All posts by GLC
Community Connection Initiative
As part of our ELCA Mental Health Ministry Grant, Gethsemane’s Community Connection Initiative is designed to help each of us work proactively to look after the mental well-being of ourselves and others. Make plans to get involved with projects that center around supporting mental health within our community. Also, acts of service support your own mental health as well!
“You Are Loved” Signs
We are excited to have Gethsemane Lutheran Church yard signs, posters and magnets to help us let people know we are thinking of them and they are loved! If you would like to help deliver/mail signs or if you know of someone who simply needs to know they are loved by the Gethsemane community, please contact Pastor Susie at info@gethsemaneaustin.org.
Gethsemane’s Friend-to-Friend Program
Join this fun Friend-to-Friend program by visiting with a Gethsemane friend every two weeks from October to March. This structured program will help keep us connected during the winter months. The program runs from October 2020 to March 2021. Whether you are 100 years old or a senior high school student, there is a place for you! Friend Calls will occur about every 2 weeks for 15 minutes each. You can sign up to be a Friend that calls or receive a call from a Friend. A short Zoom training will help Friends that call. Let’s stay connected! Sign up via email: info@gethsemaneaustin.org.
Look What’s Cookin’…The Casserole Ministry!
If you can provide a casserole (homemade or store-bought) to a Gethsemane friend to lift their spirits or just revive their joy in dining during these unprecedented times, contact info@gethsemaneaustin.org. Casseroles should be in a non-returnable container, they do not need to include any additional sides or items and they should be delivered via porch-dropoff when the recipient is home. We will provide you with name, address, contact info and any necessary dietary restrictions. Let’s Get Cookin’!
Bereavement Sympathy Cards
We’re beginning another new ministry of sending sympathy cards to families who have lost a loved one during this difficult time. If you would like to help with this ministry please contact info@gethsemaneaustin.org.
Georgian Acres Neighborhood Park Art Installation Input
A permanent public artwork will be created for Georgian Acres Neighborhood Park through Austin’s Art in Public Places Program. The project artist is Kemba Opio. Kemba uses community engagement and photography to design art.
The artist would like to hear from residents and park users—What is important to you? Your answers will help inspire the artwork design.
- Complete the online questionnaire
- Attend the Virtual Community Meeting on Saturday, September 18 at 10 a.m.
Worship Information
God’s Work Our Hands 2021
A pandemic will not stop Gethsemane Lutheran congregants from living out their baptism on “God’s Work, Our Hands” Sunday. There are plenty of opportunities to share God’s love!
UPDATE: “God’s Work Our Hands” Weekend a Success! A BIG THANK YOU to all who participated in Gethsemane’s “God’s Work Our Hands” weekend. We love all of the ways God worked through you.
Thanks to you:
- 1 Gethsemane sign will be revamped to welcome all to our church
- 4 children of single student mothers get to have incredible themed birthday parties
- 10 homebound members are wrapped in homemade Blankets of Love
- 18 donations of lifesaving blood will go to those who need it
- Dozens of homeless dogs and cats get to play with new toys
- Countless casseroles and sympathy cards are brightening up some very hard days
Service Activities:
- Look What’s Cookin’…..The Casserole Ministry: Provide casseroles to Gethsemane friends to lift their spirit and just bring joy!
- Birthday Boxes for Jeremiah Program: Collect birthday party items to help families celebrate their child’s birthday! Sign up today to bring items on Sunday, September 12.
- Dog/Cat Toy Kits for the Austin Humane Society: Make dog and cat toys for our four-legged neighbors! Pick up a dog/cat toy making kit on Sunday, Sept. 5th from 9:30 am-Noon and return it on Sunday, Sept. 12th.
- Blankets of Love Kits: Assemble a blanket for people who are not able to participate in person as a reminder that they are loved and remembered by our community. Pick up a blanket making kit on Sunday, Sept. 5th from 9:30 am-Noon and return it on Sunday, Sept. 12th.
