All posts by GLC

Events, YOUTH

2022 Senior High Youth Trip

“Boundless Grace” Senior High Youth Trip: July 11-15 in Minnesota

Gethsemane senior high youth will enjoy six days of fun, fellowship and growing in faith in Minnesota. Plans include seeing a Minnesota Twins game, touring the Mall of America, visiting with Don & Anne Roefer, plus much more! Thanks to all the support given by Gethsemane Lutheran congregants supporting the youth of our community.

Please pray for our senior high youth and sponsors as they prepare for this great adventure.

Trip Schedule:

  • Monday, July 11: Youth fly from Austin to Minneapolis/St. Paul International. They will shuttle to the Embassy Suites Airport.
  • Tuesday, July 12: Tour the world famous Mall of the Americas in Bloomington near the hotel.
  • Wednesday, July 13: Travel by van to tour Gustavus Adolphus College St. Peter, Minnesota a college of the ELCA. Wednesday evening meal provided by Gethsemane members Don & Anne Roefer at their home in Jeffers, Minnesota. Gethsemane Council member Jill Roefer will assist her parents with the meal. The youth will spend the night at Shalom Hill Farm, a ministry of the ELCA.
  • Thursday, July 14: Tour Petroglyphs to hear and see native American images/history. Return to the Twin Cities for Minnesota Twins/ Chicago White Sox baseball game. An Event Suite has been reserved for Gethsemane youth and adults with indoor and outdoor seating; meal ad signage on Target Field Jumbotron.
  • Friday, July 15 return home with memories and friendships.

Events, VBS

“Discovery Canyon” Vacation Bible School

Join Gethsemane Lutheran’s “Discovery Canyon” VBS Week:
June 20-24, 2022 from 8:45 am to 12 pm

“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart and tell about the wonders you have worked.” – Psalm 9:1

Register Your Child for VBS Week
Volunteer and/or Order VBS T-Shirts

Register Your Child to Attend VBS Week

Gethsemane invites all children age 3 by June 20, 2022 and including those completing 6th grade to register for our FREE in-person VBS Week! 6th graders may also choose to assist as a volunteer. 7th graders and older can sign up to assist with VBS as volunteers. You are encouraged to invite friends, relatives, and neighbors to participate in this fun outreach ministry!

Each day begins with opening songs and stories in the sanctuary at 8:45 am. You are welcome to come any time after 8 am; there will be supervision on the church grounds. The morning includes storytelling, music, craft time, recreation/games, and a light snack. Each day there will be an opportunity to bring an offering of money or canned goods to support the Gethsemane Food Pantry.

***Each day the person picking up their child(ren) after VBS must come in to the narthex to sign them out for the day with their group leader.***

All are invited to the closing program on Friday morning at 11:30 am in the sanctuary followed by a hotdog lunch in the Multi-Purpose Room with a freewill offering to help with VBS expenses.

Volunteer at VBS

We need help in the craft area, preparing and serving snacks, the storytelling room, games, and being a guide to lead the children from one area to another. This is a great opportunity to make new friends and make a difference in the lives of children. You are invited to volunteer even if you can only assist one day. Gethsemane is grateful to all who lead Vacation Bible School! Adults of all ages as well as 6th graders and older can sign up to volunteer at VBS.

Order VBS T-Shirts

Gethsemane VBS 2022 T-Shirts are available for $12 or $15 each. Your shirts will be delivered during VBS. Order and pay by Monday, June 6th to be guaranteed a shirt. Deliver cash or check payable to Gethsemane to the church office. You may also pay online using the “OTHER (please specify)” section and adding an additional 3% processing fee.

VBS Daily Themes

Each day will include a different story from the Bible.
Prepare at home for the daily fun and excitement of VBS.

Monday: Liz says to REJOICE!
Parting of the Red Sea; Song of Miriam
Exodus 14:21-24; 15:19-21



Tuesday: Max says to PRAY!
Hannah prays for a child
I Samuel 1:9-27


Wednesday: Olivia says to ASK!
A storm
Matthew 8:23-27


Thursday: Blossom says to TELL!
A dying girl and a sick woman
Matthew 9:18-26


Friday: Felix says to SEEK!
Jesus heals a man who cannot walk
Luke 5:17-26

Easter

Holy Week & Easter

Join us for Holy Week & Easter Activities at Gethsemane!

PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 10
9:30 am: Sunday School for all ages
*10:30 am: Eucharist, palm branches, blessing of the quilts
12 pm: First Communion instruction for 3rd graders

MONDAY TO WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11-13
12 noon & 7 pm: Reading of Passion Narrative, Holy Communion

MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 14
*7 pm: Eucharist, foot washing, First Communion

GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 15
10 am: Eucharist/ Stripping of Altar
11 am: Outdoor Stations of the Cross
12 pm-12 am: Prayer Vigil
*7 pm: Tenebrae Service of Darkness

EASTER SATURDAY, APRIL 16
9:30 am: Youth Easter Breakfast Setup and Dinner Theatre Rehearsal

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 17
9 am: Easter Morning Celebration in the Gethsemane Garden/Narthex
9:30 am: Easter morning brunch in the multipurpose room
*10:30 am: Festive Easter Resurrection Celebration
12 pm: Easter Holy Communion at the Altar

*Indicates a livestreamed service (click the service link to view the livestream)

THE LORD IS RISEN! ALLELUIA!

