All posts by GLC

Events, Giving Opportunitites, YOUTH

Annual Souper Bowl of Caring

Bring non-perishables and cash for the Gethsemane Food Pantry on Sunday, February 11

For 34 years, this event has transformed Super Bowl weekend into the nation’s largest celebration of giving/serving. Thousands of youth groups and passionate individuals unite to “Tackle Hunger Together”. Gethsemane youth will greet the community (they will not tackle you) following the 10:30 am liturgy inviting the Gethsemane faithful to give a gift benefiting the Gethsemane Food Pantry. Celebrate the 34th anniversary of this ministry by giving a generous donation on “Souper Bowl Sunday.” 

Events, Giving Opportunitites, Lent, YOUTH

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper – February 13, 2024

Yummy Pancakes on Tuesday, February 13 from 5:30-7 pm

Gethsemane Men in Mission host the traditional Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday, February 13, from 5:30 – 7 pm in the Gethsemane Multipurpose Room. Join members, friends, and the community for a dinner of pancakes, sausage, and more. Enjoy lots of good food and fellowship!

Tickets are on sale in the narthex on Sundays: February 4 & 11

$8.00 for adults, $2.00 for children under 10

Profits will go to the youth for the Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Come and enjoy the food and fellowship in preparation for the Lenten season.

Lent

Ash Wednesday – February 14, 2024

Ash Wednesday Services will be held on Wednesday, February 14

The Season of Lent commences Ash Wednesday, February 14th with the Christian faithful receiving ashes and meditating at the Gethsemane altar from 7-8 am, 11 am to Noon and/or 5:30-7 pm.

Ash Wednesday In-Person Eucharist Services:

Livestream Ash Wednesday 7 pm Service

Lent is a traditional time of reflection, meditation, and preparation. Pick up a “Mary Oliver and the Poetry of Lent” devotional in the Narthex or download a digital copy. Every journey needs a guide – and what better guide to the 40 days of Lent than the beloved poet, Mary Oliver? Winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, Oliver is widely celebrated as an accessible, insightful observer of the natural world, the life of faith, and the interplay between the two. Enjoy a six-week journey with Oliver at your side, illuminating ancient passages of scripture; provoking bite-sized meditations on key Lenten themes; and pointing toward everyday practices for individuals and families.

Events, Lent

Lenten Wednesday Gatherings

Wednesdays, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
February 21 – March 20

Feed your body, mind, and spirit on Wednesdays during Lent. Enjoy a simple soup and sandwich dinner starting at 5:30 pm in the Multipurpose Room. Participate in weekly wellness activities hosted by the Gethsemane Mental Health & Wellness Committee, exploring ways to support wellness through connection, mindfulness, playfulness, music, and creativity. At 7:00 pm, join in a brief Lenten prayer service in the Sanctuary.

5:30-6:30 PM DINNER AND WELLNESS ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES IN THE MULTIPURPOSE ROOM

Come for a simple soup and sandwich dinner in the Multipurpose Room starting at 5:30 pm. Then participate in weekly wellness activities hosted by the Gethsemane Mental Health & Wellness Committee:

February 14 – Ash Wednesday Wellness Through Self-Compassion: NO dinner or in-person activities, but you can pick up a “Grow Your Self-Compassion” booklet in the Narthex anytime on Ash Wednesday. Begin your wellness journey during Lent with three at-home exercises to foster self-compassion.

February 21 – Wellness through Friendship: Strong friendships have a powerful impact on our health and well-being. Complete a simple friendship craft project. Gretchen from Therapy Pet Pals of Texas and her wonderful comfort dogs, Mallory and Elliot, will be on-site comforting our Gethsemane community.

February 28 – Wellness through Playfulness: Playing is just as important for adults as it is for children. Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being — but many of us don’t play enough anymore. Enjoy fun intergenerational play and movement activities together.

March 6 – Wellness through Mindfulness: Mindfulness offers a host of wellness benefits, and is even being used to treat mental health conditions. Explore various types of meditation, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices. Discuss sleep hygiene best practices ahead of the start of Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, March 10.