- Annual Gethsemane Blood Drive on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 (by appointment only): Eat well, drink lots of water, get plenty of rest and then give the gift of life on Saturday, September 11th from 9 am-1 pm following COVID-19 protocols. Please call the Gethsemane office, 512-836-8560, for an appointment. Leave your name, phone number and time available. No walk-ins accepted.
- The Gethsemane Sign Committee needs your input immediately after worship on Sunday, September 12 in the Steffans Parlor to discuss refurbishing the large sign on the back of the church property.
- Bereavement Sympathy Cards: Write a sympathy card to send to families who have lost a loved one during this difficult time.
- Gethsemane Food Pantry: Donate items for the food pantry…especially toilet paper and laundry soap.
Gethsemane “Rainforest Adventure” Virtual VBS: June 21-25, 2021
All are welcome to join us for our Virtual VBS, Rain Forest Adventure, 9:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m. each morning, June 21-25. If you have pre-registered, you may pick-up your VBS packet this Saturday, June 18th between
11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Drive up the northside driveway and someone will bring your packet to your car from the narthex!
VBS Virtual Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89197937652?pwd=VStTczFDTVp3bHBqVllsNjkreFNvUT09
BRIDGES TO HOPE: Free Virtual Mental Health Training for Clergy & Faith Leaders
Join us for “Bridges to Hope: Free Virtual Mental Health Training for Clergy and Faith Leaders” led by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) on Thursday, April 22nd from 9 a.m. to noon. All faiths welcome!
Because religion and spirituality often play a vital role in healing, it’s not uncommon for families and individuals experiencing mental health issues to turn to a faith leader first for help. Yet faith leaders, staff and key outreach volunteers are often lacking the information, education, and resources to be the “bridge to hope” needed as people navigate serious, sometimes life-threatening, mental health issues.
Workshop Details:
- An informative overview of prevalent mental health myths and common symptoms of mental health disorders
- Simple ideas for building “bridges to hope” for your faith community
- A tool kit of community mental health resources
- A tool for developing an action plan to address the needs in your community and optional post-training support
Easter Services
Online and In-Person Easter Worship Schedule
Online Zoom Easter Service on Sunday, April 4th
(See details below to access)
10:00am
In-Person Easter Service in Gethsemane Sanctuary on Sunday, April 4th
(RSVP to attend and follow all safety guidelines listed below)
11:00am
In-Person Worship Service Details:
PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE, 512-836-8560 OR SEND AN EMAIL TO info@gethsemaneaustin.org TO RSVP FOR THE IN-PERSON SERVICE. WE WILL END RESERVATIONS ONCE WE REACH CAPACITY. THANK YOU!
***REQUIREMENTS TO ATTEND IN-PERSON SERVICES***
- Please wear a mask
- Enter through the narthex only
- Please use the hand sanitizer available at the door
- You MUST call the church office and leave a message with your phone number to RSVP to attend
- Maximum attendance is 125
- If you are sick, have been around someone who has been sick or have any symptoms, PLEASE stay home
Online Easter Worship Service Details:
Download our Zoom-friendly worship bulletin for Easter Sunday.
Download the traditional worship bulletin for Easter Sunday.
Download music lyrics for Easter Sunday.
Download the children’s bulletins for ages 3-6 or ages 7-12 for Easter Sunday.
To participate in the online service, you will need to download the Zoom app or program on you phone or computer. Here is the link to access the worship service: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6996794165?pwd=WnVETVBQZHEzNTJRdnhCeWU2ODBQdz09
If you’re on a phone, you may not be able to access that link directly. In that case, you will need to go to www.zoom.com, click “Join a Meeting” and enter the following:
Meeting number: 6996794165
Password: 234133
If you do not use Zoom, you may view the Facebook live stream of the online service through our Gethsemane Facebook page.
HOLY WEEK ACTIVITY PACK FOR GETHSEMANE CHILDREN & FAMILIES
Gethsemane families with children may pick up a packet with ideas and materials to do together during Holy Week. The packets will be available in the narthex on Sat. March 27th between 11 am and 1 pm or contact Dar Joy at 512-913-1616 for other pick up times.