Lent

Lenten Wednesday Multigenerational Gatherings

Join us for Lenten Wednesday Multigenerational Gatherings:
March 9th through April 6th

LENTEN WEDNESDAY 12 PM SERVICE

We’ll have our regular Holy Communion noon service throughout the Lenten season. These services will be recorded.

“GETHSEMANE MINISTRIES IN FULL BLOOM” 6:30 PM GATHERING IN PARLOR

Join us for a multigenerational discussion and activity time centered around our Lenten Floriography devotional. We’ll highlight a different Gethsemane ministry each week and support them through a brief activity. The activities will help grow the new creation that began sprouting in the Narthex on Ash Wednesday. See below for details about each week’s ministry and activity.

“WHAT LUTHERANS BELIEVE TODAY” 6:30 PM CLASS IN GETHSEMANE GARDEN

Join Pastor Gronberg for a Lenten series on “What Lutherans Believe Today.”

LENTEN “PRAYER AROUND THE CROSS” 7 PM SERVICE

“Bless Now, O God, The Journey” will be simple, quiet and reflective prayer around the cross through chants, readings, scriptures, prayers and lighting of candles. All are welcome to come for this brief prayer service and be ‘Rooted Together’ in faith during this Lenten season. These services will be Livestreamed.

WEEKLY “MINISTRIES IN FULL BLOOM” SCHEDULE

March 9 – GLCM Grateful Garden: GLCM Director Valerie Johnson speaks to us about Gethsemane’s vital daycare and preschool program. Create a “gratitude garden” for our wonderful GLCM staff and teachers who have faithfully served our preschool community throughout the long pandemic.

March 16 – GWELCA Quilts of Love: Arlene Smith, Gail Tigue and Martha Althaus tell us about the beautiful and important quilting projects that women of Gethsemane complete each month. Build a quilt-like creation together.

March 23 – Katrina’s Cocoon Crew: Ken and Belinda Malin speak to us about Katrina’s Cocoon Crew, a non-profit organization that aims to bring smiles to children battling cancer or other debilitating illnesses by providing costumes, dress up, pajamas, outfits, and accessories and to raise awareness for childhood cancer. Bring donations of costumes for hospitalized children. Create a butterfly craft.

March 30 – Thailand/San Lucas Global Footprints: Khem Saythongkham and Pastor Schnelle discuss Gethsemane’s global ministries. Trace a footprint and write a note to our global partners.

April 6 – Greeting Card Connections: Barbara Sylvester talks to us about Gethsemane’s greeting card ministry and the importance of community connection, especially to homebound and bereaved members. Write greeting cards for members needing extra community connection this month.

Lent is a traditional time of reflection, meditation, and preparation for the Lenten journey. Daily reflection cards centered around a “floriography” theme will be available for pickup in the Narthex or download a digital version below.

Download Digital Lenten Floriography Cards

Events, Giving Opportunitites, YOUTH

Youth Dinner Theatre Fundraiser

Join the Gethsemane community for the
Youth Dinner Theatre Fundraiser on Saturday, May 7th

“WONDERFUL”
By Lane Holmstrom

Saturday, May 7th
– Concessions & Silent Auction open at 5 pm
– Show begins at 6 pm

Tickets are $10 per person (plus bring cash for concessions)

Silent Auction * Live Auction
Delicious Food! Fun for the whole family!

Auction Items Needed
Please help us raise money for the youth by donating an item to the silent auction. Email the church office with a description of your items to be donated. We’re also accepting wine donations for a wine pull. Proceeds from the dinner theatre and auctions will benefit the summer youth activities.

Playbill Ads
You are invited to place an ad in the playbill: business ads or student “brag ads.” Full-page ads are $50 and half-page ads are $25. Email the church office with your order. Past supporters may use the same ad as before or send a new layout. New supporters please send a layout in Publisher format and/or a PDF.

“Boundless Grace” Senior High Trip: July 11-15 in Minnesota
Plans are taking shape for the Gethsemane youth trip. Youth will visit the Mall of America, attend a Minnesota Twins baseball game (Carlos Correa, a former Astro is now a Twin), visit Shalom Hill Farm in rural Minnesota, and enjoy the hospitality of Don & Anne Roefer, Todd & Sheri Pottebaum, George & Rhia Spears. (Rhia grew up in Gethsemane youth ministry) plus visits to Luther Seminary and Augsburg University. A fun, informative, and exciting time for Gethsemane youth. Email Pastor Schnelle for more information.

Lent

Ash Wednesday – March 2, 2022

Ash Wednesday Services will be held on March 2 at Noon and 7 pm

The Season of Lent commences Ash Wednesday, March 2nd with the Christian faithful receiving ashes and meditating at the Gethsemane altar from 7-8 am, 11:30 am to noon and/or 5:30-7 pm.

Ashes will also be offered for pickup to-go. Call the church office to arrange a pickup.

Ash Wednesday In-Person Eucharist Services:

Livestream Ash Wednesday 7 pm Service

Lent is a traditional time of reflection, meditation, and preparation for the Lenten journey. Daily reflection cards centered around a “floriography” theme will be available for pickup in the Narthex or download a digital version below.

Download Digital Lenten Floriography Cards

Events, Giving Opportunitites, Mission Work, YOUTH

Youth Tackle Hunger: 32nd Annual Souper Bowl of Caring

Bring non-perishables and cash for the Gethsemane Food Pantry on Sunday, February 13

For 32 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 32nd anniversary of this ministry by giving a generous donation on “Souper Bowl Sunday.”