March 13 – Wellness through Music: Listening to or making music affects the brain in ways that may help promote health and manage disease symptoms. Join Stephanie Scheffel, Gethsemane member and music therapist, for group music therapy activities and instrument exploration. Dar Krenek will also lead a sing-a-long. Singing lowers cortisol and relieves stress and tension.

March 20 – Wellness through Creativity: Science continues to reveal encouraging evidence about the mental health benefits of creativity. Learn how to create flowers from tissue paper—a medium that is both fragile and forgiving! Are you a poet and don’t know it?—Learn how to express thoughts, feelings, and observations using the poetic art of Haiku.

LENTEN “PRAYER AROUND THE CROSS” 7:00 PM SERVICE

Enjoy a simple, quiet, and reflective prayer service around the cross through chants, readings, scriptures, prayers, and the lighting of candles. All are welcome to come for this brief prayer service during the Lenten season. These services are livestreamed.

Lent is a traditional time of reflection, meditation, and preparation. Pick up a “Mary Oliver and the Poetry of Lent” devotional in the Narthex or request a digital copy. Every journey needs a guide – and what better guide to the 40 days of Lent than the beloved poet, Mary Oliver? Winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, Oliver is widely celebrated as an accessible, insightful observer of the natural world, the life of faith, and the interplay between the two. Enjoy a six-week journey with Oliver at your side, illuminating ancient passages of scripture; provoking bite-sized meditations on key Lenten themes; and pointing toward everyday practices for individuals and families.

Events, Lent

42nd Annual Family of Gethsemane Retreat

February 24-25, 2023
Camp Chrysalis in Kerrville, TX

Register to join us for “No Greater Love: 42nd Annual Family of Gethsemane Retreat” at Camp Chrysalis! This is a very special opportunity for friends and all members of the congregational family: singles, couples, those with and without children, from the very young to the not-so-young in years, but all young in spirit.

Register Now
  • All are “Called by Grace,” to come to a relaxed informal time to share thoughts, histories, dreams, conversations, laughter, songs, the bread and wine of communion, the fresh air of the hill country, and good food.
  • “Led by Faith,” you may hike to the cross on the mountain, read your Bibles, play, eat, visit, and rock on the porch.
  • “Welcoming All to Share God’s Love,” we will meet new friends and have time to relax and be with those we may not know so well. This is a great event to invite friends to share in the family life of Gethsemane.

RETREAT SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24
10-12 noon Registration, fellowship, set up and move into your cabins
12:00 pm Lunch!
1:30 pm All ages gather together
3:00 pm FREE TIME! Hike to the cross, baseball, kite flying, resting, fishing, singing, soccer, archery (3 pm), canoeing (4 pm), nap, R & R, rocking, visiting
4:30 pm Arts & Crafts
5:30 pm Sing–A–Long and group photo at the dining hall!
6:00 pm Supper
7:00 pm Family of Gethsemane (FOG) Talent Show
8:00 pm Campfire Communion Service
9:00 pm S’mores, games, singing

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25
7:00 am Coffee available!
8:30 am Morning Worship and memorial bricklaying
9:30 am Sunday Brunch & Free Time
3:00 pm Check Out
*Schedule subject to change

WHAT TO BRING

  • Sleeping bag, sheets, blankets, pillows
  • Quilt for grass sitting
  • Flashlight
  • Towels and washcloths
  • Hiking shoes or tennis shoes
  • Jacket or sweater for chilly nights
  • Sports equipment
  • Board games (Trivial Pursuit, Pictionary, Dominoes, Risk, cards, etc.)
  • Snacks, chip, dips, sweets, etc. for evening sharing
  • Musical instruments
  • Talent and props for the FOG Talent Show
  • Great attitude; leave troubles behind
  • ONLY COMFORTABLE CLOTHES
  • Sorry, no pets at the camp!

COSTS

This year, lodging fees are separate from meal/camp use fees.

Lodging Costs (Per Room/Tent):
Cabin rooms (accommodating 3-10 people) are $100 total per night. You can split a room with others to share costs. Minimum of three persons in a room for the rate of $100 for the entire room. You can also choose to tent camp, book your own motel, or come for the day only on Saturday.