We give thanks to Lori Althaus, who has continued sharing Godly Play stories during the pandemic on Sunday morning Zoom worships, since we have not been meeting in person for Sunday School. Gethsemane continues sharing the love of Jesus with our children.
Christmas Services
Online and In-Person Christmas Worship Schedule
Christmas Eve on December 24th:
In-person in Gethsemane Sanctuary
(RSVP to attend and follow all safety guidelines listed below)
5:00pm, 6:30pm & 8:00pm
Online Zoom Christmas Eve Service
(See details below to access)
6:00pm
Christmas Day on December 25th:
In-Person in Gethsemane Sanctuary
(RSVP to attend and follow all safety guidelines listed below)
9:00am
In-Person Worship Service Details:
PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE, 512-836-8560 OR SEND AN EMAIL TO info@gethsemaneaustin.org TO RSVP TO EITHER THE 5PM, 6:30PM, 8PM ON CHRISTMAS EVE OR THE 9AM CHRISTMAS MORNING
IN-PERSON SERVICES. THANK YOU!
***REQUIREMENTS TO ATTEND IN-PERSON SERVICES***
- Please wear a mask
- Enter through the narthex only
- Please use the hand sanitizer available at the door
- You MUST call the church office and leave a message with your phone number to RSVP to attend
- Maximum attendance is 75
- If you are sick, have been around someone who has been sick or have any symptoms, PLEASE stay home
Online Christmas Eve Worship Service Details:
Download the Christmas Eve Zoom Worship Bulletin
To participate in the online service, you will need to download the Zoom app or program on you phone or computer. Here is the link to access the worship service: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6996794165?pwd=WnVETVBQZHEzNTJRdnhCeWU2ODBQdz09
If you’re on a phone, you may not be able to access that link directly. In that case, you will need to go to www.zoom.com, click “Join a Meeting” and enter the following:
Meeting number: 6996794165
Password: 234133
If you do not use Zoom, you may view the Facebook live stream of the online service through our Gethsemane Facebook page.
Baking Connections Virtual Event
Join us online for a special Gethsemane Baking Connections virtual event on Sunday, December 13th at 1 p.m.
Since we cannot feast and fellowship in-person this holiday season, we will be making beloved Gethsemane member Viola Hall’s famous Christmas Sugar Cookies together as a community from our own home kitchens! We will also visit together and discuss ways that baking can support our mental health, especially to battle loneliness and isolation during the holiday season in the midst of the pandemic.
Before the event, please read Viola’s recipe below, gather and pre-measure your ingredients (if possible). Then make plans to join us on Zoom!
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86907311600?pwd=UmtTYWFuR25QcmNhUGJTVUtIS0lEUT09
Meeting ID: 869 0731 1600
Passcode: 339144
You can also RSVP on Facebook to let everyone know you’re coming: https://www.facebook.com/events/675323860012801
Viola’s Sugar Cookies Recipe
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
2 cups flour
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together the sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla. Add baking soda, salt, cream of tartar, and flour. Mix until well blended. You can scoop out balls and flatten them for circles or roll them out and use cookie cutters. Place on greased cookie sheet, silicone baking sheet, or parchment paper. Bake for 12-18 minutes.
Substitutions for ingredients and for dietary restrictions:
*If you don’t have cream of tartar, you can substitute 1 tsp of lemon juice. Add to the wet ingredients instead of the dry mix.
*Use 1 cup coconut palm sugar or 3/4 cup maple syrup if avoiding refined sugar.
*For a healthier alternative to butter, try using 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce or to avoid butter all together use 1 cup coconut oil.
*To make egg-free, mix 1 TBS ground flax or chia seeds to 3 TBS warm water; stir well and let it set for 5-10 minutes.
*For a gluten-free option, use King Arthur or Bob Redmill’s Gluten Free flour or make your own flour from old fashion oats. Pulse in food processor or blender until smooth.