines circle time for letters, numbers, sight words, weekly themes, singing, and prayer with free-choice centers for science, sensory play, writing, arts and crafts, math, manipulatives, puzzles, blocks, and dramatic play. A healthy snack is served after a short devotion, adding another opportunity for social and language development. Chapel is held once a month.
The outdoor area is fully fenced, with state-approved equipment, and the children have outdoor play every day unless it is raining or the temperature is below freezing. When weather prevents outdoor play, fellowship hall provides indoor open space. Field trips include apple picking and visits to the Wonder Wing at Monmouth Museum. Music is included in tuition and is led by Mr. John.
For families considering the preschool, tours can be arranged with Director Stephanie Wesch at 732-542-7447 or lmcpreschool818@gmail.com.
Grace at the Center of LMC's Faith
LMC's beliefs begin with the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with all three persons participating in creation. The Father continues to care for and provide for people, and the church places his passion that all people would be saved from sin through Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is God the Son, eternally true God and also true man without sin. His death on the cross took upon himself the punishment due for sin, while his resurrection gained victory over sin and death for all who believe. The church also looks forward to his second coming, when all history will be completed in him.
The Holy Spirit builds faith, hope, and love as people hear God's Word and know Jesus Christ. The church describes the Spirit's work as convicting people of sin, assuring them that their sins are forgiven, gathering them into the church, and giving gifts for Christian witness and service.
The Bible is held as timeless truth without error or contradiction. It points to forgiveness found in Christ alone and teaches love for God and others, integrity, and purpose. The Church is the community of all who have come to faith in Jesus Christ, with baptism and Holy Communion identified as God's great grace gifts for its growth.
Sin is described as the condition that separates people from God and that no one can escape apart from Christ's redemption. Forgiveness is God's gift and promise through Christ, received through true faith rather than earned by human effort. Eternal life means that believers need not fear death and will live with Christ in heaven.
Those beliefs shape LMC's identity, vision, and mission. Its vision describes disciples of Jesus as God's hands and feet, voice and ears, summoned to receive his gifts and sent to share them. Its mission is to praise God as the congregation grows faith and shares love, expressing the conviction that Christians are saved to serve.
Leadership for Worship, Music and Preschool
Rev. Dr. Roy Minnix III serves as pastor. Jody Joseph-Bongiovi directs contemporary music ministry, and Stephanie Wesch directs Luther Memorial Preschool. The church's lay ministers are Greg Shaljian, Ed Blair, and Augie Daesener.
The church office and preschool can be reached at 818 Tinton Avenue, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724. The main church phone number is 732-542-2727, and the preschool phone number is 732-542-7447. Sunday worship remains centered on two clear expressions: contemporary music at 9:00 a.m. and traditional Lutheran worship at 11:00 a.m., with Bible study for all ages at 10:00 a.m.