Tent camp fee is $20 per tent per night

In addition to lodging fees, pay a per-person fee for meals and camp use.

Meals and Camp Use Fees (Per Person):

Saturday and Sunday with all three meals included (prices are per person):
Adults (6th Grade & Up): $34
Youth (1st-5th Grade): $17
Pre-K & Under: Free

Saturday Day Use ONLY includes two meals (prices are per person):
Adults (6th Grade & Up): $25
Youth (1st-5th Grade): $13
Pre-K & Under: Free

Add On Friday:
You may come in Friday evening after 7 pm for an extra $100 nightly cabin fee (can be divided between 3-10 people), but must be reserved in advance. No meals included.

Register for the 42nd Annual Family of Gethsemane Retreat

Extra offering gifts are welcomed to help cover any additional expenses and activities.

HELP PAVE THE WAY!
You can leave a lasting impression by purchasing a personalized brick, which will be installed in the pathways around Camp Chrysalis. For $75 you can inscribe 3 lines of text on a 4X4 brick.

Learning

Women’s Bible Study

Wednesdays, 7 pm, Parlor
January 10 – February 7, 2024

Women of all ages are invited to join Pastor Schnelle on a five-week journey through the compelling tale of Ruth and Naomi. Together, let’s explore the remarkable lives of these women and discover how their story resonates with our own experiences of loss, change, transformation, independence, respect, empowerment, and the various transitions in our lives.

Sign up to attend
Advent

Christmas Eve Services

Sunday, December 24 Christmas Eve Worship at 10:30 am, 4 pm, 7 pm

Monday, December 25 Christmas Day Worship at 9:00am

COME AND FILL YOUR HEART WITH THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE SEASON!

FAMILY WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10:30 AM
Join us for a Family Christmas Eve carol sing and Holy Communion service.

WORSHIP WITH CANDLELIGHT, LESSONS, AND CAROLS AT 4 PM AND 7 PM
A traditional service of candlelight, Santa Lucia, and Christmas apples. Listen to the familiar words of scripture that foretell and proclaim the birth of Jesus. Sing the carols that help us tell that story. All are welcome! 

View the Christmas Eve Livestream page.

Advent

Campfire Carols & Cocoa

Saturday, December 9, 6-8 pm, Gethsemane Lawn

Warm your hearts by singing carols of the season together around a campfire while enjoying warm drinks. Meet on the Gethsemane lawn outside of the gym around the fire for hot cocoa, coffee, cider, and carols, of course! Bring a blanket or lawn chair. You are welcome to bring a sack supper or eat beforehand.

Mission Work, YOUTH

Youth-Led Thanksgiving Eve Worship

Wednesday, November 22 at 7 pm

Worship on Thanksgiving Eve either at the regular noon liturgy or at 7 pm for the annual Youth-Led Praise and Thanksgiving worship. The spirit of Thanksgiving is to give, so please bring food donations for the Gethsemane Food Pantry.

The annual Angel Giving Tree will be on display in the Narthex. Choose an ornament for holiday donations to T.A. Brown Elementary School families. A take-home Advent devotional will also be available in the Narthex. Advent begins on Sunday, December 3.

Worship via Livestream
Thanksgiving Eve Worship Bulletin
Advent

Dinner, Devotions, and Holden Evening Prayer

Wednesdays in Advent: Dec. 6, 13, 20
Dinner and Advent Devotions: 6 pm
Holden Evening Prayer: 7 pm

Join us for each week for dinner, devotions, and a brief midweek Holden Evening Prayer worship service to fill your heart with the sights and sounds of hope this Advent season!

Come at 6 pm to enjoy a soup dinner and community Advent devotional time studying “The Dawn Chorus” Advent devotional book. Then attend the Holden Evening Prayer Service at 7 pm. Written in 1985-1986 while Marty Haugen was the musician-in-residence at Holden Village, a Lutheran retreat center in Washington State, this lovely setting of vespers follows the traditional form while using contemporary and inclusive language.

Wednesdays: December 6, December 13 & December 20
6 pm Advent devotions in the Narthex
7 pm prayer service in the Sanctuary or via Livestream

Worship via Livestream